2 Samuel 1

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

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

2 on the third day, behold, a man came out of the camp from Saul, with his clothes torn and earth on his head. When he came to David, he fell to the earth and showed respect.

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 upon his head: and so it was, when he came to David, that 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 unto him, From whence comest thou? And he said unto 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. Saul and Jonathan his son are dead also.”

And David said unto him, How went the matter? I pray thee, 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 David said to the young man who told him, “How do you know that Saul and Jonathan his son are dead?”

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

6 The young man who told him said, “As I happened by chance on Mount Gilboa, behold, Saul was leaning on his spear; and behold, the chariots and the horsemen followed close behind him.

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.

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

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

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

And he said unto me, Who art thou? And I answered him, I am an Amalekite.

9 He said to me, ‘Please stand beside me, and kill me, for anguish has taken hold of me because my life lingers in me.’

He said unto 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.

10 So I stood beside him and killed him, because I was sure that he could not live after he had fallen. 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 upon 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 upon his head, and the bracelet that was on his arm, and have brought them hither unto my lord.

11 Then David took hold on his clothes and tore them; and all the men who were with him did likewise.

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

12 They mourned, 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 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 David said to the young man who told him, “Where are you from?” He answered, “I am the son of a foreigner, an Amalekite.”

And David said unto the young man that told him, Whence art thou? And he answered, I am the son of a stranger, an Amalekite.

14 David said to him, “Why were you not afraid to stretch out your hand to destroy the LORD’s anointed?”

And David said unto him, How wast thou not afraid to stretch forth thine hand to destroy the Lord’s anointed?

15 David called one of the young men and said, “Go near, and cut him down!” He struck him so that he died.

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

16 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.’”

And David said unto him, Thy blood be upon thy head; for thy mouth hath testified against thee, saying, I have slain the Lord’s anointed.

17 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 he commanded them to teach the children of Judah the song of the bow; behold, it is written in the book of Jashar):

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

19 “Your glory, Israel, was 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 Don’t tell it in Gath. Don’t 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 You mountains of Gilboa, let there be no dew or rain on you, and no fields of offerings; for there the shield of the mighty was defiled and cast away, the shield of Saul was not anointed with oil.

Ye mountains of Gilboa, let there be no dew, neither let there be 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.

22 From the blood of the slain, from the fat of the mighty, Jonathan’s bow didn’t turn back. Saul’s sword didn’t 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 were lovely and pleasant in their lives. In their death, they were not divided. They were swifter than eagles. They were stronger than lions.

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 You daughters of Israel, weep over Saul, who clothed you delicately in scarlet, who put ornaments of gold on your clothing.

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

25 How the mighty have fallen in the middle of the battle! Jonathan was slain on your high places.

How are the mighty fallen in the midst of the battle! O Jonathan, thou wast slain in thine high places.

26 I am distressed for you, my brother Jonathan. You have been very pleasant to me. Your love to me was wonderful, surpassing the love of women.

I am distressed for thee, my brother Jonathan: very pleasant hast thou been unto me: thy love to me was wonderful, passing the love of women.

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

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