1 N ow 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;

Now it came about after the death of Saul, when David had returned from the slaughter of the Amalekites, that David remained two days in Ziklag.

2 i t 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.

On the third day, behold, a man came out of the camp from Saul, with his clothes torn and dust on his head. And it came about when he came to David that he fell to the ground and prostrated himself.

3 A nd David said unto him, From whence comest thou? And he said unto him, Out of the camp of Israel am I escaped.

Then David said to him, “From where do you come?” And he said to him, “I have escaped from the camp of Israel.”

4 A nd 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.

David said to him, “ How did things go? Please tell me.” And he said, “The people have fled from the battle, and also many of the people have fallen and are dead; and Saul and Jonathan his son are dead also.”

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

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

6 A nd 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.

The young man who told him said, “By chance I happened to be on Mount Gilboa, and behold, Saul was leaning on his spear. And behold, the chariots and the horsemen pursued him closely.

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

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

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

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

9 H e 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.

Then he said to me, ‘Please stand beside me and kill me, for agony has seized me because my life still lingers in me.’

10 S o 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.

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

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

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

12 a nd 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.

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

David said to the young man who told him, “Where are you from?” And he answered, “ I am the son of an alien, an Amalekite.”

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

Then David said to him, “How is it you were not afraid to stretch out your hand to destroy the Lord’s anointed?”

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

And David called one of the young men and said, “Go, cut him down.” So he struck him and he died.

16 A nd 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.

David said to him, “ Your blood is on your head, for your mouth has testified against you, saying, ‘I have killed the Lord’s anointed.’” David’s Dirge for Saul and Jonathan

17 A nd David lamented with this lamentation over Saul and over Jonathan his son:

Then David chanted with this lament over Saul and Jonathan his son,

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

and he told them to teach the sons of Judah the song of the bow; behold, it is written in the book of Jashar.

19 T he beauty of Israel is slain upon thy high places: how are the mighty fallen!

“ Your beauty, O Israel, is slain on your high places! How have the mighty fallen!

20 T ell 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.

“ Tell it not in Gath, Proclaim it not in the streets of Ashkelon, Or the daughters of the Philistines will rejoice, The daughters of the uncircumcised will exult.

21 Y e 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.

“ O mountains of Gilboa, Let not dew or rain be on you, nor fields of offerings; For there the shield of the mighty was defiled, The shield of Saul, not anointed with oil.

22 F rom 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 mighty, The bow of Jonathan did not turn back, And the sword of Saul did not return empty.

23 S aul 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, beloved and pleasant in their life, And in their death they were not parted; They were swifter than eagles, They were stronger than lions.

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

“O daughters of Israel, weep over Saul, Who clothed you luxuriously in scarlet, Who put ornaments of gold on your apparel.

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

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

26 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.

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

27 H ow are the mighty fallen, and the weapons of war perished!

“ How have the mighty fallen, And the weapons of war perished!”