I Samuelis 24
1 Cumque reversus esset Saul, postquam persecutus est Philisthæos, nuntiaverunt ei, dicentes: Ecce David in deserto est Engaddi.
After Saul had returned from pursuing the Philistines, he was told, “David is in the wilderness of En-gedi.”
2 Assumens ergo Saul tria millia electorum virorum ex omni Israël, perrexit ad investigandum David et viros ejus, etiam super abruptissimas petras, quæ solis ibicibus perviæ sunt.
So Saul took three thousand chosen men from all Israel and went to look for David and his men in the region of the Rocks of the Wild Goats.
3 Et venit ad caulas ovium, quæ se offerebant vianti: eratque ibi spelunca, quam ingressus est Saul ut purgaret ventrem: porro David et viri ejus in interiore parte speluncæ latebant.
Soon Saul came to the sheepfolds along the road, where there was a cave, and he went in to relieve himself. And David and his men were hiding in the recesses of the cave.
4 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 præcidit oram chlamydis Saul silenter.
So David’s men said to him, “This is the day about which the LORD said to you, ‘Behold, I will deliver your enemy into your hand, that you may do with him as you wish.’” Then David crept up secretly and cut off a corner of Saul’s robe.
5 Post hæc percussit cor suum David, eo quod abscidisset oram chlamydis Saul.
Afterward, David’s conscience was stricken because he had cut off the corner of Saul’s robe.
6 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.
So he said to his men, “The LORD forbid that I should do such a thing to my master, the LORD’s anointed. May I never lift my hand against him, since he is the LORD’s anointed.”
7 Et confregit David viros suos sermonibus, et non permisit eos ut consurgerent in Saul: porro Saul exsurgens de spelunca, pergebat cœpto itinere.
With these words David restrained his men, and he did not let them rise up against Saul. Then Saul left the cave and went on his way.
8 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,
After that, David got up, went out of the cave, and called out to Saul, “My lord the king!” When Saul looked behind him, David bowed facedown in reverence
9 dixitque ad Saul: Quare audis verba hominum loquentium: David quærit malum adversum te?
and said to Saul, “Why do you listen to the words of men who say, ‘Look, David intends to harm you’?
10 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.
Behold, this day you have seen with your own eyes that the LORD delivered you into my hand in the cave. I was told to kill you, but I spared you and said, ‘I will not lift my hand against my lord, since he is the LORD’s anointed.’
11 Quin potius pater mi, vide, et cognosce oram chlamydis tuæ in manu mea: quoniam cum præscinderem summitatem chlamydis tuæ, 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 animæ meæ ut auferas eam.
See, my father, look at the corner of your robe in my hand. For I cut it off, but I did not kill you. See and know that there is no evil or rebellion in my hands. I have not sinned against you, even though you are hunting me down to take my life.
12 Judicet Dominus inter me et te, et ulciscatur me Dominus ex te: manus autem mea non sit in te.
May the LORD judge between you and me, and may the LORD take vengeance on you, but my hand will never be against you.
13 Sicut et in proverbio antiquo dicitur: Ab impiis egredietur impietas: manus ergo mea non sit in te.
As the old proverb says, ‘Wickedness proceeds from the wicked.’ But my hand will never be against you.
14 Quem persequeris, rex Israël? quem persequeris? canem mortuum persequeris, et pulicem unum.
Against whom has the king of Israel come out? Whom are you pursuing? A dead dog? A flea?
15 Sit Dominus judex, et judicet inter me et te: et videat, et judicet causam meam, et eruat me de manu tua.
May the LORD be our judge and decide between you and me. May He take notice and plead my case and deliver me from your hand.”
16 Cum autem complesset David loquens sermones hujuscemodi ad Saul, dixit Saul: Numquid vox hæc tua est, fili mi David? Et levavit Saul vocem suam, et flevit:
When David had finished saying these things, Saul called back, “Is that your voice, David my son?” Then Saul wept aloud
17 dixitque ad David: Justior tu es quam ego: tu enim tribuisti mihi bona, ego autem reddidi tibi mala.
and said to David, “You are more righteous than I, for you have rewarded me with good, though I have rewarded you with evil.
18 Et tu indicasti hodie quæ feceris mihi bona: quomodo tradiderit me Dominus in manum tuam, et non occideris me.
And you have shown this day how well you have dealt with me; for when the LORD delivered me into your hand, you did not kill me.
19 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.
When a man finds his enemy, does he let him go away unharmed? May the LORD reward you with good for what you have done for me this day.
20 Et nunc quia scio quod certissime regnaturus sis, et habiturus in manu tua regnum Israël:
Now I know for sure that you will be king, and that the kingdom of Israel will be established in your hands.
21 jura mihi in Domino, ne deleas semen meum post me, neque auferas nomen meum de domo patris mei.
So now, swear to me by the LORD that you will not cut off my descendants or wipe out my name from my father’s house.”
22 Et juravit David Sauli. Abiit ergo Saul in domum suam: et David et viri ejus ascenderunt ad tutiora loca.
So David gave his oath to Saul. Then Saul returned home, but David and his men went up to the stronghold.
