2 Samuel 1:19–27

¹⁹“Israel, your leaders have been killed on the hills.

How the mighty have fallen in battle!

²⁰Don’t tell it in Gath.

Don’t announce it in the streets of Ashkelon.

If you do, the Philistine women will be happy.

The daughters of the Philistines will rejoice.

²¹“May there be no dew or rain on the mountains of Gilboa,

and may their fields produce no grain,

because there the mighty warrior’s shield was dishonored.

Saul’s shield will no longer be rubbed with oil.

²²Jonathan’s bow did not fail

to kill many soldiers.

Saul’s sword did not fail

to wound many strong men.

²³“We loved Saul and Jonathan

and enjoyed them while they lived.

They are together even in death.

They were faster than eagles.

They were stronger than lions.

²⁴“You daughters of Israel, cry for Saul.

Saul clothed you with red dresses

and put gold decorations on them.

²⁵“How the mighty have fallen in battle!

Jonathan is dead on Gilboa’s hills.

²⁶I cry for you, my brother Jonathan.

I enjoyed your friendship so much.

Your love to me was wonderful,

better than the love of women.

²⁷“How the mighty have fallen!

The weapons of war are gone.”