1 Now 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; 2 It 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. 3 And David said unto him, From whence comest thou? And he said unto him, Out of the camp of Israel am I escaped. 4 And 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. 5 And David said unto the young man that told him, How knowest thou that Saul and Jonathan his son be dead? 6 And 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. 7 And when he looked behind him, he saw me, and called unto me. And I answered, Here am I. 8 And he said unto me, Who art thou? And I answered him, I am an Amalekite. 9 He 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. 10 So 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.
11 Then David took hold on his clothes, and rent them; and likewise all the men that were with him: 12 And 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.
13 ¶ And David said unto the young man that told him, Whence art thou? And he answered, I am the son of a stranger, an Amalekite. 14 And David said unto him, How wast thou not afraid to stretch forth thine hand to destroy the LORD’s anointed? 15 And David called one of the young men, and said, Go near, and fall upon him. And he smote him that he died. 16 And 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.
17 ¶ And David lamented with this lamentation over Saul and over Jonathan his son: 18 (Also he bade them teach the children of Judah the use of the bow: behold, it is written in the book of Jasher.) 19 The beauty of Israel is slain upon thy high places: how are the mighty fallen! 20 Tell 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. 21 Ye 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. 22 From 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. 23 Saul 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. 24 Ye daughters of Israel, weep over Saul, who clothed you in scarlet, with other delights, who put on ornaments of gold upon your apparel. 25 How are the mighty fallen in the midst of the battle! O Jonathan, thou wast slain in thine high places. 26 I 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. 27 How are the mighty fallen, and the weapons of war perished!
Dāvids uzzina par Saula nāvi
1 Kad Sauls bija miris un Dāvids atgriezies no amālēkiešu sakāves, viņš divas dienas pavadīja Ciklagā, 2 un trešajā dienā, redzi, nāca kāds vīrs no Saula nometnes, drēbes tam bija saplēstas un pīšļi uz galvas, viņš pienāca pie Dāvida, krita pie zemes un zemojās. 3 Dāvids viņam jautāja: “No kurienes tu tāds nāc?” Viņš tam atbildēja: “Es izglābos no Israēla nometnes.” 4 Dāvids viņam teica: “Kas tur notika, stāsti taču man!” Un viņš stāstīja, ka ļaudis bēguši no kaujas lauka, ka daudzi krituši un ir beigti, ka arī Sauls un viņa dēls Jonatāns ir miruši. 5 Dāvids jautāja puisim, kas viņam to stāstīja: “Kā tu zini, ka Sauls un viņa dēls Jonatāns ir miruši?” 6 Puisis, kas viņam stāstīja, atbildēja: “Es nejauši nokļuvu Gilboas kalnā, un, redzi, Sauls atspiedās uz sava šķēpa, un, redzi, kararati un jātnieku virsnieki jau bija tam uz papēžiem. 7 Viņš pagriezās atpakaļ, ieraudzīja mani un uzsauca man, un es teicu: es te! – 8 Viņš man prasīja: kas tu esi? – un es viņam atbildēju: esmu amālēkietis. 9 Viņš man teica: jel nostājies pie manis un nogalē mani, jo mani sagrābuši krampji, bet dzīvība aizvien vēl ir manī! 10 Tad es nostājos pie viņa un nogalēju viņu, jo zināju, ka pēc kritiena viņš vairs nedzīvos. Un es paņēmu kroni, kas viņam galvā, un sprādzi, kas ap augšdelmu, un, redzi, atnesu savam kungam!” 11 Tad Dāvids sagrāba savas drēbes un pārplēsa tās, tāpat arī visi viņa vīri. 12 Viņi sēroja, raudāja un gavēja līdz vakaram par Saulu un viņa dēlu Jonatānu un par Kunga tautu, Israēla namu, ka tie krituši no zobena.
13 Un Dāvids prasīja puisim, kas viņam stāstīja: “No kurienes tu pats esi?” Tas atbildēja: “Es esmu svešinieka amālēkieša dēls.” 14 Dāvids viņam teica: “Kā tu nebaidījies pacelt roku, lai iznīcinātu Kunga svaidīto!?” 15 Tad Dāvids pasauca vienu no puišiem un teica: “Nāc šurp, uzbrūc viņam!” Un viņš tam cirta, un tas bija beigts. 16 Dāvids sacīja: “Tavas asinis lai paliek uz tavas galvas, jo tava mute liecināja pret tevi, sacīdama: es nonāvēju Kunga svaidīto.”
Dāvida žēlabu dziesma par Saulu un Jonatānu
17 Dāvids dziedāja žēlabu dziesmu par Saulu un viņa dēlu Jonatānu. 18 Viņš lika mācīt loka šāvēju dziesmu Jūdas dēliem, redzi, tā ir rakstīta Taisnīgo grāmatā.

19 “Tavs krāšņums, Israēl, guļ nokauts augstienēs.
Ak vai, varoņi krituši!
20 Jel nestāstiet to Gatā,
nesludiniet Aškelonas ielās,
lai filistiešu meitas nepriecājas,
lai neapgraizīto meitas negavilē!
21 Jūs, Gilboas kalni, augstieņu lauki,
lai nav jums ne rasas, ne lietus! –
jo tur tika nosviests varoņu vairogs,
Saula vairogs, ar eļļu nesvaidīts.

22 Bez nokauto asinīm, bez varoņu taukiem
negriezās atpakaļ Jonatāna loks,
un Saula zobens nekad nenāca atpakaļ tukšā.
23 Sauls un Jonatāns – tik mīļi un dārgi,
dzīvē un nāvē tie netika šķirti!
Viņi bija straujāki par ērgļiem, stiprāki par lauvām.
24 Israēla meitas, raudiet par Saulu,
kas tērpa jūs smalkā audeklā un rotās,
kas rotāja jūsu tērpus ar zeltu!

25 Ak vai, varoņi krituši kaujas vidū!
Jonatāns guļ nokauts augstienēs.
26 Man sāp par tevi, brāli Jonatān,
mans tik mīļotais!
Tava mīlestība man bija pārāka
par sievu mīlestību.
27 Ak vai, varoņi krituši
un kaujas ieroči pagalam!”