1 Chronicles Chapter 18
Showing all 17 verses for 1 Chronicles Chapter 18.
The People's Bible is written by people, for the people. Each verse below shows:
"Now after this it came to pass, that David smote the Philistines, and subdued them, and took Gath and her towns out of the hand of the Philistines. "
"After this, David defeated the Philistines and subdued them, capturing Gath and its surrounding towns from Philistine control."
Promises made to you often show up first as ordinary, hard-won progress in daily life, not as instant miracles. Expect the follow-through to look like real effort meeting real opportunity.
"And he smote Moab; and the Moabites became David’s servants, and brought gifts. "
"David also defeated Moab, and the Moabites became his subjects, paying tribute."
Complicated history with someone, even genuine family connection, doesn't automatically dictate every future relationship. Situations change, and so must your response to them.
"And David smote Hadarezer king of Zobah unto Hamath, as he went to stablish his dominion by the river Euphrates. "
"David also defeated Hadarezer, king of Zobah, as far as Hamath, while Hadarezer was trying to extend his own control to the Euphrates river."
Sometimes achieving what was long promised to you takes real, sustained effort over years, not passive waiting for it to simply arrive.
"And David took from him a thousand chariots, and seven thousand horsemen, and twenty thousand footmen: David also houghed all the chariot horses, but reserved of them an hundred chariots. "
"David captured a thousand chariots, seven thousand horsemen, and twenty thousand foot soldiers from him; he hamstrung nearly all the chariot horses, keeping only enough for a hundred chariots."
Having the means to hoard more power or advantage doesn't mean you should keep all of it. Real strength sometimes shows itself in deliberate restraint.
"And when the Syrians of Damascus came to help Hadarezer king of Zobah, David slew of the Syrians two and twenty thousand men. "
"When the Syrians of Damascus came to help Hadarezer, David killed twenty-two thousand of them."
I don't ask you to pretend history, or your own history, was gentler than it was. Facing hard truths honestly, without flinching or glorifying them, is part of genuine integrity.
"Then David put garrisons in Syriadamascus; and the Syrians became David’s servants, and brought gifts. Thus the LORD preserved David whithersoever he went. "
"David then stationed garrisons in Syrian Damascus, and the Syrians became his subjects, paying tribute. The LORD gave David victory wherever he went."
Your own hard work and a sense that something greater than you is supporting you aren't in competition - both can be genuinely true of your own successes.
"And David took the shields of gold that were on the servants of Hadarezer, and brought them to Jerusalem. "
"David took the gold shields carried by Hadarezer's officers and brought them to Jerusalem."
What you gain through hard-won effort is worth putting towards something meaningful and lasting, not simply spent on yourself alone.
"Likewise from Tibhath, and from Chun, cities of Hadarezer, brought David very much brass, wherewith Solomon made the brasen sea, and the pillars, and the vessels of brass. "
"From Tibhath and Chun, cities belonging to Hadarezer, David took a great quantity of bronze, which Solomon later used to make the bronze basin, the pillars, and other bronze articles for the temple."
You may not get to finish the project closest to your own heart, but the work you do now can still become the material someone else uses to complete it. That's not failure, it's contribution.
"Now when Tou king of Hamath heard how David had smitten all the host of Hadarezer king of Zobah; "
"When Tou, king of Hamath, heard that David had defeated the entire army of Hadarezer, king of Zobah..."
How you handle conflict and victory shapes how people who aren't even directly involved come to see and relate to you afterwards. Reputation travels further than you think.
"He sent Hadoram his son to king David, to enquire of his welfare, and to congratulate him, because he had fought against Hadarezer, and smitten him; (for Hadarezer had war with Tou;) and with him all manner of vessels of gold and silver and brass. "
"Tou sent his son Hadoram to King David to greet him and congratulate him for defeating Hadarezer, since Tou himself had been at war with Hadarezer, bringing all kinds of gold, silver and bronze articles."
Not every situation calls for conflict. Sometimes the wisest response to someone else's success, especially if it benefits you too, is genuine congratulation and goodwill, not resentment.
"Them also king David dedicated unto the LORD, with the silver and the gold that he brought from all these nations; from Edom, and from Moab, and from the children of Ammon, and from the Philistines, and from Amalek. "
"King David dedicated all of this to the LORD, along with the silver and gold he had taken from all these nations - Edom, Moab, the Ammonites, the Philistines, and Amalek."
When life brings you unexpected gain, consider dedicating some of it to something bigger than your own comfort - that choice shapes what the gain ultimately means.
"Moreover Abishai the son of Zeruiah slew of the Edomites in the valley of salt eighteen thousand. "
"Abishai son of Zeruiah killed eighteen thousand Edomites in the Valley of Salt."
Real achievement is almost always a team effort. Give credit by name to the people around you who do the hard, dangerous work that makes shared success possible.
"And he put garrisons in Edom; and all the Edomites became David’s servants. Thus the LORD preserved David whithersoever he went. "
"David placed garrisons throughout Edom, and all the Edomites became his subjects. The LORD gave David victory wherever he went."
Consistency over time, not just one lucky win, is what really testifies to something dependable at work in your life. Look for the pattern, not just the single moment.
"So David reigned over all Israel, and executed judgment and justice among all his people. "
"So David reigned over all Israel, administering justice and fairness to all his people."
However much external success or power you gain, what matters most is how fairly and justly you treat the people directly under your care and influence.
"And Joab the son of Zeruiah was over the host; and Jehoshaphat the son of Ahilud, recorder. "
"Joab son of Zeruiah commanded the army, and Jehoshaphat son of Ahilud was the recorder."
Good, lasting leadership depends on building a real team with clear roles, not trying to do and remember everything yourself.
"And Zadok the son of Ahitub, and Abimelech the son of Abiathar, were the priests; and Shavsha was scribe; "
"Zadok son of Ahitub and Abimelech son of Abiathar were the priests, and Shavsha was secretary."
Sometimes stability in your own life or work depends on holding two different perspectives, people, or interests in balance for a season, even if it can't last forever.
"And Benaiah the son of Jehoiada was over the Cherethites and the Pelethites; and the sons of David were chief about the king. "
"Benaiah son of Jehoiada was in charge of the Cherethites and Pelethites, David's royal bodyguard; and David's own sons held chief positions close to the king."
The goal of hard-won struggle isn't struggle itself, but eventually reaching a settled, well-ordered life where the people you trust are given real responsibility around you.