Liber II Samuelis, 12

1. Misit ergo Dominus Nathan ad David. Qui cum venisset ad eum, dixit ei: “Duo viri erant in civitate una, unus dives et alter pauper.

1. And the LORD sent Nathan to David. He came to him, and said to him, "There were two men in a certain city, the one rich and the other poor.

2. Dives habebat oves et boves plurimos valde.

2. The rich man had very many flocks and herds;

3. Pauper autem nihil habebat omnino praeter ovem unam parvulam, quam emerat et nutrierat, et quae creverat apud eum cum filiis eius simul de pane illius comedens et de calice eius bibens et in sinu illius dormiens; eratque illi sicut filia.

3. but the poor man had nothing but one little ewe lamb, which he had bought. And he brought it up, and it grew up with him and with his children; it used to eat of his morsel, and drink from his cup, and lie in his bosom, and it was like a daughter to him.

4. Cum autem peregrinus quidam venisset ad divitem, parcens ille sumere de ovibus et de bobus suis, ut exhiberet convivium peregrino illi, qui venerat ad se, tulit ovem viri pauperis et praeparavit cibos homini, qui venerat ad se”.

4. Now there came a traveler to the rich man, and he was unwilling to take one of his own flock or herd to prepare for the wayfarer who had come to him, but he took the poor man's lamb, and prepared it for the man who had come to him."

5. Iratus autem indignatione David adversus hominem illum nimis dixit ad Nathan: “Vivit Dominus, quoniam filius mortis est vir, qui fecit hoc;

5. Then David's anger was greatly kindled against the man; and he said to Nathan, "As the LORD lives, the man who has done this deserves to die;

6. ovem reddet in quadruplum, eo quod fecerit istud et non pepercerit”.

6. and he shall restore the lamb fourfold, because he did this thing, and because he had no pity."

7. Dixit autem Nathan ad David: “Tu es ille vir! Haec dicit Dominus, Deus Israel: Ego unxi te in regem super Israel et ego erui te de manu Saul;

7. Nathan said to David, "You are the man. Thus says the LORD, the God of Israel, `I anointed you king over Israel, and I delivered you out of the hand of Saul;

8. et dedi tibi domum domini tui et uxores domini tui in sinu tuo dedique tibi domum Israel et Iudae et, si parva sunt ista, adiciam tibi multo maiora.

8. and I gave you your master's house, and your master's wives into your bosom, and gave you the house of Israel and of Judah; and if this were too little, I would add to you as much more.

9. Quare ergo contempsisti verbum Domini, ut faceres malum in conspectu eius? Uriam Hetthaeum percussisti gladio et uxorem illius accepisti uxorem tibi et interfecisti eum gladio filiorum Ammon.

9. Why have you despised the word of the LORD, to do what is evil in his sight? You have smitten Uri'ah the Hittite with the sword, and have taken his wife to be your wife, and have slain him with the sword of the Ammonites.

10. Quam ob rem non recedet gladius de domo tua usque in sempiternum, eo quod despexeris me et tuleris uxorem Uriae Hetthaei, ut esset uxor tua.

10. Now therefore the sword shall never depart from your house, because you have despised me, and have taken the wife of Uri'ah the Hittite to be your wife.'

11. Itaque haec dicit Dominus: Ecce ego suscitabo super te malum de domo tua et tollam uxores tuas in oculis tuis et dabo proximo tuo, et dormiet cum uxoribus tuis in oculis solis huius.

11. Thus says the LORD, `Behold, I will raise up evil against you out of your own house; and I will take your wives before your eyes, and give them to your neighbor, and he shall lie with your wives in the sight of this sun.

12. Tu enim fecisti abscondite; ego vero faciam istud in conspectu omnis Israel et in conspectu solis”.

12. For you did it secretly; but I will do this thing before all Israel, and before the sun.'"

13. Et dixit David ad Nathan: “Peccavi Domino”. Dixitque Nathan ad David: “Dominus quoque transtulit peccatum tuum; non morieris.

13. David said to Nathan, "I have sinned against the LORD." And Nathan said to David, "The LORD also has put away your sin; you shall not die.

14. Verumtamen quoniam blasphemare fecisti inimicos Domini propter hoc, filius, qui natus est tibi, morte morietur”.

14. Nevertheless, because by this deed you have utterly scorned the LORD, the child that is born to you shall die."

15. Et reversus est Nathan domum suam. Percussitque Dominus parvulum, quem peperat uxor Uriae David, et graviter aegrotavit;

15. Then Nathan went to his house. And the LORD struck the child that Uri'ah's wife bore to David, and it became sick.

16. deprecatusque est David Dominum pro parvulo et ieiunavit David ieiunio et ingressus domum pernoctabat iacens super terram.

16. David therefore besought God for the child; and David fasted, and went in and lay all night upon the ground.

17. Steterunt autem seniores domus eius iuxta eum cogentes eum, ut surgeret de terra; qui noluit neque comedit cum eis cibum.

17. And the elders of his house stood beside him, to raise him from the ground; but he would not, nor did he eat food with them.

18. Accidit autem die septima, ut moreretur infans. Timueruntque servi David nuntiare ei quod mortuus esset parvulus; dixerunt enim: “Ecce, cum parvulus adhuc viveret, loquebamur ad eum, et non audiebat vocem nostram. Nunc quomodo dicemus: “Mortuus est puer”? Peius patrabit!”.

18. On the seventh day the child died. And the servants of David feared to tell him that the child was dead; for they said, "Behold, while the child was yet alive, we spoke to him, and he did not listen to us; how then can we say to him the child is dead? He may do himself some harm."

19. Cum ergo vidisset David servos suos mussitantes, intellexit quod mortuus esset infantulus dixitque ad servos suos: “Num mortuus est puer?”. Qui responderunt ei: “Mortuus est”.

19. But when David saw that his servants were whispering together, David perceived that the child was dead; and David said to his servants, "Is the child dead?" They said, "He is dead."

20. Surrexit igitur David de terra et lotus unctusque est; cumque mutasset vestem, ingressus est domum Domini et adoravit et venit in domum suam petivitque, ut ponerent ei panem, et comedit.

20. Then David arose from the earth, and washed, and anointed himself, and changed his clothes; and he went into the house of the LORD, and worshiped; he then went to his own house; and when he asked, they set food before him, and he ate.

21. Dixerunt autem ei servi sui: “Quid est quod fecisti? Propter infantem, cum adhuc viveret, ieiunasti et flebas; mortuo autem puero, surrexisti et comedisti panem”.

21. Then his servants said to him, "What is this thing that you have done? You fasted and wept for the child while it was alive; but when the child died, you arose and ate food."

22. Qui ait: “Propter infantem, dum adhuc viveret, ieiunavi et flevi. Dicebam enim: Quis scit, si forte miserebitur mei Dominus, et vivet infans?

22. He said, "While the child was still alive, I fasted and wept; for I said, `Who knows whether the LORD will be gracious to me, that the child may live?'

23. Nunc autem, quia mortuus est, quare ieiuno? Numquid potero revocare eum amplius? Ego vadam magis ad eum, ille vero non revertetur ad me”.

23. But now he is dead; why should I fast? Can I bring him back again? I shall go to him, but he will not return to me."

24. Et consolatus est David Bethsabee uxorem suam ingressusque ad eam dormivit cum ea, quae genuit filium; et vocavit nomen eius Salomon. Et Dominus dilexit eum

24. Then David comforted his wife, Bathshe'ba, and went in to her, and lay with her; and she bore a son, and he called his name Solomon. And the LORD loved him,

25. misitque in manu Nathan prophetae et vocavit nomen eius Iedidia (id est Amabilis Domino) propter Dominum.

25. and sent a message by Nathan the prophet; so he called his name Jedidi'ah, because of the LORD.

26. Igitur pugnavit Ioab contra Rabba filiorum Ammon et expugnavit urbem regiam.

26. Now Jo'ab fought against Rabbah of the Ammonites, and took the royal city.

27. Misitque Ioab nuntios ad David dicens: “Dimicavi adversum Rabba et cepi urbem aquarum;

27. And Jo'ab sent messengers to David, and said, "I have fought against Rabbah; moreover, I have taken the city of waters.

28. nunc igitur congrega reliquam partem populi et obside civitatem et cape eam, ne, cum a me capta fuerit urbs, nomine meo vocetur”.

28. Now, then, gather the rest of the people together, and encamp against the city, and take it; lest I take the city, and it be called by my name."

29. Congregavit itaque David omnem populum et profectus est adversum Rabba; cumque dimicasset, cepit eam.

29. So David gathered all the people together and went to Rabbah, and fought against it and took it.

30. Et tulit diadema Melchom de capite eius, pondo auri talentum, habens gemmam pretiosissimam, quod venit super caput David. Sed et praedam civitatis asportavit multam valde,

30. And he took the crown of their king from his head; the weight of it was a talent of gold, and in it was a precious stone; and it was placed on David's head. And he brought forth the spoil of the city, a very great amount.

31. populum quoque eius educens condemnavit ad operam lapicidinarum et ad secures et dolabras ferreas et transtulit eos ad opus laterum; sic fecit universis civitatibus filiorum Ammon. Et reversus est David et omnis exercitus Ierusalem.

31. And he brought forth the people who were in it, and set them to labor with saws and iron picks and iron axes, and made them toil at the brickkilns; and thus he did to all the cities of the Ammonites. Then David and all the people returned to Jerusalem.