New International Version NIV
Good News Translation GNT
1 Now the Philistines fought against Israel; the Israelites fled before them, and many fell dead on Mount Gilboa.
1
The Philistines fought a battle against the Israelites on Mount Gilboa. Many Israelites were killed there, and the rest of them, including King Saul and his sons, fled.
2 The Philistines were in hot pursuit of Saul and his sons, and they killed his sons Jonathan, Abinadab and Malki-Shua.
2
But the Philistines caught up with them and killed three of Saul's sons, Jonathan, Abinadab, and Malchishua.
3 The fighting grew fierce around Saul, and when the archers overtook him, they wounded him.
3
The fighting was heavy around Saul, and he was hit by enemy arrows and badly wounded.
4 Saul said to his armor-bearer, “Draw your sword and run me through, or these uncircumcised fellows will come and abuse me.” But his armor-bearer was terrified and would not do it; so Saul took his own sword and fell on it.
4
He said to the young man carrying his weapons, "Draw your sword and kill me, to keep these godless Philistines from gloating over me." But the young man was too terrified to do it. So Saul took his own sword and threw himself on it.
5 When the armor-bearer saw that Saul was dead, he too fell on his sword and died.
5
The young man saw that Saul was dead, so he too threw himself on his sword and died.
6 So Saul and his three sons died, and all his house died together.
6
So Saul and his three sons all died together, and none of his descendants ever ruled.
7 When all the Israelites in the valley saw that the army had fled and that Saul and his sons had died, they abandoned their towns and fled. And the Philistines came and occupied them.
7
When the Israelites who lived in Jezreel Valley heard that the army had fled and that Saul and his sons had died, they abandoned their towns and ran off. Then the Philistines came and occupied them.
8 The next day, when the Philistines came to strip the dead, they found Saul and his sons fallen on Mount Gilboa.
8
The day after the battle the Philistines went to plunder the corpses, and they found the bodies of Saul and his sons lying on Mount Gilboa.
9 They stripped him and took his head and his armor, and sent messengers throughout the land of the Philistines to proclaim the news among their idols and their people.
9
They cut off Saul's head, stripped off his armor, and sent messengers with them throughout Philistia to tell the good news to their idols and to their people.
10 They put his armor in the temple of their gods and hung up his head in the temple of Dagon.
10
They put his weapons in one of their temples and hung his head in the temple of their god Dagon.
11 When all the inhabitants of Jabesh Gilead heard what the Philistines had done to Saul,
11
When the people of Jabesh in Gilead heard what the Philistines had done to Saul,
12 all their valiant men went and took the bodies of Saul and his sons and brought them to Jabesh. Then they buried their bones under the great tree in Jabesh, and they fasted seven days.
12
the bravest men went and got the bodies of Saul and his sons and took them to Jabesh. They buried them there under an oak and fasted for seven days.
13 Saul died because he was unfaithful to the LORD; he did not keep the word of the LORD and even consulted a medium for guidance,
13
Saul died because he was unfaithful to the Lord. He disobeyed the Lord's commands; he tried to find guidance by consulting the spirits of the dead
14 and did not inquire of the LORD. So the LORD put him to death and turned the kingdom over to David son of Jesse.
14
instead of consulting the Lord. So the Lord killed him and gave control of the kingdom to David son of Jesse.
Scripture quoted by permission. Quotations designated (NIV) are from THE HOLY BIBLE: NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®. NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica. All rights reserved worldwide.
Scripture taken from the Good News Translation - Second Edition, Copyright 1992 by American Bible Society. Used by Permission.