Liber II Samuelis, 1

1. Factum est autem, postquam mortuus est Saul, ut David re verteretur a caede Amalec et maneret in Siceleg dies duos.

1. After the death of Saul, when David had returned from the slaughter of the Amal'ekites, David remained two days in Ziklag;

2. In die autem tertia apparuit homo veniens de castris Saul veste conscissa et pulvere aspersus caput; et, ut venit ad David, cecidit super faciem suam et adoravit.

2. and on the third day, behold, a man came from Saul's camp, with his clothes rent and earth upon his head. And when he came to David, he fell to the ground and did obeisance.

3. Dixitque ad eum David: “Unde venis?”. Qui ait ad eum: “De castris Israel fugi”.

3. David said to him, "Where do you come from?" And he said to him, "I have escaped from the camp of Israel."

4. Et dixit ad eum David: “Quid enim factum est? Indica mihi”. Qui ait: “Fugit populus ex proelio, et multi corruentes e populo mortui sunt; sed et Saul et Ionathan filius eius interierunt”.

4. And David said to him, "How did it go? Tell me." And he answered, "The people have fled from the battle, and many of the people also have fallen and are dead; and Saul and his son Jonathan are also dead."

5. Dixitque David ad adulescentem, qui nuntiabat ei: “Unde scis quia mortuus est Saul et Ionathan filius eius?”.

5. Then David said to the young man who told him, "How do you know that Saul and his son Jonathan are dead?"

6. Et ait adulescens, qui narrabat ei: “Casu veni in montem Gelboe, et Saul incumbebat super hastam suam. Porro currus et equites appropinquabant ei,

6. And the young man who told him said, "By chance I happened to be on Mount Gilbo'a; and there was Saul leaning upon his spear; and lo, the chariots and the horsemen were close upon him.

7. et conversus post tergum suum vidensque me vocavit. Cui cum respondissem: Adsum,

7. And when he looked behind him, he saw me, and called to me. And I answered, `Here I am.'

8. dixit mihi: “Quisnam es tu?”. Et dixi ad eum: Amalecites ego sum.

8. And he said to me, `Who are you?' I answered him, `I am an Amal'ekite.'

9. Et locutus est mihi: “Sta super me et interfice me, quoniam tenent me angustiae, et adhuc tota anima mea in me est”.

9. And he said to me, `Stand beside me and slay me; for anguish has seized me, and yet my life still lingers.'

10. Stansque super eum occidi illum; sciebam enim quod vivere non poterat post ruinam. Et tuli diadema, quod erat in capite eius, et armillam de brachio illius et attuli ad te dominum meum huc”.

10. So I stood beside him, and slew him, because I was sure that he could not live after he had fallen; and I took the crown which was on his head and the armlet which was on his arm, and I have brought them here to my lord."

11. Apprehendens autem David vestimenta sua scidit omnesque viri, qui erant cum eo;

11. Then David took hold of his clothes, and rent them; and so did all the men who were with him;

12. et planxerunt et fleverunt et ieiunaverunt usque ad vesperam super Saul et super Ionathan filium eius et super populum Domini et super domum Israel, quod corruissent gladio.

12. and they mourned and wept and fasted until evening for Saul and for Jonathan his son and for the people of the LORD and for the house of Israel, because they had fallen by the sword.

13. Dixitque David ad iuvenem, qui nuntiaverat ei: “Unde es?”. Qui respondit: “Filius hominis advenae Amalecitae ego sum”.

13. And David said to the young man who told him, "Where do you come from?" And he answered, "I am the son of a sojourner, an Amal'ekite."

14. Et ait ad eum David: “Quare non timuisti mittere manum tuam, ut occideres christum Domini?”.

14. David said to him, "How is it you were not afraid to put forth your hand to destroy the LORD'S anointed?"

15. Vocansque David unum de pueris ait: “Accedens irrue in eum”. Qui percussit illum, et mortuus est.

15. Then David called one of the young men and said, "Go, fall upon him." And he smote him so that he died.

16. Et ait ad eum David: “Sanguis tuus super caput tuum; os enim tuum locutum est adversum te dicens: “Ego interfeci christum Domini””.

16. And David said to him, "Your blood be upon your head; for your own mouth has testified against you, saying, `I have slain the LORD'S anointed.'"

17. Planxit autem David planctum huiuscemodi super Saul et super Ionathan filium eius;

17. And David lamented with this lamentation over Saul and Jonathan his son,

18. et praecepit, ut docerent filios Iudae canticum Arcus, sicut scriptum est in libro Iusti, et ait:

18. and he said it should be taught to the people of Judah; behold, it is written in the Book of Jashar. He said:

19. “Incliti, o Israel, super montes tuos interfecti, quomodo ceciderunt fortes!

19. "Thy glory, O Israel, is slain upon thy high places! How are the mighty fallen!

20. Nolite annuntiare in Geth neque annuntietis in compitis Ascalonis, ne forte laetentur filiae Philisthim, ne exsultent filiae incircumcisorum.

20. Tell it not in Gath, publish it not in the streets of Ash'kelon; lest the daughters of the Philistines rejoice, lest the daughters of the uncircumcised exult.

21. Montes Gelboe, nec ros nec pluviae veniant super vos, neque sint agri oblationum! Quia ibi abiectus est clipeus fortium, clipeus Saul, quasi non esset unctus oleo.

21. "Ye mountains of Gilbo'a, let there be no dew or rain upon you, nor upsurging of the deep! For there the shield of the mighty was defiled, the shield of Saul, not anointed with oil.

22. A sanguine interfectorum, ab adipe fortium arcus Ionathan numquam rediit retrorsum, et gladius Saul non est reversus inanis.

22. "From the blood of the slain, from the fat of the mighty, the bow of Jonathan turned not back, and the sword of Saul returned not empty.

23. Saul et Ionathan amabiles et decori in vita sua, in morte quoque non sunt divisi, aquilis velociores, leonibus fortiores.

23. "Saul and Jonathan, beloved and lovely! In life and in death they were not divided; they were swifter than eagles, they were stronger than lions.

24. Filiae Israel, super Saul flete, qui vestiebat vos coccino in deliciis, qui praebebat ornamenta aurea cultui vestro.

24. "Ye daughters of Israel, weep over Saul, who clothed you daintily in scarlet, who put ornaments of gold upon your apparel.

25. Quomodo ceciderunt fortes in proelio! Ionathan in excelsis tuis occisus est.

25. "How are the mighty fallen in the midst of the battle! "Jonathan lies slain upon thy high places.

26. Doleo super te, frater mi Ionathan, suavis nimis mihi; mirabilis amor tuus mihi super amorem mulierum.

26. I am distressed for you, my brother Jonathan; very pleasant have you been to me; your love to me was wonderful, passing the love of women.

27. Quomodo ceciderunt fortes, et perierunt arma bellica!”.

27. "How are the mighty fallen, and the weapons of war perished!"