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 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,

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.

on 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.

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

And David said to him, “Where have you come from?” So he said to him, “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.'

Then 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.”

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

So David said to the young man who told him, “How do you know that 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;

Then 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.

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

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

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

And he said to me, ‘Who are you?’ So I answered him, ‘I am 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 again, ‘Please stand over me and kill me, for anguish has come upon me, but my life still remains 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 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.”

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

Therefore David took hold of his own clothes and tore them, and so did all the men who were 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.

And 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.

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.'

Then 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.”

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

So David said to him, “How was it you were not afraid to put 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;

Then David called one of the young men and said, “Go near, and execute him!” And he struck 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.'

So 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

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

Then David lamented with this lamentation over Saul and over 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 told them to teach the children of Judah the Song of the Bow; indeed it is written in the Book of Jasher:

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

“The beauty of Israel is slain on your high places! How the mighty have 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, Proclaim it not in the streets of Ashkelon— Lest the daughters of the Philistines rejoice, Lest the daughters of the uncircumcised triumph.

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 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.

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 did not turn back, And the sword of Saul did not return 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 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.

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.

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

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

“How the mighty have fallen in the midst of the battle! Jonathan was slain in 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; You have been very pleasant to me; Your love to me was wonderful, Surpassing the love of women.

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

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