⁷ Now it is hard for anyone to give his life even for an upright man, though it might be that for a good man someone would give his life.

⁵ All is well for the man who is kind and gives freely to others; he will make good his cause when he is judged.

³ But the people said, It is better for you not to go out: for if we are put to flight, they will not give a thought to us, and if death overtakes half of us, it will be nothing to them: but you are of more value than ten thousand of us: so it is better for you to be ready to come to our help from this town.

²⁷ And the watchman said, It seems to me that the running of the first is like the running of Ahimaaz, the son of Zadok. And the king said, He is a good man, and his news will be good.

¹⁴ And at that time David had taken cover in the strong place, and an armed force of the Philistines was in Beth-lehem.

¹⁵ And David, moved by a strong desire, said, If only someone would give me a drink of water from the water-hole of Beth-lehem, by the doorway into the town!

¹⁶ And the three men, forcing their way through the Philistine army, got water from the water-hole of Beth-lehem, by the doorway into the town, and took it back to David: but he would not take it, but, draining it out, made an offering of it to the Lord.

¹⁷ And he said, Far be it from me, O Lord, to do this; how may I take as my drink the life-blood of men who have put their lives in danger? So he would not take it. These things did the three great men of war.

¹³ Greater love has no man than this, that a man gives up his life for his friends.

²⁴ For he was a good man and full of the Holy Spirit and of faith: and a great number were joined to the Lord.

⁴ Who for my life put their necks in danger; to whom not only I but all the churches of the Gentiles are in debt:

¹⁶ In this we see what love is, because he gave his life for us; and it is right for us to give our lives for the brothers.