Liber I Regum, 2

1. Appropinquaverant autem dies David ut moreretur, praecepit que Salomoni filio suo dicens:

1. When David's time to die drew near, he charged Solomon his son, saying,

2. “Ego ingredior viam universae terrae; confortare et esto vir

2. "I am about to go the way of all the earth. Be strong, and show yourself a man,

3. et observa decreta Domini Dei tui, ut ambules in viis eius et custodias statuta eius et praecepta eius et iudicia et testimonia, sicut scriptum est in lege Moysi, ut prospere agas in universis, quae facis et quocumque te verteris;

3. and keep the charge of the LORD your God, walking in his ways and keeping his statutes, his commandments, his ordinances, and his testimonies, as it is written in the law of Moses, that you may prosper in all that you do and wherever you turn;

4. ut confirmet Dominus sermonem suum, quem locutus est de me dicens: “Si custodierint filii tui viam suam et ambulaverint coram me in veritate, in omni corde suo et in omni anima sua, non auferetur tibi vir de solio Israel”.

4. that the LORD may establish his word which he spoke concerning me, saying, `If your sons take heed to their way, to walk before me in faithfulness with all their heart and with all their soul, there shall not fail you a man on the throne of Israel.'

5. Tu quoque nosti, quae fecerit mihi Ioab filius Sarviae, quae fecerit duobus principibus exercitus Israel, Abner filio Ner et Amasae filio Iether, quos occidit; et effudit sanguinem belli in pace et posuit cruorem proelii in balteo suo, qui erat circa lumbos eius, et in calceamento suo, quod erat in pedibus eius.

5. "Moreover you know also what Jo'ab the son of Zeru'iah did to me, how he dealt with the two commanders of the armies of Israel, Abner the son of Ner, and Ama'sa the son of Jether, whom he murdered, avenging in time of peace blood which had been shed in war, and putting innocent blood upon the girdle about my loins, and upon the sandals on my feet.

6. Facies ergo iuxta sapientiam tuam et non deduces canitiem eius pacifice ad inferos.

6. Act therefore according to your wisdom, but do not let his gray head go down to Sheol in peace.

7. Sed filiis Berzellai Galaaditis reddes gratiam, eruntque comedentes in mensa tua; occurrerunt enim mihi, quando fugiebam a facie Absalom fratris tui.

7. But deal loyally with the sons of Barzil'lai the Gileadite, and let them be among those who eat at your table; for with such loyalty they met me when I fled from Ab'salom your brother.

8. Habes quoque apud te Semei filium Gera de Beniamin de Bahurim, qui maledixit mihi maledictione pessima, quando ibam ad Mahanaim; sed quia descendit mihi in occursum ad Iordanem, et iuravi ei per Dominum dicens: Non te interficiam gladio.

8. And there is also with you Shim'e-i the son of Gera, the Benjaminite from Bahu'rim, who cursed me with a grievous curse on the day when I went to Mahana'im; but when he came down to meet me at the Jordan, I swore to him by the LORD, saying, `I will not put you to death with the sword.'

9. Tu noli pati esse eum innoxium; vir autem sapiens es et scies, quae facias ei deducesque canos eius cum sanguine ad infernum”.

9. Now therefore hold him not guiltless, for you are a wise man; you will know what you ought to do to him, and you shall bring his gray head down with blood to Sheol."

10. Dormivit igitur David cum patribus suis et sepultus est in civitate David.

10. Then David slept with his fathers, and was buried in the city of David.

11. Dies autem, quibus regnavit David super Israel, quadraginta anni sunt: in Hebron regnavit septem annis, in Ierusalem triginta tribus.

11. And the time that David reigned over Israel was forty years; he reigned seven years in Hebron, and thirty-three years in Jerusalem.

12. Salomon autem sedit super thronum David patris sui, et firmatum est regnum eius nimis.

12. So Solomon sat upon the throne of David his father; and his kingdom was firmly established.

13. Et ingressus est Adonias filius Haggith ad Bethsabee matrem Salomonis, quae dixit ei: “Pacificusne ingressus tuus?”. Qui respondit: “Pacificus”.

13. Then Adoni'jah the son of Haggith came to Bathshe'ba the mother of Solomon. And she said, "Do you come peaceably?" He said, "Peaceably."

14. Addiditque: “Sermo mihi est ad te”. Cui ait: “Loquere”. Et ille:

14. Then he said, "I have something to say to you." She said, "Say on."

15. “Tu, inquit, nosti quia meum erat regnum, et me proposuerat omnis Israel sibi in regem, sed translatum est regnum et factum est fratris mei; a Domino enim constitutum est ei.

15. He said, "You know that the kingdom was mine, and that all Israel fully expected me to reign; however the kingdom has turned about and become my brother's, for it was his from the LORD.

16. Nunc ergo petitionem unam deprecor a te; ne confundas faciem meam”. Quae dixit ad eum: “Loquere”.

16. And now I have one request to make of you; do not refuse me." She said to him, "Say on."

17. Et ille ait: “Precor, ut dicas Salomoni regi — neque enim negare tibi quidquam potest — ut det mihi Abisag Sunamitin uxorem”.

17. And he said, "Pray ask King Solomon -- he will not refuse you -- to give me Ab'ishag the Shu'nammite as my wife."

18. Et ait Bethsabee: “Bene, ego loquar pro te regi”.

18. Bathshe'ba said, "Very well; I will speak for you to the king."

19. Venit ergo Bethsabee ad regem Salomonem, ut loqueretur ei pro Adonia. Et surrexit rex in occursum eius adoravitque eam et sedit super thronum suum; positus quoque est thronus matri regis, quae sedit ad dexteram eius.

19. So Bathshe'ba went to King Solomon, to speak to him on behalf of Adoni'jah. And the king rose to meet her, and bowed down to her; then he sat on his throne, and had a seat brought for the king's mother; and she sat on his right.

20. Dixitque ei: “Petitionem unam parvulam ego deprecor a te; ne confundas faciem meam”. Dixit ei rex: “Pete, mater mi, neque enim fas est, ut avertam faciem tuam”.

20. Then she said, "I have one small request to make of you; do not refuse me." And the king said to her, "Make your request, my mother; for I will not refuse you."

21. Quae ait: “Detur Abisag Sunamitis Adoniae fratri tuo uxor”.

21. She said, "Let Ab'ishag the Shu'nammite be given to Adoni'jah your brother as his wife."

22. Responditque rex Salomon et dixit matri suae: “Quare postulas Abisag Sunamitin Adoniae? Postula ei et regnum! Ipse est enim frater meus maior me et habet Abiathar sacerdotem et Ioab filium Sarviae”.

22. King Solomon answered his mother, "And why do you ask Ab'ishag the Shu'nammite for Adoni'jah? Ask for him the kingdom also; for he is my elder brother, and on his side are Abi'athar the priest and Jo'ab the son of Zeru'iah."

23. Iuravit itaque rex Salomon per Dominum dicens: “Haec faciat mihi Deus et haec addat, certe contra animam suam locutus est Adonias verbum hoc.

23. Then King Solomon swore by the LORD, saying, "God do so to me and more also if this word does not cost Adoni'jah his life!

24. Et nunc, vivit Dominus, qui firmavit me et collocavit me super solium David patris mei et qui fecit mihi domum, sicut locutus est, certe hodie occidetur Adonias”.

24. Now therefore as the LORD lives, who has established me, and placed me on the throne of David my father, and who has made me a house, as he promised, Adoni'jah shall be put to death this day."

25. Misitque rex Salomon per manum Banaiae filii Ioiadae, qui interfecit eum, et mortuus est.

25. So King Solomon sent Benai'ah the son of Jehoi'ada; and he struck him down, and he died.

26. Abiathar quoque sacerdoti dixit rex: “Vade in Anathoth ad agrum tuum; es quidem vir mortis, sed hodie te non interficiam, quia portasti arcam Domini Dei coram David patre meo et sustinuisti laborem in omnibus, in quibus laboravit pater meus”.

26. And to Abi'athar the priest the king said, "Go to An'athoth, to your estate; for you deserve death. But I will not at this time put you to death, because you bore the ark of the Lord GOD before David my father, and because you shared in all the affliction of my father."

27. Eiecit ergo Salomon Abiathar, ut non esset sacerdos Domini, ut impleretur sermo Domini, quem locutus est super domum Heli in Silo.

27. So Solomon expelled Abi'athar from being priest to the LORD, thus fulfilling the word of the LORD which he had spoken concerning the house of Eli in Shiloh.

28. Venit autem nuntius ad Ioab. Ioab autem declinaverat post Adoniam, cum post Absalom non declinasset; fugit ergo Ioab in tabernaculum Domini et apprehendit cornua altaris.

28. When the news came to Jo'ab -- for Jo'ab had supported Adoni'jah although he had not supported Ab'salom -- Jo'ab fled to the tent of the LORD and caught hold of the horns of the altar.

29. Nuntiatumque est regi Salomoni, quod fugisset Ioab in tabernaculum Domini et esset iuxta altare; misitque Salomon Banaiam filium Ioiadae dicens: “Vade, interfice eum!”.

29. And when it was told King Solomon, "Jo'ab has fled to the tent of the LORD, and behold, he is beside the altar," Solomon sent Benai'ah the son of Jehoi'ada, saying, "Go, strike him down."

30. Venit Banaias ad tabernaculum Domini et dixit ei: “Haec dicit rex: Egredere!”. Qui ait: “Non egrediar, sed hic moriar”. Renuntiavit Banaias regi sermonem dicens: “Haec locutus est Ioab et haec respondit mihi”.

30. So Benai'ah came to the tent of the LORD, and said to him, "The king commands, `Come forth.'" But he said, "No, I will die here." Then Benai'ah brought the king word again, saying, "Thus said Jo'ab, and thus he answered me."

31. Dixitque ei rex: “Fac, sicut locutus est, et interfice eum et sepeli; et amovebis sanguinem innocentem, qui effusus est a Ioab, a me et a domo patris mei.

31. The king replied to him, "Do as he has said, strike him down and bury him; and thus take away from me and from my father's house the guilt for the blood which Jo'ab shed without cause.

32. Et reddet Dominus sanguinem eius super caput eius, quia interfecit duos viros iustos melioresque se et occidit eos gladio, patre meo David ignorante: Abner filium Ner principem militiae Israel et Amasam filium Iether principem exercitus Iudae.

32. The LORD will bring back his bloody deeds upon his own head, because, without the knowledge of my father David, he attacked and slew with the sword two men more righteous and better than himself, Abner the son of Ner, commander of the army of Israel, and Ama'sa the son of Jether, commander of the army of Judah.

33. Et revertetur sanguis illorum in caput Ioab et in caput seminis eius in sempiternum; David autem et semini eius et domui et throno illius sit pax usque in aeternum a Domino”.

33. So shall their blood come back upon the head of Jo'ab and upon the head of his descendants for ever; but to David, and to his descendants, and to his house, and to his throne, there shall be peace from the LORD for evermore."

34. Ascendit itaque Banaias filius Ioiadae et aggressus eum interfecit; sepultusque est in domo sua in deserto.

34. Then Benai'ah the son of Jehoi'ada went up, and struck him down and killed him; and he was buried in his own house in the wilderness.

35. Et constituit rex Banaiam filium Ioiadae pro eo super exercitum et Sadoc sacerdotem posuit pro Abiathar.

35. The king put Benai'ah the son of Jehoi'ada over the army in place of Jo'ab, and the king put Zadok the priest in the place of Abi'athar.

36. Misit quoque rex et vocavit Semei dixitque ei: “Aedifica tibi domum in Ierusalem et habita ibi et non egredieris inde huc atque illuc;

36. Then the king sent and summoned Shim'e-i, and said to him, "Build yourself a house in Jerusalem, and dwell there, and do not go forth from there to any place whatever.

37. quacumque autem die egressus fueris et transieris torrentem Cedron, scito te interficiendum; sanguis tuus erit super caput tuum”.

37. For on the day you go forth, and cross the brook Kidron, know for certain that you shall die; your blood shall be upon your own head."

38. Dixitque Semei regi: “Bonus sermo; sicut locutus est dominus meus rex, sic faciet servus tuus”. Habitavit itaque Semei in Ierusalem diebus multis.

38. And Shim'e-i said to the king, "What you say is good; as my lord the king has said, so will your servant do." So Shim'e-i dwelt in Jerusalem many days.

39. Factum est autem post annos tres, ut fugerent duo servi Semei ad Achis filium Maacha regem Geth; nuntiatumque est Semei quod servi eius essent in Geth.

39. But it happened at the end of three years that two of Shim'e-i's slaves ran away to Achish, son of Ma'acah, king of Gath. And when it was told Shim'e-i, "Behold, your slaves are in Gath,"

40. Et surrexit Semei et stravit asinum suum ivitque in Geth ad Achis ad requirendos servos suos et adduxit eos de Geth.

40. Shim'e-i arose and saddled an ass, and went to Gath to Achish, to seek his slaves; Shim'e-i went and brought his slaves from Gath.

41. Nuntiatum est autem Salomoni quod isset Semei in Geth de Ierusalem et redisset.

41. And when Solomon was told that Shim'e-i had gone from Jerusalem to Gath and returned,

42. Et mittens vocavit eum dixitque illi: “Nonne testificatus sum tibi per Dominum et praedixi tibi: Quacumque die egressus ieris huc et illuc, scito te esse moriturum? Et respondisti mihi “Bonus sermo; audivi”.

42. the king sent and summoned Shim'e-i, and said to him, "Did I not make you swear by the LORD, and solemnly admonish you, saying, `Know for certain that on the day you go forth and go to any place whatever, you shall die'? And you said to me, `What you say is good; I obey.'

43. Quare ergo non custodisti iusiurandum Domini et praeceptum, quod praeceperam tibi?”.

43. Why then have you not kept your oath to the LORD and the commandment with which I charged you?"

44. Dixitque rex ad Semei: “Tu nosti omne malum, cuius tibi conscium est cor tuum, quod fecisti David patri meo; reddit Dominus malitiam tuam in caput tuum.

44. The king also said to Shim'e-i, "You know in your own heart all the evil that you did to David my father; so the LORD will bring back your evil upon your own head.

45. Et rex Salomon benedictus, et thronus David erit stabilis coram Domino usque in sempiternum”.

45. But King Solomon shall be blessed, and the throne of David shall be established before the LORD for ever."

46. Iussit itaque rex Banaiae filio Ioiadae, qui egressus percussit eum, et mortuus est. Confirmatum est igitur regnum in manu Salomonis.

46. Then the king commanded Benai'ah the son of Jehoi'ada; and he went out and struck him down, and he died. So the kingdom was established in the hand of Solomon.