I Samuelis 26
1 Et venerunt Ziphæi ad Saul in Gabaa, dicentes: Ecce David absconditus est in colle Hachila, quæ est ex adverso solitudinis.
Then the Ziphites came to Saul at Gibeah and said, “Is not David hiding on the hill of Hachilah, opposite Jeshimon?”
2 Et surrexit Saul, et descendit in desertum Ziph, et cum eo tria millia virorum de electis Israël, ut quæreret David in deserto Ziph.
So Saul, accompanied by three thousand chosen men of Israel, went down to the Wilderness of Ziph to search for David there.
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 camped beside the road at the hill of Hachilah opposite Jeshimon, but David was living in the wilderness. When he realized that Saul had followed him there,
4 misit exploratores, et didicit quod illuc venisset certissime.
David sent out spies to verify that Saul had arrived.
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 ejus, et Saulem dormientem in tentorio, et reliquum vulgus per circuitum ejus,
Then David set out and went to the place where Saul had camped. He saw the place where Saul and Abner son of Ner, the general of his army, had lain down. Saul was lying inside the inner circle of the camp, with the troops camped around him.
6 ait David ad Achimelech Hethæum, et Abisai filium Sarviæ fratrem Joab, dicens: Quis descendet mecum ad Saul in castra? Dixitque Abisai: Ego descendam tecum.
And David asked Ahimelech the Hittite and Abishai son of Zeruiah, Joab’s brother, “Who will go down with me to Saul in the camp?” “I will go with you,” answered Abishai.
7 Venerunt ergo David et Abisai ad populum nocte, et invenerunt Saul jacentem et dormientem in tentorio, et hastam fixam in terra ad caput ejus: Abner autem et populum dormientes in circuitu ejus.
That night David and Abishai came to the troops, and Saul was lying there asleep in the inner circle of the camp, with his spear stuck in the ground by his head. And Abner and the troops were lying 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.
Abishai said to David, “Today God has delivered your enemy into your hand. Now, therefore, please let me thrust the spear through him into the ground with one stroke. 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 said to Abishai, “Do not destroy him, for who can lift a hand against the LORD’s anointed and be guiltless?”
10 Et dixit David: Vivit Dominus, quia nisi Dominus percusserit eum, aut dies ejus venerit ut moriatur, aut in prælium descendens perierit:
David added, “As surely as the LORD lives, the LORD Himself will strike him down; either his day will come and he will die, or he will go into battle and perish.
11 propitius sit mihi Dominus ne extendam manum meam in christum Domini. Nunc igitur tolle hastam quæ est ad caput ejus, et scyphum aquæ, et abeamus.
But the LORD forbid that I should stretch out my hand against the LORD’s anointed. Instead, take the spear and water jug by his head, and let us go.”
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 water jug by Saul’s head, and they departed. No one saw them or knew about it, nor did anyone wake up; they all remained asleep, because a deep sleep from the LORD had fallen on them.
13 Cumque transisset David ex adverso, et stetisset in vertice montis de longe, et esset grande intervallum inter eos,
Then David crossed to the other side and stood atop the mountain at a distance; there was a wide gulf 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?
And David shouted to the troops and to Abner son of Ner, “Will you not answer me, Abner?” “Who calls to the king?” Abner replied.
15 Et ait David ad Abner: Numquid non vir tu es? et quis alius similis tui in Israël? quare ergo non custodisti dominum tuum regem? ingressus est enim unus de turba ut interficeret regem dominum tuum.
So David said to Abner, “You are a man, aren’t you? And who in Israel is your equal? Why then did you not protect your lord the king when one of the people came to destroy him?
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 ejus.
This thing you have done is not good. As surely as the LORD lives, all of you deserve to die, since you did not protect your lord, the LORD’s anointed. Now look around. Where are the king’s spear and water jug that were by 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.
Then Saul recognized David’s voice and asked, “Is that your voice, David my son?” “It is my voice, my lord and king,” David said.
18 Et ait: Quam ob causam dominus meus persequitur servum suum? quid feci? aut quod est malum in manu mea?
And he continued, “Why is my lord pursuing his servant? What have I done? 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 ejecerunt me hodie ut non habitem in hæreditate Domini, dicentes: Vade, servi diis alienis.
Now please, may my lord the king hear the words of his servant: If the LORD has stirred you up against me, then may He accept an offering. But if men have done it, may they be cursed in the presence of the LORD! For today they have driven me away from sharing in the inheritance of the LORD, saying, ‘Go, serve other gods.’
20 Et nunc non effundatur sanguis meus in terram coram Domino: quia egressus est rex Israël ut quærat pulicem unum, sicut persequitur perdix in montibus.
So do not let my blood fall to the ground far from the presence of the LORD. For the king of Israel has come out to look for a flea, like one who hunts 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.
Then Saul replied, “I have sinned. Come back, David my son. I will never harm you again, because today you considered my life precious. I have played the fool and have committed a grave error!”
22 Et respondens David, ait: Ecce hasta regis: transeat unus de pueris regis, et tollat eam.
“Here is the king’s spear,” David answered. “Let one of the young men come over and get it.
23 Dominus autem retribuet unicuique secundum justitiam suam et fidem: tradidit enim te Dominus hodie in manum meam, et nolui extendere manum meam in christum Domini.
May the LORD repay every man for his righteousness and faithfulness. For the LORD delivered you into my hand today, but I would not stretch out my hand against the LORD’s anointed.
24 Et sicut magnificata est anima tua hodie in oculis meis, sic magnificetur anima mea in oculis Domini, et liberet me de omni angustia.
As surely as I valued your life today, so may the LORD value my life and rescue me from all trouble.”
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.
Saul said to him, “May you be blessed, David my son. You will accomplish great things and will surely prevail.” So David went on his way, and Saul returned home.
