2 Samuel 1:17-27

International Children’s Bible

¹⁹ “Israel, your leaders have been killed on the hills.
    How the mighty men have fallen in battle!
²⁰ Don’t tell it in Gath.
    Don’t announce it in the streets of Ashkelon.
If you do, the daughters of the Philistines will be happy.
    The daughters of the Philistines will rejoice.

²¹ “May there be no dew or rain on the mountains of Gilboa.
    May their fields produce no grain.
This is because there the mighty warrior’s shield was dishonored.
    Saul’s shield was no longer rubbed with oil.
²² Jonathan’s bow killed its share of enemies.
    And Saul’s sword killed its share, too.
Their weapons are stained with the blood of dead men.
    Their weapons have stabbed the flesh of strong men.

²³ “We loved Saul and Jonathan.
    We enjoyed them while they lived.
    Saul and Jonathan are together even in death.
They were faster than eagles.
    They were stronger than lions.

²⁴ “You daughters of Israel, cry for Saul.
    Saul clothed you with red dresses.
    He put gold decorations on your dresses.

²⁵ “How the mighty men have fallen in battle!
    Jonathan is dead on Gilboa’s hills.
²⁶ I cry for you, my brother Jonathan.
    I enjoyed your friendship so much.
Your love to me was wonderful,
    more wonderful than the love of women.

²⁷ “How the mighty men have fallen in battle!
    The weapons of war are gone.”