2 Samuel 1:19–27

¹⁹“A gazelle^a lies slain on your heights, Israel.

How the mighty^u have fallen!^v

²⁰“Tell it not in Gath,^w

proclaim it not in the streets of Ashkelon,^x

lest the daughters of the Philistines^y be glad,

lest the daughters of the uncircumcised rejoice.^z

²¹“Mountains of Gilboa,^a

may you have neither dew^b nor rain,^c

may no showers fall on your terraced fields.^bd

For there the shield of the mighty was despised,

the shield of Saul—no longer rubbed with oil.^e

²²“From the blood^f of the slain,

from the flesh of the mighty,

the bow^g of Jonathan did not turn back,

the sword of Saul did not return unsatisfied.

²³Saul and Jonathan—

in life they were loved and admired,

and in death they were not parted.

They were swifter than eagles,^h

they were stronger than lions.ⁱ

²⁴“Daughters of Israel,

weep for Saul,

who clothed you in scarlet and finery,

who adorned your garments with ornaments of gold.^j

²⁵“How the mighty have fallen in battle!

Jonathan lies slain on your heights.

²⁶I grieve^k for you, Jonathan^l my brother;^m

you were very dear to me.

Your love for me was wonderful,ⁿ

more wonderful than that of women.

²⁷“How the mighty have fallen!

The weapons of war have perished!”^o