I Samuelis 12

1 Dixit autem Samuel ad universum Israel: Ecce audivi vocem vestram iuxta omnia quae locuti estis ad me, et constitui super vos regem.

Then Samuel said to all of Israel: “Behold, I have listened to your voice, according to all that you have said to me, and I have appointed a king over you.

2 Et nunc rex graditur ante vos: ego autem senui, et incanui: porro filii mei vobiscum sunt: itaque conversatus coram vobis ab adolescentia mea usque ad hanc diem, ecce praesto sum.

And now the king advances before you. But I am old and have gray hair. Moreover, my sons are with you. And so, having conversed before you from my youth, even until this day, behold, I am here.

3 Loquimini de me coram Domino, et coram Christo eius, utrum bovem cuiusquam tulerim, aut asinum: si quempiam calumniatus sum, si oppressi aliquem, si de manu cuiusquam munus accepi: et contemnam illud hodie, restituamque vobis.

Speak about me before the Lord, and before his Christ, as to whether I have taken anyone’s ox or donkey, or whether I have falsely accused anyone, or whether I have oppressed anyone, or whether I have accepted a bribe from the hand of anyone, and I will repudiate the same, this day, and I will restore it to you.”

4 Et dixerunt: Non es calumniatus nos, neque oppressisti, neque tulisti de manu alicuius quippiam.

And they said, “You have not falsely accused us, nor oppressed us, nor have you taken anything from the hand of anyone.”

5 Dixitque ad eos: Testis est Dominus adversum vos, et testis Christus eius in die hac, quia non inveneritis in manu mea quippiam. Et dixerunt: Testis.

And he said to them, “The Lord is a witness against you, and his Christ is a witness this day, that you have not found anything in my hand.” And they said, “He is the witness.”

6 Et ait Samuel ad populum: Dominus qui fecit Moysen et Aaron, et eduxit patres nostros de Terra Aegypti, adest.

And Samuel said to the people: “It is the Lord who appointed Moses and Aaron, and who led our fathers away from the land of Egypt.

7 Nunc ergo state, ut iudicio contendam adversum vos coram Domino de omnibus misericordiis Domini, quas fecit vobiscum et cum patribus vestris:

Now therefore, stand, so that I may contend in judgment against you before the Lord, about all the mercies of the Lord, which he has given to you and to your fathers:

8 quo modo Iacob ingressus est in Aegyptum, et clamaverunt patres vestri ad Dominum: et misit Dominus Moysen et Aaron, et eduxit patres vestros de Aegypto: et collocavit eos in loco hoc.

How Jacob entered into Egypt, and your fathers cried out to the Lord. And the Lord sent Moses and Aaron, and he led your fathers away from Egypt, and he transferred them to this place.

9 Qui obliti sunt Domini Dei sui, et tradidit eos in manu Sisarae magistri militiae Hasor, et in manu Philisthinorum, et in manu regis Moab, et pugnaverunt adversum eos.

But they forgot the Lord their God, and so he delivered them into the hand of Sisera, master of the army of Hazor, and into the hand of the Philistines, and into the hand of the king of Moab. And they fought against them.

10 Postea autem clamaverunt ad Dominum, et dixerunt: Peccavimus, quia dereliquimus Dominum, et servivimus Baalim et Astaroth: nunc ergo erue nos de manu inimicorum nostrorum, et serviemus tibi.

But afterward, they cried out to the Lord, and they said: ‘We have sinned, because we have forsaken the Lord, and we have served the Baals and Ashtaroth. Now therefore, rescue us from the hand of our enemies, and we will serve you.’

11 Et misit Dominus Ierobaal, et Badan, et Samson, et Barac, et Iephte, et Samuel, et eruit vos de manu inimicorum vestrorum per circuitum, et habitastis confidenter.

And the Lord sent Jerubbaal, and Bedan, and Jephthah, and Samuel, and he rescued you from the hand of your enemies all around, and you lived in confidence.

12 Videntes autem quod Naas rex filiorum Ammon venisset adversum vos, dixistis mihi: Nequaquam, sed rex imperabit nobis: cum Dominus Deus vester regnaret in vobis.

Then, seeing that Nahash, the king of the sons of Ammon, had arrived against you, you said to me, ‘By no means! Instead, a king shall reign over us,’ even though the Lord your God was reigning over you.

13 Nunc ergo praesto est rex vester, quem elegistis et petistis: ecce dedit vobis Dominus regem.

Now therefore, your king is present, whom you chose and requested. Behold, the Lord has given you a king.

14 Si timueritis Dominum, et servieritis ei, et audieritis vocem eius, et non exasperaveritis os Domini: eritis et vos, et rex qui imperat vobis, sequentes Dominum Deum vestrum.

If you will fear the Lord, and serve him, and listen to his voice, and not provoke the mouth of the Lord, then both you, and the king who rules over you, will be following the Lord your God.

15 si autem non audieritis vocem Domini, sed exasperaveritis sermones eius, erit manus Domini super vos, sicut et super patres vestros.

But if you will not listen to the voice of the Lord, but instead you provoke his words, then the hand of the Lord will be over you and over your fathers.

16 Sed et nunc state, et videte rem istam grandem quam facturus est Dominus in conspectu vestro.

Therefore, stand now, and see this great thing, which the Lord will accomplish in your sight.

17 Numquid non messis tritici est hodie? invocabo Dominum, et dabit voces et pluvias: et scietis, et videbitis quia grande malum feceritis vobis in conspectu Domini, petentes super vos regem.

Is it not the harvest of the wheat today? I will call upon the Lord, and he will send thunder and rain. And you will know and see that you have done a great evil in the sight of the Lord, by petitioning for a king over you.”

18 Et clamavit Samuel ad Dominum, et dedit Dominus voces et pluvias in illa die.

And Samuel cried out to the Lord, and the Lord sent thunder and rain on that day.

19 Et timuit omnis populus nimis Dominum et Samuelem, et dixit universus populus ad Samuelem: Ora pro servis tuis ad Dominum Deum tuum, ut non moriamur. addidimus enim universis peccatis nostris malum, ut peteremus nobis regem.

And all the people feared the Lord and Samuel exceedingly. And all the people said to Samuel: “Pray, on behalf of your servants, to the Lord your God, so that we may not die. For we have added to all our sins this evil, that we would petition for a king.”

20 Dixit autem Samuel ad populum: Nolite timere, vos fecistis universum malum hoc: verumtamen nolite recedere a tergo Domini, sed servite Domino in omni corde vestro.

Then Samuel said to the people: “Do not be afraid. You have done all this evil. Yet truly, do not choose to withdraw from the back of the Lord. Instead, serve the Lord with all your heart.

21 Et nolite declinare post vana, quae non proderunt vobis, neque eruent vos, quia vana sunt.

And do not choose to turn aside after vanities, which will never benefit you, nor rescue you, since they are empty.

22 Et non derelinquet Dominus populum suum propter nomen suum magnum: quia iuravit Dominus facere vos sibi populum.

And the Lord will not abandon his people, because of his great name. For the Lord has sworn to make you his people.

23 Absit autem a me hoc peccatum in Domino, ut cessem orare pro vobis, et docebo vos viam bonam et rectam.

So then, far be it from me, this sin against the Lord, that I would cease to pray for you. And so, I will teach you the good and upright way.

24 Igitur timete Dominum, et servite ei in veritate, et ex toto corde vestro. vidistis enim magnifica quae in vobis gesserit.

Therefore, fear the Lord, and serve him in truth and from your whole heart. For you have seen the great works that he has done among you.

25 Quod si perseveraveritis in malitia: et vos et rex vester pariter peribitis.

But if you persevere in wickedness, both you and your king will perish together.”