2 Samuel 1:17
Contemporary English Version
2 Samuel 1:19-27
Contemporary English Version
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.[a]
There the warriors' shields
were smeared with mud,
and Saul's own shield
was left unpolished.[b]
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.[c]
27 Our warriors have fallen,
and their weapons[d]
are destroyed.
Footnotes
- 1.21 Don't let its fields … for God: One possible meaning for the difficult Hebrew text.
- 1.21 unpolished: Some shields were made of leather and were polished with olive oil.
- 1.26 You … husband: Or “You loved me more than a wife could possibly love her husband.”
- 1.27 weapons: This may refer to Saul and Jonathan.
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