2 Samuel 1

1 And it cometh to pass, after the death of Saul, that David hath returned from smiting the Amalekite, and David dwelleth in Ziklag two days,

Now it happened that, after Saul died, David returned from the slaughter of Amalek, and he remained for two days at Ziklag.

2 and it cometh to pass, on the third day, that lo, a man hath come in out of the camp from Saul, and his garments [are] rent, and earth on his head; and it cometh to pass, in his coming in unto David, that he falleth to the earth, and doth obeisance.

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.

3 And David saith to him, 'Whence comest thou?' and he saith unto him, 'Out of the camp of Israel I have escaped.'

And David said to him, “Where have you come from?” And he said to him, “I have fled from the camp of Israel.”

4 And David saith unto him, 'What hath been the matter? declare, I pray thee, to me.' And he saith, that 'The people hath fled from the battle, and also a multitude hath fallen of the people, and they die; and also Saul and Jonathan his son have died.'

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.”

5 And David saith unto the youth who is declaring [it] to him, 'How hast thou known that Saul and Jonathan his son [are] dead?'

And David said to the youth who was reporting to him, “How do you know that Saul and his son Jonathan have died?”

6 And the youth who is declaring [it] to him saith, I happened to meet in mount Gilboa, and lo, Saul is leaning on his spear; and lo, the chariots and those possessing horses have followed him;

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.

7 and he turneth behind him, and seeth me, and calleth unto me, and I say, Here [am] I.

And turning behind his back and seeing me, he called to me. And when I had responded, “I am here,”

8 And he saith to me, Who [art] thou? and I say unto him, An Amalekite I [am].'

he said to me, “Who are you?” And I said to him, “I am an Amalekite.”

9 'And he saith unto me, Stand, I pray thee, over me, and put me to death, for seized me hath the arrow, for all my soul [is] still in me.

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.”

10 And I stand over him, and put him to death, for I knew that he doth 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 in unto my lord hither.'

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.”

11 And David taketh hold on his garments, and rendeth them, and also all the men who [are] with him,

Then David, taking hold of his garments, tore them, with all the men who were with him.

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

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.

13 And David saith unto the youth who is declaring [it] to him, 'Whence [art] thou?' and he saith, 'Son of a sojourner, an Amalekite, I [am].'

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.”

14 And David saith unto him, 'How wast thou not afraid to put forth thy hand to destroy the anointed of Jehovah?'

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?”

15 And David calleth to one of the youths, and saith, 'Draw nigh — fall upon him;' and he smiteth him, and he dieth;

And calling one of his servants, David said, “Draw near and rush against him” And he struck him, and he died.

16 and David saith unto him, 'Thy blood [is] on thine own head, for thy mouth hath testified against thee, saying, I — I put to death the anointed of Jehovah.'

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.’”

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

Then David mourned a lamentation over Saul and over his son Jonathan, in this way.

18 and he saith to teach the sons of Judah 'The Bow;' lo, it is written on the book of the Upright: —

(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:

19 'The Roebuck, O Israel, On thy high places [is] wounded; How have the mighty fallen!

The illustrious of Israel have been killed upon your mountains. How could the valiant have fallen?

20 Declare [it] not in Gath, Proclaim not the tidings in the streets of Ashkelon, Lest they rejoice — The daughters of the Philistines, Lest they exult — The daughters of the Uncircumcised!

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.

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

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.

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

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.

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

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.

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

O daughters of Israel, weep over Saul, who clothed you with scarlet finery, who offered ornaments of gold for your adornment.

25 How have the mighty fallen In the midst of the battle! Jonathan! on thy high places wounded!

How could the valiant have fallen in battle? How could Jonathan have been slain on the heights?

26 I am in distress for thee, my brother Jonathan, Very pleasant wast thou to me; Wonderful was thy love to me, Above the love of women!

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.

27 How have the mighty fallen, Yea, the weapons of war perish!'

How could the robust have fallen, and the weapons of war have perished?”