Kings II 1

1 And it came to pass after Saul was dead, that David returned from striking Amalec, and David abode two days in Sekelac.

After the death of Saul, when David had returned from the slaughter of the Amalekites, and David had stayed two days in Ziklag,

2 And it came to pass on the third day, that, behold, a man came from the camp, from the people of Saul, and his garments were tore, and earth [was] upon his head: and it came to pass when he went in to David, that he fell upon the earth, and did obeisance to him.

on the third day, behold, a man came out of the camp from Saul, with his clothes torn and earth on his head. When he came to David, he fell to the earth and showed respect.

3 And David said to him, Whence come you? and he said to him, I have escaped out of the camp of Israel.

David said to him, “Where do you come from?” He said to him, “I have escaped out of the camp of Israel.”

4 And David said to him, What [is] the matter? tell me. And he said, The people fled out of the battle, and many of the people have fallen and are dead, and Saul and Jonathan his son are dead.

David said to him, “How did it go? Please tell me.” He answered, “The people have fled from the battle, and many of the people also have fallen and are dead. Saul and Jonathan his son are dead also.”

5 And David said to the young man who brought him the tidings, How know you that Saul and Jonathan his son are dead?

David said to the young man who told him, “How do you know that Saul and Jonathan his son are dead?”

6 And the young man that brought the tidings, said to him, I happened accidentally to be upon mount Gelbue; and, behold, Saul was leaning upon his spear, and, behold, the chariots and captains of horse pressed hard upon him.

The young man who told him said, “As I happened by chance on Mount Gilboa, behold, Saul was leaning on his spear; and behold, the chariots and the horsemen followed close behind him.

7 And he looked behind him, and saw me, and called me; and I said, Behold, [here am] I.

When he looked behind him, he saw me and called to me. I answered, ‘Here I am.’

8 And he said to me, Who are you? and I said, I am an Amalekite.

He said to me, ‘Who are you?’ I answered him, ‘I am an Amalekite.’

9 And he said to me, Stand, I pray you, over me, and kill me, for a dreadful darkness has come upon me, for all my life [is] in me.

He said to me, ‘Please stand beside me, and kill me, for anguish has taken hold of me because my life lingers in me.’

10 So I stood over him and killed him, because I knew he would not live after he was fallen; and I took the crown that was upon his head, and the bracelet that was upon his arm, and I have brought them hither to my lord.

So I stood beside him and killed him, because I was sure that he could not live after he had fallen. I took the crown that was on his head and the bracelet that was on his arm, and have brought them here to my lord.”

11 And David laid hold of his garments, and tore them; and all the men who were with him tore their garments.

Then David took hold on his clothes and tore them; and all the men who were with him did likewise.

12 And they lamented, and wept, and fasted till evening, for Saul and for Jonathan his son, and for the people of Juda, and for the house of Israel, because they were struck with the sword.

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

13 And David said to the young man who brought the tidings to him, Whence are you? and he said, I am the son of an Amalekite sojourner.

David said to the young man who told him, “Where are you from?” He answered, “I am the son of a foreigner, an Amalekite.”

14 And David said to him, How was it you were not afraid to lift your hand to destroy the anointed of the Lord?

David said to him, “Why were you not afraid to stretch out your hand to destroy Yahweh’s anointed?”

15 And David called one of his young men, and said, Go and fall upon him: and he struck him, and he died.

David called one of the young men and said, “Go near, and cut him down!” He struck him so that he died.

16 And David said to him, Your blood [be] upon your own head; for your mouth has testified against you, saying, I have slain the anointed of the Lord.

David said to him, “Your blood be on your head, for your mouth has testified against you, saying, ‘I have slain Yahweh’s anointed.’”

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

David lamented with this lamentation over Saul and over Jonathan his son

18 And he gave orders to teach it the sons of Juda: behold, it is written in the book of Right.

(and he commanded them to teach the children of Judah the song of the bow; behold, it is written in the book of Jashar):

19 Set up a pillar, O Israel, for the slain that died upon your high places: how are the mighty fallen!

“Your glory, Israel, was slain on your high places! How the mighty have fallen!

20 Tell it not in Geth, and tell it not as glad tidings in the streets of Ascalon, lest the daughters of the Philistines rejoice, lest the daughters of the uncircumcised triumph.

Don’t tell it in Gath. Don’t publish it in the streets of Ashkelon, lest the daughters of the Philistines rejoice, lest the daughters of the uncircumcised triumph.

21 You mountains of Gelbue, let not dew no rain descend upon you, nor fields of first fruits [be upon you], for there the shield of the mighty ones has been grievously assailed; the shield of Saul was not anointed with oil.

You mountains of Gilboa, let there be no dew or rain on you, and no fields of offerings; for there the shield of the mighty was defiled and cast away, the shield of Saul was not anointed with oil.

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

From the blood of the slain, from the fat of the mighty, Jonathan’s bow didn’t turn back. Saul’s sword didn’t return empty.

23 Saul and Jonathan, the beloved and the beautiful, were not divided: comely [were they] in their life, and in their death they were not divided: [they were] swifter than eagles, and they were stronger than lions.

Saul and Jonathan were lovely and pleasant in their lives. In their death, they were not divided. They were swifter than eagles. They were stronger than lions.

24 Daughters of Israel, weep for Saul, who clothed you with scarlet together with your adorning, who added golden ornaments to your apparel.

You daughters of Israel, weep over Saul, who clothed you delicately in scarlet, who put ornaments of gold on your clothing.

25 How are the mighty fallen in the midst of the battle! O Jonathan, even the slain ones upon your high places!

How the mighty have fallen in the middle of the battle! Jonathan was slain on your high places.

26 I am grieved for you, my brother Jonathan; you were very lovely to me; your love to me was wonderful beyond the love of women.

I am distressed for you, my brother Jonathan. You have been very pleasant to me. Your love to me was wonderful, surpassing the love of women.

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

How the mighty have fallen, and the weapons of war have perished!”