New King James Version

New American Standard Bible

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 Learns of Saul’s Death

Now it came about after the death of Saul, when David had returned from the slaughter of the Amalekites, that 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

On the third day, behold, a man came out of the camp from Saul, with his clothes torn and dust on his head. And it came about when he came to David that he fell to the ground and prostrated himself.

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

Then David said to him, “From where do you come?” 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

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

5

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

5

So 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

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

7

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

7

“When he looked behind him, he saw me and called to me. And I said, ‘Here I am.’

8

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

8

“He said to me, ‘Who are you?’ And 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

“Then he said to me, ‘Please stand beside me and kill me, for agony has seized me because my life still lingers in me.’

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 knew that he could not live after he had fallen. And I took the crown which was on his head and the bracelet which 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 also 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

They 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.

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

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.”

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

Then David said to him, “How is it you were not afraid to stretch 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

And David called one of the young men and said, “Go, cut him down.” So he struck him and 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

David said to him, “Your blood is on your head, for your 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 Dirge for Saul and Jonathan

Then David chanted with this lament 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 told them to teach the sons of Judah the song of the bow; behold, it is written in the book of Jashar.

19

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

19

“Your beauty, O Israel, is slain on your high places!
How have the mighty 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,
Proclaim it not in the streets of Ashkelon,
Or the daughters of the Philistines will rejoice,
The daughters of the uncircumcised will 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

“O mountains of Gilboa,
Let not dew or rain be on you, nor fields of offerings;
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 did not turn back,
And the sword of Saul did not return 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 pleasant in their life,
And in their death they were not parted;
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

“O 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 have the mighty fallen in the midst of the battle!
Jonathan is 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;
You have been very pleasant to me.
Your love to me was more wonderful
Than the love of women.

27

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

27

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

Parallel

New King James Version

New American Standard Bible

2 Samuel 1

2 Samuel 1