New Revised Standard NRS
The Bible in Basic English BBE
1 After the death of Saul, when David had returned from defeating the Amalekites, David remained two days in Ziklag.
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Now after the death of Saul, when David, having come back from the destruction of the Amalekites, had been in Ziklag for two days;
2 On the third day, a man came from Saul's camp, with his clothes torn and dirt on his head. When he came to David, he fell to the ground and did obeisance.
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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.
3 David said to him, "Where have you come from?" He said to him, "I have escaped from the camp of Israel."
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And David said to him, Where have you come from? And he said, I have come in flight from the tents of Israel.
4 David said to him, "How did things go? Tell me!" He answered, "The army fled from the battle, but also many of the army fell and died; and Saul and his son Jonathan also died."
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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.
5 Then David asked the young man who was reporting to him, "How do you know that Saul and his son Jonathan died?"
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And David said to the young man who gave him the news, Why are you certain that Saul and his son Jonathan are dead?
6 The young man reporting to him said, "I happened to be on Mount Gilboa; and there was Saul leaning on his spear, while the chariots and the horsemen drew close to him.
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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.
7 When he looked behind him, he saw me, and called to me. I answered, "Here sir.'
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And looking back, he saw me and gave a cry to me. And answering him I said, Here am I.
8 And he said to me, "Who are you?' I answered him, "I am an Amalekite.'
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And he said to me, Who are you? And I said, I am an Amalekite.
9 He said to me, "Come, stand over me and kill me; for convulsions have seized me, and yet my life still lingers.'
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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.
10 So I stood over him, and killed him, for I knew that he could not live after he had fallen. I took the crown that was on his head and the armlet that was on his arm, and I have brought them here to my lord."
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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.
11 Then David took hold of his clothes and tore them; and all the men who were with him did the same.
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Then David gave way to bitter grief, and so did all the men who were with him:
12 They mourned and wept, and fasted until evening for Saul and for his son Jonathan, and for the army of the Lord and for the house of Israel, because they had fallen by the sword.
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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.
13 David said to the young man who had reported to him, "Where do you come from?" He answered, "I am the son of a resident alien, an Amalekite."
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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.
14 David said to him, "Were you not afraid to lift your hand to destroy the Lord's anointed?"
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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?
15 Then David called one of the young men and said, "Come here and strike him down." So he struck him down and he died.
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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.
16 David said to him, "Your blood be on your head; for your own mouth has testified against you, saying, "I have killed the Lord's anointed.' "
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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.
17 David intoned this lamentation over Saul and his son Jonathan.
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Then David made this song of grief for Saul and Jonathan, his son:
18 (He ordered that The Song of the Bow be taught to the people of Judah; it is written in the Book of Jashar.) He said:
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(It is recorded in the book of Jashar for teaching to the sons of Judah) and he said:
19 Your glory, O Israel, lies slain upon your high places! How the mighty have fallen!
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The glory, O Israel, is dead on your high places! How have the great ones been made low!
20 Tell it not in Gath, proclaim it not in the streets of Ashkelon; or the daughters of the Philistines will rejoice, the daughters of the uncircumcised will exult.
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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.
21 You mountains of Gilboa, let there be no dew or rain upon you, nor bounteous fields! For there the shield of the mighty was defiled, the shield of Saul, anointed with oil no more.
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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.
22 From the blood of the slain, from the fat of the mighty, the bow of Jonathan did not turn back, nor the sword of Saul return empty.
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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.
23 Saul and Jonathan, beloved and lovely! In life and in death they were not divided; they were swifter than eagles, they were stronger than lions.
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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.
24 O daughters of Israel, weep over Saul, who clothed you with crimson, in luxury, who put ornaments of gold on your apparel.
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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.
25 How the mighty have fallen in the midst of the battle! Jonathan lies slain upon your high places.
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How have the great ones been made low in the fight! Jonathan is dead on your high places.
26 I am distressed for you, my brother Jonathan; greatly beloved were you to me; your love to me was wonderful, passing the love of women.
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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.
27 How the mighty have fallen, and the weapons of war perished!
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How have the great ones been made low, and the arms of war broken!
New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright 1989, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
The Bible in Basic English is in the public domain.