| International Standard Version | Holman Christian Standard Bible |
| 1Shortly after Saul had died, David returned from defeating the Amalekites and remained in Ziklag for two days. | 1After the death of Saul, David returned from defeating the Amalekites and stayed at Ziklag two days. |
| 2The next day, a man escaped from Saul's camp! With torn clothes and dirty hair, he approached David, fell to the ground, and bowed down to him. | 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. |
| 3David asked him, "Where did you come from? He answered him, "I just escaped from Israel's encampment." | 3David asked him, "Where have you come from?" He replied to him, "I've escaped from the Israelite camp."" |
| 4David continued questioning him, "How did things go? Please tell me!" He replied, "The army has fled the battlefield, many of the army are wounded or have died, and Saul and his son Jonathan are also 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." |
| 5David asked the young man who related the story, "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?"" |
| 6The young man who had been relating the story answered, "I happened to be on Mount Gilboa and there was Saul, leaning on his spear! Meanwhile, the chariots and horsemen were rapidly drawing near. | 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. |
| 7Saul glanced behind him, saw me, and called out to me, so I replied, 'Here I am!' | 7When he turned around and saw me, he called out to me, so I answered: I'm at your service. |
| 8He asked me, 'Who are you?' So I answered him, 'I'm an Amalekite!' | 8He asked me, 'Who are you?' I told him: I'm an Amalekite. |
| 9He begged me, 'Please—come stand here next to me and kill me, because I'm still alive.' | 9Then he begged me, 'Stand over me and kill me, for I'm mortally wounded, but my life still lingers.' |
| 10So I stood next to him and killed him, because I knew that he wouldn't live after he had fallen. I took the crown that had been on his head, along with the bracelet that had been on his arm, and I have brought them to your majesty." | 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." |
| 11On hearing this, David grabbed his clothes and tore them, as did all the men who were attending to him. | 11Then David took hold of his clothes and tore them, and all the men with him did the same. |
| 12They mourned and wept, and then decided to fast until dusk for Saul, for his son Jonathan, for the army of the LORD, and for the house of Israel, because they had fallen in battle. | 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. |
| 13Meanwhile, David asked the young man who had told him the story, "Where are you from?" He answered, "I'm an Amalekite, the son of a foreign man." | 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." |
| 14At this David asked him, "How is it that you weren't afraid to raise your hand to strike 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 out to one of his young men and ordered him, "Go up to him and cut him down!" So he attacked him and killed him. | 15Then David summoned one of his servants and said, "Come here and kill him!" The servant struck him, and he died. |
| 16David told him, "Your blood is on your own head, because your own words testified against you! After all, you said, 'I myself 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.'" |
| 17So David intoned this song of lament about Saul and his son Jonathan, | 17David sang the following lament for Saul and his son Jonathan, |
| 18and he gave orders to teach the descendants of Judah the art of warfare, as is recorded 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"Your beauty, Israel, lies slain on your high places! O, how the valiant have fallen! | 19The splendor of Israel lies slain on your heights. How the mighty have fallen! |
| 20Don't make it known in Gath! Don't declare it in the avenues of Ashkelon! Otherwise, the daughters of Philistia will rejoice; and the daughters of the uncircumcised will 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. |
| 21Mountains of Gilboa, let no dew or rain fall on you, and may none of your fields be filled with plenty, because in that place the shield of the valiant ones was defiled, the shield of Saul without an anointing 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 blood of the valiant, Jonathan's bow would not retreat nor would Saul's sword 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. |
| 23Saul and Jonathan, loved and handsome in life, in death were not separated. Swifter than eagles they were, and more valiant 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. |
| 24Daughters of Israel, weep over Saul! He clothed you in scarlet luxury and decorated your garments with gold. | 24Daughters of Israel, weep for Saul, who clothed you in scarlet, with luxurious things, who decked your garments with gold ornaments. |
| 25How have the valiant fallen in the tumult of battle! Jonathan lies slain on your high places. | 25How the mighty have fallen in the thick of battle! Jonathan lies slain on your heights. |
| 26I am in distress for you, my brother Jonathan. You have been most kind to me. Your love for me was extraordinary — beyond love from 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. |
| 27How the valiant have fallen! How the weapons of war are destroyed!" | 27How the mighty have fallen and the weapons of war have perished! |
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