I Samuelis 23

1 et nuntiaverunt David dicentes ecce Philisthim obpugnant Ceila et diripiunt areas

Now it was reported to David, “Look, the Philistines are fighting against Keilah and looting the threshing floors.”

2 consuluit igitur David Dominum dicens num vadam et percutiam Philistheos istos et ait Dominus ad David vade et percuties Philistheos et salvabis Ceila

So David inquired of the LORD, “Should I go and attack these Philistines?” And the LORD said to David, “Go and attack the Philistines and save Keilah.”

3 et dixerunt viri qui erant cum David ad eum ecce nos hic in Iudaea consistentes timemus quanto magis si ierimus in Ceila adversum agmina Philisthinorum

But David’s men said to him, “Look, we are afraid here in Judah; how much more if we go to Keilah against the armies of the Philistines?”

4 rursum ergo David consuluit Dominum qui respondens ei ait surge et vade in Ceila ego enim tradam Philistheos in manu tua

Once again, David inquired of the LORD, and the LORD answered him: “Go at once to Keilah, for I will deliver the Philistines into your hand.”

5 abiit David et viri eius in Ceila et pugnavit adversum Philistheos et abegit iumenta eorum et percussit eos plaga magna et salvavit David habitatores Ceilae

Then David and his men went to Keilah, fought against the Philistines, and carried off their livestock, striking them with a mighty blow. So David saved the people of Keilah.

6 porro eo tempore quo fugiebat Abiathar filius Ahimelech ad David in Ceila ephod secum habens descenderat

(Now Abiathar son of Ahimelech had brought the ephod with him when he fled to David at Keilah.)

7 nuntiatum est autem Saul quod venisset David in Ceila et ait Saul tradidit eum Deus in manus meas conclususque est introgressus urbem in qua portae et serae

When Saul was told that David had gone to Keilah, he said, “God has delivered him into my hand, for he has trapped himself by entering a town with gates and bars.”

8 et praecepit Saul omni populo ut ad pugnam descenderet in Ceila et obsideret David et viros eius

Then Saul summoned all his troops to go to war at Keilah and besiege David and his men.

9 quod cum rescisset David quia praepararet ei Saul clam malum dixit ad Abiathar sacerdotem adplica ephod

When David learned that Saul was plotting evil against him, he said to Abiathar the priest, “Bring the ephod.”

10 et ait David Domine Deus Israhel audivit famam servus tuus quod disponat Saul venire ad Ceila ut evertat urbem propter me

And David said, “O LORD, God of Israel, Your servant has heard that Saul intends to come to Keilah and destroy the city on my account.

11 si tradent me viri Ceila in manus eius et si descendet Saul sicut audivit servus tuus Domine Deus Israhel indica servo tuo et ait Dominus descendet

Will the citizens of Keilah surrender me into his hand? Will Saul come down, as Your servant has heard? O LORD, God of Israel, please tell Your servant.” “He will,” said the LORD.

12 dixitque David si tradent viri Ceilae me et viros qui sunt mecum in manu Saul et dixit Dominus tradent

So David asked, “Will the citizens of Keilah surrender me and my men into the hand of Saul?” “They will,” said the LORD.

13 surrexit ergo David et viri eius quasi sescenti et egressi de Ceila huc atque illuc vagabantur incerti nuntiatumque est Saul quod fugisset David de Ceila quam ob rem dissimulavit exire

Then David and his men, about six hundred strong, set out and departed from Keilah, moving from place to place. When Saul was told that David had escaped from Keilah, he declined to go forth.

14 morabatur autem David in deserto in locis firmissimis mansitque in monte solitudinis Ziph quaerebat tamen eum Saul cunctis diebus et non tradidit eum Deus in manus eius

And David stayed in the wilderness strongholds and in the hill country of the Wilderness of Ziph. Day after day Saul searched for him, but God would not deliver David into his hand.

15 et vidit David quod egressus esset Saul ut quaereret animam eius porro David erat in deserto Ziph in silva

While David was in Horesh in the Wilderness of Ziph, he saw that Saul had come out to take his life.

16 et surrexit Ionathan filius Saul et abiit ad David in silva et confortavit manus eius in Deo dixitque ei

And Saul’s son Jonathan came to David in Horesh and strengthened his hand in God,

17 ne timeas neque enim inveniet te manus Saul patris mei et tu regnabis super Israhel et ego ero tibi secundus sed et Saul pater meus scit hoc

saying, “Do not be afraid, for my father Saul will never lay a hand on you. And you will be king over Israel, and I will be your second-in-command. Even my father Saul knows this is true.”

18 percussit igitur uterque foedus coram Domino mansitque David in silva Ionathas autem reversus est in domum suam

So the two of them made a covenant before the LORD. And David remained in Horesh, while Jonathan went home.

19 ascenderunt autem Ziphei ad Saul in Gabaa dicentes nonne David latitat apud nos in locis tutissimis silvae in colle Achilae quae est ad dexteram deserti

Then the Ziphites came up to Saul at Gibeah and said, “Is not David hiding among us in the strongholds at Horesh, on the hill of Hachilah south of Jeshimon?

20 nunc ergo sicut desideravit anima tua ut descenderes descende nostrum autem erit ut tradamus eum in manus regis

Now, O king, come down whenever your soul desires, and we will be responsible for delivering him into your hand.”

21 dixitque Saul benedicti vos a Domino quia doluistis vicem meam

“May you be blessed by the LORD,” replied Saul, “for you have had compassion on me.

22 abite oro et diligentius praeparate et curiosius agite et considerate locum ubi sit pes eius vel quis viderit eum ibi recogitat enim de me quod callide insidier ei

Please go and prepare further. Investigate and watch carefully where he goes and who has seen him there, for I am told that he is extremely cunning.

23 considerate et videte omnia latibula eius in quibus absconditur et revertimini ad me ad rem certam ut vadam vobiscum quod si etiam in terra se abstruserit perscrutabor eum in cunctis milibus Iuda

Observe and find out all the places where he hides. Then come back to me with certainty, and I will go with you. If he is in the land, I will search him out among all the clans of Judah.”

24 at illi surgentes abierunt in Ziph ante Saul David autem et viri eius erant in deserto Maon in campestribus ad dextram Iesimuth

So they set out and went to Ziph ahead of Saul. Now David and his men were in the Wilderness of Maon in the Arabah south of Jeshimon,

25 ivit ergo Saul et socii eius ad quaerendum et nuntiatum est David statimque descendit ad petram et versabatur in deserto Maon quod cum audisset Saul persecutus est David in deserto Maon

and Saul and his men went to seek him. When David was told about it, he went down to the rock and stayed in the Wilderness of Maon. And when Saul heard of this, he pursued David there.

26 et ibat Saul ad latus montis ex parte una David autem et viri eius erant in latere montis ex parte altera porro David desperabat se posse evadere a facie Saul itaque Saul et viri eius in modum coronae cingebant David et viros eius ut caperent eos

Saul was proceeding along one side of the mountain, and David and his men along the other side. Even though David was hurrying to get away, Saul and his men were closing in on David and his men to capture them.

27 et nuntius venit ad Saul dicens festina et veni quoniam infuderunt se Philisthim super terram

Then a messenger came to Saul, saying, “Come quickly, for the Philistines have raided the land!”

28 reversus est ergo Saul desistens persequi David et perrexit in occursum Philisthinorum propter hoc vocaverunt locum illum petram Dividentem

So Saul broke off his pursuit of David and went to meet the Philistines. That is why that place is called Sela-hammahlekoth.

29 ascendit ergo David inde et habitavit in locis tutissimis Engaddi

And David went up from there and lived in the strongholds of En-gedi.