2 Samuel 1

1 And so it was, after the death of Saul, when David had returned from the smiting of the Amalekites, and David had abode in Ziklag two days,

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.

2 yea so it was, on the third day, that lo! a man came out of the camp, from Saul, with his clothes rent, and earth upon his head, —and so it was, when he came in unto David, that he fell to the earth, and did homage.

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.

3 And David said unto him, From whence comest thou? And he said unto him, Out of the camp of Israel, am I escaped.

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

4 And David said unto him—How turned out the matter? tell me, I pray thee. And he said—The people have fled from the battle, yea moreover, many, of the people have fallen, and died, Yea moreover, Saul, and Jonathan his son, are dead.

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.

5 Then said David unto the young man who was telling him, —How knowest thou that Saul and Jonathan his son are dead?

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

6 And the young man who was telling him said, It, so happened, that I was on Mount Gilboa, when lo! Saul, leaning upon his spear, and lo! the chariots and horsemen, hotly pursued him;

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.

7 so he turned behind him, and saw me, —and cried out unto me, and I said, Behold me!

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

8 And he said unto me, Who art thou? And I said unto him, An Amalekite, am I.

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

9 And he said unto me, I pray thee, take thy stand by me, and put me to death, for the cramp hath seized me, —even for as long as my life shall be in me.

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.

10 So I took my stand by him, and put him to death, for I perceived that he could not survive his fall, —so I took the crown that was on his head, and the bracelet that was on his arm, and have brought them in unto my lord, here.

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.

11 Then David took hold of his clothes, and rent them, —yea moreover, [so did] all the men who were with him.

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

12 And they lamented aloud, and wept, and fasted until the 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.

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.

13 And David said unto the young man who was telling him, Whence art thou? And he said, Son of a sojourner—an Amalekite, am I.

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

14 And David said unto him, —How wast thou not afraid to thrust forth thy hand, to destroy the Anointed of Yahweh?

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

15 So David called one of the young men, and said, —Go near—fall upon him. And he smote him, that he died.

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

16 And David said unto him, Thy blood, be upon thine own head, —for, thine own mouth, hath testified against thee, saying, I myself, put to death the Anointed of Yahweh.

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.

17 Then chanted David this dirge, —over Saul and over Jonathan his son;

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

18 and he thought to teach the sons of Judah [the song of] the Bow, —lo! it is written in the Book of the Upright: —

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

19 The beauty of Israel! on thy high plumes—slain! How have fallen—the mighty!

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

20 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.

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.

21 Ye mountains in Gilboa! Be there neither dew nor rain upon you, nor fields of offerings, —for, there, were cast away, the shields of the mighty, The shield of Saul, unanointed with oil.

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.

22 From the blood of the slain, from the fat of the mighty, the bow of Jonathan ne’er drew back, —and, the sword of Saul, ne’er returned, empty.

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.

23 Saul and Jonathan, delightfully loving in their lives, even, in their death, were not divided, —Beyond eagles, were they swift, beyond lions, were they strong!

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.

24 Ye daughters of Israel! For Saul, weep ye, —who clothed you in crimson, [decked] with lovely things, who hung ornaments of gold on your apparel!

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

25 How have fallen the mighty, in the midst of the battle! Jonathan, on thy high places, slain!

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

26 I am distressed for thee, my brother, Jonathan! Delightful to me, exceedingly, —Wonderful, was thy love to me, passing the love of women.

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

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

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