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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)

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Footnotes

  1. 1.18 Heb that The Bow
  2. 1.21 Meaning of Heb uncertain

17 David sang the following lament(A) for Saul and his son Jonathan, 18 and he ordered that the Judahites be taught The Song of the Bow. It is written in the Book of Jashar:[a](B)

19 The splendor of Israel lies slain on your heights.
How the mighty have fallen!
20 Do not tell it in Gath,
don’t announce it in the marketplaces of Ashkelon,
or the daughters of the Philistines will rejoice,(C)
and the daughters of the uncircumcised will celebrate.
21 Mountains of Gilboa,
let no dew or rain be on you,
or fields of offerings,[b]
for there the shield of the mighty was defiled(D)
the shield of Saul, no longer anointed with oil.(E)
22 Jonathan’s bow never retreated,
Saul’s sword never returned unstained,[c]
from the blood of the slain,
from the flesh[d] of the mighty.
23 Saul and Jonathan,
loved and delightful,
they were not parted in life or in death.
They were swifter than eagles, stronger than lions.
24 Daughters of Israel, weep for Saul,
who clothed you in scarlet, with luxurious things,
who decked your garments with gold ornaments.(F)
25 How the mighty have fallen in the thick of battle!
Jonathan lies slain on your heights.
26 I grieve for you, Jonathan, my brother.
You were such a friend to me.
Your love for me was more wondrous
than the love of women.(G)
27 How the mighty have fallen
and the weapons of war have perished!

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Footnotes

  1. 1:18 Or of the Upright
  2. 1:21 LXX reads firstfruits
  3. 1:22 Lit empty
  4. 1:22 Lit fat