Verse 1: Kwathi emva kokufa kukaSawule, uDavide esebuyile ekubulaleni ama-Amaleki, futhi uDavide esehlale izinsuku ezimbili eSikilagi,
Verse 2: kwathi-ke ngosuku lwesithathu, bheka, kwaphuma umuntu ekamu likaSawule, izingubo zakhe ziklebhukile, enomhlabathi ekhanda, wawa phansi ekufikeni kwakhe kuDavide, wakhuleka.
Verse 3: UDavide wathi kuye: “Uvelaphi na?” Wathi kuye: “Ngibalekile ekamu lakwa-Israyeli.”
Verse 4: UDavide wayesethi kuye: “Bekunjani na? Ake ungitshele.” Wathi: “Abantu babalekile empini, nabantu abaningi bawile, bafa; oSawule noJonathani indodana yakhe bafile nabo.”
Verse 5: UDavide wathi kuleyo nsizwa eyamtshelayo: “Wazi kanjani ukuthi oSawule noJonathani indodana yakhe bafile na?”
Verse 6: Insizwa eyamtshelayo yathi: “Ngithe ngisentabeni yaseGilibowa, bheka, uSawule wencika emkhontweni, kwamjonga kakhulu izinqola nabamahhashi.
Verse 7: Lapho ebheka emuva, wangibona, wangibiza. Ngaphendula ngokuthi: ‘Ngilapha.’
Verse 8: “Wathi kimi: ‘Wena ungubani na?’ Ngathi kuye: ‘NgingumAmaleki.’
Verse 9: “Wathi kimi: ‘Ake ume ngakimi, ungibulale, ngokuba ngishaywe yisiyezi, nokuphila kusekhona kimi.’
Verse 10: “Ngase ngima ngakuye, ngambulala, ngokuba ngakwazi ukuthi angephile esewile, ngathatha umqhele owawusekhanda lakhe, nesongo elalisengalweni yakhe, ngikulethile lapha enkosini yami.”
Verse 11: UDavide wayesebamba izingubo zakhe, waziklebhula kanye nawo onke amadoda ayenaye.
Verse 12: Balila, bakhala, bazila ukudla kwaze kwahlwa ngenxa kaSawule, noJonathani indodana yakhe, nabantu bakaJehova, nendlu ka-Israyeli, ngokuba bebewile ngenkemba.
Verse 13: Wathi uDavide kuyo insizwa eyayimtshelile: “Ungowaphi na?” Wathi: “Ngiyindodana yomuntu ogogobele nje, umAmaleki.”
Verse 14: UDavide wathi kuyo: “Yini ukuba ungesabanga ukwelula isandla sakho, ubhubhise ogcotshiweyo kaJehova, na?”
Verse 15: UDavide wayesebiza enye yezinsizwa, wathi: “Sondela, umsukele.” Yamshaya waze wafa.
Verse 16: UDavide wathi kuye: “Igazi lakho malibe phezu kwekhanda lakho, ngokuba umlomo wakho ufakazile ngawe, lapho uthi: ‘Ngibulele ogcotshiweyo kaJehova.’ ”
Verse 17: UDavide walila ngalesi sililo ngoSawule noJonathani indodana yakhe,
Verse 18: wathi mabafundiswe abantwana bakwaJuda eyoMnsalo; bheka, silotshiwe eNcwadini Yoqotho.
Verse 19: “Udumo lwakho, Israyeli, lubulewe ezindaweni eziphakemeyo. Yeka ukuwa kwamaqhawe!
Verse 20: “Ningakusho eGati, ningakumemezeli ezitaladini zase-Ashikeloni, funa amadodakazi amaFilisti ajabule, namadodakazi abangasokile athokoze.
Verse 21: “Nina zintaba zaseGilibowa, makungabikho mazolo namvula phezu kwenu, nokugubha kotwa, ngokuba isihlangu samaqhawe santshingwa, isihlangu sikaSawule, singagcotshwanga ngamafutha.
Verse 22: Egazini lababuleweyo nasemanonini amaqhawe umnsalo kaJonathani awuphindelanga emuva, nenkemba kaSawule ayibuyelanga ize.
Verse 23: “OSawule noJonathani babethandeka, bemnandi; ekuphileni nasekufeni kwabo kabahlukaniswanga; babenejubane kunezinkozi, babenamandla kunezingonyama.
Verse 24: “Nina madodakazi akwa-Israyeli, mkhaleleni uSawule owanigqokisa kamnandi ngokubomvu, owavunulisa izambatho zenu ngezivunulo zegolide.
Verse 25: “Yeka ukuwa kwamaqhawe phakathi kokulwa! UJonathani ubulewe ezindaweni zakho eziphakemeyo.
Verse 26: “Ngidabukile ngawe mfowethu Jonathani; wawumnandi kakhulu kimi; lwaluyisimangaliso kimi uthando lwakho, ludlula uthando lwabesifazane.
Verse 27: “Yeka ukuwa kwamaqhawe, nokuphela kwezikhali zokulwa!”