I Samuelis 26
1 Et venerunt Ziphæi ad Saul in Gabaa, dicentes: Ecce, David absconditus est in colle Hachila, quæ est ex adverso solitudinis.
One day [some of] the people of Ziph [town] went to Saul while he was at Gibeah, and they said to him, “David is hiding in a cave on Hakilah hill, across from Jeshimon [town].”
2 Et surrexit Saul, et descendit in desertum Ziph, et cum eo tria millia virorum de electis Israel, ut quæreret David in deserto Ziph.
So Saul chose 3,000 of the best Israeli soldiers and went with them to Ziph Desert to search for David.
3 Et castrametatus est Saul in Gabaa Hachila, quæ erat ex adverso solitudinis in via: David autem habitabat in deserto. Videns autem quod venisset Saul post se in desertum,
Saul and his men set up their tents close to the road on Hakilah hill, east of Jeshimon [town], but David [and his men] stayed in the desert. When David heard that Saul was searching for him,
4 misit exploratores, et didicit quod illuc venisset certissime.
he sent some spies to find out for certain that Saul had come to Hakilah.
5 Et surrexit David clam, et venit ad locum ubi erat Saul: cumque vidisset locum, in quo dormiebat Saul, et Abner filius Ner, princeps militiæ eius, et Saulem dormientem in tentorio, et reliquum vulgus per circuitum eius,
Then [that evening] David went to the place where Saul had set up his tent. [From a distance] he saw where Saul and his army commander, Abner, were sleeping. Saul was sleeping with all his army [sleeping] around him.
6 ait David ad Achimelech Hethæum, et Abisai filium Sarviæ, fratrem Ioab, dicens: Quis descendet mecum ad Saul in castra? Dixitque Abisai: Ego descendam tecum.
David [went back to where his men were and] talked to Ahimelech, who was from the Heth people-group, and Joab’s brother Abishai, whose mother was [David’s older sister] Zeruiah. He asked them, “Who will go with me down into the camp where Saul is?” Abishai replied, “I will go 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.
So that night David and Abishai crept into Saul’s camp. They saw that Saul was asleep. His spear was stuck in the ground near his head. Saul was asleep in the middle of the camp. Abner [the army commander] and the other soldiers were sleeping around Saul.
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.
Abishai whispered to David, “Today Yahweh has enabled us to kill your enemy! Allow me to fasten Saul to the ground [by thrusting] my spear into him. It will be necessary for me to strike him only once. I will not [need to] strike him twice.”
9 Et dixit David ad Abisai: Ne interficias eum: quis enim extendet manum suam in christum Domini, et innocens erit?
But David whispered to Abishai, “No, do not kill Saul. Yahweh has appointed him to be king, so Yahweh will surely [RHQ] punish anyone who kills him.
10 Et dixit David: Vivit Dominus, quia nisi Dominus percusserit eum, aut dies eius venerit ut moriatur, aut in prælium descendens perierit:
Just as surely as Yahweh lives, he himself will punish Saul. Perhaps Yahweh will strike him when it is Saul’s time to die, or perhaps Saul will be killed in a battle.
11 propitius sit mihi Dominus ne extendam manum meam in christum Domini. nunc igitur tolle hastam, quæ est ad caput eius, et scyphum aquæ, et abeamus.
But I hope/desire that Yahweh will prevent me from harming the king whom he has appointed. Let’s take Saul’s spear and water jug that are near his head. Then let’s get out of here!”
12 Tulit igitur David hastam, et scyphum aquæ, 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.
So David took the spear and the jug, and he and Abishai left. No one saw them or knew what they were doing, and no one woke up, because Yahweh had caused them to be sound asleep.
13 Cumque transisset David ex adverso, et stetisset in vertice montis de longe, et esset grande intervallum inter eos,
David and Abishai went across the valley and climbed to the top of the hill, a long way from Saul’s camp.
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?
Then David shouted to Abner, “Abner, can you hear me?” Abner [woke up and] replied “Who are you, [waking up] the king by calling out to him?”
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.
David replied, “[I am sure that] you are the greatest man in Israel [IRO, RHQ]! So why did you not guard your master, the king? Someone came into your camp in order to kill your master, the king.
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 aquæ, qui erat ad caput eius.
You have done a very poor [job of guarding Saul]. So just as surely as Yahweh lives, you and your men should be executed! You have not guarded your master whom Yahweh appointed to be the king. Where are the king’s spear and the water jug that were close to his head?”
17 Cognovit autem Saul vocem David, et dixit: Numquid vox hæc tua, fili mi David? Et ait David: Vox mea, domine mi rex.
[The shouting woke] Saul [up and he] recognized that it was David’s voice. He called out, saying, “My son David, is that your voice?” David replied, “Yes, your majesty it is my voice.”
18 Et ait: Quam ob causam dominus meus persequitur servum suum? Quid feci? aut quod est malum in manu mea?
Then David added, “Sir, why are you pursuing me [RHQ]? What wrong have I done [RHQ]?
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 hereditate Domini, dicentes: Vade, servi diis alienis.
Your majesty, listen to me! If Yahweh has caused you to be angry with me, I should offer a sacrifice [in order to appease him]. But if it is people who have caused you to be angry with me, I hope/desire that Yahweh will curse them. They have forced me to leave the land that Yahweh gave to me. They have told me, ‘Go somewhere else and worship other gods!’
20 Et nunc non effundatur sanguis meus in terram coram Domino: quia egressus est rex Israel ut quærat pulicem unum, sicut persequitur perdix in montibus.
Now do not force me to die [MTY] far from [where we worship] Yahweh. You, the king of Israel, have come here searching for me. [But I do not want to harm you]! I am [as harmless as] a flea [MET]. You are searching for me like people hunt for a bird in the mountains! [MET]”
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.
Then Saul said, “David, my son. I have sinned [by trying to kill you]. So come back home. Today you have considered my life to be very valuable [and so you have not killed me]. So I will not try to harm you. I have made a big mistake and have acted foolishly.”
22 Et respondens David, ait: Ecce hasta regis: transeat unus de pueris regis, et tollat eam.
David replied, [“will leave] your spear here. Send one of your young men here to get 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.
Yahweh rewards us for the things that we do that are right and for being loyal [to him]. Even when Yahweh placed me where I could easily have killed you, I refused to do that, because you are the one whom Yahweh has appointed [MTY] to be the king.
24 Et sicut magnificata est anima tua hodie in oculis meis, sic magnificetur anima mea in oculis Domini, et liberet me de omni angustia.
Just like I considered your life to be valuable [and spared your life] today, I hope/desire that Yahweh will consider my life to be valuable and [spare my life and] save me from all my troubles.”
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.
Then Saul said to David, “My son David, I pray that Yahweh will bless you. You will do great things very successfully.” Then David returned to his men, and Saul went back home.
