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.

And it comes to pass after the death of Saul, that David has returned from striking the Amalekite, and David dwells 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.

and it comes to pass, on the third day, that behold, a man has come in out of the camp from Saul, and his garments [are] torn, and earth [is] on his head; and it comes to pass in his coming to David, that he falls to the earth and pays respect.

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 says to him, “Where do you come from?” And he says to him, “I have escaped out of the camp of Israel.”

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 says to him, “What has been the matter? Please declare [it] to me.” And he says, “That the people have fled from the battle, and also a multitude of the people have fallen, and they die; and also Saul and his son Jonathan have 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?

And David says to the youth who is declaring [it] to him, “How have you known that Saul and his son Jonathan [are] 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 youth who is declaring [it] to him says, “I happened to meet in Mount Gilboa, and behold, Saul is leaning on his spear; and behold, the chariots and those possessing horses have followed him;

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

and he turns behind him, and sees me, and calls to me, and I say, Here I [am].

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

And he says to me, Who [are] you? And I say to 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.

And he says to me, Please stand over me and put me to death, for the arrow has seized me, for all my soul [is] still 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.

And I stand over him, and put him to death, for I knew that he does 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 to my lord here.”

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

And David takes hold on his garments, and tears them, and also all the men who [are] 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 mourn, and weep, and fast until the evening, for Saul, and for his son Jonathan, and for the people of YHWH, and for the house of Israel, because they have 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 says to the youth who is declaring [it] to him, “Where [are] you from?” And he says, “I [am] the son of a sojourner, 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 says to him, “How were you not afraid to put forth your hand to destroy the anointed of YHWH?”

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 calls to one of the youths and says, “Draw near—fall on him”; and he strikes him, and he dies;

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 says to him, “Your blood [is] on your own head, for your mouth has testified against you, saying, I put to death the anointed of YHWH.”

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

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

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

and he says to teach the sons of Judah “The Bow”; behold, it is written on the Scroll of the Upright:

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] wounded on your high places; 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.

Do not declare [it] in Gath, Do not proclaim the tidings in the streets of Ashkelon, Lest they rejoice—The daughters of the Philistines, Lest they exult—The daughters of the uncircumcised!

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! No dew nor rain be on you, And fields of raised-offerings! For there has become loathsome The shield of the mighty, The shield of Saul—without the 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 wounded, From the fat of the mighty, The bow of Jonathan Has not turned backward; And the sword of Saul does not return 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! They are loved and pleasant in their lives, And in their death they have not been parted. They have been lighter than eagles, They have been mightier 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.

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

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 the midst of the battle! Jonathan [was] wounded on your 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 in distress for you, my brother Jonathan, You were very pleasant to me; Your love was wonderful to me, Above the love of women!

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

How the mighty have fallen, Indeed, the weapons of war perish!”