David Finds Out about Saul's Death
1 Saul was dead.
Meanwhile, David had defeated the Amalekites and returned to Ziklag. 2 Three days later, a soldier came from Saul's army. His clothes were torn, and dirt was on his head. He went to David and knelt down in front of him.
3 David asked, “Where did you come from?”
The man answered, “From Israel's army. I barely escaped with my life.”
4 “Who won the battle?” David asked.
The man said, “Our army turned and ran, but many were wounded and died. Even King Saul and his son Jonathan are dead.”
5 David asked, “How do you know Saul and Jonathan are dead?”
6 The young man replied:
I was on Mount Gilboa and saw King Saul leaning on his spear. The enemy's war chariots and cavalry were closing in on him. 7 When he turned around and saw me, he called me over. I went and asked what he wanted.
8 Saul asked me, “Who are you?”
“An Amalekite,” I answered.
9 Then he said, “Kill me! I'm dying, and I'm in terrible pain.”
10 So I killed him. I knew he was too badly wounded to live much longer. Then I took his crown and his arm-band, and I brought them to you, Your Majesty. Here they are.
11 At once, David and his soldiers tore their clothes in sorrow. 12 They cried all day long and would not eat anything. Everyone was sad because Saul, his son Jonathan, and many of the Lord's people had been killed in the battle.
13 David asked the young man, “Where is your home?”
The man replied, “My father is an Amalekite, but we live in Israel.”
14-16 David said to him, “Why weren't you afraid to kill the Lord's chosen king? And you even told what you did. It's your own fault that you're going to die!”
Then David told one of his soldiers, “Come here and kill this man!”
David Sings in Memory of Saul
17 David sang a song in memory of Saul and Jonathan, 18 and he ordered his men to teach the song to everyone in Judah. He called it “The Song of the Bow,” and it can be found in The Book of Jashar. This is the song:
19 Israel, your famous hero
lies dead on the hills,
and your mighty warriors
have fallen!
20 Don't tell it in Gath
or spread the news
on the streets of Ashkelon.
The godless Philistine women
will be happy
and jump for joy.
21 Don't let dew or rain fall
on the hills of Gilboa.
Don't let its fields
grow offerings for God.
There the warriors' shields
were smeared with mud,
and Saul's own shield
was left unpolished.
22 The arrows of Jonathan struck,
and warriors died.
The sword of Saul cut
the enemy apart.
23 It was easy to love Saul
and Jonathan.
Together in life,
together in death,
they were faster than eagles
and stronger than lions.
24 Women of Israel, cry for Saul.
He brought you fine red cloth
and jewelry made of gold.
25 Our warriors have fallen
in the heat of battle,
and Jonathan lies dead
on the hills of Gilboa.
26 Jonathan, I miss you most!
I loved you
like a brother.
You were truly loyal to me,
more faithful than a wife
to her husband.
27 Our warriors have fallen,
and their weapons
are destroyed.
Dawuda ye Sawulu niŋ Yonatani la saŋo moyi
1 Kabiriŋ Sawulu faata, wo ye a tara le, Dawuda bota naŋ Amalekinkoolu nooma keloo la, aduŋ a sabatita Sikilaki fo tili fula. 2 Tili sabanjaŋo luŋo la, kewo doo bota naŋ Sawulu la kelediŋolu la daakaa to. A ye a la dendikoo fara, aduŋ a ye bankumunkoo ke a kuŋo to, ka a la sunoo yitandi. Kabiriŋ a futata Dawuda yaa, a ñoyita a ye. 3 Dawuda ye a ñininkaa ko, “Ite bota mintoo le?”
A ye a jaabi ko, “N kanata naŋ Banisirayilankoolu la daakaa le to.”
4 Dawuda ko a ye ko, “A fo n ye, meŋ keta.” A ye a jaabi ko, “Kewolu borita le ka bo naŋ keledulaa to, aduŋ ǹ na kee jamaa le faata. Ì ye Sawulu niŋ a dinkee Yonatani fanaa faa le.”
5 Bituŋ Dawuda ko fondinkewo meŋ ye kibaaroo futandi a ma ye ko, “Ite ye a loŋ ñaadii le ko, Sawulu niŋ a dinkewo Yonatani faata le?”
6 Fondinkewo ko a ye ko, “N tarata nuŋ Kilibowa Konkoo le to, aduŋ ŋa a tara, Sawulu be semberiŋ a la sooroo kaŋ jee. A jawoolu la keleraŋ sareetoolu* aniŋ ì borindilaalu be a daala. 7 Kabiriŋ a ye a kooma juubee, a ye n je, a ye n kumandi. N ko a ye ko, ‘M fele.’ 8 A ye n ñininkaa ko, ‘Ite mu jumaa le ti?’ M fanaa, ŋa a jaabi ko, ‘Nte mu Amalekinkoo le ti.’ 9 Bituŋ a ko n ye ko, ‘Naa kata naŋ, i ye m faa! M maŋ semboo soto kotenke, bari m maŋ faa foloo.’ 10 Wo to le m fanaa taata a be daameŋ, ŋa a faa. Kaatu kabiriŋ a boyita, ŋa a loŋ ne ko, a te baluu la. Bituŋ mansanaafoo meŋ be a kuŋo to, aniŋ bulukaŋo meŋ be a buloo to, ŋa ì samba naŋ ite m maarii le ye.”
11 Dawuda ye a la dendikoo fara niitooroo kono, aduŋ a la kewolu mennu be a fee bee ye wo le ke. 12 Ì ye ì la sunoo yitandi, ì kumboota, aduŋ ì sunta fo wulaaroo Sawulu niŋ a dinkewo Yonatani ye, aniŋ Yaawe* la kelediŋ kafu moolu Banisirayilankoolu, kaatu hawusaroo* le ye ì faa.
13 Dawuda ko fondinkewo meŋ ye kibaaroo futandi a ma ye ko, “Ite bota mintoo le?”
A ye a jaabi ko, “Nte mu Amalekinkoo le dinkewo ti, meŋ be sabatiriŋ Banisirayila.”
14 Dawuda ye a ñininkaa ko, “Muŋ ne ye a tinna, i maŋ sila ka i buloo maa Yaawe la tomboŋ moo la ka a kasaara?” 15-16 Dawuda ko a ye ko, “Ite le faŋo ye i la saayaa saabu. I faŋo daa le ye i duŋ, kabiriŋ i ko, ‘Ŋa Yaawe la tomboŋ moo le faa.’ ”
Wo to le Dawuda ye a la dookuulaa kiliŋ kumandi, a ko, “A faa.” Bituŋ wo fanaa ye a faa.
Dawuda la woosii suukuwo Sawulu niŋ Yonatani ye
17 Dawuda ye ñiŋ woosii suukuwo le laa Sawulu niŋ Yonatani ye, 18 aduŋ a ye ñiŋ yaamaroo le dii ko, ì ñanta Yahuuda kewolu nindi la ñiŋ Kalabeñe Suukuwo la le. A be safeeriŋ Yasari la Kitaaboo le kono. 19 A ko:
Banisirayilankoolu, ali la ñaatonkoolu be laariŋ konkoolu kaŋ,
ali a juubee, ǹ na kelejawaroolu boyita ñaameŋ!
20 Ali kana a fo Kati kono,
ali kana a kankulaa Asikeloni mbeedoolu kaŋ,
niŋ wo nte, Filisitinkoolu dimmusoolu si kontaani,
ñiŋ sunnabaloolu la sunkutoolu si seewoo.
21 Alitolu Kilibowa Konkoolu,
Allamaa komboo kana boyi ali kaŋ sako samaa,
aduŋ ali la kunkoolu kana baraka kotenke,
kaatu kelejawaroolu la koteeroo* nafantaŋyaata jee le to.
Sawulu la koteeroo maŋ malamala tuloo la kotenke.
22 Yonatani la kalabeñoo buka jenke a jawoolu ye,
aduŋ Sawulu fanaa la hawusaroo maŋ balafaa soto,
a ka kelejawaroolu niŋ a jawoolu bee le faa.
23 Sawulu niŋ Yonatani ye ñoo kanu,
aduŋ ì diyaata baluwo to,
hani saayaa to, ì maŋ talaa.
Ì be tariyaariŋ ne ko saŋ ŋalasoo,
aduŋ itolu le bambanta jatoolu ti.
24 Hee, Banisirayila dimmusoolu, ali Sawulu kumboo,
meŋ ye ali feetoofata niŋ dendika wuleŋ daa jawoolu la,
mennu ye sanoolu soto ì bala.
25 Ali a juubee, ǹ na kelejawaroolu boyita ñaameŋ keloo teema!
Yonatani furewo be laariŋ ali la konkoo kaŋ.
26 N kafuñoomaa Yonatani, i la kuwo ye n niyo toora le,
feŋ teŋ, fo ŋa i kanu ñaameŋ.
I la kanoo semboo warata n kaŋ ne, ka tambi musoolu la kanoo la.
27 Ali a juubee, ǹ na kelejawaroolu boyita ñaameŋ,
keleraŋ jooraŋolu kasaarata!
