2 Samuel 1

1 After the death of Saul, David returned from attacking the Amalekites and remained in Ziklag for two days.

After the death of Saul, David returned from the slaughter of the Amalekites and stayed in Ziklag two days.

2 On the third day, a man came from Saul's camp with his clothes torn and with dirt on his head. When he came to David he lay facedown on the ground and prostrated himself.

On the third day a man with torn clothes and dust on his head arrived from Saul’s camp. When he came to David, he fell to the ground to pay him homage.

3 David said to him, “Where did you come from?” He answered, “I escaped from the camp of Israel.”

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

4 David said to him, “Please tell me how things went.” He answered, “The people fled from the battle. Many have fallen and many are dead. Saul and Jonathan his son are also dead.”

“What was the outcome?” David asked. “Please tell me.” “The troops fled from the battle,” he replied. “Many of them fell and died. And Saul and his son Jonathan are also dead.”

5 David said to the young man, “How do you know that Saul and Jonathan his son are dead?”

Then David asked the young man who had brought him the report, “How do you know that Saul and his son Jonathan are dead?”

6 The young man replied, “By chance I happened to be on Mount Gilboa, and there Saul was leaning on his spear, and chariots and riders were about to catch up with him.

“I happened to be on Mount Gilboa,” he replied, “and there was Saul, leaning on his spear, with the chariots and the cavalry closing in on him.

7 Saul turned around and saw me and called out to me. I answered, 'Here I am.'

When he turned around and saw me, he called out and I answered, ‘Here I am!’

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

‘Who are you?’ he asked. So I told him, ‘I am an Amalekite.’

9 He said to me, 'Please stand over me and kill me, for great suffering has taken hold of me, but life is still in me.'

Then he begged me, ‘Stand over me and kill me, for agony has seized me, but my life still lingers.’

10 So I stood over him and killed him, because I knew that he would not live after he had fallen. Then I took the crown that was on his head and the band that was on his arm, and brought them here to you, my master.”

So I stood over him and killed him, because I knew that after he had fallen he could not survive. And I took the crown that was on his head and the band that was on his arm, and I have brought them here to my lord.”

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

Then David took hold of his own clothes and tore them, and all the men who were with him did the same.

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

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

13 David said to the young man, “Where are you from?” He answered, “I am the son of a foreigner in the land, an Amalekite.”

And David inquired of the young man who had brought him the report, “Where are you from?” “I am the son of a foreigner,” he answered. “I am an Amalekite.”

14 David said to him, “Why were you not afraid to kill Yahweh's anointed king with your own hand?”

So David asked him, “Why were you not afraid to lift your hand to destroy the LORD’s anointed?”

15 David called one of the young men and said, “Go and kill him.” So that man went and struck him down, and the Amalekite died.

Then David summoned one of the young men and said, “Go, execute him!” So the young man struck him down, and he died.

16 Then David said to the dead Amalekite, “Your blood is on your head because your own mouth has testified against you and said, 'I have killed Yahweh's anointed king.'”

For David had said to the Amalekite, “Your blood be on your own head because your own mouth has testified against you, saying, ‘I killed the LORD’s anointed.’”

17 Then David sung this funeral song about Saul and Jonathan his son.

Then David took up this lament for Saul and his son Jonathan,

18 He commanded the people to teach this Song of the Bow to the sons of Judah, which has been written in the Book of Jashar.

and he ordered that the sons of Judah be taught the Song of the Bow. It is written in the Book of Jashar:

19 “Your glory, Israel, is dead, killed on your high places! How the mighty have fallen!

“Your glory, O Israel, lies slain on your heights. How the mighty have fallen!

20 Do not tell it in Gath, do not proclaim it in the streets of Ashkelon, so that the daughters of the Philistines may not rejoice, so that the daughters of the uncircumcised may not celebrate.

Tell it not in Gath; proclaim it not in the streets of Ashkelon, lest the daughters of the Philistines rejoice, and the daughters of the uncircumcised exult.

21 Mountains of Gilboa, let there not be dew or rain on you, nor fields giving grain for offerings, for there the shield of the mighty was defiled. The shield of Saul is no longer anointed with oil.

O mountains of Gilboa, may you have no dew or rain, no fields yielding offerings of grain. For there the shield of the mighty was defiled, the shield of Saul, no longer anointed with oil.

22 From the blood of those who have been killed, from the bodies of the mighty, the bow of Jonathan did not turn back, and the sword of Saul did not return empty.

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

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

Saul and Jonathan, beloved and delightful in life, were not divided in death. They were swifter than eagles, they were stronger than lions.

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

O daughters of Israel, weep for Saul, who clothed you in scarlet and luxury, who decked your garments with ornaments of gold.

25 How the mighty have fallen in the midst of the battle! Jonathan is killed on your high places.

How the mighty have fallen in the thick of battle! Jonathan lies slain on your heights.

26 I am distressed for you, my brother Jonathan. You were very dear to me. Your love to me was wonderful, exceeding the love of women.

I grieve for you, Jonathan, my brother. You were delightful to me; your love to me was extraordinary, surpassing the love of women.

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

How the mighty have fallen and the weapons of war have perished!”