2 Samuel 1:17-21

English Standard Version

David's Lament for Saul and Jonathan

¹⁷And David ^(A)lamented with this lamentation over Saul and Jonathan his son, ¹⁸and he said it^[a] should be taught to the people of Judah; behold, it is written in ^(B)the Book of Jashar.^[b] He said:

¹⁹“Your glory, O Israel, is slain on your high places!
    ^(C)How the mighty have fallen!
²⁰^(D)Tell it not in Gath,
    ^(E)publish it not in the streets of Ashkelon,
^(F)lest the daughters of the Philistines rejoice,
    lest the daughters of ^(G)the uncircumcised exult.

²¹^(H)“You mountains of Gilboa,
    let there be no dew or rain upon you,
    nor fields of offerings!^[c]
For there the shield of the mighty was defiled,
    the shield of Saul, not ^(I)anointed with oil.

Read full chapter

Footnotes

2 Samuel 1:18 Septuagint; Hebrew the Bow, which may be the name of the lament's tune
2 Samuel 1:18 Or of the upright
2 Samuel 1:21 Septuagint firstfruits