The Bible in Basic English BBE
Good News Translation GNT
1 Now after the death of Saul, when David, having come back from the destruction of the Amalekites, had been in Ziklag for two days;
1
After Saul's death David came back from his victory over the Amalekites and stayed in Ziklag for two days.
2 On the third day a man came from Saul's tents, with his clothing out of order and earth on his head: and when he came to David, he went down on the earth and gave him honour.
2
The next day a young man arrived from Saul's camp. To show his grief, he had torn his clothes and put dirt on his head. He went to David and bowed to the ground in respect.
3 And David said to him, Where have you come from? And he said, I have come in flight from the tents of Israel.
3
David asked him, "Where have you come from?" "I have escaped from the Israelite camp," he answered.
4 And David said to him, How did things go? Give me the news. And in answer he said, The people have gone in flight from the fight, and a great number of them are dead; and Saul and his son Jonathan are dead.
4
"Tell me what happened," David said. "Our army ran away from the battle," he replied, "and many of our men were killed. Saul and his son Jonathan were also killed."
5 And David said to the young man who gave him the news, Why are you certain that Saul and his son Jonathan are dead?
5
"How do you know that Saul and Jonathan are dead?" David asked him.
6 And the young man said, I came by chance to Mount Gilboa, and I saw Saul supporting himself on his spear; and the war-carriages and horsemen overtook him.
6
He answered, "I happened to be on Mount Gilboa, and I saw that Saul was leaning on his spear and that the chariots and cavalry of the enemy were closing in on him.
7 And looking back, he saw me and gave a cry to me. And answering him I said, Here am I.
7
Then he turned around, saw me, and called to me. I answered, "Yes, sir!'
8 And he said to me, Who are you? And I said, I am an Amalekite.
8
He asked who I was, and I told him that I was an Amalekite.
9 Then he said to me, Come here to my side, and put me to death, for the pain of death has me in its grip but my life is still strong in me.
9
Then he said, "Come here and kill me! I have been badly wounded, and I'm about to die.'
10 So I put my foot on him and gave him his death-blow, because I was certain that he would not go on living after his fall: and I took the crown from his head and the band from his arm, and I have them here for my lord.
10
So I went up to him and killed him, because I knew that he would die anyway as soon as he fell. Then I took the crown from his head and the bracelet from his arm, and I have brought them to you, sir."
11 Then David gave way to bitter grief, and so did all the men who were with him:
11
David tore his clothes in sorrow, and all his men did the same.
12 And till evening they gave themselves to sorrow and weeping, and took no food, weeping for Saul and for Jonathan, his son, and for the people of the Lord and for the men of Israel; because they had come to their end by the sword.
12
They grieved and mourned and fasted until evening for Saul and Jonathan and for Israel, the people of the Lord, because so many had been killed in battle.
13 And David said to the young man who had given him the news, Where do you come from? And he said, I am the son of a man from a strange land; I am an Amalekite.
13
David asked the young man who had brought him the news, "Where are you from?" He answered, "I'm an Amalekite, but I live in your country."
14 And David said to him, Had you no fear of stretching out your hand to put to death the one marked with the holy oil?
14
David asked him, "How is it that you dared kill the Lord's chosen king?"
15 And David sent for one of his young men and said, Go near and put an end to him. And he put him to death.
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Then David called one of his men and said, "Kill him!" The man struck the Amalekite and mortally wounded him,
16 And David said to him, May your blood be on your head; for your mouth has given witness against you, saying, I have put to death the man marked with the holy oil.
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and David said to the Amalekite, "You brought this on yourself. You condemned yourself when you confessed that you killed the one whom the Lord chose to be king."
17 Then David made this song of grief for Saul and Jonathan, his son:
17
David sang this lament for Saul and his son Jonathan,
18 (It is recorded in the book of Jashar for teaching to the sons of Judah) and he said:
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and ordered it to be taught to the people of Judah. (It is recorded in [The Book of Jashar.])
19 The glory, O Israel, is dead on your high places! How have the great ones been made low!
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"On the hills of Israel our leaders are dead! The bravest of our soldiers have fallen!
20 Give no news of it in Gath, let it not be said in the streets of Ashkelon; or the daughters of the Philistines will be glad, the daughters of men without circumcision will be uplifted in joy.
20
Do not announce it in Gath or in the streets of Ashkelon. Do not make the women of Philistia glad; do not let the daughters of pagans rejoice.
21 O mountains of Gilboa, let there be no dew or rain on you, you fields of death: for there the arms of the strong have been shamed, the arms of Saul, as if he had not been marked with the holy oil.
21
"May no rain or dew fall on Gilboa's hills; may its fields be always barren! For the shields of the brave lie there in disgrace; the shield of Saul is no longer polished with oil.
22 From the blood of the dead, from the fat of the strong, the bow of Jonathan was not turned back, the sword of Saul did not come back unused.
22
Jonathan's bow was deadly, the sword of Saul was merciless, striking down the mighty, killing the enemy.
23 Saul and Jonathan were loved and pleasing; in their lives and in their death they were not parted; they went more quickly than eagles, they were stronger than lions.
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"Saul and Jonathan, so wonderful and dear; together in life, together in death; swifter than eagles, stronger than lions.
24 O daughters of Israel, have sorrow for Saul, by whom you were delicately clothed in robes of red, with ornaments of gold on your dresses.
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"Women of Israel, mourn for Saul! He clothed you in rich scarlet dresses and adorned you with jewels and gold.
25 How have the great ones been made low in the fight! Jonathan is dead on your high places.
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"The brave soldiers have fallen, they were killed in battle. Jonathan lies dead in the hills.
26 I am full of grief for you, my brother Jonathan: very dear have you been to me: your love for me was a wonder, greater than the love of women.
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"I grieve for you, my brother Jonathan; how dear you were to me! How wonderful was your love for me, better even than the love of women.
27 How have the great ones been made low, and the arms of war broken!
27
"The brave soldiers have fallen, their weapons abandoned and useless."
The Bible in Basic English is in the public domain.
Scripture taken from the Good News Translation - Second Edition, Copyright 1992 by American Bible Society. Used by Permission.