2 Samuel 1:1-4

New International Version

David Hears of Saul’s Death^(A)

1 After the death^(B) of Saul, David returned from striking down^(C) the Amalekites^(D) and stayed in Ziklag two days. ²On the third day a man^(E) arrived from Saul’s camp with his clothes torn and dust on his head.^(F) When he came to David, he fell^(G) to the ground to pay him honor.^(H)

³“Where have you come from?” David asked him.

He answered, “I have escaped from the Israelite camp.”

⁴“What happened?” David asked. “Tell me.”

“The men fled from the battle,” he replied. “Many of them fell and died. And Saul and his son Jonathan are dead.”

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2 Samuel 1:11-12

New International Version

¹¹Then David and all the men with him took hold of their clothes and tore^(A) them. ¹²They mourned and wept and fasted till evening for Saul and his son Jonathan, and for the army of the Lord and for the nation of Israel, because they had fallen by the sword.

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2 Samuel 1:19-27

New International Version

¹⁹“A gazelle^[a] lies slain on your heights, Israel.
How the mighty^(A) have fallen!^(B)

²⁰“Tell it not in Gath,^(C)
proclaim it not in the streets of Ashkelon,^(D)
lest the daughters of the Philistines^(E) be glad,
lest the daughters of the uncircumcised rejoice.^(F)

²¹“Mountains of Gilboa,^(G)
    may you have neither dew^(H) nor rain,^(I)
    may no showers fall on your terraced fields.^[b]^(J)
For there the shield of the mighty was despised,
    the shield of Saul—no longer rubbed with oil.^(K)

²²“From the blood^(L) of the slain,
    from the flesh of the mighty,
the bow^(M) of Jonathan did not turn back,
    the sword of Saul did not return unsatisfied.
²³Saul and Jonathan—
    in life they were loved and admired,
    and in death they were not parted.
They were swifter than eagles,^(N)
    they were stronger than lions.^(O)

²⁴“Daughters of Israel,
weep for Saul,
who clothed you in scarlet and finery,
who adorned your garments with ornaments of gold.^(P)

²⁵“How the mighty have fallen in battle!
    Jonathan lies slain on your heights.
²⁶I grieve^(Q) for you, Jonathan^(R) my brother;^(S)
    you were very dear to me.
Your love for me was wonderful,^(T)
    more wonderful than that of women.

²⁷“How the mighty have fallen!
The weapons of war have perished!”^(U)

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Footnotes

2 Samuel 1:19 Gazelle here symbolizes a human dignitary.
2 Samuel 1:21 Or / nor fields that yield grain for offerings

Psalm 80:1-7

New International Version

Psalm 80^[a]

For the director of music. To the tune of “The Lilies of the Covenant.” Of Asaph. A psalm.

¹Hear us, Shepherd of Israel,
    you who lead Joseph like a flock.^(A)
You who sit enthroned between the cherubim,^(B)
    shine forth ²before Ephraim, Benjamin and Manasseh.^(C)
Awaken^(D) your might;
    come and save us.^(E)

³Restore^(F) us,^(G) O God;
make your face shine on us,
that we may be saved.^(H)

⁴How long,^(I) Lord God Almighty,
    will your anger smolder^(J)
    against the prayers of your people?
⁵You have fed them with the bread of tears;^(K)
    you have made them drink tears by the bowlful.^(L)
⁶You have made us an object of derision^[b] to our neighbors,
    and our enemies mock us.^(M)

⁷Restore us, God Almighty;
make your face shine on us,
that we may be saved.^(N)

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Footnotes

Psalm 80:1 In Hebrew texts 80:1-19 is numbered 80:2-20.
Psalm 80:6 Probable reading of the original Hebrew text; Masoretic Text contention

John 8:51-59

New International Version

⁵¹Very truly I tell you, whoever obeys my word will never see death.”^(A)

⁵²At this they exclaimed, “Now we know that you are demon-possessed!^(B) Abraham died and so did the prophets, yet you say that whoever obeys your word will never taste death. ⁵³Are you greater than our father Abraham?^(C) He died, and so did the prophets. Who do you think you are?”

⁵⁴Jesus replied, “If I glorify myself,^(D) my glory means nothing. My Father, whom you claim as your God, is the one who glorifies me.^(E) ⁵⁵Though you do not know him,^(F) I know him.^(G) If I said I did not, I would be a liar like you, but I do know him and obey his word.^(H) ⁵⁶Your father Abraham^(I) rejoiced at the thought of seeing my day; he saw it^(J) and was glad.”

⁵⁷“You are not yet fifty years old,” they said to him, “and you have seen Abraham!”

⁵⁸“Very truly I tell you,” Jesus answered, “before Abraham was born,^(K) I am!”^(L) ⁵⁹At this, they picked up stones to stone him,^(M) but Jesus hid himself,^(N) slipping away from the temple grounds.