1 N ow it came to pass after the death of Saul, when David had returned from the slaughter of the Amalekites, and David had stayed two days in Ziklag,

And it came to pass after the death of Saul, when David had returned from the slaughter of the Amalekites, that David abode two days in Ziklag.

2 o n the third day, behold, it happened that a man came from Saul’s camp with his clothes torn and dust on his head. So it was, when he came to David, that he fell to the ground and prostrated himself.

And it came to pass on the third day, that behold, a man came out of the camp from Saul with his garments rent, and earth upon his head; and as soon as he came to David, he fell to the earth and did obeisance.

3 A nd David said to him, “Where have you come from?” So he said to him, “I have escaped from the camp of Israel.”

And David said to him, Whence comest thou? And he said to him, Out of the camp of Israel am I escaped.

4 T hen David said to him, “How did the matter go? Please tell me.” And he answered, “The people have fled from the battle, many of the people are fallen and dead, and Saul and Jonathan his son are dead also.”

And David said to him, What has taken place? I pray thee, tell me. And he said that the people had fled from the battle, and many of the people also had fallen and died, and that Saul and Jonathan his son were dead also.

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

And David said to the young man that told him, How knowest thou that Saul and Jonathan his son are dead?

6 T hen the young man who told him said, “As I happened by chance to be on Mount Gilboa, there was Saul, leaning on his spear; and indeed the chariots and horsemen followed hard after him.

And the young man that told him said, I happened by chance to be upon mount Gilboa, and behold, Saul leaned on his spear; and behold, the chariots and horsemen followed hard after him.

7 N ow when he looked behind him, he saw me and called to me. And I answered, ‘Here I am.’

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

8 A nd he said to me, ‘Who are you?’ So I answered him, ‘I am an Amalekite.’

And he said to me, Who art thou? And I said to him, I am an Amalekite.

9 H e said to me again, ‘Please stand over me and kill me, for anguish has come upon me, but my life still remains in me.’

He said to me again, Stand, I pray thee, over me, and slay me; for anguish has seized me; for my life is yet whole in me.

10 S o I stood over him and killed him, because I was sure that he could not live after he had fallen. And 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.”

So I stood over him, and put him to death, for I knew that he would not live after his fall; and I took the crown that was upon his head, and the bracelet that was on his arm, and have brought them hither to my lord.

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

Then David took hold of his garments and rent them; and all the men that were with him likewise.

12 A nd they mourned and wept and fasted until evening for Saul and for Jonathan his son, for the people of the Lord and for the house of Israel, because they had fallen by the sword.

And 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.

13 T hen David 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 to the young man that told him, Whence art thou? And he said, I am the son of an Amalekite stranger.

14 S o David said to him, “How was it you were not afraid to put forth your hand to destroy the Lord ’s anointed?”

And David said to him, How wast thou not afraid to stretch forth thy hand to destroy Jehovah's anointed?

15 T hen David called one of the young men and said, “Go near, and execute him!” And he struck him so that he died.

Then David called one of the young men and said, Draw near, fall on him. And he smote him that he died.

16 S o David said to him, “Your blood is on your own head, for your own mouth has testified against you, saying, ‘I have killed the Lord ’s anointed.’” The Song of the Bow

And David said to him, Thy blood be upon thy head; for thy mouth has testified against thee, saying, I have slain Jehovah's anointed.

17 T hen David lamented with this lamentation over Saul and over 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 children of Judah the Song of the Bow; indeed it is written in the Book of Jasher:

and he bade them teach the children of Judah the bow. Behold, it is written in the book of Jasher:—

19 “ The beauty of Israel is slain on your high places! How the mighty have fallen!

The beauty of Israel is slain upon thy high places: how are the mighty fallen!

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

Tell not in Gath, carry not the tidings 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 nor rain upon you, Nor fields of offerings. For the shield of the mighty is cast away there! The shield of Saul, not anointed with oil.

Ye mountains of Gilboa, let there be no dew, no rain upon you, nor fields of heave-offerings! For there the shield of the mighty was vilely cast away, The shield of Saul, not anointed with oil.

22 F rom 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 were beloved 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 pleasant in their lives, Even in their death were not divided; They were swifter than eagles, they were stronger than lions.

24 “ O daughters of Israel, weep over Saul, Who clothed you in scarlet, with luxury; Who put ornaments of gold on your apparel.

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

25 “ How the mighty have fallen in the midst of the battle! Jonathan was slain in your high places.

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

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

I am distressed for thee, my brother Jonathan: very pleasant wast thou unto me; Thy love to me was wonderful, passing women's love.

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

How are the mighty fallen, and the instruments of war perished!