Kings II 1

1 And it came to pass after Saul was dead, that David returned from striking Amalec, and David abode two days in Sekelac.

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

2 And it came to pass on the third day, that, behold, a man came from the camp, from the people of Saul, and his garments were tore, and earth [was] upon his head: and it came to pass when he went in to David, that he fell upon the earth, and did obeisance to him.

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 And David said to him, Whence come you? and he said to him, I have escaped out of the camp of Israel.

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

4 And David said to him, What [is] the matter? tell me. And he said, The people fled out of the battle, and many of the people have fallen and are dead, and Saul and Jonathan his son are 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 And David said to the young man who brought him the tidings, How know you that Saul and Jonathan his son are dead?

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

6 And the young man that brought the tidings, said to him, I happened accidentally to be upon mount Gelbue; and, behold, Saul was leaning upon his spear, and, behold, the chariots and captains of horse pressed hard upon 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 And he looked behind him, and saw me, and called me; and I said, Behold, [here am] I.

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

8 And he said to me, Who are you? and I said, I am an Amalekite.

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

9 And he said to me, Stand, I pray you, over me, and kill me, for a dreadful darkness has come upon me, for all my life [is] in me.

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 he would not live after he was fallen; and I took the crown that was upon his head, and the bracelet that was upon his arm, and I have brought them hither 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 And David laid hold of his garments, and tore them; and all the men who were with him tore their garments.

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

12 And they lamented, and wept, and fasted till evening, for Saul and for Jonathan his son, and for the people of Juda, and for the house of Israel, because they were struck with 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 said to the young man who brought the tidings to him, Whence are you? and he said, I am the son of an Amalekite sojourner.

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 And David said to him, How was it you were not afraid to lift your hand to destroy the anointed of the Lord?

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

15 And David called one of his young men, and said, Go and fall upon him: and he struck him, 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 And David said to him, Your blood [be] upon your own head; for your mouth has testified against you, saying, I have slain the anointed of the Lord.

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

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

18 And he gave orders to teach it the sons of Juda: behold, it is written in the book of Right.

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 Set up a pillar, O Israel, for the slain that died upon your high places: how are the mighty fallen!

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

20 Tell it not in Geth, and tell it not as glad tidings in the streets of Ascalon, lest the daughters of the Philistines rejoice, lest the daughters of the uncircumcised triumph.

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 You mountains of Gelbue, let not dew no rain descend upon you, nor fields of first fruits [be upon you], for there the shield of the mighty ones has been grievously assailed; the shield of Saul was not 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, and from the fat of the mighty, the bow of Jonathan returned not empty; and the sword of Saul turned not back 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, the beloved and the beautiful, were not divided: comely [were they] in their life, and in their death they were not divided: [they were] swifter than eagles, and 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 Daughters of Israel, weep for Saul, who clothed you with scarlet together with your adorning, who added golden ornaments to your apparel.

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

25 How are the mighty fallen in the midst of the battle! O Jonathan, even the slain ones upon your high places!

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

26 I am grieved for you, my brother Jonathan; you were very lovely to me; your love to me was wonderful beyond 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 are the mighty fallen, and the weapons of war perished!

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