2 Samuel 1

1 After the death of Saul, when Dauid was returned from the slaughter of the Amalekites and had beene two dayes in Ziklag,

After the death of Saul, when David had returned from the slaughter of the Amalekites, and David had stayed two days in Ziklag,

2 Behold, a man came the third day out of the host from Saul with his clothes rent, and earth vpon his head: and when hee came to Dauid, he fell to the earth, and did obeisance.

on the third day, behold, a man came out of the camp from Saul, with his clothes torn and earth on his head. When he came to David, he fell to the earth and showed respect.

3 Then Dauid saide vnto him, Whence commest thou? And he said vnto him, Out of the host of Israel I am escaped.

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

4 And Dauid saide vnto him, What is done? I pray thee, tell me. Then he said, that the people is fled from the battel, and many of the people are ouerthrowen, and dead, and also Saul and Ionathan his sonne are dead.

David said to him, “How did it go? Please tell me.” He answered, “The people have fled from the battle, and many of the people also have fallen and are dead. Saul and Jonathan his son are dead also.”

5 And Dauid saide vnto the yong man that tolde it him, Howe knowest thou that Saul and Ionathan his sonne be dead?

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

6 Then the yong man that tolde him, answered, As I came to mount Gilboa, behold, Saul leaned vpon his speare, and loe, the charets and horsemen followed hard after him.

The young man who told him said, “As I happened by chance on Mount Gilboa, behold, Saul was leaning on his spear; and behold, the chariots and the horsemen followed close behind him.

7 And when he looked backe, he saw me, and called me. And I answered, Here am I.

When he looked behind him, he saw me and called to me. I answered, ‘Here I am.’

8 And he said vnto me, Who art thou? And I answered him, I am an Amalekite.

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

9 Then saide hee vnto me, I pray thee come vpon mee, and slay me: for anguish is come vpon me, because my life is yet whole in me.

He said to me, ‘Please stand beside me, and kill me, for anguish has taken hold of me because my life lingers in me.’

10 So I came vpon him, and slewe him, and because I was sure that hee coulde not liue, after that hee had fallen, I tooke the crowne that was vpon his head, and the bracelet that was on his arme, and brought them hither vnto my lord.

So I stood beside him and killed him, because I was sure that he could not live after he had fallen. I took the crown that was on his head and the bracelet that was on his arm, and have brought them here to my lord.”

11 Then Dauid tooke hold on his clothes, and rent them, and likewise al the men that were with him.

Then David took hold on his clothes and tore them; and all the men who were with him did likewise.

12 And they mourned and wept, and fasted vntil euen, for Saul and for Ionathan his sonne, and for the people of the Lord, and for the house of Israel, because they were slaine with the sword.

They mourned, 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 had fallen by the sword.

13 Afterward Dauid saide vnto the yong man that tolde it him, Whence art thou? And hee answered, I am the sonne of a stranger an Amalekite.

David said to the young man who told him, “Where are you from?” He answered, “I am the son of a foreigner, an Amalekite.”

14 And Dauid said vnto him, How wast thou not afrayd, to put forth thine hand to destroy the Anoynted of the Lord?

David said to him, “Why were you not afraid to stretch out your hand to destroy the LORD’s anointed?”

15 Then Dauid called one of his yong men, and said, Goe neere, and fall vpon him. And hee smote him that he dyed.

David called one of the young men and said, “Go near, and cut him down!” He struck him so that he died.

16 Then said Dauid vnto him, Thy blood be vpon thine owne head: for thine owne mouth hath testified against thee, saying, I haue slaine the Lords Anoynted.

David said to him, “Your blood be on your head, for your mouth has testified against you, saying, ‘I have slain the LORD’s anointed.’”

17 Then Dauid mourned with this lamentation ouer Saul, and ouer Ionathan his sonne,

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

18 (Also he bade them teach the children of Iudah to shoote, as it is written in the booke of Iasher)

(and he commanded them to teach the children of Judah the song of the bow; behold, it is written in the book of Jashar):

19 O noble Israel, hee is slane vpon thy hie places: how are the mightie ouerthrowen!

“Your glory, Israel, was slain on your high places! How the mighty have fallen!

20 Tell it not in Gath, nor publish it in the streetes of Ashkelon, lest the daughters of the Philistims reioyce, lest the daughters of the vncircumcised triumph.

Don’t tell it in Gath. Don’t publish it in the streets of Ashkelon, lest the daughters of the Philistines rejoice, lest the daughters of the uncircumcised triumph.

21 Ye mountaines of Gilboa, vpon you be neither dewe nor raine, nor be there fieldes of offrings: for there the shielde of the mightie is cast downe, the shielde of Saul, as though he had not bene anointed with oyle.

You mountains of Gilboa, let there be no dew or rain on you, and no fields of offerings; for there the shield of the mighty was defiled and cast away, the shield of Saul was not anointed with oil.

22 The bow of Ionathan neuer turned backe, neither did the sword of Saul returne emptie from the blood of the slaine, and from the fatte of the mightie.

From the blood of the slain, from the fat of the mighty, Jonathan’s bow didn’t turn back. Saul’s sword didn’t return empty.

23 Saul and Ionathan were louely and pleasant in their liues, and in their deaths they were not deuided: they were swifter then eagles, they were stronger then lions.

Saul and Jonathan were lovely and pleasant in their lives. In their death, they were not divided. They were swifter than eagles. They were stronger than lions.

24 Yee daughters of Israel, weepe for Saul, which clothed you in skarlet, with pleasures, and hanged ornaments of gold vpon your apparel.

You daughters of Israel, weep over Saul, who clothed you delicately in scarlet, who put ornaments of gold on your clothing.

25 Howe were the mightie slaine in the mids of the battel! O Ionathan, thou wast slaine in thine hie places.

How the mighty have fallen in the middle of the battle! Jonathan was slain on your high places.

26 Wo is me for thee, my brother Ionathan: very kinde hast thou bene vnto me: thy loue to me was wonderfull, passing the loue of women:

I am distressed for you, my brother Jonathan. You have been very pleasant to me. Your love to me was wonderful, surpassing the love of women.

27 howe are the mightie ouerthrowen, and the weapons of warre destroyed!

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