| NET Bible | English Standard Version |
| 1After the death of Saul, when David had returned from defeating the Amalekites, he stayed at Ziklag for two days. | 1After the death of Saul, when David had returned from striking down the Amalekites, David remained two days in Ziklag. |
| 2On the third day a man arrived from the camp of Saul with his clothes torn and dirt on his head. When he approached David, the man threw himself to the ground. | 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. |
| 3David asked him, "Where are you coming from?" He replied, "I have escaped from the camp of Israel." | 3David said to him, “Where do you come from?” And he said to him, “I have escaped from the camp of Israel.” |
| 4David inquired, "How were things going? Tell me!" He replied, "The people fled from the battle and many of them fell dead. Even Saul and his son Jonathan are dead!" | 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.” |
| 5David said to the young man who was telling him this, "How do you know that 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?” |
| 6The young man who was telling him this said, "I just happened to be on Mount Gilboa and came across Saul leaning on his spear for support. The chariots and leaders of the horsemen were in hot pursuit of him. | 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. |
| 7When he turned around and saw me, he called out to me. I answered, 'Here I am!' | 7And when he looked behind him, he saw me, and called to me. And I answered, ‘Here I am.’ |
| 8He asked me, 'Who are you?' I told him, 'I'm an Amalekite.' | 8And he said to me, ‘Who are you?’ I answered him, ‘I am an Amalekite.’ |
| 9He said to me, 'Stand over me and finish me off! I'm very dizzy, even though I'm still alive.' | 9And he said to me, ‘Stand beside me and kill me, for anguish has seized me, and yet my life still lingers.’ |
| 10So I stood over him and put him to death, since I knew that he couldn't live in such a condition. Then I took the crown which was on his head and the bracelet which was on his arm. I have brought them here to my lord." | 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.” |
| 11David then grabbed his own clothes and tore them, as did all the men who were with him. | 11Then David took hold of his clothes and tore them, and so did all the men who were with him. |
| 12They lamented and wept and fasted until evening because Saul, his son Jonathan, the LORD's people, and the house of Israel had fallen by the sword. | 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. |
| 13David said to the young man who told this to him, "Where are you from?" He replied, "I am an Amalekite, the son of a resident foreigner." | 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.” |
| 14David replied to him, "How is it that you were not afraid to reach out your hand to destroy the LORD's anointed?" | 14David said to him, “How is it you were not afraid to put out your hand to destroy the LORD’s anointed?” |
| 15Then David called one of the soldiers and said, "Come here and strike him down!" So he struck him down, and he died. | 15Then David called one of the young men and said, “Go, execute him.” And he struck him down so that he died. |
| 16David said to him, "Your blood be on your own head! Your own mouth has testified against you, saying 'I have put the LORD's anointed to death.'" | 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.’” |
| 17Then David chanted this lament over Saul and his son Jonathan. | 17And David lamented with this lamentation over Saul and Jonathan his son, |
| 18(He gave instructions that the people of Judah should be taught "The Bow." Indeed, it is written down in the Book of Yashar.) | 18and he said it should be taught to the people of Judah; behold, it is written in the Book of Jashar. He said: |
| 19The beauty of Israel lies slain on your high places! How the mighty have fallen! | 19“Your glory, O Israel, is slain on your high places! How the mighty have fallen! |
| 20Don't report it in Gath, don't spread the news in the streets of Ashkelon, or the daughters of the Philistines will rejoice, the daughters of the uncircumcised will celebrate! | 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. |
| 21O mountains of Gilboa, may there be no dew or rain on you, nor fields of grain offerings! For it was there that the shield of warriors was defiled; the shield of Saul lies neglected without oil. | 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. |
| 22From the blood of the slain, from the fat of warriors, the bow of Jonathan was not turned away. The sword of Saul never returned empty. | 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. |
| 23Saul and Jonathan were greatly loved during their lives, and not even in their deaths were they separated. They were swifter than eagles, stronger than lions. | 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. |
| 24O daughters of Israel, weep over Saul, who clothed you in scarlet as well as jewelry, who put gold jewelry on your clothes. | 24“You daughters of Israel, weep over Saul, who clothed you luxuriously in scarlet, who put ornaments of gold on your apparel. |
| 25How the warriors have fallen in the midst of battle! Jonathan lies slain on your high places! | 25“How the mighty have fallen in the midst of the battle! “Jonathan lies slain on your high places. |
| 26I grieve over you, my brother Jonathan! You were very dear to me. Your love was more special to me than the love of women. | 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. |
| 27How the warriors have fallen! The weapons of war are destroyed! | 27“How the mighty have fallen, and the weapons of war perished!” |
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