Biblia Sacra: VETUS TESTAMENTUM

1 There was one man from Ramathaimsophim, from Mount Ephraim, and his name was Elkanah, son of Jeroham, son of Elihu, son of Tohu, son of Zuph, an Ephrathite:

2 et habuit duas uxores, nomen uni Anna, et nomen secundae Phenenna. Fueruntque Phenennae filii: Annae autem non erant liberi.

2 and he had two wives, the name of the one was Anna, and the name of the second Phenenna. And Phenenna had children: but Anna had no children.

3 Et ascendebat vir ille de civitate sua statutis diebus, ut adoraret et sacrificaret Domino exercituum in Silo. Erant autem ibi duo filii Heli, Ophni et Phinees, sacerdotes Domini.

3 And that man used to go up from his city on the appointed days, to worship and to sacrifice to the Lord of Hosts in Shiloh. Now there were there two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, priests of the Lord.

4 Venit ergo dies, et immolavit Elcana, deditque Phenennae uxori suae, et cunctis filiis eius, et filiabus partes:

4 Therefore the day came, and Elcana immolated, and he gave to Phenenna his wife, and to all her sons, and to her daughters, portions:

5 Annae autem dedit partem unam tristis, quia Annam diligebat. Dominus autem concluserat vulvam eius.

5 But to Hannah he gave one portion, sorrowful, because he loved Hannah. But the Lord had shut her womb.

6 Affligebat quoque eam aemula eius, et vehementer angebat, in tantum ut exprobraret quod Dominus conclusisset vulvam eius:

6 Her rival also afflicted her, and vehemently distressed her, to such an extent that she reproached her because the Lord had closed her womb:

7 sicque faciebat per singulos annos: cum redeunte tempore ascenderent ad templum Domini: et sic provocabat eam; porro illa flebat, et non capiebat cibum.

7 and so she did year by year: when, with the time returning, they ascended to the Temple of the Lord: and thus she provoked her; but she wept, and did not take food.

8 Dixit ergo ei Elcana vir suus: Anna, cur fles? et quare non comedis? et quam ob rem affligitur cor tuum?

8 Therefore Elkanah, her husband, said to her: Hannah, why do you weep? and why do you not eat? and for what reason is your heart afflicted?

numquid non ego melior tibi sum, quam decem filii?

Am I not better to you than ten sons?

9 Surrexit autem Anna postquam comederat et biberat in Silo. Et Heli sacerdote sedente super sellam ante postes templi Domini,

9 But Anna rose after she had eaten and drunk in Shiloh. And Eli the priest, sitting upon the seat before the doorposts of the temple of the Lord,

10 cum esset Anna amaro animo, oravit ad Dominum, flens largiter,

10 when Hannah was with a bitter spirit, she prayed to the Lord, weeping copiously,

11 et votum vovit, dicens: Domine exercituum, si respiciens videris afflictionem famulae tuae, et recordatus mei fueris, nec oblitus ancillae tuae, dederisque servae tuae sexum virilem: dabo eum Domino omnibus diebus vitae eius, et novacula non ascendet super caput eius.

11 and she vowed a vow, saying: Lord of hosts, if, looking, you will look upon the affliction of your handmaid, and remember me, and not forget your handmaid, and you will give to your handmaid a male child: I will give him to the Lord all the days of his life, and a razor shall not ascend upon his head.

12 Factum est autem, cum illa multiplicaret preces coram Domino, ut Heli observaret os eius.

12 And it came to pass, when she was multiplying prayers before the Lord, that Eli was observing her mouth.

13 Porro Anna loquebatur in corde suo, tantumque labia illius movebantur, et vox penitus non audiebatur. Aestimavit ergo eam Heli temulentam,

13 Moreover Hannah was speaking in her heart, and only her lips were moving, and her voice was not heard at all. Therefore Eli deemed her temulent,

14 dixitque ei: Usquequo ebria eris? digere paulisper vinum, quo mades.

14 and he said to her: How long will you be drunk? put away for a little while the wine with which you are soaked.

15 Respondens Anna: Nequaquam, inquit, domine mi: nam mulier infelix nimis ego sum, vinumque et omne quod inebriare potest, non bibi, sed effudi animam meam in conspectu Domini.

15 Anna answering: By no means, she said, my lord: for I am a woman most unhappy, and wine and everything that can inebriate I have not drunk, but I have poured out my soul in the sight of the Lord.

16 Ne reputes ancillam tuam quasi unam de filiabus Belial: quia ex multitudine doloris, et moeroris mei locuta sum usque in praesens.

16 Do not reckon your handmaid as one of the daughters of Belial: for out of the multitude of my dolor and my sorrow I have spoken up to the present.

17 Tunc Heli ait ei: Vade in pace: et Deus Israel det tibi petitionem tuam, quam rogasti eum.

17 Then Heli said to her: Go in peace: and the God of Israel grant to you your petition, which you have asked of him.

18 Et illa dixit: Utinam inveniat ancilla tua gratiam in oculis tuis. Et abiit mulier in viam suam, et comedit, vultusque illius non sunt amplius in diversa mutati.

18 And she said: Would that your handmaid find grace in your eyes. And the woman went on her way, and ate, and her countenance was no longer changed to a different aspect.

19 Et surrexerunt mane, et adoraverunt coram Domino.

19 And they rose early in the morning, and worshiped before the Lord.

Reversique sunt, et venerunt in domum suam Ramatha. Cognovit autem Elcana Annam uxorem suam: et recordatus est eius Dominus.

And they returned, and came into their house at Ramah. And Elkanah knew Hannah his wife; and the Lord remembered her.

20 Et factum est post circulum dierum, concepit Anna, et peperit filium, vocavitque nomen eius Samuel: eo quod a Domino postulasset eum.

20 And it came to pass after the cycle of days, Hannah conceived, and bore a son, and she called his name Samuel: because she had petitioned him from the Lord.

21 Ascendit autem vir eius Elcana, et omnis domus eius, ut immolaret Domino hostiam solemnem, et votum suum,

21 But her husband Elkanah went up, and all his household, to immolate to the Lord the solemn victim, and his vow,

22 et Anna non ascendit: dixit enim viro suo: Non vadam, donec ablactetur infans, et ducam eum, ut appareat ante conspectum Domini, et maneat ibi iugiter.

22 and Anna did not go up: for she said to her husband: I will not go, until the infant is weaned, and I will bring him, that he may appear before the sight of the Lord, and may remain there continually.

23 Et ait ei Elcana vir suus: Fac quod bonum tibi videtur, et mane donec ablactes eum: precorque ut impleat Dominus verbum suum. Mansit ergo mulier, et lactavit filium suum, donec amoveret eum a lacte.

23 And Elcana her husband said to her: Do what seems good to you, and remain until you wean him: and I pray that the Lord may fulfill his word. Therefore the woman remained, and nursed her son, until she weaned him.

24 Et adduxit eum secum, postquam ablactaverat, in vitulis tribus, et tribus modiis farinae, et amphora vini, et adduxit eum ad domum Domini in Silo. Puer autem erat adhuc infantulus:

24 And she brought him with her, after she had weaned him, with three bull-calves, and three modii of flour, and an amphora of wine, and she brought him to the house of the Lord in Silo. But the boy was still a little infant:

25 et immolaverunt vitulum, et obtulerunt puerum Heli.

25 and they immolated the calf, and offered the boy to Eli.

26 Et ait Anna: Obsecro mi domine, vivit anima tua domine: ego sum illa mulier, quae steti coram te hic orans Dominum.

26 And Hannah said: I beseech you, my lord, as your soul lives, my lord: I am that woman who stood before you here, praying to the Lord.

27 Pro puero isto oravi, et dedit mihi Dominus petitionem meam, quam postulavi eum.

27 For this boy I prayed, and the Lord gave to me my petition, which I asked of him.

28 Idcirco et ego commodavi eum Domino cunctis diebus, quibus fuerit commodatus Domino. Et adoraverunt ibi Dominum.

28 Therefore I also have lent him to the Lord, all the days during which he shall be lent to the Lord. And they adored the Lord there.

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1 Et oravit Anna, et ait: Exultavit cor meum in Domino, et exaltatum est cornu meum in Deo meo: dilatatum est os meum super inimicos meos: quia laetata sum in salutari tuo.

1 And Hannah prayed, and said: My heart has exulted in the Lord, and my horn has been exalted in my God; my mouth has been dilated over my enemies, because I have rejoiced in your salvation.

2 Non est sanctus, ut est Dominus, neque enim est alius extra te, et non est fortis sicut Deus noster.

2 There is none holy as the Lord is; for indeed there is no other besides you, and there is no strong one like our God.

3 Nolite multiplicare loqui sublimia gloriantes: recedant vetera de ore vestro: quia Deus scientiarum, Dominus est, et ipsi praeparantur cogitationes.

3 Do not multiply speaking lofty things, boasting: let old things withdraw from your mouth: for the Lord is a God of knowledge, and to him thoughts are prepared.

4 Arcus fortium superatus est, et infirmi accincti sunt robore.

4 The bow of the mighty has been overcome, and the infirm have been girded with strength.

5 Repleti prius, pro panibus se locaverunt: et famelici saturati sunt, donec sterilis peperit plurimos: et quae multos habebat filios, infirmata est.

5 Replete before, they hired themselves out for bread: and the famished were satiated, until the sterile bore many: and she who had many sons was weakened.

6 Dominus mortificat et vivificat, deducit ad inferos et reducit.

6 The Lord puts to death and vivifies, leads down to the underworld and brings back.

7 Dominus pauperem facit et ditat, humiliat et sublevat.

7 The Lord makes poor and enriches, humbles and lifts up.

8 Suscitat de pulvere egenum, et de stercore elevat pauperem: ut sedeat cum principibus, et solium gloriae teneat. Domini enim sunt cardines terrae, et posuit super eos orbem.

8 He raises the indigent from the dust, and from the dunghill he elevates the poor: that he may sit with princes, and may hold the throne of glory. For the pillars of the earth are the Lord’s, and he has set the orb upon them.

9 Pedes sanctorum suorum servabit, et impii in tenebris conticescent: quia non in fortitudine sua roborabitur vir.

9 He will keep the feet of his saints, and the impious will be silent in darkness: because not in his own fortitude shall a man be strengthened.

10 Dominum formidabunt adversarii eius: et super ipsos in caelis tonabit: Dominus iudicabit fines terrae, et dabit imperium regi suo, et sublimabit cornu Christi sui.

10 His adversaries will dread the Lord: and over them in the heavens he will thunder: the Lord will judge the ends of the earth, and he will give dominion to his king, and he will exalt the horn of his Christ.

11 Et abiit Elcana Ramatha, in domum suam: puer autem erat minister in conspectu Domini ante faciem Heli sacerdotis.

11 And Elkanah went to Ramah, to his house; but the boy was a minister in the sight of the Lord before the face of Eli the priest.

12 Porro filii Heli, filii Belial, nescientes Dominum,

12 Moreover the sons of Eli, sons of Belial, not knowing the Lord,

13 neque officium sacerdotum ad populum: sed quicumque immolasset victimam, veniebat puer sacerdotis, dum coquerentur carnes, et habebat fuscinulam tridentem in manu sua,

13 nor the office of the priests toward the people: but whoever had sacrificed a victim, the priest’s boy would come, while the meats were being cooked, and he had a little trident in his hand,

14 et mittebat eam in lebetem, vel in caldariam, aut in ollam, sive in cacabum: et omne quod levabat fuscinula, tollebat sacerdos sibi: sic faciebant universo Israeli venientium in Silo.

14 and he would send it into the cauldron, or into the caldron, or into the pot, or into the kettle: and whatever the little fork lifted up, the priest would take for himself: thus they did to all Israel coming to Shiloh.

15 Etiam antequam adolerent adipem, veniebat puer sacerdotis, et dicebat immolanti: Da mihi carnem, ut coquam sacerdoti: non enim accipiam a te carnem coctam, sed crudam.

15 Even before they burned the fat, the priest’s boy would come, and would say to the sacrificer: Give me flesh, that I may cook it for the priest; for I will not receive from you flesh cooked, but raw.

16 Dicebatque illi immolans: Incendatur primum iuxta morem hodie adeps, et tolle tibi quantumcumque desiderat anima tua. Qui respondens aiebat ei: Nequaquam: nunc enim dabis, alioquin tollam vi.

16 And the one sacrificing would say to him: Let the fat be burned first today according to custom, and take for yourself as much as your soul desires. But he, answering, would say to him: By no means; for now you will give, otherwise I will take by force.

17 Erat ergo peccatum puerorum grande nimis coram Domino: quia retrahebant homines a sacrificio Domini.

17 Therefore the sin of the boys was exceedingly great before the Lord, because they were drawing people back from the sacrifice of the Lord.

18 Samuel autem ministrabat ante faciem Domini, puer, accinctus ephod lineo.

18 But Samuel was ministering before the face of the Lord, a boy, girded with a linen ephod.

19 Et tunicam parvam faciebat ei mater sua, quam afferebat statutis diebus, ascendens cum viro suo, ut immolaret hostiam solemnem.

19 And his mother would make him a little tunic, which she would bring on the appointed days, going up with her husband, that he might immolate the solemn victim.

20 Et benedixit Heli Elcanae et uxori eius: dixitque ei: Reddat tibi Dominus semen de muliere hac, pro foenore quod commodasti Domino. Et abierunt in locum suum.

20 And Eli blessed Elkanah and his wife: and he said to him: May the Lord render to you seed from this woman, as interest for the loan which you lent to the Lord. And they went away to their place.

21 Visitavit ergo Dominus Annam, et concepit, et peperit tres filios, et duas filias: et magnificatus est puer Samuel apud Dominum.

21 And so the Lord visited Hannah, and she conceived, and bore three sons, and two daughters: and the boy Samuel was magnified before the Lord.

22 Heli autem erat senex valde, et audivit omnia quae faciebant filii sui universo Israeli: et quomodo dormiebant cum mulieribus quae observabant ad ostium tabernaculi:

22 Now Eli was very old, and he heard all that his sons were doing to all Israel; and how they lay with the women who kept watch at the door of the tabernacle:

23 et dixit eis: Quare facitis res huiuscemodi, quas ego audio, res pessimas, ab omni populo?

23 and he said to them: Why do you do things of this kind, which I hear, most wicked things, from all the people?

24 Nolite, filii mei: non enim est bona fama, quam ego audio, ut transgredi faciatis populum Domini.

24 Do not, my sons: for it is not a good report which I hear, that you cause the people of the Lord to transgress.

25 Si peccaverit vir in virum, placari ei potest Deus: si autem in Dominum peccaverit vir, quis orabit pro eo? Et non audierunt vocem patris sui: quia voluit Dominus occidere eos.

25 If a man sins against a man, God can be placated for him; but if a man sins against the Lord, who will pray for him? And they did not listen to the voice of their father, because the Lord willed to kill them.

26 Puer autem Samuel proficiebat, atque crescebat, et placebat tam Domino quam hominibus.

26 But the boy Samuel was advancing, and was growing, and was pleasing both to the Lord and to men.

27 Venit autem vir Dei ad Heli, et ait ad eum: Haec dicit Dominus: Numquid non aperte revelatus sum domui patris tui, cum essent in Aegypto in domo Pharaonis?

27 But a man of God came to Eli, and said to him: Thus says the Lord: Was I not openly revealed to your father’s house, when they were in Egypt, in the house of Pharaoh?

28 Et elegi eum ex omnibus tribubus Israel mihi in sacerdotem, ut ascenderet ad altare meum, et adoleret mihi incensum, et portaret ephod coram me: et dedi domui patris tui omnia de sacrificiis filiorum Israel.

28 And I chose him out of all the tribes of Israel for myself as priest, that he might ascend to my altar, and burn incense to me, and bear the ephod before me: and I gave to your father’s house all from the sacrifices of the sons of Israel.

29 Quare calce abiecistis victimam meam, et munera mea quae praecepi ut offerentur in templo: et magis honorasti filios tuos quam me, ut comederetis primitias omnis sacrificii Israel populi mei?

29 Why have you spurned with the heel my sacrifice, and my gifts which I prescribed to be offered in the temple: and have honored your sons more than me, so that you might eat the first-fruits of every sacrifice of Israel, my people?

30 Propterea ait Dominus Deus Israel: Loquens locutus sum, ut domus tua, et domus patris tui, ministraret in conspectu meo, usque in sempiternum. Nunc autem dicit Dominus: Absit hoc a me: sed quicumque glorificaverit me, glorificabo eum: qui autem contemnunt me, erunt ignobiles.

30 Therefore says the Lord God of Israel: Speaking I have spoken, that your house and the house of your father should minister in my sight forever. But now the Lord says: Far be this from me; rather, whoever shall glorify me, I will glorify him; but those who contemn me shall be ignoble.

31 Ecce dies veniunt: et praecidam brachium tuum, et brachium domus patris tui, ut non sit senex in domo tua.

31 Behold, days are coming: and I will cut off your arm, and the arm of your father’s house, so that there will not be an old man in your house.

32 Et videbis aemulum tuum in templo, in universis prosperis Israel: et non erit senex in domo tua omnibus diebus.

32 And you shall behold your rival in the temple, amid all the prosperities of Israel: and there will not be an old man in your house for all the days.

33 Verumtamen non auferam penitus virum ex te ab altari meo: sed ut deficiant oculi tui, et tabescat anima tua: et pars magna domus tuae morietur cum ad virilem aetatem venerit.

33 Nevertheless I will not utterly remove a man of yours from my altar: but so that your eyes may fail, and your soul may waste away: and a great part of your house will die when they come to virile age.

34 Hoc autem erit tibi signum, quod venturum est duobus filiis tuis, Ophni et Phinees: in die uno morientur ambo.

34 But this will be to you the sign, which shall come upon your two sons, Ophni and Phinees: in one day both shall die.

35 Et suscitabo mihi sacerdotem fidelem, qui iuxta cor meum et animam meam faciet: et aedificabo ei domum fidelem, et ambulabit coram Christo meo cunctis diebus.

35 And I will raise up for myself a faithful priest, who will do according to my heart and my soul: and I will build for him a faithful house, and he will walk before my Anointed all the days.

36 Futurum est autem, ut quicumque remanserit in domo tua, veniat ut oretur pro eo, et offerat nummum argenteum, et tortam panis, dicatque: Dimitte me, obsecro, ad unam partem sacerdotalem, ut comedam buccellam panis.

36 And it shall come to pass that whoever shall have remained in your house will come so that intercession may be made for him, and will offer a silver coin and a cake of bread, and will say: "Admit me, I beseech you, to one priestly portion, that I may eat a morsel of bread."

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1 Puer autem Samuel ministrabat Domino coram Heli, et sermo Domini erat pretiosus in diebus illis, non erat visio manifesta.

1 But the boy Samuel was ministering to the Lord before Eli, and the word of the Lord was precious in those days, there was no manifest vision.

2 Factum est ergo in die quadam, Heli iacebat in loco suo, et oculi eius caligaverant, nec poterat videre:

2 And so it came to pass on a certain day, Eli was lying in his place, and his eyes had grown dim, and he could not see:

3 lucerna Dei antequam extingueretur, Samuel dormiebat in templo Domini, ubi erat arca Dei.

3 the lamp of God before it was extinguished, Samuel was sleeping in the temple of the Lord, where the ark of God was.

4 Et vocavit Dominus Samuel. Qui respondens, ait: Ecce ego.

4 And the Lord called Samuel. He, answering, said: Behold, I.

5 Et cucurrit ad Heli, et dixit: Ecce ego: vocasti enim me. Qui dixit: Non vocavi: revertere, et dormi. Et abiit, et dormivit.

5 And he ran to Eli, and said: Here I am: for you called me. He said: I did not call: return, and sleep. And he went, and slept.

6 Et adiecit Dominus rursum vocare Samuelem. Consurgensque Samuel, abiit ad Heli, et dixit: Ecce ego: quia vocasti me. Qui respondit: Non vocavi te, fili mi: revertere et dormi.

6 And the Lord added again to call Samuel. And Samuel, rising up, went to Heli, and said: Here I am: for you have called me. Who replied: I did not call you, my son: return and sleep.

7 Porro Samuel necdum sciebat Dominum, neque revelatus fuerat ei sermo Domini.

7 Now Samuel did not yet know the Lord, nor had the word of the Lord been revealed to him.

8 Et adiecit Dominus, et vocavit adhuc Samuelem tertio. Qui consurgens abiit ad Heli,

8 And the Lord added, and called Samuel yet again a third time. Who, rising up, went to Eli,

9 et ait: Ecce ego: quia vocasti me. Intellexit ergo Heli quia Dominus vocaret puerum: et ait ad Samuelem: Vade, et dormi: et si deinceps vocaverit te, dices: Loquere, Domine, quia audit servus tuus. Abiit ergo Samuel, et dormivit in loco suo.

9 and he said: Here I am: for you have called me. Then Eli understood that the Lord was calling the boy: and he said to Samuel: Go, and sleep: and if he calls you again, you will say: Speak, Lord, for your servant is listening. So Samuel went away, and slept in his place.

10 Et venit Dominus, et stetit: et vocavit, sicut vocaverat secundo: Samuel, Samuel. Et ait Samuel: Loquere, Domine, quia audit servus tuus.

10 And the Lord came, and stood: and he called, as he had called the second time: Samuel, Samuel. And Samuel said: Speak, Lord, for your servant hears.

11 Et dixit Dominus ad Samuelem: Ecce ego facio verbum in Israel: quod quicumque audierit, tinnient ambae aures eius.

11 And the Lord said to Samuel: Behold, I am about to do a thing in Israel: that whoever shall hear it, both his ears will tingle.

12 In die illa suscitabo adversum Heli omnia quae locutus sum super domum eius: incipiam, et complebo.

12 On that day I will raise up against Eli all the things which I have spoken concerning his house: I will begin, and I will complete.

13 Praedixi enim ei quod iudicaturus essem domum eius in aeternum, propter iniquitatem, eo quod noverat indigne agere filios suos, et non corripuerit eos.

13 For I foretold to him that I would judge his house unto eternity, on account of iniquity, in that he knew his sons were acting unworthily and did not correct them.

14 Idcirco iuravi domui Heli quod non expietur iniquitas domus eius victimis et muneribus usque in aeternum.

14 Therefore I have sworn to the house of Eli that the iniquity of his house shall not be expiated by sacrifices and offerings forever.

15 Dormivit autem Samuel usque mane, aperuitque ostia domus Domini. Et Samuel timebat indicare visionem Heli.

15 But Samuel slept until morning, and he opened the doors of the house of the Lord. And Samuel was afraid to declare the vision to Eli.

16 Vocavit ergo Heli Samuelem, et dixit: Samuel fili mi? Qui respondens ait: Praesto sum.

16 Therefore Eli called Samuel, and said: Samuel, my son? He, answering, said: Here I am.

17 Et interrogavit eum: Quis est sermo, quem locutus est Dominus ad te? oro te ne celaveris me: haec faciat tibi Deus, et haec addat, si absconderis a me sermonem ex omnibus verbis, quae dicta sunt tibi.

17 And he questioned him: What is the word which the Lord has spoken to you? I beg you, do not conceal it from me: may God do these things to you, and add these, if you conceal from me a word of all the words that have been spoken to you.

18 Indicavit itaque ei Samuel universos sermones, et non abscondit ab eo. Et ille respondit: Dominus est: quod bonum est in oculis suis faciat.

18 Samuel therefore made known to him all the words, and did not hide from him. And he replied: It is the Lord; let him do what is good in his eyes.

19 Crevit autem Samuel, et Dominus erat cum eo, et non cecidit ex omnibus verbis eius in terram.

19 But Samuel grew, and the Lord was with him, and none of all his words fell to the ground.

20 Et cognovit universus Israel, a Dan usque Bersabee, quod fidelis Samuel propheta esset Domini.

20 And all Israel knew, from Dan as far as Beersheba, that Samuel was a faithful prophet of the Lord.

21 Et addidit Dominus ut appareret in Silo, quoniam revelatus fuerat Dominus Samueli in Silo, iuxta verbum Domini. Et evenit sermo Samuelis universo Israeli.

21 And the Lord added to appear in Shiloh, because the Lord had been revealed to Samuel in Shiloh, according to the word of the Lord. And the word of Samuel came to all Israel.

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1 Et factum est in diebus illis, convenerunt Philisthiim in pugnam: et egressus est Israel obviam Philisthiim in praelium, et castrametatus est iuxta lapidem Adiutorii. Porro Philisthiim venerunt in Aphec,

1 And it came to pass in those days, the Philistines convened for battle: and Israel went out to meet the Philistines in battle, and encamped beside the Stone of Help. Moreover, the Philistines came to Aphek,

2 et instruxerunt aciem contra Israel. Inito autem certamine, terga vertit Israel Philisthaeis: et caesa sunt in illo certamine passim per agros, quasi quatuor millia virorum.

2 and they drew up the battle-line against Israel. But when the combat was entered, Israel turned their backs to the Philistines; and in that combat about four thousand men were cut down, scattered through the fields.

3 Et reversus est populus ad castra: dixeruntque maiores natu de Israel: Quare percussit nos Dominus hodie coram Philisthiim? Afferamus ad nos de Silo arcam foederis Domini, et veniat in medium nostri, ut salvet nos de manu inimicorum nostrorum.

3 And the people returned to the camp; and the elders of Israel said: Why has the Lord struck us today before the Philistines? Let us bring to us from Shiloh the ark of the covenant of the Lord, and let it come into our midst, that it may save us from the hand of our enemies.

4 Misit ergo populus in Silo, et tulerunt inde arcam foederis Domini exercituum sedentis super cherubim: erantque duo filii Heli cum arca foederis Dei, Ophni et Phinees.

4 Therefore the people sent to Shiloh, and they took from there the ark of the covenant of the Lord of hosts, who sits upon the cherubim; and the two sons of Eli were with the ark of the covenant of God, Hophni and Phinehas.

5 Cumque venisset arca foederis Domini in castra, vociferatus est omnis Israel clamore grandi, et personuit terra.

5 And when the ark of the covenant of the Lord had come into the camp, all Israel vociferated with a great clamor, and the earth resounded.

6 Et audierunt Philisthiim vocem clamoris, dixeruntque: Quaenam est haec vox clamoris magni in castris Hebraeorum? Et cognoverunt quod arca Domini venisset in castra.

6 And the Philistines heard the sound of the clamor, and they said: What is this voice of great clamor in the camp of the Hebrews? And they recognized that the Ark of the Lord had come into the camp.

7 Timueruntque Philisthiim, dicentes: Venit Deus in castra. Et ingemuerunt, dicentes:

7 And the Philistines were afraid, saying: God has come into the camp. And they groaned, saying:

8 Vae nobis: non enim fuit tanta exultatio heri et nudiustertius: vae nobis. Quis nos salvabit de manu deorum sublimium istorum? hi sunt dii, qui percusserunt Aegyptum omni plaga in deserto.

8 Woe to us: for there was not such exultation yesterday and the day before yesterday: woe to us. Who will save us from the hand of these sublime gods? these are the gods who struck Egypt with every plague in the desert.

9 Confortamini, et estote viri, Philisthiim: ne serviatis Hebraeis, sicut et illi servierunt vobis: confortamini, et bellate.

9 Be strengthened, and be men, O Philistines: lest you serve the Hebrews, just as they have served you: be strengthened, and do battle.

10 Pugnaverunt ergo Philisthiim, et caesus est Israel, et fugit unusquisque in tabernaculum suum: et facta est plaga magna nimis: et ceciderunt de Israel triginta millia peditum.

10 Therefore the Philistines fought, and Israel was struck down, and each fled to his tent: and a very great slaughter was made: and from Israel thirty thousand foot soldiers fell.

11 Et arca Dei capta est: duo quoque filii Heli mortui sunt, Ophni et Phinees.

11 And the ark of God was captured: the two sons of Eli also died, Hophni and Phinehas.

12 Currens autem vir de Beniamin ex acie, venit in Silo in die illa, scissa veste, et conspersus pulvere caput.

12 But a man of Benjamin, running from the battle-line, came to Shiloh on that day, with his garment torn and his head sprinkled with dust.

13 Cumque ille venisset, Heli sedebat super sellam contra viam spectans. Erat enim cor eius pavens pro arca Dei. Vir autem ille postquam ingressus est, nuntiavit urbi: et ululavit omnis civitas.

13 And when he had come, Heli was sitting upon a seat, looking toward the road. For his heart was fearful for the ark of God. But that man, after he had entered, announced to the city: and all the city ululated.

14 Et audivit Heli sonitum clamoris, dixitque: Quis est hic sonitus tumultus huius? At ille festinavit, et venit, et nuntiavit Heli.

14 And Eli heard the sound of the outcry, and he said: Who is this sound of this tumult? But he hastened, and came, and announced to Eli.

15 Heli autem erat nonaginta et octo annorum, et oculi eius caligaverant, et videre non poterat.

15 But Heli was ninety-eight years old, and his eyes had grown dim, and he could not see.

16 Et dixit ad Heli: Ego sum qui veni de praelio, et ego qui de acie fugi hodie. Cui ille ait: Quid actum est, fili mi?

16 And he said to Heli: I am the one who has come from the battle, and I am the one who fled from the battle-line today. To whom he said: What has happened, my son?

17 Respondens autem ille, qui nuntiabat: Fugit, inquit, Israel coram Philisthiim, et ruina magna facta est in populo: insuper et duo filii tui mortui sunt, Ophni et Phinees: et arca Dei capta est.

17 But answering, the one who was announcing said: Israel has fled before the Philistines, and a great ruin has been made among the people; moreover, your two sons are dead, Hophni and Phinehas; and the ark of God has been captured.

18 Cumque ille nominasset arcam Dei, cecidit de sella retrorsum iuxta ostium, et fractis cervicibus mortuus est. Senex enim erat vir et grandaevus: et ipse iudicavit Israel quadraginta annis.

18 And when he had named the ark of God, he fell from the seat backwards beside the doorway, and with his neck broken he died. For the man was old and very advanced in years: and he himself judged Israel for forty years.

19 Nurus autem eius, uxor Phinees, praegnans erat, vicinaque partui: et audito nuntio quod capta esset arca Dei, et mortuus esset socer suus, et vir suus, incurvavit se et peperit: irruerant enim in eam dolores subiti.

19 But his daughter-in-law, the wife of Phinees, was pregnant and near to childbirth: and upon hearing the report that the ark of God had been captured, and that her father-in-law and her husband were dead, she bent herself and gave birth: for sudden pains had rushed upon her.

20 In ipso autem momento mortis eius, dixerunt ei quae stabant circa eam: Ne timeas, quia filium peperisti. Quae non respondit eis, neque animadvertit.

20 But at the very moment of her death, those who were standing around her said to her: "Do not fear, for you have borne a son." She did not answer them, nor did she take notice.

21 Et vocabit puerum, Ichabod, dicens: Translata est gloria de Israel, quia capta est arca Dei, et pro socero suo et pro viro suo;

21 And she will call the boy, Ichabod, saying: The glory has been translated from Israel, because the ark of God has been captured, and on account of her father-in-law and on account of her husband;

22 et ait: Translata est gloria ab Israel, eo quod capta esset arca Dei.

22 and she said: The glory has been translated from Israel, because the ark of God had been captured.

[5]

1 Philisthiim autem tulerunt arcam Dei, et asportaverunt eam a lapide Adiutorii in Azotum.

1 But the Philistines took the ark of God, and carried it away from the Stone of Help to Azotus.

2 Tuleruntque Philisthiim arcam Dei, et intulerunt eam in templum Dagon, et statuerunt eam iuxta Dagon.

2 And the Philistines took the ark of God, and brought it into the temple of Dagon, and set it beside Dagon.

3 Cumque surrexissent diluculo Azotii altera die, ecce Dagon iacebat pronus in terra ante arcam Domini: et tulerunt Dagon, et restituerunt eum in locum suum.

3 And when the Azotians had risen at dawn on the next day, behold, Dagon was lying prostrate on the ground before the ark of the Lord: and they took Dagon and restored him to his place.

4 Rursumque mane die altera consurgentes, invenerunt Dagon iacentem super faciem suam in terra coram arca Domini: caput autem Dagon, et duae palmae manuum eius abscissae erant super limen:

4 And again, rising early on the next day, they found Dagon lying on his face on the ground before the ark of the Lord: but the head of Dagon, and the two palms of his hands, had been cut off upon the threshold:

5 porro Dagon solus truncus remanserat in loco suo. Propter hanc causam non calcant sacerdotes Dagon, et omnes qui ingrediuntur templum eius, super limen Dagon in Azoto, usque in hodiernum diem.

5 moreover, only the trunk of Dagon had remained in his place. For this cause the priests of Dagon, and all who enter his temple, do not tread upon the threshold of Dagon in Azotus, unto this day.

6 Aggravata est autem manus Domini super Azotios, et demolitus est eos: et percussit in secretiori parte natium Azotum, et fines eius. Et ebullierunt villae et agri in medio regionis illius, et nati sunt mures et facta est confusio mortis magnae in civitate.

6 Now the hand of the Lord was made heavy upon the Azotians, and he demolished them: and he smote Azotus, and its borders, in the more secret part of the buttocks. And the villages and the fields boiled up in the midst of that region, and mice were born, and there was a confusion of great death in the city.

7 Videntes autem viri Azotii huiuscemodi plagam, dixerunt: Non maneat arca Dei Israel apud nos: quoniam dura est manus eius super nos, et super Dagon deum nostrum.

7 But the men of Azotus, seeing a plague of this kind, said: Let not the ark of the God of Israel remain with us: for his hand is heavy upon us, and upon Dagon our god.

8 Et mittentes congregaverunt omnes satrapas Philisthinorum ad se, et dixerunt: Quid faciemus de arca Dei Israel? Responderuntque Gethaei: Circumducatur arca Dei Israel. Et circumduxerunt arcam Dei Israel.

8 And sending, they gathered together all the satraps of the Philistines to themselves, and said: What shall we do with the Ark of the God of Israel? And the Gittites answered: Let the Ark of the God of Israel be carried around. And they carried around the Ark of the God of Israel.

9 Illis autem circumducentibus eam, fiebat manus Domini per singulas civitates interfectionis magnae nimis: et percutiebat viros uniuscuiusque urbis, a parvo usque ad maiorem, et computrescebant prominentes extales eorum. Inieruntque Gethaei consilium, et fecerunt sibi sedes pelliceas.

9 But as they were leading it around, the hand of the Lord was upon each city with an exceedingly great slaughter: and he was striking the men of every city, from small to great, and their protruding entrails were putrefying. And the Gittites entered into counsel, and made for themselves leathern seats.

10 Miserunt ergo arcam Dei in Accaron.

10 They therefore sent the ark of God to Ekron.

Cumque venisset arca Dei in Accaron, exclamaverunt Accaronitae, dicentes: Adduxerunt ad nos arcam Dei Israel, ut interficiat nos et populum nostrum.

And when the Ark of God had come into Accaron, the Accaronites cried out, saying: They have brought to us the Ark of the God of Israel, to kill us and our people.

11 Miserunt itaque et congregaverunt omnes satrapas Philisthinorum: qui dixerunt: Dimittite arcam Dei Israel, et revertatur in locum suum, et non interficiat nos cum populo nostro.

11 They therefore sent and gathered all the satraps of the Philistines; who said: Send away the ark of the God of Israel, and let it return to its place, and let it not slay us along with our people.

12 Fiebat enim pavor mortis in singulis urbibus, et gravissima valde manus Dei. Viri quoque, qui mortui non fuerant, percutiebantur in secretiori parte natium: et ascendebat ululatus uniuscuiusque civitatis in caelum.

12 For a panic of death was occurring in each city, and the hand of God was very grievous. The men also, who had not died, were being struck in the more secret part of the buttocks; and the ululation of each city went up to heaven.

[6]

1 Fuit ergo arca Domini in regione Philisthinorum septem mensibus.

1 Therefore the Ark of the Lord was in the region of the Philistines for seven months.

2 Et vocaverunt Philisthiim sacerdotes et divinos, dicentes: Quid faciemus de arca Domini? indicate nobis quomodo remittamus eam in locum suum.

2 And the Philistines called the priests and the diviners, saying: What shall we do about the ark of the Lord? indicate to us how we may send it back to its place.

Qui dixerunt:

Who said:

3 Si remittitis arcam Dei Israel, nolite dimittere eam vacuam, sed quod debetis, reddite ei pro peccato, et tunc curabimini: et scietis quare non recedat manus eius a vobis.

3 If you remit the ark of the God of Israel, do not dismiss it empty, but render to him what you owe for sin, and then you will be cured: and you shall know why his hand does not recede from you.

4 Qui dixerunt: Quid est quod pro delicto reddere debeamus ei? Responderuntque illi:

4 Who said: What is it that we ought to render to him for the delict? And they answered them:

5 Iuxta numerum provinciarum Philisthinorum quinque anos aureos facietis, et quinque mures aureos: quia plaga una fuit omnibus vobis, et satrapis vestris. Facietisque similitudines anorum vestrorum, et similitudines murium, qui demoliti sunt terram: et dabitis Deo Israel gloriam: si forte relevet manum suam a vobis, et a diis vestris, et a terra vestra.

5 According to the number of the provinces of the Philistines you shall make five golden hemorrhoids, and five golden mice: because one plague was upon you all, and upon your satraps. And you shall make likenesses of your hemorrhoids, and likenesses of the mice which have devastated the land: and you shall give glory to the God of Israel: if perchance he may lighten his hand from off you, and from your gods, and from your land.

6 Quare aggravatis corda vestra, sicut aggravavit Aegyptus et Pharao cor suum? Nonne postquam percussus est, tunc dimisit eos, et abierunt?

6 Why do you harden your hearts, as Egypt and Pharaoh hardened their heart? Was it not after he was smitten that he then let them go, and they departed?

7 Nunc ergo arripite et facite plaustrum novum unum, et duas vaccas foetas, quibus non est impositum iugum, iungite in plaustro, et recludite vitulos earum domi.

7 Now therefore seize and make one new wagon, and take two cows that have calved, upon which a yoke has not been imposed; yoke them to the wagon, and shut up their calves at home.

8 Tolletisque arcam Domini, et ponetis in plaustro, et vasa aurea, quae exsolvistis ei pro delicto, ponetis in capsellam ad latus eius: et dimittite eam ut vadat.

8 And you shall take up the Ark of the Lord and place it on the cart, and the golden vessels which you have paid to him for the offense you shall put into a little casket at its side: and send it off that it may go.

9 Et aspicietis: et si quidem per viam finium suorum ascenderit contra Bethsames, ipse fecit nobis hoc malum grande: sin autem, minime: sciemus quia nequaquam manus eius tetigit nos, sed casu accidit.

9 And you will look: and if indeed it goes up by the way of its own boundaries toward Bethsames, he has done to us this great evil; but if not, by no means: we shall know that by no means has his hand touched us, but it happened by chance.

10 Fecerunt ergo illi hoc modo: et tollentes duas vaccas, quae lactabant vitulos, iunxerunt ad plaustrum, vitulosque earum concluserunt domi.

10 Therefore they did thus: and taking up two cows that were suckling calves, they yoked them to the cart, and enclosed their calves at home.

11 Et posuerunt arcam Dei super plaustrum, et capsellam, quae habebat mures aureos et similitudines anorum.

11 And they placed the ark of God upon the cart, and the little box that had the golden mice and the images of the hemorrhoids.

12 Ibant autem in directum vaccae per viam, quae ducit Bethsames, et itinere uno gradiebantur, pergentes et mugientes: et non declinabant neque ad dextram neque ad sinistram: sed et satrapae Philisthiim sequebantur usque ad terminos Bethsames.

12 But the cows were going straight along the road which leads to Bethsames, and they were walking in one track, proceeding and lowing: and they did not turn aside neither to the right nor to the left: but also the satraps of the Philistines were following as far as the boundaries of Bethsames.

13 Porro Bethsamitae metebant triticum in valle: et elevantes oculos suos, viderunt arcam, et gavisi sunt cum vidissent.

13 Now the Beth-shemeshites were reaping wheat in the valley: and lifting up their eyes, they saw the ark, and rejoiced when they saw it.

14 Et plaustrum venit in agrum Iosue Bethsamitae, et stetit ibi. Erat autem ibi lapis magnus, et conciderunt ligna plaustri, vaccasque imposuerunt super ea holocaustum Domino.

14 And the cart came into the field of Joshua the Bethshemite, and stood there. Now there was there a great stone, and they cut up the wood of the cart, and placed the cows upon it as a holocaust to the Lord.

15 Levitae autem deposuerunt arcam Dei, et capsellam, quae erat iuxta eam, in qua erant vasa aurea, et posuerunt super lapidem grandem. Viri autem Bethsamitae obtulerunt holocausta, et immolaverunt victimas in die illa Domino.

15 Now the Levites set down the ark of God, and the little coffer that was beside it, in which were the golden vessels, and they placed them upon the great stone. But the men of Beth-shemesh offered holocausts and slaughtered victims on that day to the Lord.

16 Et quinque satrapae Philisthinorum viderunt, et reversi sunt in Accaron in die illa.

16 And the five satraps of the Philistines saw it, and they returned to Accaron on that day.

17 Hi sunt autem ani aurei, quos reddiderunt Philisthiim pro delicto, Domino: Azotus unum, Gaza unum, Ascalon unum, Geth unum, Accaron unum:

17 These are, moreover, the golden hemorrhoids which the Philistines returned for the guilt-offense, to the Lord: Azotus one, Gaza one, Ascalon one, Geth one, Accaron one:

18 et mures aureos secundum numerum urbium Philisthiim, quinque provinciarum, ab urbe murata usque ad villam quae erat absque muro, et usque ad Abelmagnum, super quem posuerunt arcam Domini, quae erat usque in illum diem in agro Iosue Bethsamitis.

18 and the golden mice according to the number of the cities of the Philistines, of the five provinces, from the walled city even to the village which was without a wall, and as far as Abelmagnum, upon which they placed the Ark of the Lord, which was until that day in the field of Joshua the Bethsamite.

19 Percussit autem de viris Bethsamitibus, eo quod vidissent arcam Domini: et percussit de populo septuaginta viros, et quinquaginta millia plebis. Luxitque populus, eo quod Dominus percussisset plebem plaga magna.

19 But he struck down among the men of Beth‑shemesh, because they had seen the ark of the Lord; and he struck down among the people seventy men, and fifty thousand of the common folk. And the people lamented, because the Lord had struck the people with a great blow.

20 Et dixerunt viri Bethsamitae: Quis poterit stare in conspectu Domini Dei sancti huius? et ad quem ascendet a nobis?

20 And the men of Beth-shemesh said: Who will be able to stand in the presence of the Lord, this holy God? and to whom shall it go up from us?

21 Miseruntque nuntios ad habitatores Cariathiarim, dicentes: Reduxerunt Philisthiim arcam Domini, descendite, et reducite eam ad vos.

21 And they sent messengers to the inhabitants of Kiriath-jearim, saying: The Philistines have brought back the ark of the Lord; come down, and bring it up to yourselves.

[7]

1 Venerunt ergo viri Cariathiarim, et reduxerunt arcam Domini, et intulerunt eam in domum Abinadab in Gabaa: Eleazarum autem filium eius sanctificaverunt, ut custodiret arcam Domini.

1 Therefore the men of Cariathiarim came and brought back the ark of the Lord, and brought it into the house of Abinadab in Gabaa; moreover they consecrated Eleazar, his son, to guard the ark of the Lord.

2 Et factum est, ex qua die mansit arca Domini in Cariathiarim, multiplicati sunt dies (erat quippe iam annus vigesimus) et requievit omnis domus Israel post Dominum.

2 And it came to pass, from the day on which the Ark of the Lord remained in Cariathiarim, the days were multiplied (for indeed it was now the 20th year), and the whole house of Israel rested after the Lord.

3 Ait autem Samuel ad universam domum Israel, dicens: Si in toto corde vestro revertimini ad Dominum, auferte deos alienos de medio vestri, Baalim et Astaroth: et praeparate corda vestra Domino, et servite ei soli, et eruet vos de manu Philisthiim.

3 But Samuel said to the whole house of Israel, saying: If with your whole heart you return to the Lord, remove the alien gods from your midst, the Baalim and Astaroth; and prepare your hearts for the Lord, and serve Him alone, and He will deliver you from the hand of the Philistines.

4 Abstulerunt ergo filii Israel Baalim et Astaroth, et servierunt Domino soli.

4 Therefore the sons of Israel removed Baalim and Astaroth, and served the Lord alone.

5 Dixit autem Samuel: Congregate universum Israel in Masphath, ut orem pro vobis Dominum.

5 But Samuel said: Gather all Israel in Masphath, that I may pray to the Lord for you.

6 Et convenerunt in Masphath: hauseruntque aquam, et effuderunt in conspectu Domini, et ieiunaverunt in die illa, atque dixerunt ibi: Peccavimus Domino. Iudicavitque Samuel filios Israel in Masphath.

6 And they convened in Masphath: and they drew water, and poured it out in the sight of the Lord, and fasted on that day, and said there: We have sinned against the Lord. And Samuel judged the sons of Israel in Masphath.

7 Et audierunt Philisthiim quod congregati essent filii Israel in Masphath, et ascenderunt satrapae Philisthinorum ad Israel. Quod cum audissent filii Israel, timuerunt a facie Philisthinorum.

7 And the Philistines heard that the sons of Israel had been gathered in Masphath, and the satraps of the Philistines went up against Israel. When the sons of Israel heard this, they feared before the face of the Philistines.

8 Dixeruntque ad Samuelem: Ne cesses pro nobis clamare ad Dominum Deum nostrum, ut salvet nos de manu Philisthinorum.

8 And they said to Samuel: Do not cease to cry out for us to the Lord our God, that he may save us from the hand of the Philistines.

9 Tulit autem Samuel agnum lactentem unum, et obtulit illum holocaustum integrum Domino: et clamavit Samuel ad Dominum pro Israel, et exaudivit eum Dominus.

9 But Samuel took one suckling lamb, and offered it as a whole burnt offering to the Lord; and Samuel cried out to the Lord on behalf of Israel, and the Lord hearkened to him.

10 Factum est autem, cum Samuel offerret holocaustum, Philisthiim iniere praelium contra Israel: intonuit autem Dominus fragore magno in die illa super Philisthiim, et exterruit eos, et caesi sunt a facie Israel.

10 And it came to pass, when Samuel was offering the holocaust, the Philistines engaged in battle against Israel: but the Lord thundered with a great crash on that day upon the Philistines, and he terrified them, and they were struck down before Israel.

11 Egressique viri Israel de Masphath, persecuti sunt Philisthaeos, et percusserunt eos usque ad locum qui erat subter Bethchar.

11 And the men of Israel, having gone out from Masphath, pursued the Philistines, and struck them down as far as the place that was beneath Bethchar.

12 Tulit autem Samuel lapidem unum, et posuit eum inter Masphath et inter Sen: et vocavit nomen loci illius, Lapis Adiutorii. Dixitque: Hucusque auxiliatus est nobis Dominus.

12 But Samuel took one stone, and placed it between Masphath and between Sen: and he called the name of that place, the Stone of Aid. And he said: Thus far the Lord has aided us.

13 Et humiliati sunt Philisthiim, nec apposuerunt ultra ut venirent in terminos Israel. Facta est itaque manus Domini super Philisthaeos, cunctis diebus Samuelis.

13 And the Philistines were humbled, and they no longer added to come into the borders of Israel. Therefore the hand of the Lord was upon the Philistines all the days of Samuel.

14 Et redditae sunt urbes, quas tulerant Philisthiim ab Israel, Israeli, ab Accaron usque Geth, et terminos suos: liberavitque Israel de manu Philisthinorum, eratque pax inter Israel et Amorrhaeum.

14 And the cities which the Philistines had taken from Israel were returned to Israel, from Ekron as far as Gath, and their borders; and he freed Israel from the hand of the Philistines, and there was peace between Israel and the Amorites.

15 Iudicabat quoque Samuel Israelem cunctis diebus vitae suae:

15 Samuel also judged Israel all the days of his life:

16 et ibat per singulos annos circuiens Bethel et Galgala et Masphath, et iudicabat Israelem in supradictis locis.

16 and he would go each year, circling through Bethel and Gilgal and Mizpah, and he judged Israel in the aforesaid places.

17 Revertebaturque in Ramatha: ibi enim erat domus eius, et ibi iudicabat Israelem: aedificavit etiam ibi altare Domino.

17 And he would return to Ramah: for there was his house, and there he judged Israel: he also built there an altar to the Lord.

[8]

1 Factum est autem cum senuisset Samuel, posuit filios suos iudices Israel.

1 And it came to pass that, when Samuel had grown old, he appointed his sons judges over Israel.

2 Fuitque nomen filii eius primogeniti Ioel: et nomen secundi Abia, iudicum in Bersabee.

2 And the name of his firstborn son was Joel: and the name of the second, Abia, judges in Beersheba.

3 Et non ambulaverunt filii illius in viis eius: sed declinaverunt post avaritiam, acceperuntque munera, et perverterunt iudicium.

3 And his sons did not walk in his ways: but they turned aside after avarice, and took gifts, and perverted judgment.

4 Congregati ergo universi maiores natu Israel, venerunt ad Samuelem in Ramatha.

4 Therefore all the elders of Israel gathered, and came to Samuel at Ramah.

5 Dixeruntque ei: Ecce tu senuisti, et filii tui non ambulant in viis tuis: constitue nobis regem, ut iudicet nos, sicut et universae habent nationes.

5 And they said to him: Behold, you have grown old, and your sons do not walk in your ways: appoint for us a king, that he may judge us, just as all the nations have.

6 Displicuit sermo in oculis Samuelis, eo quod dixissent: Da nobis regem, ut iudicet nos. Et oravit Samuel ad Dominum.

6 The word was displeasing in the eyes of Samuel, because they had said: Give us a king to judge us. And Samuel prayed to the Lord.

7 Dixit autem Dominus ad Samuelem: Audi vocem populi in omnibus quae loquuntur tibi: non enim te abiecerunt, sed me, ne regnem super eos.

7 And the Lord said to Samuel: Hear the voice of the people in all that they speak to you: for they have not rejected you, but me, that I should not reign over them.

8 Iuxta omnia opera sua, quae fecerunt a die qua eduxi eos de Aegypto usque ad diem hanc: sicut dereliquerunt me, et servierunt diis alienis, sic faciunt etiam tibi.

8 According to all their works which they have done from the day that I led them out of Egypt even to this day: just as they have forsaken me and served alien gods, so they are doing also to you.

9 Nunc ergo vocem eorum audi: verumtamen contestare eos, et praedic eis ius regis, qui regnaturus est super eos.

9 Now therefore hear their voice; nevertheless testify against them, and proclaim to them the right of the king who is going to reign over them.

10 Dixit itaque Samuel omnia verba Domini ad populum, qui petierat a se regem.

10 Therefore Samuel spoke all the words of the Lord to the people, who had asked a king from him.

11 Et ait: Hoc erit ius regis, qui imperaturus est vobis: Filios vestros tollet, et ponet in curribus suis, facietque sibi equites et praecursores quadrigarum suarum,

11 And he said: This will be the right of the king who will be ruling over you: he will take your sons, and will put them in his chariots, and he will make for himself horsemen and precursors of his chariots,

12 et constituet sibi tribunos, et centuriones, et aratores agrorum suorum, et messores segetum, et fabros armorum et curruum suorum.

12 and he will appoint for himself tribunes, and centurions, and plowmen of his fields, and reapers of grain, and smiths of his arms and of his chariots.

13 Filias quoque vestras faciet sibi unguentarias, et focarias, et panificas.

13 He will also make your daughters unguent-makers, and hearth-cooks, and bakers.

14 Agros quoque vestros, et vineas, et oliveta optima tollet, et dabit servis suis.

14 He will also take your fields, and your vineyards, and the finest olive-groves, and he will give them to his servants.

15 Sed et segetes vestras et vinearum reditus addecimabit, ut det eunuchis et famulis suis.

15 But he will also tithe your crops and the revenues of your vineyards, to give to his eunuchs and to his servants.

16 Servos etiam vestros, et ancillas, et iuvenes optimos, et asinos auferet, et ponet in opere suo.

16 He will also take your servants, and your maidservants, and the best youths, and asses, and he will set them to his work.

17 Greges quoque vestros addecimabit, vosque eritis ei servi.

17 He will also tithe your flocks, and you will be his servants.

18 Et clamabitis in die illa a facie regis vestri, quem elegistis vobis: et non exaudiet vos Dominus in die illa, quia petistis vobis regem.

18 And you will cry out on that day from the face of your king, whom you have chosen for yourselves: and the Lord will not hearken to you on that day, because you asked for yourselves a king.

19 Noluit autem populus audire vocem Samuelis, sed dixerunt: Nequaquam: rex enim erit super nos,

19 However the people were unwilling to hear the voice of Samuel, but they said: By no means: for a king will be over us,

20 et erimus nos quoque sicut omnes gentes: et iudicabit nos rex noster, et egredietur ante nos, et pugnabit bella nostra pro nobis.

20 and we too shall be like all the nations: and our king will judge us, and will go out before us, and will fight our wars for us.

21 Et audivit Samuel omnia verba populi, et locutus est ea in auribus Domini.

21 And Samuel heard all the words of the people, and he spoke them in the ears of the Lord.

22 Dixit autem Dominus ad Samuelem: Audi vocem eorum, et constitue super eos regem. Et ait Samuel ad viros Israel: Vadat unusquisque in civitatem suam.

22 But the Lord said to Samuel: Hear their voice, and constitute over them a king. And Samuel said to the men of Israel: Let each man go to his own city.

[9]

1 Et erat vir de Beniamin nomine Cis, filius Abiel, filii Seror, filii Bechorath, filii Aphia, filii viri Iemini, fortis robore.

1 And there was a man from Benjamin named Kish, son of Abiel, son of Zeror, son of Bechorath, son of Aphiah, son of a man of Jemini, mighty in strength.

2 Et erat ei filius vocabulo Saul, electus et bonus: et non erat vir de filiis Israel melior illo: ab humero et sursum eminebat super omnem populum.

2 And to him there was a son by the name Saul, elect and good: and there was not a man of the sons of Israel better than he: from the shoulder and upward he was eminent above all the people.

3 Perierant autem asinae Cis patris Saul: et dixit Cis ad Saul filium suum: Tolle tecum unum de pueris, et consurgens vade, et quaere asinas. Qui cum transissent per montem Ephraim,

3 But the she-asses of Cis, Saul’s father, had gone missing; and Cis said to Saul his son: Take with you one of the youths, and rising up go, and seek the she-asses. And when they had passed through the mountain of Ephraim,

4 et per terram Salisa, et non invenissent, transierunt etiam per terram Salim, et non erant: sed et per terram Iemini, et minime repererunt.

4 and through the land of Shalishah, and they had not found them, they also passed through the land of Shalim, and they were not: but also through the land of Benjamin, and they by no means found them.

5 Cum autem venissent in terram Suph, dixit Saul ad puerum qui erat cum eo: Veni et revertamur, ne forte dimiserit pater meus asinas, et sollicitus sit pro nobis.

5 But when they had come into the land of Suph, Saul said to the servant who was with him: Come, and let us return, lest perhaps my father have given up the asses and be anxious about us.

6 Qui ait ei: Ecce vir Dei est in civitate hac, vir nobilis: omne quod loquitur, sine ambiguitate venit. Nunc ergo eamus illuc, si forte indicet nobis de via nostra, propter quam venimus.

6 Who said to him: Behold, a man of God is in this city, a noble man; everything that he speaks comes to pass without ambiguity. Now therefore let us go there, perhaps he may indicate to us about our way, on account of which we have come.

7 Dixitque Saul ad puerum suum: Ecce ibimus: quid feremus ad virum Dei? panis defecit in sitarciis nostris: et sportulam non habemus, ut demus homini Dei, nec quidquam aliud.

7 And Saul said to his servant: Behold, we will go; what shall we bring to the man of God? the bread has failed in our provision-bags; and we do not have a sportula to give to the man of God, nor anything else.

8 Rursum puer respondit Sauli, et ait: Ecce inventa est in manu mea quarta pars stateris argenti, demus homini Dei, ut indicet nobis viam nostram.

8 Again the servant answered Saul, and said: Behold, a fourth part of a shekel of silver has been found in my hand; let us give it to the man of God, that he may indicate to us our way.

9 (Olim in Israel sic loquebatur unusquisque vadens consulere Deum: Venite, et eamus ad videntem. Qui enim propheta dicitur hodie, vocabatur olim videns.)

9 (Formerly in Israel thus each person, going to consult God, would speak: Come, and let us go to the seer. For he who is called prophet today was formerly called seer.)

10 Et dixit Saul ad puerum suum: Optimus sermo tuus. Veni, eamus. Et ierunt in civitatem, in qua erat vir Dei.

10 And Saul said to his boy: Your word is excellent. Come, let us go. And they went into the city in which the man of God was.

11 Cumque ascenderent clivum civitatis, invenerunt puellas egredientes ad hauriendam aquam, et dixerunt eis: Num hic est videns?

11 And when they were ascending the slope of the city, they found girls going out to draw water, and they said to them: Is the seer here?

12 Quae respondentes, dixerunt illis: Hic est: ecce ante te, festina nunc: hodie enim venit in civitatem, quia sacrificium est hodie populi in excelso.

12 Who, answering, said to them: He is here: behold, before you; make haste now: for today he has come into the city, because there is today a sacrifice of the people on the high place.

13 Ingredientes urbem, statim invenietis eum antequam ascendat excelsum ad vescendum, neque enim comesurus est populus donec ille veniat: quia ipse benedicit hostiae, et deinceps comedunt qui vocati sunt. Nunc ergo conscendite, quia hodie reperietis eum.

13 Entering the city, at once you will find him before he ascends the high place to dine; for the people will not eat until he comes, because he himself blesses the sacrifice, and thereafter those who are called eat. Now therefore ascend, for today you will find him.

14 Et ascenderunt in civitatem. Cumque illi ambularent in medio urbis, apparuit Samuel egrediens obviam eis, ut ascenderet in excelsum.

14 And they went up into the city. And while they were walking in the midst of the city, Samuel appeared, going out to meet them, to go up to the high place.

15 Dominus autem revelaverat auriculam Samuelis ante unam diem quam veniret Saul, dicens:

15 But the Lord had revealed to the ear of Samuel one day before Saul came, saying:

16 Hac ipsa hora, quae nunc est, cras mittam virum ad te de terra Beniaminm, et unges eum ducem super populum meum Israel: et salvabit populum meum de manu Philisthinorum: quia respexi populum meum, venit enim clamor eorum ad me.

16 At this very hour, which now is, tomorrow I will send a man to you from the land of Benjamin, and you shall anoint him leader over my people Israel: and he will save my people from the hand of the Philistines: because I have regarded my people, for their outcry has come to me.

17 Cumque aspexisset Samuel Saulem, Dominus dixit ei: Ecce vir quem dixeram tibi, iste dominabitur populo meo.

17 And when Samuel had looked upon Saul, the Lord said to him: Behold the man of whom I spoke to you; this one will rule over my people.

18 Accessit autem Saul ad Samuelem in medio portae, et ait: Indica, oro, mihi, ubi est domus videntis.

18 Then Saul approached Samuel in the middle of the gate, and said: Indicate, I pray, to me, where is the house of the seer.

19 Et respondit Samuel Sauli dicens: Ego sum videns: ascende ante me in excelsum, ut comedatis mecum hodie, et dimittam te mane: et omnia quae sunt in corde tuo indicabo tibi.

19 And Samuel answered Saul, saying: I am the seer: go up before me to the high place, that you may eat with me today, and I will dismiss you in the morning: and all the things that are in your heart I will make known to you.

20 Et de asinis, quas nudiustertius perdidisti, ne sollicitus sis, quia inventae sunt. Et cuius erunt optima quaeque Israel? nonne tibi et omni domui patris tui?

20 And as for the donkeys, which you lost the day before yesterday, do not be solicitous, for they have been found. And to whom shall all the best things of Israel belong? Is it not to you and to all your father’s house?

21 Respondens autem Saul, ait: Numquid non filius Iemini ego sum de minima tribu Israel, et cognatio mea novissima inter omnes familias de tribu Beniamin? quare ergo locutus est mihi sermonem istum?

21 But Saul answering said: Am I not a son of Benjamin, of the least tribe of Israel, and is not my clan the least among all the families of the tribe of Benjamin? Why then has he spoken to me this word?

22 Assumens itaque Samuel Saulem, et puerum eius, introduxit eos in triclinium, et dedit eis locum in capite eorum qui fuerant invitati: erant enim quasi triginta viri.

22 Therefore Samuel, taking Saul and his boy, led them into the triclinium, and gave them a place at the head of those who had been invited; for there were about thirty men.

23 Dixitque Samuel coco: Da partem quam dedi tibi, et praecepi ut reponeres seorsum apud te.

23 And Samuel said to the cook: Give the portion which I gave to you, and I commanded that you set aside separately with you.

24 Levavit autem cocus armum, et posuit ante Saul. Dixitque Samuel: Ecce quod remansit, pone ante te, et comede: quia de industria servatum est tibi, quando populum vocavi. Et comedit Saul cum Samuele in die illa.

24 Then the cook lifted the shoulder, and placed it before Saul. And Samuel said: Behold what has remained; set it before you, and eat: because it has been kept for you by design, when I called the people. And Saul ate with Samuel on that day.

25 Et descenderunt de excelso in oppidum, et locutus est cum Saule in solario: stravitque Saul in solario, et dormivit.

25 And they went down from the high place into the town, and he spoke with Saul in the solarium: and Saul lay down in the solarium, and slept.

26 Cumque mane surrexissent, et iam elucesceret, vocavit Samuel Saulem in solario, dicens: Surge, et dimittam te. Et surrexit Saul: egressique sunt ambo, ipse videlicet, et Samuel.

26 And when they had risen in the morning, and it was already growing light, Samuel called Saul in the solarium, saying: Arise, and I will dismiss you. And Saul arose: and they both went out, namely he himself and Samuel.

27 Cumque descenderent in extrema parte civitatis, Samuel dixit ad Saul: Dic puero ut antecedat nos et transeat: tu autem subsiste paulisper, ut indicem tibi verbum Domini.

27 And when they were descending in the extreme part of the city, Samuel said to Saul: Tell the boy to precede us and pass on: but you, stand still a little while, that I may indicate to you the word of the Lord.

[10]

1 Tulit autem Samuel lenticulam olei, et effudit super caput eius, et deosculatus est eum, et ait: Ecce, unxit te Dominus super haereditatem suam in principem, et liberabis populum suum de manibus inimicorum eius, qui in circuitu eius sunt. Et hoc tibi signum, quia unxit te Deus in principem.

1 But Samuel took a small flask of oil and poured it upon his head, and kissed him, and said: Behold, the Lord has anointed you over his inheritance as prince, and you will liberate his people from the hands of his enemies who are around him. And this to you is the sign, that God has anointed you as prince.

2 Cum abieris hodie a me, invenies duos viros iuxta sepulchrum Rachel in finibus Beniamin, in meridie, dicentque tibi: Inventae sunt asinae, ad quas ieras perquirendas: et intermissis pater tuus asinis, sollicitus est pro vobis, et dicit: Quid faciam de filio meo?

2 When you depart today from me, you will find two men near Rachel’s sepulchre in the borders of Benjamin, in the south, and they will say to you: The she-asses which you went to search for have been found; and your father, the she-asses set aside, is solicitous about you, and says: What shall I do about my son?

3 Cumque abieris inde, et ultra transieris, et veneris ad quercum Thabor, invenient te ibi tres viri ascendentes ad Deum in Bethel, unus portans tres haedos, et alius tres tortas panis, et alius portans lagenam vini.

3 And when you have gone away from there, and have passed further on, and have come to the oak of Tabor, three men going up to God at Bethel will find you there, one carrying three kids, and another three cakes of bread, and another carrying a flagon of wine.

4 Cumque te salutaverint, dabunt tibi duos panes, et accipies de manu eorum.

4 And when they have greeted you, they will give you two loaves, and you shall take from their hand.

5 Post haec venies in collem Dei, ubi est statio Philisthinorum: et cum ingressus fueris ibi urbem, obvium habebis gregem prophetarum descendentium de excelso, et ante eos psalterium et tympanum, et tibiam, et citharam, ipsosque prophetantes.

5 After these things you will come to the hill of God, where there is a garrison of the Philistines: and when you have entered the city there, you will meet a band of prophets coming down from the high place, and before them a psaltery and a tympanum, and a tibia, and a cithara, and they themselves prophesying.

6 Et insiliet in te Spiritus Domini, et prophetabis cum eis, et mutaberis in virum alium.

6 And the Spirit of the Lord will rush upon you, and you will prophesy with them, and you will be changed into another man.

7 Quando ergo evenerint signa haec omnia tibi, fac quaecumque invenerit manus tua, quia Dominus tecum est.

7 When therefore all these signs shall have come to pass for you, do whatever your hand finds, because the Lord is with you.

8 Et descendes ante me in Galgala (ego quippe descendam ad te), ut offeras oblationem, et immoles victimas pacificas: septem diebus expectabis, donec veniam ad te, et ostendam tibi quid facias.

8 And you shall go down before me to Gilgal (for indeed I will go down to you), that you may offer an oblation, and immolate peace-victims: for seven days you shall wait, until I come to you, and I will show you what you should do.

9 Itaque cum avertisset humerum suum ut abiret a Samuele, immutavit ei Deus cor aliud, et venerunt omnia signa haec in die illa.

9 And so, when he had turned his shoulder to depart from Samuel, God changed for him to another heart, and all these signs came on that day.

10 Veneruntque ad praedictum collem, et ecce cuneus prophetarum obvius ei: et insiluit super eum spiritus Domini, et prophetavit in medio eorum.

10 And they came to the aforesaid hill, and behold, a band of prophets met him; and the Spirit of the Lord leaped upon him, and he prophesied in the midst of them.

11 Videntes autem omnes qui noverant eum heri et nudiustertius, quod esset cum prophetis, et prophetaret, dixerunt ad invicem: Quaenam res accidit filio Cis? num et Saul inter prophetas?

11 But all who had known him yesterday and the day before yesterday, seeing that he was with the prophets and was prophesying, said to one another: What thing has happened to the son of Kish? Is Saul also among the prophets?

12 Responditque alius ad alterum, dicens: Et quis pater eorum? Propterea versum est in proverbium: Num et Saul inter prophetas?

12 And another responded to the other, saying: And who is their father? Therefore it was turned into a proverb: Is even Saul among the prophets?

13 Cessavit autem prophetare, et venit ad excelsum.

13 Then he ceased to prophesy, and came to the high place.

14 Dixitque patruus Saul ad eum, et ad puerum eius: Quo abistis? Qui responderunt: Quaerere asinas: quas cum non reperissemus, venimus ad Samuelem.

14 And Saul’s uncle said to him and to his servant: Whither did you go? Who answered: To seek the she-asses; and when we had not found them, we came to Samuel.

15 Et dixit ei patruus suus: Indica mihi quid dixerit tibi Samuel.

15 And his uncle said to him: Indicate to me what Samuel said to you.

16 Et ait Saul ad patruum suum: Indicavit nobis quia inventae essent asinae. De sermone autem regni non indicavit ei quem locutus fuerat ei Samuel.

16 And Saul said to his uncle: He told us that the asses had been found. But about the discourse of the kingdom he did not tell him, which Samuel had spoken to him.

17 Et convocavit Samuel populum ad Dominum in Maspha:

17 And Samuel convoked the people to the Lord at Mizpah:

18 et ait ad filios Israel: Haec dicit Dominus Deus Israel: Ego eduxi Israel de Aegypto, et erui vos de manu Aegyptiorum, et de manu omnium regum qui affligebant vos.

18 and he said to the sons of Israel: Thus says the Lord God of Israel: I brought Israel out of Egypt, and I delivered you from the hand of the Egyptians, and from the hand of all the kings who were afflicting you.

19 Vos autem hodie proiecistis Deum vestrum, qui solus salvavit vos de universis malis et tribulationibus vestris: et dixistis: Nequaquam: sed regem constitue super nos. Nunc ergo state coram Domino per tribus vestras, et per familias.

19 But you today have cast away your God, who alone saved you from all your evils and your tribulations: and you said: By no means: but set a king over us. Now therefore stand before the Lord by your tribes, and by families.

20 Et applicuit Samuel omnes tribus Israel, et cecidit sors tribus Beniamin.

20 And Samuel brought near all the tribes of Israel, and the lot fell upon the tribe of Benjamin.

21 Et applicuit tribum Beniamin et cognationes eius, et cecidit cognatio Metri, et pervenit usque ad Saul filium Cis. Quaesierunt ergo eum, et non est inventus.

21 And he brought near the tribe of Benjamin and its cognations (kindreds), and the cognation of Matri fell, and it came to Saul the son of Kish. Therefore they sought him, and he was not found.

22 Et consuluerunt post haec Dominum utrumnam venturus esset illuc. Responditque Dominus: Ecce absconditus est domi.

22 And after these things they consulted the Lord, whether he would come there. And the Lord answered: Behold, he is hidden at home.

23 Cucurrerunt itaque et tulerunt eum inde: stetitque in medio populi, et altior fuit universo populo ab humero et sursum.

23 They therefore ran and brought him from there; and he stood in the midst of the people, and he was taller than all the people from the shoulder and upward.

24 Et ait Samuel ad omnem populum: Certe videtis quem elegit Dominus, quoniam non sit similis illi in omni populo. Et clamavit omnis populus, et ait: Vivat rex.

24 And Samuel said to all the people: Surely you see whom the Lord has chosen, for there is none like him among all the people. And all the people cried out and said: Long live the king.

25 Locutus est autem Samuel ad populum legem regni, et scripsit in libro, et reposuit coram Domino: et dimisit Samuel omnem populum, singulos in domum suam.

25 Then Samuel spoke to the people the law of the kingdom, and wrote it in a book, and deposited it before the Lord: and Samuel dismissed all the people, each to his own house.

26 Sed et Saul abiit in domum suam in Gabaa: et abiit cum eo pars exercitus, quorum tetigerat Deus corda.

26 But Saul also went to his house at Gibeah; and a part of the army went with him, whose hearts God had touched.

27 Filii vero Belial dixerunt: Num salvare nos poterit iste? Et despexerunt eum, et non attulerunt ei munera: ille vero dissimulabat se audire.

27 But the sons of Belial said: Will this one be able to save us? And they despised him, and did not bring him gifts; but he pretended not to hear.

[11]

1 Et factum est quasi post mensem, ascendit Naas Ammonites, et pugnare coepit adversum Iabes Galaad. Dixeruntque omnes viri Iabes ad Naas: Habeto nos foederatos, et serviemus tibi.

1 And it came to pass, about a month later, Naas the Ammonite went up, and began to fight against Jabesh Gilead. And all the men of Jabesh said to Naas: Have us as confederates, and we will serve you.

2 Et respondit ad eos Naas Ammonites: In hoc feriam vobiscum foedus, ut eruam omnium vestrum oculos dextros, ponamque vos opprobrium in universo Israel.

2 And Nahash the Ammonite replied to them: On this I will strike a covenant with you, that I may pluck out the right eyes of all of you, and I will set you as an opprobrium in the whole of Israel.

3 Et dixerunt ad eum seniores Iabes: Concede nobis septem dies, ut mittamus nuntios ad universos terminos Israel, et si non fuerit qui defendat nos, egrediemur ad te.

3 And the elders of Jabesh said to him: Concede to us seven days, that we may send messengers to all the borders of Israel, and if there shall not be one who will defend us, we will go out to you.

4 Venerunt ergo nuntii in Gabaa Saulis: et locuti sunt verba haec, audiente populo: et levavit omnis populus vocem suam, et flevit.

4 Therefore the messengers came to Gibeah of Saul: and they spoke these words, the people listening: and all the people lifted up their voice, and wept.

5 Et ecce Saul veniebat, sequens boves de agro, et ait: Quid habet populus quod plorat? Et narraverunt ei verba virorum Iabes.

5 And behold, Saul was coming, following the oxen from the field, and he said: What has the people, that they weep? And they narrated to him the words of the men of Jabesh.

6 Et insilivit spiritus Domini in Saul, cum audisset verba haec, et iratus est furor eius nimis.

6 And the Spirit of the Lord leapt upon Saul, when he heard these words, and his fury was exceedingly inflamed.

7 Et assumens utrumque bovem, concidit in frustra, misitque in omnes terminos Israel per manum nuntiorum, dicens: Quicumque non exierit, et secutus fuerit Saul et Samuel, sic fiet bobus eius. Invasit ergo timor Domini populum, et egressi sunt quasi vir unus.

7 And taking both oxen, he cut them into pieces, and sent them into all the borders of Israel by the hand of messengers, saying: Whoever does not go out and follow Saul and Samuel, thus it shall be done to his oxen. Therefore the fear of the Lord invaded the people, and they went out as if one man.

8 Et recensuit eos in Bezech: fueruntque filiorum Israel trecenta millia: virorum autem Iuda triginta millia.

8 And he mustered them in Bezech: and there were of the sons of Israel 300,000: but of the men of Judah 30,000.

9 Et dixerunt nuntiis, qui venerant: Sic dicetis viris, qui sunt in Iabes Galaad: Cras erit vobis salus, cum incaluerit sol. Venerunt ergo nuntii, et annuntiaverunt viris Iabes: qui laetati sunt.

9 And they said to the messengers who had come: Thus you shall say to the men who are in Jabesh Gilead: Tomorrow there will be salvation for you, when the sun grows hot. Therefore the messengers came and announced to the men of Jabesh, who rejoiced.

10 Et dixerunt: Mane exibimus ad vos: et facietis nobis omne quod placuerit vobis.

10 And they said: In the morning we will go out to you, and you shall do to us whatever pleases you.

11 Et factum est, cum dies crastinus venisset, constituit Saul populum in tres partes: et ingressus est media castra in vigilia matutina, et percussit Ammon usque dum incalesceret dies: reliqui autem dispersi sunt, ita ut non relinquerentur in eis duo pariter.

11 And it came to pass, when the next day had come, Saul constituted the people into three parts: and he entered into the midst of the camp in the morning watch, and smote Ammon until the day grew hot: but the rest were scattered, so that not even two of them were left together.

12 Et ait populus ad Samuelem: Quis est iste qui dixit: Saul num regnabit super nos? Date viros, et interficiemus eos.

12 And the people said to Samuel: Who is this who said: Shall Saul indeed reign over us? Hand over the men, and we will put them to death.

13 Et ait Saul: Non occidetur quisquam in die hac, quia hodie fecit Dominus salutem in Israel.

13 And Saul said: No one shall be slain on this day, because today the Lord has made salvation in Israel.

14 Dixit autem Samuel ad populum: Venite, et eamus in Galgala, et innovemus ibi regnum.

14 Then Samuel said to the people: Come, and let us go to Gilgal, and let us renew the kingdom there.

15 Et perrexit omnis populus in Galgala, et fecerunt ibi regem Saul coram Domino in Galgala, et immolaverunt ibi victimas pacificas coram Domino. Et laetatus est ibi Saul, et cuncti viri Israel nimis.

15 And all the people went to Gilgal, and there they made Saul king before the Lord in Gilgal, and there they sacrificed peace-offerings before the Lord. And Saul rejoiced there, and all the men of Israel exceedingly.

[12]

1 Dixit autem Samuel ad universum Israel: Ecce audivi vocem vestram iuxta omnia quae locuti estis ad me, et constitui super vos regem.

1 And Samuel said to all Israel: Behold, I have heard your voice in accordance with all that you have spoken to me, and I have appointed a king over you.

2 Et nunc rex graditur ante vos: ego autem senui, et incanui: porro filii mei vobiscum sunt: itaque conversatus coram vobis ab adolescentia mea usque ad hanc diem, ecce praesto sum.

2 And now the king walks before you: but I have grown old and have turned gray: moreover my sons are with you: therefore I have conducted myself before you from my adolescence up to this day, behold, I am present.

3 Loquimini de me coram Domino, et coram Christo eius, utrum bovem cuiusquam tulerim, aut asinum: si quempiam calumniatus sum, si oppressi aliquem, si de manu cuiusquam munus accepi: et contemnam illud hodie, restituamque vobis.

3 Speak about me before the Lord, and before his Christ, whether I have taken anyone’s ox, or donkey; if I have calumniated anyone, if I have oppressed anyone, if I have received a gift from anyone’s hand; and I will contemn it today, and I will restore it to you.

4 Et dixerunt: Non es calumniatus nos, neque oppressisti, neque tulisti de manu alicuius quippiam.

4 And they said: You have not calumniated us, nor oppressed us, nor taken anything from anyone’s hand.

5 Dixitque ad eos: Testis est Dominus adversum vos, et testis Christus eius in die hac, quia non inveneritis in manu mea quippiam. Et dixerunt: Testis.

5 And he said to them: The Lord is witness against you, and his Christ is witness on this day, that you have found nothing in my hand. And they said: Witness.

6 Et ait Samuel ad populum: Dominus, qui fecit Moysen et Aaron, et eduxit patres nostros de terra Aegypti.

6 And Samuel said to the people: The Lord, who made Moses and Aaron, and led out our fathers from the land of Egypt.

7 Nunc ergo state, ut iudicio contendam adversum vos coram Domino de omnibus misericordiis Domini, quas fecit vobiscum, et cum patribus vestris:

7 Now therefore stand, that I may contend in judgment against you before the Lord concerning all the mercies of the Lord, which he has done with you, and with your fathers:

8 quomodo Iacob ingressus est in Aegyptum, et clamaverunt patres vestri ad Dominum: et misit Dominus Moysen et Aaron, et eduxit patres vestros de Aegypto: et collocavit eos in loco hoc.

8 how Jacob entered into Egypt, and your fathers cried out to the Lord: and the Lord sent Moses and Aaron, and led your fathers out of Egypt: and settled them in this place.

9 Qui obliti sunt Domini Dei sui, et tradidit eos in manu Sisarae magistri militiae Hasor, et in manu Philisthinorum, et in manu regis Moab, et pugnaverunt adversum eos.

9 Who forgot the Lord their God, and he handed them over into the hand of Sisera, the master of soldiery of Hazor, and into the hand of the Philistines, and into the hand of the king of Moab, and they fought against them.

10 Postea autem clamaverunt ad Dominum, et dixerunt: Peccavimus, quia dereliquimus Dominum, et servivimus Baalim et Astaroth: nunc ergo erue nos de manu inimicorum nostrorum, et serviemus tibi.

10 But afterward they cried out to the Lord and said: We have sinned, because we have deserted the Lord and have served the Baalim and the Ashtaroth: now therefore deliver us from the hand of our enemies, and we will serve you.

11 Et misit Dominus Ierobaal, et Badan, et Iephte, et Samuel, et eruit vos de manu inimicorum vestrorum per circuitum, et habitastis confidenter.

11 And the Lord sent Jerubbaal, and Bedan, and Jephthah, and Samuel, and he delivered you from the hand of your enemies all around, and you dwelt confidently.

12 Videntes autem quod Naas rex filiorum Ammon venisset adversum vos, dixistis mihi: Nequaquam, sed rex imperabit nobis: cum Dominus Deus vester regnaret in vobis.

12 But seeing that Naas, the king of the sons of Ammon, had come against you, you said to me: By no means, but a king will reign over us: when the Lord your God was reigning over you.

13 Nunc ergo praesto est rex vester, quem elegistis et petistis: ecce dedit vobis Dominus regem.

13 Now therefore your king is at hand, whom you elected and petitioned: behold, the Lord has given you a king.

14 Si timueritis Dominum, et servieritis ei, et audieritis vocem eius, et non exasperaveritis os Domini: eritis et vos, et rex qui imperat vobis, sequentes Dominum Deum vestrum:

14 If you fear the Lord, and serve him, and hear his voice, and do not exasperate the mouth of the Lord: both you, and the king who rules over you, will be following the Lord your God:

15 si autem non audieritis vocem Domini, sed exasperaveritis sermones eius, erit manus Domini super vos, et super patres vestros.

15 if, however, you will not hear the voice of the Lord, but exasperate his words, the hand of the Lord will be upon you, and upon your fathers.

16 Sed et nunc state, et videte rem istam grandem quam facturus est Dominus in conspectu vestro.

16 But even now stand, and see this great thing that the Lord is about to do before your eyes.

17 Numquid non messis tritici est hodie? invocabo Dominum, et dabit voces et pluvias: et scietis, et videbitis, quia grande malum feceritis vobis in conspectu Domini, petentes super vos regem.

17 Is it not the wheat-harvest today? I will invoke the Lord, and he will give thunders and rains; and you shall know and you shall see that you have done a great evil for yourselves in the sight of the Lord, in asking for yourselves a king.

18 Et clamavit Samuel ad Dominum, et dedit Dominus voces et pluvias in illa die.

18 And Samuel cried out to the Lord, and the Lord gave thunder and rain on that day.

19 Et timuit omnis populus nimis Dominum et Samuelem, et dixit universus populus ad Samuelem: Ora pro servis tuis ad Dominum Deum tuum, ut non moriamur: addidimus enim universis peccatis nostris malum, ut peteremus nobis regem.

19 And all the people exceedingly feared the Lord and Samuel, and all the people said to Samuel: Pray for your servants to the Lord your God, that we may not die; for we have added an evil to all our sins, by petitioning for ourselves a king.

20 Dixit autem Samuel ad populum: Nolite timere, vos fecistis universum malum hoc: verumtamen nolite recedere a tergo Domini, sed servite Domino in omni corde vestro.

20 But Samuel said to the people: Do not fear; you have done all this evil; nevertheless do not turn aside from following the Lord, but serve the Lord with all your heart.

21 Et nolite declinare post vana, quae non proderunt vobis, neque eruent vos, quia vana sunt.

21 And do not turn aside after vanities, which will not profit you, nor deliver you, because they are vain.

22 Et non derelinquet Dominus populum suum propter nomen suum magnum: quia iuravit Dominus facere vos sibi populum.

22 And the Lord will not abandon his people for the sake of his great name: because the Lord has sworn to make you a people for himself.

23 Absit autem a me hoc peccatum in Dominum, ut cessem orare pro vobis, et docebo vos viam bonam et rectam.

23 But far be from me this sin against the Lord, that I should cease to pray for you, and I will teach you the good and right way.

24 Igitur timete Dominum, et servite ei in veritate, et ex toto corde vestro: vidistis enim magnifica quae in vobis gesserit.

24 Therefore fear the Lord, and serve him in truth, and with all your heart: for you have seen the magnificent things which he has wrought among you.

25 Quod si perseveraveritis in malitia: et vos et rex vester pariter peribitis.

25 But if you persevere in malice: both you and your king will perish together.

[13]

1 Filius unius anni erat Saul cum regnare coepisset, duobus autem annis regnavit super Israel.

1 Saul was a son of one year when he had begun to reign, and he reigned over Israel for two years.

2 Et elegit sibi Saul tria millia de Israel: et erant cum Saul duo millia in Machmas, et in monte Bethel: mille autem cum Ionatha in Gabaa Beniamin: porro ceterum populum remisit unumquemque in tabernacula sua.

2 And Saul chose for himself three thousand out of Israel: and there were with Saul two thousand in Machmas, and on the mount of Bethel: but one thousand with Jonathan in Gabaa of Benjamin: moreover he sent away the rest of the people, each one to his tents.

3 Et percussit Ionathas stationem Philisthinorum, quae erat in Gabaa. Quod cum audissent Philisthiim, Saul cecinit buccina in omni terra, dicens: Audiant Hebraei.

3 And Jonathan struck the garrison of the Philistines, which was in Gabaa. When the Philistines heard this, Saul sounded the trumpet in all the land, saying: Let the Hebrews hear.

4 Et universus Israel audivit huiuscemodi famam: Percussit Saul stationem Philisthinorum: et erexit se Israel adversus Philisthiim. Clamavit ergo populus post Saul in Galgala.

4 And all Israel heard a report of this kind: Saul has struck the garrison of the Philistines; and Israel has raised itself against the Philistines. Therefore the people cried out after Saul at Gilgal.

5 Et Philisthiim congregati sunt ad praeliandum contra Israel, triginta millia curruum, et sex millia equitum, et reliquum vulgus, sicut arena quae est in littore maris plurima. Et ascendentes castrametati sunt in Machmas ad orientem Bethaven.

5 And the Philistines were gathered to do battle against Israel, 30,000 chariots and 6,000 horsemen, and the remaining multitude, as the sand which is on the seashore in great number. And going up, they encamped at Michmash to the east of Beth-aven.

6 Quod cum vidissent viri Israel se in arcto positos (afflictus enim erat populus), absconderunt se in speluncis, et in abditis, in petris quoque, et in antris, et in cisternis.

6 When the men of Israel saw that they were placed in straits (for the people was afflicted), they hid themselves in caves, and in secret places, in the rocks also, and in caverns, and in cisterns.

7 Hebraei autem transierunt Iordanem in terram Gad et Galaad.

7 However, the Hebrews crossed the Jordan into the land of Gad and Gilead.

Cumque adhuc esset Saul in Galgala, universus populus perterritus est, qui sequebatur eum.

And while Saul was still in Gilgal, all the people who were following him were terrified.

8 Et expectavit septem diebus iuxta placitum Samuelis, et non venit Samuel in Galgala, dilapsusque est populus ab eo.

8 And he waited seven days according to Samuel’s appointment, and Samuel did not come to Galgala, and the people were scattered from him.

9 Ait ergo Saul: Afferte mihi holocaustum, et pacifica. Et obtulit holocaustum.

9 Therefore Saul said: Bring to me the holocaust and the peace offerings. And he offered the holocaust.

10 Cumque complesset offerens holocaustum, ecce Samuel veniebat: et egressus est Saul obviam ei ut salutaret eum.

10 And when he had completed offering the holocaust, behold, Samuel was coming: and Saul went out to meet him so that he might salute him.

11 Locutusque est ad eum Samuel: Quid fecisti? Respondit Saul: Quia vidi quod populus dilaberetur a me, et tu non veneras iuxta placitos dies, porro Philisthiim congregati fuerant in Machmas,

11 And Samuel spoke to him: What have you done? Saul responded: Because I saw that the people were slipping away from me, and you had not come according to the appointed days, moreover the Philistines had been congregated at Michmash,

12 dixi: Nunc descendent Philisthiim ad me in Galgala, et faciem Domini non placavi. Necessitate compulsus, obtuli holocaustum.

12 I said: Now the Philistines will come down upon me at Gilgal, and I have not propitiated the face of the Lord. Compelled by necessity, I offered a holocaust.

13 Dixitque Samuel ad Saul: Stulte egisti, nec custodisti mandata Domini Dei tui, quae praecepit tibi. Quod si non fecisses, iam nunc praeparasset Dominus regnum tuum super Israel in sempiternum,

13 And Samuel said to Saul: You have acted foolishly, and you have not kept the commandments of the Lord your God, which he commanded you. For if you had not done this, by now the Lord would have established your kingdom over Israel forever,

14 sed nequaquam regnum tuum ultra consurget. Quaesivit Dominus sibi virum iuxta cor suum: et praecepit ei Dominus ut esset dux super populum suum, eo quod non servaveris quae praecepit Dominus.

14 but by no means shall your kingdom continue. The Lord has sought for himself a man after his own heart; and the Lord has commanded him to be leader over his people, because you have not kept the things which the Lord commanded.

15 Surrexit autem Samuel, et ascendit de Galgalis in Gabaa Beniamin. Et reliqui populi ascenderunt post Saul obviam populo, qui expugnabant eos venientes de Galgala in Gabaa, in colle Beniamin. Et recensuit Saul populum, qui inventi fuerant cum eo, quasi sexcentos viros.

15 And Samuel arose and went up from Gilgal to Gibeah of Benjamin. And the rest of the people went up after Saul to meet the people who were assaulting them, coming from Gilgal to Gibeah, on the hill of Benjamin. And Saul mustered the people who had been found with him, about six hundred men.

16 Et Saul et Ionathas filius eius, populusque qui inventus fuerat cum eis, erat in Gabaa Beniamin: porro Philisthiim consederant in Machmas.

16 And Saul and Jonathan his son, and the people who had been found with them, were in Gibeah of Benjamin; but the Philistines had encamped in Michmash.

17 Et egressi sunt ad praedandum de castris Philisthinorum tres cunei. Unus cuneus pergebat contra viam Ephra ad terram Sual:

17 And there went out to plunder from the camp of the Philistines three detachments. One detachment proceeded toward the way of Ephra to the land of Shual:

18 porro alius ingrediebatur per viam Beth-horon: tertius autem verterat se ad iter termini imminentis valli Seboim contra desertum.

18 moreover another was entering by the way of Beth-horon: but the third had turned to the road of the border that overhangs the valley of Seboim, toward the desert.

19 Porro faber ferrarius non inveniebatur in omni terra Israel. Caverant enim Philisthiim, ne forte facerent Hebraei gladium aut lanceam.

19 Moreover, no blacksmith was found in all the land of Israel; for the Philistines had taken care, lest perhaps the Hebrews make a sword or a spear.

20 Descendebat ergo omnis Israel ad Philisthiim, ut exacueret unusquisque vomerem suum, et ligonem, et securim, et sarculum.

20 Therefore all Israel went down to the Philistines, that each might sharpen his plowshare, and his mattock, and his axe, and his sickle.

21 Retusae itaque erant acies vomerum, et ligonum, et tridentum, et securium, usque ad stimulum corrigendum.

21 Therefore the edges of the plowshares, and of the mattocks, and of the tridents, and of the axes were blunted, even unto the goad to be corrected.

22 Cumque venisset dies praelii, non est inventus ensis et lancea in manu totius populi, qui erat cum Saule et Ionatha, excepto Saul et Ionatha filio eius.

22 And when the day of the battle had come, there was not found a sword or a lance in the hand of all the people who were with Saul and Jonathan, except for Saul and Jonathan his son.

23 Egressa est autem statio Philisthiim, ut transcenderet in Machmas.

23 However, the outpost of the Philistines went out to cross over into Machmas.

[14]

1 Et accidit quadam die ut diceret Ionathas filius Saul ad adolescentem armigerum suum: Veni, et transeamus ad stationem Philisthinorum, quae est trans locum illum. Patri autem suo hoc ipsum non indicavit.

1 And it happened on a certain day that Jonathan, the son of Saul, said to the young man, his armor‑bearer: “Come, and let us cross over to the garrison of the Philistines, which is beyond that place.” But he did not disclose this very thing to his father.

2 Porro Saul morabatur in extrema parte Gabaa sub malogranato, quae erat in Magron: et erat populus cum eo quasi sexcentorum virorum.

2 Now Saul was lingering in the farthest part of Gibeah under the pomegranate tree, which was in Migron; and the people with him were about six hundred men.

3 Et Achias filius Achitob fratris Ichabod filii Phinees, qui ortus fuerat ex Heli sacerdote Domini in Silo, portabat ephod. Sed et populus ignorabat quo isset Ionathas.

3 And Ahijah, son of Ahitub, brother of Ichabod, son of Phinehas, who had been born of Eli, priest of the Lord, in Shiloh, was carrying the ephod. But the people also did not know whither Jonathan had gone.

4 Erant autem inter ascensus, per quos nitebatur Ionathas transire ad stationem Philisthinorum, eminentes petrae ex utraque parte, et quasi in modum dentium scopuli hinc et inde praerupti, nomen uni Boses, et nomen alteri Sene:

4 Now there were, between the ascents by which Jonathan was endeavoring to cross over to the station of the Philistines, projecting rocks on either side, and crags, as it were in the manner of teeth, precipitous here and there; the name of the one was Boses, and the name of the other Sene:

5 unus scopulus prominens ad aquilonem ex adverso Machmas, et alter ad meridiem contra Gabaa.

5 one crag prominent to the north, opposite Michmash, and the other to the south, opposite Gibeah.

6 Dixit autem Ionathas ad adolescentem armigerum suum: Veni, transeamus ad stationem incircumcisorum horum, si forte faciat Dominus pro nobis: quia non est Domino difficile salvare, vel in multis, vel in paucis.

6 But Jonathan said to his adolescent armor-bearer: Come, let us cross over to the station of these uncircumcised, perhaps the Lord will act for us; for it is not difficult for the Lord to save, whether by many or by few.

7 Dixitque ei armiger suus: Fac omnia quae placent animo tuo: perge quo cupis, et ero tecum ubicumque volueris.

7 And his armor-bearer said to him: Do all things which please your mind: proceed where you desire, and I will be with you wherever you will.

8 Et ait Ionathas: Ecce nos transimus ad viros istos. Cumque apparuerimus eis,

8 And Jonathan said: Behold, we are crossing over to those men. And when we have appeared to them,

9 si taliter locuti fuerint ad nos: Manete donec veniamus ad vos: stemus in loco nostro, nec ascendamus ad eos.

9 if they speak to us in such a manner: Remain until we come to you: let us stand in our place, and let us not ascend to them.

10 Si autem dixerint: Ascendite ad nos: ascendamus, quia tradidit eos Dominus in manibus nostris, hoc erit nobis signum.

10 But if they shall say: Ascend to us: let us ascend, because the Lord has delivered them into our hands; this will be a sign for us.

11 Apparuit igitur uterque stationi Philisthinorum: dixeruntque Philisthiim: En Hebraei egrediuntur de cavernis, in quibus absconditi fuerant.

11 Therefore both appeared to the station of the Philistines; and the Philistines said: Behold, the Hebrews are coming out of the caves in which they had been hidden.

12 Et locuti sunt viri de statione ad Ionatham, et ad armigerum eius, dixeruntque: Ascendite ad nos, et ostendemus vobis rem. Et ait Ionathas ad armigerum suum: Ascendamus, sequere me: tradidit enim Dominus eos in manus Israel.

12 And the men from the station spoke to Jonathan and to his armor-bearer, and said: Come up to us, and we will show you a matter. And Jonathan said to his armor-bearer: Let us go up; follow me, for the Lord has delivered them into the hands of Israel.

13 Ascendit autem Ionathas manibus et pedibus reptans, et armiger eius post eum. Itaque alii cadebant ante Ionatham, alios armiger eius interficiebat sequens eum.

13 But Jonathan went up, crawling on hands and feet, and his armor-bearer after him. Thus some were falling before Jonathan, and others were slain by his armor-bearer as he followed him.

14 Et facta est plaga prima, qua percussit Ionathas et armiger eius, quasi viginti virorum in media parte iugeri, quam par boum in die arare consuevit.

14 And the first slaughter, which Jonathan and his armor-bearer struck, was about twenty men, within half a iugerum, which a pair of oxen is accustomed to plow in a day.

15 Et factum est miraculum in castris, per agros: sed et omnis populus stationis eorum, qui ierant ad praedandum, obstupuit, et conturbata est terra: et accidit quasi miraculum a Deo.

15 And a miracle happened in the camp, through the fields: but also all the people of their garrison, who had gone to plunder, were astounded, and the earth was disturbed: and it befell as if a miracle from God.

16 Et respexerunt speculatores Saul, qui erant in Gabaa Beniamin, et ecce multitudo prostrata, et huc illucque diffugiens.

16 And the lookouts of Saul, who were in Gibeah of Benjamin, looked, and behold, a multitude overthrown, and fleeing hither and thither.

17 Et ait Saul populo, qui erat cum eo: Requirite, et videte quis abierit ex nobis. Cumque requisissent, repertum est non adesse Ionatham et armigerum eius.

17 And Saul said to the people who were with him: Inquire, and see who has gone away from us. And when they had inquired, it was found that Jonathan and his armor-bearer were not present.

18 Et ait Saul ad Achiam: Applica arcam Dei. (Erat enim ibi arca Dei in die illa cum filiis Israel.)

18 And Saul said to Ahijah: Bring near the ark of God. (For the ark of God was there that day with the children of Israel.)

19 Cumque loqueretur Saul ad sacerdotem, tumultus magnus exortus est in castris Philisthinorum: crescebatque paulatim, et clarius resonabat. Et ait Saul ad sacerdotem: Contrahe manum tuam.

19 And while Saul was speaking to the priest, a great tumult arose in the camp of the Philistines: and it was increasing little by little, and resounded more clearly. And Saul said to the priest: Withdraw your hand.

20 Conclamavit ergo Saul, et omnis populus, qui erat cum eo, et venerunt usque ad locum certaminis: et ecce versus fuerat gladius uniuscuiusque ad proximum suum, et caedes magna nimis.

20 Therefore Saul cried out, and all the people who were with him, and they came as far as the place of the combat: and behold, the sword of each had been turned against his neighbor, and a very great slaughter indeed.

21 Sed et Hebraei qui fuerant cum Philisthiim heri et nudiustertius, ascenderantque cum eis in castris, reversi sunt ut essent cum Israel, qui erant cum Saul et Ionatha.

21 But even the Hebrews who had been with the Philistines yesterday and the day before yesterday, and had gone up with them in the camp, turned back to be with Israel, who were with Saul and Jonathan.

22 Omnes quoque Israelitae, qui se absconderant in monte Ephraim, audientes quod fugissent Philisthaei, sociaverunt se cum suis in praelio. Et erant cum Saul, quasi decem millia virorum.

22 All the Israelites also, who had hidden themselves on Mount Ephraim, hearing that the Philistines had fled, joined themselves with their own people in the battle. And there were with Saul about 10,000 men.

23 Et salvavit Dominus in die illa Israel: pugna autem pervenit usque ad Bethaven.

23 And the Lord saved Israel on that day; moreover the battle reached as far as Bethaven.

24 Et viri Israel sociati sunt sibi in die illa: adiuravit autem Saul populum, dicens: Maledictus vir, qui comederit panem usque ad vesperam, donec ulciscar de inimicis meis. Et non manducavit universus populus panem:

24 And the men of Israel joined themselves together on that day: but Saul adjured the people, saying: Cursed is the man who shall eat bread until evening, until I have avenged myself on my enemies. And all the people did not eat bread:

25 omneque terrae vulgus venit in saltum, in quo erat mel super faciem agri.

25 and all the common folk of the land came into the woodland, in which there was honey upon the face of the field.

26 Ingressus est itaque populus saltum, et apparuit fluens mel, nullusque applicuit manum ad os suum: timebat enim populus iuramentum.

26 Therefore the people entered the forest, and flowing honey appeared, and no one put his hand to his mouth: for the people feared the oath.

27 Porro Ionathas non audierat cum adiuraret pater eius populum: extenditque summitatem virgae, quam habebat in manu, et intinxit in favum mellis: et convertit manum suam ad os suum, et illuminati sunt oculi eius.

27 Moreover Jonathan had not heard when his father adjured the people: and he stretched out the tip of the rod which he had in his hand, and dipped it into a honeycomb: and he turned his hand to his mouth, and his eyes were enlightened.

28 Respondensque unus de populo, ait: Iureiurando constrinxit pater tuus populum, dicens: Maledictus vir, qui comederit panem hodie (defecerat autem populus).

28 And one of the people, answering, said: By an oath your father has bound the people, saying: Cursed is the man who shall eat bread today (but the people had grown faint).

29 Dixitque Ionathas: Turbavit pater meus terram: vidistis ipsi quia illuminati sunt oculi mei, eo quod gustaverim paululum de melle isto:

29 And Jonathan said: My father has troubled the land: you yourselves have seen that my eyes have been illuminated, because I have tasted a little of this honey:

30 quanto magis si comedisset populus de praeda inimicorum suorum, quam reperit? nonne maior plaga facta fuisset in Philisthiim?

30 how much more, if the people had eaten of the booty of their enemies which they found? would not a greater slaughter have been made among the Philistines?

31 Percusserunt ergo in die illa Philisthaeos a Machmis usque in Aialon. Defatigatus est autem populus nimis:

31 Therefore they struck the Philistines on that day from Machmis as far as Aialon. However, the people were exceedingly fatigued:

32 et versus ad praedam tulit oves, et boves, et vitulos, et mactaverunt in terra: comeditque populus cum sanguine.

32 and turning toward the spoil he took sheep, and oxen, and calves, and they slaughtered on the ground: and the people ate with the blood.

33 Nuntiaverunt autem Sauli dicentes quod populus peccasset Domino, comedens cum sanguine. Qui ait: Praevaricati estis: volvite ad me iam nunc saxum grande.

33 But they reported to Saul, saying that the people had sinned against the Lord, eating with blood. And he said: You have transgressed; roll to me right now a great stone.

34 Et dixit Saul: Dispergimini in vulgus, et dicite eis ut adducat ad me unusquisque bovem suum et arietem, et occidite super istud, et vescimini, et non peccabitis Domino comedentes cum sanguine. Adduxit itaque omnis populus unusquisque bovem in manu sua usque ad noctem: et occiderunt ibi.

34 And Saul said: Disperse among the populace, and say to them that each one bring to me his ox and his ram, and slaughter upon this, and eat, and you will not sin against the Lord by eating with the blood. Therefore all the people brought, each his ox by his hand, until night; and they slaughtered there.

35 Aedificavit autem Saul altare Domino, tuncque primum coepit aedificare altare Domino.

35 However, Saul built an altar to the Lord, and then for the first time he began to build an altar to the Lord.

36 Et dixit Saul: Irruamus super Philisthaeos nocte, et vastemus eos usque dum illucescat mane, nec relinquamus ex eis virum. Dixitque populus: Omne quod bonum videtur in oculis tuis, fac. Et ait sacerdos: Accedamus huc ad Deum.

36 And Saul said: Let us rush upon the Philistines by night, and lay waste to them until the morning grows light, and let us not leave of them a single man. And the people said: Do whatever seems good in your eyes. And the priest said: Let us draw near hither to God.

37 Et consuluit Saul Dominum: Num persequar Philisthiim? si trades eos in manus Israel? Et non respondit ei in die illa.

37 And Saul consulted the Lord: Shall I pursue the Philistines? Will you deliver them into the hand of Israel? And he did not answer him on that day.

38 Dixitque Saul: Applicate huc universos angulos populi: et scitote, et videte per quem acciderit peccatum hoc hodie.

38 And Saul said: Bring here all the corners of the people: and know, and see through whom this sin has occurred today.

39 Vivit Dominus salvator Israel, quia si per Ionatham filium meum factum est, absque retractione morietur. Ad quod nullus contradixit ei de omni populo.

39 As the Lord, the Savior of Israel, lives, for even if it was done by Jonathan my son, he shall die without reprieve. To this no one of all the people contradicted him.

40 Et ait ad universum Israel: Separamini vos in partem unam, et ego cum Ionatha filio meo ero in parte altera. Responditque populus ad Saul: Quod bonum videtur in oculis tuis, fac.

40 And he said to all Israel: Separate yourselves, you into one part, and I with Jonathan my son will be in the other part. And the people answered Saul: What seems good in your eyes, do.

41 Et dixit Saul ad Dominum Deum Israel: Domine Deus Israel, da indicium: quid est quod non responderis servo tuo hodie? Si in me, aut in Ionatha filio meo, est iniquitas haec, da ostensionem: aut si haec iniquitas est in populo tuo, da sanctitatem. Et deprehensus est Ionathas ad Saul, populus autem exivit.

41 And Saul said to the Lord God of Israel: Lord God of Israel, give an indication: why is it that you have not answered your servant today? If this iniquity is in me, or in Jonathan my son, grant a manifestation; but if this iniquity is in your people, grant sanctity. And Jonathan was taken with Saul, but the people went out.

42 Et ait Saul: Mittite sortem inter me, et inter Ionatham filium meum. Et captus est Ionathas.

42 And Saul said: Cast the lot between me and Jonathan my son. And Jonathan was taken.

43 Dixit autem Saul ad Ionatham: Indica mihi quid feceris. Et indicavit ei Ionathas, et ait: Gustans gustavi in summitate virgae, quae erat in manu mea, paululum mellis, et ecce ego morior.

43 But Saul said to Jonathan: Indicate to me what you have done. And Jonathan indicated to him, and said: Tasting, I tasted at the summit of the rod, which was in my hand, a little honey, and behold, I die.

44 Et ait Saul: Haec faciat mihi Deus, et haec addat, quia morte morieris Ionatha.

44 And Saul said: May God do these things to me, and add these, because you shall surely die, Jonathan.

45 Dixitque populus ad Saul: Ergone Ionathas morietur, qui fecit salutem hanc magnam in Israel? hoc nefas est: vivit Dominus, si ceciderit capillus de capite eius in terram, quia cum Deo operatus est hodie. Liberavit ergo populus Ionatham, ut non moreretur.

45 And the people said to Saul: Shall Jonathan then die, who has wrought this great salvation in Israel? This is impiety: as the Lord lives, not a hair shall fall from his head to the ground, for he has worked with God today. Therefore the people delivered Jonathan, so that he would not die.

46 Recessitque Saul, nec persecutus est Philisthiim: porro Philisthiim abierunt in loca sua.

46 And Saul withdrew, and did not pursue the Philistines: moreover the Philistines departed to their own places.

47 Et Saul, confirmato regno super Israel, pugnabat per circuitum adversum omnes inimicos eius, contra Moab, et filios Ammon, et Edom, et reges Soba, et Philisthaeos: et quocumque se verterat, superabat.

47 And Saul, the kingdom having been established over Israel, was fighting all around against all his enemies—against Moab, and the sons of Ammon, and Edom, and the kings of Zobah, and the Philistines: and wherever he turned himself, he prevailed.

48 Congregatoque exercitu, percussit Amalec, et eruit Israel de manu vastatorum eius.

48 And, the army having been congregated, he smote Amalek, and delivered Israel from the hand of its devastators.

49 Fuerunt autem filii Saul, Ionathas, et Iessui, et Melchisua: et nomina duarum filiarum eius, nomen primogenitae Merob, et nomen minoris Michol.

49 Now the sons of Saul were Ionathas, and Iessui, and Melchisua: and the names of his two daughters, the name of the firstborn, Merob, and the name of the younger, Michol.

50 Et nomen uxoris Saul Achinoam filia Achimaas: et nomen principis militiae eius Abner, filius Ner, patruelis Saul.

50 And the name of Saul’s wife was Achinoam, daughter of Achimaas: and the name of the commander of his army was Abner, son of Ner, Saul’s paternal cousin.

51 Porro Cis fuit pater Saul, et Ner pater Abner, filius Abiel.

51 Moreover Cis was the father of Saul, and Ner the father of Abner, the son of Abiel.

52 Erat autem bellum potens adversum Philisthaeos omnibus diebus Saul. Nam quemcumque viderat Saul virum fortem, et aptum ad praelium, sociabat eum sibi.

52 Now there was a mighty war against the Philistines through all the days of Saul. For whenever Saul saw any man strong and apt for battle, he associated him with himself.

[15]

1 Et dixit Samuel ad Saul: Me misit Dominus, ut ungerem te in regem super populum eius Israel: nunc ergo audi vocem Domini.

1 And Samuel said to Saul: The Lord sent me to anoint you as king over his people Israel: now therefore hear the voice of the Lord.

2 Haec dicit Dominus exercituum: Recensui quaecumque fecit Amalec Israeli: quomodo restitit ei in via cum ascenderet de Aegypto.

2 Thus says the Lord of hosts: I have taken account of whatever Amalek did to Israel: how he resisted him on the way when he was going up from Egypt.

3 Nunc ergo vade, et percute Amalec, et demolire universa eius: non parcas ei, et non concupiscas ex rebus ipsius aliquid, sed interfice a viro usque ad mulierem, et parvulum atque lactentem, bovem et ovem, camelum et asinum.

3 Now therefore go, and strike Amalek, and utterly demolish all that is his: do not spare him, and do not covet anything from his goods, but slay from man even to woman, and infant and suckling, ox and sheep, camel and donkey.

4 Praecepit itaque Saul populo, et recensuit eos quasi agnos: ducenta millia peditum, et decem millia virorum Iuda.

4 And so Saul commanded the people, and mustered them as lambs: two hundred thousand foot-soldiers, and ten thousand men of Judah.

5 Cumque venisset Saul usque ad civitatem Amalec, tetendit insidias in torrente.

5 And when Saul had come up to the city of Amalek, he set an ambush in the torrent.

6 Dixitque Saul Cinaeo: Abite, recedite, atque descendite ab Amalec: ne forte involvam te cum eo: tu enim fecisti misericordiam cum omnibus filiis Israel, cum ascenderent de Aegypto. Et recessit Cinaeus de medio Amalec.

6 And Saul said to the Kenite: Go, withdraw, and descend from Amalek, lest perhaps I involve you with him: for you have done mercy to all the sons of Israel, when they ascended from Egypt. And the Kenite withdrew from the midst of Amalek.

7 Percussitque Saul Amalec ab Hevila, donec venias ad Sur, quae est e regione Aegypti.

7 And Saul struck Amalek from Havilah, until you come to Shur, which is opposite Egypt.

8 Et apprehendit Agag regem Amalec vivum: omne autem vulgus interfecit in ore gladii.

8 And he apprehended Agag, the king of Amalek, alive; but the whole populace he slew with the edge of the sword.

9 Et pepercit Saul et populus Agag, et optimis gregibus ovium et armentorum, et vestibus et arietibus, et universis quae pulchra erant, nec voluerunt disperdere ea: quidquid vero vile fuit et reprobum, hoc demoliti sunt.

9 And Saul and the people spared Agag, and the best of the flocks of sheep and of the herds, and the garments and the rams, and all the things that were beautiful, and they were not willing to destroy them; but whatever was vile and reprobate, this they demolished.

10 Factum est autem verbum Domini ad Samuel, dicens:

10 But the word of the Lord came to Samuel, saying:

11 Poenitet me quod constituerim Saul regem: quia dereliquit me et verba mea opere non implevit. Contristatusque est Samuel, et clamavit ad Dominum tota nocte.

11 I repent that I have constituted Saul king: because he has forsaken me and has not fulfilled my words in deed. And Samuel was saddened, and cried out to the Lord the whole night.

12 Cumque de nocte surrexisset Samuel, ut iret ad Saul mane, nuntiatum est Samueli, eo quod venisset Saul in Carmelum, et erexisset sibi fornicem triumphalem, et reversus transisset, descendissetque in Galgala. Venit ergo Samuel ad Saul, et Saul offerebat holocaustum Domino de initiis praedarum quae attulerat ex Amalec.

12 And when Samuel had risen in the night to go to Saul in the morning, it was reported to Samuel that Saul had come to Carmel and had set up for himself a triumphal arch, and, returning, had passed on and had gone down to Gilgal. Therefore Samuel came to Saul, and Saul was offering a holocaust—a whole burnt offering—to the Lord from the firstfruits of the spoils which he had brought from Amalek.

13 Et cum venisset Samuel ad Saul, dixit ei Saul: Benedictus tu Domino, implevi verbum Domini.

13 And when Samuel had come to Saul, Saul said to him: Blessed are you to the Lord, I have fulfilled the word of the Lord.

14 Dixitque Samuel: Et quae est haec vox gregum, quae resonat in auribus meis, et armentorum, quam ego audio?

14 And Samuel said: And what is this voice of the flocks that resounds in my ears, and of the herds, which I hear?

15 Et ait Saul: De Amalec adduxerunt ea: pepercit enim populus melioribus ovibus et armentis ut immolarentur Domino Deo tuo, reliqua vero occidimus.

15 And Saul said: They brought them from Amalek; for the people spared the better sheep and cattle, that they might be immolated to the Lord your God, but the rest we have slain.

16 Ait autem Samuel ad Saul: Sine me, et indicabo tibi quae locutus sit Dominus ad me nocte. Dixitque ei: Loquere.

16 But Samuel said to Saul: Allow me, and I will indicate to you what the Lord spoke to me in the night. And he said to him: Speak.

17 Et ait Samuel: Nonne cum parvulus esses in oculis tuis, caput in tribubus Israel factus es? unxitque te Dominus in regem super Israel,

17 And Samuel said: Was it not when you were little in your own eyes, that you were made head among the tribes of Israel? and the Lord anointed you as king over Israel,

18 et misit te Dominus in viam, et ait: Vade, et interfice peccatores Amalec, et pugnabis contra eos usque ad internecionem eorum?

18 and the Lord sent you on the way, and said: Go, and slay the sinners, Amalek, and you will fight against them unto their extermination?

19 Quare ergo non audisti vocem Domini: sed versus ad praedam es, et fecisti malum in oculis Domini?

19 Why then did you not listen to the voice of the Lord: but you turned to the prey, and you did evil in the eyes of the Lord?

20 Et ait Saul ad Samuelem: Immo audivi vocem Domini, et ambulavi in via per quam misit me Dominus, et adduxi Agag regem Amalec, et Amalec interfeci.

20 And Saul said to Samuel: Rather, I have heard the voice of the Lord, and I have walked in the way by which the Lord sent me, and I have brought Agag, king of Amalek, and I have destroyed Amalek.

21 Tulit autem de praeda populus oves et boves, primitias eorum quae caesa sunt, ut immolet Domino Deo suo in Galgalis.

21 But the people took from the spoil sheep and oxen, the first-fruits of those things which were slain, that they might immolate to the Lord their God in Gilgal.

22 Et ait Samuel: Numquid vult Dominus holocausta et victimas, et non potius ut obediatur voci Domini? Melior est enim obedientia quam victimae: et auscultare magis quam offerre adipem arietum.

22 And Samuel said: Does the Lord will holocausts and victims, and not rather that the voice of the Lord be obeyed? For obedience is better than sacrifices: and to hearken is more than to offer the fat of rams.

23 Quoniam quasi peccatum ariolandi est, repugnare: et quasi scelus idololatriae, nole acquiescere. Pro eo ergo quod abiecisti sermonem Domini, abiecit te Dominus ne sis rex.

23 For to resist is as the sin of divination: and to be unwilling to acquiesce is as the crime of idolatry. Therefore, because you have rejected the word of the Lord, the Lord has rejected you, that you should not be king.

24 Dixitque Saul ad Samuelem: Peccavi, quia praevaricatus sum sermonem Domini, et verba tua, timens populum, et obediens voci eorum.

24 And Saul said to Samuel: I have sinned, because I have transgressed the word of the Lord, and your words, fearing the people and obeying their voice.

25 Sed nunc porta, quaeso, peccatum meum, et revertere mecum, ut adorem Dominum.

25 But now, pardon, I pray, my sin, and return with me, that I may adore the Lord.

26 Et ait Samuel ad Saul: Non revertar tecum, quia proiecisti sermonem Domini, et proiecit te Dominus ne sis rex super Israel.

26 And Samuel said to Saul: I will not return with you, because you have rejected the word of the Lord, and the Lord has rejected you from being king over Israel.

27 Et conversus est Samuel ut abiret: ille autem apprehendit summitatem pallii eius, quae et scissa est.

27 And Samuel turned to depart: but he grasped the hem of his pallium, and it too was torn.

28 Et ait ad eum Samuel: Scidit Dominus regnum Israel a te hodie, et tradidit illud proximo tuo meliori te.

28 And Samuel said to him: The Lord has torn the kingdom of Israel from you today, and has handed it over to your neighbor, better than you.

29 Porro triumphator in Israel non parcet, et poenitudine non flectetur: neque enim homo est ut agat poenitentiam.

29 Moreover the triumphator in Israel will not spare, and will not be bent by penitence: for he is not a man that he should do penitence.

30 At ille ait: Peccavi: sed nunc honora me coram senioribus populi mei, et coram Israel, et revertere mecum, ut adorem Dominum Deum tuum.

30 But he said: I have sinned: but now honor me before the elders of my people, and before Israel, and return with me, that I may adore the Lord your God.

31 Reversus ergo Samuel secutus est Saulem: et adoravit Saul Dominum.

31 Therefore Samuel, having returned, followed Saul: and Saul adored the Lord.

32 Dixitque Samuel: Adducite ad me Agag regem Amalec. Et oblatus est ei Agag pinguissimus, et tremens. Et dixit Agag: Siccine separat amara mors?

32 And Samuel said: Bring Agag, king of Amalek, to me. And Agag, very fat and trembling, was presented to him. And Agag said: Does bitter death separate thus?

33 Et ait Samuel: Sicut fecit absque liberis mulieres gladius tuus, sic absque liberis erit inter mulieres mater tua. Et in frustra concidit eum Samuel coram Domino in Galgalis.

33 And Samuel said: As your sword has made women childless, so childless among women shall your mother be. And Samuel cut him into pieces before the Lord in Gilgal.

34 Abiit autem Samuel in Ramatha: Saul vero ascendit in domum suam in Gabaa.

34 Samuel, however, went away to Ramah: but Saul went up to his house at Gibeah.

35 Et non vidit Samuel ultra Saul usque ad diem mortis suae: verumtamen lugebat Samuel Saulem, quoniam Dominum poenitebat quod constituisset eum regem super Israel.

35 And Samuel did not see Saul any further until the day of his death; nevertheless Samuel was mourning Saul, because the Lord repented that he had constituted him king over Israel.

[16]

1 Dixitque Dominus ad Samuelem: Usquequo tu luges Saul, cum ego proiecerim eum ne regnet super Israel? Imple cornu tuum oleo, et veni, ut mittam te ad Isai Bethlehemitem: providi enim in filiis eius mihi regem.

1 And the Lord said to Samuel: How long do you mourn Saul, since I have cast him off so that he should not reign over Israel? Fill your horn with oil, and come, that I may send you to Jesse the Bethlehemite; for I have provided for myself a king among his sons.

2 Et ait Samuel: Quomodo vadam? audiet enim Saul, et interficiet me. Et ait Dominus: Vitulum de armento tolles in manu tua, et dices: Ad immolandum Domino veni.

2 And Samuel said: How shall I go? For Saul will hear, and he will kill me. And the Lord said: You shall take a calf from the herd in your hand, and you shall say: I have come to immolate to the Lord.

3 Et vocabis Isai ad victimam, et ego ostendam tibi quid facias, et unges quemcumque monstravero tibi.

3 And you shall call Jesse to the sacrifice, and I will show you what you are to do, and you shall anoint whomever I shall show to you.

4 Fecit ergo Samuel, sicut locutus est ei Dominus. Venitque in Bethlehem, et admirati sunt seniores civitatis, occurrentes ei, dixeruntque: Pacificusne est ingressus tuus?

4 Therefore Samuel did as the Lord had spoken to him. And he came into Bethlehem, and the elders of the city, amazed, running to meet him, said: Is your entrance peaceable?

5 Et ait: Pacificus: ad immolandum Domino veni, sanctificamini, et venite mecum ut immolem. Sanctificavit ergo Isai et filios eius, et vocavit eos ad sacrificium.

5 And he said: Peaceable: I have come to immolate to the Lord; sanctify yourselves, and come with me that I may immolate. Therefore he sanctified Jesse and his sons, and he called them to the sacrifice.

6 Cumque ingressi essent, vidit Eliab, et ait: Num coram Domino est Christus eius?

6 And when they had entered, he saw Eliab, and said: Is his Christ—his Anointed—before the Lord?

7 Et dixit Dominus ad Samuelem: Ne respicias vultum eius, neque altitudinem staturae eius: quoniam abieci eum, nec iuxta intuitum hominis ego iudico: homo enim videt ea quae parent, Dominus autem intuetur cor.

7 And the Lord said to Samuel: Do not regard his countenance, nor the altitude of his stature: for I have rejected him; nor do I judge according to the regard of man: for man sees the things that appear, but the Lord looks upon the heart.

8 Et vocavit Isai Abinadab, et adduxit eum coram Samuele. Qui dixit: Nec hunc elegit Dominus.

8 And Jesse called Abinadab, and brought him before Samuel. And he said: Neither has the Lord chosen this one.

9 Adduxit autem Isai Samma, de quo ait: Etiam hunc non elegit Dominus.

9 And Jesse brought Samma, of whom he said: Even this one the Lord has not chosen.

10 Adduxit itaque Isai septem filios suos coram Samuele: et ait Samuel ad Isai: Non elegit Dominus ex istis.

10 So Jesse brought his seven sons before Samuel; and Samuel said to Jesse: The Lord has not chosen any of these.

11 Dixitque Samuel ad Isai: Numquid iam completi sunt filii? Qui respondit: Adhuc reliquus est parvulus, et pascit oves. Et ait Samuel ad Isai: Mitte, et adduc eum: nec enim discumbemus priusquam huc ille veniat.

11 And Samuel said to Jesse: Are the sons now complete? He answered: There still remains the little one, and he is pasturing the sheep. And Samuel said to Jesse: Send and bring him; for we will not recline before he comes here.

12 Misit ergo, et adduxit eum. Erat autem rufus, et pulcher aspectu, decoraque facie: et ait Dominus: Surge, unge eum, ipse est enim.

12 So he sent, and brought him. Now he was rufous, and beautiful in aspect, and fair of face: and the Lord said: Rise, anoint him, for he is the one.

13 Tulit ergo Samuel cornu olei, et unxit eum in medio fratrum eius: et directus est spiritus Domini a die illa in David, et deinceps: surgensque Samuel abiit in Ramatha.

13 Therefore Samuel took the horn of oil, and anointed him in the midst of his brothers: and the Spirit of the Lord was directed upon David from that day and thereafter: and Samuel, rising, went away to Ramah.

14 Spiritus autem Domini recessit a Saul, et exagitabat eum spiritus nequam, a Domino.

14 But the Spirit of the Lord departed from Saul, and an evil spirit from the Lord was vexing him.

15 Dixeruntque servi Saul ad eum: Ecce spiritus Dei malus exagitat te.

15 And the servants of Saul said to him: Behold, an evil spirit of God agitates you.

16 Iubeat dominus noster, et servi tui, qui coram te sunt, quaerent hominem scientem psallere cithara, ut quando arripuerit te spiritus Domini malus, psallat manu sua, et levius feras.

16 Let our lord command, and your servants who are before you will seek a man knowing how to play on the cithara, so that whenever the Lord’s evil spirit takes hold of you, he may play with his hand, and you will bear it more lightly.

17 Et ait Saul ad servos suos: Providete ergo mihi aliquem bene psallentem, et adducite eum ad me.

17 And Saul said to his servants: Provide therefore for me someone playing well, and bring him to me.

18 Et respondens unus de pueris, ait: Ecce vidi filium Isai Bethlehemitem scientem psallere, et fortissimum robore, et virum bellicosum, et prudentem in verbis, et virum pulchrum: et Dominus est cum eo.

18 And one of the youths answering said: Behold, I have seen the son of Jesse, a Bethlehemite, skilled in psalmody, and very mighty in strength, and a warlike man, and prudent in words, and a comely man; and the Lord is with him.

19 Misit ergo Saul nuntios ad Isai, dicens: Mitte ad me David filium tuum, qui est in pascuis.

19 Therefore Saul sent messengers to Jesse, saying: Send me your son David, who is in the pastures.

20 Tulit itaque Isai asinum plenum panibus, et lagenam vini, et haedum de capris unum, et misit per manum David filii sui Sauli.

20 Therefore Jesse took a donkey full of loaves, and a flask of wine, and one kid of the goats, and sent them by the hand of David his son to Saul.

21 Et venit David ad Saul, et stetit coram eo: at ille dilexit eum nimis, et factus est eius armiger.

21 And David came to Saul, and stood before him: and he loved him exceedingly, and he became his armor-bearer.

22 Misitque Saul ad Isai, dicens: Stet David in conspectu meo: invenit enim gratiam in oculis meis.

22 And Saul sent to Jesse, saying: Let David stand before me: for he has found favor in my eyes.

23 Igitur quandocumque spiritus Domini malus arripiebat Saul, David tollebat citharam, et percutiebat manu sua, et refocillabatur Saul, et levius habebat: recedebat enim ab eo spiritus malus.

23 Therefore whenever the Lord’s evil spirit seized Saul, David would take the cithara and strike it with his hand, and Saul was refreshed, and he felt lighter: for the evil spirit withdrew from him.

[17]

1 Congregantes autem Philisthiim agmina sua in praelium, convenerunt in Socho Iudae: et castrametati sunt inter Socho et Azeca in finibus Dommim.

1 But the Philistines, gathering their battle-lines for combat, assembled at Socoh of Judah: and they encamped between Socoh and Azekah, on the borders of Dammim.

2 Porro Saul et filii Israel congregati venerunt in Vallem terebinthi, et direxerunt aciem ad pugnandum contra Philisthiim.

2 Moreover Saul and the sons of Israel, congregated, came into the Valley of the Terebinth, and directed their battle-line to fight against the Philistines.

3 Et Philisthiim stabant super montem ex parte hac, et Israel stabat supra montem ex altera parte: vallisque erat inter eos.

3 And the Philistines were standing upon the mountain on this side, and Israel was standing upon the mountain on the other side: and the valley was between them.

4 Et egressus est vir spurius de castris Philisthinorum nomine Goliath, de Geth, altitudinis sex cubitorum et palmi:

4 And a champion went out from the camp of the Philistines, named Goliath, from Gath, of a height of six cubits and a palm:

5 et cassis aerea super caput eius, et lorica squamata induebatur. Porro pondus loricae eius, quinque millia siclorum aeris erat:

5 and a bronze helmet upon his head, and he was clothed with a scale cuirass. Moreover, the weight of his cuirass was five thousand shekels of bronze:

6 et ocreas aereas habebat in cruribus: et clypeus aereus tegebat humeros eius.

6 and he had bronze greaves on his legs: and a bronze shield covered his shoulders.

7 Hastile autem hastae eius erat quasi liciatorium texentium: ipsum autem ferrum hastae eius sexcentos siclos habebat ferri: et armiger eius antecedebat eum.

7 Now the shaft of his spear was like a weavers’ beam: and the very iron of his spear had six hundred shekels of iron: and his armiger went before him.

8 Stansque clamabat adversum phalangas Israel, et dicebat eis: Quare venistis parati ad praelium? Numquid ego non sum Philisthaeus, et vos servi Saul? Eligite ex vobis virum, et descendat ad singulare certamen.

8 And standing, he was shouting against the phalanxes of Israel, and he said to them: Why have you come prepared for battle? Am I not a Philistine, and you the servants of Saul? Choose from among yourselves a man, and let him come down for single combat.

9 Si quiverit pugnare mecum, et percusserit me, erimus vobis servi: si autem ego praevaluero, et percussero eum, vos servi eritis, et servietis nobis.

9 If he shall have been able to fight with me, and shall have struck me, we will be servants to you; but if I shall prevail, and shall strike him, you will be servants, and you will serve us.

10 Et aiebat Philisthaeus: Ego exprobravi agminibus Israel hodie: date mihi virum, et ineat mecum singulare certamen.

10 And the Philistine was saying: I have defied the battle-lines of Israel today: give me a man, and let him enter into single combat with me.

11 Audiens autem Saul, et omnes Israelitae, sermones Philisthaei huiuscemodi, stupebant, et metuebant nimis.

11 But Saul, and all the Israelites, hearing the words of the Philistine of this kind, were stupefied and feared exceedingly.

12 David autem erat filius viri Ephrathaei, de quo supra dictum est, de Bethlehem Iuda, cui nomen erat Isai, qui habebat octo filios, et erat vir in diebus Saul senex, et grandaevus inter viros.

12 Now David was the son of an Ephrathite man, of whom mention was made above, from Bethlehem of Judah, whose name was Jesse, who had eight sons; and in the days of Saul the man was old and advanced in years among men.

13 Abierunt autem tres filii eius maiores post Saul in praelium: et nomina trium filiorum eius, qui perrexerunt ad bellum, Eliab primogenitus, et secundus Abinadab, tertiusque Samma.

13 But his three elder sons went after Saul into battle: and the names of his three sons who proceeded to the war, Eliab the firstborn, and the second Abinadab, and the third Shammah.

14 David autem erat minimus. Tribus ergo maioribus secutis Saulem,

14 But David was the youngest. Therefore, the three eldest, having followed Saul,

15 abiit David, et reversus est a Saul, ut pasceret gregem patris sui in Bethlehem.

15 David departed, and returned from Saul, to pasture the flock of his father in Bethlehem.

16 Procedebat vero Philisthaeus mane et vespere, et stabat quadraginta diebus.

16 But the Philistine proceeded morning and evening, and stood for forty days.

17 Dixit autem Isai ad David filium suum: Accipe fratribus tuis ephi polentae, et decem panes istos, et curre in castra ad fratres tuos,

17 But Jesse said to David his son: Take for your brothers an ephah of parched grain, and these ten loaves, and run to the camp to your brothers,

18 et decem formellas casei has deferes ad tribunum: et fratres tuos visitabis, si recte agant: et cum quibus ordinati sunt, disce.

18 and these ten little molds of cheese you will carry to the tribune: and you will visit your brothers, to see if they are doing well: and learn with whom they are arrayed.

19 Saul autem, et illi, et omnes filii Israel, in Valle terebinthi pugnabant adversum Philisthiim.

19 But Saul, and they, and all the sons of Israel, were fighting in the Valley of the Terebinth against the Philistines.

20 Surrexit itaque David mane, et commendavit gregem custodi: et onustus abiit, sicut praeceperat ei Isai. Et venit ad locum Magala, et ad exercitum, qui egressus ad pugnam vociferatus erat in certamine.

20 David therefore arose in the morning, and entrusted the flock to the guard; and laden he went away, just as Jesse had commanded him. And he came to the place Magala, and to the army, which, having gone out to the fight, had shouted aloud in the contest.

21 Direxerat enim aciem Israel, sed et Philisthiim ex adverso fuerant praeparati.

21 For Israel had drawn up the battle-line, and the Philistines too had been prepared opposite them.

22 Derelinquens ergo David vasa quae attulerat, sub manu custodis ad sarcinas, cucurrit ad locum certaminis, et interrogabat si omnia recte agerentur erga fratres suos.

22 Therefore David, leaving the vessels which he had brought, under the hand of the custodian at the baggage, ran to the place of the contest, and was asking whether all things were being conducted rightly with regard to his brothers.

23 Cumque adhuc ille loqueretur eis, apparuit vir ille spurius ascendens, Goliath nomine Philisthaeus, de Geth, de castris Philisthinorum: et loquente eo haec eadem verba audivit David.

23 And while he was still speaking with them, that spurious man appeared, coming up—Goliath by name, a Philistine—from Gath, from the camp of the Philistines; and as he was speaking, David heard these same words.

24 Omnes autem Israelitae, cum vidissent virum, fugerunt a facie eius, timentes eum valde.

24 But all the Israelites, when they saw the man, fled from his presence, fearing him exceedingly.

25 Et dixit unus quispiam de Israel: Num vidistis virum hunc, qui ascendit? ad exprobrandum enim Israeli ascendit. Virum ergo, qui percusserit eum, ditabit rex divitiis magnis, et filiam suam dabit ei, et domum patris eius faciet absque tributo in Israel.

25 And someone of Israel said: Have you seen this man who has come up? For to exprobrate Israel he has come up. Therefore the man who shall strike him, the king will enrich with great riches, and will give him his daughter, and will make his father’s house without tribute in Israel.

26 Et ait David ad viros, qui stabant secum, dicens: Quid dabitur viro, qui percusserit Philisthaeum hunc, et tulerit opprobrium de Israel? quis enim est hic Philisthaeus incircumcisus, qui exprobravit acies Dei viventis?

26 And David said to the men who were standing with him, saying: What will be given to the man who strikes down this Philistine and takes away the opprobrium from Israel? For who is this uncircumcised Philistine, who has reproached the battle-lines of the living God?

27 Referebat autem ei populus eumdem sermonem, dicens: Haec dabuntur viro, qui percusserit eum.

27 And the people repeated to him the same word, saying: These things will be given to the man who strikes him.

28 Quod cum audisset Eliab frater eius maior, loquente eo cum aliis, iratus est contra David, et ait: Quare venisti, et quare dereliquisti pauculas oves illas in deserto? Ego novi superbiam tuam, et nequitiam cordis tui: quia ut videres praelium, descendisti.

28 When Eliab, his elder brother, heard this, as he was speaking with others, he grew angry against David and said: Why have you come, and why have you left those few sheep in the desert? I know your pride and the wickedness of your heart: for you have descended to see the battle.

29 Et dixit David: Quid feci? numquid non verbum est?

29 And David said: What have I done? Is it not a word?

30 Et declinavit paululum ab eo ad alium: dixitque eumdem sermonem. Et respondit ei populus verbum sicut prius.

30 And he turned aside a little from him to another, and he spoke the same word; and the people answered him with a word as before.

31 Audita sunt autem verba, quae locutus est David, et annuntiata in conspectu Saul.

31 Now the words that David had spoken were heard, and they were announced in the sight of Saul.

32 Ad quem cum fuisset adductus, locutus est ei: Non concidat cor cuiusquam in eo: ego servus tuus vadam, et pugnabo adversus Philisthaeum.

32 And when he had been brought to him, he spoke to him: Let no one’s heart fail because of him: I, your servant, will go and will fight against the Philistine.

33 Et ait Saul ad David: Non vales resistere Philisthaeo isti nec pugnare adversus eum: quia puer es, hic autem vir bellator est ab adolescentia sua.

33 And Saul said to David: You are not able to resist this Philistine nor to fight against him: for you are a boy, but he is a man of war from his adolescence.

34 Dixitque David ad Saul: Pascebat servus tuus patris sui gregem, et veniebat leo, vel ursus, et tollebat arietem de medio gregis:

34 And David said to Saul: Your servant was pasturing his father’s flock, and a lion would come, or a bear, and would carry off a ram from the midst of the flock:

35 et persequebar eos, et percutiebam, eruebamque de ore eorum: et illi consurgebant adversum me, et apprehendebam mentum eorum, et suffocabam, interficiebamque eos.

35 and I would pursue them, and I would strike them, and I would tear it from their mouth: and they would rise up against me, and I would apprehend their jaw, and I would suffocate, and I would kill them.

36 Nam et leonem et ursum interfeci ego servus tuus: erit igitur et Philisthaeus hic incircumcisus, quasi unus ex eis. Nunc vadam, et auferam opprobrium populi: quoniam quis est iste Philisthaeus incircumcisus, qui ausus est maledicere exercitui Dei viventis?

36 For both the lion and the bear I, your servant, have slain: therefore this uncircumcised Philistine also shall be as one of them. Now I will go, and I will take away the opprobrium of the people: for who is this uncircumcised Philistine, who has dared to curse the army of the living God?

37 Et ait David: Dominus qui eripuit me de manu leonis, et de manu ursi, ipse me liberabit de manu Philisthaei huius. Dixit autem Saul ad David: Vade, et Dominus tecum sit.

37 And David said: The Lord who snatched me from the hand of the lion, and from the hand of the bear, he himself will deliver me from the hand of this Philistine. But Saul said to David: Go, and may the Lord be with you.

38 Et induit Saul David vestimentis suis, et imposuit galeam aeream super caput eius, et vestivit eum lorica.

38 And Saul clothed David with his garments, and he placed a brazen helmet upon his head, and clothed him with a cuirass.

39 Accinctus ergo David gladio eius super vestem suam, coepit tentare si armatus posset incedere: non enim habebat consuetudinem. Dixitque David ad Saul: Non possum sic incedere, quia non usum habeo. Et deposuit ea,

39 So David, girded with his sword over his own garment, began to test whether, armed, he could proceed: for he did not have the custom. And David said to Saul: I cannot proceed thus, because I have no use of it. And he put them off,

40 et tulit baculum suum, quem semper habebat in manibus: et elegit sibi quinque limpidissimos lapides de torrente, et misit eos in peram pastoralem, quam habebat secum, et fundam manu tulit: et processit adversum Philisthaeum.

40 and he took his staff, which he always had in his hands: and chose for himself five most limpid stones from the torrent, and put them into the pastoral scrip which he had with him, and took the sling in his hand: and he advanced against the Philistine.

41 Ibat autem Philisthaeus incedens, et appropinquans adversum David, et armiger eius ante eum.

41 Now the Philistine went on, advancing and approaching against David, and his armor-bearer before him.

42 Cumque inspexisset Philisthaeus, et vidisset David, despexit eum. Erat enim adolescens, rufus, et pulcher aspectu.

42 And when the Philistine had inspected and saw David, he despised him. For he was an adolescent, ruddy, and comely in aspect.

43 Et dixit Philisthaeus ad David: Numquid ego canis sum, quod tu venis ad me cum baculo? Et maledixit Philisthaeus David in diis suis:

43 And the Philistine said to David: Am I a dog, that you come to me with a staff? And the Philistine cursed David by his gods:

44 dixitque ad David: Veni ad me, et dabo carnes tuas volatilibus caeli et bestiis terrae.

44 and he said to David: Come to me, and I will give your flesh to the birds of the sky and the beasts of the earth.

45 Dixit autem David ad Philisthaeum: Tu venis ad me cum gladio, et hasta, et clypeo: ego autem venio ad te in nomine Domini exercituum, Dei agminum Israel, quibus exprobrasti

45 But David said to the Philistine: You come to me with a sword, and a spear, and a shield: but I come to you in the name of the Lord of armies, the God of the battle-lines of Israel, whom you have reproached

46 hodie, et dabit te Dominus in manu mea, et percutiam te, et auferam caput tuum a te: et dabo cadavera castrorum Philisthiim hodie volatilibus caeli, et bestiis terrae: ut sciat omnis terra quia est Deus in Israel:

46 today, and the Lord will give you into my hand, and I will strike you, and I will take away your head from you: and I will give the corpses of the camp of the Philistines today to the birds of the sky and the beasts of the earth: so that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel:

47 et noverit universa ecclesia haec, quia non in gladio, nec in hasta salvat Dominus: ipsius enim est bellum, et tradet vos in manus nostras.

47 and let this whole assembly know, that not by sword, nor by spear does the Lord save: for the battle is his, and he will hand you over into our hands.

48 Cum ergo surrexisset Philisthaeus, et veniret, et appropinquaret contra David, festinavit David et cucurrit ad pugnam ex adverso Philisthaei.

48 Therefore, when the Philistine had risen and was coming and drawing near against David, David hastened and ran to the battle to face the Philistine.

49 Et misit manum suam in peram, tulitque unum lapidem, et funda iecit, et circumducens percussit Philisthaeum in fronte: et infixus est lapis in fronte eius, et cecidit in faciem suam super terram.

49 And he sent his hand into the pouch, and took one stone, and with the sling he cast it, and, whirling it, struck the Philistine on the forehead: and the stone was embedded in his forehead, and he fell on his face upon the earth.

50 Praevaluitque David adversum Philisthaeum in funda et lapide, percussumque Philisthaeum interfecit. Cumque gladium non haberet in manu David,

50 And David prevailed against the Philistine with a sling and a stone, and, the Philistine having been struck, he killed him. And since David did not have a sword in his hand,

51 cucurrit, et stetit super Philisthaeum, et tulit gladium eius, et eduxit eum de vagina sua: et interfecit eum, praeciditque caput eius.

51 he ran, and stood over the Philistine, and took his sword, and drew it out of its scabbard: and slew him, and cut off his head.

Videntes autem Philisthiim quod mortuus esset fortissimus eorum, fugerunt.

But seeing that their strongest man was dead, the Philistines fled.

52 Et consurgentes viri Israel et Iuda vociferati sunt, et persecuti sunt Philisthaeos usque dum venirent in vallem, et usque ad portas Accaron, cecideruntque vulnerati de Philisthiim in via Saraim, et usque ad Geth, et usque ad Accaron.

52 And the men of Israel and of Judah, rising up, raised a shout and pursued the Philistines until they came to the valley, and to the gates of Accaron; and the wounded of the Philistines fell on the way to Saraim, and as far as Geth, and as far as Accaron.

53 Et revertentes filii Israel postquam persecuti fuerant Philisthaeos, invaserunt castra eorum.

53 And the sons of Israel, returning after they had pursued the Philistines, invaded their camp.

54 Assumens autem David caput Philisthaei, attulit illud in Ierusalem: arma vero eius posuit in tabernaculo suo.

54 But David, taking the head of the Philistine, brought it to Jerusalem; but his armor he placed in his own tent.

55 Eo autem tempore, quo viderat Saul David egredientem contra Philisthaeum, ait ad Abner principem militiae: De qua stirpe descendit hic adolescens, Abner? Dixitque Abner: Vivit anima tua, rex, si novi.

55 But at the time when Saul had seen David going out against the Philistine, he said to Abner, the commander of the army: From what stock does this adolescent descend, Abner? And Abner said: As your soul lives, O king, I do not know.

56 Et ait rex: Interroga tu, cuius filius sit iste puer.

56 And the king said: Inquire you whose son this boy is.

57 Cumque regressus esset David, percusso Philisthaeo, tulit eum Abner, et introduxit coram Saule, caput Philisthaei habentem in manu.

57 And when David had returned, the Philistine having been struck down, Abner took him and brought him in before Saul, having the head of the Philistine in his hand.

58 Et ait ad eum Saul: De qua progenie es, o adolescens? Dixitque David: Filius servi tui Isai Bethlehemitae ego sum.

58 And Saul said to him: Of what progeny are you, O young man? And David said: I am the son of your servant Jesse the Bethlehemite.

[18]

1 Et factum est cum complesset loqui ad Saul: anima Ionathae conglutinata est animae David, et dilexit eum Ionathas quasi animam suam.

1 And it came to pass, when he had completed speaking to Saul: the soul of Jonathan was conjoined to the soul of David, and Jonathan loved him as his own soul.

2 Tulitque eum Saul in die illa, et non concessit ei ut reverteretur in domum patris sui.

2 And Saul took him on that day, and did not concede to him to return to his father’s house.

3 Inierunt autem David et Ionathas foedus: diligebat enim eum quasi animam suam.

3 And David and Jonathan entered into a covenant: for he loved him as his own soul.

4 Nam expoliavit se Ionathas tunica, qua erat indutus, et dedit eam David, et reliqua vestimenta sua, usque ad gladium et arcum suum, et usque ad balteum.

4 For Jonathan stripped off the tunic with which he was clothed and gave it to David, and his other garments as well, even to his sword and his bow, and even to his belt.

5 Egrediebatur quoque David ad omnia quaecumque misisset eum Saul, et prudenter se agebat: posuitque eum Saul super viros belli, et acceptus erat in oculis universi populi, maximeque in conspectu famulorum Saul.

5 David also went out on all the missions for which Saul had sent him, and he conducted himself prudently: and Saul set him over the men of war, and he was acceptable in the eyes of all the people, and especially in the sight of Saul’s servants.

6 Porro cum reverteretur percusso Philisthaeo David, egressae sunt mulieres de universis urbibus Israel, cantantes, chorosque ducentes in occursum Saul regis, in tympanis laetitiae, et in sistris.

6 Moreover, when David was returning after he had struck the Philistine, the women went out from all the cities of Israel, singing, and leading choruses to meet King Saul, with timbrels of joy, and with sistrums.

7 Et praecinebant mulieres ludentes, atque dicentes: Percussit Saul mille, et David decem millia.

7 And the women, playing, were singing the refrain, and saying: Saul struck down a thousand, and David ten thousand.

8 Iratus est autem Saul nimis, et displicuit in oculis eius sermo iste: dixitque: Dederunt David decem millia, et mihi mille dederunt: quid ei superest, nisi solum regnum?

8 But Saul was exceedingly angry, and this saying displeased in his eyes: and he said: They have given to David ten thousands, and to me they have given a thousand: what remains for him, except only the kingdom?

9 Non rectis ergo oculis Saul aspiciebat David a die illa, et deinceps.

9 Therefore Saul was not looking upon David with right eyes from that day, and thereafter.

10 Post diem autem alteram, invasit spiritus Dei malus Saul, et prophetabat in medio domus suae: David autem psallebat manu sua, sicut per singulos dies, tenebatque Saul lanceam,

10 But after the next day, an evil spirit of God invaded Saul, and he was prophesying in the midst of his house; but David was psalming with his hand, as on each day, and Saul was holding a lance,

11 et misit eam, putans quod configere posset David cum pariete, et declinavit David a facie eius secundo.

11 and he hurled it, thinking that he could pin David to the wall, and David turned aside from his face a second time.

12 Et timuit Saul David, eo quod Dominus esset cum eo, et a se recessisset.

12 And Saul feared David, because the Lord was with him, and had withdrawn from him.

13 Amovit ergo eum Saul a se, et fecit eum tribunum super mille viros: et egrediebatur, et intrabat in conspectu populi.

13 Therefore Saul removed him from himself, and made him a tribune over a thousand men: and he went out and came in in the sight of the people.

14 In omnibus quoque viis suis David prudenter agebat, et Dominus erat cum eo.

14 In all his ways also David acted prudently, and the Lord was with him.

15 Vidit itaque Saul quod prudens esset nimis, et coepit cavere eum.

15 And so Saul saw that he was exceedingly prudent, and he began to beware of him.

16 Omnis autem Israel et Iuda diligebat David: ipse enim ingrediebatur et egrediebatur ante eos.

16 But all Israel and Judah loved David: for he would go in and go out before them.

17 Dixitque Saul ad David: Ecce filia mea maior Merob, ipsam dabo tibi uxorem: tantummodo esto vir fortis, et praeliare bella Domini. Saul autem reputabat, dicens: Non sit manus mea in eum, sed sit super eum manus Philisthinorum.

17 And Saul said to David: Behold my elder daughter Merob, her I will give you as a wife: only be a man strong, and wage the battles of the Lord. But Saul, however, was reckoning, saying: Let not my hand be upon him, but let the hand of the Philistines be upon him.

18 Ait autem David ad Saul: Quis ego sum, aut quae est vita mea, aut cognatio patris mei in Israel, ut fiam gener regis?

18 But David said to Saul: Who am I, or what is my life, or the cognation of my father in Israel, that I should become the king’s son-in-law?

19 Factum est autem tempus cum deberet dari Merob filia Saul David, data est Hadrieli Molathitae uxor.

19 But it came to pass, at the time when Merob, Saul’s daughter, ought to be given to David, she was given as wife to Adriel the Meholathite.

20 Dilexit autem David Michol filia Saul altera. Et nuntiatum est Saul, et placuit ei.

20 But David loved Michol, Saul’s other daughter. And it was announced to Saul, and it pleased him.

21 Dixitque Saul: Dabo eam illi, ut fiat ei in scandalum, et sit super eum manus Philisthinorum. Dixitque Saul ad David: In duabus rebus gener meus eris hodie.

21 And Saul said: I will give her to him, so that she may become to him for a scandal, and let the hand of the Philistines be upon him. And Saul said to David: In two matters you shall be my son-in-law today.

22 Et mandavit Saul servis suis: Loquimini ad David clam me, dicentes: Ecce places regi, et omnes servi eius diligunt te. Nunc ergo esto gener regis.

22 And Saul commanded his servants: Speak to David secretly, saying: Behold, you please the king, and all his servants love you. Now therefore be the king’s son-in-law.

23 Et locuti sunt servi Saul in auribus David omnia verba haec. Et ait David: Num parum videtur vobis, generum esse regis? Ego autem sum vir pauper et tenuis.

23 And the servants of Saul spoke in the ears of David all these words. And David said: Does it seem a small thing to you to be the king's son-in-law? But I am a poor and lowly man.

24 Et renuntiaverunt servi Saul dicentes: Huiuscemodi verba locutus est David.

24 And the servants of Saul reported, saying: “Such words has David spoken.”

25 Dixit autem Saul: Sic loquimini ad David: Non habet rex sponsalia necesse, nisi tantum centum praeputia Philisthinorum, ut fiat ultio de inimicis regis. Porro Saul cogitabat tradere David in manus Philisthinorum.

25 But Saul said: Thus you shall speak to David: The king has no need of sponsals (betrothal-gifts), except only a hundred foreskins of the Philistines, that vengeance may be wrought upon the king’s enemies. But Saul was planning to deliver David into the hands of the Philistines.

26 Cumque renuntiassent servi eius David verba quae dixerat Saul, placuit sermo in oculis David, ut fieret gener regis.

26 And when his servants had reported to David the words that Saul had spoken, the word was pleasing in David’s eyes, that he should become the king’s son-in-law.

27 Et post paucos dies surgens David, abiit cum viris qui sub eo erant. Et percussit ex Philisthiim ducentos viros, et attulit eorum praeputia et annumeravit ea regi, ut esset gener eius.

27 And after a few days, David rising went away with the men who were under him. And he struck down from among the Philistines two hundred men, and brought their foreskins and enumerated them to the king, so that he might be his son-in-law.

Dedit itaque Saul ei Michol filiam suam uxorem.

Therefore Saul gave him Michol, his daughter, as a wife.

28 Et vidit Saul, et intellexit quod Dominus esset cum David. Michol autem filia Saul diligebat eum.

28 And Saul saw, and understood that the Lord was with David. Michol, however, Saul's daughter, loved him.

29 Et Saul magis coepit timere David: factusque est Saul inimicus David cunctis diebus.

29 And Saul began to fear David more: and Saul became an enemy of David all the days.

30 Et egressi sunt principes Philisthinorum. A principio autem egressionis eorum, prudentius se gerebat David quam omnes servi Saul, et celebre factum est nomen eius nimis.

30 And the princes of the Philistines went out. But from the beginning of their going out, David conducted himself more prudently than all the servants of Saul, and his name was made exceedingly celebrated.

[19]

1 Locutus est autem Saul ad Ionatham filium suum, et ad omnes servos suos, ut occiderent David. Porro Ionathas filius Saul diligebat David valde.

1 And Saul spoke to Jonathan his son, and to all his servants, to kill David. But Jonathan, Saul's son, loved David greatly.

2 Et indicavit Ionathas David dicens: Quaerit Saul pater meus occidere te: quapropter observa te, quaeso, mane, et manebis clam, et absconderis.

2 And Jonathan indicated to David, saying: My father Saul seeks to kill you: wherefore, keep watch over yourself, I pray, in the morning, and you will remain in secret, and you will hide yourself.

3 Ego autem egrediens stabo iuxta patrem meum, in agro ubicumque fueris: et ego loquar de te ad patrem meum: et quodcumque videro, nuntiabo tibi.

3 But I, going out, will stand beside my father, in the field wherever you will be: and I will speak concerning you to my father: and whatever I shall see, I will announce to you.

4 Locutus est ergo Ionathas de David bona ad Saul patrem suum: dixitque ad eum: Ne pecces rex in servum tuum David, quia non peccavit tibi, et opera eius bona sunt tibi valde.

4 Therefore Jonathan spoke good things about David to Saul his father, and he said to him: Do not sin, O king, against your servant David, because he has not sinned against you, and his works for you are very good indeed.

5 Et posuit animam suam in manu sua, et percussit Philisthaeum, et fecit Dominus salutem magnam universo Israeli: vidisti, et laetatus es. Quare ergo peccas in sanguine innoxio, interficiens David, qui est absque culpa?

5 And he put his life in his hand, and struck the Philistine, and the Lord made a great salvation for all Israel: you saw it, and you rejoiced. Why therefore do you sin against innocent blood, killing David, who is without blame?

6 Quod cum audisset Saul, placatus voce Ionathae, iuravit: Vivit Dominus, quia non occidetur.

6 When Saul had heard this, placated by Jonathan’s voice, he swore: As the Lord lives, he shall not be killed.

7 Vocavit itaque Ionathas David, et indicavit ei omnia verba haec: et introduxit Ionathas David ad Saul, et fuit ante eum, sicut fuerat heri et nudiustertius.

7 Therefore Jonathan called David, and indicated to him all these words: and Jonathan introduced David to Saul, and he was before him, as he had been yesterday and the day before yesterday.

8 Motum est autem rursum bellum: et egressus David, pugnavit adversum Philisthiim: percussitque eos plaga magna, et fugerunt a facie eius.

8 But war was stirred again: and David went out, and fought against the Philistines: and he struck them with a great blow, and they fled from his face.

9 Et factus est spiritus Domini malus in Saul, sedebat autem in domo sua, et tenebat lanceam: porro David psallebat manu sua.

9 And an evil spirit from the Lord came upon Saul; now he was sitting in his house, and he was holding a lance: but David was playing with his hand.

10 Nisusque est Saul configere David lancea in pariete, et declinavit David a facie Saul: lancea autem casso vulnere perlata est in parietem, et David fugit, et salvatus est nocte illa.

10 And Saul endeavored to transfix David with the spear into the wall, and David turned aside from the face of Saul; but the spear, its wound vain, was borne through into the wall, and David fled, and was saved that night.

11 Misit ergo Saul satellites suos in domum David, ut custodirent eum, et interficeretur mane.

11 Therefore Saul sent his satellites to David’s house, to keep watch over him, and that he might be slain in the morning.

Quod cum annuntiasset David Michol uxor sua, dicens: Nisi salvaveris te nocte hac, cras morieris:

And when Michol his wife had announced this to David, saying: Unless you save yourself this night, tomorrow you will die:

12 deposuit eum per fenestram. Porro ille abiit et aufugit, atque salvatus est.

12 she let him down through the window. Then he went away and fled, and was saved.

13 Tulit autem Michol statuam, et posuit eam super lectum, et pellem pilosam caprarum posuit ad caput eius, et operuit eam vestimentis.

13 But Michol took a statue, and placed it upon the bed, and put a hairy skin of goats at its head, and covered it with garments.

14 Misit autem Saul apparitores, qui raperent David: et responsum est quod aegrotaret.

14 But Saul sent apparitors to snatch David: and it was answered that he was sick.

15 Rursumque misit Saul nuntios ut viderent David, dicens: Afferte eum ad me in lecto, ut occidatur.

15 And Saul again sent messengers to see David, saying: Bring him to me in the bed, that he may be killed.

16 Cumque venissent nuntii, inventum est simulacrum super lectum, et pellis caprarum ad caput eius.

16 And when the messengers had come, a simulacrum was found upon the bed, and a goatskin at his head.

17 Dixitque Saul ad Michol: Quare sic illusisti mihi, et dimisisti inimicum meum ut fugeret? Et respondit Michol ad Saul: Quia ipse locutus est mihi: Dimitte me, alioquin interficiam te.

17 And Saul said to Michol: Why have you thus mocked me, and sent away my enemy that he might flee? And Michol answered Saul: Because he himself spoke to me: Let me go, otherwise I will kill you.

18 David autem fugiens, salvatus est, et venit ad Samuel in Ramatha, et nuntiavit ei omnia quae fecerat sibi Saul: et abierunt ipse et Samuel, et morati sunt in Naioth.

18 But David, fleeing, escaped, and came to Samuel in Ramah, and announced to him all that Saul had done to him: and they departed, he and Samuel, and tarried in Naioth.

19 Nuntiatum est autem Sauli a dicentibus: Ecce David in Naioth in Ramatha.

19 But it was reported to Saul by those saying: Behold, David is in Naioth in Ramah.

20 Misit ergo Saul lictores, ut raperent David: qui cum vidissent cuneum prophetarum vaticinantium, et Samuelem stantem super eos, factus est etiam spiritus Domini in illis, et prophetare coeperunt etiam ipsi.

20 Therefore Saul sent lictors to seize David: who, when they had seen a band of prophets vaticinating, and Samuel standing over them, the Spirit of the Lord came upon them also, and they too began to prophesy.

21 Quod cum nuntiatum esset Sauli, misit et alios nuntios: prophetaverunt autem et illi. Et rursum misit Saul tertios nuntios: qui et ipsi prophetaverunt. Et iratus iracundia Saul.

21 When this had been announced to Saul, he also sent other messengers: and they too prophesied. And again Saul sent third messengers: who likewise themselves prophesied. And Saul, enraged with wrath.

22 Abiit etiam ipse in Ramatha, et venit usque ad cisternam magnam, quae est in Socho, et interrogavit, et dixit: In quo loco sunt Samuel et David? Dictumque est ei: Ecce in Naioth sunt in Ramatha.

22 He himself also went to Ramah, and came as far as the great cistern which is in Socho, and he inquired and said: In what place are Samuel and David? And it was said to him: Behold, they are in Naioth in Ramah.

23 Et abiit in Naioth in Ramatha, et factus est etiam super eum spiritus Domini, et ambulabat ingrediens, et prophetabat usque dum veniret in Naioth in Ramatha.

23 And he went to Naioth in Ramatha, and the Spirit of the Lord also came upon him, and he was walking, going along, and prophesying until he came to Naioth in Ramatha.

24 Et expoliavit etiam ipse se vestimentis suis, et prophetavit cum ceteris coram Samuele, et cecidit nudus tota die illa et nocte. Unde et exivit proverbium: Num et Saul inter prophetas?

24 And he himself also stripped himself of his garments, and he prophesied with the others before Samuel, and he fell naked all that day and night. Whence also the proverb went out: Is Saul also among the prophets?

[20]

1 Fugit autem David de Naioth, quae est in Ramatha, veniensque locutus est coram Ionatha: Quid feci? quae est iniquitas mea, et quod peccatum meum in patrem tuum, quia quaerit animam meam?

1 But David fled from Naioth, which is in Ramah, and coming he spoke before Jonathan: What have I done? what is my iniquity, and what is my sin against your father, that he seeks my life?

2 Qui dixit ei: Absit, non morieris: neque enim faciet pater meus quidquam grande vel parvum, nisi prius indicaverit mihi: hunc ergo celavit me pater meus sermonem tantummodo? nequaquam erit istud.

2 Who said to him: Far be it; you will not die: for indeed my father will do nothing great or small unless he has first indicated it to me: has my father therefore concealed from me this word only? by no means shall this be.

3 Et iuravit rursum Davidi. Et ille ait: Scit profecto pater tuus quia inveni gratiam in oculis tuis, et dicet: Nesciat hoc Ionathas, ne forte tristetur. Quinimmo vivit Dominus, et vivit anima tua, quia uno tantum (ut ita dicam) gradu, ego morsque dividimur.

3 And he swore again to David. And he said: Your father surely knows that I have found favor in your eyes, and he will say: Let Jonathan not know this, lest perhaps he be saddened. Nay rather, as the Lord lives, and as your soul lives, because by only one (so to speak) step, I and death are separated.

4 Et ait Ionathas ad David: Quodcumque dixerit mihi anima tua, faciam tibi.

4 And Jonathan said to David: Whatever your soul shall say to me, I will do for you.

5 Dixit autem David ad Ionathan: Ecce calendae sunt crastino, et ego ex more sedere soleo iuxta regem ad vescendum: dimitte ergo me ut abscondar in agro usque ad vesperam diei tertiae.

5 But David said to Jonathan: Behold, the Calends are tomorrow, and I am accustomed, according to custom, to sit beside the king to dine: therefore let me go, that I may hide in the field until the evening of the third day.

6 Si respiciens requisierit me pater tuus, respondebis ei: Rogavit me David, ut iret celeriter in Bethlehem civitatem suam, quia victimae solemnes ibi sunt universis contribulibus suis.

6 If, taking notice, your father inquires for me, you will answer him: David asked me that he might go quickly to Bethlehem, his city, because solemn sacrifices are there for all his fellow-tribesmen.

7 Si dixerit: Bene: pax erit servo tuo. Si autem fuerit iratus, scito quia completa est malitia eius.

7 If he says: Good: there will be peace for your servant. But if he is angry, know that his malice is complete.

8 Fac ergo misericordiam in servum tuum: quia foedus Domini me famulum tuum tecum inire fecisti; si autem est iniquitas aliqua in me, tu me interfice, et ad patrem tuum ne introducas me.

8 Therefore show mercy toward your servant: for you have made me, your servant, enter into the covenant of the Lord with you; but if there is any iniquity in me, you yourself kill me, and do not bring me to your father.

9 Et ait Ionathas: Absit hoc a te: neque enim fieri potest, ut si certe cognovero completam esse patris mei malitiam contra te, non annuntiem tibi.

9 And Jonathan said: Far be this from you: for it cannot be that, if I certainly learn that my father’s malice against you is complete, I should not announce it to you.

10 Responditque David ad Ionathan: Quis renuntiabit mihi, si quid forte responderit tibi pater tuus dure de me?

10 And David answered Jonathan: Who will report back to me, if perhaps your father should answer you harshly about me?

11 Et ait Ionathas ad David: Veni, et egrediamur foras in agrum. Cumque exissent ambo in agrum,

11 And Jonathan said to David: Come, and let us go out into the field. And when they had both gone out into the field,

12 ait Ionathas ad David: Domine Deus Israel, si investigavero sententiam patris mei crastino vel perendie, et aliquid boni fuerit super David, et non statim misero ad te, et notum tibi fecero,

12 Jonathan said to David: O Lord God of Israel, if I shall investigate my father’s judgment tomorrow or the day after, and there shall be anything good concerning David, and I do not immediately send to you and make it known to you,

13 haec faciat Dominus Ionathae, et haec addat. Si autem perseveraverit patris mei malitia adversum te, revelabo aurem tuam, et dimittam te, ut vadas in pace, et sit Dominus tecum, sicut fuit cum patre meo.

13 May the Lord do thus to Jonathan, and thus add. But if my father’s malice shall persist against you, I will reveal to your ear, and I will send you away, that you may go in peace; and may the Lord be with you, as he was with my father.

14 Et si vixero, facies mihi misericordiam Domini: si vero mortuus fuero,

14 And if I live, you will do for me the mercy of the Lord: but if indeed I shall have died,

15 non auferes misericordiam tuam a domo mea usque in sempiternum, quando eradicaverit Dominus inimicos David, unumquemque de terra: auferat Ionathan de domo sua, et requirat Dominus de manu inimicorum David.

15 you shall not remove your mercy from my house unto everlasting, when the Lord shall have eradicated the enemies of David, each one from the earth: may He remove Jonathan from his house, and may the Lord require it at the hand of the enemies of David.

16 Pepigit ergo Ionathas foedus cum domo David: et requisivit Dominus de manu inimicorum David.

16 Therefore Jonathan struck a covenant with the house of David: and the Lord required it from the hand of the enemies of David.

17 Et addidit Ionathas deierare David, eo quod diligeret illum: sicut enim animam suam, ita diligebat eum.

17 And Jonathan further made David swear, because he loved him: for he loved him as his own soul.

18 Dixitque ad eum Ionathas: Cras calendae sunt, et requireris:

18 And Jonathan said to him: Tomorrow is the Calends, and you will be looked for:

19 requiretur enim sessio tua usque perendie. Descendes ergo festinus, et venies in locum ubi celandus es in die qua operari licet, et sedebis iuxta lapidem, cui nomen est Ezel.

19 for your seat will be required up to the day after tomorrow. You will descend therefore in haste, and you will come to the place where you are to be concealed on the day on which it is permitted to work, and you will sit beside the stone whose name is Ezel.

20 Et ego tres sagittas mittam iuxta eum, et iaciam quasi exercens me ad signum.

20 And I will shoot three arrows near it, and I will hurl them as if exercising myself at a mark.

21 Mittam quoque et puerum, dicens ei: Vade, et affer mihi sagittas.

21 I will also send a boy, saying to him: Go, and bring me the arrows.

22 Si dixero puero: Ecce sagittae intra te sunt, tolle eas: tu veni ad me, quia pax tibi est, et nihil est mali, vivit Dominus. Si autem sic locutus fuero puero: Ecce sagittae ultra te sunt: vade in pace, quia dimisit te Dominus.

22 If I say to the boy: Behold, the arrows are on this side of you, take them: you, come to me, for peace is to you, and there is nothing amiss, as the Lord lives. But if I speak thus to the boy: Behold, the arrows are beyond you: go in peace, for the Lord has sent you away.

23 De verbo autem quod locuti sumus ego et tu, sit Dominus inter me et te usque in sempiternum.

23 But concerning the word which we have spoken, I and you, may the Lord be between me and you forever.

24 Absconditus est ergo David in agro, et venerunt calendae, et sedit rex ad comedendum panem.

24 So David was hidden in the field, and the calends came, and the king sat down to eat bread.

25 Cumque sedisset rex super cathedram suam (secundum consuetudinem) quae erat iuxta parietem, surrexit Ionathas, et sedit Abner ex latere Saul, vacuusque apparuit locus David.

25 And when the king had sat upon his seat (according to custom) which was next to the wall, Jonathan rose, and Abner sat at Saul’s side, and David’s place appeared empty.

26 Et non est locutus Saul quidquam in die illa: cogitabat enim quod forte evenisset ei, ut non esset mundus, nec purificatus.

26 And Saul did not speak anything on that day: for he was thinking that perhaps it had happened to him, that he was not clean, nor purified.

27 Cumque illuxisset dies secunda post calendas, rursus apparuit vacuus locus David. Dixitque Saul ad Ionatham filium suum: Cur non venit filius Isai, nec heri, nec hodie ad vescendum?

27 And when the second day after the calends had dawned, again the place of David appeared empty. And Saul said to Jonathan his son: Why has the son of Jesse not come, neither yesterday nor today, to eat?

28 Responditque Ionathas Sauli: Rogavit me obnixe ut iret in Bethlehem,

28 And Jonathan answered Saul: He earnestly asked me that he might go to Bethlehem,

29 et ait: Dimitte me, quoniam sacrificium solemne est in civitate, unus de fratribus meis accersivit me: nunc ergo si inveni gratiam in oculis tuis, vadam cito, et videbo fratres meos. Ob hanc causam non venit ad mensam regis.

29 and he said: Dismiss me, for there is a solemn sacrifice in the city; one of my brothers has summoned me: now therefore, if I have found favor in your eyes, I will go quickly and see my brothers. For this cause he has not come to the king’s table.

30 Iratus autem Saul adversum Ionathan, dixit ei: Fili mulieris virum ultro rapientis, numquid ignoro quia diligis filium Isai in confusionem tuam, et in confusionem ignominiosae matris tuae?

30 But Saul, angry against Jonathan, said to him: Son of a woman who of her own accord seizes a man, do I not know that you love the son of Jesse, to your own confusion, and to the confusion of your ignominious mother?

31 Omnibus enim diebus, quibus filius Isai vixerit super terram, non stabilieris tu, neque regnum tuum. Itaque iam nunc mitte, et adduc eum ad me: quia filius mortis est.

31 For all the days during which the son of Jesse shall live upon the earth, neither you nor your kingdom will be stabilized. Therefore, even now, send and bring him to me: for he is a son of death.

32 Respondens autem Ionathas Sauli patri suo, ait: Quare morietur? quid fecit?

32 But Jonathan, answering his father Saul, said: Why shall he die? What has he done?

33 Et arripuit Saul lanceam ut percuteret eum. Et intellexit Ionathas quod definitum esset a patre suo, ut interficeret David.

33 And Saul seized a lance to strike him. And Jonathan understood that it had been determined by his father to kill David.

34 Surrexit ergo Ionathas a mensa in ira furoris, et non comedit in die calendarum secunda panem. Contristatus est enim super David, eo quod confudisset eum pater suus.

34 Therefore Jonathan rose from the table in furious wrath, and on the second day of the month he did not eat bread. For he was grieved over David, because his father had disgraced him.

35 Cumque illuxisset mane, venit Ionathas in agrum iuxta placitum David, et puer parvulus cum eo,

35 And when morning had dawned, Jonathan came into the field according to the agreement with David, and a little boy with him,

36 et ait ad puerum suum: Vade, et affer mihi sagittas, quas ego iacio. Cumque puer cucurrisset, iecit aliam sagittam trans puerum.

36 and he said to his boy: Go, and bring me the arrows which I am shooting. And when the boy had run, he shot another arrow beyond the boy.

37 Venit itaque puer ad locum iaculi, quod miserat Ionathas: et clamavit Ionathas post tergum pueri, et ait: Ecce ibi est sagitta porro ultra te.

37 Thus the boy came to the place of the shot which Jonathan had sent: and Jonathan cried after the back of the boy, and said: Behold, there is the arrow farther beyond you.

38 Clamavitque iterum Ionathas post tergum pueri, dicens: Festina velociter, ne steteris. Collegit autem puer Ionathae sagittas, et attulit ad dominum suum:

38 And Jonathan cried out again behind the boy, saying: Hasten quickly; do not stand still. Then Jonathan’s boy gathered up the arrows and brought them to his lord:

39 et quid ageretur, penitus ignorabat: tantummodo enim Ionathas et David rem noverant.

39 and of what was being done he was utterly ignorant: for only Jonathan and David knew the matter.

40 Dedit ergo Ionathas arma sua puero, et dixit ei: Vade, et defer in civitatem.

40 Therefore Jonathan gave his arms to the boy, and said to him: Go, and carry them into the city.

41 Cumque abiisset puer, surrexit David de loco qui vergebat ad austrum, et cadens pronus in terram, adoravit tertio: et osculantes se alterutrum, fleverunt pariter, David autem amplius.

41 And when the boy had gone, David rose from the place that looked toward the south, and, falling prone to the ground, he did obeisance a third time; and, kissing one another, they wept together, but David the more.

42 Dixit ergo Ionathas ad David: Vade in pace: quaecumque iuravimus ambo in nomine Domini, dicentes: Dominus sit inter me et te, et inter semen meum et semen tuum usque in sempiternum.

42 Jonathan therefore said to David: Go in peace: whatever we both have sworn in the name of the Lord, saying: May the Lord be between me and you, and between my seed and your seed unto eternity.

43 Et surrexit David, et abiit: sed et Ionathas ingressus est civitatem.

43 And David rose and went away; but Jonathan also entered the city.

[21]

1 Venit autem David in Nobe ad Achimelech sacerdotem: et obstupuit Achimelech, eo quod venisset David. Et dixit ei: Quare tu solus, et nullus est tecum?

1 But David came to Nob to Ahimelech the priest: and Ahimelech was astonished, because David had come. And he said to him: Why are you alone, and no one is with you?

2 Et ait David ad Achimelech sacerdotem: Rex praecepit mihi sermonem, et dixit: Nemo sciat rem, propter quam missus es a me, et cuiusmodi praecepta tibi dederim: nam et pueris condixi in illum et illum locum.

2 And David said to Achimelech the priest: The king has commanded me a word, and said: Let no one know the matter for which you are sent by me, and what kind of precepts I have given you; for I have also appointed the youths to such and such a place.

3 Nunc ergo si quid habes ad manum, vel quinque panes, da mihi aut quidquid inveneris.

3 Now therefore, if you have anything at hand, or even five loaves, give me, or whatever you find.

4 Et respondens sacerdos ad David, ait illi: Non habeo laicos panes ad manum, sed tantum panem sanctum: si mundi sunt pueri, maxime a mulieribus?

4 And the priest, responding to David, said to him: I do not have lay loaves at hand, but only holy bread: if the young men are clean, especially from women?

5 Et respondit David sacerdoti, et dixit ei: Equidem, si de mulieribus agitur: continuimus nos ab heri et nudiustertius, quando egrediebamur, et fuerunt vasa puerorum sancta. Porro via haec polluta est, sed et ipsa hodie sanctificabitur in vasis.

5 And David answered the priest, and said to him: Indeed, if it is a matter of women: we have kept ourselves from yesterday and the day before yesterday, when we were going out, and the vessels of the youths were holy. Moreover this way is defiled, but even it today will be sanctified in the vessels.

6 Dedit ergo ei sacerdos sanctificatum panem: neque enim erat ibi panis, nisi tantum panes propositionis, qui sublati fuerant a facie Domini, ut ponerentur panes calidi.

6 Therefore the priest gave him sanctified bread: for indeed there was no bread there, except only the loaves of proposition, which had been taken up from before the face of the Lord, that warm loaves might be set down.

7 Erat autem ibi vir quidam de servis Saul, in die illa, intus in tabernaculo Domini: et nomen eius Doeg Idumaeus, potentissimus pastorum Saul.

7 But there was there a certain man of the servants of Saul on that day, inside in the tabernacle of the Lord: and his name was Doeg the Idumaean, the most powerful of Saul’s shepherds.

8 Dixit autem David ad Achimelech: Si habes hic ad manum hastam, aut gladium? quia gladium meum, et arma mea non tuli mecum: sermo enim regis urgebat.

8 But David said to Ahimelech: If you have here at hand a spear, or a sword? because my sword and my arms I did not take with me: for the word of the king was pressing.

9 Et dixit sacerdos: Ecce hic gladius Goliath Philisthaei, quem percussisti in Valle terebinthi, est involutus pallio post ephod: si istum vis tollere, tolle: neque enim hic est alius absque eo. Et ait David: Non est huic alter similis, da mihi eum.

9 And the priest said: Behold, here is the sword of Goliath the Philistine, whom you smote in the Valley of the Terebinth; it is wrapped in a mantle behind the ephod: if you wish to take this one, take it; for indeed there is no other here besides it. And David said: There is none like this; give it to me.

10 Surrexit itaque David, et fugit in die illa a facie Saul: et venit ad Achis regem Geth:

10 Therefore David arose, and fled on that day from the face of Saul: and he came to Achish, king of Gath:

11 dixeruntque servi Achis ad eum cum vidissent David: Numquid non iste est David rex terrae? nonne huic cantabant per choros, dicentes: Percussit Saul mille, et David decem millia?

11 And the servants of Achish, when they had seen David, said to him: Is not this David, the king of the land? Were they not singing to him in choruses, saying: Saul struck a thousand, and David ten thousand?

12 Posuit autem David sermones istos in corde suo, et extimuit valde a facie Achis regis Geth.

12 But David placed these words in his heart, and feared greatly before the face of Achish, king of Gath.

13 Et immutavit os suum coram eis, et collabebatur inter manus eorum: et impingebat in ostia portae, defluebantque salivae eius in barbam.

13 And he altered his countenance before them, and was collapsing in their hands; and he was striking against the doors of the gate, and his saliva was flowing down upon his beard.

14 Et ait Achis ad servos suos: Vidistis hominem insanum: quare adduxistis eum ad me?

14 And Achis said to his servants: You have seen the insane man: why have you brought him to me?

15 An desunt nobis furiosi, quod introduxistis istum, ut fureret me praesente? hiccine ingredietur domum meam?

15 Do we lack madmen, that you have brought this one in, to rave in my presence? Shall this fellow enter my house?

[22]

1 Abiit ergo David inde, et fugit in speluncam Odollam. Quod cum audissent fratres eius, et omnis domus patris eius, descenderunt ad eum illuc.

1 Therefore David went away from there, and fled into the cave of Adullam. When his brothers, and all his father's house, heard of it, they went down to him there.

2 Et convenerunt ad eum omnes, qui erant in angustia constituti, et oppressi aere alieno, et amaro animo: et factus est eorum princeps, fueruntque cum eo quasi quadringenti viri.

2 And there gathered to him all who were set in distress, and oppressed by debt, and of bitter spirit; and he became their chief, and there were with him about four hundred men.

3 Et profectus est David inde in Maspha, quae est Moab: et dixit ad regem Moab: Maneat, oro, pater meus et mater mea vobiscum, donec sciam quid faciat mihi Deus.

3 And David set out from there to Maspha, which is in Moab: and he said to the king of Moab: Let, I pray, my father and my mother remain with you, until I know what God will do for me.

4 Et reliquit eos ante faciem regis Moab: manseruntque apud eum cunctis diebus, quibus David fuit in praesidio.

4 And he left them before the face of the king of Moab: and they remained with him all the days that David was in the stronghold.

5 Dixitque Gad propheta ad David: Noli manere in praesidio: proficiscere, et vade in terram Iuda. Et profectus est David, et venit in saltum Haret.

5 And Gad the prophet said to David: Do not remain in the stronghold; set out, and go into the land of Judah. And David set out and came into the forest of Haret.

6 Et audivit Saul quod apparuisset David, et viri qui erant cum eo. Saul autem cum maneret in Gabaa, et esset in nemore, quod est in Rama, hastam manu tenens, cunctique servi eius circumstarent eum,

6 And Saul heard that David had appeared, and the men who were with him. But Saul, while he was staying in Gibeah, and was in the grove which is in Ramah, holding a spear in his hand, and all his servants were standing around him,

7 ait ad servos suos qui assistebant ei: Audite nunc filii Iemini: numquid omnibus vobis dabit filius Isai agros, et vineas, et universos vos faciet tribunos, et centuriones?

7 he said to his servants who were standing by him: Hear now, sons of Benjamin: will the son of Jesse give to all of you fields and vineyards, and will he make all of you tribunes and centurions?

8 quoniam coniurastis omnes adversum me, et non est qui mihi renuntiet, maxime cum et filius meus foedus inierit cum filio Isai. Non est qui vicem meam doleat ex vobis, nec qui annuntiet mihi: eo quod suscitaverit filius meus servum meum adversum me, insidiantem mihi usque hodie.

8 because you have all conspired against me, and there is no one to report back to me—most especially since even my son has entered into a covenant with the son of Jesse. There is none of you who grieves for my plight, nor who will announce to me that my son has stirred up my servant against me, lying in wait for me to this day.

9 Respondens autem Doeg Idumaeus, qui assistebat, et erat primus inter servos Saul: Vidi, inquit, filium Isai in Nobe apud Achimelech filium Achitob sacerdotem.

9 But answering Doeg the Idumaean, who was standing by, and was first among the servants of Saul: I saw, he said, the son of Jesse in Nob with Ahimelech the son of Ahitub, the priest.

10 Qui consuluit pro eo Dominum, et cibaria dedit ei: sed et gladium Goliath Philisthaei dedit illi.

10 Who consulted the Lord on his behalf, and gave him provisions: but also the sword of Goliath the Philistine he gave to him.

11 Misit ergo rex ad accersendum Achimelech sacerdotem filium Achitob, et omnem domum patris eius, sacerdotum, qui erant in Nobe, qui universi venerunt ad regem.

11 Therefore the king sent to summon Ahimelech the priest, son of Ahitub, and all the house of his father, the priests who were in Nob, who all came to the king.

12 Et ait Saul ad Achimelech: Audi fili Achitob. Qui respondit: Praesto sum, domine.

12 And Saul said to Ahimelech: Hear, son of Ahitub. He answered: I am ready, my lord.

13 Dixitque ad eum Saul: Quare coniurastis adversum me, tu et filius Isai, et dedisti ei panes et gladium, et consuluisti pro eo Deum, ut consurgeret adversum me, insidiator usque hodie permanens?

13 And Saul said to him: Why have you conspired against me, you and the son of Jesse, and given him loaves and a sword, and consulted God for him, that he might rise up against me, an ambusher remaining even to this day?

14 Respondensque Achimelech regi, ait: Et quis in omnibus servis tuis, sicut David fidelis, et gener regis, et pergens ad imperium tuum, et gloriosus in domo tua?

14 And Achimelech, responding to the king, said: And who among all your servants is as faithful as David, and the king’s son-in-law, and going at your command, and glorious in your house?

15 Num hodie coepi pro eo consulere Deum? absit hoc a me: ne suspicetur rex adversus servum suum rem huiuscemodi, in universa domo patris mei: non enim scivit servus tuus quidquam super hoc negotio, vel modicum vel grande.

15 Did I today begin to consult God for him? Far be this from me: let not the king suspect against his servant a matter of this kind, in the whole house of my father: for your servant has not known anything about this business, either little or great.

16 Dixitque rex: Morte morieris Achimelech, tu et omnis domus patris tui.

16 And the king said: By death you shall die, Achimelech, you and all the house of your father.

17 Et ait rex emissariis, qui circumstabant eum: Convertimini, et interficite sacerdotes Domini: nam manus eorum cum David est: scientes quod fugisset, et non indicaverunt mihi. Noluerunt autem servi regis extendere manus suas in sacerdotes Domini.

17 And the king said to the emissaries who were standing around him: Turn, and kill the priests of the Lord: for their hand is with David, knowing that he had fled, and they did not indicate to me. However, the servants of the king were unwilling to extend their hands against the priests of the Lord.

18 Et ait rex ad Doeg: Convertere tu, et irrue in sacerdotes. Conversusque Doeg Idumaeus, irruit in sacerdotes, et trucidavit in die illa octoginta quinque viros vestitos ephod lineo.

18 And the king said to Doeg: Turn, you, and rush upon the priests. And Doeg the Idumaean, having turned, rushed upon the priests, and slaughtered on that day eighty-five men clothed with the linen ephod.

19 Nobe autem civitatem sacerdotum percussit in ore gladii, viros et mulieres, et parvulos, et lactentes, bovemque, et asinum, et ovem in ore gladii.

19 But Nob, the city of the priests, he smote with the edge of the sword, men and women, and little ones, and sucklings, and the ox, and the ass, and the sheep, with the edge of the sword.

20 Evadens autem unus filius Achimelech, filii Achitob, cuius nomen erat Abiathar, fugit ad David,

20 But one son of Ahimelech, son of Ahitub, escaping, whose name was Abiathar, fled to David,

21 et annuntiavit ei quod occidisset Saul sacerdotes Domini.

21 and he announced to him that Saul had killed the priests of the Lord.

22 Et ait David ad Abiathar: Sciebam in die illa, quod cum ibi esset Doeg Idumaeus, procul dubio annuntiaret Sauli: ego sum reus omnium animarum patris tui.

22 And David said to Abiathar: I knew on that day that, when Doeg the Idumaean was there, he would without doubt announce it to Saul: I am responsible for all the lives of your father’s family.

23 Mane mecum, ne timeas: si quis quaesierit animam meam, quaeret et animam tuam, mecumque servaberis.

23 Stay with me; do not fear: if anyone seeks my life, he will seek your life also, and with me you will be kept safe.

[23]

1 Et annuntiaverunt David, dicentes: Ecce Philisthiim oppugnant Ceilam et diripiunt areas.

1 And they announced to David, saying: Behold, the Philistines are attacking Keilah and are plundering the threshing floors.

2 Consuluit ergo David Dominum, dicens: Num vadam, et percutiam Philisthaeos istos? Et ait Dominus ad David: Vade, et percuties Philisthaeos, et Ceilam salvabis.

2 Therefore David consulted the Lord, saying: Shall I go, and strike these Philistines? And the Lord said to David: Go, and you shall strike the Philistines, and you shall save Ceilah.

3 Et dixerunt viri, qui erant cum David, ad eum: Ecce nos hic in Iudaea consistentes timemus: quanto magis si ierimus in Ceilam adversum agmina Philisthinorum?

3 And the men who were with David said to him: Behold, we here in Judea, standing/encamped, are afraid; how much more if we go into Keilah against the battle-ranks of the Philistines?

4 Rursum ergo David consuluit Dominum. Qui respondens, ait ei: Surge, et vade in Ceilam: ego enim tradam Philisthaeos in manu tua.

4 Therefore David consulted the Lord again. And he, responding, said to him: Arise, and go into Ceila; for I will deliver the Philistines into your hand.

5 Abiit ergo David, et viri eius, in Ceilam, et pugnavit adversum Philisthaeos, et abegit iumenta eorum, et percussit eos plaga magna: et salvavit David habitatores Ceilae.

5 Therefore David went, and his men, to Ceila, and he fought against the Philistines, and drove off their livestock, and struck them with a great blow: and David saved the inhabitants of Ceila.

6 Porro eo tempore, quo fugiebat Abiathar filius Achimelech ad David in Ceilam, ephod secum habens descenderat.

6 Moreover, at that time, when Abiathar son of Ahimelech was fleeing to David at Ceila, having the ephod with him, he had come down.

7 Nuntiatum est autem Sauli quod venisset David in Ceilam: et ait Saul: Tradidit eum Deus in manus meas, conclususque est introgressus urbem, in qua portae et serae sunt.

7 It was announced to Saul that David had come into Keilah; and Saul said: God has delivered him into my hands, and he is enclosed, having entered a city in which there are gates and bars.

8 Et praecepit Saul omni populo ut ad pugnam descenderet in Ceilam, et obsideret David, et viros eius.

8 And Saul commanded all the people to go down to Ceilah for battle, and to besiege David and his men.

9 Quod cum David rescisset quia praepararet ei Saul clam malum, dixit ad Abiathar sacerdotem: Applica ephod.

9 And when David had learned that Saul was secretly preparing evil against him, he said to Abiathar the priest: Bring the ephod.

10 Et ait David: Domine Deus Israel, audivit famam servus tuus, quod disponat Saul venire in Ceilam, ut evertat urbem propter me:

10 And David said: Lord God of Israel, your servant has heard the report that Saul is planning to come to Keilah, to overthrow the city on my account:

11 si tradent me viri Ceilae in manus eius? et si descendet Saul, sicut audivit servus tuus? Domine Deus Israel, indica servo tuo.

11 Will the men of Ceilah deliver me into his hand? And will Saul come down, as your servant has heard? Lord God of Israel, indicate to your servant.

Et ait Dominus: Descendet.

And the Lord said: He will come down.

12 Dixitque David: Si tradent me viri Ceilae, et viros qui sunt mecum, in manus Saul? Et dixit Dominus: Tradent.

12 And David said: Will the men of Ceila deliver me, and the men who are with me, into the hand of Saul? And the Lord said: They will deliver.

13 Surrexit ergo David et viri eius quasi sexcenti, et egressi de Ceila, huc atque illuc vagabantur incerti: nuntiatumque est Sauli quod fugisset David de Ceila, et salvatus esset: quam ob rem dissimulavit exire.

13 Therefore David arose, and his men, about six hundred, and having gone out from Ceila, they were wandering here and there uncertain; and it was announced to Saul that David had fled from Ceila and was safe; wherefore he refrained from going out.

14 Morabatur autem David in deserto in locis firmissimis, mansitque in monte solitudinis Ziph, in monte opaco: quaerebat eum tamen Saul cunctis diebus: et non tradidit eum Deus in manus eius.

14 But David was abiding in the desert in the most secure places, and he remained on the mountain of the solitude of Ziph, on a shady mountain: nevertheless Saul was seeking him all the days: and God did not hand him over into his hand.

15 Et vidit David quod egressus esset Saul ut quaereret animam eius. Porro David erat in deserto Ziph in silva.

15 And David saw that Saul had gone out to seek his life. Moreover David was in the desert of Ziph in the forest.

16 Et surrexit Ionathas filius Saul, et abiit ad David in silvam, et confortavit manus eius in Deo: dixitque ei:

16 And Jonathan, the son of Saul, rose and went to David in the forest, and strengthened his hand in God; and he said to him:

17 Ne timeas: neque enim inveniet te manus Saul patris mei, et tu regnabis super Israel, et ego ero tibi secundus, sed et Saul pater meus scit hoc.

17 Do not fear: for neither indeed shall the hand of Saul my father find you, and you will reign over Israel, and I will be second to you; but even Saul my father knows this.

18 Percussit ergo uterque foedus coram Domino: mansitque David in silva: Ionathas autem reversus est in domum suam.

18 Therefore each struck a covenant before the Lord: and David remained in the forest: but Jonathan returned to his own house.

19 Ascenderunt autem Ziphaei ad Saul in Gabaa, dicentes: Nonne ecce David latitat apud nos in locis tutissimis silvae, in colle Hachila, quae est ad dexteram deserti?

19 But the Ziphites went up to Saul in Gibeah, saying: Behold, is not David hiding among us in the most secure places of the forest, on the hill of Hachilah, which is to the right of the desert?

20 Nunc ergo, sicut desideravit anima tua ut descenderes, descende: nostrum autem erit ut tradamus eum in manus regis.

20 Now therefore, just as your soul desired that you should descend, descend: but it shall be ours to deliver him into the hands of the king.

21 Dixitque Saul: Benedicti vos a Domino, quia doluistis vicem meam.

21 And Saul said: Blessed are you by the Lord, because you have had compassion on me.

22 Abite ergo, oro, et diligentius praeparate, et curiosius agite, et considerate locum ubi sit pes eius, vel quis viderit eum ibi: recogitat enim de me, quod callide insidier ei.

22 Go therefore, I pray, and prepare more diligently, and act more carefully, and consider the place where his foot is, or who has seen him there: for he reflects about me that I cunningly lie in wait for him.

23 Considerate et videte omnia latibula eius, in quibus absconditur: et revertimini ad me ad rem certam, ut vadam vobiscum. Quod si etiam in terram se abstruserit, perscrutabor eum in cunctis millibus Iuda.

23 Consider and see all his hiding-places, in which he is concealed: and return to me with sure information, that I may go with you. But if even he has buried himself in the land, I will search him out in all the thousands of Judah.

24 At illi surgentes abierunt in Ziph ante Saul: David autem et viri eius erant in deserto Maon, in campestribus ad dexteram Iesimon.

24 But they, rising up, went to Ziph before Saul; but David and his men were in the desert of Maon, in the level places at the right hand of Jeshimon.

25 Ivit ergo Saul et socii eius ad quaerendum eum: et nuntiatum est David, statimque descendit ad petram, et versabatur in deserto Maon: quod cum audisset Saul, persecutus est David in deserto Maon.

25 Therefore Saul and his associates went to seek him; and it was announced to David, and immediately he went down to the rock, and he was moving about in the desert of Maon: which, when Saul had heard, he pursued David in the desert of Maon.

26 Et ibat Saul ad latus montis ex parte una: David autem et viri eius erant in latere montis ex parte altera: porro David desperabat se posse evadere a facie Saul: itaque Saul et viri eius in modum coronae cingebant David, et viros eius, ut caperent eos.

26 And Saul was going along the side of the mountain on one part: but David and his men were on the side of the mountain on the other part: now David despaired that he could escape from before the face of Saul: and so Saul and his men, in the manner of a crown, were encircling David, and his men, to seize them.

27 Et nuntius venit ad Saul, dicens: Festina, et veni, quoniam infuderunt se Philisthiim super terram.

27 And a messenger came to Saul, saying: Make haste, and come, for the Philistines have poured themselves upon the land.

28 Reversus est ergo Saul desistens persequi David, et perrexit in occursum Philisthinorum: propter hoc vocaverunt locum illum, Petram dividentem.

28 Therefore Saul returned, desisting from pursuing David, and went to meet the Philistines: for this reason they called that place the Dividing Rock.

[24]

1 Ascendit ergo David inde: et habitavit in locis tutissimis Engaddi.

1 Therefore David went up from there, and he dwelt in the most secure places of Engaddi.

2 Cumque reversus esset Saul, postquam persecutus est Philisthaeos, nuntiaverunt ei, dicentes: Ecce, David in deserto est Engaddi.

2 And when Saul had returned, after he had pursued the Philistines, they announced to him, saying: Behold, David is in the desert of Engaddi.

3 Assumens ergo Saul tria millia electorum virorum ex omni Israel, perrexit ad investigandum David et viros eius, etiam super abruptissimas petra, quae solis ibicibus perviae sunt.

3 Therefore Saul, taking three thousand chosen men from all Israel, proceeded to search out David and his men, even over the most precipitous rocks, which are passable to ibexes alone.

4 Et venit ad caulas ovium, quae se offerebant vianti.

4 And he came to the sheepfolds, which presented themselves to the wayfarer.

Eratque ibi spelunca, quam ingressus est Saul, ut purgaret ventrem: porro David et viri eius in interiore parte speluncae latebant.

And there was a cave there, which Saul entered to relieve his bowels; moreover David and his men were hiding in the inner part of the cave.

5 Et dixerunt servi David ad eum: Ecce dies, de qua locutus est Dominus ad te: Ego tradam tibi inimicum tuum, ut facias ei sicut placuerit in oculis tuis. Surrexit ergo David, et praecidit oram chlamydis Saul silenter.

5 And the servants of David said to him: Behold the day of which the Lord spoke to you: I will deliver your enemy to you, that you may do to him as shall have pleased in your eyes. Then David arose and silently cut off the hem of Saul’s cloak.

6 Post haec percussit cor suum David, eo quod abscidisset oram chlamydis Saul.

6 After this, David’s heart struck him, because he had cut off the hem of Saul’s cloak.

7 Dixitque ad viros suos: Propitius sit mihi Dominus, ne faciam hanc rem domino meo, christo Domini, ut mittam manum meam in eum, quia christus Domini est.

7 And he said to his men: May the Lord be propitious to me, that I not do this thing to my lord, the Lord’s anointed, that I should put forth my hand against him, because he is the Lord’s anointed.

8 Et confregit David viros suos sermonibus, et non permisit eos ut consurgerent in Saul.

8 And David restrained his men with words, and did not permit them to rise up against Saul.

Porro Saul exsurgens de spelunca, pergebat coepto itinere.

Then Saul, rising from the cave, went on with the journey he had begun.

9 Surrexit autem et David post eum: et egressus de spelunca, clamavit post tergum Saul, dicens: Domine mi rex. Et respexit Saul post se: et inclinans se David pronus in terram adoravit,

9 But David also arose after him; and having gone out of the cave, he cried after Saul’s back, saying: My lord the king. And Saul looked back behind him: and David, bowing himself, prostrate to the ground, did obeisance,

10 dixitque ad Saul: Quare audis verba hominum loquentium, David quaerit malum adversum te?

10 and he said to Saul: Why do you listen to the words of men who say, "David seeks evil against you"?

11 Ecce hodie viderunt oculi tui, quod tradiderit te Dominus in manu mea in spelunca: et cogitavi ut occiderem te, sed pepercit tibi oculus meus: dixi enim: Non extendam manum meam in dominum meum, quia christus Domini est.

11 Behold, today your eyes have seen that the Lord delivered you into my hand in the cave: and I thought to kill you, but my eye spared you: for I said: I will not extend my hand against my lord, for he is the Lord’s anointed.

12 Quin potius pater mi, vide, et cognosce oram chlamydis tuae in manu mea: quoniam cum praescinderem summitatem chlamydis tuae, nolui extendere manum meam in te: animadverte, et vide, quoniam non est in manu mea malum, neque iniquitas, neque peccavi in te: tu autem insidiaris animae meae ut auferas eam.

12 Nay rather, my father, see and recognize the border of your cloak in my hand: for when I cut off the edge of your cloak, I did not wish to extend my hand against you: take note, and see that there is no evil in my hand, nor iniquity, nor have I sinned against you: but you lie in wait for my soul to take it away.

13 Iudicet Dominus inter me et te, et ulciscatur me Dominus ex te: manus autem mea non sit in te.

13 May the Lord judge between me and you, and may the Lord avenge me upon you; but my hand shall not be upon you.

14 Sicut et in proverbio antiquo dicitur: Ab impiis egredietur impietas: manus ergo mea non sit in te.

14 As also in the ancient proverb it is said: From the impious shall go forth impiety; therefore let my hand not be upon you.

15 Quem persequeris, rex Israel? quem persequeris? canem mortuum persequeris, et pulicem unum.

15 Whom are you pursuing, O king of Israel? whom are you pursuing? you pursue a dead dog, and a single flea.

16 Sit Dominus iudex, et iudicet inter me et te: et videat, et iudicet causam meam, et eruat me de manu tua.

16 Let the Lord be judge, and let him judge between me and you: and let him see, and judge my cause, and deliver me from your hand.

17 Cum autem complesset David loquens sermones huiuscemodi ad Saul, dixit Saul: Numquid vox haec tua est fili mi David? Et levavit Saul vocem suam, et flevit:

17 And when David had completed speaking discourses of this kind to Saul, Saul said: Is this your voice, my son David? And Saul lifted up his voice and wept:

18 dixitque ad David: Iustior tu es quam ego: tu enim tribuisti mihi bona: ego autem reddidi tibi mala.

18 and he said to David: You are more just than I: for you have bestowed good upon me: but I, however, have repaid you evil.

19 Et tu indicasti hodie quae feceris mihi bona: quomodo tradiderit me Dominus in manum tuam, et non occideris me.

19 And you have shown today what good you have done to me: how the Lord delivered me into your hand, and you did not kill me.

20 Quis enim cum invenerit inimicum suum, dimittet eum in via bona? Sed Dominus reddat tibi vicissitudinem hanc pro eo quod hodie operatus es in me.

20 For who, when he has found his enemy, will let him go on a good way? But may the Lord repay to you this requital for that which today you have wrought upon me.

21 Et nunc quia scio quod certissime regnaturus sis, et habiturus in manu tua regnum Israel:

21 And now, since I know that you will most certainly reign, and will have in your hand the kingdom of Israel:

22 iura mihi in Domino, ne deleas semen meum post me, neque auferas nomen meum de domo patris mei.

22 swear to me by the Lord, that you will not destroy my seed after me, nor remove my name from my father’s house.

23 Et iuravit David Sauli. Abiit ergo Saul in domum suam: et David et viri eius ascenderunt ad tutiora loca.

23 And David swore to Saul. So Saul went to his house: and David and his men went up to more secure places.

[25]

1 Mortuus est autem Samuel, et congregatus est universus Israel, et planxerunt eum, et sepelierunt eum in domo sua in Ramatha.

1 Now Samuel died, and all Israel was gathered together, and they lamented him, and they buried him in his house at Ramah.

Consurgensque David descendit in desertum Pharan.

And David, arising, went down into the desert of Paran.

2 Erat autem vir quispiam in solitudine Maon, et possessio eius in Carmelo, et homo ille magnus nimis: erantque ei oves tria millia, et mille caprae: et accidit ut tonderetur grex eius in Carmelo.

2 Now there was a certain man in the wilderness of Maon, and his possession was in Carmel, and that man was exceedingly great: and he had three thousand sheep and a thousand goats: and it happened that his flock was being shorn in Carmel.

3 Nomen autem viri illius erat Nabal: et nomen uxoris eius Abigail: eratque mulier illa prudentissima, et speciosa: porro vir eius durus, et pessimus, et malitiosus: erat autem de genere Caleb.

3 The name, moreover, of that man was Nabal: and the name of his wife, Abigail: and that woman was most prudent and beautiful: but her husband was harsh, most wicked, and malicious: moreover, he was of the stock of Caleb.

4 Cum ergo audisset David in deserto quod tonderet Nabal gregem suum,

4 Therefore when David had heard in the desert that Nabal was shearing his flock,

5 misit decem iuvenes, et dixit eis: Ascendite in Carmelum, et venietis ad Nabal, et salutabitis eum ex nomine meo pacifice.

5 he sent ten youths, and said to them: Go up to Carmel, and you will come to Nabal, and you will salute him in my name, peaceably.

6 Et dicetis: Sit fratribus meis, et tibi pax, et domui tuae pax, et omnibus, quaecumque habes, sit pax.

6 And you shall say: Peace be to my brothers, and peace be to you, and peace be to your house, and peace be to all that you have.

7 Audivi quod tonderent pastores tui, qui erant nobiscum in deserto: numquam eis molesti fuimus, nec aliquando defuit quidquam eis de grege, omni tempore quo fuerunt nobiscum in Carmelo.

7 I have heard that your shepherds are shearing, who were with us in the desert: we were never burdensome to them, nor at any time did anything of the flock fail them, all the time they were with us in Carmel.

8 Interroga pueros tuos, et indicabunt tibi. Nunc ergo inveniant pueri tui gratiam in oculis tuis: in die enim bona venimus: quodcumque invenerit manus tua, da servis tuis, et filio tuo David.

8 Ask your young men, and they will tell you. Now therefore let your young men find grace in your eyes: for we have come on a good day: whatever your hand finds, give to your servants, and to your son David.

9 Cumque venissent pueri David, locuti sunt ad Nabal omnia verba haec ex nomine David: et siluerunt.

9 And when David’s youths had come, they spoke to Nabal all these words in the name of David; and they fell silent.

10 Respondens autem Nabal pueris David, ait: Quis est David? et quis est filius Isai? hodie increverunt servi qui fugiunt dominos suos.

10 But Nabal, responding to David’s servants, said: Who is David? and who is the son of Jesse? today the servants who flee their masters have increased.

11 Tollam ergo panes meos, et aquas meas, et carnes pecorum, quae occidi tonsoribus meis, et dabo viris quos nescio unde sint?

11 Shall I therefore take my breads, and my waters, and the meats of the cattle which I have slaughtered for my shearers, and give to men whom I know not whence they are?

12 Regressi sunt itaque pueri David per viam suam, et reversi venerunt, et nuntiaverunt ei omnia verba quae dixerat.

12 So David’s young men returned by their road, and, having turned back, they came and announced to him all the words that he had spoken.

13 Tunc ait David pueris suis: Accingatur unusquisque gladio suo. Et accincti sunt singuli gladiis suis, accinctusque est et David ense suo: et secuti sunt David quasi quadringenti viri: porro ducenti remanserunt ad sarcinas.

13 Then David said to his youths: Let each man gird on his sword. And they were girded, each with his sword, and David also was girded with his own sword: and about four hundred men followed David: but two hundred remained at the baggage.

14 Abigail autem uxori Nabal nuntiavit unus de pueris suis, dicens: Ecce David misit nuntios de deserto, ut benedicerent domino nostro: et aversatus est eos.

14 But one of his servants announced to Abigail, Nabal’s wife, saying: Behold, David sent messengers from the desert, to bless our lord: and he spurned them.

15 Homines isti boni satis fuerant nobis, et non molesti: nec quidquam aliquando periit omni tempore, quo fuimus conversati cum eis in deserto:

15 These men were very good to us, and not troublesome: nor did anything ever perish at any time, all the time that we were conversant with them in the desert:

16 pro muro erant nobis tam in nocte quam in die, omnibus diebus quibus pavimus apud eos greges.

16 they were a wall to us both by night and by day, all the days during which we pastured the flocks with them.

17 Quam ob rem considera, et recogita quid facias: quoniam completa est malitia adversum virum tuum, et adversum domum tuam, et ipse est filius Belial, ita ut nemo possit ei loqui.

17 Wherefore consider, and reconsider what you may do: since malice is completed against your husband, and against your house, and he himself is a son of Belial, such that no one can speak to him.

18 Festinavit igitur Abigail, et tulit ducentos panes, et duos utres vini, et quinque arietes coctos, et quinque sata polentae, et centum ligaturas uvae passae, et ducentas massas caricarum, et posuit super asinos:

18 Therefore Abigail hastened, and took two hundred loaves, and two skins of wine, and five cooked rams, and five measures of polenta (parched grain), and a hundred bundles of raisins, and two hundred fig-cakes, and set them upon asses:

19 dixitque pueris suis: Praecedite me: ecce ego post tergum sequar vos: viro autem suo Nabal non indicavit.

19 and she said to her servants: Go on ahead of me; behold, I will follow you behind; but she did not indicate it to her husband Nabal.

20 Cum ergo ascendisset asinum, et descenderet ad radices montis, David et viri eius descendebant in occursum eius: quibus et illa occurrit.

20 When therefore she had mounted the donkey, and was descending to the roots of the mountain, David and his men were descending to meet her: and she met them.

21 Et ait David: Vere frustra servavi omnia quae huius erant in deserto, et non periit quidquam de cunctis quae ad eum pertinebant: et reddidit mihi malum pro bono.

21 And David said: Truly in vain I have kept safe all that were his in the desert, and nothing has perished of all that pertained to him: and he has rendered me evil for good.

22 Haec faciat Deus inimicis David, et haec addat, si reliquero de omnibus quae ad ipsum pertinent usque mane, mingentem ad parietem.

22 May God do these things to the enemies of David, and add these things, if I leave until morning, of all that pertain to him, anyone who urinates against the wall.

23 Cum autem vidisset Abigail David, festinavit, et descendit de asino, et procidit coram David super faciem suam, et adoravit super terram,

23 When, however, Abigail saw David, she hastened, and dismounted from the ass, and fell before David upon her face, and did obeisance upon the ground,

24 et cecidit ad pedes eius, et dixit: In me sit, domine mi, haec iniquitas: loquatur, obsecro ancilla tua in auribus tuis: et audi verba famulae tuae.

24 and she fell at his feet, and said: Let this iniquity be upon me, my lord; let your handmaid, I beseech, speak in your ears; and hear the words of your maidservant.

25 Ne ponat, oro, dominus meus rex cor suum super virum istum iniquum Nabal: quoniam secundum nomen suum stultus est, et stultitia est cum eo: ego autem ancilla tua non vidi pueros tuos, domine mi, quos misisti.

25 Let not, I pray, my lord the king set his heart upon this iniquitous man, Nabal: for according to his name he is a fool, and folly is with him: but I, your handmaid, did not see your youths, my lord, whom you sent.

26 Nunc ergo, domine mi, vivit Dominus, et vivit anima tua, qui prohibuit te ne venires in sanguinem, et salvavit manum tuam tibi: et nunc fiant sicut Nabal inimici tui, et qui quaerunt domino meo malum.

26 Now therefore, my lord, as the Lord lives, and as your soul lives, who has restrained you so that you did not come into bloodshed, and has saved your hand for you: and now let your enemies be like Nabal, and those who seek evil for my lord.

27 Quapropter suscipe benedictionem hanc, quam attulit ancilla tua tibi domino meo: et da pueris qui sequuntur te dominum meum.

27 Wherefore receive this blessing which your handmaid has brought to you, my lord; and give to the young men who follow you, my lord.

28 Aufer iniquitatem famulae tuae: faciens enim faciet Dominus tibi domino meo domum fidelem, quia praelia Domini, domine mi, tu praeliaris: malitia ergo non inveniatur in te omnibus diebus vitae tuae.

28 Remove the iniquity of your handmaid: for making, indeed, the Lord will make for my lord a faithful house, because the battles of the Lord, my lord, you do battle; therefore let malice not be found in you all the days of your life.

29 Si enim surrexerit aliquando homo persequens te, et quaerens animam tuam, erit anima domini mei custodita quasi in fasciculo viventium, apud Dominum Deum tuum: porro inimicorum tuorum anima rotabitur, quasi in impetu et circulo fundae.

29 For if ever a man should rise up pursuing you and seeking your life, the soul of my lord will be guarded as in the bundle of the living, with the Lord your God; but the soul of your enemies will be whirled, as in the impetus and circle of a sling.

30 Cum ergo fecerit Dominus tibi domino meo omnia quae locutus est bona de te, et constituerit te ducem super Israel,

30 When therefore the Lord shall have done for you, my lord, all the good things that he has spoken about you, and has constituted you leader over Israel,

31 non erit tibi hoc in singultum, et in scrupulum cordis domino meo, quod effuderis sanguinem innoxium, aut ipse te ultus fueris: et cum benefecerit Dominus domino meo, recordaberis ancillae tuae.

31 this will not be to you for sighing, and for a scruple of heart, to my lord, that you have poured out innocent blood, or that you yourself have taken vengeance: and when the Lord has done good to my lord, you will remember your handmaid.

32 Et ait David ad Abigail: Benedictus Dominus Deus Israel, qui misit hodie te in occursum meum, et benedictum eloquium tuum,

32 And David said to Abigail: Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, who sent you today to meet me, and blessed be your eloquence,

33 et benedicta tu, quae prohibuisti me hodie ne irem ad sanguinem, et ulciscerer me manu mea.

33 and blessed be you, who have restrained me today from going to bloodshed, and from avenging myself by my own hand.

34 Alioquin vivit Dominus Deus Israel, qui prohibuit me ne malum facerem tibi: nisi cito venisses in occursum mihi, non remansisset Nabal usque ad lucem matutinam, mingens ad parietem.

34 Otherwise, the Lord God of Israel lives, who has restrained me from doing evil to you: unless you had quickly come to meet me, there would not have remained to Nabal until the morning light, one urinating against the wall.

35 Suscepit ergo David de manu eius omnia quae attulerat ei, dixitque ei: Vade pacifice in domum tuam, ecce audivi vocem tuam, et honoravi faciem tuam.

35 Therefore David received from her hand everything that she had brought to him, and he said to her: Go peaceably to your house; behold, I have heard your voice, and I have honored your face.

36 Venit autem Abigail ad Nabal: et ecce erat ei convivium in domo eius, quasi convivium regis, et cor Nabal iucundum: erat enim ebrius nimis: et non indicavit ei verbum pusillum aut grande usque mane.

36 Then Abigail came to Nabal: and behold, he had a banquet in his house, like the banquet of a king, and Nabal’s heart was jocund: for he was exceedingly inebriated: and she did not tell him a word, small or great, until morning.

37 Diluculo autem cum digessisset vinum Nabal, indicavit ei uxor sua verba haec, et emortuum est cor eius intrinsecus, et factus est quasi lapis.

37 At daybreak, however, when Nabal had digested the wine, his wife indicated to him these words, and his heart died within him, and he became as if stone.

38 Cumque pertransissent decem dies, percussit Dominus Nabal, et mortuus est.

38 And when ten days had passed, the Lord struck Nabal, and he died.

39 Quod cum audisset David mortuum Nabal, ait: Benedictus Dominus, qui iudicavit causam opprobrii mei de manu Nabal, et servum suum custodivit a malo, et malitiam Nabal reddidit Dominus in caput eius.

39 When David heard that Nabal was dead, he said: Blessed be the Lord, who has judged the cause of my opprobrium from the hand of Nabal, and has kept his servant from evil, and the Lord has returned Nabal’s malice upon his own head.

Misit ergo David, et locutus est ad Abigail, ut sumeret eam sibi in uxorem.

Therefore David sent and spoke to Abigail, to take her to himself as his wife.

40 Et venerunt pueri David ad Abigail in Carmelum, et locuti sunt ad eam, dicentes: David misit nos ad te, ut accipiat te sibi in uxorem.

40 And the young men of David came to Abigail at Carmel, and spoke to her, saying: David has sent us to you, that he may take you to himself as a wife.

41 Quae consurgens, adoravit prona in terram, et ait: Ecce famula tua sit in ancillam, ut lavet pedes servorum domini mei.

41 She, rising, prostrated herself to the ground, and said: Behold, let your handmaid be as a maidservant, to wash the feet of the servants of my lord.

42 Et festinavit, et surrexit Abigail, et ascendit super asinum, et quinque puellae ierunt cum ea, pedissequae eius, et secuta est nuntios David: et facta est illi uxor.

42 And she hastened, and Abigail rose, and mounted a donkey, and five girls went with her, her handmaids, and she followed David’s messengers: and she became his wife.

43 Sed et Achinoam accepit David de Iezrael: et fuit utraque uxor eius.

43 But David also took Ahinoam of Jezreel; and both were his wives.

44 Saul autem dedit Michol filiam suam uxorem David, Phalti filio Lais, qui erat de Gallim.

44 But Saul gave Michol his daughter, the wife of David, to Phalti, the son of Lais, who was from Gallim.

[26]

1 Et venerunt Ziphaei ad Saul in Gabaa, dicentes: Ecce, David absconditus est in colle Hachila, quae est ex adverso solitudinis.

1 And the Ziphites came to Saul in Gibeah, saying: Behold, David is hidden on the hill of Hachilah, which is opposite the wilderness.

2 Et surrexit Saul, et descendit in desertum Ziph, et cum eo tria millia virorum de electis Israel, ut quaereret David in deserto Ziph.

2 And Saul rose up and went down into the wilderness of Ziph, and with him three thousand men of the chosen of Israel, to seek David in the wilderness of Ziph.

3 Et castrametatus est Saul in Gabaa Hachila, quae erat ex adverso solitudinis in via: David autem habitabat in deserto. Videns autem quod venisset Saul post se in desertum,

3 And Saul encamped on the hill of Hachilah, which was opposite the wilderness on the way: but David was dwelling in the desert. And seeing that Saul had come after him into the desert,

4 misit exploratores, et didicit quod illuc venisset certissime.

4 he sent scouts, and learned most certainly that he had come there.

5 Et surrexit David clam, et venit ad locum ubi erat Saul: cumque vidisset locum in quo dormiebat Saul, et Abner filius Ner, princeps militiae eius, et Saulem dormientem in tentorio, et reliquum vulgus per circuitum eius,

5 And David rose up secretly, and came to the place where Saul was; and when he had seen the place in which Saul was sleeping, and Abner the son of Ner, the commander of his army, and Saul sleeping in the encampment, and the rest of the crowd around him,

6 ait David ad Achimelech Hethaeum, et Abisai filium Sarviae, fratrem Ioab, dicens: Quis descendet mecum ad Saul in castra? Dixitque Abisai: Ego descendam tecum.

6 David said to Achimelech the Hittite, and to Abishai the son of Zeruiah, brother of Joab, saying: Who will descend with me to Saul into the camp? And Abishai said: I will descend with you.

7 Venerunt ergo David et Abisai ad populum nocte, et invenerunt Saul iacentem et dormientem in tentorio, et hastam fixam in terra ad caput eius: Abner autem et populum dormientes in circuitu eius.

7 Therefore David and Abisai came to the people by night, and they found Saul lying and sleeping in the tent, and his spear fixed in the ground at his head: but Abner and the people were sleeping around him.

8 Dixitque Abisai ad David: Conclusit Deus inimicum tuum hodie in manus tuas: nunc ergo perfodiam eum lancea in terra, semel, et secundo opus non erit.

8 And Abisai said to David: God has enclosed your enemy today into your hands: now therefore I will pierce him with the lance into the ground, once, and there will be no need for a second time.

9 Et dixit David ad Abisai: Ne interficias eum: quis enim extendet manum suam in christum Domini, et innocens erit?

9 And David said to Abishai: Do not kill him: for who will stretch out his hand against the anointed of the Lord, and be innocent?

10 Et dixit David: Vivit Dominus, quia nisi Dominus percusserit eum, aut dies eius venerit ut moriatur, aut in praelium descendens perierit:

10 And David said: As the Lord lives, unless the Lord strike him, or his day come that he die, or, descending into battle, he perish:

11 propitius sit mihi Dominus ne extendam manum meam in christum Domini: nunc igitur tolle hastam, quae est ad caput eius, et scyphum aquae, et abeamus.

11 may the Lord be propitious to me that I not extend my hand against the Lord’s anointed: now therefore take the spear which is at his head, and the cup of water, and let us go.

12 Tulit igitur David hastam, et scyphum aquae, qui erat ad caput Saul, et abierunt: et non erat quisquam, qui videret, et intelligeret, et evigilaret, sed omnes dormiebant, quia sopor Domini irruerat super eos.

12 Therefore David took the spear and the cup of water which was at Saul’s head, and they went away: and there was no one who saw, or perceived, or awoke, but all were sleeping, because a sopor from the Lord had rushed upon them.

13 Cumque transisset David ex adverso, et stetisset in vertice montis de longe, et esset grande intervallum inter eos,

13 And when David had crossed over to the opposite side, and had stood on the vertex of the mountain from afar, and there was a great interval between them,

14 clamavit David ad populum, et ad Abner filium Ner, dicens: Nonne respondebis, Abner? Et respondens Abner, ait: Quis es tu, qui clamas, et inquietas regem?

14 David cried out to the people, and to Abner son of Ner, saying: Will you not answer, Abner? And Abner, answering, said: Who are you, who cry out and disquiet the king?

15 Et ait David ad Abner: Numquid non vir tu es? et quis alius similis tui in Israel? quare ergo non custodisti dominum tuum regem? ingressus est enim unus de turba ut interficeret regem, dominum tuum.

15 And David said to Abner: Are you not a man? and who else is like you in Israel? Why then did you not guard your lord the king? For one from the throng has entered to slay the king, your lord.

16 Non est bonum hoc, quod fecisti: vivit Dominus, quoniam filii mortis estis vos, qui non custodistis dominum vestrum, christum Domini: nunc ergo vide ubi sit hasta regis, et ubi sit scyphus aquae qui erat ad caput eius.

16 This is not good, what you have done: as the Lord lives, you are sons of death, you who did not guard your lord, the Lord’s anointed: now therefore see where the king’s spear is, and where the cup of water is that was at his head.

17 Cognovit autem Saul vocem David, et dixit: Numquid vox haec tua, fili mi David? Et ait David: Vox mea, domine mi rex.

17 But Saul recognized the voice of David, and said: Is this your voice, my son David? And David said: It is my voice, my lord king.

18 Et ait: Quam ob causam dominus meus persequitur servum suum? Quid feci? aut quod est malum in manu mea?

18 And he said: For what cause does my lord pursue his servant? What have I done? or what evil is in my hand?

19 Nunc ergo audi, oro, domine mi rex, verba servi tui: si Dominus incitat te adversum me, odoretur sacrificium: si autem filii hominum, maledicti sunt in conspectu Domini: qui eiecerunt me hodie, ut non habitem in haereditate Domini, dicentes: Vade, servi diis alienis.

19 Now therefore hear, I pray, my lord the king, the words of your servant: if the Lord incites you against me, let a sacrifice be smelled; but if it is the sons of men, they are accursed in the sight of the Lord, who have cast me out today, that I might not dwell in the inheritance of the Lord, saying: Go, serve alien gods.

20 Et nunc non effundatur sanguis meus in terram coram Domino: quia egressus est rex Israel ut quaerat pulicem unum, sicut persequitur perdix in montibus.

20 And now let not my blood be poured out upon the earth before the Lord: for the king of Israel has gone out to seek a single flea, as one pursues a partridge in the mountains.

21 Et ait Saul: Peccavi, revertere fili mi David: nequaquam enim ultra tibi malefaciam, eo quod pretiosa fuerit anima mea in oculis tuis hodie: apparet enim quod stulte egerim, et ignoraverim multa nimis.

21 And Saul said: I have sinned; return, my son David; for by no means will I do evil to you any more, since my soul has been precious in your eyes today; for it appears that I have acted foolishly, and I have been exceedingly ignorant.

22 Et respondens David, ait: Ecce hasta regis: transeat unus de pueris regis, et tollat eam.

22 And David, answering, said: Behold the king’s spear: let one of the king’s youths pass over, and take it.

23 Dominus autem retribuet unicuique secundum iustitiam suam et fidem: tradidit enim te Dominus hodie in manum meam, et nolui extendere manum meam in christum Domini.

23 But the Lord will retribute to each one according to his justice and faith; for the Lord delivered you today into my hand, and I was unwilling to extend my hand against the anointed of the Lord.

24 Et sicut magnificata est anima tua hodie in oculis meis, sic magnificetur anima mea in oculis Domini, et liberet me de omni angustia.

24 And just as your soul was magnified today in my eyes, so may my soul be magnified in the eyes of the Lord, and may He deliver me from every anguish.

25 Ait ergo Saul ad David: Benedictus tu fili mi David: et quidem faciens facies, et potens poteris. Abiit autem David in viam suam, et Saul reversus est in locum suum.

25 Therefore Saul said to David: Blessed are you, my son David; and indeed you shall do, and you shall be able. But David went on his way, and Saul returned to his place.

[27]

1 Et ait David in corde suo: Aliquando incidam una die in manus Saul: nonne melius est ut fugiam, et salver in terra Philisthinorum, ut desperet Saul, cessetque me quaerere in cunctis finibus Israel? Fugiam ergo manus eius.

1 And David said in his heart: Someday I shall fall one day into the hand of Saul: is it not better that I should flee, and be saved in the land of the Philistines, so that Saul may despair, and cease to seek me in all the borders of Israel? Therefore I will flee from his hand.

2 Et surrexit David, et abiit ipse, et sexcenti viri cum eo, ad Achis filium Maoch regem Geth.

2 And David arose, and he went, and six hundred men with him, to Achish son of Maoch, king of Gath.

3 Et habitavit David cum Achis in Geth, ipse et viri eius: vir et domus eius: et David, et duae uxores eius, Achinoam Iezrahelitis, et Abigail uxor Nabal Carmeli.

3 And David dwelt with Achis in Geth, he and his men: each man and his household: and David, and his two wives, Ahinoam the Jezreelite, and Abigail, the wife of Nabal the Carmelite.

4 Et nuntiatum est Sauli quod fugisset David in Geth, et non addidit ultra quaerere eum.

4 And it was announced to Saul that David had fled to Geth, and he no longer continued to seek him.

5 Dixit autem David ad Achis: Si inveni gratiam in oculis tuis, detur mihi locus in una urbium regionis huius, ut habitem ibi: cur enim manet servus tuus in civitate regis tecum?

5 But David said to Achis: If I have found grace in your eyes, let a place be given to me in one of the cities of this region, that I may dwell there: for why does your servant remain in the city of the king with you?

6 Dedit itaque ei Achis in die illa Siceleg: propter quam causam facta est Siceleg regum Iuda, usque in diem hanc.

6 So Achish gave him Ziklag on that day: for which cause Ziklag has belonged to the kings of Judah, unto this day.

7 Fuit autem numerus dierum, quibus habitavit David in regione Philisthinorum, quatuor mensium.

7 Now the number of the days during which David dwelt in the region of the Philistines was four months.

8 Et ascendit David et viri eius, et agebant praedas de Gessuri, et de Gerzi, et de Amalecitis: hi enim pagi habitabantur in terra antiquitus, euntibus Sur usque ad terram Aegypti.

8 And David went up, and his men, and they were making raids upon the Geshurites and the Gerzites and the Amalekites: for these country-districts were inhabited in the land from antiquity, going toward Shur as far as the land of Egypt.

9 Et percutiebat David omnem terram, nec relinquebat viventem virum et mulierem: tollensque oves, et boves, et asinos, et camelos, et vestes, revertebatur, et veniebat ad Achis.

9 And David was striking all the land, and he left alive neither man nor woman; and taking the sheep, and oxen, and asses, and camels, and garments, he would return and come to Achish.

10 Dicebat autem ei Achis: In quem irruisti hodie? Respondebat David: Contra meridiem Iudae, et contra meridiem Ierameel, et contra meridiem Ceni.

10 But Achish would say to him: Upon whom did you rush today? David would respond: Against the south of Judah, and against the south of Jerahmeel, and against the south of the Kenites.

11 Virum et mulierem non vivificabat David, nec adducebat in Geth, dicens: Ne forte loquantur adversum nos: Haec fecit David: et hoc erat decretum illi omnibus diebus quibus habitavit in regione Philisthinorum.

11 David would not keep alive man or woman, nor would he bring them to Gath, saying: Lest perhaps they speak against us: David has done these things: and this was a decree for him all the days that he dwelt in the region of the Philistines.

12 Credidit ergo Achis David, dicens: Multa mala operatus est contra populum suum Israel: erit igitur mihi servus sempiternus.

12 Therefore Achis believed David, saying: He has wrought many evils against his people Israel: therefore he will be my perpetual servant.

[28]

1 Factum est autem in diebus illis, congregaverunt Philisthiim agmina sua, ut praepararentur ad bellum contra Israel: dixitque Achis ad David: Sciens nunc scito, quoniam mecum egredieris in castris tu, et viri tui.

1 Now it came to pass in those days, the Philistines congregated their armies, so that they might be prepared for war against Israel; and Achish said to David: Knowing now, know for certain that you will go out with me in the camp, you and your men.

2 Dixitque David ad Achis: Nunc scies quae facturus est servus tuus. Et ait Achis ad David: Et ego custodem capitis mei ponam te cunctis diebus.

2 And David said to Achish: Now you will know what your servant is going to do. And Achish said to David: And I will set you as keeper of my head all the days.

3 Samuel autem mortuus est, planxitque eum omnis Israel, et sepelierunt eum in Ramatha urbe sua. Et Saul abstulit magos et hariolos de terra.

3 Now Samuel was dead, and all Israel lamented him, and they buried him in Ramah, his city. And Saul removed the magicians and the soothsayers from the land.

4 Congregatique sunt Philisthiim, et venerunt, et castrametati sunt in Sunam: congregavit autem et Saul universum Israel, et venit in Gelboe.

4 And the Philistines were gathered together, and came, and encamped in Shunem: but Saul also gathered all Israel, and came to Gilboa.

5 Et vidit Saul castra Philisthiim, et timuit, et expavit cor eius nimis.

5 And Saul saw the camp of the Philistines, and he feared, and his heart was exceedingly terrified.

6 Consuluitque Dominum, et non respondit ei neque per somnia, neque per sacerdotes, neque per prophetas.

6 And he consulted the Lord, and He did not answer him, neither through dreams, nor through the priests, nor through the prophets.

7 Dixitque Saul servis suis: Quaerite mihi mulierem habentem pythonem, et vadam ad eam, et sciscitabor per illam. Et dixerunt servi eius ad eum: Est mulier pythonem habens in Endor.

7 And Saul said to his servants: Seek out for me a woman having a pythonic spirit, and I will go to her, and I will inquire through her. And his servants said to him: There is a woman having a pythonic spirit in Endor.

8 Mutavit ergo habitum suum, vestitusque est aliis vestimentis, et abiit ipse, et duo viri cum eo, veneruntque ad mulierem nocte, et ait illi: Divina mihi in pythone, et suscita mihi quem dixero tibi.

8 Therefore he changed his appearance, and was clothed in other garments, and he went, he himself, and two men with him; and they came to the woman by night, and he said to her: Divine for me by the python, and bring up for me whom I shall tell you.

9 Et ait mulier ad eum: Ecce, tu nosti quanta fecerit Saul, et quomodo eraserit magos et hariolos de terra: quare ergo insidiaris animae meae, ut occidar?

9 And the woman said to him: Behold, you know how great things Saul has done, and how he has erased the magicians and diviners from the land: why then do you lie in wait for my soul, that I may be put to death?

10 Et iuravit ei Saul in Domino, dicens: Vivit Dominus, quia non eveniet tibi quidquam mali propter hanc rem.

10 And Saul swore to her by the Lord, saying: As the Lord lives, nothing evil shall befall you on account of this matter.

11 Dixitque ei mulier: Quem suscitabo tibi? Qui ait: Samuelem mihi suscita.

11 And the woman said to him: “Whom shall I raise up for you?” He said: “Raise up Samuel for me.”

12 Cum autem vidisset mulier Samuelem, exclamavit voce magna, et dixit ad Saul: Quare imposuisti mihi? Tu es enim Saul.

12 But when the woman saw Samuel, she exclaimed with a great voice, and said to Saul: Why have you deceived me? For you are Saul.

13 Dixitque ei rex: Noli timere: quid vidisti? Et ait mulier ad Saul: Deos vidi ascendentes de terra.

13 And the king said to her: Do not fear: what did you see? And the woman said to Saul: I saw gods ascending from the earth.

14 Dixitque ei: Qualis est forma eius? Quae ait: Vir senex ascendit, et ipse amictus est pallio. Et intellexit Saul quod Samuel esset, et inclinavit se super faciem suam in terra, et adoravit.

14 And he said to her: What is his form? And she said: An old man is ascending, and he himself is clothed in a mantle. And Saul understood that it was Samuel, and he inclined himself upon his face to the ground, and adored.

15 Dixit autem Samuel ad Saul: Quare inquietasti me ut suscitarer? Et ait Saul: Coarctor nimis: siquidem Philisthiim pugnant adversum me, et Deus recessit a me, et exaudire me noluit neque in manu prophetarum, neque per somnia: vocavi ergo te, ut ostenderes mihi quid faciam.

15 But Samuel said to Saul: Why have you disquieted me, to raise me up? And Saul said: I am exceedingly hard-pressed: indeed the Philistines are fighting against me, and God has withdrawn from me, and has been unwilling to hear me, neither by the hand of the prophets nor through dreams: therefore I have called you, that you might show me what I should do.

16 Et ait Samuel: Quid interrogas me, cum Dominus recesserit a te, et transierit ad aemulum tuum?

16 And Samuel said: Why do you ask me, since the Lord has withdrawn from you and has passed over to your rival?

17 Faciet enim tibi Dominus sicut locutus est in manu mea, et scindet regnum tuum de manu tua et dabit illud proximo tuo David:

17 For the Lord will do to you as he spoke by my hand, and he will tear your kingdom from your hand and give it to your neighbor, David:

18 quia non obedisti voci Domini, neque fecisti iram furoris eius in Amalec: idcirco quod pateris, fecit tibi Dominus hodie.

18 because you did not obey the voice of the Lord, nor did you effect the wrath of his fury against Amalek: therefore what you are suffering, the Lord has done to you today.

19 Et dabit Dominus etiam Israel tecum in manus Philisthiim: cras autem tu et filii tui mecum eritis: sed et castra Israel tradet Dominus in manus Philisthiim.

19 And the Lord will also give Israel together with you into the hands of the Philistines: but tomorrow you and your sons will be with me: and the Lord will also deliver the camp of Israel into the hands of the Philistines.

20 Statimque Saul cecidit porrectus in terram: extimuerat enim verba Samuelis, et robur non erat in eo, quia non comederat panem tota die illa.

20 And immediately Saul fell stretched out upon the ground: for he had been terrified at the words of Samuel, and vigor was not in him, because he had not eaten bread all that day.

21 Ingressa est itaque mulier illa ad Saul (conturbatus enim erat valde), dixitque ad eum: Ecce obedivit ancilla tua voci tuae, et posui animam meam in manu mea: et audivi sermones tuos, quos locutus es ad me.

21 Therefore the woman entered to Saul (for he was greatly disquieted), and she said to him: Behold, your handmaid has obeyed your voice, and I have placed my soul in my hand; and I have listened to your words which you have spoken to me.

22 Nunc igitur audi et tu vocem ancillae tuae, et ponam coram te buccellam panis, ut comedens convalescas, et possis iter agere.

22 Now therefore do you also hear the voice of your handmaid, and I will set before you a morsel of bread, that, eating, you may convalesce, and may be able to make the journey.

23 Qui renuit, et ait: Non comedam. Coegerunt autem eum servi sui et mulier, et tandem audita voce eorum surrexit de terra, et sedit super lectum.

23 He refused, and said: I will not eat. But his servants and the woman compelled him, and at last, having heard their voice, he rose from the ground and sat upon the bed.

24 Mulier autem illa habebat vitulum pascualem in domo, et festinavit, et occidit eum: tollensque farinam, miscuit eam, et coxit azyma,

24 But that woman had a fatted calf in the house, and she hastened and killed it: and taking flour, she mixed it, and baked unleavened bread,

25 et posuit ante Saul et ante servos eius. Qui cum comedissent, surrexerunt, et ambulaverunt per totam noctem illam.

25 and she set it before Saul and before his servants. Who, when they had eaten, arose, and walked through that whole night.

[29]

1 Congregata sunt ergo Philisthiim universa agmina in Aphec: sed et Israel castrametatus est super fontem, qui erat in Iezrahel.

1 Therefore the whole hosts of the Philistines were gathered in Aphek; but Israel also encamped over the spring that was in Jezreel.

2 Et satrapae quidem Philisthiim incedebant in centuriis et millibus: David autem et viri eius erant in novissimo agmine cum Achis.

2 And the satraps of the Philistines were advancing in centuries and thousands; but David and his men were in the rearmost column with Achish.

3 Dixeruntque principes Philisthiim ad Achis: Quid sibi volunt Hebraei isti? Et ait Achis ad principes Philisthiim: Num ignoratis David, qui fuit servus Saul regis Israel, et est apud me multis diebus, vel annis, et non inveni in eo quidquam ex die qua transfugit ad me, usque ad diem hanc?

3 And the princes of the Philistines said to Achish: What do these Hebrews intend? And Achish said to the princes of the Philistines: Do you not know David, who was a servant of Saul, king of Israel, and he has been with me many days, or years, and I have found nothing in him from the day when he defected to me, up to this day?

4 Irati sunt autem adversus eum principes Philisthiim, et dixerunt ei: Revertatur vir iste, et sedeat in loco suo, in quo constituisti eum, et non descendat nobiscum in praelium, ne fiat nobis adversarius, cum praeliari coeperimus: quomodo enim aliter poterit placare dominum suum, nisi in capitibus nostris?

4 But the princes of the Philistines were angry against him, and they said to him: Let this man return, and let him sit in his place, in which you have appointed him, and let him not go down with us into battle, lest he become an adversary to us when we begin to fight; for how else could he placate his lord, if not with our heads?

5 Nonne iste est David, cui cantabant in choris, dicentes: Percussit Saul in millibus suis, et David in decem millibus suis?

5 Is not this David, to whom they sang in choruses, saying: “Saul struck down his thousands, and David his ten thousands”?

6 Vocavit ergo Achis David, et ait ei: Vivit Dominus, quia rectus es tu, et bonus in conspectu meo: et exitus tuus, et introitus tuus mecum est in castris: et non inveni in te quidquam mali ex die qua venisti ad me, usque in diem hanc: sed satrapis non places.

6 Therefore Achis called David and said to him: As the Lord lives, you are upright and good in my sight; and your going out and your coming in is with me in the camp; and I have found nothing evil in you from the day you came to me up to this day; but you do not please the satraps.

7 Revertere ergo, et vade in pace, et non offendas oculos satraparum Philisthiim.

7 Therefore return, and go in peace, and do not offend the eyes of the satraps of the Philistines.

8 Dixitque David ad Achis: Quid enim feci, et quid invenisti in me servo tuo, a die qua fui in conspectu tuo in diem hanc, ut non veniam, et pugnem contra inimicos domini mei regis?

8 And David said to Achis: For what have I done, and what have you found in me, your servant, from the day that I have been in your sight until this day, that I should not come and fight against the enemies of my lord the king?

9 Respondens autem Achis, locutus est ad David: Scio quia bonus es tu in oculis meis, sicut angelus Dei: sed principes Philisthinorum dixerunt: Non ascendet nobiscum in praelium.

9 But Achish answering, spoke to David: I know that you are good in my eyes, like an angel of God: but the princes of the Philistines have said: He shall not go up with us into battle.

10 Igitur consurge mane tu, et servi domini tui, qui venerunt tecum: et cum de nocte surrexeritis, et coeperit dilucescere, pergite.

10 Therefore, rise early in the morning, you and the servants of your lord who came with you: and when you have risen in the night, and it begins to grow light, proceed.

11 Surrexit itaque de nocte David ipse et viri eius, ut proficiscerentur mane, et reverterentur ad terram Philisthiim: Philisthiim autem ascenderunt in Iezrahel.

11 So David rose by night, he himself and his men, to set out in the morning, and to return to the land of the Philistines: but the Philistines went up to Jezreel.

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1 Cumque venissent David et viri eius in Siceleg die tertia, Amalecitae impetum fecerant ex parte australi in Siceleg, et percusserant Siceleg, et succenderant eam igni.

1 And when David and his men had come into Siceleg on the third day, the Amalekites had made an assault from the austral part against Siceleg, and had smitten Siceleg, and had set it on fire.

2 Et captivas duxerant mulieres ex ea, a minimo usque ad magnum: et non interfecerant quemquam, sed secum duxerant, et pergebant itinere suo.

2 And they had led away captive the women from it, from the least up to the greatest: and they had slain no one, but had led them away with them, and were proceeding on their way.

3 Cum ergo venissent David et viri eius ad civitatem, et invenissent eam succensam igni, et uxores suas, et filios suos, et filias ductas esse captivas,

3 So when David and his men came to the city, and found it burned with fire, and that their wives, their sons, and their daughters had been led away as captives,

4 levaverunt David et populus qui erat cum eo voces suas, et planxerunt donec deficerent in eis lacrimae.

4 david and the people who were with him lifted up their voices, and lamented until the tears failed in them.

5 Siquidem et duae uxores David captivae ductae fuerant, Achinoam Iezrahelites, et Abigail uxor Nabal Carmeli.

5 For indeed the two wives of David also had been led away captive, Ahinoam the Jezreelitess, and Abigail, the wife of Nabal the Carmelite.

6 Et contristatus est David valde: volebat enim eum populus lapidare, quia amara erat anima uniuscuiusque viri super filiis suis et filiabus: confortatus est autem David in Domino Deo suo.

6 And David was greatly grieved: for the people wanted to stone him, because the soul of each man was bitter over his sons and his daughters: but David was strengthened in the Lord his God.

7 Et ait ad Abiathar sacerdotem filium Achimelech: Applica ad me ephod. Et applicavit Abiathar ephod ad David,

7 And he said to Abiathar the priest, the son of Ahimelech: Bring the ephod near to me. And Abiathar brought the ephod near to David,

8 et consuluit David Dominum, dicens: Persequar latrunculos hos, et comprehendam eos, an non? Dixitque ei Dominus: Persequere: absque dubio enim comprehendes eos, et excuties praedam.

8 And David consulted the Lord, saying: Shall I pursue these brigands, and shall I overtake them, or not? And the Lord said to him: Pursue; for without doubt you will overtake them, and you will recover the plunder.

9 Abiit ergo David ipse, et sexcenti viri qui erant cum eo, et venerunt usque ad torrentem Besor: et lassi quidam substiterunt.

9 So David himself went, and the six hundred men who were with him, and they came as far as the torrent Besor: and some who were weary stayed behind.

10 Persecutus est autem David ipse, et quadringenti viri: substiterant enim ducenti, qui lassi transire non poterant torrentem Besor.

10 But David himself pursued, and four hundred men: for two hundred had halted, who, weary, were not able to cross the torrent Besor.

11 Et invenerunt virum Aegyptium in agro, et adduxerunt eum ad David: dederuntque ei panem ut comederet, et biberet aquam,

11 And they found an Egyptian man in the field, and brought him to David: and they gave him bread that he might eat, and drink water,

12 sed et fragmen massae caricarum, et duas ligaturas uvae passae. Quae cum comedisset, reversus est spiritus eius, et refocillatus est: non enim comederat panem, neque biberat aquam, tribus diebus et tribus noctibus.

12 but also a fragment of a cake of figs, and two bundles of raisins. When he had eaten these, his spirit returned, and he was revived: for he had eaten no bread, nor drunk water, for three days and three nights.

13 Dixit itaque ei David: Cuius es tu? vel unde? et quo pergis? Qui ait: Puer Aegyptius ego sum, servus viri Amalecitae: dereliquit autem me dominus meus, quia aegrotare coepi nudiustertius.

13 And David said to him: Whose are you? or whence? and whither are you going? Who said: I am an Egyptian boy, a servant of an Amalekite man: but my lord left me, because I began to be sick the day before yesterday.

14 Siquidem nos erupimus ad australem plagam Cerethi, et contra Iudam, et ad meridiem Caleb, et Siceleg succendimus igni.

14 Indeed we broke out to the southern quarter of the Cherethites, and against Judah, and to the south of Caleb, and we burned Ziklag with fire.

15 Dixitque ei David: Potes me ducere ad cuneum istum? Qui ait: Iura mihi per Deum quod non occidas me, et non tradas me in manus domini mei, et ego ducam te ad cuneum istum. Et iuravit ei David.

15 And David said to him: Can you lead me to this cohort? And he said: Swear to me by God that you will not kill me, and that you will not hand me over into the hands of my master, and I will lead you to this cohort. And David swore to him.

16 Qui cum duxisset eum, ecce illi discumbebant super faciem universae terrae comedentes et bibentes, et quasi festum celebrantes diem, pro cuncta praeda et spoliis quae ceperant de terra Philisthiim, et de terra Iuda.

16 And when he had led him, behold, they were reclining over the face of the whole land, eating and drinking, and as if celebrating a feast day, for all the booty and spoils which they had taken from the land of the Philistines and from the land of Judah.

17 Et percussit eos David a vespere usque ad vesperam alterius diei, et non evasit ex eis quisquam, nisi quadringenti viri adolescentes, qui ascenderant camelos, et fugerant.

17 And David smote them from evening until the evening of the other day, and none of them escaped, except four hundred youthful men, who had mounted camels and fled.

18 Eruit ergo David omnia quae tulerant Amalecitae, et duas uxores suas eruit.

18 Therefore David rescued all that the Amalekites had carried off, and he rescued his two wives.

19 Nec defuit quidquam a parvo usque ad magnum, tam de filiis quam de filiabus, et de spoliis, et quaecumque rapuerant, omnia reduxit David.

19 And nothing was missing from small unto great, both of sons and of daughters, and of the spoils, and whatever they had seized; David brought back all.

20 Et tulit universos greges et armenta, et minavit ante faciem suam: dixeruntque: Haec est praeda David.

20 And he took all the flocks and the herds, and drove them before his face: and they said: This is David’s prey.

21 Venit autem David ad ducentos viros, qui lassi subsisterant, nec sequi potuerant David, et residere eos iusserat in torrente Besor: qui egressi sunt obviam David, et populo qui erat cum eo. Accedens autem David ad populum, salutavit eos pacifice.

21 But David came to the two hundred men, who, weary, had halted and had not been able to follow David, and he had ordered them to remain at the torrent Besor: who went out to meet David and the people who were with him. And David, drawing near to the people, saluted them peaceably.

22 Respondensque omnis vir pessimus et iniquus de viris qui ierant cum David, dixit: Quia non venerunt nobiscum, non dabimus eis quidquam de praeda quam eruimus: sed sufficiat unicuique uxor sua et filii: quos cum acceperint, recedant.

22 And answering, every most wicked and iniquitous man from among the men who had gone with David said: Because they did not come with us, we will not give them anything of the booty which we recovered; but let each man’s wife and children suffice him: when they have taken them, let them withdraw.

23 Dixit autem David: Non sic facietis fratres mei de his, quae tradidit nobis Dominus, et custodivit nos, et dedit latrunculos, qui eruperant adversum nos, in manus nostras:

23 But David said: You shall not do so, my brothers, with the things which the Lord has delivered to us, and has guarded us, and has given the brigands, who had broken out against us, into our hands:

24 nec audiet vos quisquam super sermone hoc: aequa enim pars erit descendentis ad praelium, et remanentis ad sarcinas, et similiter divident.

24 nor will anyone listen to you about this matter: for an equal share shall be for the one going down to the battle and for the one remaining with the baggage, and they will divide likewise.

25 Et factum est hoc ex die illa, et deinceps constitutum et praefinitum, et quasi lex in Israel usque in diem hanc.

25 And this came to pass from that day, and thereafter was constituted and preappointed, and as it were a law in Israel unto this day.

26 Venit ergo David in Siceleg, et misit dona de praeda senioribus Iuda proximis suis, dicens: Accipite benedictionem de praeda hostium Domini:

26 Therefore David came into Siceleg, and sent gifts from the booty to the elders of Judah, his nearest, saying: Receive a blessing from the booty of the enemies of the Lord:

27 his qui erant in Bethel, et qui in Ramoth ad meridiem, et qui in Iether,

27 to those who were in Bethel, and who were in Ramoth to the south, and who were in Jether,

28 et qui in Aroer, et qui in Sephamoth, et qui in Esthamo,

28 and those who were in Aroer, and those who were in Sephamoth, and those who were in Esthamo,

29 et qui in Rachal, et qui in urbibus Ierameel, et qui in urbibus Ceni,

29 and to those who were in Rachal, and to those who were in the cities of Jerahmeel, and to those who were in the cities of the Kenite,

30 et qui in Arama, et qui in lacu Asan, et qui in Athach,

30 and those who are in Arama, and those who are in the lake of Asan, and those who are in Athach,

31 et qui in Hebron, et reliquis qui erant in his locis, in quibus commoratus fuerat David ipse, et viri eius.

31 and to those who were in Hebron, and to the rest who were in those places in which David himself and his men had stayed.

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1 Philisthiim autem pugnabant adversum Israel: et fugerunt viri Israel ante faciem Philisthiim, et ceciderunt interfecti in monte Gelboe.

1 But the Philistines were fighting against Israel; and the men of Israel fled before the face of the Philistines, and they fell slain on Mount Gilboa.

2 Irrueruntque Philisthiim in Saul, et in filios eius, et percusserunt Ionathan, et Abinadab, et Melchisua filios Saul.

2 And the Philistines rushed upon Saul and his sons, and struck down Jonathan, and Abinadab, and Malchishua, the sons of Saul.

3 Totumque pondus praelii versum est in Saul: et consecuti sunt eum viri sagittarii, et vulneratus est vehementer a sagittariis.

3 And the whole weight of the battle was turned upon Saul: and the archer men overtook him, and he was vehemently wounded by the archers.

4 Dixitque Saul ad armigerum suum: Evagina gladium tuum, et percute me: ne forte veniant incircumcisi isti, et interficiant me, illudentes mihi. Et noluit armiger eius: fuerat enim nimio terrore perterritus. Arripuit itaque Saul gladium, et irruit super eum.

4 And Saul said to his armor-bearer: Draw your sword, and strike me, lest perhaps these uncircumcised come and slay me, mocking me. But his armor-bearer would not: for he had been panic-struck with excessive terror. Therefore Saul seized the sword and threw himself upon it.

5 Quod cum vidisset armiger eius, videlicet quod mortuus esset Saul, irruit etiam ipse super gladium suum, et mortuus est cum eo.

5 And when his armiger (armor-bearer) saw this, namely that Saul was dead, he himself also rushed upon his own sword, and died with him.

6 Mortuus est ergo Saul, et tres filii eius, et armiger illius, et universi viri eius in die illa pariter.

6 Therefore Saul died, and his three sons, and his armiger, and all his men together on that day.

7 Videntes autem viri Israel, qui erant trans vallem, et trans Iordanem, quod fugissent viri Israelitae, et quod mortuus esset Saul, et filii eius, reliquerunt civitates suas, et fugerunt: veneruntque Philisthiim, et habitaverunt ibi.

7 But the men of Israel, who were across the valley and across the Jordan, seeing that the Israelite men had fled, and that Saul and his sons were dead, relinquished their cities and fled: and the Philistines came and dwelt there.

8 Facta autem die altera, venerunt Philisthiim, ut spoliarent interfectos, et invenerunt Saul et tres filios eius iacentes in monte Gelboe.

8 But on the next day, the Philistines came to despoil the slain, and they found Saul and his three sons lying on Mount Gilboa.

9 Et praeciderunt caput Saul, et spoliaverunt eum armis: et miserunt in terram Philisthinorum per circuitum, ut annuntiaretur in templo idolorum, et in populis.

9 And they cut off Saul’s head, and despoiled him of arms: and sent into the land of the Philistines round about, that it might be announced in the temple of idols, and among the peoples.

10 Et posuerunt arma eius in templo Astaroth, corpus vero eius suspenderunt in muro Bethsan.

10 And they placed his arms in the temple of Ashtaroth, but his body they hung on the wall of Beth-shan.

11 Quod cum audissent habitatores Iabes Galaad, quaecumque fecerant Philisthiim Saul,

11 When the inhabitants of Jabesh-Gilead heard all that the Philistines had done to Saul,

12 surrexerunt omnes viri fortissimi, et ambulaverunt tota nocte, et tulerunt cadaver Saul, et cadavera filiorum eius de muro Bethsan: veneruntque Iabes Galaad, et combusserunt ea ibi:

12 all the most valiant men rose up, and walked the whole night, and took the corpse of Saul, and the corpses of his sons from the wall of Bethsan; and they came to Jabesh Gilead, and burned them there:

13 et tulerunt ossa eorum, et sepelierunt in nemore Iabes, et ieiunaverunt septem diebus.

13 and they took their bones, and buried them in the grove of Jabesh, and fasted seven days.