2 Samuel 1

1 Now it happened that, after Saul died, David returned from the slaughter of Amalek, and he remained for two days at Ziklag.

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

2 Then, on the third day, a man appeared, arriving from the camp of Saul, with his garments torn and dust sprinkled on his head. And when he came to David, he fell on his face, and he reverenced.

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, “Where have you come from?” And he said to him, “I have fled from 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: “What is the word that has happened? Reveal it to me.” And he said: “The people have fled from the battle, and many of the people have fallen and died. Moreover, Saul and his son Jonathan have passed away.”

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 youth who was reporting to him, “How do you know that Saul and his son Jonathan have died?”

David said to the young man, “How do you know that Saul and Jonathan his son are dead?”

6 And the youth, who was reporting it to him, said: “I arrived by chance on mount Gilboa. And Saul was lying upon his spear. Then the chariots and horsemen drew near to 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 turning behind his back and seeing me, he called to me. And when I had responded, “I am here,”

Saul turned around and saw me and called out to me. I answered, 'Here I am.'

8 he said to me, “Who are you?” And I said to 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 over me, and kill me. For anguish has taken hold of me, and still my whole life is 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 And standing over him, I killed him. For I knew that he was not able to live after the fall. And I took the diadem that was on his head, and the bracelet from his arm, and I have brought them here to you, 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, taking hold of his garments, tore them, with 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, over Saul and over his son Jonathan, and over the people of the Lord and over the house of Israel, because they had 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 youth who had reported it to him, “Where are you from?” And he responded, “I am the son of a man who is a new arrival from the Amalekites.”

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 you not afraid to put forth your hand, so that you would kill the Christ of the Lord?”

David said to him, “Why were you not afraid to kill Yahweh's anointed king with your own hand?”

15 And calling one of his servants, David said, “Draw near and rush against him” And he struck him, and 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: “Your blood is upon your own head. For your own mouth has spoken against you, saying: ‘I have killed the Christ of the Lord.’”

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 Then David mourned a lamentation over Saul and over his son Jonathan, in this way.

Then David sung this funeral song about Saul and Jonathan his son.

18 (And he instructed that they should teach the sons of Judah the bow, just as it is written in the Book of the Just.) And he said: “Consider, O Israel, on behalf of those who are dead, wounded upon your heights:

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 The illustrious of Israel have been killed upon your mountains. How could the valiant have fallen?

“Your glory, Israel, is dead, killed on your high places! How the mighty have fallen!

20 Do not choose to announce it in Gath, and do not announce it in the crossroads of Ashkelon. Otherwise, the daughters of the Philistines may rejoice; otherwise, the daughters of the uncircumcised may exult.

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 O mountains of Gilboa, let neither dew, nor rain fall over you, and may these not be the fields of the first-fruits. For in that place, the shield of the valiant was cast away, the shield of Saul, as if he had not been 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 strong, the arrow of Jonathan never turned back, and the sword of Saul did not return 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, worthy to be loved, and stately in their life: even in death they were not divided. They were swifter than eagles, 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 O daughters of Israel, weep over Saul, who clothed you with scarlet finery, who offered ornaments of gold for your adornment.

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 could the valiant have fallen in battle? How could Jonathan have been slain on the heights?

How the mighty have fallen in the midst of the battle! Jonathan is killed on your high places.

26 I grieve over you, my brother Jonathan: exceedingly stately, and worthy to be loved above the love of women. As a mother loves her only son, so also did I love you.

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 could the robust have fallen, and the weapons of war have perished?”

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