⁷ For one will scarcely die for a righteous person—though perhaps for a good person one would dare even to die—

^13 (A)Greater love has no one than this, ^(B)that someone lay down his life for his friends.

¹⁶ By this we know love, that ^(A)he laid down his life for us, and ^(B)we ought to lay down our lives for the brothers.

⁴ who risked their necks for my life, to whom not only I give thanks but all the churches of the Gentiles give thanks as well.

²⁴ for he was a good man, ^(A)full of the Holy Spirit and of faith. And a great many people ^(B)were added to the Lord.

²⁷ The watchman said, “I think the running of the first is ^(A)like the running of Ahimaaz the son of Zadok.” And the king said, ^(B)“He is a good man and comes with good news.”

¹⁴ David was then ^(A)in the stronghold, and ^(B)the garrison of the Philistines was then at Bethlehem. ¹⁵ And David said longingly, “Oh, that someone would give me water to drink from the well of Bethlehem that is by the gate!” ¹⁶ Then the three mighty men broke through the camp of the Philistines and drew water out of the well of Bethlehem that was by the gate and carried and brought it to David. But he would not drink of it. He poured it out to the Lord ¹⁷ and said, “Far be it from me, O Lord, that I should do this. Shall I drink ^(C)the blood of the men who went at the risk of their lives?” Therefore he would not drink it. These things the three mighty men did.

^3 (A)But the men said, “You shall not go out. For if we flee, they will not care about us. If half of us die, they will not care about us. But you are worth ten thousand of us. Therefore it is better that you send us help from the city.”