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

After the death of Saul, when David had returned from the slaughter of the Amalekites, and David had 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, 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.

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?” He said to him, “I have escaped out of the camp 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? 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.”

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 who told him, “How do you know that Saul and Jonathan his son 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 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.

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, and called to me. I answered, ‘Here I am.’

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

He said to me, ‘Who are you?’ I answered him, ‘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.

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

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 was sure that he could not live after that 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.”

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

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

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 mourned, wept, and fasted until evening, for Saul, and for Jonathan his son, and for the people of Yahweh, and for the house of Israel; because 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 who told him, “Where are you from?” He answered, “I am the son of a foreigner, an Amalekite.”

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

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

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.

David called one of the young men, and said, “Go near, and cut him down!” He struck him so that 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 be on your head; for your mouth has testified against you, saying, ‘I have slain Yahweh’s anointed.’”

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

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

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

(and he commanded them to teach the children of Judah the song of the bow; behold, 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!

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

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.

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.

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.

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, Jonathan’s bow didn’t turn back. Saul’s sword didn’t return empty.

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 lovely and pleasant in their lives. In their death, they were not divided. They were swifter 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.

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

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

How the mighty have fallen in the middle of the battle! Jonathan was slain 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 distressed for you, my brother Jonathan. You have been very pleasant to me. Your love to me was wonderful, passing the love of women.

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

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