David’s Lament for Saul and Jonathan

17 And David plamented with this lamentation over Saul and Jonathan his son, 18 and he said it1 should be taught to the people of Judah; behold, it is written in qthe Book of Jashar.2 He said:

19  “Your glory, O Israel, is slain on your high places!

rHow the mighty have fallen!

20  sTell it not in Gath,

tpublish it not in the streets of Ashkelon,

ulest the daughters of the Philistines rejoice,

lest the daughters of vthe uncircumcised exult.

21  w“You mountains of Gilboa,

let there be no dew or rain upon you,

nor fields of offerings!3

For there the shield of the mighty was defiled,

the shield of Saul, not xanointed with oil.

22  “From the blood of the slain,

from the fat of the mighty,

ythe bow of Jonathan turned not back,

and the sword of Saul returned not empty.

23  “Saul and Jonathan, beloved and lovely!

In life and in death they were not divided;

they were zswifter than eagles;

they were astronger than lions.

24  “You daughters of Israel, weep over Saul,

who clothed you luxuriously in scarlet,

bwho put ornaments of gold on your apparel.

25  c“How the mighty have fallen

in the midst of the battle!

“Jonathan lies slain on your high places.

26  I am distressed for you, my brother Jonathan;

very pleasant have you been to me;

dyour love to me was extraordinary,

surpassing the love of women.

27  c“How the mighty have fallen,

and the weapons of war perished!”