2 Samuel 1
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1After the death of Saul, when David had returned from striking down the Amalekites, David remained two days in Ziklag.1Shortly after Saul had died, David returned from defeating the Amalekites and remained in Ziklag for 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.2The next day, a man escaped from Saul's camp! With torn clothes and dirty hair, he approached David, fell to the ground, and bowed down to him.
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 did you come from? He answered him, "I just escaped from Israel's encampment."
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.”4David continued questioning him, "How did things go? Please tell me!" He replied, "The army has fled the battlefield, many of the army are wounded or have died, and Saul and his son Jonathan are also 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 related the story, "How do you know that 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.6The young man who had been relating the story answered, "I happened to be on Mount Gilboa and there was Saul, leaning on his spear! Meanwhile, the chariots and horsemen were rapidly drawing near.
7And when he looked behind him, he saw me, and called to me. And I answered, ‘Here I am.’7Saul glanced behind him, saw me, and called out to me, so I replied, 'Here I am!'
8And he said to me, ‘Who are you?’ I answered him, ‘I am an Amalekite.’8He asked me, 'Who are you?' So I answered 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.’9He begged me, 'Please—come stand here next to me and kill me, because I'm still alive.'
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 next to him and killed him, because I knew that he wouldn't live after he had fallen. I took the crown that had been on his head, along with the bracelet that had been on his arm, and I have brought them to your majesty."
11Then David took hold of his clothes and tore them, and so did all the men who were with him.11On hearing this, David grabbed his clothes and tore them, as did all the men who were attending to him.
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 and wept, and then decided to fast until dusk for Saul, for his son Jonathan, for the army of the LORD, and for the house of Israel, because they had fallen in battle.
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.”13Meanwhile, David asked the young man who had told him the story, "Where are you from?" He answered, "I'm an Amalekite, the son of a foreign man."
14David said to him, “How is it you were not afraid to put out your hand to destroy the LORD’s anointed?”14At this David asked him, "How is it that you weren't afraid to raise your hand to strike 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 called out to one of his young men and ordered him, "Go up to him and cut him down!" So he attacked him and killed him.
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.’”16David told him, "Your blood is on your own head, because your own words testified against you! After all, you said, 'I myself have killed the LORD's anointed!'"
17And David lamented with this lamentation over Saul and Jonathan his son,17So David intoned this song of lament about 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 gave orders to teach the descendants of Judah the art of warfare, as is recorded in the Book of Jashar:
19“Your glory, O Israel, is slain on your high places! How the mighty have fallen!19"Your beauty, Israel, lies slain on your high places! O, how the valiant 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.20Don't make it known in Gath! Don't declare it in the avenues of Ashkelon! Otherwise, the daughters of Philistia will rejoice; and the daughters of the uncircumcised will triumph.
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 fall on you, and may none of your fields be filled with plenty, because in that place the shield of the valiant ones was defiled, the shield of Saul without an anointing 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.22From the blood of the slain, from the blood of the valiant, Jonathan's bow would not retreat nor would Saul's sword return empty.
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 handsome in life, in death were not separated. Swifter than eagles they were, and more valiant 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 over Saul! He clothed you in scarlet luxury and decorated your garments with gold.
25“How the mighty have fallen in the midst of the battle! “Jonathan lies slain on your high places.25How have the valiant fallen in the tumult of battle! Jonathan lies slain on your high places.
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 am in distress for you, my brother Jonathan. You have been most kind to me. Your love for me was extraordinary — beyond love from women.
27“How the mighty have fallen, and the weapons of war perished!”27How the valiant have fallen! How the weapons of war are destroyed!"
ESV Text Edition: 2016. The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®) copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. The ESV® text has been reproduced in cooperation with and by permission of Good News Publishers. Unauthorized reproduction of this publication is prohibited. All rights reserved.The Holy Bible: International Standard Version® Release 2.1 Copyright © 1996-2012 The ISV Foundation
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1 Samuel 31
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