Liber I Samuelis, 9

1. Et erat vir de Beniamin nomine Cis filius Abiel filii Seror filii Be chorath filii Aphia, Beniaminita vir potens.

1. There was a man of Benjamin whose name was Kish, the son of Abi'el, son of Zeror, son of Beco'rath, son of Aphi'ah, a Benjaminite, a man of wealth;

2. Et erat ei filius vocabulo Saul electus et bonus, et non erat vir de filiis Israel melior illo; ab umero et sursum eminebat super omnem populum.

2. and he had a son whose name was Saul, a handsome young man. There was not a man among the people of Israel more handsome than he; from his shoulders upward he was taller than any of the people.

3. Perierant autem asinae Cis patris Saul, et dixit Cis ad Saul filium suum: “Tolle tecum unum de pueris et consurgens vade et quaere asinas”. Qui cum transissent per montem Ephraim

3. Now the asses of Kish, Saul's father, were lost. So Kish said to Saul his son, "Take one of the servants with you, and arise, go and look for the asses."

4. et per terram Salisa et non invenissent, transierunt etiam per terram Salim, et non erant, sed et per terram Iemini et minime reppererunt.

4. And they passed through the hill country of E'phraim and passed through the land of Shal'ishah, but they did not find them. And they passed through the land of Sha'alim, but they were not there. Then they passed through the land of Benjamin, but did not find them.

5. Cum autem venissent in terram Suph, dixit Saul ad puerum suum, qui erat cum eo: “Veni, et revertamur, ne forte dimiserit pater meus asinas et sollicitus sit pro nobis”.

5. When they came to the land of Zuph, Saul said to his servant who was with him, "Come, let us go back, lest my father cease to care about the asses and become anxious about us."

6. Qui ait ei: “Ecce est vir Dei in civitate hac, vir nobilis. Omne quod loquitur, absque ambiguitate venit. Nunc ergo eamus illuc, si forte indicet nobis de via nostra, propter quam venimus”.

6. But he said to him, "Behold, there is a man of God in this city, and he is a man that is held in honor; all that he says comes true. Let us go there; perhaps he can tell us about the journey on which we have set out."

7. Dixitque Saul ad puerum suum: “Ecce ibimus; quid feremus ad virum? Panis defecit in sitarciis nostris, et sportulam non habemus, ut demus homini Dei. Quid habemus?”.

7. Then Saul said to his servant, "But if we go, what can we bring the man? For the bread in our sacks is gone, and there is no present to bring to the man of God. What have we?"

8. Rursum puer respondit Sauli et ait: “Ecce inventa est in manu mea quarta pars sicli argenti; demus homini Dei, ut indicet nobis viam nostram”. —

8. The servant answered Saul again, "Here, I have with me the fourth part of a shekel of silver, and I will give it to the man of God, to tell us our way."

9. Olim in Israel sic loquebatur unusquisque vadens consulere Deum: “Venite, et eamus ad videntem”; qui enim propheta dicitur hodie, vocabatur olim videns. —

9. (Formerly in Israel, when a man went to inquire of God, he said, "Come, let us go to the seer"; for he who is now called a prophet was formerly called a seer.)

10. Et dixit Saul ad puerum suum: “Optimus sermo tuus; veni, eamus”. Et ierunt in civitatem, in qua erat vir Dei.

10. And Saul said to his servant, "Well said; come, let us go." So they went to the city where the man of God was.

11. Cumque ascenderent clivum civitatis, invenerunt puellas egredientes ad hauriendam aquam et dixerunt eis: “Num hic est videns?”.

11. As they went up the hill to the city, they met young maidens coming out to draw water, and said to them, "Is the seer here?"

12. Quae respondentes dixerunt illis: “Hic est: ecce ante te, festina nunc; hodie enim venit in civitatem, quia sacrificium est hodie populo in excelso.

12. They answered, "He is; behold, he is just ahead of you. Make haste; he has come just now to the city, because the people have a sacrifice today on the high place.

13. Ingredientes urbem statim invenietis eum, antequam ascendat excelsum ad vescendum; neque enim comesurus est populus, donec ille veniat, quia ipse benedicit hostiae, et deinceps comedunt, qui vocati sunt. Nunc ergo conscendite, quia statim reperietis eum”.

13. As soon as you enter the city, you will find him, before he goes up to the high place to eat; for the people will not eat till he comes, since he must bless the sacrifice; afterward those eat who are invited. Now go up, for you will meet him immediately."

14. Et ascenderunt in civitatem. Cumque illi intrarent in urbem, apparuit Samuel egrediens obviam eis, ut ascenderet in excelsum.

14. So they went up to the city. As they were entering the city, they saw Samuel coming out toward them on his way up to the high place.

15. Dominus autem revelaverat Samuel, ante unam diem quam veniret Saul, dicens:

15. Now the day before Saul came, the LORD had revealed to Samuel:

16. “Hac ipsa, quae nunc est hora, cras mittam ad te virum de terra Beniamin, et unges eum ducem super populum meum Israel, et salvabit populum meum de manu Philisthinorum, quia respexi populum meum; venit enim clamor eorum ad me”.

16. "Tomorrow about this time I will send to you a man from the land of Benjamin, and you shall anoint him to be prince over my people Israel. He shall save my people from the hand of the Philistines; for I have seen the affliction of my people, because their cry has come to me."

17. Cumque aspexisset Samuel Saulem, Dominus ait ei: “Ecce vir, quem dixeram tibi; iste dominabitur populo meo”.

17. When Samuel saw Saul, the LORD told him, "Here is the man of whom I spoke to you! He it is who shall rule over my people."

18. Accessit autem Saul ad Samuelem in medio portae et ait: “Indica, oro, mihi: Ubi est domus videntis?”.

18. Then Saul approached Samuel in the gate, and said, "Tell me where is the house of the seer?"

19. Et respondit Samuel Sauli dicens: “Ego sum videns. Ascende ante me in excelsum, ut comedatis mecum hodie. Et dimittam te mane et omnia, quae sunt in corde tuo, indicabo tibi;

19. Samuel answered Saul, "I am the seer; go up before me to the high place, for today you shall eat with me, and in the morning I will let you go and will tell you all that is on your mind.

20. et de asinis, quas perdidisti nudiustertius, ne sollicitus sis, quia inventae sunt. Et cuius erunt optima quaeque Israel? Nonne tibi et omni domui patris tui?”.

20. As for your asses that were lost three days ago, do not set your mind on them, for they have been found. And for whom is all that is desirable in Israel? Is it not for you and for all your father's house?"

21. Respondens autem Saul ait: “Numquid non Beniaminita ego sum de minima tribu Israel, et cognatio mea novissima inter omnes familias de tribu Beniamin? Quare ergo locutus es mihi sermonem istum?”.

21. Saul answered, "Am I not a Benjaminite, from the least of the tribes of Israel? And is not my family the humblest of all the families of the tribe of Benjamin? Why then have you spoken to me in this way?"

22. Assumens itaque Samuel Saulem et puerum eius introduxit eos in triclinium et dedit eis locum in capite eorum, qui fuerant invitati: erant enim quasi triginta viri.

22. Then Samuel took Saul and his servant and brought them into the hall and gave them a place at the head of those who had been invited, who were about thirty persons.

23. Dixitque Samuel coco: “Da partem, quam dedi tibi et praecepi, ut reponeres seorsum apud te”.

23. And Samuel said to the cook, "Bring the portion I gave you, of which I said to you, `Put it aside.'"

24. Levavit autem cocus armum et caudam et posuit ante Saul. Dixitque Samuel: “Ecce quod remansit; pone ante te et comede, quia de industria servatum est tibi, quando populum vocavi”. Et comedit Saul cum Samuel in die illa.

24. So the cook took up the leg and the upper portion and set them before Saul; and Samuel said, "See, what was kept is set before you. Eat; because it was kept for you until the hour appointed, that you might eat with the guests." So Saul ate with Samuel that day.

25. Et descenderunt de excelso in oppidum. Et straverunt pro Saul in solario, et dormivit.

25. And when they came down from the high place into the city, a bed was spread for Saul upon the roof, and he lay down to sleep.

26. Cumque mane surrexissent, et iam elucesceret, vocavit Samuel Saul in solario dicens: “Surge, ut dimittam te”. Et surrexit Saul. Egressique sunt ambo, ipse videlicet et Samuel.

26. Then at the break of dawn Samuel called to Saul upon the roof, "Up, that I may send you on your way." So Saul arose, and both he and Samuel went out into the street.

27. Cumque descenderent in extrema parte civitatis, Samuel dixit ad Saul: “Dic puero, ut antecedat nos — et ille antecessit C; tu autem subsiste paulisper, ut indicem tibi verbum Domini”.

27. As they were going down to the outskirts of the city, Samuel said to Saul, "Tell the servant to pass on before us, and when he has passed on stop here yourself for a while, that I may make known to you the word of God."