Liber I Samuelis, 12

1. Dixit autem Samuel ad universum Israel: “Ecce audivi vocem vestram iuxta omnia, quae locuti estis ad me, et constitui super vos regem;

1. And Samuel said to all Israel, "Behold, I have hearkened to your voice in all that you have said to me, and have made a king over 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 hanc diem;

2. And now, behold, the king walks before you; and I am old and gray, and behold, my sons are with you; and I have walked before you from my youth until this day.

3. ecce praesto sum. Loquimini contra 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, ut oculos meos clauderem in eius causa. Restituam vobis”.

3. Here I am; testify against me before the LORD and before his anointed. Whose ox have I taken? Or whose ass have I taken? Or whom have I defrauded? Whom have I oppressed? Or from whose hand have I taken a bribe to blind my eyes with it? Testify against me and I will restore it to you."

4. Et dixerunt: “Non es calumniatus nos neque oppressisti neque tulisti de manu alicuius quippiam”.

4. They said, "You have not defrauded us or oppressed us or taken anything from any man's hand."

5. Dixitque ad eos: “Testis Dominus adversum vos, et testis christus eius in die hac, quia non inveneritis in manu mea quippiam”. Et dixerunt: “Testis”.

5. And he said to them, "The LORD is witness against you, and his anointed is witness this day, that you have not found anything in my hand." And they said, "He is witness."

6. Et ait Samuel ad populum: “Testis est Dominus, qui fecit Moysen et Aaron et eduxit patres nostros de terra Aegypti.

6. And Samuel said to the people, "The LORD is witness, who appointed Moses and Aaron and brought your fathers up out of the land of Egypt.

7. Nunc ergo state, ut iudicio contendam adversum vos coram Domino de omnibus misericordiis Domini, quas fecit vobiscum et cum patribus vestris:

7. Now therefore stand still, that I may plead with you before the LORD concerning all the saving deeds of the LORD which he performed for you and for your fathers.

8. quomodo ingressus est Iacob in Aegyptum, et oppresserunt eos Aegyptii; et clamaverunt patres vestri ad Dominum, et misit Dominus Moysen et Aaron et eduxit patres vestros ex Aegypto et collocavit eos in loco hoc;

8. When Jacob went into Egypt and the Egyptians oppressed them, then your fathers cried to the LORD and the LORD sent Moses and Aaron, who brought forth your fathers out of Egypt, and made them dwell in this place.

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.

9. But they forgot the LORD their God; and he sold them into the hand of Sis'era, commander of the army of Jabin king of Hazor, and into the hand of the Philistines, and into the hand of the king of Moab; and they fought against 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”.

10. And they cried to the LORD, and said, `We have sinned, because we have forsaken the LORD, and have served the Ba'als and the Ash'taroth; but now deliver us out of the hand of our enemies, and we will serve thee.'

11. Et misit Dominus Ierobbaal et Barac et Iephte et Samuel et eruit vos de manu inimicorum vestrorum per circuitum; et habitastis confidenter.

11. And the LORD sent Jerubba'al and Barak, and Jephthah, and Samuel, and delivered you out of the hand of your enemies on every side; and you dwelt in safety.

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.

12. And when you saw that Nahash the king of the Ammonites came against you, you said to me, `No, but a king shall reign over us,' when the LORD your God was your king.

13. Nunc ergo praesto est rex vester, quem elegistis et petistis; ecce dedit vobis Dominus regem.

13. And now behold the king whom you have chosen, for whom you have asked; behold, the LORD has set a king over you.

14. Si timueritis Dominum et servieritis ei et audieritis vocem eius et non contempseritis sermonem Domini, eritis et vos et rex, qui imperat vobis, sequentes Dominum Deum vestrum.

14. If you will fear the LORD and serve him and hearken to his voice and not rebel against the commandment of the LORD, and if both you and the king who reigns over you will follow the LORD your God, it will be well;

15. Si autem non audieritis vocem Domini, sed contempseritis sermonem Domini, erit manus Domini super vos et super regem vestrum, ut disperdat vos.

15. but if you will not hearken to the voice of the LORD, but rebel against the commandment of the LORD, then the hand of the LORD will be against you and your king.

16. Sed et nunc state et videte rem istam grandem, quam facturus est Dominus in conspectu vestro.

16. Now therefore stand still and see this great thing, which the LORD will do before your eyes.

17. Numquid non messis tritici est hodie? Invocabo Dominum, et dabit tonitrua et pluvias; et scietis et videbitis quia grande malum feceritis vobis in conspectu Domini petentes super vos regem”.

17. Is it not wheat harvest today? I will call upon the LORD, that he may send thunder and rain; and you shall know and see that your wickedness is great, which you have done in the sight of the LORD, in asking for yourselves a king."

18. Et clamavit Samuel ad Dominum, et dedit Dominus tonitrua et pluviam in die illa.

18. So Samuel called upon the LORD, and the LORD sent thunder and rain that day; and all the people greatly feared the LORD and Samuel.

19. Et timuit omnis populus nimis Dominum et Samuel; dixitque universus populus ad Samuel: “Ora pro servis tuis ad Dominum Deum tuum, ut non moriamur: addidimus enim universis peccatis nostris malum, ut peteremus nobis regem”.

19. And all the people said to Samuel, "Pray for your servants to the LORD your God, that we may not die; for we have added to all our sins this evil, to ask for ourselves a king."

20. Dixit autem Samuel ad populum: “Nolite timere. Vos fecistis universum malum hoc; verumtamen nolite recedere a tergo Domini et servite Domino in omni corde vestro;

20. And Samuel said to the people, "Fear not; you have done all this evil, yet do not turn aside from following the LORD, but serve the LORD with all your heart;

21. et nolite declinare post vana, quae non proderunt vobis neque eruent vos, quia vana sunt;

21. and do not turn aside after vain things which cannot profit or save, for they are vain.

22. profecto non derelinquet Dominus populum suum propter nomen suum magnum, quia dignatus est Dominus facere vos sibi populum.

22. For the LORD will not cast away his people, for his great name's sake, because it has pleased the LORD to make you a people for himself.

23. Absit autem a me hoc peccatum in Dominum, ut cessem orare pro vobis et docere vos viam bonam et rectam.

23. Moreover as for me, far be it from me that I should sin against the LORD by ceasing to pray for you; and I will instruct you in the good and the right way.

24. Igitur timete Dominum et servite ei in veritate et ex toto corde vestro; vidistis enim magnifica, quae in vobis gesserit.

24. Only fear the LORD, and serve him faithfully with all your heart; for consider what great things he has done for you.

25. Quod si perseveraveritis in malitia, et vos et rex vester pariter peribitis”.

25. But if you still do wickedly, you shall be swept away, both you and your king."