2 Samuel 1:19-21

Contemporary English Version

¹⁹Israel, your famous hero
    lies dead on the hills,
and your mighty warriors
    have fallen!
²⁰Don'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.
²¹Don'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]

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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.

2 Samuel 1:19-21

New International Version

¹⁹“A gazelle^[a] lies slain on your heights, Israel.
How the mighty^(A) have fallen!^(B)

²⁰“Tell it not in Gath,^(C)
proclaim it not in the streets of Ashkelon,^(D)
lest the daughters of the Philistines^(E) be glad,
lest the daughters of the uncircumcised rejoice.^(F)

²¹“Mountains of Gilboa,^(G)
    may you have neither dew^(H) nor rain,^(I)
    may no showers fall on your terraced fields.^[b]^(J)
For there the shield of the mighty was despised,
    the shield of Saul—no longer rubbed with oil.^(K)

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Footnotes

2 Samuel 1:19 Gazelle here symbolizes a human dignitary.
2 Samuel 1:21 Or / nor fields that yield grain for offerings

Contemporary English Version (CEV)

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2 Samuel 1:19-21

Contemporary English Version

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2 Samuel 1:19-21

New International Version

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2 Samuel 1:19-21 Contemporary English Version

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2 Samuel 1:19-21 New International Version

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2 Samuel 1:19-21

Contemporary English Version

2 Samuel 1:19-21

New International Version