I Samuelis 12
1 dixit autem Samuhel ad universum Israhel ecce audivi vocem vestram iuxta omnia quae locuti estis ad me et constitui super vos regem
Then Samuel said this to all the Israeli people: “I have done everything that you told me to do, and I have given/appointed a king to rule you.
2 et nunc rex graditur ante vos ego autem senui et incanui porro filii mei vobiscum sunt itaque conversatus coram vobis ab adulescentia mea usque ad diem hanc ecce praesto sum
My own sons [are grown up and] with you now, but I have appointed Saul [instead of one of them], and he is now your leader. I am now old, and my hair is gray. I have been your leader ever since I was a boy.
3 loquimini de me coram Domino et coram christo eius utrum bovem cuiusquam tulerim an asinum si quempiam calumniatus sum si oppressi aliquem si de manu cuiusquam munus accepi et contemnam illud hodie restituamque vobis
Now tell me, while Yahweh is listening, and while the king whom he has chosen is listening: whose ox or donkey have I stolen [during all those years]? Whom have I cheated? Whom have I oppressed/treated badly? From whom have I accepted a bribe, in order that I would ignore [the evil things he had done]? If I have done any of those things, tell me, and I will pay back what I owe.”
4 et dixerunt non es calumniatus nos neque oppressisti neque tulisti de manu alicuius quippiam
They replied, “[No, ] you have never cheated anyone or oppressed anyone or accepted a bribe from anyone.”
5 dixitque ad eos testis Dominus adversus vos et testis christus eius in die hac quia non inveneritis in manu mea quippiam et dixerunt testis
Then Samuel said, “Today Yahweh can testify, and the king whom you chose can testify, that I have not taken a bribe from anyone.” They replied, “Yes, Yahweh can say that he knows that is true.”
6 et ait Samuhel ad populum Dominus qui fecit Mosen et Aaron et eduxit patres nostros de terra Aegypti
Samuel continued by saying, “Yahweh is the one who appointed Moses and Aaron [to lead] our ancestors. He is the one who brought them out of Egypt. [And he is the one who will testify that what I am saying is true].
7 nunc ergo state ut iudicio contendam adversum vos coram Domino de omnibus misericordiis Domini quas fecit vobiscum et cum patribus vestris
Now while Yahweh is listening, stand here quietly while I accuse you [and tell you that your requesting a king instead of trusting Yahweh to lead you was wrong]. I will do that by reminding you of all the great miracles that Yahweh performed for you and your ancestors.
8 quomodo ingressus est Iacob in Aegyptum et clamaverunt patres vestri ad Dominum et misit Dominus Mosen et Aaron et eduxit patres vestros ex Aegypto et conlocavit eos in loco hoc
[“Many years] after Jacob went to Egypt, our ancestors pleaded to Yahweh to help them. So Yahweh sent Moses and Aaron to them, and they led our ancestors out of Egypt, and eventually they settled in this land.
9 qui obliti sunt Domini Dei sui et tradidit eos in manu Sisarae magistri militiae Asor et in manu Philisthinorum et in manu regis Moab et pugnaverunt adversum eos
“But our ancestors soon forgot about Yahweh, their God. So he allowed Sisera, the commander of the army from Hazor, to defeat them. He also allowed the Philistines and the army of the king of Moab to fight our ancestors and defeat them.
10 postea autem clamaverunt ad Dominum et dixerunt peccavimus quia dereliquimus Dominum et servivimus Baalim et Astharoth nunc ergo erue nos de manu inimicorum nostrorum et serviemus tibi
Then our ancestors pleaded with Yahweh again to help them. They admitted, ‘Yahweh, we have sinned, and we have forsaken you. We have worshiped [idols that represent the god] Baal and [the goddess] Astarte. But if you rescue us from our enemies, we will worship you only.’
11 et misit Dominus Hierobaal et Bedan et Ieptha et Samuhel et eruit vos de manu inimicorum vestrorum per circuitum et habitastis confidenter
So Yahweh sent men such as Gideon, Barak, Jephthah, and me to save you. And as a result, you did not have to worry about any enemies attacking you.
12 videntes autem quod Naas rex filiorum Ammon venisset adversum vos dixistis mihi nequaquam sed rex imperabit nobis cum Dominus Deus vester regnaret in vobis
“But now, when king Nahash of Ammon came [with his army] to attack you, [you were afraid. So], you [came to me, and] said, ‘We want a king to rule us,’ even though Yahweh was already your king!
13 nunc ergo praesto est rex vester quem elegistis et petistis ecce dedit vobis Dominus regem
So now, look, here is the king whom you have chosen. You asked for a king, and Yahweh has now appointed a king for you.
14 si timueritis Dominum et servieritis ei et audieritis vocem eius et non exasperaveritis os Domini eritis et vos et rex qui imperat vobis sequentes Dominum Deum vestrum
If you will revere Yahweh and if you serve him, and if you listen to what he says and obey what he commands, and if you and the king who rules over you do what Yahweh your God wants you to do, [(things will go well for you all/Yahweh will bless you)].
15 si autem non audieritis vocem Domini sed exasperaveritis sermonem Domini erit manus Domini super vos et super patres vestros
But if you do not listen to what Yahweh says, if you disobey what he commands, then he will punish [MTY] you all, just as he punished our ancestors.
16 sed et nunc state et videte rem istam grandem quam facturus est Dominus in conspectu vestro
“Now stand here quietly and see the great thing that Yahweh is about to do.
17 numquid non messis tritici est hodie invocabo Dominum et dabit voces et pluvias et scietis et videbitis quia grande malum feceritis vobis in conspectu Domini petentes super vos regem
You know that [RHQ] [it does not rain at this time of the year], during the time when you harvest wheat. But I will ask Yahweh to send thunder [and lightning] and rain today. When he does that, you will realize that Yahweh considers that you have done a very wicked thing by requesting a king.”
18 et clamavit Samuhel ad Dominum et dedit Dominus voces et pluviam in die illa
Then Samuel prayed to Yahweh, and Yahweh caused it to thunder [and lightning] and rain. So all the people became very afraid of Yahweh and of Samuel.
19 et timuit omnis populus nimis Dominum et Samuhelem dixitque universus populus ad Samuhel ora pro servis tuis ad Dominum Deum tuum ut non moriamur addidimus enim universis peccatis nostris malum ut peteremus nobis regem
They cried out to Samuel, “Pray for us! We have added to our previous sins by requesting a king! Pray to Yahweh, your God, in order that we will not die [because of having done that]!”
20 dixit autem Samuhel ad populum nolite timere vos fecistis universum malum hoc verumtamen nolite recedere a tergo Domini et servite Domino in omni corde vestro
Samuel replied, “Do not be afraid! You have done this evil thing, but do not turn away from doing the things that Yahweh wants you to do. Instead, serve Yahweh wholeheartedly.
21 et nolite declinare post vana quae non proderunt vobis neque eruent vos quia vana sunt
Do not abandon [Yahweh] and worship useless idols. They cannot help you or save you [from your enemies], because they are truly useless.
22 et non derelinquet Dominus populum suum propter nomen suum magnum quia iuravit Dominus facere vos sibi populum
Yahweh decided to make us his people. So he will not abandon us people whom he has chosen, because he would injure his own reputation [of being completely faithful] if he did that.
23 absit autem a me hoc peccatum in Domino ut cessem orare pro vobis et docebo vos viam bonam et rectam
But as for me, I have solemnly promised that I will not sin against Yahweh by ceasing to pray for you. And I will continue to teach you what things are good and right [for you to do].
24 igitur timete Dominum et servite ei in veritate et ex toto corde vestro vidistis enim magnifica quae in vobis gesserit
But you must revere Yahweh and serve him wholeheartedly. Never forget all the great things that he has done for you.
25 quod si perseveraveritis in malitia et vos et rex vester pariter peribitis
But if you keep doing wicked things, he will get rid of you and your king!”
