2 Samuel 1

1 After the death of Saul, David returned from the slaughter of the Amalekites and stayed in Ziklag two days.

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

2 On the third day a man with torn clothes and dust on his head arrived from Saul’s camp. When he came to David, he fell to the ground to pay him homage.

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.

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

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

4 “What was the outcome?” David asked. “Please tell me.” “The troops fled from the battle,” he replied. “Many of them fell and died. And Saul and his son Jonathan are also dead.”

“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.”

5 Then David asked the young man who had brought him the report, “How do you know that Saul and his son Jonathan are dead?”

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

6 “I happened to be on Mount Gilboa,” he replied, “and there was Saul, leaning on his spear, with the chariots and the cavalry closing in on him.

“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.

7 When he turned around and saw me, he called out and I answered, ‘Here I am!’

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

8 ‘Who are you?’ he asked. So I told him, ‘I am an Amalekite.’

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

9 Then he begged me, ‘Stand over me and kill me, for agony has seized me, but my life still lingers.’

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

10 So I stood over him and killed him, because I knew that after he had fallen he could not survive. And I took the crown that was on his head and the band that was on his arm, and I have brought them here to my lord.”

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.”

11 Then David took hold of his own clothes and tore them, and all the men who were with him did the same.

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

12 They mourned and wept and fasted until evening for Saul and his son Jonathan, and for the people of the LORD and the house of Israel, because they had fallen by the sword.

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.

13 And David inquired of the young man who had brought him the report, “Where are you from?” “I am the son of a foreigner,” he answered. “I am an Amalekite.”

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.”

14 So David asked him, “Why were you not afraid to lift your hand to destroy the LORD’s anointed?”

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

15 Then David summoned one of the young men and said, “Go, execute him!” So the young man struck him down, and he died.

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

16 For David had said to the Amalekite, “Your blood be on your own head because your own mouth has testified against you, saying, ‘I killed the LORD’s anointed.’”

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.’”

17 Then David took up this lament for Saul and his son Jonathan,

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

18 and he ordered that the sons of Judah be taught the Song of the Bow. It is written in the Book of Jashar:

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:

19 “Your glory, O Israel, lies slain on your heights. How the mighty have fallen!

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

20 Tell it not in Gath; proclaim it not in the streets of Ashkelon, lest the daughters of the Philistines rejoice, and the daughters of the uncircumcised exult.

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.

21 O mountains of Gilboa, may you have no dew or rain, no fields yielding offerings of grain. For there the shield of the mighty was defiled, the shield of Saul, no longer anointed with oil.

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.

22 From the blood of the slain, from the fat of the mighty, the bow of Jonathan did not retreat, and the sword of Saul did not return empty.

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

23 Saul and Jonathan, beloved and delightful in life, were not divided in death. They were swifter than eagles, they were stronger than lions.

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.

24 O daughters of Israel, weep for Saul, who clothed you in scarlet and luxury, who decked your garments with ornaments of gold.

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

25 How the mighty have fallen in the thick of battle! Jonathan lies slain on your heights.

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

26 I grieve for you, Jonathan, my brother. You were delightful to me; your love to me was extraordinary, surpassing the love of women.

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!

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

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