David Anointed King

1 ^eThen all Israel gathered together to David at Hebron and said, “Behold, we are your bone and flesh. 2 In times past, even when Saul was king, it was you who led out and brought in Israel. And the Lord your God said to you, ^f‘You shall be shepherd of my people Israel, and you shall be prince over my people Israel.’” 3 So all the elders of Israel came to the king at Hebron, and David made a covenant with them at Hebron before the Lord. And they anointed David king over Israel, ^gaccording to the word of the Lord by Samuel.

David Takes Jerusalem

4 And David and all Israel went to Jerusalem, ^hthat is, Jebus, where the Jebusites were, ⁱthe inhabitants of the land. 5 The inhabitants of Jebus said to David, “You will not come in here.” Nevertheless, David took the stronghold of Zion, that is, the city of David. 6 David said, “Whoever strikes the Jebusites first ^jshall be chief and commander.” And Joab the son of Zeruiah went up first, so he became chief. 7 And David lived in the stronghold; therefore it was called the city of David. 8 And he built the city all around from the Millo in complete circuit, and Joab repaired the rest of the city. 9 And David ^kbecame greater and greater, for the Lord of hosts was with him.

David’s Mighty Men

10 ^lNow these are the chiefs of David’s mighty men, who gave him strong support in his kingdom, together with all Israel, to make him king, ^maccording to the word of the Lord concerning Israel. 11 This is an account of David’s mighty men: ⁿJashobeam, a ⁿHachmonite, was ^ochief of the three.¹ He wielded his spear against 300 whom he killed at one time.

12 And next to him among the three mighty men was Eleazar the son of ^pDodo, the Ahohite. 13 He was with David at Pas-dammim ^qwhen the Philistines were gathered there for battle. There was a plot of ground full of barley, and the men fled from the Philistines. 14 But he took his² stand in the midst of the plot and defended it and killed the Philistines. And the Lord saved them by a great victory.

15 Three of the thirty chief men went down to the rock to David at the cave of Adullam, when the army of Philistines was encamped in the ^rValley of Rephaim. 16 David was then in the stronghold, and the ^sgarrison of the Philistines was then at Bethlehem. 17 And David said longingly, “Oh that someone would give me water to drink from the well of Bethlehem that is by the gate!” 18 Then the three mighty men broke through the camp of the Philistines and drew water out of the well of Bethlehem that was by the gate and took it and brought it to David. But David would not drink it. He poured it out to the Lord 19 and said, “Far be it from me before my God that I should do this. Shall I drink the lifeblood of these men? For at the risk of their lives they brought it.” Therefore he would not drink it. These things did the three mighty men.

20 Now Abishai, the brother of Joab, was chief of the thirty.³ And he wielded his spear against 300 men and killed them and won a name beside the three. 21 He was the most renowned⁴ of the thirty⁵ and became their commander, but he did not attain to the three.

22 And Benaiah the son of Jehoiada was a valiant man⁶ of Kabzeel, a doer of great deeds. He struck down two heroes of Moab. He also went down and struck down a lion in a pit on a day when snow had fallen. 23 And he struck down an Egyptian, a man of great stature, five cubits⁷ tall. The Egyptian had in his hand a spear ^tlike a weaver’s beam, but Benaiah went down to him with a staff and snatched the spear out of the Egyptian’s hand and killed him with his own spear. 24 These things did Benaiah the son of Jehoiada and won a name beside the three mighty men. 25 He was renowned among the thirty, but he did not attain to the three. And David set him over his bodyguard.

26 The mighty men were ^uAsahel the brother of Joab, Elhanan the son of Dodo of Bethlehem, 27 Shammoth of Harod,⁸ Helez the Pelonite, 28 Ira the son of Ikkesh of Tekoa, Abiezer of Anathoth, 29 Sibbecai the Hushathite, Ilai the Ahohite, 30 Maharai of Netophah, Heled the son of Baanah of Netophah, 31 Ithai the son of Ribai of Gibeah of the people of Benjamin, Benaiah of Pirathon, 32 Hurai of the brooks of Gaash, Abiel the Arbathite, 33 Azmaveth of Baharum, Eliahba the Shaalbonite, 34 Hashem⁹ the Gizonite, Jonathan the son of Shagee the Hararite, 35 Ahiam the son of Sachar the Hararite, Eliphal the son of Ur, 36 Hepher the Mecherathite, Ahijah the Pelonite, 37 Hezro of Carmel, Naarai the son of Ezbai, 38 Joel the brother of Nathan, Mibhar the son of ^vHagri, 39 Zelek the Ammonite, Naharai of Beeroth, the armor-bearer of Joab the son of Zeruiah, 40 Ira the Ithrite, Gareb the Ithrite, 41 Uriah the Hittite, ^wZabad the son of Ahlai, 42 Adina the son of Shiza the Reubenite, a leader of the Reubenites, and thirty with him, 43 Hanan the son of Maacah, and Joshaphat the Mithnite, 44 Uzzia the Ashterathite, Shama and Jeiel the sons of Hotham the Aroerite, 45 Jediael the son of Shimri, and Joha his brother, the Tizite, 46 Eliel the Mahavite, and Jeribai, and Joshaviah, the sons of Elnaam, and Ithmah the Moabite, 47 Eliel, and Obed, and Jaasiel the Mezobaite.

The Mighty Men Join David

1 ^xNow these are the men who came to David at Ziklag, while he could not move about freely because of Saul the son of Kish. And they were among the mighty men who helped him in war. 2 They ^ywere bowmen and could shoot arrows and sling stones with either the right or the ^zleft hand; they were Benjaminites, ^aSaul’s kinsmen. 3 The chief was Ahiezer, then Joash, both sons of Shemaah of ^bGibeah; also Jeziel and Pelet, the sons of Azmaveth; Beracah, Jehu of ^cAnathoth, 4 Ishmaiah of ^dGibeon, a mighty man among the thirty and a leader over the thirty; Jeremiah,¹⁰ Jahaziel, Johanan, Jozabad of Gederah, 5 Eluzai,¹¹ Jerimoth, Bealiah, Shemariah, Shephatiah the Haruphite; 6 Elkanah, Isshiah, Azarel, Joezer, and Jashobeam, the ^eKorahites; 7 And Joelah and Zebadiah, the sons of Jeroham of Gedor.

8 From the Gadites there went over to David at the stronghold in the wilderness mighty and experienced warriors, expert with shield and spear, whose faces were like the faces of lions and who were ^fswift as gazelles upon the mountains: 9 Ezer the chief, Obadiah second, Eliab third, 10 Mishmannah fourth, Jeremiah fifth, 11 Attai sixth, Eliel seventh, 12 Johanan eighth, Elzabad ninth, 13 Jeremiah tenth, Machbannai eleventh. 14 These Gadites were officers of the army; the least was a ^gmatch for a hundred men and the greatest for a thousand. 15 These are the men who crossed the Jordan in the first month, when it was ^hoverflowing all its banks, and put to flight all those in the valleys, to the east and to the west.

16 And some of the men of Benjamin and Judah came to the stronghold to David. 17 David went out to meet them and said to them, “If you have come to me in friendship to help me, my heart will be joined to you; but if to betray me to my adversaries, although there is no wrong in my hands, then may the God of our fathers see and rebuke you.” 18 Then ⁱthe Spirit clothed ^jAmasai, chief of the thirty, and he said,

Then David received them and made them officers of his troops.

19 Some of the men of Manasseh deserted to David ^lwhen he came with the Philistines for the battle against Saul. (Yet he did not help them, for the rulers of the Philistines took counsel and sent him away, saying, ^m“At peril to our heads he will desert to his master Saul.”) 20 As he went to Ziklag, these men of Manasseh deserted to him: Adnah, Jozabad, Jediael, Michael, Jozabad, Elihu, and Zillethai, chiefs of thousands in Manasseh. 21 They helped David against ⁿthe band of raiders, for they were all mighty men of valor and were commanders in the army. 22 For from day to day men came to David to help him, until there was a great army, like an army of God.

23 These are the numbers of the divisions of the armed troops ^owho came to David in Hebron ^pto turn the kingdom of Saul over to him, ^qaccording to the word of the Lord. 24 The men of Judah bearing shield and spear were 6,800 armed troops. 25 Of the Simeonites, mighty men of valor for war, 7,100. 26 Of the Levites 4,600. 27 The prince Jehoiada, of the house of Aaron, and with him 3,700. 28 ^rZadok, a young man mighty in valor, and twenty-two commanders from his own fathers’ house. 29 Of the Benjaminites, ^sthe kinsmen of Saul, 3,000, of whom the ^tmajority had to that point kept their allegiance to the house of Saul. 30 Of the Ephraimites 20,800, mighty men of valor, famous men in their fathers’ houses. 31 Of the half-tribe of Manasseh 18,000, who were ^uexpressly named to come and make David king. 32 Of Issachar, men who ^vhad understanding of the times, to know what Israel ought to do, 200 chiefs, and all their kinsmen under their command. 33 Of Zebulun 50,000 seasoned troops, ^wequipped for battle with all the weapons of war, to help David¹² with ^xsingleness of purpose. 34 Of Naphtali 1,000 commanders with whom were 37,000 men armed with shield and spear. 35 Of the Danites 28,600 men equipped for battle. 36 Of ^yAsher 40,000 ^zseasoned troops ^zready for battle. 37 Of the Reubenites and Gadites and the half-tribe of Manasseh from beyond the Jordan, 120,000 men armed with all the weapons of war.

38 All these, men of war, arrayed in battle order, came to Hebron with ^aa whole heart to make David king over all Israel. Likewise, all the rest of Israel were of a ^bsingle mind to make David king. 39 And they were there with David for three days, eating and drinking, for their brothers had made preparation for them. 40 And also their relatives, from as far as Issachar and Zebulun and Naphtali, came bringing food on donkeys and on camels and on mules and on oxen, abundant provisions of flour, ^ccakes of figs, clusters of raisins, and wine and oil, oxen and sheep, for there was joy in Israel.

Sacrifices Pleasing to God

1 Let ^ubrotherly love continue. 2 ^vDo not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for thereby ^wsome have entertained angels unawares. 3 ^xRemember those who are in prison, as though in prison with them, and those who are mistreated, since you also are in the body. 4 ^yLet marriage be held in honor among all, and let the marriage bed be undefiled, for God will judge ^zthe sexually immoral and adulterous. 5 Keep your life ^afree from love of money, and ^bbe content with what you have, for he has said, ^c“I will never leave you nor forsake you.” 6 So we can confidently say,

7 Remember ^fyour leaders, those who spoke to you the word of God. Consider the outcome of their way of life, and ^gimitate their faith. 8 Jesus Christ is ^hthe same yesterday and today and forever. 9 Do not be ⁱled away by diverse and strange teachings, for it is good for the heart to be strengthened by grace, ^jnot by foods, which have not benefited those devoted to them. 10 We have an altar ^kfrom which those who serve the tent¹ have no right to eat. 11 For ^lthe bodies of those animals whose blood is brought into the holy places by the high priest as a sacrifice for sin are burned ^moutside the camp. 12 So Jesus also ⁿsuffered ^ooutside the gate in order to sanctify the people ^pthrough his own blood. 13 Therefore let us go to him outside the camp and bear ^qthe reproach he endured. 14 For ^rhere we have no lasting city, but we seek the city that is to come. 15 ^sThrough him then let us continually offer up ^ta sacrifice of praise to God, that is, ^uthe fruit of lips that acknowledge his name. 16 Do not neglect to do good and ^vto share what you have, for such ^wsacrifices are pleasing to God.

17 Obey ^xyour leaders and submit to them, ^yfor they are keeping watch over your souls, as those who will have to ^zgive an account. ^aLet them do this with joy and not with groaning, for that would be of no advantage to you.

18 ^bPray for us, for we are sure that we have a clear conscience, desiring to act honorably in all things. 19 I urge you the more earnestly to do this in order ^cthat I may be restored to you the sooner.

Benediction

20 Now ^dmay the God of peace ^ewho brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, ^fthe great shepherd of the sheep, by ^gthe blood of the eternal covenant, 21 ^hequip you with everything good that you may do his will, ⁱworking in us² that which is pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ, ^jto whom be glory forever and ever. Amen.

Final Greetings

22 I appeal to you, brothers,³ bear with my word of exhortation, for ^kI have written to you briefly. 23 You should know that ^lour brother Timothy has been released, with whom I shall see you if he comes soon. 24 Greet all ^myour leaders and all the saints. Those who come from Italy send you greetings. 25 ⁿGrace be with all of you.

Warning Visions

1 ^aThis is what the Lord God showed me: behold, ^bhe was forming locusts when the latter growth was just beginning to sprout, and behold, it was the latter growth after the king’s mowings. 2 When they had finished eating the grass of the land, I said,

4 ^aThis is what the Lord God showed me: behold, the Lord God was calling ^efor a judgment by fire, and it devoured the great deep and was eating up the land. 5 Then I said,

7 ^aThis is what he showed me: behold, the Lord was standing beside a wall built with ^fa plumb line, with a plumb line in his hand. 8 And the Lord said to me, ^g“Amos, what do you see?” And I said, “A plumb line.” Then the Lord said,

Amos Accused

10 Then Amaziah ^jthe priest of Bethel sent to ^kJeroboam king of Israel, saying, “Amos has ^lconspired against you in the midst of the house of Israel. The land is not able to bear all his words. 11 For thus Amos has said,

12 And Amaziah said to Amos, ⁿ“O seer, go, flee away ^oto the land of Judah, and ^peat bread there, and prophesy there, 13 but ^qnever again prophesy at Bethel, for ^rit is the king’s sanctuary, and it is a temple of the kingdom.”

14 Then Amos answered and said to Amaziah, ^s“I was¹ no prophet, nor a prophet’s son, but ^tI was a herdsman and a dresser of sycamore figs. 15 ^uBut the Lord took me from following the flock, and the Lord said to me, ‘Go, prophesy to my people Israel.’ 16 ^vNow therefore hear the word of the Lord.

17 ^yTherefore thus says the Lord:

The Birth of Jesus Christ

1 In those days ^la decree went out from ^mCaesar Augustus that all the world should be ⁿregistered. 2 This was the first ⁿregistration when¹ Quirinius ^owas governor of Syria. 3 And all went to be registered, each to his own town. 4 And Joseph also went up ^pfrom Galilee, from the town of ^qNazareth, to Judea, to ^rthe city of David, which is called ^sBethlehem, ^tbecause he was of the house and lineage of David, 5 to be registered with Mary, his betrothed,² who was with child. 6 And ^twhile they were there, the time came for her to give birth. 7 And she gave birth to her firstborn son and ^uwrapped him in swaddling cloths and ^vlaid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in ^wthe inn.³

The Shepherds and the Angels

8 And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. 9 And an angel of the Lord ^xappeared to them, and ^ythe glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with great fear. 10 And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all ^zthe people. 11 For ^aunto you is born this day in ^bthe city of David ^ca Savior, who is ^dChrist ^ethe Lord. 12 And ^fthis will be a sign for you: you will find a baby ^gwrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.” 13 And suddenly there was with the angel ^ha multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying,

15 When the angels went away from them into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let us go over to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has made known to us.” 16 And they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby ^mlying in a manger. 17 And when they saw it, they made known the saying that had been told them concerning this child. 18 And all who heard it wondered at what the shepherds told them. 19 But ⁿMary treasured up all these things, pondering them in her heart. 20 And the shepherds returned, ^oglorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them.

21 And ^pat the end of eight days, when he was circumcised, ^qhe was called Jesus, the name given by the angel before he was conceived in the womb.

Jesus Presented at the Temple

22 And ^rwhen the time came for their purification according to the Law of Moses, they brought him up to Jerusalem ^sto present him to the Lord 23 (as it is written in ^tthe Law of the Lord, ^u“Every male who first opens the womb shall be called holy to the Lord”) 24 and to offer a sacrifice according to what is said in ^tthe Law of the Lord, ^v“a pair of turtledoves, or two young pigeons.” 25 Now there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon, and this man was ^wrighteous and ^xdevout, ^ywaiting for ^zthe consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him. 26 And it had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not ^asee death before he had seen ^bthe Lord’s Christ. 27 And he came in the Spirit into the temple, and when ^cthe parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for him according to the custom of the Law, 28 he took him up in his arms and ^dblessed God and said,