| New King James Version | International Standard Version |
| 1Now 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, | 1Shortly after Saul had died, David returned from defeating the Amalekites and remained in Ziklag for two days. |
| 2on the third day, behold, it happened that a man came from Saul’s camp with his clothes torn and dust on his head. So it was, when he came to David, that he fell to the ground and prostrated himself. | 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. |
| 3And David said to him, “Where have you come from?” So he said to him, “I have escaped from the camp of Israel.” | 3David asked him, "Where did you come from? He answered him, "I just escaped from Israel's encampment." |
| 4Then 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.” | 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." |
| 5So David said to the young man who told him, “How do you know that Saul and Jonathan his son are dead?” | 5David asked the young man who related the story, "How do you know that Saul and his son Jonathan are dead?" |
| 6Then 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. | 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. |
| 7Now when he looked behind him, he saw me and called to me. And I answered, ‘Here I am.’ | 7Saul glanced behind him, saw me, and called out to me, so I replied, 'Here I am!' |
| 8And he said to me, ‘Who are you?’ So I answered him, ‘I am an Amalekite.’ | 8He asked me, 'Who are you?' So I answered him, 'I'm an Amalekite!' |
| 9He said to me again, ‘Please stand over me and kill me, for anguish has come upon me, but my life still remains in me.’ | 9He begged me, 'Please—come stand here next to me and kill me, because I'm still alive.' |
| 10So 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.” | 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." |
| 11Therefore David took hold of his own clothes and tore them, and so did all the men who were with him. | 11On hearing this, David grabbed his clothes and tore them, as did all the men who were attending to him. |
| 12And 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. | 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. |
| 13Then 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.” | 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." |
| 14So David said to him, “How was it you were not afraid to put forth your hand to destroy the LORD’s anointed?” | 14At this David asked him, "How is it that you weren't afraid to raise your hand to strike the LORD's anointed?" |
| 15Then David called one of the young men and said, “Go near, and execute him!” And he struck him so that he died. | 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. |
| 16So 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.’ ” | 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!'" |
| 17Then David lamented with this lamentation over Saul and over Jonathan his son, | 17So David intoned this song of lament about Saul and his son Jonathan, |
| 18and he told them to teach the children of Judah the Song of the Bow; indeed it is written in the Book of Jasher: | 18and he gave orders to teach the descendants of Judah the art of warfare, as is recorded in the Book of Jashar: |
| 19“The beauty of Israel is slain on your high places! How the mighty have fallen! | 19"Your beauty, Israel, lies slain on your high places! O, how the valiant have fallen! |
| 20Tell 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. | 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. |
| 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 cast away there! The shield of Saul, not anointed with oil. | 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. |
| 22From 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. | 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. |
| 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. | 23Saul and Jonathan, loved and handsome in life, in death were not separated. Swifter than eagles they were, and more valiant 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. | 24Daughters of Israel, weep over Saul! He clothed you in scarlet luxury and decorated your garments with gold. |
| 25“How the mighty have fallen in the midst of the battle! Jonathan was slain in your high places. | 25How have the valiant fallen in the tumult of battle! Jonathan lies slain on your high places. |
| 26I 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. | 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. |
| 27“How the mighty have fallen, And the weapons of war perished!” | 27How the valiant have fallen! How the weapons of war are destroyed!" |
| The Holy Bible, New King James Version, Copyright © 1982 Thomas Nelson. All rights reserved. | The Holy Bible: International Standard Version® Release 2.1 Copyright © 1996-2012 The ISV Foundation
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED INTERNATIONALLY. |
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