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 ta kundana efyo laSaul nolaJonatan
1 Ndele Saul eshi a fya naDavid eshi a aluka koita yokudenga Ovaamaleki, okwa kala omafiku avali muSiklag, 2 mefiku etitatu omulumenhu umwe a dja monhanda kuSaul, e noikutu ya pombauka nedu komutwe waye. Ndele ye eshi e uya kuDavid, a wila poshi ndele te linyongamene. 3 Ndele David ta ti kuye: “Oto di peni?” Ndele ye te mu nyamukula: “Ame nda ya onhapo monhanda yaIsrael.” 4 David ta ti vali kuye: “Oshike sha ningwa ko? Hepaululile nge!” Opo nee ye te mu nyamukula: “Ovakwaita va dja onhapo molwoodi, novakwaita vahapu ova fya. Heeno, naSaul yo nomona waye Jonatan ova fya.” 5 Ndele David ta pula omumati, ou e mu etela ondaka: “We shi shiiva ngahelipi, nokutya Saul nomona waye Jonatan va fya?” 6 Opo nee omumati, ou e mu etela ondaka ta ti: “Ame onda hangika nde uya keemhunda daGilboa, ndele tala, Saul a yaamena keonga laye, fimbo omatemba oita novalondi veenghambe ve mu kondekela; 7 ndele ye a keuka nokwa mona nge ndele ta ifana nge, naame nda tya: ‘Aame ou.’ 8 Opo nee ye ta pula nge: ‘Oove lyelye?’ Ndele ame nde mu nyamukula: ‘Aame Omuamalek.’ 9 Opo nee ye ta ti kwaame: ‘Ila kwaame u dipae nge, osheshi olutu la shila, nande ndi nomwenyo natango.’ 10 Ndele ame nda ya kuye ndele nde mu dipaa, osheshi ndi mu wete, ita dulu vali okukala nomwenyo, eshi a wila po. Ndele oshishani shaye osho sha li komutwe waye noshivela shoshingoldo shokokwooko kwaye nde i kufa ko ndele nde i eta oku komwene wange.” 11 Opo nee David a kwata oshikutu shaye ndele te shi pombaula. Nosho yo ovalumenhu aveshe ava va li puye. 12 Ndele ova lila eenghali nokukwenauka ndele ve lidilika eendja fiyo onguloshi omolwaSaul nomolwomona waye omumati Jonatan nomolwoshiwana shOmwene nomolweumbo laIsrael, shaashi vo va dipawa keongamukonda. 13 David ta pula vali komumati ou e mu etela ondaka ndele ta ti: “Ove owa dja peni?” Ndele ye okwa nyamukula ta ti: “Ame omona womulumenhu omunailongo, ame Omuamalek.” 14 Ndele David ta ti kuye: “Ongahelipi? Ino tila okunana eke loye u dipae omuvaekwa wOmwene?” 15 Opo nee David a ifana omumati umwe ndele ta ti: “Ehena oku. Mu nhukila!” Ndele ye e mu denga poshi nokwe mu dipaa. 16 Ndele David okwe mu lombwela: “Ohonde yoye i li komutwe woye, osheshi okanya koye ondobwedi yoye, shaashi wa tya: ‘ame nda dipaa omuvaekwa wOmwene.’ ”
Eimbilokemo laDavid omolwaSaul naJonatan
17 Opo nee David a tota eimbilokemo eli omolwaSaul nomolwomona waye Jonatan, 18 ndele a yandja elombwelo, nokutya ovana vaJuda va longwe Oshiimbo shOuta. Tala, sho osha shangelwa mEmbo laJashar:
19 “Akutu Israel, ovo va li efimano loye va dipaelwa koikulundudu yoye!
Ongahelipi ovaladi va wila po!
20 Inamu shi hepaulula muGat,
inamu shi vilikila momapandavanda aAskelon,
ovana oukadona vOvafilisti vaha hafe,
ovana oukadona vaava inava pita etanda vaha kuwilile!
21 “Eemhunda nye daGilboa!
Omume nodula ihe mu lokele.
Nomapya omo tamu di eeshali domayambo aha kale ko.
Osheshi oko oikelelifo yovaladi ya ekelwa shi
noshikelelifo shaSaul inashi lomonwa nomaadi.
22 Outa waJonatan inau shekuna
ohonde yeendjashe nomungo wovaladi,
neongamukonda laSaul inali aluka hamakasha.
23 “Saul naJonatan, ovaholafani novahokwafani
inava tukauka mokukala nomwenyo kwavo nomokufya kwavo.
Monhapo ve dule eenhwa,
meenghono ve dule eenghoshi!
24 Lileni Saul, nye ovana oukadona vaIsrael,
oye e mu djaleka oikutu itilyana,
ndele e mu nyakitifa oulenga woshingoldo moikutu yeni.
25 “Ovaladi va fila mo ngahelipi mokati kolwoodi!
Jonatan to nangala koikulundudu yoye wa dipawa!
26 Omumwameme Jonatan, ame ohandi ku nyikile oluhodi!
Ame nda li ndi ku hole unene!
Ohole yoye ya li ikumwifa kwaame
i dule ohole yovakainhu.
27 “Ovaladi va fila mo ngahelipi!
Oilwifo oya kana ngahelipi!”
