1Now it cameabout afterthe deathof Saul,when Davidhad returnedfrom the slaughterof the Amalekites,that Davidremainedtwodaysin Ziklag.2On the thirdday,behold,a mancameout of the campfrom Saul,with his clothestornand duston his head.And it cameabout when he cameto Davidthat he fellto the groundand prostratedhimself.3Then Davidsaidto him, "From wheredo you come?"And he saidto him, "I have escapedfrom the campof Israel."4Davidsaidto him, "Howdid thingsgo?Pleasetellme." And he said,"The peoplehave fledfrom the battle,and alsomanyof the peoplehave fallenand are dead;and Sauland Jonathanhis sonare deadalso."5So Davidsaidto the youngmanwho toldhim, "Howdo you knowthat Sauland his sonJonathanare dead?"6The youngmanwho toldhim said,"By chanceI happenedto be on MountGilboa,and behold,Saulwas leaningon his spear.And behold,the chariotsand the horsemenpursuedhim closely.7"When he lookedbehindhim, he sawme and calledto me. And I said,'HereI am.'8"He saidto me, 'Whoare you?' And I answeredhim, 'I am an Amalekite.'9"Then he saidto me, 'Pleasestandbesideme and killme, for agonyhas seizedme becausemy lifestilllingers in me.'10"So I stoodbesidehim and killedhim, becauseI knewthat he could not liveafterhe had fallen.And I tookthe crownwhich[was] on his headand the braceletwhich[was] on his arm,and I have broughtthem hereto my lord."
11Then Davidtookholdof his clothesand torethem, and [so] also[did] allthe menwho[were] with him.12They mournedand weptand fasteduntileveningfor Sauland his sonJonathanand for the peopleof the LORDand the houseof Israel,becausethey had fallenby the sword.13Davidsaidto the youngmanwho toldhim, "Whereare you from?" And he answered,"I am the sonof an alien,an Amalekite."14Then Davidsaidto him, "Howis it you were not afraidto stretchout your handto destroythe LORD'Sanointed?"15And Davidcalledoneof the youngmenand said,"Go,cuthim down."So he struckhim and he died.16Davidsaidto him, "Your bloodis on your head,for your mouthhas testifiedagainst you, saying,'I have killedthe LORD'Sanointed.'"
17Then Davidchantedwith thislamentoverSauland Jonathanhis son,18and he told[them] to teachthe sonsof Judah[the song of] the bow;behold,it is writtenin the bookof Jashar.
19"Your beauty,O Israel,is slainon your highplaces!Howhave the mightyfallen!
20"Tell[it] not in Gath,Proclaimit not in the streetsof Ashkelon,Orthe daughtersof the Philistineswill rejoice,The daughtersof the uncircumcisedwill exult.
21"O mountainsof Gilboa,Let not dewor rainbe on you, norfieldsof offerings;For therethe shieldof the mightywas defiled,The shieldof Saul,not anointedwith oil.
22"From the bloodof the slain,from the fatof the mighty,The bowof Jonathandid not turnback,And the swordof Sauldid not returnempty.
23"Sauland Jonathan,belovedand pleasantin their life,And in their deaththey were not parted;They were swifterthaneagles,They were strongerthanlions.
24"O daughtersof Israel,weepoverSaul,Who clothedyou luxuriouslyin scarlet,Who putornamentsof goldon your apparel.
25"Howhave the mightyfallenin the midstof the battle!Jonathanis slainon your highplaces.
26"I am distressedfor you, my brotherJonathan;You have been verypleasantto me. Your loveto me was morewonderfulThanthe loveof women.
27"Howhave the mightyfallen,And the weaponsof warperished!"
