David's Song of Victory

¹When the Lord saved David from Saul and his other enemies, David sang this song to the Lord:

²The Lord is my protector; he is my strong fortress.

³My God is my protection, and with him I am safe. He protects me like a shield; he defends me and keeps me safe. He is my savior; he protects me and saves me from violence.

⁴I call to the Lord, and he saves me from my enemies. Praise the Lord!

⁵The waves of death were all around me; the waves of destruction rolled over me.

⁶The danger of death was around me, and the grave set its trap for me.

⁷In my trouble I called to the Lord; I called to my God for help. In his temple he heard my voice; he listened to my cry for help.

⁸Then the earth trembled and shook; the foundations of the sky rocked and quivered because God was angry!

⁹Smoke poured out of his nostrils, a consuming flame and burning coals from his mouth.

¹⁰He tore the sky open and came down, with a dark cloud under his feet.

¹¹He flew swiftly on his winged creature; he traveled on the wings of the wind.

¹²He covered himself with darkness; thick clouds, full of water, surrounded him;

¹³burning coals flamed up from the lightning before him.

¹⁴Then the Lord thundered from the sky, and the voice of Almighty God was heard.

¹⁵He shot his arrows and scattered his enemies; with flashes of lightning he sent them running.

¹⁶The floor of the ocean was laid bare, and the foundations of the earth were uncovered when the Lord rebuked his enemies and roared at them in anger.

¹⁷The Lord reached down from above and took hold of me; he pulled me out of the deep waters.

¹⁸He rescued me from my powerful enemies and from all those who hate me— they were too strong for me.

¹⁹When I was in trouble, they attacked me, but the Lord protected me.

²⁰He helped me out of danger; he saved me because he was pleased with me.

²¹The Lord rewards me because I do what is right; he blesses me because I am innocent.

²²I have obeyed the law of the Lord; I have not turned away from my God.

²³I have observed all his laws; I have not disobeyed his commands.

²⁴He knows that I am faultless, that I have kept myself from doing wrong.

²⁵And so he rewards me because I do what is right, because he knows that I am innocent.

²⁶O Lord, you are faithful to those who are faithful to you, and completely good to those who are perfect.

²⁷You are pure to those who are pure, but hostile to those who are wicked.

²⁸You save those who are humble, but you humble those who are proud.

²⁹You, Lord, are my light; you dispel my darkness.

³⁰You give me strength to attack my enemies and power to overcome their defenses.

³¹This God—how perfect are his deeds, how dependable his words! He is like a shield for all who seek his protection.

³²The Lord alone is God; God alone is our defense.

³³This God is my strong refuge; he makes my pathway safe.

³⁴He makes me sure-footed as a deer; he keeps me safe on the mountains.

³⁵He trains me for battle, so that I can use the strongest bow.

³⁶O Lord, you protect me and save me; your help has made me great.

³⁷You have kept me from being captured, and I have never fallen.

³⁸I pursue my enemies and defeat them; I do not stop until I destroy them.

³⁹I strike them down, and they cannot rise; they lie defeated before me.

⁴⁰You give me strength for the battle and victory over my enemies.

⁴¹You make my enemies run from me; I destroy those who hate me.

⁴²They look for help, but no one saves them; they call to the Lord, but he does not answer.

⁴³I crush them, and they become like dust; I trample on them like mud in the streets.

⁴⁴You saved me from my rebellious people and maintained my rule over the nations; people I did not know have now become my subjects.

⁴⁵Foreigners bow before me; when they hear me, they obey.

⁴⁶They lose their courage and come trembling from their fortresses.

⁴⁷The Lord lives! Praise my defender! Proclaim the greatness of the strong God who saves me!

⁴⁸He gives me victory over my enemies; he subdues the nations under me

⁴⁹and saves me from my foes. O Lord, you give me victory over my enemies and protect me from violent men.

⁵⁰And so I praise you among the nations; I sing praises to you.

⁵¹God gives great victories to his king; he shows constant love to the one he has chosen, to David and his descendants forever.

Military and Civil Organization

¹This is the list of the Israelite heads of families and clan leaders and their officials who administered the work of the kingdom. Each month of the year a different group of twenty-four thousand men was on duty under the commander for that month.

^2-15The following were the commanders for each month: First month: Jashobeam son of Zabdiel (he was a member of the clan of Perez, a part of the tribe of Judah) Second month: Dodai, a descendant of Ahohi (Mikloth was his second in command) Third month: Benaiah son of Jehoiada the priest; he was the leader of “The Thirty” (his son Ammizabad succeeded him as commander of this group) Fourth month: Asahel, brother of Joab (his son Zebadiah succeeded him) Fifth month: Shamhuth, a descendant of Izhar Sixth month: Ira son of Ikkesh from Tekoa Seventh month: Helez, an Ephraimite from Pelon Eighth month: Sibbecai from Hushah (he was a member of the clan of Zerah, a part of the tribe of Judah) Ninth month: Abiezer from Anathoth in the territory of the tribe of Benjamin Tenth month: Maharai from Netophah (he was a member of the clan of Zerah) Eleventh month: Benaiah from Pirathon in the territory of the tribe of Ephraim Twelfth month: Heldai from Netophah (he was a descendant of Othniel)

Administration of the Tribes of Israel

^16-22This is the list of the administrators of the tribes of Israel: Tribe Administrator Reuben Eliezer son of Zichri Simeon Shephatiah son of Maacah Levi Hashabiah son of Kemuel Aaron Zadok Judah Elihu, one of King David's brothers Issachar Omri son of Michael Zebulun Ishmaiah son of Obadiah Naphtali Jeremoth son of Azriel Ephraim Hoshea son of Azaziah West Manasseh Joel son of Pedaiah East Manasseh Iddo son of Zechariah Benjamin Jaasiel son of Abner Dan Azarel son of Jeroham

²³King David did not take a census of the people who were under the age of twenty, because of the Lord's promise to make the people of Israel as numerous as the stars in the sky.

²⁴Joab, whose mother was Zeruiah, began to take a census, but he did not complete it. God punished Israel because of this census, so the final figures were never recorded in King David's official records.

Administrators of the Royal Property

^25-31This is the list of those who administered the royal property: Royal storerooms: Azmaveth son of Adiel Local storerooms: Jonathan son of Uzziah Farm labor: Ezri son of Chelub Vineyards: Shimei from Ramah Wine cellars: Zabdi from Shepham Olive and sycamore trees (in the western foothills): Baal Hanan from Geder Olive oil storage: Joash Cattle in the Plain of Sharon: Shitrai from Sharon Cattle in the valleys: Shaphat son of Adlai Camels: Obil, an Ishmaelite Donkeys: Jehdeiah from Meronoth Sheep and goats: Jaziz, a Hagrite

David's Personal Advisers

³²Jonathan, King David's uncle, was a skillful adviser and a scholar. He and Jehiel son of Hachmoni were in charge of the education of the king's sons.

³³Ahithophel was adviser to the king, and Hushai the Archite was the king's friend and counselor.

³⁴After Ahithophel died, Abiathar and Jehoiada son of Benaiah became advisers. Joab was commander of the royal army.

A Prayer in Sickness

¹Happy are those who are concerned for the poor; the Lord will help them when they are in trouble.

²The Lord will protect them and preserve their lives; he will make them happy in the land; he will not abandon them to the power of their enemies.

³The Lord will help them when they are sick and will restore them to health.

⁴I said, “I have sinned against you, Lord; be merciful to me and heal me.”

⁵My enemies say cruel things about me. They want me to die and be forgotten.

⁶Those who come to see me are not sincere; they gather bad news about me and then go out and tell it everywhere.

⁷All who hate me whisper to each other about me, they imagine the worst about me.

⁸They say, “He is fatally ill; he will never leave his bed again.”

⁹Even my best friend, the one I trusted most, the one who shared my food, has turned against me.

¹⁰Be merciful to me, Lord, and restore my health, and I will pay my enemies back.

¹¹They will not triumph over me, and I will know that you are pleased with me.

¹²You will help me, because I do what is right; you will keep me in your presence forever.

¹³Praise the Lord, the God of Israel! Praise him now and forever! Amen! Amen!