< 2 Samuel 12 >

1 And the LORD sent Nathan unto David. And he came unto him, and said unto him: 'There were two men in one city: the one rich, and the other poor.
So the LORD sent Nathan to David. And he came to him, and said to him, "Tell me how you judge this case. There were two men in a certain city, the one rich and the other poor.
2 The rich man had exceeding many flocks and herds;
The rich man had very many flocks and herds,
3 but the poor man had nothing save one little ewe lamb, which he had bought and reared; and it grew up together with him, and with his children; it did eat of his own morsel, and drank of his own cup, and lay in his bosom, and was unto him as a daughter.
but the poor man had nothing, except one little ewe lamb, which he had acquired. And he raised it and it grew up alongside him and his children. It used to eat of his morsel and drink from his cup and sleep in his arms, and it was like a daughter to him.
4 And there came a traveller unto the rich man, and he spared to take of his own flock and of his own herd, to dress for the wayfaring man that was come unto him, but took the poor man's lamb, and dressed it for the man that was come to him.'
Now a traveler came to the rich man, but he was unwilling to take from his own flock or his own herd to prepare for the traveler who had come to him, but took the poor man's lamb and prepared it for the man who had come to him."
5 And David's anger was greatly kindled against the man; and he said to Nathan: 'As the LORD liveth, the man that hath done this deserveth to die;
Then David became very angry with that man, and he said to Nathan, "As the LORD lives, the man who has done this deserves death.
6 and he shall restore the lamb fourfold, because he did this thing, and because he had no pity.'
He must restore the lamb fourfold, because he did this thing, and because he had no pity."
7 And Nathan said to David: 'Thou art the man. Thus saith the LORD, the God of Israel: I anointed thee king over Israel, and I delivered thee out of the hand of Saul;
Then Nathan said to David, "You are the man. This is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says: 'I anointed you king over Israel, and I delivered you out of the hand of Saul.
8 and I gave thee thy master's house, and thy master's wives into thy bosom, and gave thee the house of Israel and of Judah; and if that were too little, then would I add unto thee so much more.
I gave you your master's house, and your master's wives into your care, and gave you the house of Israel and of Judah; and if that would have been too little, I would have added to you many more such things.
9 Wherefore hast thou despised the word of the LORD, to do that which is evil in My sight? Uriah the Hittite thou hast smitten with the sword, and his wife thou hast taken to be thy wife, and him thou hast slain with the sword of the children of Ammon.
Why have you despised the LORD, to do that which is evil in his sight? You have struck Uriah the Hethite with the sword, and have taken his wife to be your wife, and have slain him with the sword of the people of Ammon.
10 Now therefore, the sword shall never depart from thy house; because thou hast despised Me, and hast taken the wife of Uriah the Hittite to be thy wife.
Now therefore the sword will never depart from your house, because you have despised me, and have taken the wife of Uriah the Hethite to be your wife.'
11 Thus saith the LORD: Behold, I will raise up evil against thee out of thine own house, and I will take thy wives before thine eyes, and give them unto thy neighbour, and he shall lie with thy wives in the sight of this sun.
"This is what the LORD says: 'Look, I will raise up evil against you out of your own house; and I will take your wives before your eyes, and give them to your neighbor, and he will lie with your wives in the sight of this sun.
12 For thou didst it secretly; but I will do this thing before all Israel, and before the sun.'
For you did it secretly, but I will do this thing before all Israel, and before the sun.'"
13 And David said unto Nathan: 'I have sinned against the LORD.' And Nathan said unto David: 'The LORD also hath put away thy sin; thou shalt not die.
David said to Nathan, "I have sinned against the LORD." Nathan said to David, "The LORD also has put away your sin. You will not die.
14 Howbeit, because by this deed thou hast greatly blasphemed the enemies of the LORD, the child also that is born unto thee shall surely die.'
However, because by this deed you have shown utter contempt for the LORD, the child also who is born to you shall surely die."
15 And Nathan departed unto his house. And the LORD struck the child that Uriah's wife bore unto David, and it was very sick.
Then Nathan went to his home. And God struck the child that Uriah's wife bore to David, and it was very sick.
16 David therefore besought God for the child; and David fasted, and as often as he went in, he lay all night upon the earth.
Then David sought from God on behalf of the child. And David fasted, and went in and lay all night on the ground.
17 And the elders of his house arose, and stood beside him, to raise him up from the earth; but he would not, neither did he eat bread with them.
And the elders of his house approached him to lift him up from the ground, but he was unwilling, and he would not eat food with them.
18 And it came to pass on the seventh day, that the child died. And the servants of David feared to tell him that the child was dead; for they said: 'Behold, while the child was yet alive, we spoke unto him, and he hearkened not unto our voice; how then shall we tell him that the child is dead, so that he do himself some harm?'
It happened on the seventh day, that the child died. The servants of David feared to tell him that the child was dead; for they said, "Look, while the child was yet alive, we spoke to him, and he did not listen to our voice. How will he then harm himself, if we tell him that the child is dead?"
19 But when David saw that his servants whispered together, David perceived that the child was dead; and David said unto his servants: 'Is the child dead?' And they said: 'He is dead.'
But when David noticed that his servants were whispering together, David perceived that the child was dead; and David said to his servants, "Is the child dead?" They said, "He is dead."
20 Then David arose from the earth, and washed, and anointed himself, and changed his apparel; and he came into the house of the LORD, and worshipped; then he came to his own house; and when he required, they set bread before him, and he did eat.
Then David arose from the ground, and washed, and anointed himself, and changed his clothing; and he came into the house of the LORD, and worshiped. Then he went to his own house, and he asked for bread to eat. And they set bread before him, and he ate.
21 Then said his servants unto him: 'What thing is this that thou hast done? thou didst fast and weep for the child, while it was alive; but when the child was dead, thou didst rise and eat bread.'
Then his servants said to him, "What is this that you have done? You fasted and wept and kept vigil for the child while he was alive; but when the child was dead, you rose up and ate bread."
22 And he said: 'While the child was yet alive, I fasted and wept; for I said: Who knoweth whether the LORD will not be gracious to me, that the child may live?
He said, "While the child was yet alive, I fasted and wept; for I said, 'Who knows whether the LORD will not be gracious to me, that the child may live?'
23 But now he is dead, wherefore should I fast? can I bring him back again? I shall go to him, but he will not return to me.'
But now he is dead, why should I fast? Can I bring him back? I shall go to him, but he will not return to me."
24 And David comforted Bath-sheba his wife, and went in unto her, and lay with her; and she bore a son, and called his name Solomon. And the LORD loved him;
David comforted Bathsheba his wife, and went in to her, and lay with her. She bore a son, and he called his name Solomon. The LORD loved him;
25 and He sent by the hand of Nathan the prophet, and he called his name Jedidiah, for the LORD'S sake.
and he sent by the hand of Nathan the prophet; and he named him Jedidiah, for the LORD's sake.
26 Now Joab fought against Rabbah of the children of Ammon, and took the royal city.
Now Joab fought against Rabbah of the people of Ammon, and took the royal city.
27 And Joab sent messengers to David, and said: 'I have fought against Rabbah, yea, I have taken the city of waters.
Joab sent messengers to David, and said, "I have fought against Rabbah, and have also taken the water supply of the city.
28 Now therefore gather the rest of the people together, and encamp against the city, and take it; lest I take the city, and it be called after my name.'
Now therefore gather the rest of the people together, and besiege the city and capture it yourself, or I will capture the city, and it will be named after me."
29 And David gathered all the people together, and went to Rabbah, and fought against it, and took it.
David gathered all the people together, and went to Rabbah, and fought against it, and took it.
30 And he took the crown of Malcam from off his head; and the weight thereof was a talent of gold, and in it were precious stones; and it was set on David's head. And he brought forth the spoil of the city, exceeding much.
He took the crown of their king from off his head; and its weight was a talent of gold, and in it were precious stones; and it was set on David's head. He brought out the spoil of the city, a very great amount.
31 And he brought forth the people that were therein, and put them under saws, and under harrows of iron, and under axes of iron, and made them pass through the brickkiln; and thus did he unto all the cities of the children of Ammon. And David and all the people returned unto Jerusalem.
He brought out the people who were in it, and put them to work with saws, and iron picks, and iron axes, and to labor at the brick kiln. And he did the same to all the cities of the people of Ammon. David and all the people returned to Jerusalem.

< 2 Samuel 12 >