1 N ow after the death of Saul, when David returned from the slaughter of the Amalekites, he had stayed two days in Ziklag,

Now after the death of Saul, David returned from killing the Amalekites and stayed two days in Ziklag.

2 W hen on the third day a man came from Saul’s camp with his clothes torn and dust on his head. When he came to David, he fell to the ground and did obeisance.

On the third day, a man came from the tents of Saul. His clothes were torn and he had dust on his head. When he came to David, he fell with his face to the ground.

3 D avid said to him, Where have you come from? He said, I have escaped from the camp of Israel.

David said to him, “Where do you come from?” And he answered, “I have run away from the tents of Israel.”

4 D avid said to him, How did it go? Tell me. He answered, The men have fled from the battle. Many have fallen and are dead; Saul and Jonathan his son are dead also.

David said to him, “How did it go? Tell me.” And the man said, “The people have run from the battle. Many have fallen and are dead. Saul and his son Jonathan are dead also.”

5 D avid said to the young man, How do you know Saul and Jonathan his son are dead?

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

6 T he young man said, By chance I happened to be on Mount Gilboa and I saw Saul leaning on his spear, and behold, the chariots and horsemen were close behind him.

The young man said, “I happened to be on Mount Gilboa. There I saw Saul holding himself up with his spear. The war-wagons and the horsemen were coming close after him.

7 W hen he looked behind him, he saw me and called to me. I answered, Here I am.

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

8 H e asked me, Who are you? I answered, An Amalekite.

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

9 H e said to me, Rise up against me and slay me; for terrible dizziness has come upon me, yet my life is still in me.

Then he said to me, ‘I beg you, stand beside me and kill me. I am in pain, and yet I am still alive.’

10 S o I stood up against him and slew him, because I was sure he could not live after he had fallen. So I took the crown on his head and the bracelet on his arm and have brought them here to my lord.

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

11 T hen David grasped his own clothes and tore them; so did all the men with him.

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

12 T hey mourned and wept for Saul and Jonathan his son, and fasted until evening for the Lord’s people and the house of Israel, because of their defeat in battle.

They cried in sorrow and did not eat until evening, because of Saul and his son Jonathan, and of the people of the Lord and of the family of Israel. For they had fallen by the sword.

13 D avid said to the young man who told him, Where are you from? He answered, I am the son of a foreigner, an Amalekite.

David said to the young man, “Where are you from?” And he answered, “I am the son of one from another land, an Amalekite.”

14 D avid said to him, Why were you not afraid to stretch forth your hand to destroy the Lord’s anointed?

Then David said to him, “Why were you not afraid to put out your hand to destroy the Lord’s chosen one?”

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

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

16 D avid said to, Your blood be upon your own head; for you have testified against yourself, saying, I have slain the Lord’s anointed.

David said to him, “Your blood is on your head. Because your mouth has spoken against you, saying, ‘I have killed the Lord’s chosen one.’” David’s Song of Sorrow for Saul and Jonathan

17 D avid lamented with this lamentation over Saul and Jonathan his son,

Then David sang a song of sorrow for Saul and his son Jonathan.

18 A nd he commanded to teach it, the bow, to the Israelites. Behold, it is written in the Book of Jashar:

He told them to teach the song of the bow to the people of Judah. See, it is written in the book of Jashar.

19 Y our glory, O Israel, is slain upon your high places. How have the mighty fallen!

“O Israel, your beauty is destroyed on your high places! How have the powerful fallen!

20 T ell it not in Gath, announce it not in the streets of Ashkelon, lest the daughters of the Philistines rejoice, lest the daughters of the uncircumcised exult.

Do not tell about it in Gath. Do not tell about it in the streets of Ashkelon, or the daughters of the Philistines might be filled with joy. The daughters of those who have not gone through our religious act might be filled with joy.

21 O mountains of Gilboa, let there be no dew or rain upon you, or fields with offerings. For there the shield of the mighty was defiled, the shield of Saul, as though he were not anointed with oil.

O mountains of Gilboa, do not let the water that is on the grass in the early morning or rain be on you. Let not grass be grown on your fields. For there the covering of the powerful was made dirty, the covering of Saul, as if he had not been set apart 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.

The bow of Jonathan did not turn away. The sword of Saul did not return empty. They did not turn from the blood of the dead and the fat of the powerful.

23 S aul and Jonathan, beloved and lovely! In their lives and in their deaths they were not divided. They were swifter than eagles, they were stronger than lions.

Saul and Jonathan were loved and pleasing in their life. And they were not divided in their death. They were faster than eagles. They were stronger than lions.

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

O daughters of Israel, cry for Saul. He dressed you in fine red clothing. He put on your clothing objects of gold.

25 H ow have the mighty fallen in the midst of the battle! Jonathan lies slain upon your high places.

How have the powerful fallen in the center of the battle! Jonathan has been killed on your high places.

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

I am troubled because of you, my brother Jonathan. You have been very pleasing to me. Your love to me was greater than the love of women.

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

How have the powerful fallen, and the bows and swords of war destroyed!”