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 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;

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.

it 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.

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.”

And David said unto him, Where dost thou come from? And he said unto him, I am escaped out of 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.”

And David said unto him, How went the matter? I pray thee, tell me. And he answered, The people fled from the battle, and many of the people fell and are dead, and 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?”

And David said unto the young man that told him, How dost thou know that 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.

And the young man that told him said, As I happened by chance upon Mount Gilboa, behold, Saul leaned upon his spear, and the chariots and horsemen followed hard after him.

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

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

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

And he said unto me, Who art thou? And I answered him, I am 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 unto me again, Stand, I pray thee, upon me and slay me, for anguish is come upon me, and all my soul is yet 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 upon him and slew him because I was sure that he could not live after 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 here unto 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 took hold on his clothes and rent them and likewise all the men that were 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.

And they mourned and wept and fasted until evening for Saul and for Jonathan his son and for the people of the LORD, 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?” And he answered, “ I am the son of an alien, an Amalekite.”

And David said unto the young man that told him, From where art thou? And he answered, I am the son of a stranger, 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?”

And David said unto him, How wast thou not afraid to stretch forth thine 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.

Then David called one of the young men and said, Go near and fall upon him. And he smote him 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

And David said unto him, Thy blood be upon thy head, for thy mouth has testified against thee, saying, I have slain the LORD’s anointed.

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

¶ And David lamented with this lamentation over Saul and over 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.

(He also bade them teach the sons of Judah the use of the bow. Behold, it is written in the book of righteousness.)

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

The glory of Israel is slain upon thy high places! How are 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, publish it not in the streets of Askelon lest the daughters of the Philistines rejoice, lest the daughters of the uncircumcised triumph.

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.

Ye 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.

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.

Without the blood of the slain, without the fat of the mighty, the bow of Jonathan never turned back, and the sword of Saul never returned 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 were loved and desired in their lives, and in their death 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.

Ye daughters of Israel, weep over Saul, who clothed you in scarlet, with other 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 are the mighty fallen in the midst of the battle! O Jonathan, thou wast slain in thine 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 thee, my brother Jonathan; very pleasant hast thou been unto me; thy love to me was wonderful, passing the love of women.

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

How are the valiant fallen, and the weapons of war perished!