19 Your pride and joy, O Israel, lies dead on the hills!

Oh, how the mighty heroes have fallen!

20 Don’t announce the news in Gath,

don’t proclaim it in the streets of Ashkelon,

or the daughters of the Philistines will rejoice

and the pagans will laugh in triumph.

21 O mountains of Gilboa,

let there be no dew or rain upon you,

nor fruitful fields producing offerings of grain.*

For there the shield of the mighty heroes was defiled;

the shield of Saul will no longer be anointed with oil.

22 The bow of Jonathan was powerful,

and the sword of Saul did its mighty work.

They shed the blood of their enemies

and pierced the bodies of mighty heroes.

23 How beloved and gracious were Saul and Jonathan!

They were together in life and in death.

They were swifter than eagles,

stronger than lions.

24 O women of Israel, weep for Saul,

for he dressed you in luxurious scarlet clothing,

in garments decorated with gold.

25 Oh, how the mighty heroes have fallen in battle!

Jonathan lies dead on the hills.

26 How I weep for you, my brother Jonathan!

Oh, how much I loved you!

And your love for me was deep,

deeper than the love of women!

27 Oh, how the mighty heroes have fallen!

Stripped of their weapons, they lie dead.