David’s Song of Mourning for Saul and Jonathan

17 Then David (A)sang this song of mourning over Saul and his son Jonathan, 18 and he told them to teach the sons of Judah the mourning song of the bow; behold, it is written in (B)the Book of Jashar.

19 [a]Your beauty, Israel, is [b]slaughtered on your high places!
(C)How the mighty have fallen!
20 (D)Tell it not in Gath,
Proclaim it not in the streets of Ashkelon,
Or (E)the daughters of the Philistines will rejoice,
The daughters of (F)the uncircumcised will celebrate.
21 (G)Mountains of Gilboa,
(H)May there be no dew nor rain on you, or fields of offerings!
For there the shield of the mighty was defiled,
The shield of Saul, not (I)anointed with oil.
22 (J)From the blood of those [c]slaughtered, from the fat of the mighty,
(K)The bow of Jonathan did not turn back,
And the sword of Saul did not return [d]unstained.
23 Saul and Jonathan, beloved and delightful in [e]life,
And in their deaths they were not separated;
(L)They were swifter than eagles,
(M)They were mightier than lions.
24 Daughters of Israel, weep over Saul,
Who clothed you in scarlet, with jewelry,
Who put gold jewelry on your apparel.
25 (N)How the mighty have fallen in the midst of the battle!
Jonathan is [f]slaughtered on your high places.
26 I am distressed for you, my brother Jonathan;
You have been [g]a close friend to me.
(O)Your love for me was more wonderful
Than the love of women.
27 (P)How the mighty have fallen,
And (Q)the weapons of war have perished!”

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Footnotes

  1. 2 Samuel 1:19 Lit The
  2. 2 Samuel 1:19 Lit pierced
  3. 2 Samuel 1:22 Lit pierced
  4. 2 Samuel 1:22 Or without success
  5. 2 Samuel 1:23 Lit their lives
  6. 2 Samuel 1:25 Lit pierced
  7. 2 Samuel 1:26 Lit very friendly to

David's Lament for Saul and Jonathan

17 And David (A)lamented with this lamentation over Saul and Jonathan his son, 18 and 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.

22 “From the blood of the slain,
    from the fat of the mighty,
(J)the bow of Jonathan turned not back,
    and the sword of Saul returned not empty.

23 “Saul and Jonathan, beloved and lovely!
    In life and in death they were not divided;
they were (K)swifter than eagles;
    they were (L)stronger than lions.

24 “You daughters of Israel, weep over Saul,
    who clothed you luxuriously in scarlet,
    (M)who put ornaments of gold on your apparel.

25 (N)“How the mighty have fallen
    in the midst of the battle!

“Jonathan lies slain on your high places.
26     I am distressed for you, my brother Jonathan;
very pleasant have you been to me;
    (O)your love to me was extraordinary,
    surpassing the love of women.

27 (P)“How the mighty have fallen,
    and the weapons of war perished!”

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Footnotes

  1. 2 Samuel 1:18 Septuagint; Hebrew the Bow, which may be the name of the lament's tune
  2. 2 Samuel 1:18 Or of the upright
  3. 2 Samuel 1:21 Septuagint firstfruits