1 N ow 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.

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

2 O n 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.

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

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

4 D avid 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.”

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

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

6 T he 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.

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

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

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

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

9 T hen he said to me, ‘Please stand beside me and kill me, for agony has seized me because my life still lingers 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 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.”

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

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

12 T hey 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.

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 D avid said to the young man who told him, “Where are you from?” And he answered, “ I am the son of an alien, 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 T hen David said to him, “How is it you were not afraid to stretch out your hand to destroy the Lord’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, cut him down.” So he struck him and 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 D avid 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

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

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

18 a nd he told them to teach the sons 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 “ Your beauty, O Israel, is slain on your high places! How have the mighty fallen!

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

20 “ 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.

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 “ 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.

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 “ 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.

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 “ 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.

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 “ O daughters of Israel, weep over Saul, Who clothed you luxuriously in scarlet, Who put ornaments of gold on 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 “ How have the mighty fallen in the midst of the battle! Jonathan is slain on your 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 you, my brother Jonathan; You have been very pleasant to me. Your love to me was more wonderful Than 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 “ How have the mighty fallen, And the weapons of war perished!”

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