¹Igitur considerato David populo suo,And so David,constituit super eos tribunoshaving reviewed his people,et centuriones,appointed over them tribunes and centurions.

¹Igitur considerato David populo suo,And so David,constituit super eos tribunoshaving reviewed his people,et centuriones,appointed over them tribunes and centurions.

²et dedit populi tertiam partem sub manu Joab,And he placed a third part of the people under the hand of Joab,et tertiam partem sub manu Abisai filii Sarviæ fratris Joab,and a third part under the hand of Abishai, the son of Zeruiah, the brother of Joab,et tertiam partem sub manu Ethai,and a third part under the hand of Ittai,qui erat de Geth.who was from Gath.Dixitque rex ad populum:And the king said to the people,Egrediar et ego vobiscum.“I, too, will go forth with you.”

²et dedit populi tertiam partem sub manu Joab,And he placed a third part of the people under the hand of Joab,et tertiam partem sub manu Abisai filii Sarviæ fratris Joab,and a third part under the hand of Abishai, the son of Zeruiah, the brother of Joab,et tertiam partem sub manu Ethai,and a third part under the hand of Ittai,qui erat de Geth.who was from Gath.Dixitque rex ad populum:And the king said to the people,Egrediar et ego vobiscum.“I, too, will go forth with you.”

³Et respondit populus:And the people responded:Non exibis: sive enim fugerimus,“You shall not go out. For if we flee,non magnopere ad eos de nobis pertinebit:there will not be great concern in them for us.sive media pars ceciderit e nobis,Or if one half part of us will fall,non satis curabunt,they will not care much.quia tu unus pro decem millibus computaris:For you are considered as one for ten thousand. Therefore,melius est igitur ut sis nobis in urbe præsidio.it is better that you should be in the city to strengthen us.”

³Et respondit populus:And the people responded:Non exibis: sive enim fugerimus,“You shall not go out. For if we flee,non magnopere ad eos de nobis pertinebit:there will not be great concern in them for us.sive media pars ceciderit e nobis,Or if one half part of us will fall,non satis curabunt,they will not care much.quia tu unus pro decem millibus computaris:For you are considered as one for ten thousand. Therefore,melius est igitur ut sis nobis in urbe præsidio.it is better that you should be in the city to strengthen us.”

⁴Ad quos rex ait:And the king said to them,Quod vobis videtur rectum,“I will do whatever seems good to you.”hoc faciam.Therefore,Stetit ergo rex juxta portam:the king stood beside the gate.egrediebaturque populus per turmas suas centeniAnd the people went out by their troops,et milleni.by hundreds and by thousands.

⁴Ad quos rex ait:And the king said to them,Quod vobis videtur rectum,“I will do whatever seems good to you.”hoc faciam.Therefore,Stetit ergo rex juxta portam:the king stood beside the gate.egrediebaturque populus per turmas suas centeniAnd the people went out by their troops,et milleni.by hundreds and by thousands.

⁵Et præcepit rex Joab,And the king ordered Joabet Abisai,and Abishaiet Ethai,and Ittai,dicens:saying,Servate mihi puerum Absalom.“Preserve for me the boy Absalom.”Et omnis populus audiebat præcipientem regem cunctis principibus pro Absalom.And all the people heard the king commanding all the leaders on behalf of Absalom.

⁵Et præcepit rex Joab,And the king ordered Joabet Abisai,and Abishaiet Ethai,and Ittai,dicens:saying,Servate mihi puerum Absalom.“Preserve for me the boy Absalom.”Et omnis populus audiebat præcipientem regem cunctis principibus pro Absalom.And all the people heard the king commanding all the leaders on behalf of Absalom.

⁶Itaque egressus est populus in campum contra Israël,And so, the people departed into the field against Israel.et factum est prælium in saltu Ephraim.And the battle took place in the forest of Ephraim.

⁶Itaque egressus est populus in campum contra Israël,And so, the people departed into the field against Israel.et factum est prælium in saltu Ephraim.And the battle took place in the forest of Ephraim.

⁷Et cæsus est ibi populus Israël ab exercitu David,And the people of Israel were cut down in that place by the army of David.factaque est plaga magna in die illa,And a great slaughter occurred on that day:viginti millium.twenty thousand men.

⁷Et cæsus est ibi populus Israël ab exercitu David,And the people of Israel were cut down in that place by the army of David.factaque est plaga magna in die illa,And a great slaughter occurred on that day:viginti millium.twenty thousand men.

⁸Fuit autem ibi prælium dispersum super faciem omnis terræ,Now the battle in that place was dispersed over the face of all the land.et multo plures erant quos saltus consumpserat de populo,And there were many more of the people whom the forest had consumed,quam hi quos voraverat gladius in die illa.than the sword had devoured, on that day.

⁸Fuit autem ibi prælium dispersum super faciem omnis terræ,Now the battle in that place was dispersed over the face of all the land.et multo plures erant quos saltus consumpserat de populo,And there were many more of the people whom the forest had consumed,quam hi quos voraverat gladius in die illa.than the sword had devoured, on that day.

⁹Accidit autem ut occurreret Absalom servis David,Then it happened that Absalom,sedens mulo:riding on a mule,cumque ingressus fuisset mulus subter condensam quercum et magnam,met the servants of David.adhæsit caput ejus quercui:And when the mule had entered under a thick and large oak tree,et illo suspenso inter cælum et terram,his head became trapped in the oak.mulus cui insederat,And while he was suspended between heaven and earth,pertransivit.the mule on which he had been sitting continued on.

⁹Accidit autem ut occurreret Absalom servis David,Then it happened that Absalom,sedens mulo:riding on a mule,cumque ingressus fuisset mulus subter condensam quercum et magnam,met the servants of David.adhæsit caput ejus quercui:And when the mule had entered under a thick and large oak tree,et illo suspenso inter cælum et terram,his head became trapped in the oak.mulus cui insederat,And while he was suspended between heaven and earth,pertransivit.the mule on which he had been sitting continued on.

¹⁰Vidit autem hoc quispiam,Then a certain one saw thiset nuntiavit Joab,and reported it to Joab,dicens:saying,Vidi Absalom pendere de quercu.“I saw Absalom hanging from an oak.”

¹⁰Vidit autem hoc quispiam,Then a certain one saw thiset nuntiavit Joab,and reported it to Joab,dicens:saying,Vidi Absalom pendere de quercu.“I saw Absalom hanging from an oak.”

¹¹Et ait Joab viro qui nuntiaverat ei:And Joab said to the man who had reported it to him,Si vidisti,“If you saw him,quare non confodisti eum cum terra,why did you not stab him to the ground,et ego dedissem tibi decem argenti siclos,and I would have given you ten shekels of silveret unum balteum?and a belt?”

¹¹Et ait Joab viro qui nuntiaverat ei:And Joab said to the man who had reported it to him,Si vidisti,“If you saw him,quare non confodisti eum cum terra,why did you not stab him to the ground,et ego dedissem tibi decem argenti siclos,and I would have given you ten shekels of silveret unum balteum?and a belt?”

¹²Qui dixit ad Joab:And he said to Joab:Si appenderes in manibus meis mille argenteos,“Even if you weighed out to my hands one thousand silver coins,nequaquam mitterem manum meam in filium regis:I would never lay my hands on the son of the king.audientibus enim nobis præcepit rex tibi,For in our hearing the king ordered youet Abisai,and Abishaiet Ethai,and Ittai,dicens:saying,Custodite mihi puerum Absalom.‘Keep for me the boy Absalom.’

¹²Qui dixit ad Joab:And he said to Joab:Si appenderes in manibus meis mille argenteos,“Even if you weighed out to my hands one thousand silver coins,nequaquam mitterem manum meam in filium regis:I would never lay my hands on the son of the king.audientibus enim nobis præcepit rex tibi,For in our hearing the king ordered youet Abisai,and Abishaiet Ethai,and Ittai,dicens:saying,Custodite mihi puerum Absalom.‘Keep for me the boy Absalom.’

¹³Sed etsi fecissem contra animam meam audacter,Then too, if I had acted with such audacity, against my own life,nequaquam hoc regem latere potuisset,this would never have been able to be hidden from the king.et tu stares ex adverso?And would you then have stood by my side?”

¹³Sed etsi fecissem contra animam meam audacter,Then too, if I had acted with such audacity, against my own life,nequaquam hoc regem latere potuisset,this would never have been able to be hidden from the king.et tu stares ex adverso?And would you then have stood by my side?”

¹⁴Et ait Joab:And Joab said,Non sicut tu vis,“It will not be as you wish.sed aggrediar eum coram te.Instead, I will be assailing him in your sight.”Tulit ergo tres lanceas in manu sua,Then he took three lances in his hand,et infixit eas in corde Absalom:and he fixed them in the heart of Absalom.cumque adhuc palpitaret hærens in quercu,And while he was still clinging to life upon the oak,

¹⁴Et ait Joab:And Joab said,Non sicut tu vis,“It will not be as you wish.sed aggrediar eum coram te.Instead, I will be assailing him in your sight.”Tulit ergo tres lanceas in manu sua,Then he took three lances in his hand,et infixit eas in corde Absalom:and he fixed them in the heart of Absalom.cumque adhuc palpitaret hærens in quercu,And while he was still clinging to life upon the oak,

¹⁵cucurrerunt decem juvenes armigeri Joab,ten young men, armor bearers of Joab, ran up,et percutientes interfecerunt eum.and striking him, they killed him.

¹⁵cucurrerunt decem juvenes armigeri Joab,ten young men, armor bearers of Joab, ran up,et percutientes interfecerunt eum.and striking him, they killed him.

¹⁶Cecinit autem Joab buccina,Then Joab sounded the trumpet,et retinuit populum,and he held back the people,ne persequeretur fugientem Israël,lest they pursue Israel in their flight,volens parcere multitudini.for he was willing to spare the multitude.

¹⁶Cecinit autem Joab buccina,Then Joab sounded the trumpet,et retinuit populum,and he held back the people,ne persequeretur fugientem Israël,lest they pursue Israel in their flight,volens parcere multitudini.for he was willing to spare the multitude.

¹⁷Et tulerunt Absalom,And they took Absalom,et projecerunt eum in saltu, in foveam grandem,and they threw him into a great pit in the forest.et comportaverunt super eum acervum lapidum magnum nimis:And they piled an exceedingly great heap of stones over him.omnis autem Israël fugit in tabernacula sua.But all of Israel fled to their own tents.

¹⁷Et tulerunt Absalom,And they took Absalom,et projecerunt eum in saltu, in foveam grandem,and they threw him into a great pit in the forest.et comportaverunt super eum acervum lapidum magnum nimis:And they piled an exceedingly great heap of stones over him.omnis autem Israël fugit in tabernacula sua.But all of Israel fled to their own tents.

¹⁸Porro Absalom erexerat sibi,Now Absalom had raised up for himself,cum adhuc viveret,when he was still alive,titulum qui est in Valle regis: dixerat enim:a monument, which is in the Valley of the King.Non habeo filium,For he said, “I have no son,et hoc erit monimentum nominis mei.and so this shall be the memorial to my name.”Vocavitque titulum nomine suo,And he called the monument by his own name.et appellatur Manus Absalom,And it is called the Hand of Absalom,usque ad hanc diem.even to this day.

¹⁸Porro Absalom erexerat sibi,Now Absalom had raised up for himself,cum adhuc viveret,when he was still alive,titulum qui est in Valle regis: dixerat enim:a monument, which is in the Valley of the King.Non habeo filium,For he said, “I have no son,et hoc erit monimentum nominis mei.and so this shall be the memorial to my name.”Vocavitque titulum nomine suo,And he called the monument by his own name.et appellatur Manus Absalom,And it is called the Hand of Absalom,usque ad hanc diem.even to this day.

¹⁹Achimaas autem filius Sadoc,Then Ahimaaz, the son of Zadok,ait:said,Curram, et nuntiabo regi quia judicium fecerit ei Dominus de manu inimicorum ejus.“I will run and report to the king that the Lord has accomplished judgment for him, from the hand of his enemies.”

¹⁹Achimaas autem filius Sadoc,Then Ahimaaz, the son of Zadok,ait:said,Curram, et nuntiabo regi quia judicium fecerit ei Dominus de manu inimicorum ejus.“I will run and report to the king that the Lord has accomplished judgment for him, from the hand of his enemies.”

²⁰Ad quem Joab dixit:And Joab said to him:Non eris nuntius in hac die,“You shall not be the messenger on this day.sed nuntiabis in alia:Instead, you shall report on another day.hodie nolo te nuntiare: filius enim regis est mortuus.I am not willing for you to give the report today, because the son of the king is dead.”

²⁰Ad quem Joab dixit:And Joab said to him:Non eris nuntius in hac die,“You shall not be the messenger on this day.sed nuntiabis in alia:Instead, you shall report on another day.hodie nolo te nuntiare: filius enim regis est mortuus.I am not willing for you to give the report today, because the son of the king is dead.”

²¹Et ait Joab Chusi:Then Joab said to Hushai,Vade,“Go,et nuntia regi quæ vidisti.and report to the king what you have seen.”Adoravit Chusi Joab,Hushai reverenced Joab,et cucurrit.and he ran.

²¹Et ait Joab Chusi:Then Joab said to Hushai,Vade,“Go,et nuntia regi quæ vidisti.and report to the king what you have seen.”Adoravit Chusi Joab,Hushai reverenced Joab,et cucurrit.and he ran.

²²Rursus autem Achimaas filius Sadoc dixit ad Joab:And Ahimaaz, the son of Zadok, said to Joab again,Quid impedit si etiam ego curram post Chusi?“What prevents me from running after Hushai also?”Dixitque ei Joab:And Joab said to him:Quid vis currere, fili mi?“Why do you want to run, my son?non eris boni nuntii bajulus.You would not be the bearer of good news.”

²²Rursus autem Achimaas filius Sadoc dixit ad Joab:And Ahimaaz, the son of Zadok, said to Joab again,Quid impedit si etiam ego curram post Chusi?“What prevents me from running after Hushai also?”Dixitque ei Joab:And Joab said to him:Quid vis currere, fili mi?“Why do you want to run, my son?non eris boni nuntii bajulus.You would not be the bearer of good news.”

²³Qui respondit:And he responded,Quid enim si cucurrero?“But what if I do run?”Et ait ei: Curre.And he said to him,Currens ergo Achimaas per viam compendii,“Run.” Then Ahimaaz, running along a shorter way,transivit Chusi.passed Hushai.

²³Qui respondit:And he responded,Quid enim si cucurrero?“But what if I do run?”Et ait ei: Curre.And he said to him,Currens ergo Achimaas per viam compendii,“Run.” Then Ahimaaz, running along a shorter way,transivit Chusi.passed Hushai.

²⁴David autem sedebat inter duas portas:Now David was sitting between the two gates.speculator vero,Truly, the watchman,qui erat in fastigio portæ super murum,who was at the summit of the gate upon the wall,elevans oculos, vidit hominem currentem solum.lifting up his eyes, saw a man running alone.

²⁴David autem sedebat inter duas portas:Now David was sitting between the two gates.speculator vero,Truly, the watchman,qui erat in fastigio portæ super murum,who was at the summit of the gate upon the wall,elevans oculos, vidit hominem currentem solum.lifting up his eyes, saw a man running alone.

²⁵Et exclamans indicavit regi:And crying out,dixitque rex:he told the king.Si solus est,And the king said,bonus est nuntius in ore ejus.“If he is alone,Properante autem illo,there is good news in his mouth.”et accedente propius,But as he was advancing and drawing nearer,

²⁵Et exclamans indicavit regi:And crying out,dixitque rex:he told the king.Si solus est,And the king said,bonus est nuntius in ore ejus.“If he is alone,Properante autem illo,there is good news in his mouth.”et accedente propius,But as he was advancing and drawing nearer,

²⁶vidit speculator hominem alterum currentem,the watchman saw another man running. And so,et vociferans in culmine, ait:crying out from the height, he said:Apparet mihi alter homo currens solus.“Another man has appeared, running alone.”Dixitque rex:And the king said,Et iste bonus est nuntius.“This one also is a good messenger.”

²⁶vidit speculator hominem alterum currentem,the watchman saw another man running. And so,et vociferans in culmine, ait:crying out from the height, he said:Apparet mihi alter homo currens solus.“Another man has appeared, running alone.”Dixitque rex:And the king said,Et iste bonus est nuntius.“This one also is a good messenger.”

²⁷Speculator autem: Contemplor,Then the watchman said,ait, cursum prioris, quasi cursum Achimaas filii Sadoc.“The running of the closest one seems like the running of Ahimaaz,Et ait rex:the son of Zadok.”Vir bonus est,And the king said,et nuntium portans bonum venit.“He is a good man, and he arrives bearing good news.”

²⁷Speculator autem: Contemplor,Then the watchman said,ait, cursum prioris, quasi cursum Achimaas filii Sadoc.“The running of the closest one seems like the running of Ahimaaz,Et ait rex:the son of Zadok.”Vir bonus est,And the king said,et nuntium portans bonum venit.“He is a good man, and he arrives bearing good news.”

²⁸Clamans autem Achimaas,Then, Ahimaaz, crying out,dixit ad regem:said to the king,Salve rex.“Be well, O king.”Et adorans regem coram eo pronus in terram,And reverencing the king prone on the ground before him,ait: Benedictus Dominus Deus tuus,he said, “Blessed be the Lord your God,qui conclusit homines qui levaverunt manus suas contra dominum meum regem.who has enclosed the men who had lifted up their hands against my lord the king.”

²⁸Clamans autem Achimaas,Then, Ahimaaz, crying out,dixit ad regem:said to the king,Salve rex.“Be well, O king.”Et adorans regem coram eo pronus in terram,And reverencing the king prone on the ground before him,ait: Benedictus Dominus Deus tuus,he said, “Blessed be the Lord your God,qui conclusit homines qui levaverunt manus suas contra dominum meum regem.who has enclosed the men who had lifted up their hands against my lord the king.”

²⁹Et ait rex:And the king said,Estne pax puero Absalom? Dixitque Achimaas:“Is there peace for the boy Absalom?” And Ahimaaz said:Vidi tumultum magnum cum mitteret Joab servus tuus,“I saw a great tumult, O king, when your servant Joab sent me,o rex, me servum tuum:your servant.nescio aliud.I know nothing else.”

²⁹Et ait rex:And the king said,Estne pax puero Absalom? Dixitque Achimaas:“Is there peace for the boy Absalom?” And Ahimaaz said:Vidi tumultum magnum cum mitteret Joab servus tuus,“I saw a great tumult, O king, when your servant Joab sent me,o rex, me servum tuum:your servant.nescio aliud.I know nothing else.”

³⁰Ad quem rex: Transi,And the king said to him,ait,“Pass,et sta hic.and stand here.”Cumque ille transisset, et staret,And when he had passed and stood still,

³⁰Ad quem rex: Transi,And the king said to him,ait,“Pass,et sta hic.and stand here.”Cumque ille transisset, et staret,And when he had passed and stood still,

³¹apparuit Chusi:Hushai appeared.et veniens ait:And approaching,Bonum apporto nuntium,he said: “I bear good news,domine mi rex:my lord the king.judicavit enim pro te Dominus hodie de manu omnium qui surrexerunt contra te.For today the Lord has judged for you, from the hand of all who had risen up against you.”

³¹apparuit Chusi:Hushai appeared.et veniens ait:And approaching,Bonum apporto nuntium,he said: “I bear good news,domine mi rex:my lord the king.judicavit enim pro te Dominus hodie de manu omnium qui surrexerunt contra te.For today the Lord has judged for you, from the hand of all who had risen up against you.”

³²Dixit autem rex ad Chusi:But the king said to Hushai,Estne pax puero Absalom? Cui respondens Chusi:“Is there peace for the boy Absalom?” And responding,Fiant, inquit,Hushai said to him,sicut puer, inimici domini mei regis,“May the enemies of my lord the king,et universi qui consurgunt adversus eum in malum.and all who rise against him for evil, be as the boy is.”

³²Dixit autem rex ad Chusi:But the king said to Hushai,Estne pax puero Absalom? Cui respondens Chusi:“Is there peace for the boy Absalom?” And responding,Fiant, inquit,Hushai said to him,sicut puer, inimici domini mei regis,“May the enemies of my lord the king,et universi qui consurgunt adversus eum in malum.and all who rise against him for evil, be as the boy is.”

³³Contristatus itaque rex,And so the king, being greatly saddened,ascendit cœnaculum portæ, et flevit.ascended to the upper room of the gate,Et sic loquebatur,and he wept. And as he went,vadens: Fili mi Absalom,he was speaking in this manner:Absalom fili mi:“My son Absalom! Absalom my son!quis mihi tribuat ut ego moriar pro te,Who can grant to me that I may die on your behalf?Absalom fili mi,Absalom, my son!fili mi Absalom?My son, Absalom!”

³³Contristatus itaque rex,And so the king, being greatly saddened,ascendit cœnaculum portæ, et flevit.ascended to the upper room of the gate,Et sic loquebatur,and he wept. And as he went,vadens: Fili mi Absalom,he was speaking in this manner:Absalom fili mi:“My son Absalom! Absalom my son!quis mihi tribuat ut ego moriar pro te,Who can grant to me that I may die on your behalf?Absalom fili mi,Absalom, my son!fili mi Absalom?My son, Absalom!”