2 Samuel 1

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

And it comes to pass after the death of Saul, that David has returned from striking the Amalekite, and David dwells in Ziklag [for] two days,

2 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.

and it comes to pass, on the third day, that behold, a man has come in out of the camp from Saul, and his garments [are] torn, and earth [is] on his head; and it comes to pass in his coming to David, that he falls to the earth and pays respect.

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

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

4 “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.”

And David says to him, “What has been the matter? Please declare [it] to me.” And he says, “That the people have fled from the battle, and also a multitude of the people have fallen, and they die; and also Saul and his son Jonathan have died.”

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

And David says to the youth who is declaring [it] to him, “How have you known that Saul and his son Jonathan [are] dead?”

6 “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.

And the youth who is declaring [it] to him says, “I happened to meet in Mount Gilboa, and behold, Saul is leaning on his spear; and behold, the chariots and those possessing horses have followed him;

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

and he turns behind him, and sees me, and calls to me, and I say, Here I [am].

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

And he says to me, Who [are] you? And I say to him, I [am] an Amalekite.

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

And he says to me, Please stand over me and put me to death, for the arrow has seized me, for all my soul [is] still in me.

10 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.”

And I stand over him, and put him to death, for I knew that he does not live after his falling, and I take the crown which [is] on his head, and the bracelet which [is] on his arm, and bring them to my lord here.”

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

And David takes hold on his garments, and tears them, and also all the men who [are] with him,

12 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.

and they mourn, and weep, and fast until the evening, for Saul, and for his son Jonathan, and for the people of YHWH, and for the house of Israel, because they have fallen by the sword.

13 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.”

And David says to the youth who is declaring [it] to him, “Where [are] you from?” And he says, “I [am] the son of a sojourner, an Amalekite.”

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

And David says to him, “How were you not afraid to put forth your hand to destroy the anointed of YHWH?”

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

And David calls to one of the youths and says, “Draw near—fall on him”; and he strikes him, and he dies;

16 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.’”

and David says to him, “Your blood [is] on your own head, for your mouth has testified against you, saying, I put to death the anointed of YHWH.”

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

And David laments with this lamentation over Saul, and over his son Jonathan;

18 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:

and he says to teach the sons of Judah “The Bow”; behold, it is written on the Scroll of the Upright:

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

“The beauty of Israel [Is] wounded on your high places; How the mighty have fallen!

20 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.

Do not declare [it] in Gath, Do not proclaim the tidings in the streets of Ashkelon, Lest they rejoice—The daughters of the Philistines, Lest they exult—The daughters of the uncircumcised!

21 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.

Mountains of Gilboa! No dew nor rain be on you, And fields of raised-offerings! For there has become loathsome The shield of the mighty, The shield of Saul—without the anointed with oil.

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

From the blood of the wounded, From the fat of the mighty, The bow of Jonathan Has not turned backward; And the sword of Saul does not return empty.

23 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.

Saul and Jonathan! They are loved and pleasant in their lives, And in their death they have not been parted. They have been lighter than eagles, They have been mightier than lions!

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

Daughters of Israel! Weep for Saul, Who is clothing you [in] scarlet with delights. Who is lifting up ornaments of gold on your clothing.

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

How the mighty have fallen In the midst of the battle! Jonathan [was] wounded on your high places!

26 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!

I am in distress for you, my brother Jonathan, You were very pleasant to me; Your love was wonderful to me, Above the love of women!

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

How the mighty have fallen, Indeed, the weapons of war perish!”