Liber I Samuelis, 24

1. Ascendit ergo David inde et habitavit in locis tutissimis Engaddi.

1. When Saul returned from following the Philistines, he was told, "Behold, David is in the wilderness of En-ge'di."

2. Cumque reversus esset Saul, postquam persecutus est Philisthaeos, nuntiaverunt ei dicentes: “Ecce David in deserto est Engaddi”.

2. Then Saul took three thousand chosen men out of all Israel, and went to seek David and his men in front of the Wildgoats' Rocks.

3. Assumens ergo Saul tria milia electorum virorum ex omni Israel perrexit ad investigandum David et viros eius ad rupes ibicum.

3. And he came to the sheepfolds by the way, where there was a cave; and Saul went in to relieve himself. Now David and his men were sitting in the innermost parts of the cave.

4. Et venit ad caulas ovium, quae se offerebant vianti. Eratque ibi spelunca, quam ingressus est Saul, ut purgaret ventrem; porro David et viri eius in interiore parte speluncae latebant.

4. And the men of David said to him, "Here is the day of which the LORD said to you, `Behold, I will give your enemy into your hand, and you shall do to him as it shall seem good to you.'" Then David arose and stealthily cut off the skirt of Saul's robe.

5. Et dixerunt viri David ad eum: “Ecce dies, de qua locutus est Dominus ad te: “Ego trado tibi inimicum tuum, ut facias ei sicut placuerit in oculis tuis””. Surrexit ergo David et praecidit oram chlamydis Saul silenter.

5. And afterward David's heart smote him, because he had cut off Saul's skirt.

6. Post haec cor David percussit eum, eo quod abscidisset oram chlamydis Saul,

6. He said to his men, "The LORD forbid that I should do this thing to my lord, the LORD'S anointed, to put forth my hand against him, seeing he is the LORD'S anointed."

7. dixitque ad viros suos: “Propitius mihi sit Dominus, ne faciam hanc rem domino meo, christo Domini, ut mittam manum meam in eum, quoniam christus Domini est”.

7. So David persuaded his men with these words, and did not permit them to attack Saul. And Saul rose up and left the cave, and went upon his way.

8. Et cohibuit David viros suos sermonibus et non permisit eos, ut consurgerent in Saul. Porro Saul exsurgens de spelunca pergebat coepto itinere.

8. Afterward David also arose, and went out of the cave, and called after Saul, "My lord the king!" And when Saul looked behind him, David bowed with his face to the earth, and did obeisance.

9. Surrexit autem et David post eum et egressus de spelunca clamavit post tergum Saul dicens: “Domine mi rex!”. Et respexit Saul post se, et inclinans se David pronus in terram adoravit

9. And David said to Saul, "Why do you listen to the words of men who say, `Behold, David seeks your hurt'?

10. dixitque ad Saul: “Quare audis verba hominum loquentium: “David quaerit malum adversum te?”.

10. Lo, this day your eyes have seen how the LORD gave you today into my hand in the cave; and some bade me kill you, but I spared you. I said, `I will not put forth my hand against my lord; for he is the LORD'S anointed.'

11. Ecce hodie viderunt oculi tui quod tradiderit te Dominus hodie in manu mea in spelunca; et dictum est mihi, ut occiderem te, sed pepercit tibi oculus meus. Dixi enim: Non extendam manum meam in dominum meum, quia christus Domini est

11. See, my father, see the skirt of your robe in my hand; for by the fact that I cut off the skirt of your robe, and did not kill you, you may know and see that there is no wrong or treason in my hands. I have not sinned against you, though you hunt my life to take it.

12. et pater meus. Quin potius vide et cognosce oram chlamydis tuae in manu mea, quoniam, cum praeciderem summitatem chlamydis tuae, nolui occidere te. Animadverte et vide quoniam non est in manu mea malum neque iniquitas, neque peccavi in te; tu autem insidiaris animae meae, ut auferas eam.

12. May the LORD judge between me and you, may the LORD avenge me upon you; but my hand shall not be against you.

13. Iudicet Dominus inter me et te et ulciscatur me Dominus ex te; manus autem mea non sit in te.

13. As the proverb of the ancients says, `Out of the wicked comes forth wickedness'; but my hand shall not be against you.

14. Sicut et in proverbio antiquo dicitur: “Ab impiis egredietur impietas”, manus ergo mea non sit in te.

14. After whom has the king of Israel come out? After whom do you pursue? After a dead dog! After a flea!

15. Quem sequitur rex Israel? Quem persequeris? Canem mortuum et pulicem unum.

15. May the LORD therefore be judge, and give sentence between me and you, and see to it, and plead my cause, and deliver me from your hand."

16. Sit Dominus iudex et iudicet inter me et te et videat et diiudicet causam meam et eruat me de manu tua”.

16. When David had finished speaking these words to Saul, Saul said, "Is this your voice, my son David?" And Saul lifted up his voice and wept.

17. Cum autem complesset David loquens sermones huiuscemodi ad Saul, dixit Saul: “Numquid vox haec tua est, fili mi David?”. Et levavit Saul vocem suam et flevit.

17. He said to David, "You are more righteous than I; for you have repaid me good, whereas I have repaid you evil.

18. Dixitque ad David: “Iustior tu es quam ego; tu enim tribuisti mihi bona, ego autem reddidi tibi mala.

18. And you have declared this day how you have dealt well with me, in that you did not kill me when the LORD put me into your hands.

19. Et tu indicasti hodie, quae feceris mihi bona, quomodo tradiderit me Dominus in manu tua, et non occideris me.

19. For if a man finds his enemy, will he let him go away safe? So may the LORD reward you with good for what you have done to me this day.

20. Quis enim, cum invenerit inimicum suum, dimittet eum in via bona? Sed Dominus reddat tibi vicissitudinem hanc, pro eo quod hodie operatus es in me.

20. And now, behold, I know that you shall surely be king, and that the kingdom of Israel shall be established in your hand.

21. Et nunc, quia scio quod certissime regnaturus sis et habiturus in manu tua regnum Israel,

21. Swear to me therefore by the LORD that you will not cut off my descendants after me, and that you will not destroy my name out of my father's house."

22. iura mihi in Domino, ne deleas semen meum post me neque auferas nomen meum de domo patris mei”.

22. And David swore this to Saul. Then Saul went home; but David and his men went up to the stronghold.

23. Et iuravit David Sauli. Abiit ergo Saul in domum suam, et David et viri eius ascenderunt ad praesidium.

23.