| International Standard Version | NET Bible |
| 1Shortly after Saul had died, David returned from defeating the Amalekites and remained in Ziklag for two days. | 1After the death of Saul, when David had returned from defeating the Amalekites, he stayed at Ziklag for 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 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. |
| 3David asked him, "Where did you come from? He answered him, "I just escaped from Israel's encampment." | 3David asked him, "Where are you coming from?" He replied, "I have escaped from the camp of Israel." |
| 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." | 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!" |
| 5David asked the young man who related the story, "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?" |
| 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. | 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. |
| 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. I answered, 'Here I am!' |
| 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.' | 9He said to me, 'Stand over me and finish me off! I'm very dizzy, even though I'm still alive.' |
| 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 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." |
| 11On hearing this, David grabbed his clothes and tore them, as did all the men who were attending to him. | 11David then grabbed his own clothes and tore them, as did all the men who were with him. |
| 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 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. |
| 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 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." |
| 14At this David asked him, "How is it that you weren't afraid to raise your hand to strike 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 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 called one of the soldiers and said, "Come here and strike him down!" So he struck him down, 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!'" | 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.'" |
| 17So David intoned this song of lament about Saul and his son Jonathan, | 17Then David chanted this lament over 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: | 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 beauty, Israel, lies slain on your high places! O, how the valiant have fallen! | 19The beauty of Israel lies slain on your high places! 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. | 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! |
| 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. | 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 blood of the valiant, Jonathan's bow would not retreat nor would Saul's sword 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, loved and handsome in life, in death were not separated. Swifter than eagles they were, and more valiant 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. |
| 24Daughters of Israel, weep over Saul! He clothed you in scarlet luxury and decorated your garments with 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 have the valiant fallen in the tumult of battle! Jonathan lies slain on your high places. | 25How the warriors have fallen in the midst of battle! Jonathan lies slain on your high places! |
| 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 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 valiant have fallen! How the weapons of war are destroyed!" | 27How the warriors have fallen! The weapons of war are destroyed! |
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