2 Samuel 1

1 Now it came to pass, after Saul was dead, that David returned from the slaughter of the Amalecites, and abode two days in Siceleg.

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

2 And on the third day, there appeared a man who came out of Saul’s camp, with his garments rent, and dust strewed on his head: and when he came to David, he fell upon his face, and adored.

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.

3 And David said to him: From whence comest thou? And he said to him: I am fled out of the camp of Israel.

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

4 And David said unto him: What is the matter that is come to pass? tell me. He said: The people are fled from the battle, and many of the people are fallen and dead: moreover Saul and Jonathan his son are slain.

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.

5 And David said to the young man that told him: How knowest thou that Saul and Jonathan his son, are dead?

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

6 And the young man that told him, said: I came by chance upon mount Gelboe, and Saul leaned upon his spear: and the chariots and horsemen drew nigh unto him,

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.

7 And looking behind him, and seeing me, he called me. And I answered, Here am I.

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

8 And he said to me: Who art thou? And I said to him: I am an Amalecite.

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

9 And he said to me: Stand over me, and kill me: for anguish is come upon me, and as yet my whole life is in me.

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.

10 So standing over him, I killed him: for I knew that he could not live after the fall: and I took the diadem that was on his head, and the bracelet that was on his arm and have brought them hither to thee, my lord.

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.

11 Then David took hold of his garments and rent them, and likewise all the men that were with him.

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

12 And they mourned, and wept, and fasted until evening 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.

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.

13 And David said to the young man that told him: Whence art thou? He answered: I am the son of a stranger of Amalee.

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.

14 David said to him: Why didst thou not fear to put out thy hand to kill the Lord’s anointed?

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

15 And David calling one of his servants, said: Go near and fall upon him. And he struck him so that he died.

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

16 And David said to him: Thy blood be upon thy own head: for thy own mouth hath spoken against thee, saying: I have slain the Lord’s anointed.

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.

17 And David made this kind of lamentation over Saul, and over Jonathan his son.

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

18 (Also he commanded that they should teach the children of Juda the use of the bow, as it is written in the book of the just.) And he said: Consider, O Israel, for them that are dead, wounded on thy high places.

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

19 The illustrious of Israel are slain upon thy mountains: how are the valiant fallen?

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

20 Tell it not in Geth, publish it not in the streets of Ascalon: lest the daughters of the Philistines rejoice, lest the daughters of the uncircumcised triumph,

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.

21 Ye mountains of Gelboe, let neither dew, nor rain come upon you, neither be they fields of firstfruits: for there was cast away the shield of the valiant, the shield of Saul as though he had not been anointed with oil.

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.

22 From the blood of the slain, from the fat of the valiant, the arrow of Jonathan never turned back, and the sword of Saul did not return empty.

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.

23 Saul and Jonathan, lovely, and comely in their life, even in death they were not divided: they were swifter than eagles, stronger than lions.

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.

24 Ye daughters of Israel, weep over Saul, who clothed you with scarlet in delights, who gave ornaments of gold for your attire.

Daughters of Israel, weep for Saul, who clothed you with scarlet together with your adorning, who added golden ornaments to your apparel.

25 How are the valiant fallen in battle? Jonathan slain in the high places?

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

26 I grieve for thee, my brother Jonathan: exceeding beautiful, and amiable to me above the love of women. As the mother loveth her only son, so did I love thee.

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.

27 How are the valiant fallen, and the weapons of war perished?

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