2 Samuel 1

1 Now it came to pass after the death of Saul, when David was returned from smiting the 'Amalekites, that David abode in Ziklag two days.

And it came to pass after Saul was dead, that David returned from smiting Amalec, and David abode two days in Sekelac.

2 And it came 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 it happened, when he came to David, that he fell to the earth, and prostrated himself.

And it came to pass on the third day, that, behold, a man came from the camp, from the people of Saul, and his garments were rent, and earth [was] upon his head: and it came to pass when he went in to David, that he fell upon the earth, and did obeisance to him.

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

And David said to him, Whence comest thou? and he said to him, I have escaped out of the camp of Israel.

4 And David said unto him, What took place there? I pray thee, tell me. And he said, That the people are fled from the battle, and that also many of the people are fallen and have died; and that also Saul and Jonathan his son are dead.

And David said to him, What [is] the matter? tell me. And he said, The people fled out of the battle, and many of the people have fallen and are dead, and Saul and Jonathan his son are dead.

5 And David said unto the young man that told him, How knowest thou that Saul is dead as also Jonathan his son?

And David said to the young man who brought him the tidings, How knowest thou that Saul and Jonathan his son are dead?

6 And the young man that told him said, I happened entirely by chance to be upon mount Gilboa', when, behold, there was Saul leaning upon his spear; and, lo, the chariots and horsemen had overtaken him.

And the young man that brought the tidings, said to him, I happened accidentally to be upon mount Gelbue; and, behold, Saul was leaning upon his spear, and, behold, the chariots and captains of horse pressed hard upon him.

7 And he turned round, and he saw me, and called unto me, And I said, Here am I.

And he looked behind him, and saw me, and called me; and I said, Behold, [here am] I.

8 And he said unto me, Who art thou! And I answered him, An 'Amalekite am I.

And he said to me, Who art thou? and I said, I am an Amalekite.

9 And he said unto me, Place thyself, I pray thee, by me, and slay me; for a mortal tremor hath seized on me, although my life is yet whole in me.

And he said to me, Stand, I pray thee, over me, and slay me, for a dreadful darkness has come upon me, for all my life [is] in me.

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

So I stood over him and slew him, because I knew he would not live after he was fallen; and I took the crown that was upon his head, and the bracelet that was upon his arm, and I have brought them hither to my lord.

11 David thereupon took hold of his clothes, and rent them; and [so did] likewise all the men that were with him:

And David laid hold of his garments, and rent them; and all the men who were with him rent their garments.

12 And they lamented, and wept, and fasted until the evening, 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 lamented, and wept, and fasted till evening, for Saul and for Jonathan his son, and for the people of Juda, and for the house of Israel, because they were smitten with the sword.

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

And David said to the young man who brought the tidings to him, Whence art thou? and he said, I am the son of an Amalekite sojourner.

14 And David said unto him, How wast thou not afraid to stretch forth thy hand to destroy the Lord's anointed?

And David said to him, How was it thou wast not afraid to lift thy hand to destroy the anointed of the Lord?

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

And David called one of his young men, and said, Go and fall upon him: and he smote him, and he died.

16 And David said unto him, Thy blood is upon thy own head; for thy mouth hath testified against thee, saying, I myself have slain the Lord's anointed.

And David said to him, Thy blood [be] upon thine own head; for thy mouth has testified against thee, saying, I have slain the anointed of the Lord.

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

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

18 And he said, That the children of Judah should be taught the bow; behold it is written in the book of Yashar.

And he gave orders to teach it the sons of Juda: behold, it is written in the book of Right.

19 O beauty of Israel! upon the high places slain: how are the mighty fallen!

Set up a pillar, O Israel, for the slain that died upon thy high places: how are the mighty fallen!

20 Tell it not in Gath, publish it not in the streets of Ashkelon; that the daughters of the Philistines may not be glad, that the daughters of the uncircumcised may not rejoice.

Tell it not in Geth, and tell it not as glad tidings in the streets of Ascalon, lest the daughters of the Philistines rejoice, lest the daughters of the uncircumcised triumph.

21 O mountains of Gilboa', no dew, nor rain be upon you, nor fields of offerings; for there the shield of the mighty was stained, the shield of Saul, as though it had not been anointed with oil.

Ye mountains of Gelbue, let not dew no rain descend upon you, nor fields of first-fruits [be upon you], for there the shield of the mighty ones has been grievously assailed; 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 never back, and the sword of Saul never returned empty.

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

23 Saul and Jonathan, the beloved and the dear in their lives, were even in their death not divided: more than eagles were they swift, more than lions were they strong.

Saul and Jonathan, the beloved and the beautiful, were not divided: comely [were they] in their life, and in their death they were not divided: [they were] swifter than eagles, and they were stronger than lions.

24 O daughters of Israel, weep for Saul, who clothed you in scarlet, with beautiful dresses, who put on ornaments of gold upon your apparel.

Daughters of Israel, weep for Saul, who clothed you with scarlet together with your adorning, who added golden ornaments to your apparel.

25 How are the mighty fallen in the midst of the battle! O Jonathan, on thy high places slain.

How are the mighty fallen in the midst of the battle! O Jonathan, even the slain ones upon thy high places!

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

I am grieved for thee, my brother Jonathan; thou wast very lovely to me; thy love to me was wonderful beyond the love of women.

27 How are the mighty fallen, and lost the instruments of war!

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