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;

Now after the death of Saul, David returned from killing the Amalekites and 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.

On 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.

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

David said to him, “Where do you come from?” And he answered, “I have run away from the tents 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.”

David 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.”

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

David said to the young man, “How do you know that Saul and his son Jonathan 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.

The 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.

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

When he looked behind him, he saw me. He called to me and I said, ‘Here I am.’

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

He said to me, ‘Who are you?’ And I answered, ‘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.’

Then he said to me, ‘I beg you, stand beside me and kill me. I am in pain, and yet I am still alive.’

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.”

So 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.”

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

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

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.

They 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.

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.”

David said to the young man, “Where are you from?” And he answered, “I am the son of one from another land, an Amalekite.”

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

Then David said to him, “Why were you not afraid to put out your hand to destroy the Lord’s chosen one?”

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

Then David called one of the young men and said, “Go, cut him down.” So he hit him and 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.’”

David 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

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

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

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):

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

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

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

Do 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.

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.

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.

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.

The 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.

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.

Saul 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.

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

O daughters of Israel, cry for Saul. He dressed you in fine red clothing. He put on your clothing objects of gold.

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

How have the powerful fallen in the center of the battle! Jonathan has been killed 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.

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.

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

How have the powerful fallen, and the bows and swords of war destroyed!”