I Samuelis 26

1 Et venerunt Ziphaei ad Saul in Gabaa, dicentes: Ecce, David absconditus est in colle Hachila, quae est ex adverso solitudinis.

And the Ziphites come out of the dry country to Saul to the hill, saying, Behold, David hides himself with us in the hill Echela, opposite Jessemon.

2 Et surrexit Saul, et descendit in desertum Ziph, et cum eo tria millia virorum de electis Israel, ut quaereret David in deserto Ziph.

And Saul arose, and went down to the wilderness of Ziph, and with him [went] three thousand men chosen out of Israel, to seek David in the wilderness of Ziph.

3 Et castrametatus est Saul in Gabaa Hachila, quae erat ex adverso solitudinis in via: David autem habitabat in deserto. Videns autem quod venisset Saul post se in desertum,

And Saul encamped in the hill of Echela in front of Jessemon, by the way, and David dwelt in the wilderness: and David saw that Saul came after him into the wilderness.

4 misit exploratores, et didicit quod illuc venisset certissime.

And David sent spies, and ascertained that Saul was come prepared out of Keila.

5 Et surrexit David clam, et venit ad locum ubi erat Saul: cumque vidisset locum, in quo dormiebat Saul, et Abner filius Ner, princeps militiae eius, et Saulem dormientem in tentorio, et reliquum vulgus per circuitum eius,

And David arose secretly, and goes into the place where Saul was sleeping, and there [was] Abenner the son of Ner, the captain of his host: and Saul was sleeping in a chariot, and the people had encamped along round about him.

6 ait David ad Achimelech Hethaeum, et Abisai filium Sarviae, fratrem Ioab, dicens: Quis descendet mecum ad Saul in castra? Dixitque Abisai: Ego descendam tecum.

And David answered and spoke to Abimelech the Chettite, and to Abessa the son Saruia the brother of Joab, saying, Who will go in with me to Saul into the camp? And Abessa said, I will go in with thee.

7 Venerunt ergo David, et Abisai ad populum nocte, et invenerunt Saul iacentem et dormientem in tentorio, et hastam fixam in terra ad caput eius: Abner autem et populum dormientes in circuitu eius.

So David and Abessa go in among the people by night: and behold, Saul was fast asleep in the chariot, and his spear was stuck in the ground near his head, and Abenner and his people slept round about 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.

And Abessa said to David, The Lord has this day shut up thine enemy into thine hands, and now I will smite him to the earth with the spear to the ground once [for all], and I will not smite him again.

9 Et dixit David ad Abisai: Ne interficias eum: quis enim extendet manum suam in christum Domini, et innocens erit?

And David said to Abessa, Do not lay him low, for who shall lift up his hand against the anointed of the Lord, and be guiltless?

10 Et dixit David: Vivit Dominus, quia nisi Dominus percusserit eum, aut dies eius venerit ut moriatur, aut in praelium descendens perierit:

And David said, [As] the Lord lives, if the Lord smite him not, or his day come and he die, or he go down to battle and be added [to his fathers, do not so].

11 propitius sit mihi Dominus ne extendam manum meam in christum Domini. nunc igitur tolle hastam, quae est ad caput eius, et scyphum aquae, et abeamus.

The Lord forbid it me that I should lift up my hand against the anointed of the Lord: and now take, I pray thee, the spear from his bolster, and the pitcher of water, and let us return home.

12 Tulit igitur David hastam, et scyphum aquae, 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 the pitcher of water from his bolster, and they went home: and there was no one that saw, and no one that knew, and there was no one that awoke, all being asleep, for a stupor from the Lord had fallen upon them.

13 Cumque transisset David ex adverso, et stetisset in vertice montis de longe, et esset grande intervallum inter eos,

So David went over to the other side, and stood on the top of a hill afar off, and [there was] a good distance 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 called to the people, and spoke to Abenner, saying, Wilt thou not answer, Abenner? and Abenner answered and said, Who art thou that callest?

15 Et ait David ad Abner: Numquid non vir tu es? et quis alius similis tui in Israel? quare ergo non custodisti dominum tuum regem? ingressus est enim unus de turba ut interficeret regem, dominum tuum.

And David said to Abenner, [Art] not thou a man? and who [is] like thee in Israel? Why then dost thou not guard thy lord the king? for one out of the people went in to destroy thy lord the king.

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 aquae, qui erat ad caput eius.

And this thing [is] not good which thou hast done. [As] the Lord lives, ye are worthy of death, ye who guard your lord the king, the anointed of the Lord: and now behold, I pray you, the spear of the king, and the cruse of water: where are the articles that should be at his head?

17 Cognovit autem Saul vocem David, et dixit: Numquid vox haec tua, fili mi David? Et ait David: Vox mea, domine mi rex.

And Saul recognized the voice of David, and said, [Is] this thy voice, son David? and David said, I [am] thy servant, [my] lord, O king.

18 Et ait: Quam ob causam dominus meus persequitur servum suum? Quid feci? aut quod est malum in manu mea?

And he said, Why does my lord thus pursue after his servant? for in what have I sinned? and what unrighteousness has been found in me?

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 eiecerunt me hodie, ut non habitem in hereditate Domini, dicentes: Vade, servi diis alienis.

And now let my lord the king hear the word of his servant. If God stirs thee up against me, let thine offering be acceptable: but if the sons of men, they [are] cursed before the Lord, for they have cast me out this day so that I should not be established 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 Israel ut quaerat pulicem unum, sicut persequitur perdix in montibus.

And now let not my blood fall to the ground before the Lord, for the king of Israel has come forth to seek thy life, as the night hawk pursues [its prey] 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.

And Saul said, I have sinned: turn, son David, for I will not hurt thee, because my life was precious in thine eyes; and to-day I have been foolish and have erred exceedingly.

22 Et respondens David, ait: Ecce hasta regis: transeat unus de pueris regis, et tollat eam.

And David answered and said, Behold, the spear of the king: let one of the servants come over and take it.

23 Dominus autem retribuet unicuique secundum iustitiam suam, et fidem: tradidit enim te Dominus hodie in manum meam, et nolui extendere manum meam in christum Domini.

And the Lord shall recompense each according to his righteousness and his truth, since the Lord delivered thee this day into my hands, and I would not lift 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.

And, behold, as thy life has been precious this very day in my eyes, so let my life be precious before the Lord, and may he protect me, and deliver me out of all affliction.

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.

And Saul said to David, Blessed [be] thou, [my] son; and thou shalt surely do valiantly, and surely prevail. And David went on his way, and Saul returned to his place.