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.

After the death of Saul, David returned from attacking the Amalekites. He stayed in Ziklag for 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.

Then on the third day a man arrived from Saul's camp. His clothes were torn and he had dust on his head. When he approached David, he bowed before him, and fell to the ground in respect.

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

“Where have you come from?” David asked him. “I got away from the Israelite camp,” he replied.

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."

“Tell me what happened,” David asked. “The army ran away from the battle,” the man replied. “Many of them died, and Saul and his son Jonathan also died.”

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

“How do you know Saul and Jonathan died?” David asked the man giving the report.

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.

“I just happened to be there on Mount Gilboa,” he replied. “I saw Saul, leaning on his spear, with the enemy chariots and the charioteers advancing on him.

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

He turned around and saw me. He called out and I replied, ‘I'm here to help!’

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

He asked me, ‘Who are you?’ I told him, ‘I'm an Amalekite.’

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.'

Then he told me, ‘Please come over here and kill me! I'm in terrible agony but life is still hanging on.’

10 So I stood beside him, and killed him, because I was sure that he could not live after he had fallen. Then 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 went over him and killed him, because I knew that wounded as he was he couldn't last long. I took the crown from his head and his bracelet from his arm, and I've brought them here to you, my lord.”

11 Then David grabbed his clothes and tore them, and all the men with him did the same.

David grabbed hold of his clothes and ripped them, as did his men.

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

They mourned and cried and fasted until the evening for Saul and his son Jonathan, and for the army of the Lord, the Israelites, that had been killed 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."

David asked man who brought him the report, “Where are you from?” “I'm the son of a foreigner,” he replied “I'm an Amalekite.”

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

“Why weren't you worried about killing the Lord's anointed one?” David asked.

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

David called over one of his men and said, “Go ahead, kill him!” So the man cut the Amalekite down and killed him.

16 David said to him, "Your blood is on your head, for your mouth has testified against you, saying, 'I have killed YHWH's anointed.'"

David had told the Amalekite, “Your death is your own fault because you testified against yourself when you said, ‘I killed the Lord's anointed one.’”

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

Then David sang this lament for Saul and his son Jonathan.

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

He ordered it to be taught to the people of Judah. It is called “the Bow” and is recorded in the Book of the Just:

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

“Israel, the glorious one lies dead on your mountains. How the mighty have 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 celebrate.

Don't announce it in the town of Gath, don't proclaim it in the streets of Ashkelon, so that the Philistine women won't rejoice, so that the heathen women won't celebrate.

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 dishonored. The shield of Saul, no longer anointed with oil.

Mountains of Gilboa, may no dew or rain fall on you! May you have no fields that produce offerings of grain. For it was there that the shield of the mighty was defiled; Saul's shield, no longer cared for with olive oil.

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

Jonathan with his bow did not retreat from attacking the enemy; Saul with his sword did not return empty-handed from shedding blood.

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.

During their lives, Saul and Jonathan were much loved and very pleasant, and death did not divide them. They were faster 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.

Women of Israel, mourn for Saul, who gave you fine scarlet clothes decorated with gold ornaments.

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

How the mighty have fallen in battle! Jonathan lies dead on your mountains.

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 weep so much for you, my brother Jonathan! You were so very dear to me! Your love for me was so wonderful, greater than the love women have!

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

How the mighty have fallen! The weapons of war are gone!”