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 Saul was dead, that David returned from the slaughter of the Amalecites, and abode two days in Siceleg.

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 on the third day, there appeared a man who came out of Saul’s camp, with his garments rent, and dust strewed on his head: and when he came to David, he fell upon his face, and adored.

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 to him: From whence comest thou? And he said to him: I am fled out of the camp of Israel.

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 is the matter that is come to pass? tell me. He said: The people are fled from the battle, and many of the people are fallen and dead: moreover Saul and Jonathan his son are slain.

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 to the young man that told him: How knowest thou that Saul and Jonathan his son, are dead?

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 came by chance upon mount Gelboe, and Saul leaned upon his spear: and the chariots and horsemen drew nigh unto him,

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

And looking behind him, and seeing me, he called me. And I answered, Here am I.

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

And he said to me: Who art thou? And I said to him: I am an Amalecite.

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 to me: Stand over me, and kill me: for anguish is come upon me, and as yet my whole life is 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 standing over him, I killed him: for I knew that he could not live after the fall: and I took the diadem that was on his head, and the bracelet that was on his arm and have brought them hither to thee, my lord.

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

Then David took hold of his garments and rent them, and 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 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 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 to the young man that told him: Whence art thou? He answered: I am the son of a stranger of Amalee.

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

David said to him: Why didst thou not fear to put out thy hand to kill 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 calling one of his servants, said: Go near and fall upon him. And he struck him so 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 to him: Thy blood be upon thy own head: for thy own mouth hath spoken against thee, saying: I have slain the Lord’s anointed.

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

And David made this kind of 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.

(Also he commanded that they should teach the children of Juda the use of the bow, as it is written in the book of the just.) And he said: Consider, O Israel, for them that are dead, wounded on thy high places.

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

The illustrious of Israel are slain upon thy mountains: how are the valiant 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 Geth, publish it not in the streets of Ascalon: lest the daughters of the Philistines rejoice, lest the daughters of the uncircumcised triumph,

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.

Ye mountains of Gelboe, let neither dew, nor rain come upon you, neither be they fields of firstfruits: for there was cast away the shield of the valiant, the shield of Saul as though he 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 valiant, the arrow of Jonathan never turned back, and the sword of Saul did not return 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, lovely, and comely 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 luxuriously in scarlet, who put ornaments of gold on your clothing.

Ye daughters of Israel, weep over Saul, who clothed you with scarlet in delights, who gave ornaments of gold for your attire.

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

How are the valiant fallen in battle? Jonathan slain in the high places?

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 grieve for thee, my brother Jonathan: exceeding beautiful, and amiable to me above the love of women. As the mother loveth her only son, so did I love thee.

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

How are the valiant fallen, and the weapons of war perished?