Liber II Samuelis, 23

1. Haec autem sunt verba David novissima: “Dixit David filius Isai, dixit vir constitutus in alto, christus Dei Iacob, suavis psalta Israel.

1. Now these are the last words of David: The oracle of David, the son of Jesse, the oracle of the man who was raised on high, the anointed of the God of Jacob, the sweet psalmist of Israel:

2. Spiritus Domini locutus est per me, et sermo eius super linguam meam.

2. "The Spirit of the LORD speaks by me, his word is upon my tongue.

3. Locutus est Deus Israel, mihi dixit Petra Israel: “Dominator hominum iustus, dominator in timore Dei

3. The God of Israel has spoken, the Rock of Israel has said to me: When one rules justly over men, ruling in the fear of God,

4. est sicut lux aurorae, oriente sole, mane absque nubibus; de splendore post pluviam herba oritur de terra”.

4. he dawns on them like the morning light, like the sun shining forth upon a cloudless morning, like rain that makes grass to sprout from the earth.

5. Nonne sic est domus mea cum Deo? Quia pactum aeternum statuit mihi, dispositum in omnibus atque munitum. Cunctam enim salutem meam et omne desiderabile nonne faciet germinare?

5. Yea, does not my house stand so with God? For he has made with me an everlasting covenant, ordered in all things and secure. For will he not cause to prosper all my help and my desire?

6. Praevaricatores autem quasi spinae abiectae universi, quae non tolluntur manibus;

6. But godless men are all like thorns that are thrown away; for they cannot be taken with the hand;

7. et si quis tangere voluerit eas, armabitur ferro et ligno lanceato, igneque succensae comburentur”.

7. but the man who touches them arms himself with iron and the shaft of a spear, and they are utterly consumed with fire."

8. Haec nomina fortium David: Iesbaal Hachamonites, princeps inter tres, ipse levavit hastam suam super octingentos, quos interfecit impetu uno.

8. These are the names of the mighty men whom David had: Josheb-basshe'beth a Tah-che'monite; he was chief of the three; he wielded his spear against eight hundred whom he slew at one time.

9. Post hunc Eleazar filius Dodo Ahohites, inter tres fortes. Qui erat cum David in Aphesdommim, quando Philisthim congregati sunt illuc in proelium.

9. And next to him among the three mighty men was Elea'zar the son of Dodo, son of Aho'hi. He was with David when they defied the Philistines who were gathered there for battle, and the men of Israel withdrew.

10. Cumque ascendissent viri Israel, ipse stetit et percussit Philisthaeos, donec deficeret manus eius et obrigesceret cum gladio; fecitque Dominus salutem magnam in die illa, et populus reversus est tantum ad spolia detrahenda.

10. He rose and struck down the Philistines until his hand was weary, and his hand cleaved to the sword; and the LORD wrought a great victory that day; and the men returned after him only to strip the slain.

11. Et post hunc Samma filius Age Ararites. Et congregati sunt Philisthim in Lehi; erat quippe ibi ager lente plenus. Cumque fugisset populus a facie Philisthim,

11. And next to him was Shammah, the son of Agee the Har'arite. The Philistines gathered together at Lehi, where there was a plot of ground full of lentils; and the men fled from the Philistines.

12. stetit ille in medio agri et tuitus est eum percussitque Philisthaeos, et fecit Dominus salutem magnam.

12. But he took his stand in the midst of the plot, and defended it, and slew the Philistines; and the LORD wrought a great victory.

13. Et descenderunt tres de triginta et venerunt tempore messis ad David in speluncam Odollam; castra autem Philisthinorum erant posita in valle Raphaim.

13. And three of the thirty chief men went down, and came about harvest time to David at the cave of Adullam, when a band of Philistines was encamped in the valley of Reph'aim.

14. Et David erat tunc in praesidio; porro statio Philisthinorum tunc erat in Bethlehem.

14. David was then in the stronghold; and the garrison of the Philistines was then at Bethlehem.

15. Desideravit igitur David et ait: “O si quis mihi daret potum aquae de cisterna, quae est in Bethlehem iuxta portam!”.

15. And David said longingly, "O that some one would give me water to drink from the well of Bethlehem which is by the gate!"

16. Irruperunt ergo tres fortes castra Philisthinorum et hauserunt aquam de cisterna Bethlehem, quae erat iuxta portam, et attulerunt ad David. At ille noluit bibere, sed libavit illam Domino

16. Then the three mighty men broke through the camp of the Philistines, and drew water out of the well of Bethlehem which was by the gate, and took and brought it to David. But he would not drink of it; he poured it out to the LORD,

17. dicens: “Propitius mihi sit Dominus, ne faciam hoc. Num sanguinem hominum istorum, qui profecti sunt in animarum periculo, bibam?”. Noluit ergo bibere. Haec fecerunt tres robustissimi.

17. and said, "Far be it from me, O LORD, that I should do this. Shall I drink the blood of the men who went at the risk of their lives?" Therefore he would not drink it. These things did the three mighty men.

18. Abisai autem frater Ioab filius Sarviae princeps erat de triginta. Ipse est qui elevavit hastam suam contra trecentos, quos interfecit. Nominatus in triginta

18. Now Abi'shai, the brother of Jo'ab, the son of Zeru'iah, was chief of the thirty. And he wielded his spear against three hundred men and slew them, and won a name beside the three.

19. et inter triginta nobilior eratque eorum princeps; sed usque ad tres primos non pervenerat.

19. He was the most renowned of the thirty, and became their commander; but he did not attain to the three.

20. Et Banaias filius Ioiadae vir fortissimus magnorum operum de Cabseel. Ipse percussit duos filios Ariel de Moab, et ipse descendit et percussit leonem in media cisterna in diebus nivis.

20. And Benai'ah the son of Jehoi'ada was a valiant man of Kabzeel, a doer of great deeds; he smote two ariels of Moab. He also went down and slew a lion in a pit on a day when snow had fallen.

21. Ipse quoque interfecit virum Aegyptium, virum procerae staturae habentem in manu hastam; itaque cum descendisset ad eum cum baculo, vi extorsit hastam de manu Aegyptii et interfecit eum hasta sua.

21. And he slew an Egyptian, a handsome man. The Egyptian had a spear in his hand; but Benai'ah went down to him with a staff, and snatched the spear out of the Egyptian's hand, and slew him with his own spear.

22. Haec fecit Banaias filius Ioiadae, et ipse nominatus inter triginta fortissimos.

22. These things did Benai'ah the son of Jehoi'ada, and won a name beside the three mighty men.

23. Erat autem nobilior inter triginta; verumtamen usque ad tres non pervenerat. Fecitque eum David sibi caput satellitum suorum.

23. He was renowned among the thirty, but he did not attain to the three. And David set him over his bodyguard.

24. Asael frater Ioab erat inter triginta. Elchanan filius Dodo de Bethlehem,

24. As'ahel the brother of Jo'ab was one of the thirty; Elha'nan the son of Dodo of Bethlehem,

25. Samma de Harod, Elica de Harod,

25. Shammah of Harod, Eli'ka of Harod,

26. Heles de Phalti, Hira filius Acces de Thecua,

26. Helez the Paltite, Ira the son of Ikkesh of Teko'a,

27. Abiezer de Anathoth, Sobbochai de Husa,

27. Abi-e'zer, of An'athoth, Mebun'nai the Hu'shathite,

28. Selmon Ahohites, Maharai Netophathites,

28. Zalmon the Aho'hite, Ma'harai of Netoph'ah,

29. Heled filius Baana Netophathites, Ithai filius Ribai de Gabaa filiorum Beniamin,

29. Heleb the son of Ba'anah of Netoph'ah, It'tai the son of Ri'bai of Gib'e-ah of the Benjaminites,

30. Banaia Pharathonites, Heddai de torrentibus Gaas,

30. Benai'ah of Pira'thon, Hid'dai of the brooks of Ga'ash,

31. Abibaal Arbathites, Azmaveth de Bahurim,

31. Abi-al'bon the Ar'bathite, Az'maveth of Bahu'rim,

32. Eliaba de Saalbon, Iasen de Gun,

32. Eli'ahba of Sha-al'bon, the sons of Jashen, Jonathan,

33. Ionathan filius Samma de Arar, Ahiam filius Sarar Ararites.

33. Shammah the Har'arite, Ahi'am the son of Sharar the Har'arite,

34. Eliphalet filius Aasbai Maachathitae, Eliam filius Achitophel Gilonites,

34. Eliph'elet the son of Ahas'bai of Ma'acah, Eli'am the son of Ahith'ophel of Gilo,

35. Hesro de Carmel, Pharai de Arab,

35. Hezro of Carmel, Pa'arai the Arbite,

36. Igal filius Nathan de Soba, Bani de Gad,

36. Igal the son of Nathan of Zobah, Bani the Gadite,

37. Selec de Ammon, Naharai Berothites armiger Ioab filii Sarviae,

37. Zelek the Ammonite, Na'harai of Be-er'oth, the armor-bearer of Jo'ab the son of Zeru'iah,

38. Hira Iethrites, Gareb et ipse Iethrites,

38. Ira the Ithrite, Gareb the Ithrite,

39. Urias Hetthaeus. Omnes triginta septem.

39. Uri'ah the Hittite: thirty-seven in all.