| New King James Version | Berean Study Bible |
| 1Now 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, | 1After the death of Saul, David returned from the slaughter of the Amalekites and stayed in Ziklag two days. |
| 2on 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. | 2On the third day a man with torn clothes and dust on his head arrived from Saul’s camp. When he came to David, he fell to the ground to pay him homage. |
| 3And David said to him, “Where have you come from?” So he said to him, “I have escaped from the camp of Israel.” | 3“Where have you come from?” David asked. “I have escaped from the Israelite camp,” he replied. |
| 4Then 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.” | 4“What was the outcome?” David asked. “Please tell me.” “The troops fled from the battle,” he replied. “Many of them fell and died. And Saul and his son Jonathan are also dead.” |
| 5So David said to the young man who told him, “How do you know that Saul and Jonathan his son are dead?” | 5Then David asked the young man who had brought him the report, “How do you know that Saul and his son Jonathan are dead?” |
| 6Then 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. | 6“I happened to be on Mount Gilboa,” he replied, “and there was Saul, leaning on his spear, with the chariots and the cavalry closing in on him. |
| 7Now 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 and I answered, ‘Here I am!’ |
| 8And he said to me, ‘Who are you?’ So I answered him, ‘I am an Amalekite.’ | 8‘Who are you?’ he asked. So I told him, ‘I am an Amalekite.’ |
| 9He said to me again, ‘Please stand over me and kill me, for anguish has come upon me, but my life still remains in me.’ | 9Then he begged me, ‘Stand over me and kill me, for agony has seized me, but my life still lingers.’ |
| 10So 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.” | 10So I stood over 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 that was on his arm, and I have brought them here to my lord.” |
| 11Therefore David took hold of his own clothes and tore them, and so did all the men who were with him. | 11Then David took hold of his own clothes and tore them, and all the men who were with him did the same. |
| 12And 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. | 12They mourned and wept and fasted until evening for Saul and his son Jonathan, and for the people of the LORD and the house of Israel, because they had fallen by the sword. |
| 13Then 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.” | 13And David inquired of the young man who had brought him the report, “Where are you from?” “I am the son of a foreigner,” he answered. “I am an Amalekite.” |
| 14So David said to him, “How was it you were not afraid to put forth your hand to destroy the LORD’s anointed?” | 14So David asked him, “Why were you not afraid to lift your hand to destroy the LORD’s anointed?” |
| 15Then David called one of the young men and said, “Go near, and execute him!” And he struck him so that he died. | 15Then David summoned one of the young men and said, “Go, execute him!” So the young man struck him down, and he died. |
| 16So 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.’ ” | 16For David had said to the Amalekite, “Your blood be on your own head because your own mouth has testified against you, saying, ‘I killed the LORD’s anointed.’ ” |
| 17Then David lamented with this lamentation over Saul and over Jonathan his son, | 17Then David took up this lament for Saul and his son Jonathan, |
| 18and he told them to teach the children of Judah the Song of the Bow; indeed it is written in the Book of Jasher: | 18and he ordered that the sons of Judah be taught the Song of the Bow. It is written in the Book of Jashar: |
| 19“The beauty of Israel is slain on your high places! How the mighty have fallen! | 19“Your glory, O Israel, lies slain on your heights. How the mighty have fallen! |
| 20Tell 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. | 20Tell it not in Gath; proclaim it not in the streets of Ashkelon, lest the daughters of the Philistines rejoice, and the daughters of the uncircumcised exult. |
| 21“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. | 21O mountains of Gilboa, may you have no dew or rain, no fields yielding offerings of grain. For there the shield of the mighty was defiled, the shield of Saul, no longer anointed with oil. |
| 22From 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. | 22From the blood of the slain, from the fat of the mighty, the bow of Jonathan did not retreat, and the sword of Saul did not return empty. |
| 23“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. | 23Saul and Jonathan, beloved and delightful in life, were not divided in death. They were swifter than eagles, they were stronger than lions. |
| 24“O daughters of Israel, weep over Saul, Who clothed you in scarlet, with luxury; Who put ornaments of gold on your apparel. | 24O daughters of Israel, weep for Saul, who clothed you in scarlet and luxury, who decked your garments with ornaments of gold. |
| 25“How the mighty have fallen in the midst of the battle! Jonathan was slain in 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; You have been very pleasant to me; Your love to me was wonderful, Surpassing the love of women. | 26I grieve for you, Jonathan, my brother. You were delightful to me; your love to me was extraordinary, surpassing 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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