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 and remained 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.

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

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

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

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.

David said to him, “Please tell me how things went.” He answered, “The people fled from the battle. Many have fallen and many are dead. Saul and Jonathan his son are also dead.”

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

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

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.

The young man replied, “By chance I happened to be on Mount Gilboa, and there Saul was leaning on his spear, and chariots and riders were about to catch up with him.

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

Saul turned around and saw me and called out to me. I answered, 'Here I am.'

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

He said to me, 'Who are you?' I answered him, 'I am 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.

He said to me, 'Please stand over me and kill me, for great suffering has taken hold of me, but life is still in me.'

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 stood over him and killed him, because I knew that he would not live after he had fallen. Then I took the crown that was on his head and the band that was on his arm, and brought them here to you, my master.”

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

Then David tore his clothes, and all the men with him did the same.

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, wept, and fasted until evening for Saul, for Jonathan his son, 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 that told him, Whence art thou? And he said, I am the son of an Amalekite stranger.

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

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

David said to him, “Why were you not afraid to kill Yahweh's anointed king with your own hand?”

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 one of the young men and said, “Go and kill him.” So that man went and struck him down, and the Amalekite died.

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.

Then David said to the dead Amalekite, “Your blood is on your head because your own mouth has testified against you and said, 'I have killed Yahweh's anointed king.'”

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

Then David sung this funeral song about Saul and Jonathan his son.

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 commanded the people to teach this Song of the Bow to the sons of Judah, which has been written in the Book of Jashar.

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

“Your glory, Israel, is dead, killed on your high places! 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.

Do not tell it in Gath, do not proclaim it in the streets of Ashkelon, so that the daughters of the Philistines may not rejoice, so that the daughters of the uncircumcised may not 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, let there not be dew or rain on you, nor fields giving grain for offerings, for there the shield of the mighty was defiled. The shield of Saul is no longer anointed with 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.

From the blood of those who have been killed, from the bodies of the mighty, the bow of Jonathan did not turn back, and the sword of Saul did not return empty.

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.

Saul and Jonathan were loved and gracious in life, and in their death they were not separated. They were swifter than eagles, they were 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.

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

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 the midst of the battle! Jonathan is killed on your high places.

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 am distressed for you, my brother Jonathan. You were very dear to me. Your love to me was wonderful, exceeding the love of women.

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

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