I Samuelis 26

1 Et venerunt Ziphæi ad Saul in Gabaa, dicentes: Ecce, David absconditus est in colle Hachila, quæ est ex adverso solitudinis.

And the Ziphites came unto Saul to Gibeah, saying: 'Doth not David hide himself in the hill of Hachilah, which is before Jeshimon?'

2 Et surrexit Saul, et descendit in desertum Ziph, et cum eo tria millia virorum de electis Israel, ut quæreret David in deserto Ziph.

Then Saul arose, and went down to the wilderness of Ziph, having three thousand chosen men of Israel with him, to seek David in the wilderness of Ziph.

3 Et castrametatus est Saul in Gabaa Hachila, quæ erat ex adverso solitudinis in via: David autem habitabat in deserto. Videns autem quod venisset Saul post se in desertum,

And Saul pitched in the hill of Hachilah, which is before Jeshimon, by the way. But David abode in the wilderness, and he saw that Saul came after him into the wilderness.

4 misit exploratores, et didicit quod illuc venisset certissime.

David therefore sent out spies, and understood that Saul was come of a certainty.

5 Et surrexit David clam, et venit ad locum ubi erat Saul: cumque vidisset locum, in quo dormiebat Saul, et Abner filius Ner, princeps militiæ eius, et Saulem dormientem in tentorio, et reliquum vulgus per circuitum eius,

And David arose, and came to the place where Saul had pitched; and David beheld the place where Saul lay, and Abner the son of Ner, the captain of his host; and Saul lay within the barricade, and the people pitched round about him.

6 ait David ad Achimelech Hethæum, et Abisai filium Sarviæ, fratrem Ioab, dicens: Quis descendet mecum ad Saul in castra? Dixitque Abisai: Ego descendam tecum.

Then answered David and said to Ahimelech the Hittite, and to Abishai the son of Zeruiah, brother to Joab, saying: 'Who will go down with me to Saul to the camp?' And Abishai said: 'I will go down with thee.'

7 Venerunt ergo David, et Abisai ad populum nocte, et invenerunt Saul iacentem et dormientem in tentorio, et hastam fixam in terra ad caput eius: Abner autem et populum dormientes in circuitu eius.

So David and Abishai came to the people by night; and, behold, Saul lay sleeping within the barricade, with his spear stuck in the ground at his head; and Abner and the people lay round about him.

8 Dixitque Abisai ad David: Conclusit Deus inimicum tuum hodie in manus tuas: nunc ergo perfodiam eum lancea in terra, semel, et secundo opus non erit.

Then said Abishai to David: 'God hath delivered up thine enemy into thy hand this day; now therefore let me smite him, I pray thee, with the spear to the earth at one stroke, and I will not smite him the second time.'

9 Et dixit David ad Abisai: Ne interficias eum: quis enim extendet manum suam in christum Domini, et innocens erit?

And David said to Abishai: 'Destroy him not; for who can put forth his hand against the LORD'S anointed, and be guiltless?'

10 Et dixit David: Vivit Dominus, quia nisi Dominus percusserit eum, aut dies eius venerit ut moriatur, aut in prælium descendens perierit:

And David said: 'As the LORD liveth, nay, but the LORD shall smite him; or his day shall come to die; or he shall go down into battle, and be swept away.

11 propitius sit mihi Dominus ne extendam manum meam in christum Domini. nunc igitur tolle hastam, quæ est ad caput eius, et scyphum aquæ, et abeamus.

The LORD forbid it me, that I should put forth my hand against the LORD'S anointed; but now take, I pray thee, the spear that is at his head, and the cruse of water and let us go.'

12 Tulit igitur David hastam, et scyphum aquæ, qui erat ad caput Saul, et abierunt: et non erat quisquam, qui videret, et intelligeret, et evigilaret, sed omnes dormiebant, quia sopor Domini irruerat super eos.

So David took the spear and the cruse of water from Saul's head; and they got them away, and no man saw it, nor knew it, neither did any awake; for they were all asleep; because a deep sleep from the LORD was fallen upon them.

13 Cumque transisset David ex adverso, et stetisset in vertice montis de longe, et esset grande intervallum inter eos,

Then David went over to the other side, and stood on the top of the mountain afar off; a great space being between them.

14 clamavit David ad populum, et ad Abner filium Ner, dicens: Nonne respondebis, Abner? Et respondens Abner, ait: Quis es tu, qui clamas, et inquietas regem?

And David cried to the people, and to Abner the son of Ner, saying: 'Answerest thou not, Abner?' Then Abner answered and said: 'Who art thou that criest to the king?'

15 Et ait David ad Abner: Numquid non vir tu es? et quis alius similis tui in Israel? quare ergo non custodisti dominum tuum regem? ingressus est enim unus de turba ut interficeret regem, dominum tuum.

And David said to Abner: 'Art not thou a valiant man? and who is like to thee in Israel? wherefore then hast thou not kept watch over thy lord the king? for there came one of the people in to destroy the king thy lord.

16 Non est bonum hoc, quod fecisti: vivit Dominus, quoniam filii mortis estis vos, qui non custodistis dominum vestrum, christum Domini. nunc ergo vide ubi sit hasta regis, et ubi sit scyphus aquæ, qui erat ad caput eius.

This thing is not good that thou hast done. As the LORD liveth, ye deserve to die, because ye have not kept watch over your lord, the LORD'S anointed. And now, see, where the king's spear is, and the cruse of water that was at his head.'

17 Cognovit autem Saul vocem David, et dixit: Numquid vox hæc tua, fili mi David? Et ait David: Vox mea, domine mi rex.

And Saul knew David's voice, and said: 'Is this thy voice, my son David?' And David said: 'It is my voice, my lord, O king.'

18 Et ait: Quam ob causam dominus meus persequitur servum suum? Quid feci? aut quod est malum in manu mea?

And he said: 'Wherefore doth my lord pursue after his servant? for what have I done? or what evil is in my hand?

19 Nunc ergo audi, oro, domine mi rex, verba servi tui: si Dominus incitat te adversum me, odoretur sacrificium: si autem filii hominum, maledicti sunt in conspectu Domini: qui eiecerunt me hodie, ut non habitem in hereditate Domini, dicentes: Vade, servi diis alienis.

Now therefore, I pray thee, let my lord the king hear the words of his servant. If it be the LORD that hath stirred thee up against me, let Him accept an offering; but if it be the children of men, cursed be they before the LORD; for they have driven me out this day that I should not cleave unto the inheritance of the LORD, saying: Go, serve other gods.

20 Et nunc non effundatur sanguis meus in terram coram Domino: quia egressus est rex Israel ut quærat pulicem unum, sicut persequitur perdix in montibus.

Now therefore, let not my blood fall to the earth away from the presence of the LORD; for the king of Israel is come out to seek a single flea, as when one doth hunt a partridge in the mountains.'

21 Et ait Saul: Peccavi, revertere fili mi David: nequaquam enim ultra tibi malefaciam, eo quod pretiosa fuerit anima mea in oculis tuis hodie: apparet enim quod stulte egerim, et ignoraverim multa nimis.

Then said Saul: 'I have sinned; return, my son David; for I will no more do thee harm, because my life was precious in thine eyes this day; behold, I have played the fool and erred exceedingly.'

22 Et respondens David, ait: Ecce hasta regis: transeat unus de pueris regis, et tollat eam.

And David answered and said: 'Behold the king's spear! let then one of the young men come over and fetch it.

23 Dominus autem retribuet unicuique secundum iustitiam suam, et fidem: tradidit enim te Dominus hodie in manum meam, et nolui extendere manum meam in christum Domini.

And the LORD will render to every man his righteousness and his faithfulness; forasmuch as the LORD delivered thee into my hand to-day, and I would not put forth my hand against the LORD'S anointed.

24 Et sicut magnificata est anima tua hodie in oculis meis, sic magnificetur anima mea in oculis Domini, et liberet me de omni angustia.

And, behold, as thy life was much set by this day in mine eyes, so let my life be much set by in the eyes of the LORD, and let Him deliver me out of all tribulation.'

25 Ait ergo Saul ad David: Benedictus tu fili mi David: et quidem faciens facies, et potens poteris. Abiit autem David in viam suam, et Saul reversus est in locum suum.

Then Saul said to David: 'Blessed be thou, my son David; thou shalt both do mightily, and shalt surely prevail.' So David went his way, and Saul returned to his place.