2 Samuel 23:1-7 ▼

1 These are the final words of David: |The oracle of David son of Jesse, the oracle of the man raised up as the ruler chosen by the God of Jacob, Israel's beloved singer of songs:

2 The LORD's spirit spoke through me; his word was on my tongue.

3 The God of Israel spoke, the protector of Israel spoke to me. The one who rules fairly among men, the one who rules in the fear of God,

4 is like the light of morning when the sun comes up, a morning in which there are no clouds. He is like the brightness after rain that produces grass from the earth.

5 My dynasty is approved by God, for he has made a perpetual covenant with me, arranged in all its particulars and secured. He always delivers me, and brings all I desire to fruition.

6 But evil people are like thorns--all of them are tossed away, for they cannot be held in the hand.

7 The one who touches them must use an iron instrument or the wooden shaft of a spear. They are completely burned up right where they lie!|