Ii Samuelis 1

1 Factum est autem, postquam mortuus est Saul, ut David reverteretur a cæde Amalec, et maneret in Siceleg duos dies.

After the death of Saul, David returned from attacking the Amalekites and remained in Ziklag for two days.

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

On the third day, a man came from Saul's camp with his clothes torn and with dirt on his head. When he came to David he lay facedown on the ground and prostrated himself.

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

David said to him, “Where did you come from?” He answered, “I escaped from the camp of Israel.”

4 Et dixit ad eum David: Quod est verbum quod factum est? Indica mihi. Qui ait: Fugit populus ex prælio, et multi corruentes e populo mortui sunt: sed et Saul et Ionathas filius eius interierunt.

David said to him, “Please tell me how things went.” He answered, “The people fled from the battle. Many have fallen and many are dead. Saul and Jonathan his son are also dead.”

5 Dixitque David ad adolescentem, qui nunciabat ei: Unde scis quia mortuus est Saul, et Ionathas filius eius?

David said to the young man, “How do you know that Saul and Jonathan his son are dead?”

6 Et ait adolescens, qui nunciabat ei: Casu veni in montem Gelboe, et Saul incumbebat super hastam suam: porro currus et equites appropinquabant ei,

The young man replied, “By chance I happened to be on Mount Gilboa, and there Saul was leaning on his spear, and chariots and riders were about to catch up with him.

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

Saul turned around and saw me and called out to me. I answered, 'Here I am.'

8 dixit mihi: Quisnam es tu? Et aio ad eum: Amalecites ego sum.

He said to me, 'Who are you?' I answered him, 'I am an Amalekite.'

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

He said to me, 'Please stand over me and kill me, for great suffering has taken hold of me, but life is still in me.'

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.

So I stood over him and killed him, because I knew that he would not live after he had fallen. Then I took the crown that was on his head and the band that was on his arm, and brought them here to you, my master.”

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

Then David tore his clothes, and all the men with him did the same.

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, eo quod corruissent gladio.

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

13 Dixitque David ad iuvenem qui nunciaverat ei: Unde es tu? Qui respondit: Filius hominis advenæ Amalecitæ ego sum.

David said to the young man, “Where are you from?” He answered, “I am the son of a foreigner in the land, an Amalekite.”

14 Et ait ad eum David: Quare non timuisti mittere manum tuam ut occideres Christum Domini?

David said to him, “Why were you not afraid to kill Yahweh's anointed king with your own hand?”

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

David called one of the young men and said, “Go and kill him.” So that man went and struck him down, and the Amalekite died.

16 Et ait ad eum David: Sanguis tuus super caput tuum: os enim tuum locutum est adversum te, dicens: Ego interfeci Christum Domini.

Then David said to the dead Amalekite, “Your blood is on your head because your own mouth has testified against you and said, 'I have killed Yahweh's anointed king.'”

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

Then David sung this funeral song about Saul and Jonathan his son.

18 (et præcepit ut docerent filios Iuda arcum, sicut scriptum est in Libro Iustorum.) Et ait: Considera Israel pro his, qui mortui sunt super excelsa tua vulnerati.

He commanded the people to teach this Song of the Bow to the sons of Judah, which has been written in the Book of Jashar.

19 Inclyti, Israel, super montes tuos interfecti sunt: quo modo ceciderunt fortes?

“Your glory, Israel, is dead, killed on your high places! How the mighty have fallen!

20 Nolite annunciare in Geth, neque annuncietis in compitis Ascalonis: ne forte lætentur filiæ Philisthiim, ne exultent filiæ incircumcisorum.

Do not tell it in Gath, do not proclaim it in the streets of Ashkelon, so that the daughters of the Philistines may not rejoice, so that the daughters of the uncircumcised may not celebrate.

21 Montes Gelboe, nec ros, nec pluvia veniant super vos, neque sint agri primitiarum: quia ibi abiectus est clypeus fortium, clypeus Saul, quasi non esset unctus oleo.

Mountains of Gilboa, let there not be dew or rain on you, nor fields giving grain for offerings, for there the shield of the mighty was defiled. The shield of Saul is no longer anointed with oil.

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

From the blood of those who have been killed, from the bodies of the mighty, the bow of Jonathan did not turn back, and the sword of Saul did not return empty.

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

Saul and Jonathan were loved and gracious in life, and in their death they were not separated. They were swifter than eagles, they were stronger than lions.

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

You daughters of Israel, weep over Saul, who clothed you in scarlet as well as jewels, and who put ornaments of gold on your clothing.

25 Quo modo ceciderunt fortes in prælio? Ionathas in excelsis tuis occisus est?

How the mighty have fallen in the midst of the battle! Jonathan is killed on your high places.

26 Doleo super te frater mi Ionatha decore nimis, et amabilis super amorem mulierum. Sicut mater unicum amat filium suum, ita ego te diligebam.

I am distressed for you, my brother Jonathan. You were very dear to me. Your love to me was wonderful, exceeding the love of women.

27 Quo modo ceciderunt robusti, et perierunt arma bellica?

How the mighty have fallen, and the weapons of war perished!”