1After the death of Saul, when David was returned from the slaughter of the Amalekites and had been two days in Zikeleg:
2Behold, there came a man the third day out of the host from Saul with his clothes rent and earth upon his head. And when he came to David, he fell to the earth and did obeisance.
3To whom David said: whence comest thou? And the other answered him: Out of the host of Israel am I escaped.
4And David said to him again: How hath it chanced? tell me. And he said: the people fled from the battle: and many of the people are overthrown and dead: and Saul and Jonathas his son are dead thereto.
5And David said unto the young man that told him: how knowest thou that Saul and Jonathas his son be dead?
6and the young man that told him, said: I was by chance in mount Gelboe. And see, Saul leaned upon his spear, and the chariots and horsemen followed him at the heels.
7And Saul looked back and called me. And I answered: here am I.
8And he said unto me: what art thou? and I said unto him: I am an Amalekite.
9And he said unto me: come on me and slay me: For anguish is come upon me and my life is yet all in me.
10And I went on him and slew him: for I was sure that he could not live, after that he was fallen. And I took the crown that was upon his head and the bracelet that was on his arm and have brought them unto my lord hither.
11Then David took his clothes and rent them, and so did all the men that were with him.
12And they mourned, wept and fasted until evening, for Saul and Jonathas his son, and for the people of the LORD, and for the house of Israel, because they were overthrown with the sword.
13Then said David unto the young man that brought him tidings. Whence art thou? And he said: I am the son of an alien an Amalekite.
14And David said unto him: How is it that thou wast not afraid to lay thine hand on the LORD's anointed, to destroy him?
15And David called one of his young men and said: Go and run upon him. And he smote him that he died.
16Then said David unto him: thy blood upon thine own head: for thine own mouth hath testified against thee saying: I have slain the LORD's anointed.
17And David sang this song of mourning over Saul and Jonathas his son,
18and bade to teach the children of Israel the staves thereof. And behold it is written in the book of the righteous.
19The glory of Israel is slain upon the high hills: Oh how were the mighty overthrown?
20Tell it not in Geth: nor publish it in the streets of Askalon: lest the daughters of the Philistines rejoice, and that the daughters of the uncircumcised triumph thereof.
21Ye mountains of Gelboe, upon you be neither dew nor rain, nor fields whence heave offerings come. For there the shields of the mighty were cast from them: the shield of Saul, as though he had not been anointed with oil.
22The bow of Jonathas and the sword of Saul turned never back again empty, from the blood of the wounded and from the fat of the mighty warriors.
23Saul and Jonathas lovely and pleasant in their lives, were in their deaths not divided, men swifter than Aegles and stronger than Lions.
24Ye daughters of Israel, weep over Saul, which clothed you in purple and garments of pleasure, and bordered your raiment with ornaments of gold.
25How were the mighty slain in battle? Jonathas on the high hills was wounded to death:
26Woe is me for thee my brother Jonathas: delectable to me wast thou exceeding. Thy love to me was wonderful, passing the love of women.
27How were the mighty overthrown, and how were the weapons of war forlorn.