| Christian Standard Bible | NET Bible |
| 1After the death of Saul, David returned from defeating the Amalekites and stayed at Ziklag two days. | 1After the death of Saul, when David had returned from defeating the Amalekites, he stayed at Ziklag for two days. |
| 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. | 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 have you come from?" He replied to him, "I've escaped from the Israelite camp." | 3David asked him, "Where are you coming from?" He replied, "I have escaped from the camp of Israel." |
| 4"What 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." | 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 had brought him the report, "How do you know 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?" |
| 6"I 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. | 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. |
| 7When he turned around and saw me, he called out to me, so I answered: I'm at your service. | 7When he turned around and saw me, he called out to me. I answered, 'Here I am!' |
| 8He asked me, 'Who are you?' I told him: I'm an Amalekite. | 8He asked me, 'Who are you?' I told him, 'I'm an Amalekite.' |
| 9Then he begged me, 'Stand over me and kill me, for I'm mortally wounded, but my life still lingers.' | 9He said to me, 'Stand over me and finish me off! I'm very dizzy, even though I'm still alive.' |
| 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." | 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." |
| 11Then David took hold of his clothes and tore them, and all the men with him did the same. | 11David then grabbed his own clothes and tore them, as did all the men who were with him. |
| 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. | 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. |
| 13David inquired of the young man who had brought him the report, "Where are you from?" "I'm the son of a resident alien," he said. "I'm an Amalekite." | 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." |
| 14David questioned him, "How is it that you were not afraid to lift your hand to destroy 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 summoned one of his servants and said, "Come here and kill him!" The servant struck him, and he died. | 15Then David called one of the soldiers and said, "Come here and strike him down!" So he struck him down, and he died. |
| 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.'" | 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.'" |
| 17David sang the following lament for Saul and his son Jonathan, | 17Then David chanted this lament over Saul and his son Jonathan. |
| 18and he ordered that the Judahites be taught The Song of the Bow. It is written 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.) |
| 19The splendor of Israel lies slain on your heights. How the mighty have fallen! | 19The beauty of Israel lies slain on your high places! How the mighty have fallen! |
| 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 celebrate. | 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 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. | 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. |
| 22Jonathan's bow never retreated, Saul's sword never returned unstained, from the blood of the slain, from the flesh of the mighty. | 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 delightful, they were not parted in life or in death. They were swifter than eagles, stronger 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 for Saul, who clothed you in scarlet, with luxurious things, who decked your garments with gold ornaments. | 24O daughters of Israel, weep over Saul, who clothed you in scarlet as well as jewelry, who put gold jewelry on your clothes. |
| 25How the mighty have fallen in the thick of battle! Jonathan lies slain on your heights. | 25How the warriors have fallen in the midst of battle! Jonathan lies slain on your high places! |
| 26I grieve for you, Jonathan, my brother. You were such a friend to me. Your love for me was more wondrous than the love of 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 mighty have fallen and the weapons of war have perished! | 27How the warriors have fallen! The weapons of war are destroyed! |
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