2 Samuel 1

1 And it comes to pass after the death of Saul, that David has returned from striking the Amalekite, and David dwells in Ziklag [for] two days,

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

2 and it comes to pass, on the third day, that behold, a man has come in out of the camp from Saul, and his garments [are] torn, and earth [is] on his head; and it comes to pass in his coming to David, that he falls to the earth and pays respect.

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 says to him, “Where do you come from?” And he says to him, “I have escaped out of the camp of Israel.”

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 says to him, “What has been the matter? Please declare [it] to me.” And he says, “That the people have fled from the battle, and also a multitude of the people have fallen, and they die; and also Saul and his son Jonathan have died.”

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 says to the youth who is declaring [it] to him, “How have you known that Saul and his son Jonathan [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 youth who is declaring [it] to him says, “I happened to meet in Mount Gilboa, and behold, Saul is leaning on his spear; and behold, the chariots and those possessing horses have followed 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 he turns behind him, and sees me, and calls to me, and I say, Here I [am].

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

8 And he says to me, Who [are] you? And I say to him, I [am] an Amalekite.

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

9 And he says to me, Please stand over me and put me to death, for the arrow has seized me, for all my soul [is] still 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 And I stand over him, and put him to death, for I knew that he does not live after his falling, and I take the crown which [is] on his head, and the bracelet which [is] on his arm, and bring them to my lord here.”

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 And David takes hold on his garments, and tears them, and also all the men who [are] 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 mourn, and weep, and fast until the evening, for Saul, and for his son Jonathan, and for the people of YHWH, and for the house of Israel, because they have fallen by the sword.

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

13 And David says to the youth who is declaring [it] to him, “Where [are] you from?” And he says, “I [am] the son of a sojourner, 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 David says to him, “How were you not afraid to put forth your hand to destroy the anointed of YHWH?”

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

15 And David calls to one of the youths and says, “Draw near—fall on him”; and he strikes him, and he dies;

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 says to him, “Your blood [is] on your own head, for your mouth has testified against you, saying, I put to death the anointed of YHWH.”

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

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

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

18 and he says to teach the sons of Judah “The Bow”; behold, it is written on the Scroll of the Upright:

(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 “The beauty of Israel [Is] wounded on your high places; How the mighty have fallen!

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

20 Do not declare [it] in Gath, Do not proclaim the tidings in the streets of Ashkelon, Lest they rejoice—The daughters of the Philistines, Lest they exult—The daughters of the uncircumcised!

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 Mountains of Gilboa! No dew nor rain be on you, And fields of raised-offerings! For there has become loathsome The shield of the mighty, The shield of Saul—without the 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 wounded, From the fat of the mighty, The bow of Jonathan Has not turned backward; And the sword of Saul does not return 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! They are loved and pleasant in their lives, And in their death they have not been parted. They have been lighter than eagles, They have been mightier 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 Daughters of Israel! Weep for Saul, Who is clothing you [in] scarlet with delights. Who is lifting up ornaments of gold on your clothing.

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

25 How the mighty have fallen In the midst of the battle! Jonathan [was] wounded on your high places!

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

26 I am in distress for you, my brother Jonathan, You were very pleasant to me; Your love was wonderful to me, Above 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 the mighty have fallen, Indeed, the weapons of war perish!”

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