David Learns of Saul's Death
1 After Saul's death David came back from his victory over the Amalekites and stayed in Ziklag for two days. 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 David asked him, “Where have you come from?”
“I have escaped from the Israelite camp,” he answered.
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 “How do you know that Saul and Jonathan are dead?” David asked 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 Then he turned around, saw me, and called to me. I answered, ‘Yes, sir!’ 8 He asked who I was, and I told him that I was an Amalekite. 9 Then he said, ‘Come here and kill me! I have been badly wounded, and I'm about to die.’ 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 David tore his clothes in sorrow, and all his men did the same. 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 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 David asked him, “How is it that you dared kill the Lord's chosen king?” 15 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 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.”
David's Lament for Saul and Jonathan
17 David sang this lament for Saul and his son Jonathan, 18 and ordered it to be taught to the people of Judah. (It is recorded in The Book of Jashar.)
19 “On the hills of Israel our leaders are dead!
The bravest of our soldiers have fallen!
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 “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 Jonathan's bow was deadly,
the sword of Saul was merciless,
striking down the mighty, killing the enemy.
23 “Saul and Jonathan, so wonderful and dear;
together in life, together in death;
swifter than eagles, stronger than lions.
24 “Women of Israel, mourn for Saul!
He clothed you in rich scarlet dresses
and adorned you with jewels and gold.
25 “The brave soldiers have fallen,
they were killed in battle.
Jonathan lies dead in the hills.
26 “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 “The brave soldiers have fallen,
their weapons abandoned and useless.”
David ma zuu ombuze yonḓiro ya Saul
1 Kombunda yonḓiro ya Saul, David tja za nokuhavera Ovaamalek wa yaruka kOsiklag, na kakara omayuva yevari ngo. 2 Meyuva oritjatatu kombunda yonḓiro ya Saul, pe ya omuzandu ngwa zire kotjimbumba tja Saul tjovita, ngwa ri nozombanda nḓa tauka, nehi motjiuru. Neye tje ya komurungu wa David, we ripeta na u onḓurumika mondjozikiro. 3 David we mu pura a tja: “Mo zu pi?”
Neye we mu zira nai: “Mba hene mozandanda zOvaisrael.”
4 David arire tje mu pura komurungu a tja: “Kwa tjitwa tjike? Arikana, ndji raera!”
Nomundu ngo arire tje mu ziri nai: “Otjimbumba tjetu tjovita tja taura motjirwa novengi vatjo va ṱu. Saul nomuzandu we Jonatan wina va ṱu.”
5 David otja pura komuzandu ngwa eta ombuze ndji, na tja ku ye: “Mo tjiwa vi kutja Saul nomuzandu we Jonatan wina va ṱu?”
6 Nomuzandu wa zira nai: “Ami mba ri kozondundu za Gilboa, nu mba muna Saul a yama kenga re, nu inga omatemba wovanavita novakavire ava ri pokumuvaza. 7 Neye wa taviza kongotwe, nu tje ndji muna, we ndji isana; nu ami e tja: ‘Owami ngwi.’ 8 Nu eye e ndji pura kutja owami aṋi. Nami mbe mu zira kutja owami Omuaamalek. 9 Tjazumba arire tja tja nai ku ami: ‘Indjo u ndji zepe, orondu ami mba tendwa tjinene; nungwari ingee mbi nomuinyo.’ 10 Ami otji mba ya ku ye ne mu zepa, tjinga ee tjiwa kutja kamaa hupu. Otji mba isa ko ekori rouhona kotjiuru tje nongoho pokuoko kwe; nu ovyo mbi, mbe vi eta kove, muhona wandje.”
11 David wa nyondorora ozombanda ze, novarumendu, mba ri pu ye, va tjita nao wina. 12 Nowo va toora oruhoze nave ritjaere kovikurya nga kongurova mena ra Saul nomuzandu we Jonatan na mena rotjiwaṋa tja Muhona tja Israel, orondu ovengi tjinga ava ṱa movita.
13 David arire tja pura komuzandu ngwa eta ombuze ndji na tja ku ye: “Mo zu pi?”
Neye we mu zira a tja: “Owami omuzandu womurumendu Omuaamalek, nu mba tura mehi roye.”
14 David wa pura nai ku ye: “Pe ya vi kutja ko tirire okuzepa ombara ya Muhona ondwirisiwa?” 15 David otja isana umwe womitanda vye na tja: “Ryama, u mu zepe!” Neye we mu zepa. 16 Nu David wa tja kOmuamalek ngwi: “Ombinḓu yoye ngai kare kotjiuru tjoye, orondu ove we rihongonona omuini notjinyo tjoye kutja wa zepa omutwirisiwa wa Muhona.”
Eimburiro ra David romutambo ku Saul na Jonatan
17 David otja imburira Saul nomuzandu we Jonatan eimburiro romutambo. 18 Neye wa rakiza kutja eimburiro ndi ri hongwe kOvajuda. Oro ra tjangwa mEmbo rozombanḓe.
19 “Ovawa ovamanise voye, Israel,
va ṱira kozondundu!
Ozombangaṋe za u!
20 Amu zuvarisa hi mOgat,
amu inganisa tjo momivanda vya Askelon
kutja ovasuko vOvafilisti ave ha yoroka,
nokutja ovasuko vovanavisenginina ave ha nyanda!
21 “Oweṋe, zondundu za Gilboa,
omueme nombura avi he ya ko ku eṋe,
ehi romakunino ari eta ko ovihape!
Koṋa ngo tjinga akwa imbirahirwa otuvao tozombangaṋe,
oruvao rwa Saul ngu hi nakuhuwa omaze rukwao.
22 Nokuhinombinḓu yovaṱi, nokuhinozonḓura
zozombangaṋe outa wa Jonatan kau kotoka;
nengaruvyo ra Saul kari kotoka nokuhiyapunda otjiṋa.
23 “Saul na Jonatan ovasuverwandu,
va kara noruwano momuinyo na monḓiro.
Va ri ovanatjikara pozonguvi,
novanamasa pozongeyama.
24 “Vasuko va Israel, ririreye Saul,
ngwe mu zarisa omarapi omaserandu pyu,
ngwa hareka omarapi weṋu noviwerawere vyongoldo.
25 “Ozombangaṋe za u movita!
Jonatan wa saravara mozondundu!
26 “Mba ṱoruhoze na ove, mukwetu Jonatan!
Ove wa ri omunanyuṋe ku ami;
orusuvero rwoye rwa ri oruhimise ku ami
okukapita orusuvero rovakazendu.
27 “Ozombangaṋe za u,
novirwise vyazo vya isiwa avi hi nombatero.”
