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2 Samuel 1:17-27
New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition
2 Samuel 1:17-27
New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition
17 David intoned this lamentation over Saul and his son Jonathan.(A) 18 (He ordered that The Song of the Bow[a] be taught to the people of Judah; it is written in the Book of Jashar.) He said,(B)
19 “Your glory, O Israel, lies slain upon your high places!
How the mighty have fallen!(C)
20 Tell it not in Gath;
proclaim it not in the streets of Ashkelon,
or the daughters of the Philistines will rejoice;
the daughters of the uncircumcised will exult.(D)
21 You mountains of Gilboa,
let there be no dew or rain upon you
nor bounteous fields![b]
For there the shield of the mighty was defiled,
the shield of Saul, anointed with oil no more.(E)
22 From the blood of the slain,
from the fat of the mighty,
the bow of Jonathan did not turn back,
nor the sword of Saul return empty.(F)
23 Saul and Jonathan, beloved and lovely!
In life and in death they were not divided;
they were swifter than eagles;
they were stronger than lions.(G)
24 O daughters of Israel, weep over Saul,
who clothed you with crimson, in luxury,
who put ornaments of gold on your apparel.
25 How the mighty have fallen
in the midst of the battle!
Jonathan lies slain upon your high places.(H)
26 I am distressed for you, my brother Jonathan;
greatly beloved were you to me;
your love to me was wonderful,
passing the love of women.(I)
27 How the mighty have fallen,
and the weapons of war perished!”(J)
2 Samuel 1:17-27
New International Version
2 Samuel 1:17-27
New International Version
David’s Lament for Saul and Jonathan
17 David took up this lament(A) concerning Saul and his son Jonathan,(B) 18 and he ordered that the people of Judah be taught this lament of the bow (it is written in the Book of Jashar):(C)
20 “Tell it not in Gath,(F)
proclaim it not in the streets of Ashkelon,(G)
lest the daughters of the Philistines(H) be glad,
lest the daughters of the uncircumcised rejoice.(I)
21 “Mountains of Gilboa,(J)
may you have neither dew(K) nor rain,(L)
may no showers fall on your terraced fields.[b](M)
For there the shield of the mighty was despised,
the shield of Saul—no longer rubbed with oil.(N)
22 “From the blood(O) of the slain,
from the flesh of the mighty,
the bow(P) of Jonathan did not turn back,
the sword of Saul did not return unsatisfied.
23 Saul and Jonathan—
in life they were loved and admired,
and in death they were not parted.
They were swifter than eagles,(Q)
they were stronger than lions.(R)
24 “Daughters of Israel,
weep for Saul,
who clothed you in scarlet and finery,
who adorned your garments with ornaments of gold.(S)
25 “How the mighty have fallen in battle!
Jonathan lies slain on your heights.
26 I grieve(T) for you, Jonathan(U) my brother;(V)
you were very dear to me.
Your love for me was wonderful,(W)
more wonderful than that of women.
27 “How the mighty have fallen!
The weapons of war have perished!”(X)
Footnotes
- 2 Samuel 1:19 Gazelle here symbolizes a human dignitary.
- 2 Samuel 1:21 Or / nor fields that yield grain for offerings
New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition (NRSVUE)
New Revised Standard Version, Updated Edition. Copyright © 2021 National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
New International Version (NIV) 
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
NIV Reverse Interlinear Bible: English to Hebrew and English to Greek. Copyright © 2019 by Zondervan.