Ii Samuelis 16
1 Cumque David transisset paululum montis verticem, apparuit Siba puer Miphiboseth in occursum eius, cum duobus asinis, qui onerati erant ducentis panibus, et centum alligaturis uvae passae, et centum massis palatharum, et duobus utribus vini.
When David had gone a little beyond the summit, Ziba the servant of Mephibosheth was there to meet him. He had a pair of saddled donkeys loaded with two hundred loaves of bread, a hundred clusters of raisins, a hundred summer fruits, and a skin of wine.
2 Et dixit rex Sibae. Quid sibi volunt haec? Responditque Siba: Domine mi rex, asini pro domesticis regis sunt, ut sedeant: panes et palathae ad vescendum pueris tuis: vinum autem ut bibat siquis defecerit in deserto.
“Why do you have these?” asked the king. Ziba replied, “The donkeys are for the king’s household to ride, the bread and summer fruit are for the young men to eat, and the wine is to refresh those who become exhausted in the wilderness.”
3 Et ait rex: Ubi est filius domini tui? Responditque Siba regi: Remansit in Ierusalem, dicens: Hodie restituet mihi domus Israel regnum patris mei.
“Where is your master’s grandson?” asked the king. And Ziba answered, “Indeed, he is staying in Jerusalem, for he has said, ‘Today, the house of Israel will restore to me the kingdom of my grandfather.’”
4 Et ait rex Sibae: Tua sint omnia quae fuerunt Miphiboseth. Dixitque Siba: Oro ut inveniam gratiam coram te, domine mi rex.
So the king said to Ziba, “All that belongs to Mephibosheth is now yours!” “I humbly bow before you,” said Ziba. “May I find favor in your eyes, my lord the 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,
As King David approached Bahurim, a man from the family of the house of Saul was just coming out. His name was Shimei son of Gera, and as he approached, he kept yelling out curses.
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.
He threw stones at David and at all the servants of the king, though the troops and all the mighty men were on David’s right and left.
7 Ita autem loquebatur Semei cum malediceret regi: Egredere, egredere vir sanguinum, et vir Belial.
And as he yelled curses, Shimei said, “Get out, get out, you worthless man of bloodshed!
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.
The LORD has paid you back for all the blood of the house of Saul, in whose place you have reigned, and the LORD has delivered the kingdom into the hand of your son Absalom. See, you have come to ruin because you are a man of bloodshed!”
9 Dixit autem Abisai filius Sarviae, regi: Quare maledicit canis hic moriturus domino meo regi? vadam, et amputabo caput eius.
Then Abishai son of Zeruiah said to the king, “Why should this dead dog curse my lord the king? Let me go over and cut off his head!”
10 Et ait rex: Quid mihi et vobis est filii Sarviae? dimittite eum, ut maledicat: Dominus enim praecepit ei ut malediceret David: et quis est qui audeat dicere, quare sic fecerit?
But the king replied, “What have I to do with you, O sons of Zeruiah? If he curses me because the LORD told him, ‘Curse David,’ who can ask, ‘Why did you do this?’”
11 Et ait rex Abisai, et universis servis suis: Ecce filius meus, qui egressus est de utero meo, quaerit animam meam: quanto magis hic filius Iemini? dimittite eum ut maledicat iuxta praeceptum Domini:
Then David said to Abishai and to all his servants, “Behold, my own son, my own flesh and blood, seeks my life. How much more, then, this Benjamite! Leave him alone and let him curse me, for the LORD has told him so.
12 si forte respiciat Dominus afflictionem meam, et reddat mihi Dominus bonum pro maledictione hac hodierna.
Perhaps the LORD will see my affliction and repay me with good for the cursing I receive today.”
13 Ambulabat itaque David et socii eius per viam cum eo. Semei autem per iugum montis ex latere, contra illum gradiebatur, maledicens, et mittens lapides adversum eum, terramque spargens.
So David and his men proceeded along the road as Shimei went along the ridge of the hill opposite him. As Shimei went, he yelled curses, threw stones, and flung dust at David.
14 Venit itaque rex, et universus populus cum eo lassus, et refocillati sunt ibi.
Finally, the king and all the people with him arrived, exhausted. And there he refreshed himself.
15 Absalom autem et omnis populus eius ingressi sunt Ierusalem, sed et Achitophel cum eo.
Then Absalom and all the men of Israel came to Jerusalem, and Ahithophel was with him.
16 Cum autem venisset Chusai Arachites amicus David ad Absalom, locutus est ad eum: Salve rex, salve rex.
And David’s friend Hushai the Archite went to Absalom and said to him, “Long live the king! Long live the king!”
17 Ad quem Absalom, Haec est, inquit, gratia tua ad amicum tuum? quare non ivisti cum amico tuo?
“Is this the loyalty you show your friend?” Absalom replied. “Why did you not go with your friend?”
18 Responditque Chusai ad Absalom: Nequaquam: quia illius ero, quem elegit Dominus, et omnis hic populus, et universus Israel, et cum eo manebo.
“Not at all,” Hushai answered. “For the one chosen by the LORD, by the people, and by all the men of Israel—his I will be, and with him I will remain.
19 Sed ut et hoc inferam, cui ego serviturus sum? nonne filio regis? sicut parui patri tuo, ita parebo et tibi.
Furthermore, whom should I serve if not the son? As I served in your father’s presence, so also I will serve in yours.”
20 Dixit autem Absalom ad Achitophel: Inite consilium quid agere debeamus.
Then Absalom said to Ahithophel, “Give me counsel. What should we do?”
21 Et ait Achitophel ad Absalom: Ingredere ad concubinas patris tui, quas dimisit ad custodiendam domum: ut cum audierit omnis Israel quod foedaveris patrem tuum, roborentur tecum manus eorum.
Ahithophel replied, “Sleep with your father’s concubines, whom he has left to keep the palace. When all Israel hears that you have become a stench to your father, then the hands of all who are with you will be strengthened.”
22 Tetenderunt ergo Absalom tabernaculum in solario, ingressusque est ad concubinas patris sui coram universo Israel.
So they pitched a tent for Absalom on the roof, and he slept with his father’s concubines in the sight of all Israel.
23 Consilium autem Achitophel, quod dabat in diebus illis, quasi siquis consuleret Deum: sic erat omne consilium Achitophel, et cum esset cum David, et cum esset cum Absalom.
Now in those days the advice of Ahithophel was like the consultation of the word of God. Such was the regard that both David and Absalom had for Ahithophel’s advice.
