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;

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

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.

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

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

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.

“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 And David said to the young man that told him, How knowest thou that Saul and Jonathan his son are dead?

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

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.

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

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

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

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

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

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.

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 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.

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 And David said to him, How wast thou not afraid to stretch forth thy hand to destroy the LORD’S anointed?

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

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

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

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

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

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 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.

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

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

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

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

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

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