| Berean Study Bible | NET Bible |
| 1After the death of Saul, David returned from the slaughter of the Amalekites and stayed in Ziklag two days. | 1After the death of Saul, when David had returned from defeating the Amalekites, he stayed at Ziklag for two days. |
| 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. | 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. |
| 3“Where have you come from?” David asked. “I have escaped from the Israelite camp,” he replied. | 3David asked him, "Where are you coming from?" He replied, "I have escaped from the camp of Israel." |
| 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.” | 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!" |
| 5Then David asked the young man who had brought him the report, “How do you know that Saul and his son Jonathan are dead?” | 5David said to the young man who was telling him this, "How do you know that Saul and his son Jonathan are dead?" |
| 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. | 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. |
| 7When he turned around and saw me, he called out and I answered, ‘Here I am!’ | 7When he turned around and saw me, he called out to me. I answered, 'Here I am!' |
| 8‘Who are you?’ he asked. So I told him, ‘I am an Amalekite.’ | 8He asked me, 'Who are you?' I told him, 'I'm an Amalekite.' |
| 9Then he begged me, ‘Stand over me and kill me, for agony has seized me, but my life still lingers.’ | 9He said to me, 'Stand over me and finish me off! I'm very dizzy, even though I'm still alive.' |
| 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.” | 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." |
| 11Then David took hold of his own clothes and tore them, and all the men who were with him did the same. | 11David then grabbed his own clothes and tore them, as did all the men who were with him. |
| 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. | 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. |
| 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.” | 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." |
| 14So David asked him, “Why were you not afraid to lift your hand to destroy the LORD’s anointed?” | 14David replied to him, "How is it that you were not afraid to reach out your hand to destroy the LORD's anointed?" |
| 15Then David summoned one of the young men and said, “Go, execute him!” So the young man struck him down, and he died. | 15Then David called one of the soldiers and said, "Come here and strike him down!" So he struck him down, and he died. |
| 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.’ ” | 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.'" |
| 17Then David took up this lament for Saul and his son Jonathan, | 17Then David chanted this lament over Saul and his son Jonathan. |
| 18and he ordered that the sons of Judah be taught the Song of the Bow. It is written in the Book of Jashar: | 18(He gave instructions that the people of Judah should be taught "The Bow." Indeed, it is written down in the Book of Yashar.) |
| 19“Your glory, O Israel, lies slain on your heights. How the mighty have fallen! | 19The beauty of Israel lies slain on your high places! 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, and the daughters of the uncircumcised exult. | 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! |
| 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. | 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. |
| 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. | 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. |
| 23Saul and Jonathan, beloved and delightful in life, were not divided in death. They were swifter than eagles, they were stronger than lions. | 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. |
| 24O daughters of Israel, weep for Saul, who clothed you in scarlet and luxury, who decked your garments with ornaments of gold. | 24O daughters of Israel, weep over Saul, who clothed you in scarlet as well as jewelry, who put gold jewelry on your clothes. |
| 25How the mighty have fallen in the thick of battle! Jonathan lies slain on your heights. | 25How the warriors have fallen in the midst of battle! Jonathan lies slain on your high places! |
| 26I grieve for you, Jonathan, my brother. You were delightful to me; your love to me was extraordinary, surpassing the love of women. | 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. |
| 27How the mighty have fallen and the weapons of war have perished!” | 27How the warriors have fallen! The weapons of war are destroyed! |
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