A reading from the book of 2 Samuel.

Now these are the last words of David.

The oracle of David, the son of Jesse.

The oracle of the man who is raised on high,

the anointed of the God of Jacob,

the sweet psalmist of Israel.

The spirit of the Lord speaks by me. His word is on my tongue.

The God of Israel has spoken. The rock of Israel has said to me, when one rules justly over men,

ruling in the fear of God, he dawns on them like the morning light, like the sun shining forth on a cloudless

morning, like rain that makes grass to sprout from the earth. For does not my house stand so with God?

For he has made with me an everlasting covenant, ordered in all things and secure, for will he not cause to prosper

all my help and my desire. But worthless men are all like thorns that are thrown away,

for they cannot be taken with the hand. But the man who touches them arms himself with iron and the shaft of a spear,

and they are utterly consumed with fire. These are the names of the mighty men whom David had.

Joshe Bishibeth a Tachimanite, he was chief of the three. He wielded his spear against 800, whom he killed at one time.

And next to him among the three mighty men was Elyasia the son of Dodo, son of Ahohi. He was with David

when they defied the Philistines who were gathered there for battle, and the men of Israel withdrew. He rose and struck

down the Philistines until his hand was weary, and his hand clung to the sword, and the Lord

brought about a great victory that day, and the men returned after him, only to strip the slain.

And next to him was Shama, the son of Agi, the Herorite.

The Philistines gathered together at Lehigh, where there was a plot of ground full of lentils,

and the men fled from the Philistines. But he took his stand in the midst of the plot,

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