1 A nd it cometh to pass, after the death of Saul, that David hath returned from smiting the Amalekite, and David dwelleth in Ziklag two days,

Now after the death of Saul, when David returned from the slaughter of the Amalekites, he had stayed two days in Ziklag,

2 a nd it cometh to pass, on the third day, that lo, a man hath come in out of the camp from Saul, and his garments rent, and earth on his head; and it cometh to pass, in his coming in unto David, that he falleth to the earth, and doth obeisance.

When on the third day a man came from Saul’s camp with his clothes torn and dust on his head. When he came to David, he fell to the ground and did obeisance.

3 A nd David saith to him, `Whence comest thou?' and he saith unto him, `Out of the camp of Israel I have escaped.'

David said to him, Where have you come from? He said, I have escaped from the camp of Israel.

4 A nd David saith unto him, `What hath been the matter? declare, I pray thee, to me.' And he saith, that `The people hath fled from the battle, and also a multitude hath fallen of the people, and they die; and also Saul and Jonathan his son have died.'

David said to him, How did it go? Tell me. He answered, The men have fled from the battle. Many have fallen and are dead; Saul and Jonathan his son are dead also.

5 A nd David saith unto the youth who is declaring to him, `How hast thou known that Saul and Jonathan his son dead?'

David said to the young man, How do you know Saul and Jonathan his son are dead?

6 A nd the youth who is declaring to him saith, I happened to meet in mount Gilboa, and lo, Saul is leaning on his spear; and lo, the chariots and those possessing horses have followed him;

The young man said, By chance I happened to be on Mount Gilboa and I saw Saul leaning on his spear, and behold, the chariots and horsemen were close behind him.

7 a nd he turneth behind him, and seeth me, and calleth unto me, and I say, Here I.

When he looked behind him, he saw me and called to me. I answered, Here I am.

8 A nd he saith to me, Who thou? and I say unto him, An Amalekite I.'

He asked me, Who are you? I answered, An Amalekite.

9 ` And he saith unto me, Stand, I pray thee, over me, and put me to death, for seized me hath the arrow, for all my soul still in me.

He said to me, Rise up against me and slay me; for terrible dizziness has come upon me, yet my life is still in me.

10 A nd I stand over him, and put him to death, for I knew that he doth not live after his falling, and I take the crown which on his head, and the bracelet which on his arm, and bring them in unto my lord hither.'

So I stood up against him and slew him, because I was sure he could not live after he had fallen. So I took the crown on his head and the bracelet on his arm and have brought them here to my lord.

11 A nd David taketh hold on his garments, and rendeth them, and also all the men who with him,

Then David grasped his own clothes and tore them; so did all the men with him.

12 a nd they mourn, and weep, and fast till the evening, for Saul, and for Jonathan his son, and for the people of Jehovah, and for the house of Israel, because they have fallen by the sword.

They mourned and wept for Saul and Jonathan his son, and fasted until evening for the Lord’s people and the house of Israel, because of their defeat in battle.

13 A nd David saith unto the youth who is declaring to him, `Whence thou?' and he saith, `Son of a sojourner, an Amalekite, I.'

David said to the young man who told him, Where are you from? He answered, I am the son of a foreigner, an Amalekite.

14 A nd David saith unto him, `How wast thou not afraid to put forth thy hand to destroy the anointed of Jehovah?'

David said to him, Why were you not afraid to stretch forth your hand to destroy the Lord’s anointed?

15 A nd David calleth to one of the youths, and saith, `Draw nigh -- fall upon him;' and he smiteth him, and he dieth;

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

16 a nd David saith unto him, `Thy blood on thine own head, for thy mouth hath testified against thee, saying, I -- I put to death the anointed of Jehovah.'

David said to, Your blood be upon your own head; for you have testified against yourself, saying, I have slain the Lord’s anointed.

17 A nd David lamenteth with this lamentation over Saul, and over Jonathan his son;

David lamented with this lamentation over Saul and Jonathan his son,

18 a nd he saith to teach the sons of Judah `The Bow;' lo, it is written on the book of the Upright: --

And he commanded to teach it, the bow, to the Israelites. Behold, it is written in the Book of Jashar:

19 ` The Roebuck, O Israel, On thy high places wounded; How have the mighty fallen!

Your glory, O Israel, is slain upon your high places. How have the mighty fallen!

20 D eclare not in Gath, Proclaim not the tidings in the streets of Ashkelon, Lest they rejoice -- The daughters of the Philistines, Lest they exult -- The daughters of the Uncircumcised!

Tell it not in Gath, announce it not in the streets of Ashkelon, lest the daughters of the Philistines rejoice, lest the daughters of the uncircumcised exult.

21 M ountains of Gilboa! No dew nor rain be on you, And fields of heave-offerings! For there hath become loathsome The shield of the mighty, The shield of Saul -- without the anointed with oil.

O mountains of Gilboa, let there be no dew or rain upon you, or fields with offerings. For there the shield of the mighty was defiled, the shield of Saul, as though he were not anointed with oil.

22 F rom the blood of the wounded, From the fat of the mighty, The bow of Jonathan Hath not turned backward; And the sword of Saul doth 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 S aul and Jonathan! They are loved and pleasant in their lives, And in their death they have not been parted. Than eagles they have been lighter, Than lions they have been mightier!

Saul and Jonathan, beloved and lovely! In their lives and in their deaths they were not divided. They were swifter than eagles, they were stronger than lions.

24 D aughters of Israel! for Saul weep ye, Who is clothing you scarlet with delights. Who is lifting up ornaments of gold on your clothing.

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

25 H ow have the mighty fallen In the midst of the battle! Jonathan! on thy high places wounded!

How have the mighty fallen in the midst of the battle! Jonathan lies slain upon your high places.

26 I am in distress for thee, my brother Jonathan, Very pleasant wast thou to me; Wonderful was thy love to me, Above the love of women!

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

27 H ow have the mighty fallen, Yea, the weapons of war perish!'

How have the mighty fallen, and the weapons of war perished!