I Samuelis 24
1 Cumque reversus esset Saul, postquam persecutus est Philisthaeos, nunciaverunt ei, dicentes: Ecce, David in deserto est Engaddi.
And it came to pass, when Saul had returned from following the Philistines, that it was told him, saying: Lo! David is in the wilderness 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 chosen men, out of all Israel, —and went to seek David and his men, over the face of 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 he came into the sheep-folds by the way, there, being a cave, which Saul entered, to cover his feet, —David and his men, in the hinder part of the cave, having taken up their abode.
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.
So David’s men said unto him—Lo! the day of which Yahweh said unto thee—Lo! I am about to deliver up thine enemy, into thy hand: therefore shall thou do unto him, as shall be good in thine eyes. And David arose, and cut off the corner of the robe which belonged to Saul, by stealth.
5 Post haec percussit cor suum David, eo quod abscidisset oram chlamydis Saul.
And it came to pass afterwards that David’s heart smote him, —because he had cut off the corner [of the robe] which belonged to Saul.
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 he said unto his men—Far be it from me, of Yahweh, that I should do this thing unto my lord, unto the Anointed of Yahweh, to thrust forth my hand against him, —for, the Anointed of Yahweh, is he!
7 Et confregit David viros suos sermonibus, et non permisit eos ut consurgerent in Saul: porro Saul exurgens de spelunca, pergebat coepto itinere.
So David did chide his men with the words, and did not suffer them to rise up against Saul. And, Saul, rose up out of the cave, 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,
Then David rose up, afterwards, and went forth out of the cave, and cried out after Saul, saying—My lord, O king! And, when Saul looked about behind him, David inclined his face to the earth, and bowed himself down.
9 dixitque ad Saul: Quare audis verba hominum loquentium, David quaerit malum adversum te?
Then said David to Saul, Wherefore shouldst thou hearken unto the words of the sons of earth, saying, —Lo! David is seeking thy hurt?
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.
Lo! this day, have thine own eyes seen, how Yahweh had delivered thee up, to-day, into my hand in the cave, and, when one bade me slay thee, I looked with compassion upon thee, —and I said—I will not thrust forth my hand against my lord, for, the Anointed of Yahweh, is he!
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.
But, my father, see, yea, see, the corner of thy robe in my hand, —for, in that I cut off the corner of thy robe, and yet did not slay thee, know thou, and see, that there is not in my hand either wrong or transgression, neither have I sinned against thee, yet art thou hunting 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.
Let Yahweh do justice betwixt me and thee, and let Yahweh avenge me of thee, —but, mine own hand, shall not be upon thee.
13 Sicut et in proverbio antiquo dicitur: AB IMPIIS egredietur impietas: manus ergo mea non sit in te.
As saith the proverb of the ancients, From the lawless, proceedeth lawlessness, —mine own hand, therefore shall not be upon thee.
14 Quem persequeris, rex Israel? quem persequeris? canem mortuum persequeris, et pulicem unum.
After whom, hath the king of Israel come forth? After whom, art thou in pursuit? After a dead dog! after a single flea!
15 Sit Dominus iudex, et iudicet inter me et te: et videat, et iudicet causam meam, et eruat me de manu tua.
Therefore shall, Yahweh, become, judge, and do justice betwixt me and thee, —that he may see, and plead my cause, and justly deliver me out of thy hand.
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:
And it came to pass, when David had made an end of speaking these words unto Saul, that Saul said, Thy voice, is this, my son David? And Saul lifted up his voice, and wept.
17 dixitque ad David: Iustior tu es quam ego: tu enim tribuisti mihi bona: ego autem reddidi tibi mala.
And he said unto David, More righteous, art thou than I, for, thou, hast requited me, good, but, I, have requited thee, evil.
18 Et tu indicasti hodie quae feceris mihi bona: quomodo tradiderit me Dominus in manum tuam, et non occideris me.
Thou, then, hast told to-day, how thou hast dealt with me, for good, —how, when Yahweh had surrendered me into thy hand, thou didst not slay me.
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.
Yet, when a man findeth his enemy, will he let him get easily away? Yahweh, then, give thee, good, reward for what, this day, thou hast done unto me.
20 Et nunc quia scio quod certissime regnaturus sis, et habiturus in manu tua regnum Israel:
Now, therefore, lo! I know that thou, shalt indeed become king, —and that the kingdom of Israel, shall be established in thy hand.
21 iura mihi in Domino, ne deleas semen meum post me, neque auferas nomen meum de domo patris mei.
Now, therefore, swear unto me by Yahweh, that thou wilt not eat off my seed, after me, —and wilt not destroy my name out of the house my father.
22 Et iuravit David Sauli. Abiit ergo Saul in domum suam: et David, et viri eius ascenderunt ad tutiora loca.
So David sware unto Saul, —and Saul departed unto his own house, but, David and his men, went up on the stronghold.
