| English Standard Version | Holman Christian Standard Bible |
| 1After the death of Saul, when David had returned from striking down the Amalekites, David remained two days in Ziklag. | 1After the death of Saul, David returned from defeating the Amalekites and stayed at Ziklag two days. |
| 2And on the third day, behold, a man came from Saul’s camp, with his clothes torn and dirt on his head. And when he came to David, he fell to the ground and paid homage. | 2On the third day a man with torn clothes and dust on his head came from Saul's camp. When he came to David, he fell to the ground and paid homage. |
| 3David said to him, “Where do you come from?” And he said to him, “I have escaped from the camp of Israel.” | 3David asked him, "Where have you come from?" He replied to him, "I've escaped from the Israelite camp."" |
| 4And David said to him, “How did it go? Tell me.” And he answered, “The people fled from the battle, and also many of the people have fallen and are dead, and Saul and his son Jonathan are also dead.” | 4What was the outcome? Tell me," David asked him." The troops fled from the battle," he answered. "Many of the troops have fallen and are dead. Also, Saul and his son Jonathan are dead." |
| 5Then David said to the young man who told him, “How do you know that Saul and his son Jonathan are dead?” | 5David asked the young man who had brought him the report, "How do you know Saul and his son Jonathan are dead?"" |
| 6And the young man who told him said, “By chance I happened to be on Mount Gilboa, and there was Saul leaning on his spear, and behold, the chariots and the horsemen were close upon him. | 6I happened to be on Mount Gilboa," he replied, "and there was Saul, leaning on his spear. At that very moment the chariots and the cavalry were closing in on him. |
| 7And when he looked behind him, he saw me, and called to me. And I answered, ‘Here I am.’ | 7When he turned around and saw me, he called out to me, so I answered: I'm at your service. |
| 8And he said to me, ‘Who are you?’ I answered him, ‘I am an Amalekite.’ | 8He asked me, 'Who are you?' I told him: I'm an Amalekite. |
| 9And he said to me, ‘Stand beside me and kill me, for anguish has seized me, and yet my life still lingers.’ | 9Then he begged me, 'Stand over me and kill me, for I'm mortally wounded, but my life still lingers.' |
| 10So I stood beside 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 armlet that was on his arm, and I have brought them here to my lord.” | 10So I stood over him and killed him because I knew that after he had fallen he couldn't survive. I took the crown that was on his head and the armband that was on his arm, and I've brought them here to my lord." |
| 11Then David took hold of his clothes and tore them, and so did all the men who were with him. | 11Then David took hold of his clothes and tore them, and all the men with him did the same. |
| 12And they mourned and wept and fasted until evening for Saul and for Jonathan his son and for the people of the LORD and for the house of Israel, because they had fallen by the sword. | 12They mourned, wept, and fasted until the evening for those who died by the sword--for Saul, his son Jonathan, the LORD's people, and the house of Israel. |
| 13And David said to the young man who told him, “Where do you come from?” And he answered, “I am the son of a sojourner, an Amalekite.” | 13David inquired of the young man who had brought him the report, "Where are you from?"" I'm the son of a foreigner," he said. "I'm an Amalekite." |
| 14David said to him, “How is it you were not afraid to put out your hand to destroy the LORD’s anointed?” | 14David questioned him, "How is it that you were not afraid to lift your hand to destroy the LORD's anointed?" |
| 15Then David called one of the young men and said, “Go, execute him.” And he struck him down so that he died. | 15Then David summoned one of his servants and said, "Come here and kill him!" The servant struck him, and he died. |
| 16And David said to him, “Your blood be on your head, for your own mouth has testified against you, saying, ‘I have killed the LORD’s anointed.’” | 16For David had said to the Amalekite, "Your blood is on your own head because your own mouth testified against you by saying, 'I killed the LORD's anointed.'" |
| 17And David lamented with this lamentation over Saul and Jonathan his son, | 17David sang the following lament for Saul and his son Jonathan, |
| 18and he said it should be taught to the people of Judah; behold, it is written in the Book of Jashar. He said: | 18and he ordered that the Judahites be taught The Song of the Bow. It is written in the Book of Jashar: |
| 19“Your glory, O Israel, is slain on your high places! How the mighty have fallen! | 19The splendor of Israel lies slain on your heights. How the mighty have fallen! |
| 20Tell it not in Gath, publish it not in the streets of Ashkelon, lest the daughters of the Philistines rejoice, lest the daughters of the uncircumcised exult. | 20Do not tell it in Gath, don't announce it in the marketplaces of Ashkelon, or the daughters of the Philistines will rejoice, and the daughters of the uncircumcised will gloat. |
| 21“You mountains of Gilboa, let there be no dew or rain upon you, nor fields of offerings! For there the shield of the mighty was defiled, the shield of Saul, not anointed with oil. | 21Mountains of Gilboa, let no dew or rain be on you, or fields of offerings, for there the shield of the mighty was defiled-- the shield of Saul, no longer anointed with oil. |
| 22“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. | 22Jonathan's bow never retreated, Saul's sword never returned unstained, from the blood of the slain, from the bodies of the mighty. |
| 23“Saul and Jonathan, beloved and lovely! In life and in death they were not divided; they were swifter than eagles; they were stronger than lions. | 23Saul and Jonathan, loved and delightful, they were not parted in life or in death. They were swifter than eagles, stronger than lions. |
| 24“You daughters of Israel, weep over Saul, who clothed you luxuriously in scarlet, who put ornaments of gold on your apparel. | 24Daughters of Israel, weep for Saul, who clothed you in scarlet, with luxurious things, who decked your garments with gold ornaments. |
| 25“How the mighty have fallen in the midst of the battle! “Jonathan lies slain on your high places. | 25How the mighty have fallen in the thick of battle! Jonathan lies slain on your heights. |
| 26I am distressed for you, my brother Jonathan; very pleasant have you been to me; your love to me was extraordinary, surpassing the love of women. | 26I grieve for you, Jonathan, my brother. You were such a friend to me. Your love for me was more wonderful than the love of women. |
| 27“How the mighty have fallen, and the weapons of war perished!” | 27How the mighty have fallen and the weapons of war have perished! |
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