David's Lament for Saul

2 Samuel 1

An Amalekite comes to David at Ziklag claiming to have killed the wounded Saul, and brings Saul's crown and bracelet, but David has him put to death for laying a hand on the Lord's anointed. David composes a lament over the deaths of Saul and Jonathan, mourning how the mighty have fallen.

About these editions

The Septuagint (LXX) in Greek, with Charles Thomson’s 1808 and Sir Lancelot Brenton’s 1851 English translations, set beside the King James Version and the Jewish Masoretic text (JPS 1917) where they align, so you can compare the Greek and the Hebrew. All public domain; choose which to show with the controls above.

Thomson 1808Septuagint

Brenton 1851Septuagint

Greek · BrentonSeptuagint

KJV 1769Masoretic

JPS 1917Masoretic

ThomsonNOW after the death of Saul when David returned from the slaughter of the Amelekites, and had been at Sekelak two days,

BrentonAnd it came to pass after Saul was dead, that David returned from smiting Amalec, and David abode two days in Sekelac.

GreekΚΑΙ ἐγένετο μετὰ τὸ ἀποθανεῖν Σαοὺλ, καὶ Δαυὶδ ἀνέστρεψε τύπτων τὸν Ἀμαλὴκ, καὶ ἐκάθισε Δαυὶδ ἐν Σεκελὰκ ἡμέρας δύο.

KJVNow it came to pass after the death of Saul, when David was returned from the slaughter of the Amalekites, and David had abode two days in Ziklag;

JPSAnd it came to pass after the death of Saul, when David was returned from the slaughter of the Amalekites, and David had abode two days in Ziklag;

Thomsonbehold there came a man, on the third day, from the camp—from the people of Saul—with his clothes rent and earth on his head; and when he came to David he fell on the ground, and made obeisance to him.

BrentonAnd it came to pass on the third day, that, behold, a man came from the camp, from the people of Saul, and his garments were rent, and earth was upon his head: and it came to pass when he went in to David, that he fell upon the earth, and did obeisance to him.

GreekΚαὶ ἐγενήθη τῇ ἡμέρᾳ τῇ τρίτῃ, καὶ ἰδοὺ ἀνὴρ ἦλθεν ἐκ τῆς παρεμβολῆς ἐκ τοῦ λαοῦ Σαοὺλ, καὶ τὰ ἱμάτια αὐτοῦ διεῤῥωγότα, καὶ γῆ ἐπὶ τῆς κεφαλῆς αὐτοῦ· καὶ ἐγένετο ἐν τῷ εἰσελθεῖν αὐτὸν πρὸς Δαυὶδ, καὶ ἔπεσεν ἐπὶ τὴν γῆν καὶ προσεκύνησεν αὐτῷ.

KJVIt came even to pass on the third day, that, behold, a man came out of the camp from Saul with his clothes rent, and earth upon his head: and so it was, when he came to David, that he fell to the earth, and did obeisance.

JPSit came even to pass on the third day, that, behold, a man came out of the camp from Saul with his clothes rent, and earth upon his head; and so it was, when he came to David, that he fell to the earth, and prostrated himself.

ThomsonAnd David said to him, Whence comest thou? And he replied, I have escaped from the camp of Israel.

BrentonAnd David said to him, Whence comest thou? and he said to him, I have escaped out of the camp of Israel.

GreekΚαὶ εἶπεν αὐτῷ Δαυὶδ, πόθεν σὺ παραγίνῃ; καὶ εἶπεν πρὸς αὐτὸν, ἐκ τῆς παρεμβολῆς Ἰσραὴλ ἐγὼ διασέσωσμαι.

KJVAnd David said unto him, From whence comest thou? And he said unto him, Out of the camp of Israel am I escaped.

JPSAnd David said unto him: ‘From whence comest thou?’ And he said unto him: ‘Out of the camp of Israel am I escaped.’

ThomsonThereupon David said to him, What is the news? Tell me. And when he said, The people fled from the battle, and many of the people have fallen, and died; Saul also is dead, and his son Jonathan;

BrentonAnd David said to him, What is the matter? tell me. And he said, The people fled out of the battle, and many of the people have fallen and are dead, and Saul and Jonathan his son are dead.

GreekΚαὶ εἶπεν αὐτῷ Δαυὶδ, τίς ὁ λόγος οὗτος; ἀπάγγειλόν μοι· καὶ εἶπεν, ὅτι ἔφυγεν ὁ λαὸς ἐκ τοῦ πολέμου, καὶ πεπτώκασι πολλοὶ ἐκ τοῦ λαοῦ καὶ ἀπέθανον, καὶ Σαοὺλ καὶ Ἰωνάθαν ὁ υἱὸς αὐτοῦ ἀπέθανε.

KJVAnd David said unto him, How went the matter? I pray thee, tell me. And he answered, That the people are fled from the battle, and many of the people also are fallen and dead; and Saul and Jonathan his son are dead also.

JPSAnd David said unto him: ‘How went the matter? I pray thee, tell me.’ And he answered: ‘The people are fled from the battle, and many of the people also are fallen and dead; and Saul and Jonathan his son are dead also.’

ThomsonDavid said to the young man who told him, How knowest thou that Saul and his son Jonathan are dead?

BrentonAnd David said to the young man who brought him the tidings, How knowest thou that Saul and Jonathan his son are dead?

GreekΚαὶ εἶπε Δαυὶδ τῷ παιδαρίῳ τῷ ἀπαγγελλοντι αὐτῷ, πῶς οἶδας ὅτι τέθνηκε Σαοὺλ καὶ Ἰωνάθαν ὁ υἱὸς αὐτοῦ;

KJVAnd David said unto the young man that told him, How knowest thou that Saul and Jonathan his son be dead?

JPSAnd David said unto the young man that told him: ‘How knowest thou that Saul and Jonathan his son are dead?’

ThomsonAnd the young man who told him said, By accident I happened to be on mount Gelbua, and behold Saul was leaning on his spear; and lo! the chariots and horsemen were close upon him;

BrentonAnd the young man that brought the tidings, said to him, I happened accidentally to be upon mount Gelbue; and, behold, Saul was leaning upon his spear, and, behold, the chariots and captains of horse pressed hard upon him.

GreekΚαὶ εἶπε τὸ παιδάριον τὸ ἀπαγγέλλον αὐτῷ, περιπτώματι περιέπεσον ἐν τῷ ὄρει τῷ Γελβουὲ, καὶ ἰδοὺ Σαοὺλ ἐπεστήρικτο ἐπὶ τὸ δόρυ αὐτοῦ, καὶ ἰδοὺ τὰ ἅρματα καὶ οἱ ἱππάρχαι συνῆψαν αὐτῷ.

KJVAnd the young man that told him said, As I happened by chance upon mount Gilboa, behold, Saul leaned upon his spear; and, lo, the chariots and horsemen followed hard after him.

JPSAnd the young man that told him said: ‘As I happened by chance upon mount Gilboa, behold, Saul leaned upon his spear; and, lo, the chariots and the horsemen pressed hard upon him.

Thomsonand when he looked back and saw me, he called me: and I said, Here I am.

BrentonAnd he looked behind him, and saw me, and called me; and I said, Behold, here am I.

GreekΚαὶ ἐπέβλεψεν ἐπὶ τὰ ὀπίσω αὐτοῦ, καὶ εἶδέ με, καὶ ἐκάλεσέ με· καὶ εἶπα, ἰδοὺ ἐγώ.

KJVAnd when he looked behind him, he saw me, and called unto me. And I answered, Here am I.

JPSAnd when he looked behind him, he saw me, and called unto me. And I answered: Here am I.

ThomsonThen he said to me, Who art thou? And I said, I am an Amelekite.

BrentonAnd he said to me, Who art thou? and I said, I am an Amalekite.

GreekΚαὶ εἶπέ μοι, τίς εἶ σύ; καὶ εἶπα, Ἀμαληκίτης ἐγώ εἰμι.

KJVAnd he said unto me, Who art thou? And I answered him, I am an Amalekite.

JPSAnd he said unto me: Who art thou? And I answered him: I am an Amalekite.

ThomsonThen he said to me, Stand over me, I pray thee, and kill me; for I am seized with a gloomy horror, because all my life is in me.

BrentonAnd he said to me, Stand, I pray thee, over me, and slay me, for a dreadful darkness has come upon me, for all my life is in me.

GreekΚαὶ εἶπε πρὸς μὲ, στῆθι δὴ ἐπάνω μου καὶ θανάτωσόν με, ὅτι κατέσχε με σκότος δεινὸν, ὅτι πᾶσα ἡ ψυχή μου ἐν ἐμοί.

KJVHe said unto me again, Stand, I pray thee, upon me, and slay me: for anguish is come upon me, because my life is yet whole in me.

JPSAnd he said unto me: Stand, I pray thee, beside me, and slay me, for the agony hath taken hold of me; because my life is just yet in me.

ThomsonSo I went up to him and killed him, for I am sure he could not live after he fell; and I took the crown which was on his head, and the bracelet which was on his arm, and have brought them here to my lord.

BrentonSo I stood over him and slew him, because I knew he would not live after he was fallen; and I took the crown that was upon his head, and the bracelet that was upon his arm, and I have brought them hither to my lord.

GreekΚαὶ ἐπέστην ἐπʼ αὐτὸν καὶ ἐθανάτωσα αὐτὸν, ὅτι ᾔδειν ὅτι οὐ ζήσεται μετὰ τὸ πεσεῖν αὐτόν· καὶ ἔλαβον τὸ βασίλειον τὸ ἐπὶ τὴν κεφαλὴν αὐτοῦ, καὶ τὸν χλιδόνα τὸν ἐπὶ τοῦ βραχίονος αὐτοῦ, καὶ ἐνήνοχα αὐτὰ τῷ κυρίῳ μου ὧδε.

KJVSo I stood upon him, and slew him, because 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 hither unto my lord.

JPSSo I stood beside him, and slew him, because 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 hither unto my lord.’

ThomsonThen David took hold of his garments, and rent them, and all the men who were with him rent their garments,

BrentonAnd David laid hold of his garments, and rent them; and all the men who were with him rent their garments.

GreekΚαὶ ἐκράτησε Δαυὶδ τῶν ἱματίων αὐτοῦ, καὶ διέῤῥηξεν αὐτά· καὶ πάντες οἱ ἄνδρες οἱ μετʼ αὐτοῦ διέῤῥηξαν τὰ ἱμάτια αὐτῶν.

KJVThen David took hold on his clothes, and rent them; and likewise all the men that were with him:

JPSThen David took hold on his clothes, and rent them; and likewise all the men that were with him.

Thomsonand beat their breasts, and wept, and fasted till evening for Saul, and for Jonathan his son, and for the people of Juda, and for the house of Israel, because they had been smitten with the sword.

BrentonAnd they lamented, and wept, and fasted till evening, for Saul and for Jonathan his son, and for the people of Juda, and for the house of Israel, because they were smitten with the sword.

GreekΚαὶ ἐκόψαντο καὶ ἔκλαυσαν καὶ ἐνήστευσαν ἕως δείλης ἐπὶ Σαοὺλ καὶ ἐπὶ Ἰωνάθαν τὸν υἱὸν αὐτοῦ καὶ ἐπὶ τὸν λαὸν Ἰούδα καὶ ἐπὶ τὸν οἶκον Ἰσραὴλ, ὅτι ἐπλήγησαν ἐν ῥομφαίᾳ.

KJVAnd they mourned, and wept, and fasted until even, for Saul, and for Jonathan his son, and for the people of the LORD, and for the house of Israel; because they were fallen by the sword.

JPSAnd they wailed, and wept, and fasted until even, for Saul, and for Jonathan his son, and for the people of the LORD, and for the house of Israel; because they were fallen by the sword.

ThomsonAnd David said to the young man who told him, Whence art thou? And he said, I am the son of a stranger—an Amelekite.

BrentonAnd David said to the young man who brought the tidings to him, Whence art thou? and he said, I am the son of an Amalekite sojourner.

GreekΚαὶ εἶπε Δαυὶδ τῷ παιδαρίῳ τῷ ἀπαγγέλλοντι αὐτῷ, πόθεν εἶ σύ; καὶ εἶπεν, υἱὸς ανδρὸς παροίκου Ἀμαληκίτου ἐγώ εἰμι.

KJVAnd David said unto the young man that told him, Whence art thou? And he answered, I am the son of a stranger, an Amalekite.

JPSAnd David said unto the young man that told him: ‘Whence art thou?’ And he answered: ‘I am the son of an Amalekite stranger.’

ThomsonAnd David said to him, How couldst thou not be afraid to lift up thy hand to kill the Lord’s anointed.

BrentonAnd David said to him, How was it thou wast not afraid to lift thy hand to destroy the anointed of the Lord?

GreekΚαὶ εἶπεν αὐτῷ Δαυὶδ, πῶς οὐκ ἐφοβήθης ἐπενεγκεῖν χεῖρά σου διαφθεῖραι τὸν χριστὸν Κυρίου;

KJVAnd David said unto him, How wast thou not afraid to stretch forth thine hand to destroy the LORD’s anointed?

JPSAnd David said unto him: ‘How wast thou not afraid to put forth thy hand to destroy the LORD’S anointed?’

ThomsonThen David called one of his young men and said, Go near and fall upon him. So he smote him that he died.

BrentonAnd David called one of his young men, and said, Go and fall upon him: and he smote him, and he died.

GreekΚαὶ ἐκάλεσε Δαυὶδ ἓν τῶν παιδαρίων αὐτοῦ, καὶ εἶπε, προσελθὼν ἀπάντησον αὐτῷ· καὶ ἐπάταξεν αὐτὸν, καὶ ἀπέθανε.

KJVAnd David called one of the young men, and said, Go near, and fall upon him. And he smote him that he died.

JPSAnd David called one of the young men, and said: ‘Go near, and fall upon him.’ And he smote him that he died.

ThomsonAnd David said to him, Thy blood be upon thy own head, for thy own mouth hath testified against thee, saying, I have slain the anointed of the Lord.

BrentonAnd David said to him, Thy blood be upon thine own head; for thy mouth has testified against thee, saying, I have slain the anointed of the Lord.

GreekΚαὶ εἶπε πρὸς αὐτὸν Δαυὶδ, τὸ αἷμά σου ἐπὶ τὴν κεφαλήν σου, ὅτι τὸ στόμα σου ἀπεκρίθη κατὰ σοῦ, λέγον, ὅτι ἐγὼ ἐθανάτωσα τὸν χριστὸν Κυρίου.

KJVAnd David said unto him, Thy blood be upon thy head; for thy mouth hath testified against thee, saying, I have slain the LORD’s anointed.

JPSAnd David said unto him: ‘Thy blood be upon thy head; for thy mouth hath testified against thee, saying: I have slain the LORD’S anointed.’

ThomsonThen David sung this funereal Ode over Saul, and over Jonathan his son,

BrentonAnd David lamented with this lamentation over Saul and over Jonathan his son.

GreekΚαὶ ἐθρήνησε Δαυὶδ τὸν θρῆνον τοῦτον ἐπὶ Σαοὺλ καὶ ἐπὶ Ἰωνάθαν τὸν υἱὸν αὐτοῦ.

KJVAnd David lamented with this lamentation over Saul and over Jonathan his son:

JPSAnd David lamented with this lamentation over Saul and over Jonathan his son,

Thomsonand gave orders that the children of Juda should learn it. Behold it is written in the book [entitled] “Straight.”

BrentonAnd he gave orders to teach it the sons of Juda: behold, it is written in the book of Right.

GreekΚαὶ εἶπε τοῦ διδάξαι τοὺς υἱοὺς Ἰούδα· ἰδοὺ γέγραπται ἐπὶ βιβλίου τοῦ εὐθοῦς.

KJV(Also he bade them teach the children of Judah the use of the bow: behold, it is written in the book of Jasher.)

JPSand said—To teach the sons of Judah the bow. Behold, it is written in the book of Jashar:

ThomsonErect, O Israel, a monument for the dead— For the slain on thy lofty mountains. How are the mighty fallen!

BrentonSet up a pillar, O Israel, for the slain that died upon thy high places: how are the mighty fallen!

GreekΣτήλωσον Ἰσραὴλ ὑπὲρ τῶν τεθνηκότων ἐπὶ τὰ ὕψη σου τραυματιῶν· πῶς ἔπεσαν δυνατοί;

KJVThe beauty of Israel is slain upon thy high places: how are the mighty fallen!

JPSThy beauty, O Israel, upon thy high places is slain! How are the mighty fallen!

ThomsonProclaim not ye the news in Geth— Tell it not as good news in the streets of Ascalon; Lest the daughters of the Philistines rejoice— Lest the daughters of the uncircumcised exult with joy.

BrentonTell it not in Geth, and tell it not as glad tidings in the streets of Ascalon, lest the daughters of the Philistines rejoice, lest the daughters of the uncircumcised triumph.

GreekΜὴ ἀναγγείλητε ἐν Γὲθ, καὶ μὴ εὐαγγελίσησθε ἐν ταῖς ἐξόδοις Ἀσκάλωνος, μή ποτε εὐφρανθῶσι θυγατέρες ἀλλοφύλων, μή ποτε ἀγαλλιάσωνται θυγατέρες τῶν ἀπεριτμήτων.

KJVTell it not in Gath, publish it not in the streets of Askelon; lest the daughters of the Philistines rejoice, lest the daughters of the uncircumcised triumph.

JPSTell it not in Gath, Publish it not in the streets of Ashkelon; Lest the daughters of the Philistines rejoice, Lest the daughters of the uncircumcised triumph.

ThomsonOn you, mountains of Gelbua, let not dew descend— On you, let there be no rain, nor fields of first fruit offerings! For there the shield of the mighty was battered— The shield of Saul. Was he not anointed with oil?

BrentonYe mountains of Gelbue, let not dew nor rain descend upon you, nor fields of first-fruits be upon you, for there the shield of the mighty ones has been grievously assailed; the shield of Saul was not anointed with oil.

GreekὌρη τὰ ἐν Γελβουὲ μὴ καταβάτω δρόσος καὶ μὴ ὑετὸς ἐφʼ ὑμᾶς, καὶ ἀγροὶ ἀπαρχῶν, ὅτι ἐκεῖ προσωχθίσθη θυρεὸς δυνατῶν· θυρεὸς Σαοὺλ οὐκ ἐχρίσθη ἐν ἐλαίῳ.

KJVYe mountains of Gilboa, let there be no dew, neither let there be rain, upon you, nor fields of offerings: for there the shield of the mighty is vilely cast away, the shield of Saul, as though he had not been anointed with oil.

JPSYe mountains of Gilboa, Let there be no dew nor rain upon you, Neither fields of choice fruits; For there the shield of the mighty was vilely cast away, The shield of Saul, not anointed with oil.

ThomsonFrom the blood of the wounded— From the fat of the mighty, The bow of Jonathan recoiled not empty— The sword of Saul bended not in vain.

BrentonFrom the blood of the slain, and from the fat of the mighty, the bow of Jonathan returned not empty; and the sword of Saul turned not back empty.

GreekἈφʼ αἵματος τραυματιῶν καὶ ἀπὸ στέατος δυνατῶν τόξον Ἰωνάθαν οὐκ ἀπεστράφη κενὸν εἰς τὰ ὀπίσω, καὶ ῥομφαία Σαοὺλ οὐκ ἀνέκαμψε κενή.

KJVFrom the blood of the slain, from the fat of the mighty, the bow of Jonathan turned not back, and the sword of Saul returned not empty.

JPSFrom the blood of the slain, from the fat of the mighty, The bow of Jonathan turned not back, And the sword of Saul returned not empty.

ThomsonSaul and Jonathan were beloved— They were lovely and inseparable; Comely in their life— And in their death they were not divided. Than eagles they were swifter— And than lions more courageous.

BrentonSaul and Jonathan, the beloved and the beautiful, were not divided: comely were they in their life, and in their death they were not divided: they were swifter than eagles, and they were stronger than lions.

GreekΣαοὺλ καὶ Ἰωνάθαν οἱ ἠγαπημένοι καὶ ὡραῖοι οὐ διακεχωρισμένοι, εὐπρεπεῖς ἐν τῇ ζωῇ αὐτῶν, καὶ ἐν τῷ θανάτῳ αὐτῶν οὐ διεχωρίσθησαν· ὑπὲρ ἀετοὺς κοῦφοι, καὶ ὑπὲρ λέοντας ἐκραταιώθησαν.

KJVSaul and Jonathan were lovely and pleasant in their lives, and in their death they were not divided: they were swifter than eagles, they were stronger than lions.

JPSSaul and Jonathan, the lovely and the pleasant In their lives, even in their death they were not divided; They were swifter than eagles, They were stronger than lions.

ThomsonO daughters of Israel, weep over Saul, Who adorned your dress with scarlet— Who put ornaments of gold on your apparel.

BrentonDaughters of Israel, weep for Saul, who clothed you with scarlet together with your adorning, who added golden ornaments to your apparel.

GreekΘυγατέρες Ἰσραὴλ ἐπὶ Σαοὺλ κλαύσατε, τὸν ἐνδιδύσκοντα ὑμᾶς κόκκινα μετὰ κόσμου ὑμῶν, τὸν ἀναφέροντα κόσμον χρυσοῦν ἐπὶ τὰ ἐνδύματα ὑμῶν.

KJVYe daughters of Israel, weep over Saul, who clothed you in scarlet, with other delights, who put on ornaments of gold upon your apparel.

JPSYe daughters of Israel, weep over Saul, Who clothed you in scarlet, with other delights, Who put ornaments of gold upon your apparel.

ThomsonHow are the mighty fallen! In the midst of the battle, Jonathan! On thy lofty mountains slain!

BrentonHow are the mighty fallen in the midst of the battle! O Jonathan, even the slain ones upon thy high places!

GreekΠῶς ἔπεσαν δυνατοὶ ἐν μέσῳ τοῦ πολέμου, Ἰωνάθαν ἐπὶ τὰ ὕψη σου τραυματίαι;

KJVHow are the mighty fallen in the midst of the battle! O Jonathan, thou wast slain in thine high places.

JPSHow are the mighty fallen in the midst of the battle! Jonathan upon thy high places is slain!

ThomsonI mourn for thee, my brother Jonathan, To me thou wast very lovely. Thy love for me was wonderful— Far surpassing the love of women.

BrentonI am grieved for thee, my brother Jonathan; thou wast very lovely to me; thy love to me was wonderful beyond the love of women.

GreekἈλγῶ ἐπὶ σοὶ, ἀδελφέ μου Ἰωνάθαν, ὡραιώθης μοι σφόδρα, ἐθαυμαστώθη ἡ ἀγάπησίς σου ἐμοὶ ὑπὲρ ἀγάπησιν γυναικῶν.

KJVI am distressed for thee, my brother Jonathan: very pleasant hast thou been unto me: thy love to me was wonderful, passing the love of women.

JPSI am distressed for thee, my brother Jonathan; Very pleasant hast thou been unto me; Wonderful was thy love to me, Passing the love of women.

ThomsonHow are the mighty fallen! And the weapons of war perished!

BrentonHow are the mighty fallen, and the weapons of war perished!

GreekΠῶς ἔπεσαν δυνατοὶ, καὶ ἀπώλοντο σκεύη πολεμικά;

KJVHow are the mighty fallen, and the weapons of war perished!

JPSHow are the mighty fallen, And the weapons of war perished!