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

2 i t came 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.

When 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.

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.

David said to him, Where have you come from? He said, 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, 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 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.

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

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

6 A nd the young man that told him said, As I happened by chance upon mount Gilboa, behold, Saul was leaning upon his spear; and, lo, the chariots and the horsemen followed hard after him.

The 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.

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. I answered, Here I am.

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

He asked me, Who are you? I answered, An Amalekite.

9 A nd he said unto me, Stand, I pray thee, beside me, and slay me; for anguish hath taken hold of me, because my life is yet whole in me.

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

10 S o I stood beside 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 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.

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

Then David grasped his own clothes and tore them; so did all the men 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 Jehovah, and for the house of Israel; because they were fallen by the sword.

They 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.

13 A nd David said unto the young man that told him, Whence art thou? And he answered, I am the son of a sojourner, 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 A nd David said unto him, How wast thou not afraid to put forth thy hand to destroy Jehovah's anointed?

David said to him, Why were you not afraid to stretch forth 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, so that he died.

David called one of the young men and said, Go near and fall upon him. And he smote him so that 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 Jehovah's anointed.

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

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

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

18 ( and he bade them teach the children of Judah the song of the bow: behold, it is written in the book of Jashar):

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

19 T hy glory, O Israel, is slain upon thy high places! How are the mighty fallen!

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

20 T ell it not in Gath, Publish it not in the streets of Ashkelon; Lest the daughters of the Philistines rejoice, Lest the daughters of the uncircumcised triumph.

Tell 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.

21 Y e mountains of Gilboa, Let there be no dew nor rain upon you, neither fields of offerings: For there the shield of the mighty was vilely cast away, The shield of Saul, not anointed with oil.

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.

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 turned not back, and the sword of Saul returned not 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 lovely! In their lives and in their deaths they were not divided. They were swifter than eagles, they were stronger than lions.

24 Y e daughters of Israel, weep over Saul, Who clothed you in scarlet delicately, Who put ornaments of gold upon your apparel.

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

25 H ow are the mighty fallen in the midst of the battle! Jonathan is slain upon thy high places.

How have the mighty fallen in the midst of the battle! Jonathan lies slain upon 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; very pleasant have you been to me. Your love to me was wonderful, passing 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!