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

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

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

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

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 behind him, he saw me, and called unto 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 unto 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 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.

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 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 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 David took hold on his clothes, and rent them; and likewise all 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 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, 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 And David said unto the young man that told him: 'Whence art thou?' And he answered: 'I am the son of an Amalekite stranger.'

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

David said to him, “Why were you not afraid to stretch out 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.

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

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

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

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

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

“Your glory, Israel, was slain on your high places! 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.

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 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.

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 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, Jonathan’s bow didn’t turn back. Saul’s sword didn’t 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 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 Ye daughters of Israel, weep over Saul, who clothed you in scarlet, with other delights, who put ornaments of gold upon your apparel.

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

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 middle of the battle! Jonathan was slain on your high places.

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

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