2 Samuel, 1

1. Saul was dead and David, returning after his victory over the Amalekites, had been at Ziklag for two days.

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;

2. On the third day, a man arrived from Saul's camp with his clothes torn and earth on his head. When he came to David, he fell to the ground and prostrated himself.

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.

3. David asked him, 'Where have you come from?' 'I have escaped from the Israelite camp,' he said.

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

4. David said, 'What has happened? Tell me.' He replied, 'The people fled from the battle, and many of them have fallen and are dead. Saul and his son Jonathan are dead too.'

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.

5. Then David asked the young man who brought the news, 'How do you know that Saul and his son Jonathan are dead?'

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

6. The young man replied, 'I happened to be on Mount Gilboa, and there was Saul, leaning on his spear, with the chariots and the cavalry bearing down on him.

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.

7. Glancing behind him and seeing me, he shouted to me. I replied, "Here I am!"

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

8. He said, "Who are you?" I replied, "I am an Amalekite."

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

9. He then said, "Come here and kill me. My head is swimming, although I still have all my strength."

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.

10. So I went over to him and killed him, because I knew that once he fell he could not survive. I then took the crown which he had on his head and the bracelet on his arm, and have brought them here to my lord.'

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.

11. David then took hold of his clothes and tore them, and all the men with him did the same.

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

12. They mourned and wept and fasted until the evening for Saul and his son Jonathan, for the people of Yahweh and for the House of Israel, because they had fallen by the sword.

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.

13. David said to the young man who had brought the news, 'Where are you from?' He replied, 'I am the son of a resident foreigner, an Amalekite.'

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.

14. David said, 'How was it that you were not afraid to lift your hand to destroy Yahweh's anointed?'

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

15. Then David called one of the young men. 'Come here,' he said, 'strike him down.' The man struck him and he died.

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

16. David said, 'Your blood be on your own head. You convicted yourself out of your own mouth by saying, "I killed Yahweh's anointed." '

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.

17. David sang the following lament over Saul and his son Jonathan

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

18. (it is for teaching archery to the children of Judah; it is written in the Book of the Just):

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

19. Does the splendour of Israel lie dead on your heights? How did the heroes fall?

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

20. Do not speak of it in Gath, nor broadcast it in the streets of Ashkelon, for fear the daughters of the Philistines rejoice, for fear the daughters of the uncircumcised gloat.

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.

21. You mountains of Gilboa, no dew, no rain fall on you, O treacherous fields where the heroes' shield lies dishonoured! Not greased with oil, the shield of Saul,

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.

22. but with the blood of wounded men, the fat of warriors! The bow of Jonathan never turned back, the sword of Saul never came home unsated!

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.

23. Saul and Jonathan, beloved and handsome, were divided neither in life, nor in death. Swifter than eagles were they, stronger than lions.

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.

24. O daughters of Israel, weep for Saul who gave you scarlet and fine linen to wear, who pinned golden jewellery on your dresses!

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.

25. How did the heroes fall in the thick of the battle? Jonathan, by your dying I too am stricken,

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

26. I am desolate for you, Jonathan my brother. Very dear you were to me, your love more wonderful to me than the love of a woman.

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.

27. How did the heroes fall and the weapons of war succumb!

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