2 Samuel 1

1 It happened after the death of Saul, that David returned from the slaughter of the Amalekites, and he stayed two days in Ziklag.

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.

2 It happened on the third day, that, look, a man came out of the camp from Saul, with his clothes torn and dirt on his head. And it came about when he came to David that he fell to the ground and paid homage.

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.

3 David said to him, "Where do you come from?" He said to him, "I have escaped out of the camp of Israel."

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

4 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; and Saul and Jonathan his son are dead also."

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.

5 David said to the young man who had told him this, "How do you know that Saul and Jonathan his son are dead?"

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

6 Then the young man replied, "I happened to be on Mount Gilboa and saw Saul leaning on his spear. And look, the chariots and the horsemen were closing in on him.

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.

7 When he turned around he saw me, and called to me. I answered, 'Here I am.'

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

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

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

9 He said to me, 'Please stand beside me, and kill me; for anguish has taken hold of me, yet there is life in me still.'

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.

10 So I stood beside him, and killed him, because I was sure that he could not live after that 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."

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.

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

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

12 They mourned, and 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.

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.

13 David said to the young man who had told him, "Where are you from?" He answered, "I am the son of a foreigner, an Amalekite."

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.

14 David said to him, "How is it that you were not afraid to put forth your hand to destroy the LORD's anointed?"

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

15 David called one of the young men, and said, "Go near, and fall on him." He struck him, so that he died.

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

16 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 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.

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 said it should be taught to the people of Judah. Look, it is written in the book of Jashar.

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

19 "Your glory, Israel, is slain on your high places. How the mighty have fallen.

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

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

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.

21 You mountains of Gilboa, let there be no dew nor rain on you, nor fields of offerings. For there the shield of the mighty was vilely cast away. The shield of Saul was not anointed with oil.

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.

22 From the blood of the slain, from the fat of the mighty, Jonathan's bow did not turn back. Saul's sword did not return empty.

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.

23 Saul and Jonathan, beloved and lovely, not separated. Lovely in their life, and in their death they were not separated. They were swifter than eagles. They were stronger than lions.

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.

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

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

25 How are the mighty fallen in the midst of the battle. Jonathan is slain on your high places.

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

26 I grieve for you, my brother. You have been very pleasant to me. Your love for me was a wonder, more than the love of women.

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.

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

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