New King James Version

2 Samuel 1:7-21 New King James Version (NKJV)

7. Now when he looked behind him, he saw me and called to me. And I answered, ‘Here I am.’

8. And he said to me, ‘Who are you?’ So I answered him, ‘I am an Amalekite.’

9. He said to me again, ‘Please stand over me and kill me, for anguish has come upon me, but my life still remains in me.’

10. So I stood over him and killed him, because I was sure that he could not live after he had fallen. And I took the crown that was on his head and the bracelet that was on his arm, and have brought them here to my lord.”

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.