Liber II Samuelis, 3

1. Facta est ergo longa concertatio inter domum Saul et inter do mum David: David semper invalescens, domus autem Saul decrescens cotidie.

1. There was a long war between the house of Saul and the house of David; and David grew stronger and stronger, while the house of Saul became weaker and weaker.

2. Nati quoque sunt filii David in Hebron. Fuitque primogenitus eius Amnon de Achinoam Iezrahelitide,

2. And sons were born to David at Hebron: his first-born was Amnon, of Ahin'o-am of Jezreel;

3. et post eum Cheleab de Abigail uxore Nabal de Carmel, porro tertius Absalom filius Maacha filiae Tholmai regis Gesur,

3. and his second, Chil'e-ab, of Ab'igail the widow of Nabal of Carmel; and the third, Ab'salom the son of Ma'acah the daughter of Talmai king of Geshur;

4. quartus autem Adonias filius Haggith et quintus Saphatia filius Abital,

4. and the fourth, Adoni'jah the son of Haggith; and the fifth, Shephati'ah the son of Abi'tal;

5. sextus quoque Iethraam de Egla uxore David. Hi nati sunt David in Hebron.

5. and the sixth, Ith're-am, of Eglah, David's wife. These were born to David in Hebron.

6. Cum ergo esset proelium inter domum Saul et domum David, Abner filius Ner regebat domum Saul.

6. While there was war between the house of Saul and the house of David, Abner was making himself strong in the house of Saul.

7. Fuerat autem Sauli concubina nomine Respha filia Aia. Dixitque Isbaal ad Abner:

7. Now Saul had a concubine, whose name was Rizpah, the daughter of Ai'ah; and Ish-bo'sheth said to Abner, "Why have you gone in to my father's concubine?"

8. “Quare ingressus es ad concubinam patris mei?”. Qui iratus nimis propter verba Isbaal ait: “Numquid caput canis ego sum de Iuda? Hodie facio misericordiam super domum Saul patris tui et super fratres et proximos eius et non tradidi te in manu David. Et tu requisisti in me quod argueres pro muliere hodie.

8. Then Abner was very angry over the words of Ish-bo'sheth, and said, "Am I a dog's head of Judah? This day I keep showing loyalty to the house of Saul your father, to his brothers, and to his friends, and have not given you into the hand of David; and yet you charge me today with a fault concerning a woman.

9. Haec faciat Deus Abner et haec addat ei, nisi, quomodo iuravit Dominus David, sic faciam cum eo,

9. God do so to Abner, and more also, if I do not accomplish for David what the LORD has sworn to him,

10. ut transferatur regnum de domo Saul, et confirmetur thronus David super Israel et super Iudam a Dan usque Bersabee”.

10. to transfer the kingdom from the house of Saul, and set up the throne of David over Israel and over Judah, from Dan to Beer-sheba."

11. Et non potuit respondere ei quidquam, quia metuebat illum.

11. And Ish-bo'sheth could not answer Abner another word, because he feared him.

12. Misit ergo Abner nuntios ad David pro se dicentes: “Cuius est terra?”, et ut loquerentur: “Fac mecum amicitias, et erit manus mea tecum, et reducam ad te universum Israel”.

12. And Abner sent messengers to David at Hebron, saying, "To whom does the land belong? Make your covenant with me, and behold, my hand shall be with you to bring over all Israel to you."

13. Qui ait: “Optime, ego faciam tecum amicitias, sed unam rem peto a te dicens: Non videbis faciem meam, nisi prius adduxeris Michol filiam Saul; et sic venies et videbis me”.

13. And he said, "Good; I will make a covenant with you; but one thing I require of you; that is, you shall not see my face, unless you first bring Michal, Saul's daughter, when you come to see my face."

14. Misit autem David nuntios ad Isbaal filium Saul dicens: “Redde uxorem meam Michol, quam despondi mihi centum praeputiis Philisthim”.

14. Then David sent messengers to Ish-bo'sheth Saul's son, saying, "Give me my wife Michal, whom I betrothed at the price of a hundred foreskins of the Philistines."

15. Misit ergo Isbaal et tulit eam a viro suo Phaltiel filio Lais.

15. And Ish-bo'sheth sent, and took her from her husband Pal'ti-el the son of La'ish.

16. Sequebaturque eam vir suus plorans usque Bahurim; et dixit ad eum Abner: “Vade, revertere”. Qui reversus est.

16. But her husband went with her, weeping after her all the way to Bahu'rim. Then Abner said to him, "Go, return"; and he returned.

17. Sermonem quoque intulit Abner ad seniores Israel dicens: “Tam heri quam nudiustertius quaerebatis David, ut regnaret super vos;

17. And Abner conferred with the elders of Israel, saying, "For some time past you have been seeking David as king over you.

18. nunc ergo facite, quoniam Dominus locutus est ad David dicens: “In manu servi mei David salvabo populum meum Israel de manu Philisthim et omnium inimicorum eius””.

18. Now then bring it about; for the LORD has promised David, saying, `By the hand of my servant David I will save my people Israel from the hand of the Philistines, and from the hand of all their enemies.'"

19. Locutus est autem Abner etiam ad Beniamin; et abiit, ut loqueretur ad David in Hebron omnia, quae placuerant Israel et universo Beniamin.

19. Abner also spoke to Benjamin; and then Abner went to tell David at Hebron all that Israel and the whole house of Benjamin thought good to do.

20. Venitque ad David in Hebron cum viginti viris, et fecit David Abner et viris eius, qui venerant cum eo, convivium.

20. When Abner came with twenty men to David at Hebron, David made a feast for Abner and the men who were with him.

21. Et dixit Abner ad David: “Surgam, ut congregem ad te dominum meum regem omnem Israel, et ineant tecum foedus, et imperes omnibus, sicut desiderat anima tua”. Cum ergo deduxisset David Abner, et ille isset in pace,

21. And Abner said to David, "I will arise and go, and will gather all Israel to my lord the king, that they may make a covenant with you, and that you may reign over all that your heart desires." So David sent Abner away; and he went in peace.

22. pueri David et Ioab venerunt ab expeditione cum praeda magna. Abner autem non erat cum David in Hebron, quia iam dimiserat eum, et profectus fuerat in pace,

22. Just then the servants of David arrived with Jo'ab from a raid, bringing much spoil with them. But Abner was not with David at Hebron, for he had sent him away, and he had gone in peace.

23. et Ioab et omnis exercitus, qui erat cum eo, postea venerant. Nuntiatum est itaque Ioab a narrantibus: “Venit Abner filius Ner ad regem, et dimisit eum, et abiit in pace”.

23. When Jo'ab and all the army that was with him came, it was told Jo'ab, "Abner the son of Ner came to the king, and he has let him go, and he has gone in peace."

24. Et ingressus est Ioab ad regem et ait: “Quid fecisti? Ecce venit Abner ad te; quare dimisisti eum, et abiit et recessit?

24. Then Jo'ab went to the king and said, "What have you done? Behold, Abner came to you; why is it that you have sent him away, so that he is gone?

25. Ignoras Abner filium Ner? Certe ad hoc venit, ut deciperet te et sciret exitum tuum et introitum tuum et nosset omnia quae agis”.

25. You know that Abner the son of Ner came to deceive you, and to know your going out and your coming in, and to know all that you are doing."

26. Egressus itaque Ioab a David misit nuntios post Abner, et reduxerunt eum a cisterna Sira, ignorante David.

26. When Jo'ab came out from David's presence, he sent messengers after Abner, and they brought him back from the cistern of Sirah; but David did not know about it.

27. Cumque redisset Abner in Hebron, seorsum abduxit eum Ioab ad medium portae, ut loqueretur ei quiete, et percussit illum ibi in inguine, et mortuus est in ultionem sanguinis Asael fratris eius.

27. And when Abner returned to Hebron, Jo'ab took him aside into the midst of the gate to speak with him privately, and there he smote him in the belly, so that he died, for the blood of As'ahel his brother.

28. Quod cum audisset David rem iam gestam, ait: “Mundus ego sum et regnum meum apud Dominum usque in sempiternum a sanguine Abner filii Ner;

28. Afterward, when David heard of it, he said, "I and my kingdom are for ever guiltless before the LORD for the blood of Abner the son of Ner.

29. et veniat super caput Ioab et super omnem domum patris eius, nec deficiat de domo Ioab fluxum morbidum sustinens, leprosus et tenens fusum et cadens gladio et indigens pane”.

29. May it fall upon the head of Jo'ab, and upon all his father's house; and may the house of Jo'ab never be without one who has a discharge, or who is leprous, or who holds a spindle, or who is slain by the sword, or who lacks bread!"

30. Igitur Ioab et Abisai frater eius interfecerunt Abner, eo quod occidisset Asael fratrem eorum in Gabaon in proelio.

30. So Jo'ab and Abi'shai his brother slew Abner, because he had killed their brother As'ahel in the battle at Gibeon.

31. Dixit autem David ad Ioab et ad omnem populum, qui erat cum eo: “Scindite vestimenta vestra et accingimini saccis et plangite ante exequias Abner”. Porro rex David sequebatur feretrum.

31. Then David said to Jo'ab and to all the people who were with him, "Rend your clothes, and gird on sackcloth, and mourn before Abner." And King David followed the bier.

32. Cumque sepelissent Abner in Hebron, levavit rex David vocem suam et flevit super tumulum Abner; flevit autem et omnis populus.

32. They buried Abner at Hebron; and the king lifted up his voice and wept at the grave of Abner; and all the people wept.

33. Plangensque rex et lugens Abner ait: “Numquid, ut mori solent insensati, mori debuit Abner?

33. And the king lamented for Abner, saying, "Should Abner die as a fool dies?

34. Manus tuae ligatae non erant, et pedes tui non erant compedibus aggravati; sed, sicut solent cadere coram filiis iniquitatis, corruisti”. Congeminansque omnis populus flevit super eum.

34. Your hands were not bound, your feet were not fettered; as one falls before the wicked you have fallen." And all the people wept again over him.

35. Cumque venisset universa multitudo reficere David pane clara adhuc die, iuravit David dicens: “Haec faciat mihi Deus et haec addat, si ante occasum solis gustavero panem vel aliud quidquam”.

35. Then all the people came to persuade David to eat bread while it was yet day; but David swore, saying, "God do so to me and more also, if I taste bread or anything else till the sun goes down!"

36. Omnisque populus audivit; et placuit eis, sicut cuncta, quae fecit rex, bona erant in conspectu totius populi.

36. And all the people took notice of it, and it pleased them; as everything that the king did pleased all the people.

37. Et cognovit omne vulgus et universus Israel in die illa quoniam non actum fuisset a rege, ut occideretur Abner filius Ner.

37. So all the people and all Israel understood that day that it had not been the king's will to slay Abner the son of Ner.

38. Dixit quoque rex ad servos suos: “Num ignoratis quoniam princeps et maximus cecidit hodie in Israel?

38. And the king said to his servants, "Do you not know that a prince and a great man has fallen this day in Israel?

39. Ego vero adhuc debilis sum, quamvis sim unctus rex; viri autem isti filii Sarviae duriores sunt quam ego. Retribuat Dominus facienti malum iuxta malitiam suam”.

39. And I am this day weak, though anointed king; these men the sons of Zeru'iah are too hard for me. The LORD requite the evildoer according to his wickedness!"