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,

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

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.

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 David said to him, “Where do you come from?” He said to him, “I have escaped out of the camp of Israel.”

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

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.”

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

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

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.

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

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

8 He said to me, ‘Who are you?’ 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, ‘Please stand beside me, and kill me, for anguish has taken hold of me because my life lingers 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 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 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 all the men who were with him did likewise.

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

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.

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 David said to the young man who told him, “Where are you from?” He answered, “I am the son of a foreigner, 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 David said to him, “Why were you not afraid to stretch out your hand to destroy the LORD’s anointed?”

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

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

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

Then David sang this lament for Saul and his son Jonathan.

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):

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 “Your glory, Israel, was slain on your high places! How the mighty have fallen!

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

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 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.

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, Jonathan’s bow didn’t turn back. Saul’s sword didn’t return 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. 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 You daughters of Israel, weep over Saul, who clothed you delicately in scarlet, who put ornaments of gold on your clothing.

Women of Israel, mourn for Saul, who gave you fine scarlet clothes decorated with gold ornaments.

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

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

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

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