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 swift 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; gthe least was a match for a hundred men and the greatest for a thousand. 15 These are the men who crossed the Jordan in the first month, hwhen it was overflowing 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 jclothed Amasai, chief of the thirty, and he said,
“We are yours, O David,
and with you, O son of Jesse!
Peace, peace to you,
and peace to your helpers!
For your God helps you.”
Then David received them and made them officers of his troops.
The Death of Samuel
1 Now Samuel tdied. And all Israel assembled and umourned for him, and they buried him in his house at Ramah.
David and Abigail
Then David rose and went down to the wilderness of vParan.
How Long, O Lord?
To the choirmaster. A Psalm of David.
1 vHow long, O Lord? Will you forget me forever?
How long will you whide your face from me?
2 How long must I take counsel in my soul
and have sorrow in my heart all the day?
How long shall my enemy be exalted over me?
3 Consider and answer me, O Lord my God;
xlight up my eyes, lest I sleep the sleep of death,
4 lest my enemy say, “I have prevailed over him,”
lest my foes rejoice because I am shaken.
5 But I have ytrusted in your steadfast love;
my heart shall rejoice in your salvation.
6 I will sing to the Lord,
because he has dealt bountifully with me.
What Is the Measure of My Days?
To the choirmaster: to nJeduthun. A Psalm of David.
1 I said, “I will guard my ways,
that I may not sin with my tongue;
I will oguard my mouth with a muzzle,
so long as the wicked are in my presence.”
2 I was pmute and silent;
I held my peace to no avail,
and my distress grew worse.
3 My heart became hot within me.
As I mused, the fire burned;
then I spoke with my tongue:
4 “O Lord, qmake me know my end
and what is the measure of my days;
let me know how fleeting I am!
5 rBehold, you have made my days a few handbreadths,
and my lifetime is as nothing sbefore you.
Surely all mankind stands as a mere tbreath! Selah
6 Surely a man goes about as a ushadow!
Surely for nothing1 they are in turmoil;
vman heaps up wealth and does not know who will gather!
7 “And now, O Lord, for what do I wait?
My hope is in you.
8 Deliver me from all my transgressions.
Do not make me the scorn of the fool!
9 I am mute; I do not open my mouth,
for it is you who have done it.
10 Remove your stroke from me;
I am spent by the hostility of your hand.
11 When you discipline a man
with rebukes for sin,
you consume like a moth what is dear to him;
surely all mankind is a mere breath! Selah
12 “Hear my prayer, O Lord,
and give ear to my cry;
whold not your peace at my tears!
For I am a xsojourner with you,
a guest, like all my fathers.
13 Look away from me, that I may smile again,
before I depart and am no more!”
My Soul Waits for God Alone
To the choirmaster: according to pJeduthun. A Psalm of David.
1 qFor God alone my soul waits rin silence;
from him comes my salvation.
2 He alone is my rock and my salvation,
my fortress; I shall not be greatly shaken.
3 How long will all of you attack a man
to batter him,
like a leaning wall, a tottering fence?
4 They only plan to thrust him down from his high position.
They take pleasure in falsehood.
They bless with their mouths,
sbut inwardly they curse. Selah
5 tFor God alone, O my soul, wait in silence,
for my hope is from him.
6 He only is my rock and my salvation,
my fortress; I shall not be shaken.
7 On God rests my salvation and my glory;
my mighty rock, my refuge is God.
8 uTrust in him at all times, O people;
vpour out your heart before him;
God is a refuge for us. Selah
9 Those of wlow estate are but a breath;
those of high estate are a delusion;
in the balances they go up;
they are together lighter than a breath.
10 Put no xtrust in extortion;
set no vain hopes on robbery;
yif riches increase, set not your heart on them.
11 Once God has spoken;
twice have I heard this:
that power belongs to God,
12 and that to you, O Lord, belongs steadfast love.
For you will render to a man
zaccording to his work.
