< 2 Samuel 1 >

1 Now it happened that, after Saul died, David returned from the slaughter of Amalek, and he remained for two days at Ziklag.
It happened after the death of Saul, that David returned from the slaughter of the Amalekites, and he stayed two days in Ziklag.
2 Then, on the third day, a man appeared, arriving from the camp of Saul, with his garments torn and dust sprinkled on his head. And when he came to David, he fell on his face, and he reverenced.
It happened on the third day, that, look, a man came out of the camp from Saul, with his clothes torn and dirt on his head. And it came about when he came to David that he fell to the ground and paid homage.
3 And David said to him, “Where have you come from?” And he said to him, “I have fled from 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 word that has happened? Reveal it to me.” And he said: “The people have fled from the battle, and many of the people have fallen and died. Moreover, Saul and his son Jonathan have passed away.”
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; and Saul and Jonathan his son are dead also."
5 And David said to the youth who was reporting to him, “How do you know that Saul and his son Jonathan have died?”
David said to the young man who had told him this, "How do you know that Saul and Jonathan his son are dead?"
6 And the youth, who was reporting it to him, said: “I arrived by chance on mount Gilboa. And Saul was lying upon his spear. Then the chariots and horsemen drew near to him.
The young man who told him said, "I happened to be on Mount Gilboa and saw Saul leaning on his spear. And look, the chariots and the horsemen were closing in on him.
7 And turning behind his back and seeing me, he called to me. And when I had responded, “I am here,”
When he turned around he saw me, and called to me. I answered, 'Here I am.'
8 he said to me, “Who are you?” And I said to him, “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 over me, and kill me. For anguish has taken hold of me, and still my whole life is in me.”
He said to me, 'Please stand beside me, and kill me; for anguish has taken hold of me, yet there is life in me still.'
10 And standing over him, I killed him. For I knew that he was not able to live after the fall. And I took the diadem that was on his head, and the bracelet from his arm, and I have brought them here to you, my lord.”
So I stood beside him, and killed him, because I was sure that he could not live after that 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 Then David, taking hold of his garments, tore them, with all the men who were with him.
Then David took hold on his clothes, and tore them; and likewise all the men who were with him.
12 And they mourned, and wept, and fasted until evening, over Saul and over his son Jonathan, and over the people of the Lord and over the house of Israel, because they had fallen by the sword.
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 And David said to the youth who had reported it to him, “Where are you from?” And he responded, “I am the son of a man who is a new arrival from the Amalekites.”
David said to the young man who had told him, "Where are you from?" He answered, "I am the son of a foreigner, an Amalekite."
14 And David said to him, “Why were you not afraid to put forth your hand, so that you would kill the Christ of the Lord?”
David said to him, "How is it that you were not afraid to put forth your hand to destroy the LORD's anointed?"
15 And calling one of his servants, David said, “Draw near and rush against him” And he struck him, and he died.
David called one of the young men, and said, "Go near, and fall on him." He struck him, so that he died.
16 And David said to him: “Your blood is upon your own head. For your own mouth has spoken against you, saying: ‘I have killed the Christ of the Lord.’”
David said to him, "Your blood be on your head; for your mouth has testified against you, saying, 'I have slain the LORD's anointed.'"
17 Then David mourned a lamentation over Saul and over his son Jonathan, in this way.
And David lamented with this lamentation over Saul and over Jonathan his son,
18 (And he instructed that they should teach the sons of Judah the bow, just as it is written in the Book of the Just.) And he said: “Consider, O Israel, on behalf of those who are dead, wounded upon your heights:
and said it should be taught to the people of Judah. Look, it is written in the book of Jashar.
19 The illustrious of Israel have been killed upon your mountains. How could the valiant have fallen?
"Your glory, Israel, is slain on your high places. How the mighty have fallen.
20 Do not choose to announce it in Gath, and do not announce it in the crossroads of Ashkelon. Otherwise, the daughters of the Philistines may rejoice; otherwise, the daughters of the uncircumcised may exult.
Do not tell it in Gath. Do not publish it in the streets of Ashkelon, lest the daughters of the Philistines rejoice, lest the daughters of the uncircumcised triumph.
21 O mountains of Gilboa, let neither dew, nor rain fall over you, and may these not be the fields of the first-fruits. For in that place, the shield of the valiant was cast away, the shield of Saul, as if he had not been anointed with oil.
You mountains of Gilboa, let there be no dew nor rain on you, nor fields of offerings. For there the shield of the mighty was vilely cast away. The shield of Saul was not anointed with oil.
22 From the blood of the slain, from the fat of the strong, the arrow of Jonathan never turned back, and the sword of Saul did not return empty.
From the blood of the slain, from the fat of the mighty, Jonathan's bow did not turn back. Saul's sword did not return empty.
23 Saul and Jonathan, worthy to be loved, and stately in their life: even in death they were not divided. They were swifter than eagles, stronger than lions.
Saul and Jonathan, beloved and lovely, not separated. Lovely in their life, and in their death they were not separated. They were swifter than eagles. They were stronger than lions.
24 O daughters of Israel, weep over Saul, who clothed you with scarlet finery, who offered ornaments of gold for your adornment.
You daughters of Israel, weep over Saul, who clothed you luxuriously in scarlet, who put ornaments of gold on your clothing.
25 How could the valiant have fallen in battle? How could Jonathan have been slain on the heights?
How are the mighty fallen in the midst of the battle. Jonathan is slain on your high places.
26 I grieve over you, my brother Jonathan: exceedingly stately, and worthy to be loved above the love of women. As a mother loves her only son, so also did I love you.
I grieve for you, my brother Jonathan. You have been very pleasant to me. Your love for me was a wonder, more than the love of women.
27 How could the robust have fallen, and the weapons of war have perished?”
How are the mighty fallen, and the weapons of war perished."

< 2 Samuel 1 >