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Hushai's counsel accepted.

CHAP. XVII, XVIII.

Ahithophel hangeth himself 19 And again, whom should I serve? should I saying, Lodge not this night in the plains of the not serve in the presence of his son? as I have wilderness, but speedily pass over; lest the king served in thy father's presence, so will I be in be swallowed up, and all the people that are with thy presence.

20 Then said Absalom to Ahithophel, Give counsel among you what we shall do."

21 And Ahithophel said unto Absalom, Go in unto thy father's concubines, which he hath left to keep the house; and all Israel shal! hear that thou art abhorred of thy father: then shall the hands of all that are with thee be strong. 22 So they spread Absalom a tent upon the top of the house; and Absalon went in unto his father's concubines in the sight of all Israel. 23 And the counsel of Ähithophel, which he counselled in those days, was as if a man had inquired at the oracle of God: so was all the counsel of Ahithophel both with David and with Absalom.

CHAP. XVII.

Ahithophel's counsel rejected.

him.

17 Now Jonathan and Ahimaaz stayed by Enrogel; for they might not be seen to come into the city and a wench went and told them; and they went and told king David.

18 Nevertheless, a lad saw them, and told Ab salom: but they went both of them away quickly, and came to a man's house in Bahurim, which had a well in his court; whither they went down 19 And the woman took and spread a covering over the well's mouth, and spread ground corn thereon; and the thing was not known. 20 And when Absalom's servants came to the woman to the house, they said, Where is Ahimaaz and Jonathan? And the woman said unto them, They be gone over the brook of water. And when they had sought and could not find them, they returned to Jerusalem.

MOREOVER, Ahitophel said unto Absalom, 21 And it came to pass, after they were depart

Let me now choose out twelve thousand inen, ed, that they came up out of the well, and went and I will arise and pursue after David this night: and told king David, and said unto David, Arise, And I will come upon him while he is weary and pass quickly over the water: for thus hath and weak-handed, and will make him afraid: Ahithophet counselled against you. and all the people that are with him shall flee; and I will smite the king only:

22 Then David arose, and all the people that were with him, and they passed over Jordan: by 3 And I will bring back all the people unto the morning light there lacked not one of them thee: the man whom thou seekest is as if all that was not gone over Jordan. returned: so all the people shall be in peace.

23 1 And when Ahithophel saw that his coun4 And the saying pleased Absalom well, and all sel was not followed, he saddled his ass, and the elders of Israel. arose, and gat him home to his house, to his 5 Then said Absalom, Call now Hushai the Ar- city, and put his household in order, and hanged chite also, and let us hear likewise what he saith. himself, and died, and was buried in the sepul6 And when Hushai was come to Absalom, Ab- chre of his father.

salom spake unto him, saying, Ahithophel hath 24 Then David came to Mahanaim. And Abspoken after this manner: shall we do after his salom passed over Jordan, he and all the men of saying? if not, speak thou. Israel with him.

7 And Hushai said unto Absalom, The counsel 25 And Absalom made Amasa captain of the that Abithophel hath given is not good at this time. host instead of Joab : which Amasa was a man's 8 For, said Hushai, thou knowest thy father son, whose name was thra, an Israelite, that and his men, that they be mighty men, and they went in to Abigail the daughter of Nabash, sisbe chafed in their minds, as a bear robbed of her ter to Zeruiah, Joab's mother.

whelps in the field: and thy father is a man of 26 So Israel and Absalom pitched in the land of war, and will not lodge with the people. Gilead.

9 Behold, he is hid now in some pit, or in some 27 ¶ And it came to pass, when David was come other place: and it will come to pass, when some to Mahanaim, that Shobi the son of Nahash of of them be overthrown at the first, that whoso- Rabbah of the children of Ammon, and Machir ever heareth it will say, There is a slaughter the son of Ammiel of Lo-debar, and Barzillai among the people that follow Absalom. the Gileadite of Rogelim,

10 And he also that is valiant, whose heart is 28 Brought beds, and basons, and earthen vessels, as the heart of a lion, shall utterly melt: for all and wheat, and barley, and flour, and parched Israel knoweth that thy father is a mighty man, corn, and beans, and lentiles, and parched pulse, and they which be with him are valiant men. 29 And honey, and butter, and sheep, and cheese 11 Therefore I counsel that all Israel be general- of kine, for David, and for the people that were ly gathered unto thee, from Dan even to Beer- with him, to eat: for they said, The people is sheba, as the sand that is by the sea for multitude; hungry, and weary, and thirsty, in the wilderness.

and that thou go to battle in thine own person. 12 So shall we come upon him in some place

CHAP. XVIII.
Absalom defeated and slain.
ND David numbered the people that were

where he shall be found, and we will light upon A with him, and set captains of thousands

him as the dew falleth on the ground: and of

him and of all the men that are with him there and captains of hundreds over them. shall not be left so much as one. 2 And David sent forth a third part of the peo 13 Moreover, if he be gotten into a city, then ple under the hand of Joab, and a third part un shall all Israel bring ropes to that city, and we der the hand of Abishai the son of Zeruiah, Joab's will draw it into the river, until there be not brother, and a third part under the hand of ittal one small stone found there. the Gittite. And the king said unto the people, I

14 And Absalom and all the men of Israel said, will surely go forth with you myself also. The counsel of Hushai the Archite is better than 3 But the people answered, Thou shalt not go the counsel of Ahithophel. For the LORD had forth: for if we flee away, they will not care for appointed to defeat the good counsel of Ahitho-us; neither if half of us die, will they care for phel, to the intent that the LORD might bring us: but now thou art worth ten thousand of us: evil upon Absalom. therefore now it is better that thou succour us

151 Then said Ilushai unto Zadok and to Abia-out of the city. thar the priests, Thus and thus did Ahithophel 4 And the king said unto them, What seemeth counsel Absalom and the elders of Israel; and you best I will do. And the king stood by th thus and thus have I counselled. gate side, and all the people came out by hun 16 Now therefore send quickly, and tell David,,dreds and by thousands.

Death of Absalom.

II. SAMUEL.

David heareth the tidings 5 And the king commanded Joab and Abishai his mouth. And he came apace, and drew near. and Ittai, saying, Dea! gently for my sake with 26 And the watchman saw another man runthe young man, even with Absalom. And all ning: and the watchman called unto the porter, the people heard when the king gave all the and said, Behold, another man running alone. captains charge concerning Absalom. And the king said, He also bringeth tidings.

6 So the people went out into the field against 27 And the watchinan said, Methinketh the runIsrael: and the battle was in the wood of Ephraim;ning of the foremost is like the running of Ahi7 Where the people of Israel were slain before maaz the son of Zadok. And the king said, He the servants of David, and there was there a is a good man, and cometh with good tidings. great slaughter that day of twenty thousand men. 28 And Ahimaaz called, and said unto the king, 8 For the battle was there scattered over the All is well. And he fell down to the earth upon face of all the country: and the wood devoured his face before the king, and said, Blessed be the more people that day than the sword devoured. LORD thy God, which hath delivered up the men 9 And Absalom met the servants of David. that lifted up their hand against my lord the king. And Absalom rode upon a mule, and the mule 29 And the king said, Is the young man Absawent under the thick boughs of a great oak, and lom safe? And Ähimaaz answered, When Joab his head caught hold of the oak, and he was sent the king's servant, and me thy servant, I taken up between the heaven and the earth; and saw a great tumult, but I knew not what it was. the mule that was under him went away. 30 And the king said unto him, Turn aside and 10 And a certain man saw it, and told Joab, and stand here. And he turned aside, and stood still. said, Behold, I saw Absalom hanged in an oak. 31 And behold, Cushi came; and Cushi said, 11 And Joab said unto the man that told him, Tidings, my lord the king: for the LORD hath And behold, thou sawest him, and why didst thou avenged thee this day of all them that rose up not smite him there to the ground? and I would against thee.

bave given thee ten shekels of silver, and a girdle. 32 And the king said untoCushi, Is the young man 12 And the man said unto Joab, Though I should Absalom safe? And Cushi answered, The ene receive a thousand shekels of silver in my hand, mies of my lord the king, and all that rise against yet would I not put forth my hand against the thee to do thee hurt, be as that young man is. king's son: for in our hearing the king charged 33 And the king was much moved, and went thee and Abishai and Ittai, saying, Beware that up to the chamber over the gate, and wept and none touch the young man Absalom. as he went, thus he said, Ŏ my son Absalom!

13 Otherwise I should have wrought falsehood my son, my son Absalom! would God I had died against mine own life: for there is no matter hid for thee, O Absalom, my son, my son! from the king, and thou thyself wouldest have set thyself against me.

14 Then said Joab, I may not tarry thus with

thrust them through the heart of Absalom, while
he was yet alive in the midst of the oak.
15 And ten young men that bare Joab's armour
compassed about and smote Absalom, and slew
him.

16 And Joab blew the trumpet, and the people returned from pursuing after Israel: for Joab held back the people.

a

17 And they took Absalom, and cast him into great pit in the wood, and laid a very great heap of stones upon him: and all Israel fled every one to his tent.

18 1 Now Absalom in his life-time had taken and reared up for himself a pillar, which is in the king's dale: for he said, I have no son to keep my name in remembrance: and he called the pillar after his own name: and it is called unto this day, Absalom's Place.

CHAP. XIX.

David mourneth for Absalom.
ND it was told Joab, Behold, the king weep-

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2 And the victory that day was turned into mourning unto all the people: for the people heard say that day how the king was grieved for his son.

3 And the people gat them by stealth that day into the city, as people being ashamed steal away when they flee in battle.

4 But the king covered his face, and the king cried with a loud voice, O my son Absalom! Ö Absalom, my son, my son!

5 And Joab came into the house to the king, and said,Thou hast shamed this day the faces of all thy servants, which this day have saved thy life, and the lives of thy sons and of thy daughters, and the lives of thy wives, and the lives of thy concubines;

6 In that thou lovest thine enemies, and hatest thy friends: for thou hast declared this day, that 19 ¶ Then said Alimaaz the son of Zadok, Let thou regardest neither princes nor servants: for nie now run, and bear the king tidings, how that this day I perceive, that if Absalom had lived, the LORD hath avenged him of his enemies. and all we had died this day, then it had pleased thee well.

20 And Joab said unto him, Thou shalt not bear tidings this day, but thou shalt bear tidings ano- 7 Now therefore arise, go forth, and speak comther day: but this day thou shalt bear no tidings, fortably unto thy servants: for I swear by the because the king's son is dead. LORD, if thou go not forth, there will not tarry 21 Then said Joab to Cushi, Go, tell the king one with thee this night: and that will be worse what thou hast seen. And Cushi bowed him-junto thee than all the evil that befel thee from self unto Joab, and ran. thy youth until now.

22 Then said Ahimaáz the son of Zadok yet 8 Then the king arose, and sat in the gate. And again to Joab, But howsoever, let me, I pray they told unto all the people, saying, Behold, the thee, also run after Cushi. And Joab said, king doth sit in the gate. And all the people Wherefore wilt thou run, my son, seeing that came before the king: for Israel had fled every thou hast no tidings ready? man to his tent.

23 But howsoever, said he, let me run. And he aid unto him, Run. Then Ahimaaz ran by the way of the plain, and overran Cushi.

9 And all the people were at strife throughout all the tribes of Israel, saying, The king saved us out of the hand of our enemies, and he deli24 And David sat between the two gates: and vered us out of the hand of the Philistines; and the watchman went up to the roof over the gate now he is fled out of the land for Absalom. unto the wall, and lifted up his eyes, and looked, 10 And Absalom, whom we anomted over us, is dead in battle. Now therefore why speak ye and behold a man running alone.

25 And the watchman cried, and told the king.not a word of bringing the king back? And the king said, If he be alone there is tidings in! 11 ¶ And king David sent to Zadok and to Abi

194

Shimei is pardoned.

CHAP. XX.

Of Barzillai and Chimham athar the priests, saying, Speak unto the elders 32 Now Barzillai was a very aged man, even of Judah, saying, Why are ye the last to bring fourscore years old and he had provided the the king back to his house? seeing the speech of king of sustenance while he lay at Mahanaim: all Israel is come to the king, even to his house. for he was a very great man.

12 Ye are my brethren, ye are my bones and 33 And the king said unto Barzillai, Come thou my flesh: wherefore then are ye the last to bring over with me, and I will feed thee with ine in back the king? Jerusalem.

34 And Barzillai said unto the king, How long have I to live, that I should go up with the king unto Jerusalem ?

13 And say ye to Amasa, Art thou not of my bone, and of my flesh? God do so to me, and more also, if thou be not captain of the host before ine continually in the room of Joab. 35 I am this day fourscore years old: and can 14 And he bowed the heart of all the men of I discern between good and evil? can thy serJudah, even as the heart of one man; so that vant taste what I eat or what I drink? can I they sent this word unto the king, Return thou, hear any more the voice of singing-men and singand all thy servants. ing-women? wherefore then should thy servant be yet a burden unto my lord the king? 36 Thy servant will go a little way over Jordan with the king: and why should the king recompense it me with such a reward?

15 So the king returned, and came to Jordan. And Judah came to Gilgal, to go to meet the king, to conduct the king over Jordan.

16 And Shimei the son of Gera, a Benjamite, which was of Bahurim, hasted and came down 37 Let thy servant, I pray thee, turn back again, with the men of Judah to meet king David. that I may die in mine own city, and be buried 17 And there were a thousand men of Benjamin by the grave of my father and of my mother: with him, and Ziba the servant of the house of but behold thy servant Chimbam; let him go Saul, and his fifteen sons and his twenty servants over with my lord the king; and do to him what with him; and they went over Jordan before the shall seem good unto thee.

king.

38 And the king answered, Chimham shall go

18 And there went over a ferry-boat to carry over with me, and I will do to him that which over the king's household, and to do what he shall seem good unto thee: and whatsoever thou thought good. And Shimei the son of Gera fell shalt require of me, that will I do for thee. down before the king, as he was come over Jordan; 39 And all the people went over Jordan. And 19 And said unto the king, Let not my lord im-when the king was come over, the king kissed pute iniquity unto me, neither do thou remem-Barzillai, and blessed him and he returned ber that which thy servant did perversely the unto his own place.

day that my lord the king went out of Jerusalem, 40 Then the king went on to Gilgal, and Chimthat the king should take it to his heart. ham went on with him: and all the people of 20 For thy servant doth know that I have sin-Judah conducted the king, and also half the peo ned: therefore behold, I am come the first this ple of Israel.

day of all the house of Joseph to go down to 41 ¶ And behold, all the men of Israel came to meet my lord the king. the king, and said unto the king, Why have our 21 But Abishai the son of Zcruiah answered brethren the men of Judah stolen thee away, and said, Shall not Shimei be put to death for this, because he cursed the LORD's anointed? 22 Aud David said, What have I to do with you, ye sons of Zeruiah, that ye should this day be adversaries unto me? shall there any man be put to death this day in Israel? for do not know that I am this day king over Israel?

23 Therefore the king said unto Shimei, Thou shalt not die: and the king sware unto him. 24 And Mephibosheth the son of Saul came down to meet the king, and had neither dressed his feet, nor trimmed his beard, nor washed his clothes, from the day the king departed until the day he came again in peace.

25 And it came to pass, when he was come to Jerusalem to meet the king, that the king said

unto him, Wherefore wentest not thou with me,

Mephibosheth?

26 And he answered, My lord, O king, my servant deceived me: for thy servant said, I will saddle me an ass, that I may ride thereon, and go to the king; because thy servant is lame.

and have brought the king, and his household,
and all David's men with him, over Jordan?
42 And all the men of Judah answered the
men of Israel, Because the king is near of kin
to us: wherefore then be ye angry for this mat-
ter? have we eaten at all of the king's cost? or
hath he given us any gift?

43 And the men of Israel answered the men of
Judah, and said, We i:ave ten parts in the king,
and we have also more right in David than ye:
why then did ye despise us, that our advice
should not be first had in bringing back our king?
And the words of the men of Judah were fiercer
than the words of the men of Israel.
CHAP. XX.

Sheba rebelleth against David.

AND there happened to be there a man of Belial, whose name was Sheba, the son of Bichri, a Benjamite: and he blew a trumpet, and said, We have no part in David, neither have we inheritance in the son of Jesse: every man to his tents, O Israel.

27 And he hath slandered thy servant unto my 2 So every man of Israel went up from after lord the king; but my lord the king is as an angel of David, and followed Sueba the son of Bichri: God do therefore what is good in thine eyes. but the men of Judah clave unto their king, from 28 For all of my father's house were but dead Jordan even to Jerusalem. men before my lord the king: yet didst thou set 3 And David came to his house at Jerusalem; thy servant among them that did eat at thine and the king took the ten women his concubines, own table. What right therefore have I yet to whom he had left to keep the house, and put cry any more unto the king? them in ward, and fed them, but went not in 29 And the king said unto him, Why speakest unto them. So they were shut up unto the day thou any more of thy matters? I have said, Thou of their death, living in widowhood. and Ziba divide the land. 4 ¶ Then said the king to Amasa, Assemble me 30 And Mephibosheth said unto the king, Yea, the men of Judah within three days, and be thon let him take all, forasmuch as my lord the king here present.

is come again in peace unto his own house. 5 So Amasa went to assemble the men of Judah: And Barzillai the Gileadite came down but he tarried longer than the set time which he from Rogelim, and went over Jordan with the had appointed him.

31

king, to conduct him over Jordan.

6 And David said to Abishai, Now shall Sheba

Amasa slain by Joab.

II. SAMUEL.

David buries Saul's bones the son of Bichri do us more harm than did Ab- 26 And Ira also the Jairite was a chief ruler salom: take thou thy lord's servants and pursue about David. after him, lest he get him fenced cities, and escape us.

CHAP. XXI.
Seven of Saul's sons hanged, &e.

7 And there went out after him Joab's men, THEN there was a famine in the days of Daand the Cherethites, and the Pelethites, and all vid three years, year after year; and David the mighty men and they went out of Jerusa- inquired of the LORD. And the LORD answered, lem, to pursue after Sheba the son of Bichri. It is for Saul, and for his bloody house, because 8 When they were at the great stone which is he slew the Gibeonites.

in Gibeon, Amasa went before them. And Joab's 2 And the king called the Gibeonites, and said
garment that he had put on was girded unto him, unto them: (now the Gibeonites were not of the
and upon it a girdle with a sword fastened upon children of Israel, but of the remnant of the Am-
his loins in the sheath thereof; and as he went orites; and the children of Israel had sworn unto
forth it fell out.
them and Saul sought to slay them, in his zeal

9 And Joah said to Amasa, Art thou in health, to the children of Israel and Judah.)
my brother? And Joab took Amasa by the beard
with the right hand to kiss him.

3 Wherefore David said unto the Gibeonites, What shall I do for you? and wherewith shall I 10 But Amasa took no heed to the sword that make the atonement, that ye may bless the inwas in Joab's hand: so he smote him therewith heritance of the LORD?

in the fifth rib, and shed out his bowels to the 4 And the Gibeonites said unto him, We will ground, and struck him not again; and he died. have no silver nor gold of Saul, nor of his house; So Joab and Abishai his brother pursued after neither for us shalt thou kill any mau in Israel. Sheba the son of Bichri. And he said, What ye shall say, that will I do

11 And one of Joab's men stood by him, and for you. said, He that favoureth Joab, and he that is for 5 And they answered the king, The man that David, let him go after Joab. consumed us, and that devised against us, that we should be destroyed from remaining in any of the coasts of Israel,

12 And Amasa wallowed in blood in the midst of the highway. And when the man saw that all the people stood still, he removed Amasa out of the highway into the field, and cast a cloth upon him, when he saw that every one that came by him stood still.

13 When he was removed out of the highway, all the people went on after Joab, to pursue after Sheba the son of Bichri.

6 Let seven men of his sons be delivered unto us, and we will hang them up unto the LORD in Gibeah of Saul, whom the LORD did choose. And the king said, I will give them.

7 But the king spared Mephibosheth, the son of Jonathan, the son of Saul, because of the LORD's oath that was between them, between David and Jonathan the son of Saul.

14 And he went through all the tribes of Is rael unto Abel, and to Beth-maachah, and all 8 But the king took the two sons of Rizpah the the Berites: and they were gathered together, and went also after him.

15 And they came and besieged him in Abel of Beth-maachah, and they cast up a bank against the city, and it stood in the trench and all the people that were with Joab battered the wall, to throw it down.

16 Then cried a wise woman out of the city, Hear, hear; say, I pray you, unto Joab, Come near hither, that I may speak with thee.

daughter of Aiah, whom she bare unto Saul, Armoni and Mephibosheth; and the five sons of Michal the daughter of Saul, whom she brought up for Adriel, the son of Barzillai the Meholathite: 9 And he delivered them into the hands of the Gibeonites, and they hanged them in the hill before the LORD: and they fell all seven together, and were put to death in the days of harvest, in the first days, in the beginning of barley-harvest. 10 And Rizpah the daughter of Aiah took sackcloth, and spread it for her upon the rock, from the beginning of harvest until water dropped upon them out of heaven, and suffered neither the birds of the air to rest on them by day, nor the beasts of the field by night.

17 And when he was come near unto her, the woman said, Art thou Joab? And he answered, I am he. Then she said unto him, Hear the words of thy handmaid. And he answered, I do hear. 18 Then she spake, saying, They were wont to speak in old time, saying, They shall surely ask 11 And it was told David what Rizpah the daugh counsel at Abel: and so they ended the matter.ter of Aiah the concubine of Saul had done. 19 I am one of them that are praceable and 12 And David went and took the bones of Saul faithful in Israel: thou seekest to destroy a city and the bones of Jonathan his son from the men and a mother in Israel: why wilt thou swallow of Jabesh-gilead, which had stolen them from the up the inheritance of the LORD? street of Beth-shan, where the Philistines had hauged them, when the Philistines had slain Saul in Gilboa:

20 And Joab answered and said, Far be it, far be it from me, that I should swallow up or destroy. 21 The matter is not so: but a man of mount 13 And he brought up from thence the bones of Ephraim, Sheba the son of Bichri by name, hath Saul and the bones of Jonathan his son: and they lifted up his hand against the king, even against gathered the bones of them that were hanged. David: deliver him only, and I will depart from 14 And the bones of Saul and Jonathan his son the city. And the woman said unto Joab, Behold, buried they in the country of Benjamin in Zelah, his head shall be thrown to thee over the wall. in the sepulchre of Kish his father: and they per22 Then the woman went unto all the people formed all that the king commanded. And after in her wisdom. And they cut off the head of that God was entreated for the land. Sheba the son of Bichri and cast it out to Joab. 15 Moreover, the Philistines had yet war again And he blew a trumpet, and they retired from with Israel; and David went down, and his serthe city, every man to his tent. And Joab re-vants with him, and fought against the Philisturned to Jerusalem unto the king.

23 Now Joab was over all the host of Israel:
and Benaiah the son of Jehoiada was over the
Cherethites and over the Pelethites:
24 And Adoram was over the tribute: and Je-
hoshaphat the son of Ahilud was recorder:
25 And Sheva was scribe: and Zadok and
Abiatliar were the priests:

tines: and David waxed faint.

16 And Ishbi-benob, which was of the sons of the giant, the weight of whose spear weighed three hundred shekels of brass in weight, he being girded with a new sword, thought to have slain David. 17 But Abishai the son of Zeruiah sucroured him, and snote the Philistine, and killed him. Then the men of David sware unto him, saying,

Four giants slain.

CHAP. XXI, XXIII. Thou shalt go no more out with us to battle, that thou quench not the light of Israel.

18 And it came to pass after this, that there was again a battle with the Philistines at Gob: then Sibbechai the Hushathite slew Saph, which was of the sons of the giant.

Thanksgiving for deliverance 24 I was also upright before him, and have kept myself from mine iniquity.

25 Therefore the LORD hath recompensed me according to my righteousness; according to my cleanness in his eye-sight.

26 With the merciful thou wilt shew thyself 19 And there was again a battle in Gob with the merciful, and with the upright man thou wilt Philistines, where Ellanan the son of Jaare-ore-shew thyself upright.

gim, a Beth-lehemite, slew the brother of Goli- 27 With the pure thou wilt shew thyself pure; ath the Gittite, the staff of whose spear was like and with the froward thou wilt shew thyself una weaver's beam.

savoury.

20 And there was yet a battle in Gath, where was 28 And the afflicted people thou wilt save: but a man of great stature, that had on every hand six thine eyes are upon the haughty, that thou mayfingers, and on every foot six toes, four and twen-est bring them down.

ty in number; and he also was born to the giant. 29 For thou art my lamp, O LORD: and the LORD 21 And when he defied Israel, Jonathan the son will lighten my darkness. of Shimeah the brother of David slew him. 22 These four were born to the giant in Gath, and fell by the hand of David, and by the hand of his servants.

CHAP. XXII.

David's psalm of thanksgiving. AND David spake unta y that the the wind of this song in the day that the LORD had delivered him out of the hand of all his enemies, and out of the hand of Sani:

2 And he said, The LORD is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer;

3 The God of my rock; in him will I trust: he is my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my high tower, and my refuge, my saviour; thou savest me from violence.

4 I will call on the LORD, who is worthy to be
praised: so shall I be saved from mine enemies
5 When the waves of death compassed me, the
floods of ungodly men made me afraid;
6 The sorrows of hell compassed me about; the
snares of death prevented me;

30 For by thee I have run through a troop: by my God have I leaped over a wall.

31 As for God, his way is perfect; the word of the LORD is tried: he is a buckler to all them that trust in him.

32 For who is God, save the LORD? and who

133 rock, save our God?

33 God is my strength and power: and he maketh my way perfect.

34 He maketh my feet like hinds' feet: and setteth me upon my high places.

35 lle teacheth my hands to war; so that a bow of steel is broken by mine arms. 36 Thou hast also given me the shield of thy salvation: and thy gentleness hath made me great. 37 Thou hast enlarged ny steps under me; so that my feet did not slip.

38 I have pursued mine enemies, and destroyed them; and turned not again until I had consumed them.

39 And I have consumed them, and wounded them, that they could not arise: yea, they are falien under my feet.

40 For thou hast girded me with strength to battle: them that rose up against me hast thou sub

7 In my distress I called upon the LORD, and
cried to my God: and he did hear my voice out
of his temple, and my cry did enter into his ears.
8Then the earth shook and trembled: the found-dued under me.
ations of heaven moved and shook, because he
was wroth.

9 There went up a smoke out of his nostrils, and fire out of his mouth devoured: coals were kindled by it.

10 He bowed the heavens also, and came down; and darkness was under his feet.

11 And he rode upou a cherub, and did fly: and he was seen upon the wings of the wind.

12 And he made darkness pavilions round about him, dark waters, and thick clouds of the skies. 13 Through the brightness before him were coals of fire kiudled.

14 The LORD thundered from heaven, and the Most High uttered his voice.

15 And he sent out arrows, and scattered them; lightning, and discomfited them.

16 And the channels of the sea appeared, the foundations of the world were discovered, at the rebuking of the LORD, at the blast of the breath of his nostrils.

17 He sent from above, he took me; he drew me out of many waters:

18 He delivered me from my strong enemy, and from them that hated me: for they were too strong for me.

19 They prevented me in the day of my calamity: but the LORD was my stay.

20 le brought me forth also into a large place: he delivered me, because he delighted in me. 21 The LORD rewarded me according to my right

41 Thou hast also given me the necks of mine enemies, that I might destroy them that hate me. 42 They looked, but there was none to save; even unto the LORD, but he answered them not. 43 Then did I beat them as small as the dust of the earth, I did stamp them as the mire of the street, and did spread them abroad.

44 Thou also hast delivered me from the strivings of my people, thou hast kept me to be head of the heathen: a people which I knew not shall serve me.

45 Strangers shall submit themselves unto me: as soon as they hear, they shall be obedient unto me. 46 Strangers shall fade away, and they shall be afraid out of their close places. 47The LORD liveth; and blessed be my rock; and exalted be the God of the rock of my salvation. 48 It is God that avengeth me, and that bringeth down the people under me,

49 And that bringeth me forth from mine enemies: thou also hast lifted me up on high above them that rose up against me: thou hast deliv ered me from the violent man.

50 Therefore I will give thanks unto thee, O LORD, among the heathen, and 1 will sing praises unto thy name.

51 He is the tower of salvation for his king: and sheweth mercy to his anointed, unto David, and to his seed for evermore.

CHAP. XXIII.

David's faith in God's promises.
TOW these be the last words of David. Da.

cousness: according to the cleanness of my hands vid the son of Jesse said, and the man whe

hath he recompensed nie.

For I have kept the ways of the LORD, and have not wickedly departed from my God. 23 For all his judgments were before me: and as for his statutes I did not depart from them.

was raised up on high, the anointed of the God of Jacob, aud the sweet psalmist of Israel, said, 2 The Spirit of the LORD spake by me, and his word was in my tongue.

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