1 N ow after the death of Saul, David returned from killing the Amalekites and 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, a man came from the tents of Saul. His clothes were torn and he had dust on his head. When he came to David, he fell with his face to the ground.

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 D avid said to him, “Where do you come from?” And he answered, “I have run away from the tents 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 D avid said to him, “How did it go? Tell me.” And the man said, “The people have run from the battle. Many have fallen and are dead. Saul and his son Jonathan 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 D avid said to the young man, “How do you know that Saul and his son Jonathan 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 he young man said, “I happened to be on Mount Gilboa. There I saw Saul holding himself up with his spear. The war-wagons and the horsemen were coming close 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 W hen he looked behind him, he saw me. He called to me and I said, ‘Here I am.’

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

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

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

9 T hen he said to me, ‘I beg you, stand beside me and kill me. I am in pain, and yet I am still alive.’

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 beside him and killed him, because I knew he could not live after he had fallen. Then I took the crown which was on his head and the beautiful gold band which he wore on his arm, and I 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 hen David took hold of his 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 T hey cried in sorrow and did not eat until evening, because of Saul and his son Jonathan, and of the people of the Lord and of the family of Israel. For 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 D avid said to the young man, “Where are you from?” And he answered, “I am the son of one from another land, 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 T hen David said to him, “Why were you not afraid to put out your hand to destroy the Lord’s chosen one?”

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, cut him down.” So he hit him and 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 D avid said to him, “Your blood is on your head. Because your mouth has spoken against you, saying, ‘I have killed the Lord’s chosen one.’” David’s Song of Sorrow for Saul and Jonathan

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 sang a song of sorrow for Saul and his son Jonathan.

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

18 H e told them to teach the song of the bow to the people of Judah. See, it is written in the book of Jashar.

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

19 “ O Israel, your beauty is destroyed on your high places! How have the powerful fallen!

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

20 D o not tell about it in Gath. Do not tell about it in the streets of Ashkelon, or the daughters of the Philistines might be filled with joy. The daughters of those who have not gone through our religious act might be filled with joy.

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, do not let the water that is on the grass in the early morning or rain be on you. Let not grass be grown on your fields. For there the covering of the powerful was made dirty, the covering of Saul, as if he had not been set apart 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 T he bow of Jonathan did not turn away. The sword of Saul did not return empty. They did not turn from the blood of the dead and the fat of the powerful.

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 loved and pleasing in their life. And they were not divided in their death. They were faster 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, cry for Saul. He dressed you in fine red clothing. He put on your clothing objects of gold.

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

25 H ow have the powerful fallen in the center of the battle! Jonathan has been killed on your high places.

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

26 I am troubled because of you, my brother Jonathan. You have been very pleasing to me. Your love to me was greater than 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 H ow have the powerful fallen, and the bows and swords of war destroyed!”

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