2 Samuel 1

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

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 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.

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

David said to him, “Where did you come from?” He answered, “I escaped from the camp of Israel.”

4 “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.”

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

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

6 “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.

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

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

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

He said to me, 'Who are you?' I answered him, 'I am an Amalekite.'

9 Then he told me, ‘Please come over here and kill me! I'm in terrible agony but life is still hanging on.’

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 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.”

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

Then David tore his clothes, and all the men with him did the same.

12 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.

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 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.”

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

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

15 David called over one of his men and said, “Go ahead, kill him!” So the man cut the Amalekite down and killed him.

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 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.’”

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 sang this lament for Saul and his son Jonathan.

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

18 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:

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

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

20 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.

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 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.

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 Jonathan with his bow did not retreat from attacking the enemy; Saul with his sword did not return empty-handed from shedding blood.

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 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.

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

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

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

26 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!

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

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