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.

NOW 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;

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.

It came even to pass on the third day, that, behold, 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 to David, that he fell to the earth, and did obeisance.

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

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

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.

And David said unto him, How went the matter? I pray thee, tell me. And he answered, That the people are fled from the battle, and many of the people also are fallen and dead; and Saul and Jonathan his son are dead also.

5 And David said to the young man who brought him the tidings, How know you that Saul and Jonathan his son are dead?

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

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.

And the young man that told him said, As I happened by chance upon mount Gilboa, behold, Saul leaned upon his spear; and, lo, the chariots and horsemen followed hard after him.

7 And he looked behind him, and saw me, and called me; and I said, Behold, [here am] I.

And when he looked behind him, he saw me, and called unto me. And I answered, Here am I.

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

And he said unto me, Who art thou? And I answered him, I am 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.

He said unto me again, Stand, I pray thee, upon me, and slay me: for anguish is come upon me, because my life is yet whole in me.

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 stood upon him, and slew him, because I was sure that he could not live after that 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 hither unto my lord.

11 And David laid hold of his garments, and tore them; and all the men who were with him tore their garments.

Then David took hold on his clothes, and rent them; and likewise all the men that were with him:

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.

And they mourned, and wept, and fasted until even, for Saul, and for Jonathan his son, and for the people of the Lord, and for the house of Israel; because they were fallen 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.

And David said unto the young man that told him, Whence art thou? And he answered, I am the son of a stranger, 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?

And David said unto him, How wast thou not afraid to stretch forth thine hand to destroy the Lord’s anointed?

15 And David called one of his young men, and said, Go and fall upon him: and he struck him, and he died.

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

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.

And David said unto him, Thy blood be upon thy head; for thy mouth hath testified against thee, saying, I have slain the Lord’s anointed.

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

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

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

(Also he bade them teach the children of Judah the use of the bow: behold, it is written in the book of Jasher.)

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

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

Tell it not in Gath, publish it not in the streets of Askelon; lest the daughters of the Philistines rejoice, lest the daughters of the uncircumcised triumph.

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.

Ye mountains of Gilboa, let there be no dew, neither let there be rain, upon you, nor fields of offerings: for there the shield of the mighty is vilely cast away, the shield of Saul, as though he had not been anointed with 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.

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, 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.

Saul and Jonathan were lovely and pleasant in their lives, and in their death they were not divided: they were swifter than eagles, they were 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.

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

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

How are the mighty fallen in the midst of the battle! O Jonathan, thou wast slain in thine high places.

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 am distressed for thee, my brother Jonathan: very pleasant hast thou been unto me: thy love to me was wonderful, passing the love of women.

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

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