2 Samuel 1

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

After the death of Saul, David returned from attacking the Amalekites. He stayed in Ziklag for two days.

2 And it came to pass on the third day, that behold, a man came out of the camp from Saul with his garments rent, and earth upon his head; and as soon as he came to David, he fell to the earth and did obeisance.

Then on the third day a man arrived from Saul's camp. His clothes were torn and he had dust on his head. When he approached David, he bowed before him, and fell to the ground in respect.

3 And David said to him, Whence comest thou? And he said to him, Out of the camp of Israel am I escaped.

“Where have you come from?” David asked him. “I got away from the Israelite camp,” he replied.

4 And David said to him, What has taken place? I pray thee, tell me. And he said that the people had fled from the battle, and many of the people also had fallen and died, and that Saul and Jonathan his son were dead also.

“Tell me what happened,” David asked. “The army ran away from the battle,” the man replied. “Many of them died, and Saul and his son Jonathan also died.”

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

“How do you know Saul and Jonathan died?” David asked the man giving the report.

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

“I just happened to be there on Mount Gilboa,” he replied. “I saw Saul, leaning on his spear, with the enemy chariots and the charioteers advancing on him.

7 And he looked behind him, and saw me, and called to me. And I said, Here am I.

He turned around and saw me. He called out and I replied, ‘I'm here to help!’

8 And he said to me, Who art thou? And I said to him, I am an Amalekite.

He asked me, ‘Who are you?’ I told him, ‘I'm an Amalekite.’

9 He said to me again, Stand, I pray thee, over me, and slay me; for anguish has seized me; for my life is yet whole in me.

Then he told me, ‘Please come over here and kill me! I'm in terrible agony but life is still hanging on.’

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

So I went over him and killed him, because I knew that wounded as he was he couldn't last long. I took the crown from his head and his bracelet from his arm, and I've brought them here to you, my lord.”

11 Then David took hold of his garments and rent them; and all the men that were with him [did] likewise.

David grabbed hold of his clothes and ripped them, as did his men.

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

They mourned and cried and fasted until the evening for Saul and his son Jonathan, and for the army of the Lord, the Israelites, that had been killed by the sword.

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

David asked man who brought him the report, “Where are you from?” “I'm the son of a foreigner,” he replied “I'm an Amalekite.”

14 And David said to him, How wast thou not afraid to stretch forth thy hand to destroy Jehovah's anointed?

“Why weren't you worried about killing the Lord's anointed one?” David asked.

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

David called over one of his men and said, “Go ahead, kill him!” So the man cut the Amalekite down and killed him.

16 And David said to him, Thy blood be upon thy head; for thy mouth has testified against thee, saying, I have slain Jehovah's anointed.

David had told the Amalekite, “Your death is your own fault because you testified against yourself when you said, ‘I killed the Lord's anointed one.’”

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

Then David sang this lament for Saul and his son Jonathan.

18 and he bade them teach the children of Judah [the song of] the bow. Behold, it is written in the book of Jasher: —

He ordered it to be taught to the people of Judah. It is called “the Bow” and is recorded in the Book of the Just:

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

“Israel, the glorious one lies dead on your mountains. How the mighty have fallen!

20 Tell [it] not in Gath, carry not the tidings in the streets of Ashkelon; Lest the daughters of the Philistines rejoice, Lest the daughters of the uncircumcised triumph.

Don't announce it in the town of Gath, don't proclaim it in the streets of Ashkelon, so that the Philistine women won't rejoice, so that the heathen women won't celebrate.

21 Ye mountains of Gilboa, let there be no dew, no rain upon you, nor fields of heave-offerings! For there the shield of the mighty was vilely cast away, The shield of Saul, [as] not anointed with oil.

Mountains of Gilboa, may no dew or rain fall on you! May you have no fields that produce offerings of grain. For it was there that the shield of the mighty was defiled; Saul's shield, no longer cared for with olive oil.

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.

Jonathan with his bow did not retreat from attacking the enemy; Saul with his sword did not return empty-handed from shedding blood.

23 Saul and Jonathan, beloved and pleasant in their lives, Even in their death were not divided; They were swifter than eagles, they were stronger than lions.

During their lives, Saul and Jonathan were much loved and very pleasant, and death did not divide them. They were faster than eagles, stronger than lions.

24 Ye daughters of Israel, weep over Saul, who clothed you in scarlet with splendour, Who put ornaments of gold upon your apparel.

Women of Israel, mourn for Saul, who gave you fine scarlet clothes decorated with gold ornaments.

25 How are the mighty fallen in the midst of the battle! Jonathan is slain upon thy high places.

How the mighty have fallen in battle! Jonathan lies dead on your mountains.

26 I am distressed for thee, my brother Jonathan: very pleasant wast thou unto me; Thy love to me was wonderful, passing women's love.

I weep so much for you, my brother Jonathan! You were so very dear to me! Your love for me was so wonderful, greater than the love women have!

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

How the mighty have fallen! The weapons of war are gone!”