Liber II Samuelis, 13

1. Factum est autem post haec, ut Absalom filii David soro rem speciosissimam, vocabulo Thamar, adamaret Amnon filius David.

1. Now Ab'salom, David's son, had a beautiful sister, whose name was Tamar; and after a time Amnon, David's son, loved her.

2. Et angustiatus est Amnon, ita ut aegrotaret propter amorem Thamar sororis suae, quia, cum esset virgo, difficile ei videbatur ut quippiam inhoneste ageret cum ea.

2. And Amnon was so tormented that he made himself ill because of his sister Tamar; for she was a virgin, and it seemed impossible to Amnon to do anything to her.

3. Erat autem Amnonis amicus nomine Ionadab filius Samma fratris David, vir callidus valde.

3. But Amnon had a friend, whose name was Jon'adab, the son of Shim'e-ah, David's brother; and Jon'adab was a very crafty man.

4. Qui dixit ad eum: “Quare sic attenuaris macie, fili regis, per singulos dies? Cur non indicas mihi?”. Dixitque ei Amnon: “Thamar sororem Absalom fratris mei amo”.

4. And he said to him, "O son of the king, why are you so haggard morning after morning? Will you not tell me?" Amnon said to him, "I love Tamar, my brother Ab'salom's sister."

5. Cui respondit Ionadab: “Cuba super lectulum tuum et languorem simula. Cumque venerit pater tuus, ut visitet te, dic ei: “Veniat, oro, Thamar soror mea, ut det mihi cibum et faciat in oculis meis pulmentum, ut videam et comedam de manu eius””.

5. Jon'adab said to him, "Lie down on your bed, and pretend to be ill; and when your father comes to see you, say to him, `Let my sister Tamar come and give me bread to eat, and prepare the food in my sight, that I may see it, and eat it from her hand.'"

6. Accubuit itaque Amnon et simulavit languorem. Cumque venisset rex ad visitandum eum, ait Amnon ad regem: “Veniat, obsecro, Thamar soror mea, ut faciat in oculis meis duas sorbitiunculas, et cibum capiam de manu eius”.

6. So Amnon lay down, and pretended to be ill; and when the king came to see him, Amnon said to the king, "Pray let my sister Tamar come and make a couple of cakes in my sight, that I may eat from her hand."

7. Misit ergo David ad Thamar domum dicens: “Veni in domum Amnon fratris tui et fac ei pulmentum”.

7. Then David sent home to Tamar, saying, "Go to your brother Amnon's house, and prepare food for him."

8. Venitque Thamar in domum Amnon fratris sui; ille autem iacebat. Quae tollens farinam commiscuit et conficiens in oculis eius coxit sorbitiunculas.

8. So Tamar went to her brother Amnon's house, where he was lying down. And she took dough, and kneaded it, and made cakes in his sight, and baked the cakes.

9. Tollensque sartaginem effudit, quod coxerat, et posuit coram eo. Noluit comedere; dixitque Amnon: “Eicite universos a me”. Cumque exissent omnes,

9. And she took the pan and emptied it out before him, but he refused to eat. And Amnon said, "Send out every one from me." So every one went out from him.

10. dixit Amnon ad Thamar: “Infer cibum in conclave, ut vescar de manu tua”. Tulit ergo Thamar sorbitiunculas, quas fecerat, et intulit ad Amnon fratrem suum in conclave.

10. Then Amnon said to Tamar, "Bring the food into the chamber, that I may eat from your hand." And Tamar took the cakes she had made, and brought them into the chamber to Amnon her brother.

11. Cumque obtulisset ei cibum, apprehendit eam et ait: “Veni, cuba mecum, soror mea”.

11. But when she brought them near him to eat, he took hold of her, and said to her, "Come, lie with me, my sister."

12. Quae respondit ei: “Noli, frater mi, noli opprimere me! Neque enim hoc fas est in Israel; noli facere stultitiam hanc.

12. She answered him, "No, my brother, do not force me; for such a thing is not done in Israel; do not do this wanton folly.

13. Et ego quo ibo in opprobrio meo? Et tu eris quasi unus de insipientibus in Israel; quin potius loquere ad regem, et non negabit me tibi”.

13. As for me, where could I carry my shame? And as for you, you would be as one of the wanton fools in Israel. Now therefore, I pray you, speak to the king; for he will not withhold me from you."

14. Noluit autem acquiescere precibus eius, sed praevalens viribus oppressit eam et cubavit cum illa.

14. But he would not listen to her; and being stronger than she, he forced her, and lay with her.

15. Et exosam eam habuit Amnon magno odio nimis, ita ut maius esset odium, quo oderat eam, amore, quo ante dilexerat. Dixitque ei Amnon: “Surge, vade!”.

15. Then Amnon hated her with very great hatred; so that the hatred with which he hated her was greater than the love with which he had loved her. And Amnon said to her, "Arise, be gone."

16. Quae respondit ei: “Ne fiat, frater mi, quia maius est hoc malum, quod nunc agis adversum me expellens me, quam quod ante fecisti”. Et noluit audire eam;

16. But she said to him, "No, my brother; for this wrong in sending me away is greater than the other which you did to me." But he would not listen to her.

17. sed vocato puero, qui ministrabat ei, dixit: “Eice hanc a me foras et claude ostium post eam”.

17. He called the young man who served him and said, "Put this woman out of my presence, and bolt the door after her."

18. Quae induta erat talari tunica; huiusmodi enim filiae regis virgines palliis vestibus utebantur. Eiecit itaque eam minister illius foras clausitque fores post eam.

18. Now she was wearing a long robe with sleeves; for thus were the virgin daughters of the king clad of old. So his servant put her out, and bolted the door after her.

19. Quae aspergens pulverem capiti suo, scissa talari tunica impositisque manibus super caput suum, ibat ingrediens et clamans.

19. And Tamar put ashes on her head, and rent the long robe which she wore; and she laid her hand on her head, and went away, crying aloud as she went.

20. Dixit autem ei Absalom frater suus: “Num Amnon frater tuus fuit tecum? Sed nunc, soror, tace: frater tuus est; neque affligas cor tuum pro re hac”. Mansit itaque Thamar desolata in domo Absalom fratris sui.

20. And her brother Ab'salom said to her, "Has Amnon your brother been with you? Now hold your peace, my sister; he is your brother; do not take this to heart." So Tamar dwelt, a desolate woman, in her brother Ab'salom's house.

21. Cum autem audisset rex David omnia haec, iratus est valde; et noluit contristare spiritum Amnon filii sui, quoniam diligebat eum, quia primogenitus erat ei.

21. When King David heard of all these things, he was very angry.

22. Porro non est locutus Absalom ad Amnon nec malum nec bonum; oderat enim Absalom Amnon, eo quod violasset Thamar sororem suam.

22. But Ab'salom spoke to Amnon neither good nor bad; for Ab'salom hated Amnon, because he had forced his sister Tamar.

23. Factum est autem post tempus biennii, ut tonderentur oves Absalom in Baalhasor, quae est iuxta Ephraim; et vocavit Absalom omnes filios regis.

23. After two full years Ab'salom had sheepshearers at Ba'al-ha'zor, which is near E'phraim, and Ab'salom invited all the king's sons.

24. Venitque ad regem et ait ad eum: “Ecce tondentur oves servi tui; veniat, oro, rex cum servis suis ad servum tuum”.

24. And Ab'salom came to the king, and said, "Behold, your servant has sheepshearers; pray let the king and his servants go with your servant."

25. Dixitque rex ad Absalom: “Noli, fili mi, noli rogare, ut veniamus omnes et gravemus te”. Cum autem cogeret eum, et noluisset ire, benedixit ei.

25. But the king said to Ab'salom, "No, my son, let us not all go, lest we be burdensome to you." He pressed him, but he would not go but gave him his blessing.

26. Et ait Absalom: “Si non vis venire, veniat, obsecro, nobiscum saltem Amnon frater meus”. Dixitque ad eum rex: “Cur vadet tecum?”.

26. Then Ab'salom said, "If not, pray let my brother Amnon go with us." And the king said to him, "Why should he go with you?"

27. Coegit itaque eum Absalom, et dimisit cum eo Amnon et universos filios regis. Fecitque Absalom convivium quasi convivium regis.

27. But Ab'salom pressed him until he let Amnon and all the king's sons go with him.

28. Praecepit autem Absalom pueris suis dicens: “Observate. Cum hilarior fuerit Amnon vino, et dixero vobis: Percutite Amnon et interficite eum!, nolite timere; ego enim sum, qui praecepi vobis. Roboramini et estote viri fortes”.

28. Then Ab'salom commanded his servants, "Mark when Amnon's heart is merry with wine, and when I say to you, `Strike Amnon,' then kill him. Fear not; have I not commanded you? Be courageous and be valiant."

29. Fecerunt ergo pueri Absalom adversum Amnon, sicut praeceperat eis Absalom; surgentesque omnes filii regis ascenderunt singuli mulos suos et fugerunt.

29. So the servants of Ab'salom did to Amnon as Ab'salom had commanded. Then all the king's sons arose, and each mounted his mule and fled.

30. Cumque adhuc pergerent in itinere, fama praevenit ad David dicens: “Percussit Absalom omnes filios regis, et non remansit ex eis saltem unus”.

30. While they were on the way, tidings came to David, "Ab'salom has slain all the king's sons, and not one of them is left."

31. Surrexit itaque rex et scidit vestimenta sua et prostravit se super terram; et omnes servi ipsius, qui assistebant ei, sciderunt vestimenta sua.

31. Then the king arose, and rent his garments, and lay on the earth; and all his servants who were standing by rent their garments.

32. Respondens autem Ionadab filius Samma fratris David dixit: “Ne aestimet dominus meus quod omnes pueri filii regis occisi sint; Amnon solus mortuus est, quoniam in ore Absalom hoc erat positum ex die, qua oppressit Thamar sororem eius.

32. But Jon'adab the son of Shim'e-ah, David's brother, said, "Let not my lord suppose that they have killed all the young men the king's sons, for Amnon alone is dead, for by the command of Ab'salom this has been determined from the day he forced his sister Tamar.

33. Nunc ergo ne ponat dominus meus rex super cor suum verbum istud dicens: “Omnes filii regis occisi sunt”, quoniam Amnon solus mortuus est”.

33. Now therefore let not my lord the king so take it to heart as to suppose that all the king's sons are dead; for Amnon alone is dead."

34. Fugit autem Absalom. Et levavit puer speculator oculos suos et aspexit, et ecce populus multus veniebat per viam Oronaim ex latere montis in descensu; et venit speculator et nuntiavit regi dicens: “Video homines per viam Oronaim”.

34. But Ab'salom fled. And the young man who kept the watch lifted up his eyes, and looked, and behold, many people were coming from the Horona'im road by the side of the mountain.

35. Dixit autem Ionadab ad regem: “Ecce filii regis adsunt! Iuxta verbum servi tui sic factum est”.

35. And Jon'adab said to the king, "Behold, the king's sons have come; as your servant said, so it has come about."

36. Cumque cessasset loqui, apparuerunt et filii regis et intrantes levaverunt vocem suam et fleverunt; sed et rex et omnes servi eius fleverunt ploratu magno nimis.

36. And as soon as he had finished speaking, behold, the king's sons came, and lifted up their voice and wept; and the king also and all his servants wept very bitterly.

37. Porro Absalom fugiens abiit ad Tholmai filium Ammiud regem Gesur. Luxit ergo David filium suum cunctis diebus.

37. But Ab'salom fled, and went to Talmai the son of Ammi'hud, king of Geshur. And David mourned for his son day after day.

38. Absalom autem, cum fugisset et venisset in Gesur, fuit ibi tribus annis.

38. So Ab'salom fled, and went to Geshur, and was there three years.

39. Cessavitque spiritus regis adversari Absalom, eo quod consolatus esset super Amnon interitu.

39. And the spirit of the king longed to go forth to Ab'salom; for he was comforted about Amnon, seeing he was dead.