2 Samuel 1, side by side
Two versions of the same chapter. Each row is one verse, so you can see how the wording changes.
1After the death of Saul, when David had returned from the slaughter of the Amalekites, and David had stayed two days in Ziklag;
1Now it came to pass after the death of Saul, when David was returned from the slaughter of the Amalekites, and David had abode two days in Ziklag;
2on the third day, behold, a man came out of the camp from Saul, with his clothes torn, and earth on his head. When he came to David, he fell to the earth, and showed respect.
2It came even to pass on the third day, that, behold, a man came out of the camp from Saul with his clothes rent, and earth upon his head: and so it was, when he came to David, that he fell to the earth, and did obeisance.
3David said to him, “Where do you come from?” He said to him, “I have escaped out of the camp of Israel.”
3And David said unto him, From whence comest thou? And he said unto him, Out of the camp of Israel am I escaped.
4David said to him, “How did it go? Please tell me.” He answered, “The people have fled from the battle, and many of the people also have fallen and are dead. Saul and Jonathan his son are dead also.”
4And David said unto him, How went the matter? I pray thee, tell me. And he answered, That the people are fled from the battle, and many of the people also are fallen and dead; and Saul and Jonathan his son are dead also.
5David said to the young man who told him, “How do you know that Saul and Jonathan his son are dead?”
5And David said unto the young man that told him, How knowest thou that Saul and Jonathan his son be dead?
6The young man who told him said, “As I happened by chance on Mount Gilboa, behold, Saul was leaning on his spear; and behold, the chariots and the horsemen followed close behind him.
6And the young man that told him said, As I happened by chance upon mount Gilboa, behold, Saul leaned upon his spear; and, lo, the chariots and horsemen followed hard after him.
7When he looked behind him, he saw me, and called to me. I answered, ‘Here I am.’
7And when he looked behind him, he saw me, and called unto me. And I answered, Here am I.
8He said to me, ‘Who are you?’ I answered him, ‘I am an Amalekite.’
8And he said unto me, Who art thou? And I answered him, I am an Amalekite.
9He said to me, ‘Please stand beside me, and kill me; for anguish has taken hold of me, because my life lingers in me.’
9He said unto me again, Stand, I pray thee, upon me, and slay me: for anguish is come upon me, because my life is yet whole in me.
10So I stood beside him and killed him, because I was sure that he could not live after he had fallen. I took the crown that was on his head and the bracelet that was on his arm, and have brought them here to my lord.”
10So I stood upon him, and slew him, because I was sure that he could not live after that he was fallen: and I took the crown that was upon his head, and the bracelet that was on his arm, and have brought them hither unto my lord.
11Then David took hold on his clothes, and tore them; and all the men who were with him did likewise.
11Then David took hold on his clothes, and rent them; and likewise all the men that were with him:
12They mourned, wept, and fasted until evening, for Saul, and for Jonathan his son, and for the people of the LORD, and for the house of Israel; because they had fallen by the sword.
12And they mourned, and wept, and fasted until even, for Saul, and for Jonathan his son, and for the people of the LORD, and for the house of Israel; because they were fallen by the sword.
13David said to the young man who told him, “Where are you from?” He answered, “I am the son of a foreigner, an Amalekite.”
13And David said unto the young man that told him, Whence art thou? And he answered, I am the son of a stranger, an Amalekite.
14David said to him, “Why were you not afraid to stretch out your hand to destroy the LORD’s anointed?”
14And David said unto him, How wast thou not afraid to stretch forth thine hand to destroy the LORD’s anointed?
15David called one of the young men, and said, “Go near, and cut him down!” He struck him so that he died.
15And David called one of the young men, and said, Go near, and fall upon him. And he smote him that he died.
16David said to him, “Your blood be on your head; for your mouth has testified against you, saying, ‘I have slain the LORD’s anointed.’ ”
16And David said unto him, Thy blood be upon thy head; for thy mouth hath testified against thee, saying, I have slain the LORD’s anointed.
17David lamented with this lamentation over Saul and over Jonathan his son
17And David lamented with this lamentation over Saul and over Jonathan his son:
18(and he commanded them to teach the children of Judah the song of the bow; behold, it is written in the book of Jashar):
18(Also he bade them teach the children of Judah the use of the bow: behold, it is written in the book of Jasher.)
19“Your glory, Israel, was slain on your high places! How the mighty have fallen!
19The beauty of Israel is slain upon thy high places: how are the mighty fallen!
20Don’t tell it in Gath. Don’t publish it in the streets of Ashkelon, lest the daughters of the Philistines rejoice, lest the daughters of the uncircumcised triumph.
20Tell it not in Gath, publish it not in the streets of Askelon; lest the daughters of the Philistines rejoice, lest the daughters of the uncircumcised triumph.
21You mountains of Gilboa, let there be no dew or rain on you, and no fields of offerings; For there the shield of the mighty was defiled and cast away, The shield of Saul was not anointed with oil.
21Ye mountains of Gilboa, let there be no dew, neither let there be rain, upon you, nor fields of offerings: for there the shield of the mighty is vilely cast away, the shield of Saul, as though he had not been anointed with oil.
22From the blood of the slain, from the fat of the mighty, Jonathan’s bow didn’t turn back. Saul’s sword didn’t return empty.
22From the blood of the slain, from the fat of the mighty, the bow of Jonathan turned not back, and the sword of Saul returned not empty.
23Saul and Jonathan were lovely and pleasant in their lives. In their death, they were not divided. They were swifter than eagles. They were stronger than lions.
23Saul and Jonathan were lovely and pleasant in their lives, and in their death they were not divided: they were swifter than eagles, they were stronger than lions.
24You daughters of Israel, weep over Saul, who clothed you delicately in scarlet, who put ornaments of gold on your clothing.
24Ye daughters of Israel, weep over Saul, who clothed you in scarlet, with other delights, who put on ornaments of gold upon your apparel.
25How the mighty have fallen in the middle of the battle! Jonathan was slain on your high places.
25How are the mighty fallen in the midst of the battle! O Jonathan, thou wast slain in thine high places.
26I am distressed for you, my brother Jonathan. You have been very pleasant to me. Your love to me was wonderful, passing the love of women.
26I am distressed for thee, my brother Jonathan: very pleasant hast thou been unto me: thy love to me was wonderful, passing the love of women.
27How the mighty have fallen, and the weapons of war have perished!”
27How are the mighty fallen, and the weapons of war perished!
Your pair of translations is remembered on this device for other chapters.