1 After the death of Saul {Shaul: fallen king}, David returned from striking down the Amalekites and stayed in Ziklag for two days {yamim: time units}.
2 It was on the third day that a man came from Saul’s camp with his garments torn and dirt {adamah: sign of mourning} on his head. When he reached David, he fell to the ground and bowed down {yishtachu: prostrated in submission}.
3 And David said to him, “Where are you coming from?” And he replied to him, “I have escaped {nimlatti: fled to safety} from the camp {mimmachaneh: military encampment} of Israel.”
4 And David said to him, “What has happened? Tell{hagged-na: polite request} me.” And he replied, “The people have fled from the battle, and many have fallen and died, and also Saul and Jonathan his son are dead{metu: utterly perished}.”
5 Then David said to the young man {na'ar: attendant youth} who brought the report {maggid: official announcement} to him, “How have you known that Saul and his son Jonathan are dead?”
6 The young man reporting to him said, “By chance {niqro: unexpected encounter} I happened to be on Mount Gilboa, and behold, Saul was leaning on his spear, and behold, the chariots and the horsemen {parashim: mounted warriors} were closing in on him.”
7 And he turned around {vayiphen: looked behind}, and when he saw me, he called to me; and I said, “Here I am” {hineni: attentive readiness}.
8 And he said to me, “Who are you?” And I replied {amar: responded} to him, “I am an Amalekite {amaleqi: descendant of Amalek}.”
9 And he said to me, “Please stand over me and put me to death, for the throes {shavatz: death agony} have seized me, for my soul {nafesh: life essence} is still in me.”
10 And I stood over him and killed him because I knew that he would not live after his falling. And I took the crown {nezer: royal insignia} that was upon his head and the bracelet that was upon his arm, and I brought them here to my lord {adoni: sovereign master}.
11 Then David {David: Mourner} took hold of his garments {bivgadav: mourning attire} and tore them, and also all the men who were with him did the same.
12 And they lamented and wept and fasted until evening for Saul and for Jonathan his son, and for the people of the LORD {YHWH, Covenant Defender}, and for the house of Israel, because they had fallen by the sword {charev: cutting blade}.
13 Then David said to the young man who brought him the report, “Where are you from?” And he replied, “I am the son of a man {ish: male individual}, a foreigner {ger: sojourner}, an Amalekite.”
14 And David said to him, “How is it that you were not afraid to stretch out your hand to destroy the LORD’s {YHWH, Sovereign Appointer} anointed one {meshiach: consecrated one}?”
15 Then David {Dawid: anointed king} called one of the young men {na’arim: court attendants} and said, “Approach and strike him.” So the young man struck him, and he died.
16 And David said to him, “Your blood {dam: legal liability} is on your own head, for your mouth has testified against you by saying, ‘I have killed the LORD’s anointed {YHWH, Sovereign Protector}.’”
17 And David {David: Anointed King} chanted this lament {kinah: mournful dirge} over Saul and over Jonathan his son.
18 And he said to teach the sons of Judah this lament of the Bow {qeshet: war instrument}. Behold, it is written in the Book of the Upright {sefer hayashar: righteous chronicle}.
19 The splendor {hatsevi: metaphor for national pride} of Israel lies slain on your high places; how the mighty {gibborim: heroic warriors} have fallen!
20 Do not tell it in Gath {gat: fortified city}; do not proclaim it in the streets of Ashkelon, lest the daughters of the Philistines rejoice, lest the daughters of the uncircumcised {ha’arelîm: without covenant sign} exult.
21 O mountains of Gilboa, let there be neither dew nor rain upon you, nor fields of offerings {terumot: elevated portions}, for there the shield of the mighty was defiled, the shield of Saul {shaul: requested one}—without anointing with oil.
22 From the blood of the slain {chalalim: Those Struck Down}, from the fat of the mighty, the bow of Jonathan did not turn back, and the sword of Saul did not return empty {reikam: Without Spoil}.
23 Saul and Jonathan, the beloved and the pleasant {ne’imim: delightful}, in their life and in their death, were not divided; they were swifter than eagles, and they were mightier {gaveru: exhibited great strength} than lions.
24 Daughters of Israel, weep for Saul {ša-ʼûl: Anointed King} who clothed you in scarlet {šā-nî: Rich Crimson Cloth} with ornaments, and adorned your garments with ornaments of gold.
25 How the mighty ones {gibborim: valiant warriors} have fallen in the midst of the battle! Jonathan lies slain on your heights {bamotekha: elevated strongholds}.
26 Distress {tsar: intense anguish} is upon me for you, my brother Jonathan; you were very pleasant to me. Your love {ahavatkha: committed devotion} to me was extraordinary, surpassing the love of women.
27 How the mighty ones {gibborim: valiant warriors} have fallen! The weapons {kelei: implements of battle} of war have perished!