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.
Dawidi ka Odra Saulo ro Tana eri
1 Odra Saulo ro vosi, Ondro Dawidi kegote ni kyila ndaro Amaleka'bai opero ṛe yasi oko, nda rite u'du ritu Zikelaga ya. 2 Ago u'du nina si oko, mano aza ikyite ni gawa Saulo ro yasi, boŋgo lewalewa robe ago durufu be drî ndaro ya. Ago ondro nda kikyite Dawidi re oko, nda 'dete gyini dri taoro si. 3 Dawidi eji nda te ekye: “Nyikyi ni eŋwaroya?”
Ago nda atate ndäri ekye: “Mapavote ni gawa Yisaraele ro yasi.”
4 Ago Dawidi atate ndäri ekye: “Ta e'diro a'do niya? Nyiti tana märi.”
Ago nda zatadrite ekye: “Kyila'bai amaro mute ni kyila yasi, ago amba kyila'bai ro todrate kyila ya. Saulo ndi ŋgwa ndaro Jonatana be dra kpate.”
5 'Dooko Dawidi atate mano ombato'di se kiti ta be ndäri ana ri ekye: “Mini eŋwanye ekye Saulo ndi ŋgwa ndaro Jonatana be drate ya?”
6 Ago mano ombato'di se kiti ta be ndäri ana atate ndäri ekye: “Ta 'do ka a'do oko kandrakado ro ma ṛo orivoya 'Bereŋwa Gileboa dri; ago mandre Saulo te ru ätivoya äzu ndaro dri; ago arabia kyila ro ndi farasi'bai be ru'du'duvoya nda dri. 7 Ago ondro nda kondrevote nda kundu oko, nda ndre ma te, ago zi ma te. Ago mazatadrite makye: Ma begi ono 'desi. 8 Ndi nda ejimate ekye: ‘Mi a'di owo ya?’ Ago matate makye: ‘Ma orivoya Amaleka'ba yi.’ 9 Ago nda atate märi ekye: ‘Nyikyi noŋwa ago mifu anjoko maro; tana ä'di mate koziro ago ma oyete odrane.’ 10 Ndi moyite ndare, ago mäfu nda te, tana mänite endaro edre gi nda kedrebe ana nda ko'dete ndäri adrine voigyesi te i'do. 'Dooko märu tagyia se drî ndaro ya ana te ndi kati se kufu ndaro ya be, ago mezi ànya teni miri no 'desi maro.”
11 'Dooko Dawidi ru boŋgo ndaro te, ago towa ànya te, ago mànoago se cini nda be ye kpate inye. 12 Ànya 'beyi kuku te ago liyiyite, ago akpayite madale tandrolero ta Saulo ndi Jonatana ŋgwa ndaro robe ro ta ago ta kyila'bai OPI ro ndi katidri Yisaraele robe ta, tana utufu ànya te kyila ya. 13 Ago Dawidi atate mano ombato'di se kiti ta be ndäri ana ri ekye: “Mi ni eŋwasiya?”
Ago nda zatadrite ekye: “Ma orivoya ŋgwa 'diatra ro ro, Amaleka'ba yi.”
14 Ndi Dawidi atate ndäri ekye: Tana e'di mi'de ko a'done turituri ro drì miro eŋgavoya 'di äṛuäṛu OPI ro ufuvoya niya? 15 'Dooko Dawidi zi alo aza màno ombato'di se kedrebe lau ana ro te ago atate rigye ekye: Nyoyi, ago mifu nda. Ago nda 'di Amaleka'ba ana te ago drate. 16 Ago Dawidi atate Amaleka'ba ana ri ekye: “Kari miro kori ndi midri; tana kala modo miro ro edretazevo gini milomvo mikye: ‘Mäfu 'di äṛuäṛu OPI roni.’ ”
Liyi Dawidi ro Saulo ndi Jonatana be ta
17 Ago Dawidi nya ciri ono te Saulo ndi Jonatana ŋgwa ndaro be ta, 18 ago nda ozo ota te Ciri ono embane lidri Yuda ro ri. Egyi tana te Buku Jasara roya.
19 “Äye Yisaraele, äfu dri'bai miro te lutui miro dri,
màno mbaraekye kyila ro 'dete ändri!
20 Nyiti tana ko Gata ya,
nyalari tana ko litiŋwai Asekelona ro yasi;
ukyi ndiriŋwa Felesete'bai ro oyeyi riyä 'da;
ukyi ndiriŋwa 'di oloako ŋbiṛiro ro ugu kyele 'da.
21 “Ami 'bereŋwai Gileboa ro, nduruṛi koso ko ago 'bu ku'di ko ämidri,
ämvu amiro ka'do ondoalo awi!
Tana ŋga rugaga ro màno mbaraekye kyila ro ro lo'dete lau,
ŋga rugaga ro Saulo ro imbiṛi lomvo na kote tona ido si.
22 “Kusu Jonatana ro ego kote awi teinye kyila'baazi ufu ako amba,
ago bando Saulo ro ri kote awi lidri mbaraekye toga ako.
23 “Saulo ago Jonatana, 'dise uluwu tawi ago äṛu tawi ono!
Ànya leweru kote ori ya ago odra ya;
ànya muyi ndrani ägyiribi drisi, ànya mbarayi ndrani ibi drisi.
24 “Ami ndiriŋwa Yisaraele ro nyiliyi Saulo ta,
se so boŋgo okaro lagyeamba be ni ami lomvo,
se enja boŋgo amiro te ŋga ruegaro ni logo läguläguro yasi si ono.
25 “Màno mbaraekye 'dete ändri,
Ànya 'dete ändri kyila ya!
Jonatana 'dete ändri avo ro lutui Gileboa ro dri.
26 “Ma tusuro ta miro ta, Jonatana ädrupi maro;
Mi orivoya tapara yi märi;
ŋgalu miro märi fondi para,
lävu ŋgalu 'ditoko ro.
27 “Màno mbaraekye kyila ro 'dete ändri,
ago lakazà kyila ro ànyaro te losiako.”