New King James Version

English Standard Version

The Report of Saul’s Death

Now 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,

1

David Hears of Saul’s Death

After the death of Saul, when David had returned from striking down the Amalekites, David remained two days in Ziklag.

2

on the third day, behold, it happened that a man came from Saul’s camp with his clothes [a]torn and dust on his head. So it was, when he came to David, that he fell to the ground and prostrated himself.

2

And on the third day, behold, a man came from Saul’s camp, with his clothes torn and dirt on his head. And when he came to David, he fell to the ground and paid homage.

3

And David said to him, “Where have you come from?”
So he said to him, “I have escaped from the camp of Israel.”

3

David said to him, “Where do you come from?” And he said to him, “I have escaped from the camp of Israel.”

4

Then 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

And David said to him, “How did it go? Tell me.” And he answered, “The people fled from the battle, and also many of the people have fallen and are dead, and Saul and his son Jonathan are also dead.”

5

So David said to the young man who told him, “How do you know that Saul and Jonathan his son are dead?”

5

Then David said to the young man who told him, “How do you know that Saul and his son Jonathan are dead?”

6

Then 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

And the young man who told him said, “By chance I happened to be on Mount Gilboa, and there was Saul leaning on his spear, and behold, the chariots and the horsemen were close upon him.

7

Now when he looked behind him, he saw me and called to me. And I answered, ‘Here I am.’

7

And when he looked behind him, he saw me, and called to me. And I answered, ‘Here I am.’

8

And he said to me, ‘Who are you?’ So I answered him, ‘I am an Amalekite.’

8

And he said to me, ‘Who are you?’ I answered him, ‘I am an Amalekite.’

9

He said to me again, ‘Please stand over me and kill me, for [b]anguish has come upon me, but my life still remains in me.’

9

And he said to me, ‘Stand beside me and kill me, for anguish has seized me, and yet my life still lingers.’

10

So 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.”

10

So I stood beside 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 armlet that was on his arm, and I have brought them here to my lord.”

11

Therefore David took hold of his own clothes and tore them, and so did all the men who were with him.

11

Then David took hold of his clothes and tore them, and so did all the men who were with him.

12

And 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.

12

And they mourned and wept and fasted until evening for Saul and for Jonathan his son and for the people of the Lord and for the house of Israel, because they had fallen by the sword.

13

Then 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.”

13

And David said to the young man who told him, “Where do you come from?” And he answered, “I am the son of a sojourner, an Amalekite.”

14

So David said to him, “How was it you were not afraid to put forth your hand to destroy the Lord’s anointed?”

14

David said to him, “How is it you were not afraid to put out your hand to destroy the Lord’s anointed?”

15

Then David called one of the young men and said, “Go near, and execute him!” And he struck him so that he died.

15

Then David called one of the young men and said, “Go, execute him.” And he struck him down so that he died.

16

So 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.’ ”

16

And David said to him, “Your blood be on your head, for your own mouth has testified against you, saying, ‘I have killed the Lord’s anointed.’”

17

The Song of the Bow

Then David lamented with this lamentation over Saul and over Jonathan his son,

17

David’s Lament for Saul and Jonathan

And David lamented with this lamentation over Saul and Jonathan his son,

18

and he told them to teach the children of Judah the Song of the Bow; indeed it is written in the Book [c]of Jasher:

18

and he said ita should be taught to the people of Judah; behold, it is written in the Book of Jashar.b He said:

19

“The beauty of Israel is slain on your high places!
How the mighty have fallen!

19

“Your glory, O Israel, is slain on your high places!
How the mighty have fallen!

20

Tell 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.

20

Tell it not in Gath,
publish it not in the streets of Ashkelon,
lest the daughters of the Philistines rejoice,
lest 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 [d]cast away there!
The shield of Saul, not anointed with oil.

21

“You mountains of Gilboa,
let there be no dew or rain upon you,
nor fields of offerings!c
For there the shield of the mighty was defiled,
the shield of Saul, not anointed with oil.

22

From 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.

22

“From the blood of the slain,
from the fat of the mighty,
the bow of Jonathan turned not back,
and the sword of Saul returned not 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.

23

“Saul and Jonathan, beloved and lovely!
In life and in death they were not divided;
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.

24

“You daughters of Israel, weep over Saul,
who clothed you luxuriously in scarlet,
who put ornaments of gold on your apparel.

25

“How the mighty have fallen in the midst of the battle!
Jonathan was slain in your high places.

25

“How the mighty have fallen
in the midst of the battle!
“Jonathan lies slain on your high places.

26

I 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.

26

I am distressed for you, my brother Jonathan;
very pleasant have you been 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!”

27

“How the mighty have fallen,
and the weapons of war perished!”

Parallel

New King James Version

English Standard Version

2 Samuel 1

2 Samuel 1