2 Samuel 1

1 AND IT came to pass after the death of Saul, when David was returned from the slaughter of the Amalekites, and David had abode two days in Ziklag;

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

2 it came even to pass on the third day, that, behold, a man came out of the camp from Saul with his clothes rent, and earth upon his head; and so it was, when he came to David, that he fell to the earth, and prostrated himself.

On the third day a man with torn clothes and dust on his head arrived from Saul’s camp. When he came to David, he fell to the ground to pay him homage.

3 And David said unto him: 'From whence comest thou?' And he said unto him: 'Out of the camp of Israel am I escaped.'

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

4 And David said unto him: 'How went the matter? I pray thee, tell me.' And he answered: 'The people are fled from the battle, and many of the people also are fallen and dead; and Saul and Jonathan his son are dead also.'

“What was the outcome?” David asked. “Please tell me.” “The troops fled from the battle,” he replied. “Many of them fell and died. And Saul and his son Jonathan are also dead.”

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

Then David asked the young man who had brought him the report, “How do you know that Saul and his son Jonathan are dead?”

6 And the young man that told him said: 'As I happened by chance upon mount Gilboa, behold, Saul leaned upon his spear; and, lo, the chariots and the horsemen pressed hard upon him.

“I happened to be on Mount Gilboa,” he replied, “and there was Saul, leaning on his spear, with the chariots and the cavalry closing in on him.

7 And when he looked behind him, he saw me, and called unto me. And I answered: Here am I.

When he turned around and saw me, he called out and I answered, ‘Here I am!’

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

‘Who are you?’ he asked. So I told him, ‘I am an Amalekite.’

9 And he said unto me: Stand, I pray thee, beside me, and slay me, for the agony hath taken hold of me; because my life is just yet in me.

Then he begged me, ‘Stand over me and kill me, for agony has seized me, but my life still lingers.’

10 So I stood beside him, and slew him, because I was sure that he could not live after that he was fallen; and I took the crown that was upon his head, and the bracelet that was on his arm, and have brought them hither unto my lord.'

So I stood over him and killed him, because I knew that after he had fallen he could not survive. And I took the crown that was on his head and the band that was on his arm, and I have brought them here to my lord.”

11 Then David took hold on his clothes, and rent them; and likewise all the men that were with him.

Then David took hold of his own clothes and tore them, and all the men who were with him did the same.

12 And they wailed, and wept, and fasted until even, 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.

They mourned and wept and fasted until evening for Saul and his son Jonathan, and for the people of the LORD and the house of Israel, because they had fallen by the sword.

13 And David said unto the young man that told him: 'Whence art thou?' And he answered: 'I am the son of an Amalekite stranger.'

And David inquired of the young man who had brought him the report, “Where are you from?” “I am the son of a foreigner,” he answered. “I am an Amalekite.”

14 And David said unto him: 'How wast thou not afraid to put forth thy hand to destroy the LORD'S anointed?'

So David asked him, “Why were you not afraid to lift your hand to destroy the LORD’s anointed?”

15 And David called one of the young men, and said: 'Go near, and fall upon him.' And he smote him that he died.

Then David summoned one of the young men and said, “Go, execute him!” So the young man struck him down, and he died.

16 And David said unto him: 'Thy blood be upon thy head; for thy mouth hath testified against thee, saying: I have slain the LORD'S anointed.'

For David had said to the Amalekite, “Your blood be on your own head because your own mouth has testified against you, saying, ‘I killed the LORD’s anointed.’”

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

Then David took up this lament for Saul and his son Jonathan,

18 and said — To teach the sons of Judah the bow. Behold, it is written in the book of Jashar:

and he ordered that the sons of Judah be taught the Song of the Bow. It is written in the Book of Jashar:

19 Thy beauty, O Israel, upon thy high places is slain! How are the mighty fallen!

“Your glory, O Israel, lies slain on your heights. How the mighty have fallen!

20 Tell it not in Gath, publish it not in the streets of Ashkelon; lest the daughters of the Philistines rejoice, lest the daughters of the uncircumcised triumph.

Tell it not in Gath; proclaim it not in the streets of Ashkelon, lest the daughters of the Philistines rejoice, and the daughters of the uncircumcised exult.

21 Ye mountains of Gilboa, let there be no dew nor rain upon you, neither fields of choice fruits; for there the shield of the mighty was vilely cast away, the shield of Saul, not anointed with oil.

O mountains of Gilboa, may you have no dew or rain, no fields yielding offerings of grain. For there the shield of the mighty was defiled, the shield of Saul, no longer anointed with oil.

22 From the blood of the slain, from the fat of the mighty, the bow of Jonathan turned not back, and the sword of Saul returned not empty.

From the blood of the slain, from the fat of the mighty, the bow of Jonathan did not retreat, and the sword of Saul did not return empty.

23 Saul and Jonathan, the lovely and the pleasant in their lives, even in their death they were not divided; they were swifter than eagles, they were stronger than lions.

Saul and Jonathan, beloved and delightful in life, were not divided in death. They were swifter than eagles, they were stronger than lions.

24 Ye daughters of Israel, weep over Saul, who clothed you in scarlet, with other delights, who put ornaments of gold upon your apparel.

O daughters of Israel, weep for Saul, who clothed you in scarlet and luxury, who decked your garments with ornaments of gold.

25 How are the mighty fallen in the midst of the battle! Jonathan upon thy high places is slain!

How the mighty have fallen in the thick of battle! Jonathan lies slain on your heights.

26 I am distressed for thee, my brother Jonathan; very pleasant hast thou been unto me; wonderful was thy love to me, passing the love of women.

I grieve for you, Jonathan, my brother. You were delightful to me; your love to me was extraordinary, surpassing the love of women.

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

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