Ii Samuelis 19
1 Nunciatum est autem Ioab quod rex fleret et lugeret filium suum:
Soon Joab was told, “The king is crying and mourning for Absalom.”
2 et versa est victoria in luctum in die illa omni populo: audivit enim populus in die illa dici: Dolet rex super filio suo.
Victory that day was turned into mourning for the whole army, because they were told, “The king is grieving for his son.”
3 Et declinavit populus in die illa ingredi civitatem, quomodo declinare solet populus versus et fugiens de praelio.
They stole back into town that day like defeated people steal in, ashamed of running away from the battle.
4 Porro rex operuit caput suum, et clamabat voce magna: Fili mi Absalom, Absalom fili mi.
The king held his face in his hands and sobbed loudly, “My son Absalom! Absalom, my son, my son!”
5 Ingressus ergo Ioab ad regem in domum, dixit: Confudisti hodie vultus omnium servorum tuorum, qui salvam fecerunt animam tuam, et animam filiorum tuorum, et filiarum tuarum, et animam uxorum tuarum, et animam concubinarum tuarum.
Then Joab went inside and told the king, “Today you have humiliated all your men who have saved your life, and the lives of your sons, your daughters, your wives, and your concubines.
6 Diligis odientes te, et odio habes diligentes te: et ostendisti hodie quia non curas de ducibus tuis, et de servis tuis: et vere cognovi modo, quia si Absalom viveret, et omnes nos occubuissemus, tunc placeret tibi.
You did this by loving those who hate you and hating those who love you. Today you have made it plain that the commanders and the men don't mean anything to you. Today I'm sure that you'd be quite happy if Absalom was alive and all of us were dead!
7 Nunc igitur surge, et procede, et alloquens satisfac servis tuis: iuro enim tibi per Dominum, quod si non exieris, ne unus quidem remansurus sit tecum nocte hac: et peius erit hoc tibi, quam omnia mala, quae venerunt super te ab adolescentia tua usque in praesens.
So get up, go out, and thank your men. I swear by the Lord that if you don't, you won't have a man left by tonight. That will be far worse for you than all the disasters you've had from your youth until now.”
8 Surrexit ergo rex et sedit in porta: et omni populo nunciatum est quod rex sederet in porta: venitque universa multitudo coram rege: Israel autem fugit in tabernacula sua.
So the king got up and went to sit at the town gate. Everybody was told: “Look, the king is sitting at the town gate.” They all came to see the king. In the meantime the Israelites had run away and gone to their homes.
9 Omnis quoque populus certabat in cunctis tribubus Israel, dicens: Rex liberavit nos de manu inimicorum nostrorum, ipse salvavit nos de manu Philisthinorum: et nunc fugit de terra propter Absalom.
Everyone among the tribes of Israel were arguing with each other, saying, “The king rescued us from the persecution of our enemies, he saved us from the Philistines, but now he's had to run from the country because of Absalom.
10 Absalom autem, quem unximus super nos, mortuus est in bello: usquequo siletis, et non reducitis regem? Et consilium totius Israel venit ad regem.
Now Absalom, the man we chose to be our king by anointing him, he's died in battle. Why don't we do something and invite King David to come back?”
11 Rex vero David misit ad Sadoc et Abiathar sacerdotes, dicens: Loquimini ad maiores natu Iuda, dicentes: Cur venitis novissimi ad reducendum regem in domum suam? (Sermo autem omnis Israel pervenerat ad regem in domo eius.) quia dixerat rex: Haec dicetis ad populum Iuda:
King David sent this message to Zadok and Abiathar, the priests: “Tell the elders of Judah, ‘Are you going to be the last people to bring the king back to his palace, since the king has heard that all of Israel wants it?
12 Fratres mei vos, os meum, et caro mea vos, quare novissimi reducitis regem?
You are my brothers, my own flesh and blood. Why should you be the last ones to want to bring the king back?’
13 Et Amasae dicite: Nonne os meum, et caro mea es? Haec faciat mihi Deus, et haec addat, si non magister militiae fueris coram me omni tempore pro Ioab.
Tell Amasa, ‘Aren't you my flesh and blood too? May God punish me very severely if from now on you're not the commander of my army instead of Joab!’”
14 Et inclinavit cor omnium virorum Iuda, quasi viri unius: miseruntque ad regem, dicentes: Revertere tu, et omnes servi tui.
Amasa convinced all the people of Judah to unitedly support David, so they sent a message to the king: “Please come back, you and everyone with you.”
15 Et reversus est rex: et venit usque ad Iordanem, et omnis Iuda venit usque in Galgalam ut occurreret regi, et traduceret eum Iordanem.
The king began his journey back, and when he arrived at the Jordan, the men of Judah met him at Gilgal to help him cross the river.
16 Festinavit autem Semei filius Gera filii Iemini de Bahurim, et descendit cum viris Iuda in occursum regis David
Shimei, son of Gera, the Benjamite from Bahurim, hurried down with the men of Judah to meet King David.
17 cum mille viris de Beniamin, et Siba puer de domo Saul: et quindecim filii eius, ac viginti servi erant cum eo: et irrumpentes Iordanem, ante regem
With him were one thousand men from the tribe of Benjamin, including Ziba, servant of Saul's family, as well as Ziba's fifteen sons and twenty servants. They rushed down to the Jordan to meet the king.
18 transierunt vada, ut traducerent domum regis, et facerent iuxta iussionem eius: Semei autem filius Gera prostratus coram rege, cum iam transisset Iordanem,
They crossed at the ford to bring the king's household over and whatever else he wanted. Shimei crossed the Jordan and fell facedown before the king.
19 dixit ad eum: Ne reputes mihi domine mi iniquitatem, neque memineris iniuriarum servi tui in die qua egressus es domine mi rex de Ierusalem, neque ponas rex in corde tuo.
“Your Majesty, please forgive me and disregard the wrong that I, your servant, did when Your Majesty left Jerusalem. Please forget all about it.
20 Agnosco enim servus tuus peccatum meum: et idcirco hodie primus veni de omni domo Ioseph, descendique in occursum domini mei regis.
I, your servant, recognize that I have sinned. But look! Today I'm the first from any of the tribes of Joseph to come down and meet Your Majesty.”
21 Respondens vero Abisai filius Sarviae, dixit: Numquid pro his verbis non occidetur Semei, quia maledixit christo Domini?
Abishai, son of Zeruiah, said, “Shouldn't Shimei be executed for this, because he cursed the Lord's anointed one?”
22 Et ait David: Quid mihi, et vobis filii Sarviae? cur efficimini mihi hodie in satan? ergone hodie interficietur vir in Israel? an ignoro hodie me factum regem super Israel?
But David replied, “What's that got do with you, you sons of Zeruiah? Do you want to be my enemies today? Is this a day to execute anybody in Israel? Aren't I certain that today I'm the king of Israel once more?”
23 Et ait rex Semei: Non morieris. Iuravitque ei.
David turned to Shimei and swore an oath to him, “You're not going to die.”
24 Miphiboseth quoque filius Saul descendit in occursum regis illotis pedibus, et intonsa barba: vestesque suas non laverat a die qua egressus fuerat rex, usque ad diem reversionis eius in pace.
Then Mephibosheth, Saul's grandson, went to meet the king. He had refused to look after his feet or trim his mustache or have his clothes washed from the day the king left until the day of his peaceful return.
25 Cumque Ierusalem occurrisset regi, dixit ei rex: Quare non venisti mecum Miphiboseth?
When he arrived from Jerusalem to meet the king, the king asked him, “Why didn't you come with me, Mephibosheth?”
26 Et respondens ait: Domine mi rex, servus meus contempsit me: dixique ei ego famulus tuus ut sterneret mihi asinum, et ascendens abirem cum rege: claudus enim sum servus tuus.
Mephibosheth answered, “Your Majesty, my servant Ziba tricked me. I told him, ‘Saddle up my donkey so I can ride her and leave with the king,’ because you know that I'm lame.
27 Insuper et accusavit me servum tuum ad te dominum meum regem: tu autem domine mi rex, sicut angelus Dei es, fac quod placitum est tibi.
Ziba has misrepresented me, your servant, to Your Majesty. However, Your Majesty is like an angel of God, so do what you think best.
28 Neque enim fuit domus patris mei, nisi morti obnoxia domino meo regi: tu autem posuisti me servum tuum inter convivas mensae tuae: quid ergo habeo iustae querelae? aut quid possum ultra vociferari ad regem?
All my grandfather's family could only expect death from Your Majesty, but you included me, your servant, among those who eat at your table. So what right do I have to ask the king for anything more?”
29 Ait ergo ei rex: Quid ultra loqueris? fixum est quod locutus sum: tu, et Siba dividite possessiones.
“Why talk any more about these issues of yours?” David responded. “I've decided that you and Ziba should divide the land.”
30 Responditque Miphiboseth regi: Etiam cuncta accipiat, postquam reversus est dominus meus rex pacifice in domum suam.
Mephibosheth replied to the king, “Let him have it all! I'm just happy that Your Majesty has returned home in peace.”
31 Berzellai quoque Galaadites, descendens de Rogelim, traduxit regem Iordanem, paratus etiam ultra fluvium prosequi eum.
Barzillai the Gileadite had also came down from Rogelim to help the king cross the Jordan and to make his way onwards from there.
32 Erat autem Berzellai Galaadites senex valde, id est octogenarius, et ipse praebuit alimenta regi, cum moraretur in Castris: fuit quippe vir dives nimis.
Barzillai was very old, eighty years of age, and because he was a very wealthy man, he had provided the king with food while he was staying in Mahanaim.
33 Dixit itaque rex ad Berzellai: Veni mecum, ut requiescas securus mecum in Ierusalem.
The king said to Barzillai, “Cross the Jordan with me, and I will provide for you while you stay with me in Jerusalem.”
34 Et ait Berzellai ad regem: Quot sunt dies annorum vitae meae, ut ascendam cum rege in Ierusalem?
“How much longer do you think I have to live so I could go to Jerusalem and stay there with the king?” Barzillai replied.
35 Octogenarius sum hodie: numquid vigent sensus mei ad discernendum suave, aut amarum? aut delectare potest servum tuum cibus aut potus? vel audire possum ultra vocem cantorum, atque cantatricum? quare servus tuus sit oneri domino meo regi?
“I'm already eighty. I don't enjoy anything anymore. I can't taste what I eat or drink. I can't hear when people sing. There's no point for me, your servant, to be another burden to Your Majesty!
36 Paululum procedam famulus tuus ab Iordane tecum: non indigeo hac vicissitudine,
For your servant to cross the Jordan River with the king is enough reward for me!
37 sed obsecro ut revertar servus tuus, et moriar in civitate mea, et sepeliar iuxta sepulchrum patris mei, et matris meae. Est autem servus tuus Chamaam, ipse vadat tecum, domine mi rex, et fac ei quidquid tibi bonum videtur.
Then let your servant go back home, that I may die in my home town near the tomb of my father and mother. But here is your servant, my son Chimham. Let him cross over with Your Majesty, and treat him as you think best.”
38 Dixit itaque ei rex: Mecum transeat Chamaam, et ego faciam ei quidquid tibi placuerit, et omne, quod petieris a me, impetrabis.
The king replied, “Chimham will cross over with me, and I will treat him as you think best, and I will do for you whatever you want.”
39 Cumque transisset universus populus et rex Iordanem, osculatus est rex Berzellai, et benedixit ei: et ille reversus est in locum suum.
So everybody crossed the Jordan first, and then the king crossed over. The king kissed Barzillai and blessed him, and then Barzillai went back home.
40 Transivit ergo rex in Galgalam, et Chamaam cum eo. omnis autem populus Iuda traduxerat regem, et media tantum pars adfuerat de populo Israel.
Then the king carried on to Gilgal, and Chimham went with him. The whole army of Judah and half the army of Israel accompanied the king.
41 Itaque omnes viri Israel concurrentes ad regem dixerunt ei: Quare te furati sunt fratres nostri viri Iuda, et traduxerunt regem et domum eius Iordanem, omnesque viros David cum eo?
But soon the men of Israel who were there came to the king and asked him, “Why did our brothers, the men of Judah, secretly take Your Majesty away and bring you and your household across the Jordan, together with all your men?”
42 Et respondit omnis vir Iuda ad viros Israel: Quia mihi propior est rex: cur irasceris super hac re? numquid comedimus aliquid ex rege, aut munera nobis data sunt?
The men of Judah explained to the men of Israel, “We did this because the king is one of our relatives. Why are you getting upset about this? When did we ever eat the king's food? When did we ever get anything for yourselves?”
43 Et respondit vir Israel ad viros Iuda, et ait: Decem partibus maior ego sum apud regem, magisque ad me pertinet David quam ad te: cur fecisti mihi iniuriam, et non mihi nunciatum est priori, ut reducerem regem meum? Durius autem responderunt viri Iuda viris Israel.
“We've got ten shares in the king,” the men of Israel replied, “so we have a greater claim on David than you do. So why do you look down us? Weren't we the first ones to talk about bringing back our king?” But the men of Judah argued even more strongly than the men of Israel.
