Liber II Samuelis, 16

1. Cumque David transisset paululum montis verticem, apparuit Siba puer Meribbaal in occursum eius cum duobus asinis stratis, qui onerati erant ducentis panibus et centum alligaturis uvae passae et centum fasciculis fructuum aestivorum et utre vini.

1. When David had passed a little beyond the summit, Ziba the servant of Mephib'osheth met him, with a couple of asses saddled, bearing two hundred loaves of bread, a hundred bunches of raisins, a hundred of summer fruits, and a skin of wine.

2. Et dixit rex Sibae: “Quid sibi volunt haec?”. Responditque Siba: “Asini domesticis regis ad sedendum; et panes et fructus aestivi ad vescendum pueris tuis; vinum autem, ut bibat, si quis defecerit in deserto”.

2. And the king said to Ziba, "Why have you brought these?" Ziba answered, "The asses are for the king's household to ride on, the bread and summer fruit for the young men to eat, and the wine for those who faint in the wilderness to drink."

3. Et ait rex: “Ubi est filius domini tui?”. Responditque Siba regi: “Remansit in Ierusalem dicens: “Hodie restituet mihi domus Israel regnum patris mei””.

3. And the king said, "And where is your master's son?" Ziba said to the king, "Behold, he remains in Jerusalem; for he said, `Today the house of Israel will give me back the kingdom of my father.'"

4. Et ait rex Sibae: “Ecce, tua sint omnia, quae fuerunt Meribbaal”. Dixitque Siba: “Adoro; inveniam gratiam coram te, domine mi rex”.

4. Then the king said to Ziba, "Behold, all that belonged to Mephib'osheth is now yours." And Ziba said, "I do obeisance; let me ever find favor in your sight, my lord the king."

5. Venit ergo rex David usque Bahurim, et ecce egrediebatur inde vir de cognatione domus Saul nomine Semei filius Gera; procedebat egrediens et maledicens

5. When King David came to Bahu'rim, there came out a man of the family of the house of Saul, whose name was Shim'e-i, the son of Gera; and as he came he cursed continually.

6. mittebatque lapides contra David et contra universos servos regis David. Omnis autem populus et universi viri fortissimi a dextro et sinistro latere regis incedebant.

6. And he threw stones at David, and at all the servants of King David; and all the people and all the mighty men were on his right hand and on his left.

7. Ita autem loquebatur Semei, cum malediceret regi: “Egredere, egredere, vir sanguinum et vir Belial!

7. And Shim'e-i said as he cursed, "Begone, begone, you man of blood, you worthless fellow!

8. Reddidit tibi Dominus universum sanguinem domus Saul, quoniam invasisti regnum eius; et dedit Dominus regnum in manu Absalom filii tui; et ecce premunt te mala tua, quoniam vir sanguinum es”.

8. The LORD has avenged upon you all the blood of the house of Saul, in whose place you have reigned; and the LORD has given the kingdom into the hand of your son Ab'salom. See, your ruin is on you; for you are a man of blood."

9. Dixit autem Abisai filius Sarviae regi: “Quare maledicit canis hic mortuus domino meo regi? Vadam et amputabo caput eius”.

9. Then Abi'shai the son of Zeru'iah said to the king, "Why should this dead dog curse my lord the king? Let me go over and take off his head."

10. Et ait rex: “Quid mihi et vobis filii Sarviae? Si maledicit, et si Dominus praecepit ei, ut malediceret David, quis est qui audeat dicere: “Quare sic fecisti?””.

10. But the king said, "What have I to do with you, you sons of Zeru'iah? If he is cursing because the LORD has said to him, `Curse David,' who then shall say, `Why have you done so?'"

11. Et ait rex Abisai et universis servis suis: “Ecce filius meus, qui egressus est de visceribus meis, quaerit animam meam; quanto magis nunc iste filius Beniaminita. Dimittite eum, ut maledicat iuxta praeceptum Domini.

11. And David said to Abi'shai and to all his servants, "Behold, my own son seeks my life; how much more now may this Benjaminite! Let him alone, and let him curse; for the LORD has bidden him.

12. Fortasse respiciet Dominus afflictionem meam et reddet mihi bonum pro maledictione hac hodierna”.

12. It may be that the LORD will look upon my affliction, and that the LORD will repay me with good for this cursing of me today."

13. Ambulabat itaque David et socii eius per viam; Semei autem per iugum montis ex latere gradiebatur maledicens et mittens lapides adversum eum terramque spargens.

13. So David and his men went on the road, while Shim'e-i went along on the hillside opposite him and cursed as he went, and threw stones at him and flung dust.

14. Venit itaque rex et universus populus cum eo lassus usque ad aquas, et refocillati sunt ibi.

14. And the king, and all the people who were with him, arrived weary at the Jordan; and there he refreshed himself.

15. Absalom autem et omnis populus eius, viri Israel, ingressi sunt Ierusalem, sed et Achitophel cum eo.

15. Now Ab'salom and all the people, the men of Israel, came to Jerusalem, and Ahith'ophel with him.

16. Cum autem venisset Chusai Arachites amicus David ad Absalom, locutus est ad eum: “Vivat rex! Vivat rex!”.

16. And when Hushai the Archite, David's friend, came to Ab'salom, Hushai said to Ab'salom, "Long live the king! Long live the king!"

17. Ad quem Absalom: “Haec est, inquit, gratia tua ad amicum tuum? Quare non isti cum amico tuo?”.

17. And Ab'salom said to Hushai, "Is this your loyalty to your friend? Why did you not go with your friend?"

18. Responditque Chusai ad Absalom: “Nequaquam; quia, quem elegit Dominus, et hic populus et omnis Israel, illius ero et cum eo manebo.

18. And Hushai said to Ab'salom, "No; for whom the LORD and this people and all the men of Israel have chosen, his I will be, and with him I will remain.

19. Sed, ut et hoc inferam, cui ego serviturus sum? Nonne filio regis? Sicut parui patri tuo, sic parebo et tibi”.

19. And again, whom should I serve? Should it not be his son? As I have served your father, so I will serve you."

20. Dixit autem Absalom ad Achitophel: “Inite consilium quid agere debeamus”.

20. Then Ab'salom said to Ahith'ophel, "Give your counsel; what shall we do?"

21. Et ait Achitophel ad Absalom: “Ingredere ad concubinas patris tui, quas dimisit ad custodiendam domum; ut, cum audierit omnis Israel quod foedaveris patrem tuum, roborentur manus omnium, qui tecum sunt”.

21. Ahith'ophel said to Ab'salom, "Go in to your father's concubines, whom he has left to keep the house; and all Israel will hear that you have made yourself odious to your father, and the hands of all who are with you will be strengthened."

22. Tetenderunt igitur Absalom tabernaculum in solario; ingressusque est ad concubinas patris sui coram universo Israel.

22. So they pitched a tent for Ab'salom upon the roof; and Ab'salom went in to his father's concubines in the sight of all Israel.

23. Consilium autem Achitophel, quod dabat in diebus illis, quasi si quis consuleret Deum; sic erat omne consilium Achitophel, et cum esset cum David et cum esset cum Absalom.

23. Now in those days the counsel which Ahith'ophel gave was as if one consulted the oracle of God; so was all the counsel of Ahith'ophel esteemed, both by David and by Ab'salom.