1 And it came to pass after the death of Saul, when David had returned from the slaughter of the Amalekites, that David abode two days in Ziklag.2 And it came to pass on the third day, that behold, a man came out of the camp from Saul with his garments rent, and earth upon his head; and as soon as he came to David, he fell to the earth and did obeisance.3 And David said to him, Whence comest thou? And he said to him, Out of the camp of Israel am I escaped.4 And David said to him, What has taken place? I pray thee, tell me. And he said that the people had fled from the battle, and many of the people also had fallen and died, and that Saul and Jonathan his son were dead also.5 And David said to the young man that told him, How knowest thou that Saul and Jonathan his son are dead?6 And the young man that told him said, I happened by chance to be upon mount Gilboa, and behold, Saul leaned on his spear; and behold, the chariots and horsemen followed hard after him.7 And he looked behind him, and saw me, and called to me. And I said, Here am I.8 And he said to me, Who art thou? And I said to him, I am an Amalekite.9 He said to me again, Stand, I pray thee, over me, and slay me; for anguish has seized me; for my life is yet whole in me.10 So I stood over him, and put him to death, for I knew that he would not live after his fall; and I took the crown that was upon his head, and the bracelet that was on his arm, and have brought them hither to my lord.11 Then David took hold of his garments and rent them; and all the men that were with him {did} likewise.12 And they mourned, and wept, and fasted until even for Saul, and for Jonathan his son, and for the people of Jehovah, and for the house of Israel; because they were fallen by the sword.13 And David said to the young man that told him, Whence art thou? And he said, I am the son of an Amalekite stranger.14 And David said to him, How wast thou not afraid to stretch forth thy hand to destroy Jehovah's anointed?15 Then David called one of the young men and said, Draw near, {and} fall on him. And he smote him that he died.16 And David said to him, Thy blood be upon thy head; for thy mouth has testified against thee, saying, I have slain Jehovah's anointed.17 And David lamented with this lamentation over Saul and over Jonathan his son;18 and he bade them teach the children of Judah {the song of} the bow. Behold, it is written in the book of Jasher: -19 The beauty of Israel is slain upon thy high places: how are the mighty fallen!20 Tell {it} not in Gath, carry not the tidings in the streets of Ashkelon; Lest the daughters of the Philistines rejoice, Lest the daughters of the uncircumcised triumph.21 Ye mountains of Gilboa, let there be no dew, no rain upon you, nor fields of heave-offerings! For there the shield of the mighty was vilely cast away, The shield of Saul, {as} not anointed with oil.22 From the blood of the slain, from the fat of the mighty, The bow of Jonathan turned not back, And the sword of Saul returned not empty.23 Saul and Jonathan, beloved and pleasant in their lives, Even in their death were not divided; They were swifter than eagles, they were stronger than lions.24 Ye daughters of Israel, weep over Saul, who clothed you in scarlet with splendour, Who put ornaments of gold upon your apparel.25 How are the mighty fallen in the midst of the battle! Jonathan is slain upon thy high places.26 I am distressed for thee, my brother Jonathan: very pleasant wast thou unto me; Thy love to me was wonderful, passing women's love.27 How are the mighty fallen, and the instruments of war perished!

1 En n die dood van Saul, toe Dawid terug was van die verslaan van die Amalekiete en Dawid twee dae in Siklag gebly het,2 kom daar op die derde dag 'n man uit die leër, van Saul af, met geskeurde klere en grond op sy hoof. En toe hy by Dawid kom, val hy op die grond en buig hom neer.3 En Dawid sê vir hom: Waar kom jy vandaan? En hy antwoord hom: Ek het ontvlug uit die leër van Israel.4 Verder sê Dawid vir hom: Wat het gebeur? Vertel my tog. Toe antwoord hy: Die manskappe het uit die geveg gevlug, en baie van die manskappe het ook geval en gesterwe; ja, ook Saul en sy seun Jonatan is dood.5 En Dawid vra die jongman wat hom die boodskap gebring het: Hoe weet jy dat Saul en sy seun Jonatan dood is?6 Daarop sê die jongman wat hom die boodskap gebring het: Ek was bygeval op die gebergte Gilboa, en kyk, Saul het op sy spies geleun, terwyl die strydwaens en perderuiters hom agternasit;7 en hy het agter hom omgekyk en my gesien en my geroep, en ek het gesê: Hier is ek.8 Toe vra hy my: Wie is jy? En ek antwoord hom: Ek is 'n Amalekiet.9 Daarop sê hy vir my: Kom staan tog by my en maak my van kant, omdat 'n duiseling my bevang het; want my lewe is nog heeltemal in my.10 En ek het by hom gaan staan en hom van kant gemaak, want ek het geweet dat hy n sy val nie sou leef nie; en ek het die kroon wat op sy hoof en die armband wat om sy arm was, geneem en dit hier na my heer gebring.11 Toe gryp Dawid sy klere en skeur dit; net so al die manne wat by hom was.12 En hulle het gerouklaag en geween en gevas tot die aand toe oor Saul en oor sy seun Jonatan en oor die volk van die HERE en oor die huis van Israel, omdat hulle deur die swaard geval het.13 Verder sê Dawid aan die jongman wat hom die boodskap gebring het: Waar kom jy vandaan? En hy antwoord: Ek is die seun van 'n vreemde man, 'n Amalekiet.14 En Dawid sê vir hom: Hoe? Jy was nie bevrees om jou hand uit te steek om die gesalfde van die HERE om te bring nie?15 Daarop roep Dawid een van die jongmanne en sê: Kom nader, val op hom aan! En die het hom neergeslaan, dat hy gesterf het.16 En Dawid het vir hom gesê: Jou bloed is op jou hoof, want jou mond getuig teen jou, omdat jy sê: Ek het die gesalfde van die HERE gedood.17 Toe het Dawid hierdie klaaglied aangehef oor Saul en oor sy seun Jonatan,18 en hy het beveel om die kinders van Juda die Booglied te leer; kyk, dit is geskrywe in die Boek van die Opregte.19 Die sieraad, o Israel -- op jou hoogtes lê dit verslaan. Hoe het die helde geval!20 Vertel dit nie in Gat, verkondig dit nie op die strate van Askelon nie, sodat die dogters van die Filistyne hulle nie verheug, die dogters van die onbesnedenes nie jubel nie!21 Berge van Gilboa, mag op julle geen dou en geen reën en geen velde van offergawes wees nie! Want daar is die skild van die helde weggegooi, die skild van Saul, sonder dat dit met olie gesalf is.22 Sonder die bloed van die gesneuweldes, sonder die vet van die helde het die boog van Jonatan nie agteruitgewyk en die swaard van Saul nie leeg teruggekeer nie.23 Saul en Jonatan, die bemindes en lieflikes, is in hulle lewe en in hulle dood nie geskeie nie. Vinniger as arende was hulle, sterker as leeus.24 Dogters van Israel, ween oor Saul, wat julle weelderig beklee het met skarlaken, wat goue versiersels aangebring het op julle gewaad.25 Hoe het die helde geval diep in die geveg! Jonatan lê verslaan op jou hoogtes.26 Ek is benoud om jou ontwil, my broer Jonatan! Jy was vir my baie lieflik; jou liefde was vir my wonderliker as die liefde van vroue.27 Hoe het die helde geval en die oorlogswapens verlore gegaan!