| New King James Version | Holman Christian Standard 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 defeating the Amalekites and stayed at 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 came from Saul's camp. When he came to David, he fell to the ground and paid homage. |
| 3And David said to him, “Where have you come from?” So 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."" |
| 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.” | 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." |
| 5So David said to the young man who told him, “How do you know that Saul and Jonathan his son are dead?” | 5David asked the young man who had brought him the report, "How do you know 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. | 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. |
| 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 to me, so I answered: I'm at your service. |
| 8And he said to me, ‘Who are you?’ So I answered him, ‘I am an Amalekite.’ | 8He asked me, 'Who are you?' I told him: I'm 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 I'm mortally wounded, 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 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." |
| 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 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, 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. |
| 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.” | 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." |
| 14So David said to him, “How was it you were not afraid to put forth 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 near, and execute him!” And he struck him 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. |
| 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 is on your own head because your own mouth testified against you by saying, 'I killed the LORD's anointed.'" |
| 17Then David lamented with this lamentation over Saul and over Jonathan his son, | 17David sang the following 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 Judahites 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! | 19The splendor of 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. | 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“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. | 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. |
| 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. | 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 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, loved and delightful, they were not parted in life or in death. They were swifter than eagles, 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. | 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 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 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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