2 Samuel 1

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

Now it happened that, after Saul died, David returned from the slaughter of Amalek, and he remained for two days at 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 on his head: and so it was, when he came to David, that he fell to the earth, and did obeisance.

Then, on the third day, a man appeared, arriving from the camp of Saul, with his garments torn and dust sprinkled on his head. And when he came to David, he fell on his face, and he reverenced.

3 And David said to him, From where come you? And he said to him, Out of the camp of Israel am I escaped.

And David said to him, “Where have you come from?” And he said to him, “I have fled from the camp of Israel.”

4 And David said to him, How went the matter? I pray you, tell me. And he answered, That 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.

And David said to him: “What is the word that has happened? Reveal it to me.” And he said: “The people have fled from the battle, and many of the people have fallen and died. Moreover, Saul and his son Jonathan have passed away.”

5 And David said to the young man that told him, How know you that Saul and Jonathan his son be dead?

And David said to the youth who was reporting to him, “How do you know that Saul and his son Jonathan have died?”

6 And the young man that told him said, As I happened by chance on mount Gilboa, behold, Saul leaned on his spear; and, see, the chariots and horsemen followed hard after him.

And the youth, who was reporting it to him, said: “I arrived by chance on mount Gilboa. And Saul was lying upon his spear. Then the chariots and horsemen drew near to him.

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

And turning behind his back and seeing me, he called to me. And when I had responded, “I am here,”

8 And he said to me, Who are you? And I answered him, I am an Amalekite.

he said to me, “Who are you?” And I said to him, “I am an Amalekite.”

9 He said to me again, Stand, I pray you, on me, and slay me: for anguish is come on me, because my life is yet whole in me.

And he said to me: “Stand over me, and kill me. For anguish has taken hold of me, and still my whole life is in me.”

10 So I stood on 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 on his head, and the bracelet that was on his arm, and have brought them here to my lord.

And standing over him, I killed him. For I knew that he was not able to live after the fall. And I took the diadem that was on his head, and the bracelet from his arm, and I have brought them here to you, my lord.”

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

Then David, taking hold of his garments, tore them, with all the men who were with him.

12 And they mourned, 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.

And they mourned, and wept, and fasted until evening, over Saul and over his son Jonathan, and over the people of the Lord and over the house of Israel, because they had fallen by the sword.

13 And David said to the young man that told him, From where are you? And he answered, I am the son of a stranger, an Amalekite.

And David said to the youth who had reported it to him, “Where are you from?” And he responded, “I am the son of a man who is a new arrival from the Amalekites.”

14 And David said to him, How were you not afraid to stretch forth your hand to destroy the LORD’s anointed?

And David said to him, “Why were you not afraid to put forth your hand, so that you would kill the Christ of the Lord?”

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

And calling one of his servants, David said, “Draw near and rush against him” And he struck him, and he died.

16 And 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.

And David said to him: “Your blood is upon your own head. For your own mouth has spoken against you, saying: ‘I have killed the Christ of the Lord.’”

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

Then David mourned a lamentation over Saul and over his son Jonathan, in this way.

18 (Also he bade them teach the children of Judah the use of the bow: behold, it is written in the book of Jasher.)

(And he instructed that they should teach the sons of Judah the bow, just as it is written in the Book of the Just.) And he said: “Consider, O Israel, on behalf of those who are dead, wounded upon your heights:

19 The beauty of Israel is slain on your high places: how are the mighty fallen!

The illustrious of Israel have been killed upon your mountains. How could the valiant have fallen?

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

Do not choose to announce it in Gath, and do not announce it in the crossroads of Ashkelon. Otherwise, the daughters of the Philistines may rejoice; otherwise, the daughters of the uncircumcised may exult.

21 You mountains of Gilboa, let there be no dew, neither let there be rain, on you, nor fields of offerings: for there the shield of the mighty is vilely cast away, the shield of Saul, as though he had not been anointed with oil.

O mountains of Gilboa, let neither dew, nor rain fall over you, and may these not be the fields of the first-fruits. For in that place, the shield of the valiant was cast away, the shield of Saul, as if he had not been 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 strong, the arrow of Jonathan never turned back, and the sword of Saul did not return empty.

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

Saul and Jonathan, worthy to be loved, and stately in their life: even in death they were not divided. They were swifter than eagles, stronger than lions.

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

O daughters of Israel, weep over Saul, who clothed you with scarlet finery, who offered ornaments of gold for your adornment.

25 How are the mighty fallen in the middle of the battle! O Jonathan, you were slain in your high places.

How could the valiant have fallen in battle? How could Jonathan have been slain on the heights?

26 I am distressed for you, my brother Jonathan: very pleasant have you been to me: your love to me was wonderful, passing the love of women.

I grieve over you, my brother Jonathan: exceedingly stately, and worthy to be loved above the love of women. As a mother loves her only son, so also did I love you.

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

How could the robust have fallen, and the weapons of war have perished?”