Ii Samuelis 13

1 Factum est autem post hæc ut Absalom filii David sororem speciosissimam, vocabulo Thamar, adamaret Amnon filius David,

After this, Absalom the son of David had a beautiful sister, whose name was Tamar; and Amnon the son of David loved her.

2 et deperiret eam valde, ita ut propter amorem ejus ægrotaret: quia cum esset virgo, difficile ei videbatur ut quippiam inhoneste ageret cum ea.

Amnon was so troubled that he became sick because of his sister Tamar, for she was a virgin, and it seemed hard to Amnon to do anything to her.

3 Erat autem Amnon amicus nomine Jonadab, filius Semmaa fratris David, vir prudens valde.

But Amnon had a friend whose name was Jonadab the son of Shimeah, David’s brother; and Jonadab was a very subtle man.

4 Qui dixit ad eum: Quare sic attenuaris macie, fili regis, per singulos dies? cur non indicas mihi? Dixitque ei Amnon: Thamar sororem fratris mei Absalom amo.

He said to him, “Why, son of the king, are you so sad from day to day? Will not you tell me?” Amnon said to him, “I love Tamar, my brother Absalom’s sister.”

5 Cui respondit Jonadab: Cuba super lectum tuum, et languorem simula: cumque venerit pater tuus ut visitet te, dic ei: Veniat, oro, Thamar soror mea, ut det mihi cibum, et faciat pulmentum, ut comedam de manu ejus.

Jonadab said to him, “Lay down on your bed and pretend to be sick. When your father comes to see you, tell him, ‘Please let my sister Tamar come and give me bread to eat, and prepare the food in my sight, that I may see it and eat it from her hand.’”

6 Accubuit itaque Amnon, et quasi ægrotare cœpit: cumque venisset rex ad visitandum eum, ait Amnon ad regem: Veniat, obsecro, Thamar soror mea, ut faciat in oculis meis duas sorbitiunculas, et cibum capiam de manu ejus.

So Amnon lay down and faked being sick. When the king came to see him, Amnon said to the king, “Please let my sister Tamar come and make me a couple of cakes in my sight, that I may eat from her hand.”

7 Misit ergo David ad Thamar domum, dicens: Veni in domum Amnon fratris tui, et fac ei pulmentum.

Then David sent home to Tamar, saying, “Go now to your brother Amnon’s house, and prepare food for him.”

8 Venitque Thamar in domum Amnon fratris sui: ille autem jacebat. Quæ tollens farinam commiscuit, et liquefaciens, in oculis ejus coxit sorbitiunculas.

So Tamar went to her brother Amnon’s house; and he was lying down. She took dough, kneaded it, made cakes in his sight, and baked the cakes.

9 Tollensque quod coxerat, effudit, et posuit coram eo, et noluit comedere: dixitque Amnon: Ejicite universos a me. Cumque ejecissent omnes,

She took the pan and poured them out before him, but he refused to eat. Amnon said, “Have all men leave me.” Then every man went out from him.

10 dixit Amnon ad Thamar: Infer cibum in conclave, ut vescar de manu tua. Tulit ergo Thamar sorbitiunculas quas fecerat, et intulit ad Amnon fratrem suum in conclave.

Amnon said to Tamar, “Bring the food into the room, that I may eat from your hand.” Tamar took the cakes which she had made, and brought them into the room to Amnon her brother.

11 Cumque obtulisset ei cibum, apprehendit eam, et ait: Veni, cuba mecum, soror mea.

When she had brought them near to him to eat, he took hold of her and said to her, “Come, lie with me, my sister!”

12 Quæ respondit ei: Noli frater mi, noli opprimere me: neque enim hoc fas est in Israël: noli facere stultitiam hanc.

She answered him, “No, my brother, do not force me! For no such thing ought to be done in Israel. Do not you do this folly!

13 Ego enim ferre non potero opprobrium meum, et tu eris quasi unus de insipientibus in Israël: quin potius loquere ad regem, et non negabit me tibi.

As for me, where would I carry my shame? And as for you, you will be as one of the fools in Israel. Now therefore, please speak to the king; for he will not withhold me from you.”

14 Noluit autem acquiescere precibus ejus, sed prævalens viribus oppressit eam, et cubavit cum ea.

However, he would not listen to her voice; but being stronger than she, he forced her and lay with her.

15 Et exosam eam habuit Amnon odio magno nimis: ita ut majus esset odium quo oderat eam, amore quo ante dilexerat. Dixitque ei Amnon: Surge, et vade.

Then Amnon hated her with exceedingly great hatred; for the hatred with which he hated her was greater than the love with which he had loved her. Amnon said to her, “Arise, be gone!”

16 Quæ respondit ei: Majus est hoc malum quod nunc agis adversum me, quam quod ante fecisti, expellens me. Et noluit audire eam:

She said to him, “Not so, because this great wrong in sending me away is worse than the other that you did to me!” But he would not listen to her.

17 sed vocato puero qui ministrabat ei, dixit: Ejice hanc a me foras, et claude ostium post eam.

Then he called his servant who ministered to him, and said, “Now put this woman out from me, and bolt the door after her.”

18 Quæ induta erat talari tunica: hujuscemodi enim filiæ regis virgines vestibus utebantur. Ejecit itaque eam minister illius foras: clausitque fores post eam.

She had a garment of various colors on her, for the king’s daughters who were virgins dressed in such robes. Then his servant brought her out and bolted the door after her.

19 Quæ aspergens cinerem capiti suo, scissa talari tunica, impositisque manibus super caput suum, ibat ingrediens, et clamans.

Tamar put ashes on her head, and tore her garment of various colors that was on her; and she laid her hand on her head and went her way, crying aloud as she went.

20 Dixit autem ei Absalom frater suus: Numquid Amnon frater tuus concubuit tecum? sed nunc soror, tace: frater tuus est: neque affligas cor tuum pro hac re. Mansit itaque Thamar contabescens in domo Absalom fratris sui.

Absalom her brother said to her, “Has Amnon your brother been with you? But now hold your peace, my sister. He is your brother. Do not take this thing to heart.” So Tamar remained desolate in her brother Absalom’s house.

21 Cum autem audisset rex David verba hæc, contristatus est valde: et noluit contristare spiritum Amnon filii sui, quoniam diligebat eum, quia primogenitus erat ei.

But when King David heard of all these things, he was very angry.

22 Porro non est locutus Absalom ad Amnon nec malum nec bonum: oderat enim Absalom Amnon, eo quod violasset Thamar sororem suam.

Absalom spoke to Amnon neither good nor bad; for Absalom hated Amnon, because he had forced his sister Tamar.

23 Factum est autem post tempus biennii ut tonderentur oves Absalom in Baalhasor, quæ est juxta Ephraim: et vocavit Absalom omnes filios regis,

After two full years, Absalom had sheep shearers in Baal Hazor, which is beside Ephraim; and Absalom invited all the king’s sons.

24 venitque ad regem, et ait ad eum: Ecce tondentur oves servi tui: veniat, oro, rex cum servis suis ad servum suum.

Absalom came to the king and said, “See now, your servant has sheep shearers. Please let the king and his servants go with your servant.”

25 Dixitque rex ad Absalom: Noli fili mi, noli rogare ut veniamus omnes et gravemus te. Cum autem cogeret eum, et noluisset ire, benedixit ei.

The king said to Absalom, “No, my son, let’s not all go, lest we be burdensome to you.” He pressed him; however he would not go, but blessed him.

26 Et ait Absalom: Si non vis venire, veniat, obsecro, nobiscum saltem Amnon frater meus. Dixitque ad eum rex: Non est necesse ut vadat tecum.

Then Absalom said, “If not, please let my brother Amnon go with us.” The king said to him, “Why should he go with you?”

27 Coëgit itaque Absalom eum, et dimisit cum eo Amnon et universos filios regis. Feceratque Absalom convivium quasi convivium regis.

But Absalom pressed him, and he let Amnon and all the king’s sons go with him.

28 Præceperat autem Absalom pueris suis, dicens: Observate cum temulentus fuerit Amnon vino, et dixero vobis: Percutite eum, et interficite: nolite timere: ego enim sum qui præcipio vobis: roboramini, et estote viri fortes.

Absalom commanded his servants, saying, “Mark now, when Amnon’s heart is merry with wine; and when I tell you, ‘Strike Amnon,’ then kill him. Do not be afraid. Have not I commanded you? Be courageous, and be valiant!”

29 Fecerunt ergo pueri Absalom adversum Amnon sicut præceperat eis Absalom. Surgentesque omnes filii regis ascenderunt singuli mulas suas, et fugerunt.

The servants of Absalom did to Amnon as Absalom had commanded. Then all the king’s sons arose, and every man got up on his mule and fled.

30 Cumque adhuc pergerent in itinere, fama pervenit ad David, dicens: Percussit Absalom omnes filios regis, et non remansit ex eis saltem unus.

While they were on the way, the news came to David, saying, “Absalom has slain all the king’s sons, and there is not one of them left!”

31 Surrexit itaque rex, et scidit vestimenta sua, et cecidit super terram: et omnes servi illius qui assistebant ei, sciderunt vestimenta sua.

Then the king arose, and tore his garments, and lay on the earth; and all his servants stood by with their clothes torn.

32 Respondens autem Jonadab filius Semmaa fratris David, dixit: Ne æstimet dominus meus rex quod omnes pueri filii regis occisi sint: Amnon solus mortuus est, quoniam in ore Absalom erat positus ex die qua oppressit Thamar sororem ejus.

Jonadab the son of Shimeah, David’s brother, answered, “Do not let my lord suppose that they have killed all the young men, the king’s sons, for Amnon only is dead; for by the appointment of Absalom this has been determined from the day that he forced his sister Tamar.

33 Nunc ergo ne ponat dominus meus rex super cor suum verbum istud, dicens: Omnes filii regis occisi sunt: quoniam Amnon solus mortuus est.

Now therefore do not let my lord the king take the thing to his heart, to think that all the king’s sons are dead; for only Amnon is dead.”

34 Fugit autem Absalom. Et elevavit puer speculator oculos suos, et aspexit: et ecce populus multus veniebat per iter devium ex latere montis.

But Absalom fled. The young man who kept the watch lifted up his eyes and looked, and behold, many people were coming by way of the hillside behind him.

35 Dixit autem Jonadab ad regem: Ecce filii regis adsunt: juxta verbum servi tui, sic factum est.

Jonadab said to the king, “Behold, the king’s sons are coming! It is as your servant said.”

36 Cumque cessasset loqui, apparuerunt et filii regis: et intrantes levaverunt vocem suam, et fleverunt: sed et rex et omnes servi ejus fleverunt ploratu magno nimis.

As soon as he had finished speaking, behold, the king’s sons came, and lifted up their voices and wept. The king also and all his servants wept bitterly.

37 Porro Absalom fugiens abiit ad Tholomai filium Ammiud regem Gessur. Luxit ergo David filium suum cunctis diebus.

But Absalom fled and went to Talmai the son of Ammihur, king of Geshur. David mourned for his son every day.

38 Absalom autem cum fugisset, et venisset in Gessur, fuit ibi tribus annis.

So Absalom fled and went to Geshur, and was there three years.

39 Cessavitque rex David persequi Absalom, eo quod consolatus esset super Amnon interitu.

King David longed to go out to Absalom, for he was comforted concerning Amnon, since he was dead.