I Samuelis 24
1 Cumque reversus esset Saul, postquam persecutus est Philisthaeos, nunciaverunt ei, dicentes: Ecce, David in deserto est Engaddi.
Now when Saul came back from fighting the Philistines, news was given him that David was in the waste land of En-gedi.
2 Assumens ergo Saul tria millia electorum virorum ex omni Israel, perrexit ad investigandum David et viros eius, etiam super abruptissimas petras, quae solis ibicibus perviae sunt.
Then Saul took three thousand of the best men out of all Israel, and went in search of David and his men on the rocks of the mountain goats.
3 Et venit ad caulas ovium, quae se offerebant vianti. eratque ibi spelunca, quam ingressus est Saul, ut purgaret ventrem: porro David et viri eius in interiore parte speluncae latebant.
And on the way he came to a place where sheep were kept, where there was a hollow in the rock; and Saul went in for a private purpose. Now David and his men were in the deepest part of the hollow.
4 Et dixerunt servi David ad eum: Ecce dies, de qua locutus est Dominus ad te: Ego tradam tibi inimicum tuum, ut facias ei sicut placuerit in oculis tuis. Surrexit ergo David, et praecidit oram chlamydis Saul silenter.
And David's men said to him, Now is the time when the Lord says to you, I will give up your hater into your hands to do with him whatever seems good to you. Then David, getting up, took the skirt of Saul's robe in his hand, cutting off the end of it without his knowledge.
5 Post haec percussit cor suum David, eo quod abscidisset oram chlamydis Saul.
And later, David was full of regret for cutting off Saul's skirt.
6 Dixitque ad viros suos: Propitius sit mihi Dominus, ne faciam hanc rem domino meo, christo Domini, ut mittam manum meam in eum, quia christus Domini est. Vivit dominus, quia nisi Dominus percusserit eum, aut dies eius venerit ut moriatur, aut descendens in proelium perierit, propitius mihi sit Dominus, ut non mittam manu meam in Christum Domini.
And David said to his men, Before the Lord, never let it be said that my hand was lifted up against my lord, the man of the Lord's selection, for the Lord's holy oil has been put on him.
7 Et confregit David viros suos sermonibus, et non permisit eos ut consurgerent in Saul: porro Saul exurgens de spelunca, pergebat coepto itinere.
So with these words David kept his servants back, and did not let them make an attack on Saul. And Saul got up and went on his way.
8 Surrexit autem David post eum: et egressus de spelunca, clamavit post tergum Saul, dicens: Domine mi rex. Et respexit Saul post se: et inclinans se David pronus in terram, adoravit,
And after that David came out of the hollow rock, and crying after Saul said, My lord the king. And when Saul gave a look back, David went down on his face and gave him honour.
9 dixitque ad Saul: Quare audis verba hominum loquentium, David quaerit malum adversum te?
And David said to Saul, Why do you give any attention to those who say that it is my desire to do you wrong?
10 Ecce hodie viderunt oculi tui quod tradiderit te Dominus in manu mea in spelunca: et cogitavi ut occiderem te, sed pepercit tibi oculus meus. dixi enim: Non extendam manum meam in dominum meum, quia christus Domini est.
Look! you have seen today how the Lord gave you up into my hands even now in the hollow of the rocks: and some would have had me put you to death, but I had pity on you: for I said, Never will my hand be lifted up against my lord, who has been marked with the holy oil.
11 Quin potius pater mi, vide, et cognosce oram chlamydis tuae in manu mea: quoniam cum praescinderem summitatem chlamydis tuae, nolui extendere manum meam in te. animadverte, et vide, quoniam non est in manu mea malum, neque iniquitas, neque peccavi in te: tu autem insidiaris animae meae ut auferas eam.
And see, my father, see the skirt of your robe in my hand: for the fact that I took off the skirt of your robe and did not put you to death is witness that I have no evil purpose, and I have done you no wrong, though you are waiting for my life to take it.
12 Iudicet Dominus inter me et te, et ulciscatur me Dominus ex te: manus autem mea non sit in te.
May the Lord be judge between me and you, and may the Lord give me my rights against you, but my hand will never be lifted up against you.
13 Sicut et in proverbio antiquo dicitur: AB IMPIIS egredietur impietas: manus ergo mea non sit in te.
There is an old saying, From the evil-doer comes evil: but my hand will never be lifted up against you.
14 Quem persequeris, rex Israel? quem persequeris? canem mortuum persequeris, et pulicem unum.
After whom has the king of Israel come out? for whom are you searching? for a dead dog, an insect.
15 Sit Dominus iudex, et iudicet inter me et te: et videat, et iudicet causam meam, et eruat me de manu tua.
So let the Lord be judge, and give a decision between me and you, and see and give support to my cause, and keep me from falling into your hands.
16 Cum autem complesset David loquens sermones huiuscemodi ad Saul, dixit Saul: Numquid vox haec tua est fili mi David? Et levavit Saul vocem suam, et flevit:
Now when David had said these words to Saul, Saul said, Is this your voice, David, my son? And Saul was overcome with weeping.
17 dixitque ad David: Iustior tu es quam ego: tu enim tribuisti mihi bona: ego autem reddidi tibi mala.
And he said to David, You are right and I am wrong: for you have given me back good, but I have given you evil.
18 Et tu indicasti hodie quae feceris mihi bona: quomodo tradiderit me Dominus in manum tuam, et non occideris me.
And you have made clear to me how good you have been to me today: because, when the Lord gave me up into your hands, you did not put me to death.
19 Quis enim cum invenerit inimicum suum, dimittet eum in via bona? Sed Dominus reddat tibi vicissitudinem hanc pro eo quod hodie operatus es in me.
If a man comes across his hater, will he let him get away safe? so may you be rewarded by the Lord for what you have done for me today.
20 Et nunc quia scio quod certissime regnaturus sis, et habiturus in manu tua regnum Israel:
And now I am certain that you will be king, and that the kingdom of Israel will be made strong under your authority.
21 iura mihi in Domino, ne deleas semen meum post me, neque auferas nomen meum de domo patris mei.
So give me your oath by the Lord, that you will not put an end to my seed after me or let my name be cut off from my father's family.
22 Et iuravit David Sauli. Abiit ergo Saul in domum suam: et David, et viri eius ascenderunt ad tutiora loca.
And David gave Saul his oath. And Saul went back to his house; but David and his men went up to their safe place.
