< 2 Samuel 1 >
1 And it came to pass after the death of Saul, when David was returned from the slaughter of the Amalekites, and David had abode two days in Ziklag,
After the death of Saul, David returned from attacking the Amalekites and remained in Ziklag for two days.
2 it came to pass on the third day, that, behold, a man came out of the camp from Saul with his clothes torn, and earth upon his head. And so it was, when he came to David, that he fell to the ground, 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, From where did thou come? And he said to him, I escaped out of the camp of Israel.
David said to him, “Where did you come from?” He answered, “I escaped from the camp of Israel.”
4 And David said to him, How did the matter go? I pray thee, tell me. And he answered, The people are fled from the battle, and many of the people also are fallen and dead, and Saul and Jonathan his son are also dead.
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 who told him, How do thou know 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 who told him said, As I happened by chance upon mount Gilboa, behold, Saul was leaning upon his spear, and, lo, the chariots and the horsemen followed close 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 when he looked behind him, he saw me, and called to me. And I answered, Here I am.
Saul turned around and saw me and called out to me. I answered, 'Here I am.'
8 And he said to me, Who are thou? And I answered him, I am an Amalekite.
He said to me, 'Who are you?' I answered him, 'I am an Amalekite.'
9 And he said to me, Stand, I pray thee, beside me, and kill me, for anguish has taken hold of me, because 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 beside him and killed him, because I was sure that he could not live after he was fallen. And I took the crown that was upon his head, and the bracelet that was on his arm, and have brought them here 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 on his clothes, and tore them, and likewise all the men who were with him.
Then David tore his clothes, and all the men with him did the same.
12 And they mourned, and wept, and fasted until evening, 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 who told him, From where are thou? And he answered, I am the son of a sojourner, an Amalekite.
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, Why were thou not afraid to put 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 And David called one of the young men, and said, Go near, and fall upon him. And he smote him so 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 sons of Judah the song of the bow; behold, it is written in the book of Jashar):
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 Thy glory, O 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, publish it not 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 nor rain upon you, neither fields of offerings, for there the shield of the mighty was vilely cast away, the shield of Saul, 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, men who were loved and pleasant, undivided; comely in their lives, and undivided in their death; 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 delicately in scarlet, 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 thou have been to me. Thy love to me was wonderful, exceeding the love of women.
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 weapons of war perished!
How the mighty have fallen, and the weapons of war perished!”