2 Samuel, 1

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

1. After the death of Saul, when David had returned from the slaughter of the Amal'ekites, David remained 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. and on the third day, behold, a man came from Saul's camp, with his clothes rent and earth upon his head. And when he came to David, he fell to the ground and did obeisance.

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

3. David said to him, "Where do you come from?" And he said to him, "I have escaped from the camp of Israel."

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 to him, "How did it go? Tell me." And he answered, "The people have fled from the battle, and many of the people also have fallen and are dead; and Saul and his son Jonathan are also dead."

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

5. Then David said to the young man who told him, "How do you know that Saul and his son Jonathan are 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 who told him said, "By chance I happened to be on Mount Gilbo'a; and there was Saul leaning upon his spear; and lo, the chariots and the horsemen were close upon 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 to me. And I answered, `Here I am.'

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

8. And he said to me, `Who are you?' I answered him, `I am an Amal'ekite.'

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

9. And he said to me, `Stand beside me and slay me; for anguish has seized me, and yet my life still lingers.'

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 beside him, and slew him, because I was sure that he could not live after he had fallen; and I took the crown which was on his head and the armlet which was on his arm, and I have brought them here to 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 of his clothes, and rent them; and so did all the men who 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 evening for Saul and for Jonathan his son and for the people of the LORD and for the house of Israel, because they had 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 to the young man who told him, "Where do you come from?" And he answered, "I am the son of a sojourner, an Amal'ekite."

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

14. David said to him, "How is it you were not afraid to put forth your 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. Then David called one of the young men and said, "Go, fall upon him." And he smote him so 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 to him, "Your blood be upon your head; for your own mouth has testified against you, 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 Jonathan his son,

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

18. and he said it should be taught to the people of Judah; behold, it is written in the Book of Jashar. He said:

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

19. "Thy glory, O 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 Ash'kelon; lest the daughters of the Philistines rejoice, lest the daughters of the uncircumcised exult.

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 Gilbo'a, let there be no dew or rain upon you, nor upsurging of the deep! For there the shield of the mighty was defiled, the shield of Saul, not 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, beloved and lovely! In life and in 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 daintily in scarlet, who put 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! "Jonathan lies slain upon thy 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 you, my brother Jonathan; very pleasant have you been to me; your 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!"