2 Samuel 1

1 Now it came to pass after the death of Saul, when David had returned from the slaughter of the Amalekites, and David had abode 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 came even to pass on the third day, that, behold, a man came out of the camp from Saul with his clothes torn, and earth upon his head: and so it was, when he came to David, that he fell to the earth, and did obeisance.

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 And David said to him, From where comest thou? And he said to him, Out of the camp of Israel have I escaped.

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

4 And David said to him, How went the matter? I pray thee, tell me. And he answered, That 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 And David said to the young man that told him, How knowest thou 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 And the young man that told him said, As I happened by chance upon mount Gilboa, behold, Saul leaned upon his spear; and, lo, the chariots and horsemen followed hard after 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 And when he looked behind him, he saw me, and called to me. And I answered, Here am I.

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

8 And he said to me, Who art thou? And 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 again, Stand, I pray thee, upon me, and slay me: for anguish is come upon me, because my life is yet whole in me.

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 upon him, and slew him, because I was sure that he could not live after that he had fallen: and I took the crown that was upon 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 that were with him:

Then David took hold of his garments and rent them, and likewise all the men that were with him.

12 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 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 And David said to the young man that told him, From where art thou? And he answered, I am the son of a stranger, 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 And David said to him, How wast thou not afraid to stretch forth thy 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 And David called one of the young men, and said, Go near, and fall upon him. And he smote him 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 And David said to him, Thy blood be upon thy head; for thy mouth hath testified against thee, 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 (Also he told them to teach the children of Judah the use of the bow: behold, it is written in the book of Jasher.)

(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 Thy glory, O Israel is slain upon thy high places: how are the mighty fallen!

The illustrious of Israel are slain upon thy mountains: how are the valiant fallen?

20 Tell it not in Gath, proclaim it not in the streets of Askelon; 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 Ye mountains of Gilboa, let there be no dew, neither rain, upon 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.

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, the bow of Jonathan turned not back, and the sword of Saul returned not 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 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.

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

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! O Jonathan, thou wast slain in thy high places.

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

26 I am distressed for thee, my brother Jonathan: very pleasant hast thou been to me: thy love to me was wonderful, passing 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 have the mighty fallen, and the weapons of war perished!

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