New King James Version

2 Samuel 1:11-24 New King James Version (NKJV)

11. Therefore David took hold of his own clothes and tore them, and so did all the men who were with him.

12. And they mourned and wept and fasted until evening for Saul and for Jonathan his son, for the people of the Lord and for the house of Israel, because they had fallen by the sword.

13. Then David said to the young man who told him, “Where are you from?”And he answered, “I am the son of an alien, an Amalekite.”

14. So David said to him, “How was it you were not afraid to put forth your hand to destroy the Lord’s anointed?”

15. Then David called one of the young men and said, “Go near, and execute him!” And he struck him so that he died.

16. So David said to him, “Your blood is on your own head, for your own mouth has testified against you, saying, ‘I have killed the Lord’s anointed.’ ”

17. Then David lamented with this lamentation over Saul and over Jonathan his son,

18. and he told them to teach the children of Judah the Song of the Bow; indeed it is written in the Book of Jasher:

19. “The beauty of Israel is slain on your high places!How the mighty have fallen!

20. Tell it not in Gath,Proclaim it not in the streets of Ashkelon—Lest the daughters of the Philistines rejoice,Lest the daughters of the uncircumcised triumph.

21. “O mountains of Gilboa,Let there be no dew nor rain upon you,Nor fields of offerings.For the shield of the mighty is cast away there!The shield of Saul, not anointed with oil.

22. From the blood of the slain,From the fat of the mighty,The bow of Jonathan did not turn back,And the sword of Saul did not return empty.

23. “Saul and Jonathan were beloved and pleasant in their lives,And in their death they were not divided;They were swifter than eagles,They were stronger than lions.

24. “O daughters of Israel, weep over Saul,Who clothed you in scarlet, with luxury;Who put ornaments of gold on your apparel.