II Samuel 1 Comparison: American Standard Version vs Young's Literal Translation
II Samuel 1
1And 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;
2it came 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.
3And David said unto him, From whence comest thou? And he said unto him, Out of the camp of Israel am I escaped.
4And David said unto him, How went the matter? I pray thee, tell me. And he answered, 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.
5And David said unto the young man that told him, How knowest thou that Saul and Jonathan his son are dead?
6And the young man that told him said, As I happened by chance upon mount Gilboa, behold, Saul was leaning upon his spear; and, lo, the chariots and the horsemen followed hard after him.
7And when he looked behind him, he saw me, and called unto me. And I answered, Here am I.
8And he said unto me, Who art thou? And I answered him, I am an Amalekite.
9And he said unto me, Stand, I pray thee, beside me, and slay me; for anguish hath taken hold of me, because my life is yet whole in me.
10So I stood beside 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 rent them; and likewise all the men that were with him:
12and they mourned, and wept, and fasted until even, for Saul, and for Jonathan his son, and for the people of Jehovah, and for the house of Israel; because they were fallen by the sword.
13And David said unto the young man that told him, Whence art thou? And he answered, I am the son of a sojourner, an Amalekite.
14And David said unto him, How wast thou not afraid to put forth thy hand to destroy Jehovah’s anointed?
15And David called one of the young men, and said, Go near, and fall upon him. And he smote him, so that he died.
16And David said unto him, Thy blood be upon thy head; for thy mouth hath testified against thee, saying, I have slain Jehovah’s anointed.
17And David lamented with this lamentation over Saul and over Jonathan his son
18(and he bade them teach the children of Judah the song of the bow: behold, it is written in the book of Jashar):
19Thy glory, O Israel, is slain upon thy high places! How are the mighty fallen!
20Tell it not in Gath, Publish it not in the streets of Ashkelon; Lest the daughters of the Philistines rejoice, Lest the daughters of the uncircumcised triumph.
21Ye mountains of Gilboa, Let there be no dew nor rain upon you, neither fields of offerings: For there the shield of the mighty was vilely cast away, The shield of Saul, not anointed with oil.
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, And in their death they were not divided: They were swifter than eagles, They were stronger than lions.
24Ye daughters of Israel, weep over Saul, Who clothed you in scarlet delicately, Who put ornaments of gold upon your apparel.
25How are the mighty fallen in the midst of the battle! Jonathan is slain upon thy high places.
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 are the mighty fallen, And the weapons of war perished!
II Samuel 1
1And it cometh to pass, after the death of Saul, that David hath returned from smiting the Amalekite, and David dwelleth in Ziklag two days,
2and it cometh to pass, on the third day, that lo, a man hath come in out of the camp from Saul, and his garments are rent, and earth on his head; and it cometh to pass, in his coming in unto David, that he falleth to the earth, and doth obeisance.
3And David saith to him, `Whence comest thou?' and he saith unto him, `Out of the camp of Israel I have escaped.'
4And David saith unto him, `What hath been the matter? declare, I pray thee, to me.' And he saith, that `The people hath fled from the battle, and also a multitude hath fallen of the people, and they die; and also Saul and Jonathan his son have died.'
5And David saith unto the youth who is declaring it to him, `How hast thou known that Saul and Jonathan his son are dead?'
6And the youth who is declaring it to him saith, I happened to meet in mount Gilboa, and lo, Saul is leaning on his spear; and lo, the chariots and those possessing horses have followed him;
7and he turneth behind him, and seeth me, and calleth unto me, and I say, Here am I.
8And he saith to me, Who art thou? and I say unto him, An Amalekite I am .'
9`And he saith unto me, Stand, I pray thee, over me, and put me to death, for seized me hath the arrow, for all my soul is still in me.
10And I stand over him, and put him to death, for I knew that he doth not live after his falling, and I take the crown which is on his head, and the bracelet which is on his arm, and bring them in unto my lord hither.'
11And David taketh hold on his garments, and rendeth them, and also all the men who are with him,
12and they mourn, and weep, and fast till the evening, for Saul, and for Jonathan his son, and for the people of Jehovah, and for the house of Israel, because they have fallen by the sword.
13And David saith unto the youth who is declaring it to him, `Whence art thou?' and he saith, `Son of a sojourner, an Amalekite, I am .'
14And David saith unto him, `How wast thou not afraid to put forth thy hand to destroy the anointed of Jehovah?'
15And David calleth to one of the youths, and saith, `Draw nighfall upon him;' and he smiteth him, and he dieth;
16and David saith unto him, `Thy blood is on thine own head, for thy mouth hath testified against thee, saying, II put to death the anointed of Jehovah.'
17And David lamenteth with this lamentation over Saul, and over Jonathan his son;
18and he saith to teach the sons of Judah `The Bow;' lo, it is written on the book of the Upright:
19`The Roebuck, O Israel, On thy high places is wounded; How have the mighty fallen!
20Declare it not in Gath, Proclaim not the tidings in the streets of Ashkelon, Lest they rejoiceThe daughters of the Philistines, Lest they exultThe daughters of the Uncircumcised!
21Mountains of Gilboa! No dew nor rain be on you, And fields of heave-offerings! For there hath become loathsome The shield of the mighty, The shield of Saulwithout the anointed with oil.
22From the blood of the wounded, From the fat of the mighty, The bow of Jonathan Hath not turned backward; And the sword of Saul doth not return empty.
23Saul and Jonathan! They are loved and pleasant in their lives, And in their death they have not been parted. Than eagles they have been lighter, Than lions they have been mightier!
24Daughters of Israel! for Saul weep ye, Who is clothing you in scarlet with delights. Who is lifting up ornaments of gold on your clothing.
25How have the mighty fallen In the midst of the battle! Jonathan! on thy high places wounded!
26I am in distress for thee, my brother Jonathan, Very pleasant wast thou to me; Wonderful was thy love to me, Above the love of women!
27How have the mighty fallen, Yea, the weapons of war perish!'
Understanding American Standard Version vs Young's Literal Translation in II Samuel 1
American Standard Version (ASV)
A highly literal translation known for accuracy and adherence to the original Hebrew and Greek. Consistent word choices make it excellent for careful study and cross-referencing. A strong pick for readers who want a precise, classic-modern English Bible.
Young's Literal Translation (YLT)
An extremely literal, word-for-word translation that preserves original verb tenses and phrasing. Best for close study and comparing structures from the source languages. The English can feel rigid, but it’s very useful for detailed analysis.
You are viewing a side-by-side comparison of II Samuel 1 in the American Standard Version and Young's Literal Translation. Comparing these two versions can help shed light on the nuances of the original text.
Key Comparison: II Samuel 1:16
"And David said unto him, Thy blood be upon thy head; for thy mouth hath testified against thee, saying, I have slain Jehovah’s anointed."
"and David saith unto him, `Thy blood is on thine own head, for thy mouth hath testified against thee, saying, II put to death the anointed of Jehovah.'"
