New International Version | Holman Christian Standard Bible |
1After the death of Saul, David returned from striking down the Amalekites and stayed in Ziklag two days. | 1After the death of Saul, David returned from defeating the Amalekites and stayed at Ziklag two days. |
2On the third day a man arrived from Saul's camp with his clothes torn and dust on his head. When he came to David, he fell to the ground to pay him honor. | 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. |
3"Where have you come from?" David asked him. He answered, "I have escaped from the Israelite camp." | 3David asked him, "Where have you come from?" He replied to him, "I've escaped from the Israelite camp."" |
4"What happened?" David asked. "Tell me." "The men fled from the battle," he replied. "Many of them fell and died. And Saul and his son Jonathan are 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 brought him the report, "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?"" |
6"I happened to be on Mount Gilboa," the young man said, "and there was Saul, leaning on his spear, with the chariots and their drivers in hot pursuit. | 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. |
7When he turned around and saw me, he called out to me, and I said, 'What can I do?' | 7When he turned around and saw me, he called out to me, so I answered: I'm at your service. |
8"He asked me, 'Who are you?' "'An Amalekite,' I answered. | 8He asked me, 'Who are you?' I told him: I'm an Amalekite. |
9"Then he said to me, 'Stand here by me and kill me! I'm in the throes of death, but I'm still alive.' | 9Then he begged me, 'Stand over me and kill me, for I'm mortally wounded, but my life still lingers.' |
10"So I stood beside him and killed him, because I knew that after he had fallen he could not survive. And I took the crown that was on his head and the band on his arm and 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 and all the men with him took hold of their clothes and tore them. | 11Then David took hold of his clothes and tore them, and all the men with him did the same. |
12They mourned and wept and fasted till evening for Saul and his son Jonathan, and for the army of the LORD and for the nation 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. |
13David said to the young man who brought him the report, "Where are you from?" "I am the son of a foreigner, an Amalekite," he answered. | 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 asked him, "Why weren't you afraid to lift 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 his men and said, "Go, strike him down!" So he struck him down, and he died. | 15Then David summoned one of his servants and said, "Come here and kill him!" The servant struck him, and he died. |
16For David had said to him, "Your blood be on your own head. Your own mouth testified against you when you said, 'I 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.'" |
17David took up this lament concerning Saul and his son Jonathan, | 17David sang the following lament for Saul and his son Jonathan, |
18and he ordered that the people of Judah be taught this lament of the bow (it is written in the Book of Jashar): | 18and he ordered that the Judahites be taught The Song of the Bow. It is written in the Book of Jashar: |
19"A gazelle lies slain on your heights, Israel. How the mighty have fallen! | 19The splendor of Israel lies slain on your heights. How the mighty have fallen! |
20"Tell it not in Gath, proclaim it not in the streets of Ashkelon, lest the daughters of the Philistines be glad, lest the daughters of the uncircumcised rejoice. | 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"Mountains of Gilboa, may you have neither dew nor rain, may no showers fall on your terraced fields. For there the shield of the mighty was despised, the shield of Saul--no longer rubbed 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 flesh of the mighty, the bow of Jonathan did not turn back, the sword of Saul did not return unsatisfied. | 22Jonathan's bow never retreated, Saul's sword never returned unstained, from the blood of the slain, from the bodies of the mighty. |
23Saul and Jonathan-- in life they were loved and admired, and in death they were not parted. 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"Daughters of Israel, weep for Saul, who clothed you in scarlet and finery, who adorned your garments with ornaments of gold. | 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 battle! Jonathan lies slain on your heights. | 25How the mighty have fallen in the thick of battle! Jonathan lies slain on your heights. |
26I grieve for you, Jonathan my brother; you were very dear to me. Your love for me was wonderful, more wonderful than that 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! The weapons of war have perished!" | 27How the mighty have fallen and the weapons of war have perished! |
New International Version (NIV) Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide. | Holman Christian Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2009 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission. |
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