1 A fter the death of Saul, when David had returned from the slaughter of the Amalekites, and David 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 earth on his head. When he came to David, he fell to the earth, and showed respect.

3 D avid said to him, “Where do you come from?” He said to him, “I have escaped out of the camp of Israel.”

4 D avid said to him, “How did it go? Please tell me.” He answered, “The people have fled from the battle, and many of the people also have fallen and are dead. Saul and Jonathan his son are dead also.”

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

6 T he young man who told him said, “As I happened by chance on Mount Gilboa, behold, Saul was leaning on his spear; and behold, the chariots and the horsemen followed close behind him.

7 W hen 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?’ I answered him, ‘I am an Amalekite.’

9 H e said to me, ‘Please stand beside me, and kill me; for anguish has taken hold of me, because my life lingers in me.’

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

11 T hen David took hold on his clothes, and tore them; and all the men who were with him did likewise.

12 T hey mourned, wept, and fasted until evening, for Saul, and for Jonathan his son, and for the people of Yahweh, 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?” He answered, “I am the son of a foreigner, an Amalekite.”

14 D avid said to him, “Why were you not afraid to stretch out your hand to destroy Yahweh’s anointed?”

15 D avid called one of the young men, and said, “Go near, and cut him down!” He struck him so that he died.

16 D avid said to him, “Your blood be on your head; for your mouth has testified against you, saying, ‘I have slain Yahweh’s anointed.’”

17 D avid lamented with this lamentation over Saul and over Jonathan his son

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

19 “ Your glory, Israel, was slain on your high places! How the mighty have fallen!

20 D on’t tell it in Gath. Don’t publish it in the streets of Ashkelon, lest the daughters of the Philistines rejoice, lest the daughters of the uncircumcised triumph.

21 Y ou mountains of Gilboa, let there be no dew or rain on you, and no fields of offerings; For there the shield of the mighty was defiled and cast away, The shield of Saul was not anointed with oil.

22 F rom the blood of the slain, from the fat of the mighty, Jonathan’s bow didn’t turn back. Saul’s sword didn’t return empty.

23 S aul and Jonathan were lovely and pleasant in their lives. In their death, they were not divided. They were swifter than eagles. They were stronger than lions.

24 Y ou daughters of Israel, weep over Saul, who clothed you delicately in scarlet, who put ornaments of gold on your clothing.

25 H ow the mighty have fallen in the middle of the battle! Jonathan was slain on your high places.

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

27 H ow the mighty have fallen, and the weapons of war have perished!”