2 Samuel, 1

1. Now it came to pass after the death of Saul, when David was returned from the slaughter of the Amalekites, and David had abode two days in Ziklag;

1. It was thus that Saul died. As for David, he returned after defeating the Amalekites. He was already two days in Ziklag

2. It came even to pass on the third day, that, behold, a man came out of the camp from Saul with his clothes rent, and earth upon his head: and [so] it was, when he came to David, that he fell to the earth, and did obeisance.

2. when, on the third day, a man came from Saul's camp, with his clothes torn and dust strewn on his head. He went to David and fell to the ground in homage.

3. And David said unto him, From whence comest thou? And he said unto him, Out of the camp of Israel am I escaped.

3. David asked him, "Where are you from?" And he answered, "I have escaped from the Israelite camp."

4. And David said unto him, How went the matter? I pray thee, tell me. And he answered, That the people are fled from the battle, and many of the people also are fallen and dead; and Saul and Jonathan his son are dead also.

4. David then said, "Tell me what happened." And the man told him, "The soldiers fled from the battle but many of them fell and died. Saul and his son Jonathan - they too are dead."

5. And David said unto the young man that told him, How knowest thou that Saul and Jonathan his son be dead?

5. Then David asked the young man who reported this, "How do you know that Saul and his son Jonathan are dead?"

6. And the young man that told him said, As I happened by chance upon mount Gilboa, behold, Saul leaned upon his spear; and, lo, the chariots and horsemen followed hard after him.

6. The young man replied, "I happened to be on Mount Gilboa and I saw Saul leaning on his spear while chariots and horsemen were closing in on him.

7. And when he looked behind him, he saw me, and called unto me. And I answered, Here [am] I.

7. He turned around and, seeing me, called me.

8. And he said unto me, Who [art] thou? And I answered him, I [am] an Amalekite.

8. I said, 'Here I am.' He asked, 'Who are you?' and I replied, 'I am an Amalekite.'

9. He said unto me again, Stand, I pray thee, upon me, and slay me: for anguish is come upon me, because my life [is] yet whole in me.

9. He then said to me, 'Come here and kill me for I feel dizzy though I am fully alive.'

10. So I stood upon him, and slew him, because I was sure that he could not live after that he was fallen: and I took the crown that [was] upon his head, and the bracelet that [was] on his arm, and have brought them hither unto my lord.

10. So I went over and killed him, for I knew that he would fall and not rise again. Then I removed the crown from his head and the armlet from his arm, both of which I have here to give you, my lord."

11. Then David took hold on his clothes, and rent them; and likewise all the men that [were] with him:

11. At this, David took hold of his clothes and tore them and his men did the same.

12. And they mourned, and wept, and fasted until even, for Saul, and for Jonathan his son, and for the people of the LORD, and for the house of Israel; because they were fallen by the sword.

12. And they mourned, weeping and fasting until evening, for the death of Saul and his son Jonathan, for all the people of Judah and for the nation of Israel.

13. And David said unto the young man that told him, Whence [art] thou? And he answered, I [am] the son of a stranger, an Amalekite.

13. David asked the young man who told him this, "Where are you from?" And he answered, "I am the son of an Amalekite immigrant."

14. And David said unto him, How wast thou not afraid to stretch forth thine hand to destroy the LORD'S anointed?

14. David said, "Why were you not afraid to lay your hands on Yahweh's anointed and kill him?"

15. And David called one of the young men, and said, Go near, [and] fall upon him. And he smote him that he died.

15. He then called one of his men and ordered him, "Come and strike him down." He struck down the Amalekite and killed him.

16. And David said unto him, Thy blood [be] upon thy head; for thy mouth hath testified against thee, saying, I have slain the LORD'S anointed.

16. David declared, "You will answer for your own blood for you condemned yourself when you said, 'I have killed Yahweh's anointed'."

17. And David lamented with this lamentation over Saul and over Jonathan his son:

17. David sang this song of lamentation for Saul and his son Jonathan, and had it taught to the people of Judah. It is called "The Bow"

18. (Also he bade them teach the children of Judah [the use of] the bow: behold, [it is] written in the book of Jasher.)

18. and is found in the Book of the Just.

19. The beauty of Israel is slain upon thy high places: how are the mighty fallen!

19. "Your glory, O Israel, is slain upon your mountains! How the mighty ones have fallen!

20. Tell [it] not in Gath, publish [it] not in the streets of Askelon; lest the daughters of the Philistines rejoice, lest the daughters of the uncircumcised triumph.

20. Tell it not in Gath, proclaim it not in the streets of Ashkelon lest the Philistine women rejoice, lest foreign maidens exult.

21. Ye mountains of Gilboa, [let there be] no dew, neither [let there be] rain, upon you, nor fields of offerings: for there the shield of the mighty is vilely cast away, the shield of Saul, [as though he had] not [been] anointed with oil.

21. Mountains of Gilboa, let neither dew nor rain visit you, no more fertile fields on you! For on you the shield of the valiant was defiled.

22. From the blood of the slain, from the fat of the mighty, the bow of Jonathan turned not back, and the sword of Saul returned not empty.

22. The shield of Saul was not anointed with oil; but with the blood of the slain. From the fat of the warriors, the bow of Jonathan did not turn back, nor did the sword of Saul return unstained.

23. Saul and Jonathan [were] lovely and pleasant in their lives, and in their death they were not divided: they were swifter than eagles, they were stronger than lions.

23. Saul and Jonathan, beloved and cherished, neither in life nor in death were they parted; swifter than eagles they were and stronger than lions.

24. Ye daughters of Israel, weep over Saul, who clothed you in scarlet, with [other] delights, who put on ornaments of gold upon your apparel.

24. Women of Israel, weep over Saul who clothed you in precious scarlet.

25. How are the mighty fallen in the midst of the battle! O Jonathan, [thou wast] slain in thine high places.

25. How the valiant have fallen! In the midst of the battle Jonathan lies slain on your mountains.

26. I am distressed for thee, my brother Jonathan: very pleasant hast thou been unto me: thy love to me was wonderful, passing the love of women.

26. I grieve for you, my brother Jonathan; how dear have you been to me! Your love for me was wonderful, even more than the love of women.

27. How are the mighty fallen, and the weapons of war perished!

27. How the valiant have fallen! The weapons of war have perished!"