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.

And it came to pass after the death of Saul, when David had returned from the slaughter of the Amalekites, that David abode two days in Ziklag.

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 garments rent, and earth upon his head; and as soon as he came to David, he fell to the earth and did obeisance.

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, Whence comest thou? And he said to 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 to him, What has taken place? I pray thee, tell me. And he said that the people had fled from the battle, and many of the people also had fallen and died, and that Saul and Jonathan his son were dead also.

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 happened by chance to be upon mount Gilboa, and behold, Saul leaned on his spear; and behold, the chariots and horsemen followed hard after him.

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

And he looked behind him, and saw me, and called to 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 to me, Who art thou? And I said to him, I am 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.'

He said to me again, Stand, I pray thee, over me, and slay me; for anguish has seized me; for 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 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 stood over him, and put him to death, for I knew that he would not live after his fall; and I took the crown that was upon his head, and the bracelet that was on his arm, and have brought them hither to my lord.

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

Then David took hold of his garments and rent them; and all the men that were with him [did] likewise.

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.

And they mourned, and wept, and fasted until even for Saul, and for Jonathan his son, and for the people of Jehovah, 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? And he said, I am the son of an Amalekite stranger.

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

And David said to him, How wast thou not afraid to stretch forth thy hand to destroy Jehovah'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.

Then David called one of the young men and said, Draw near, [and] fall on him. And he smote him that he died.

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.'"

And David said to him, Thy blood be upon thy head; for thy mouth has testified against thee, saying, I have slain Jehovah'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 bade them teach the children of Judah [the song of] the bow. Behold, it is written in the book of Jasher: —

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

The beauty of Israel is slain upon thy high places: 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 celebrate.

Tell [it] not in Gath, carry not the tidings in the streets of Ashkelon; 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 dishonored. The shield of Saul, no longer anointed with oil.

Ye mountains of Gilboa, let there be no dew, no rain upon you, nor fields of heave-offerings! For there the shield of the mighty was vilely cast away, The shield of Saul, [as] not anointed with 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.

From the blood of the slain, from the fat of the mighty, The bow of Jonathan turned not back, And the sword of Saul returned not 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, beloved and pleasant in their lives, Even in their death were not divided; They were swifter than eagles, they were 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 in scarlet with splendour, Who put 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! Jonathan is slain upon thy 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 am distressed for thee, my brother Jonathan: very pleasant wast thou unto me; Thy love to me was wonderful, passing women's love.

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

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