2 Samuel 1

1 And so it was, after the death of Saul, when David had returned from the smiting of the Amalekites, and David had abode in Ziklag two days,

Now it came to pass after the death of Saul, when David was returned from the slaughter of the Amalekites, and David had stayed two days in Ziklag;

2 yea so it was, on the third day, that lo! a man came out of the camp, from Saul, with his clothes rent, and earth upon his head, —and so it was, when he came in unto David, that he fell to the earth, and did homage.

It came even to pass on the third day, that, behold, a man came out of the camp from Saul with his clothes rent, and earth on his head: and so it was, when he came to David, that he fell to the earth, and did obeisance.

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

And David said to him, From where come you? And he said to him, Out of the camp of Israel am I escaped.

4 And David said unto him—How turned out the matter? tell me, I pray thee. And he said—The people have fled from the battle, yea moreover, many, of the people have fallen, and died, Yea moreover, Saul, and Jonathan his son, are dead.

And David said to him, How went the matter? I pray you, tell me. And he answered, That the people are fled from the battle, and many of the people also are fallen and dead; and Saul and Jonathan his son are dead also.

5 Then said David unto the young man who was telling him, —How knowest thou that Saul and Jonathan his son are dead?

And David said to the young man that told him, How know you that Saul and Jonathan his son be dead?

6 And the young man who was telling him said, It, so happened, that I was on Mount Gilboa, when lo! Saul, leaning upon his spear, and lo! the chariots and horsemen, hotly pursued him;

And the young man that told him said, As I happened by chance on mount Gilboa, behold, Saul leaned on his spear; and, see, the chariots and horsemen followed hard after him.

7 so he turned behind him, and saw me, —and cried out unto me, and I said, Behold me!

And when he looked behind him, he saw me, and called to me. And I answered, Here am I.

8 And he said unto me, Who art thou? And I said unto him, An Amalekite, am I.

And he said to me, Who are you? And I answered him, I am an Amalekite.

9 And he said unto me, I pray thee, take thy stand by me, and put me to death, for the cramp hath seized me, —even for as long as my life shall be in me.

He said to me again, Stand, I pray you, on me, and slay me: for anguish is come on me, because my life is yet whole in me.

10 So I took my stand by him, and put him to death, for I perceived that he could not survive his fall, —so I took the crown that was on his head, and the bracelet that was on his arm, and have brought them in unto my lord, here.

So I stood on him, and slew him, because I was sure that he could not live after that he was fallen: and 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 Then David took hold of his clothes, and rent them, —yea moreover, [so did] all the men who were with him.

Then David took hold on his clothes, and rent them; and likewise all the men that were with him:

12 And they lamented aloud, and wept, and fasted until the 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.

And they mourned, and wept, and fasted until even, 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 And David said unto the young man who was telling him, Whence art thou? And he said, Son of a sojourner—an Amalekite, am I.

And David said to the young man that told him, From where are you? And he answered, I am the son of a stranger, an Amalekite.

14 And David said unto him, —How wast thou not afraid to thrust forth thy hand, to destroy the Anointed of Yahweh?

And David said to him, How were you not afraid to stretch forth your hand to destroy the LORD’s anointed?

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

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

16 And David said unto him, Thy blood, be upon thine own head, —for, thine own mouth, hath testified against thee, saying, I myself, put to death the Anointed of Yahweh.

And 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.

17 Then chanted David this dirge, —over Saul and over Jonathan his son;

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

18 and he thought to teach the sons of Judah [the song of] the Bow, —lo! it is written in the Book of the Upright: —

(Also he bade them teach the children of Judah the use of the bow: behold, it is written in the book of Jasher.)

19 The beauty of Israel! on thy high plumes—slain! How have fallen—the mighty!

The beauty of Israel is slain on your 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 triumph.

Tell it not in Gath, publish it not in the streets of Askelon; lest the daughters of the Philistines rejoice, lest the daughters of the uncircumcised triumph.

21 Ye mountains in Gilboa! Be there neither dew nor rain upon you, nor fields of offerings, —for, there, were cast away, the shields of the mighty, The shield of Saul, unanointed with oil.

You mountains of Gilboa, let there be no dew, neither let there be rain, on you, nor fields of offerings: for there the shield of the mighty is vilely cast away, 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, the bow of Jonathan ne’er drew back, —and, the sword of Saul, ne’er returned, 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, delightfully loving in their lives, even, in their death, were not divided, —Beyond eagles, were they swift, beyond lions, were they strong!

Saul and Jonathan were lovely and pleasant in their lives, and in their death they were not divided: they were swifter than eagles, they were stronger than lions.

24 Ye daughters of Israel! For Saul, weep ye, —who clothed you in crimson, [decked] with lovely things, who hung ornaments of gold on your apparel!

You daughters of Israel, weep over Saul, who clothed you in scarlet, with other delights, who put on ornaments of gold on your apparel.

25 How have fallen the mighty, in the midst of the battle! Jonathan, on thy high places, slain!

How are the mighty fallen in the middle of the battle! O Jonathan, you were slain in your high places.

26 I am distressed for thee, my brother, Jonathan! Delightful to me, exceedingly, —Wonderful, was thy love to me, passing the love of women.

I am distressed for you, my brother Jonathan: very pleasant have you been to me: your love to me was wonderful, passing the love of women.

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

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