Ii Samuelis 16

1 Cumque David transisset paululum montis verticem, apparuit Siba puer Miphiboseth in occursum ejus, cum duobus asinis, qui onerati erant ducentis panibus, et centum alligaturis uvæ passæ, et centum massis palatharum, et utre vini.

Now, David, had passed on but a little from the summit, when lo! Ziba, servant of Mephibosheth, met him, —with a couple of asses saddled, and, upon them, two hundred cakes of bread, and one hundred cakes of raisins, and one hundred summer fruits, and a skin of wine.

2 Et dixit rex Sibæ: Quid sibi volunt hæc? Responditque Siba: Asini, domesticis regis ut sedeant: panes et palathæ ad vescendum pueris tuis: vinum autem ut bibat siquis defecerit in deserto.

And the king said unto Ziba, What meanest thou, by these? And Ziba said—The asses, are for the king’s household, to ride on, and, the bread and the summer fruits, are for the young men to eat, and, the wine, is for drink to such as are faint in the wilderness.

3 Et ait rex: Ubi est filius domini tui? Responditque Siba regi: Remansit in Jerusalem, dicens: Hodie restituet mihi domus Israël regnum patris mei.

Then said the king, And where is thy lord’s son? And Ziba said unto the king—Lo! abiding in Jerusalem, for he said, To-day, will the house of Israel, restore unto me, the kingdom of my father.

4 Et ait rex Sibæ: Tua sint omnia quæ fuerunt Miphiboseth. Dixitque Siba: Oro ut inveniam gratiam coram te, domine mi rex.

Then said the king unto Ziba, Lo! thine, is all that pertained to Mephibosheth. And Ziba said—I have done homage, that I might find favour in thine eyes, my lord O king.

5 Venit ergo rex David usque Bahurim: et ecce egrediebatur inde vir de cognatione domus Saul, nomine Semei, filius Gera: procedebatque egrediens, et maledicebat,

And, when King David had come as far as Bahurim, lo! from thence a man coming out, of the family of the house of Saul, whose name, was Shimei son of Gera, coming out and cursing as he came.

6 mittebatque lapides contra David et contra universos servos regis David: omnis autem populus, et universi bellatores, a dextro et a sinistro latere regis incedebant.

And he pelted, with stones, David and all the servants of King David, —all the people, and all the mighty men, being on his right hand and on his left.

7 Ita autem loquebatur Semei cum malediceret regi: Egredere, egredere, vir sanguinum, et vir Belial.

And, thus, said Shimei, when he cursed, —Out! Out! thou man of bloodshed, and man of the Abandoned One!

8 Reddidit tibi Dominus universum sanguinem domus Saul: quoniam invasisti regnum pro eo, et dedit Dominus regnum in manu Absalom filii tui: et ecce premunt te mala tua, quoniam vir sanguinum es.

Yahweh, hath brought back upon thee, all the shed-blood of the house of Saul, in whose stead thou hast reigned, and Yahweh hath delivered the kingdom into the hand of Absolom thy son, —and, here thou art, in thy ruin, for that, a man of bloodshed, thou art.

9 Dixit autem Abisai filius Sarviæ regi: Quare maledicit canis hic mortuus domino meo regi? vadam, et amputabo caput ejus.

Then said Abishai, son of Zeruiah, unto the king—Wherefore should this dead dog curse my lord the king? I pray thee, let me cross over and take off his head.

10 Et ait rex: Quid mihi et vobis est, filii Sarviæ? dimittite eum, ut maledicat: Dominus enim præcepit ei ut malediceret David: et quis est qui audeat dicere quare sic fecerit?

But the king said, What have I in common with you, ye sons of Zeruiah? thus, he curseth, because, Yahweh, hath said unto him—Curse David. Who then can say, Why hast thou done thus?

11 Et ait rex Abisai, et universis servis suis: Ecce filius meus qui egressus est de utero meo, quærit animam meam: quanto magis nunc filius Jemini? Dimittite eum ut maledicat juxta præceptum Domini:

Then said David unto Abishai, and unto all his servants, Lo! my own son who sprang from my body, is seeking my life, —then how much more, now, a Benjamite? Let him alone, and let him curse, for, Yahweh, hath permitted him.

12 si forte respiciat Dominus afflictionem meam, et reddat mihi Dominus bonum pro maledictione hac hodierna.

It may be, that Yahweh will behold with his eye, —and that Yahweh will return me good, for his cursing this day.

13 Ambulabat itaque David et socii ejus per viam cum eo. Semei autem per jugum montis ex latere contra illum gradiebatur, maledicens, et mittens lapides adversum eum, terramque spargens.

And, when David and his men went along in the way, Shimei, was going along on the side of the hill over against him, cursing as he went, pelting him with stones, and throwing dust.

14 Venit itaque rex, et universus populus cum eo lassus, et refocillati sunt ibi.

And the king and all the people that were with him arrived, weary, —and they refreshed themselves there.

15 Absalom autem et omnis populus ejus ingressi sunt Jerusalem, sed et Achitophel cum eo.

And, Absolom and all the men of Israel, entered Jerusalem, —and Ahithophel with him.

16 Cum autem venisset Chusai Arachites amicus David ad Absalom, locutus est ad eum: Salve rex, salve rex.

And it came to pass, when Hushai the Archite, the friend of David, came in unto Absolom, that Hushai said unto Absolom: Long live the king! Long live the king!

17 Ad quem Absalom: Hæc est, inquit, gratia tua ad amicum tuum? quare non ivisti cum amico tuo?

Then said Absolom unto Hushai, Is, this, thy lovingkindness unto thy friend? Wherefore wentest thou not with thy friend?

18 Responditque Chusai ad Absalom: Nequaquam: quia illius ero, quem elegit Dominus, et omnis hic populus, et universus Israël: et cum eo manebo.

And Hushai said unto Absolom, Nay! but, whom Yahweh, and all this people, and the men of Israel have chosen, his, will I be, and, with him, will I dwell.

19 Sed ut et hoc inferam, cui ego serviturus sum? nonne filio regis? Sicut parui patri tuo, ita parebo et tibi.

And, again, whom, should, I serve? Should it not be in presence of his son? as I served in presence of thy father, so, will I continue thy presence.

20 Dixit autem Absalom ad Achitophel: Inite consilium quid agere debeamus.

Then said Absolom unto Ahithophel, —Give ye your counsel, what we shall do.

21 Et ait Achitophel ad Absalom: Ingredere ad concubinas patris tui, quas dimisit ad custodiendam domum: ut cum audierit omnis Israël quod fœdaveris patrem tuum, roborentur tecum manus eorum.

And Ahithophel said unto Absolom, Go in unto thy father’s concubines, whom he hath left to keep the house, —so shall all Israel hear that thou hast made thyself odious unto thy father, and the hands of all that are with thee, shall be strengthened.

22 Tetenderunt ergo Absalom tabernaculum in solario, ingressusque est ad concubinas patris sui coram universo Israël.

And they stretched out for Absolom a tent, upon the house-top, —and Absolom went in unto his father’s concubines, in the sight of all Israel.

23 Consilium autem Achitophel quod dabat in diebus illis, quasi si quis consuleret Deum: sic erat omne consilium Achitophel, et cum esset cum David, et cum esset cum Absalom.

Now, the counsel of Ahithophel which he counselled in those days, was as if a man had enquired at the oracle of God, —so, was all the counsel of Ahithophel, both to David, and also to Absolom.