2 Samuel 1

NEW JERUSALEM	CATHOLIC PUBLIC DOMAIN
1 Saul was dead and David, returning after his victory over the Amalekites, had been at Ziklag for twodays.	1 Now it happened that, after Saul died, David returned from the slaughter of Amalek, and he remained for two days at Ziklag.
2 On the third day, a man arrived from Saul's camp with his clothes torn and earth on his head. When hecame to David, he fel to the ground and prostrated himself.	2 Then, on the third day, a man appeared, arriving from the camp of Saul, with his garments torn and dust sprinkled on his head. And when he came to David, he fell on his face, and he reverenced.
3 David asked him, 'Where have you come from?' 'I have escaped from the Israelite camp,' he said.	3 And David said to him, “Where have you come from?” And he said to him, “I have fled from the camp of Israel.”
4 David said, 'What has happened? Tell me.' He replied, 'The people fled from the battle, and many ofthem have fal en and are dead. Saul and his son Jonathan are dead too.'	4 And David said to him: “What is the word that has happened? Reveal it to me.” And he said: “The people have fled from the battle, and many of the people have fallen and died. Moreover, Saul and his son Jonathan have passed away.”
5 Then David asked the young man who brought the news, 'How do you know that Saul and his sonJonathan are dead?'	5 And David said to the youth who was reporting to him, “How do you know that Saul and his son Jonathan have died?”
6 The young man replied, 'I happened to be on Mount Gilboa, and there was Saul, leaning on his spear,with the chariots and the cavalry bearing down on him.	6 And the youth, who was reporting it to him, said: “I arrived by chance on mount Gilboa. And Saul was lying upon his spear. Then the chariots and horsemen drew near to him.
7 Glancing behind him and seeing me, he shouted to me. I replied, "Here I am!"	7 And turning behind his back and seeing me, he called to me. And when I had responded, “I am here,”
8 He said, "Who are you?" I replied, "I am an Amalekite."	8 he said to me, “Who are you?” And I said to him, “I am an Amalekite.”
9 He then said, "Come here and kil me. My head is swimming, although I still have al my strength."	9 And he said to me: “Stand over me, and kill me. For anguish has taken hold of me, and still my whole life is in me.”
10 So I went over to him and killed him, because I knew that once he fel he could not survive. I then tookthe crown which he had on his head and the bracelet on his arm, and have brought them here to my lord.'	10 And standing over him, I killed him. For I knew that he was not able to live after the fall. And I took the diadem that was on his head, and the bracelet from his arm, and I have brought them here to you, my lord.”
11 David then took hold of his clothes and tore them, and all the men with him did the same.	11 Then David, taking hold of his garments, tore them, with all the men who were with him.
12 They mourned and wept and fasted until the evening for Saul and his son Jonathan, for the people ofYahweh and for the House of Israel, because they had fal en by the sword.	12 And they mourned, and wept, and fasted until evening, over Saul and over his son Jonathan, and over the people of the Lord and over the house of Israel, because they had fallen by the sword.
13 David said to the young man who had brought the news, 'Where are you from?' He replied, 'I am theson of a resident foreigner, an Amalekite.'	13 And David said to the youth who had reported it to him, “Where are you from?” And he responded, “I am the son of a man who is a new arrival from the Amalekites.”
14 David said, 'How was it that you were not afraid to lift your hand to destroy Yahweh's anointed?'	14 And David said to him, “Why were you not afraid to put forth your hand, so that you would kill the Christ of the Lord?”
15 Then David called one of the young men. 'Come here,' he said, 'strike him down.' The man struck himand he died.	15 And calling one of his servants, David said, “Draw near and rush against him” And he struck him, and he died.
16 David said, 'Your blood be on your own head. You convicted yourself out of your own mouth bysaying, "I kil ed Yahweh's anointed." '	16 And David said to him: “Your blood is upon your own head. For your own mouth has spoken against you, saying: ‘I have killed the Christ of the Lord.’ ”
17 David sang the fol owing lament over Saul and his son Jonathan	17 Then David mourned a lamentation over Saul and over his son Jonathan, in this way.
18 (it is for teaching archery to the children of Judah; it is written in the Book of the Just):	18 (And he instructed that they should teach the sons of Judah the bow, just as it is written in the Book of the Just.) And he said: “Consider, O Israel, on behalf of those who are dead, wounded upon your heights:
19 Does the splendour of Israel lie dead on your heights? How did the heroes fal ?	19 The illustrious of Israel have been killed upon your mountains. How could the valiant have fallen?
20 Do not speak of it in Gath, nor broadcast it in the streets of Ashkelon, for fear the daughters of thePhilistines rejoice, for fear the daughters of the uncircumcised gloat.	20 Do not choose to announce it in Gath, and do not announce it in the crossroads of Ashkelon. Otherwise, the daughters of the Philistines may rejoice; otherwise, the daughters of the uncircumcised may exult.
21 You mountains of Gilboa, no dew, no rain fal on you, O treacherous fields where the heroes' shieldlies dishonoured! Not greased with oil, the shield of Saul,	21 O mountains of Gilboa, let neither dew, nor rain fall over you, and may these not be the fields of the first-fruits. For in that place, the shield of the valiant was cast away, the shield of Saul, as if he had not been anointed with oil.
22 but with the blood of wounded men, the fat of warriors! The bow of Jonathan never turned back, thesword of Saul never came home unsated!	22 From the blood of the slain, from the fat of the strong, the arrow of Jonathan never turned back, and the sword of Saul did not return empty.
23 Saul and Jonathan, beloved and handsome, were divided neither in life, nor in death. Swifter thaneagles were they, stronger than lions.	23 Saul and Jonathan, worthy to be loved, and stately in their life: even in death they were not divided. They were swifter than eagles, stronger than lions.
24 O daughters of Israel, weep for Saul who gave you scarlet and fine linen to wear, who pinned goldenjewel ery on your dresses!	24 O daughters of Israel, weep over Saul, who clothed you with scarlet finery, who offered ornaments of gold for your adornment.
25 How did the heroes fall in the thick of the battle? Jonathan, by your dying I too am stricken,	25 How could the valiant have fallen in battle? How could Jonathan have been slain on the heights?
26 I am desolate for you, Jonathan my brother. Very dear you were to me, your love more wonderful tome than the love of a woman.	26 I grieve over you, my brother Jonathan: exceedingly stately, and worthy to be loved above the love of women. As a mother loves her only son, so also did I love you.
27 How did the heroes fall and the weapons of war succumb!	27 How could the robust have fallen, and the weapons of war have perished?”