Joab suborning a woman first to propose the suit by a parable, 21. obtaineth pardon for Absalom. 24. but so that he appeareth not in the king's presence. 25. He is exceeding fair, hath three sons and one daughter. 29. Joab refusing to deal further for his free release, Absalom burneth his corn. 31. Then Joab procureth his access to the king.Ioab suborning a woman first to propose the suite by a parable, 21. obtayneth pardon for Absalom. 24. but so that he appeareth not in the kinges presence. 25. He is exceding fayre, hath thre sonnes and one daughter. 29. Ioab refusing to deale further for his free release, Absalom burneth his corne. 31. Then Ioab procureth his accesse to the king.✦
And Joab the son of Sarvia, understanding that the king's heart was turned to Absalom,ANd Ioab the sonne of Saruia, vnderstanding that the kinges hart was turned to Absalom,✦Intelligens autem Joab filius Sarviæ quod cor regis versum esset ad Absalom,
2he sent to Thecua, and took thence a prudent woman: and he said to her: Feign that thou mournest, and put on a mourning garment, and be not anointed with oil, that thou mayst be as a woman now a long time mourning for one dead.he sent to Thecua, and tooke thence a prudent woman: and he sayd to her: Feyn that thou mournest, and put on a mourning garment, and be not annoynted with oyle, that thou mayst be as a woman now a long tyme mourning for one dead.✦misit Thecuam, et tulit inde mulierem sapientem : dixitque ad eam : Lugere te simula, et induere veste lugubri, et ne ungaris oleo, ut sis quasi mulier jam plurimo tempore lugens mortuum :
3And thou shalt go in unto the king, and shalt speak to him these manner of words. And Joab put the words in her mouth.And thou shalt goe in vnto the king, and shalt speake to him these maner of wordes. And Ioab put the wordes in her mouth.et ingredieris ad regem, et loqueris ad eum sermones hujuscemodi. Posuit autem Joab verba in ore ejus.
4Therefore when the woman of Thecua was gone in to the king, she fell before him upon the ground, and adored, and said: Save me O king.Therefore when the woman of Thecua was gone in to the king, she fel before him vpon the ground, and adored, and said: Saue me ó king.Itaque cum ingressa fuisset mulier Thecuitis ad regem, cecidit coram eo super terram, et adoravit, et dixit : Serva me, rex.
5And the king said to her: What matter hast thou? Who answered: Alas, I am a widow woman: for my husband is dead.And the king sayd to her: What matter hast thou? Who answered: Alas, I am a widow woman: for my husband is dead.Et ait ad eam rex : Quid causæ habes ? Quæ respondit : Heu, mulier vidua ego sum : mortuus est enim vir meus.
6And thy handmaid had two sons: who fell at words against one other in the field, and there was none to stay them: and the one percussit: caressed; struck, smote the other, and slew him.And thy handmaide had two sonnes: who fel at wordes against one other in the field, and there was none to stay them: and the one stroke the other, and slew him.Et ancillæ tuæ erant duo filii : qui rixati sunt adversum se in agro, nullusque erat qui eos prohibere posset : et percussit alter alterum, et interfecit eum.
7And behold the whole kindred rising against thy handmaid, saith: Deliver him that hath stricken his brother that we may kill him for the life of his brother, whom he hath slain, and may clean destroy the heir: and they seek to extinguish my scintillam: spark, last live ember, which is left, that there may no name remain to my husband, nor relics upon the earth.And behold the whole kinred rysing against thy handmaide, saith: Deliuer him that hath striken his brother that we may kil him for the life of his brother, whom he hath slayne, and may cleane destroy the heire: and they seeke to extinguish my sparkle, which is left, that there may no name remaine to my husband, nor reliques vpon the earth.✦Et ecce consurgens universa cognatio adversum ancillam tuam, dicit : Trade eum qui percussit fratrem suum, ut occidamus eum pro anima fratris sui quem interfecit, et deleamus hæredem : et quærunt extinguere scintillam meam quæ relicta est, ut non supersit viro meo nomen, et reliquiæ super terram.
8And the king said to the woman: Go into thy house, and I will give commandment for thee.And the king sayd to the woman: Goe into thy house, and I wil geue commandement for thee.✦Et ait rex ad mulierem : Vade in domum tuam, et ego jubebo pro te.
9And the woman of Thecua said to the king: Upon me, my lord, be the iniquity, and upon the house of my father: but be the king and his throne innocent.And the woman of Thecua said to the king: Vpon me, my lord, be the iniquitie, and vpon the house of my father: but be the king and his throne innocent.Dixitque mulier Thecuitis ad regem : In me, domine mi rex, sit iniquitas, et in domum patris mei : rex autem et thronus ejus sit innocens.
10And the king said: He that shall contradixerit: contradict, oppose, speak against thee bring him to me, & he shall add no more to touch thee.And the king said: He that shal gaynesay thee bring him to me, & he shal adde no more to touch thee.Et ait rex : Qui contradixerit tibi, adduc eum ad me, et ultra non addet ut tangat te.
11Who said: Let the king remember our Lord his God, that the next of blood be not multiplied to revenge, and that they kill not my son. Who said: Our Lord liveth, there shall not fall of the hairs of thy son upon the earth.Who sayd: Let the king remember our Lord his God, that the next of bloud be not multiplied to reuenge, and that they kil not my sonne. Who sayd: Our Lord liueth, there shal not fal of the heares of thy sonne vpon the earth.Quæ ait : Recordetur rex Domini Dei sui, ut non multiplicentur proximi sanguinis ad ulciscendum, et nequaquam interficiant filium meum. Qui ait : Vivit Dominus, quia non cadet de capillis filii tui super terram.
12The woman therefore said: Let thy handmaid speak to my lord the king a word. And he said: Speak.The woman therefore sayd: Let thy handmayde speake to my lord the king a word. And he sayd: Speake.Dixit ergo mulier : Loquatur ancilla tua ad dominum meum regem verbum. Et ait : Loquere.
13And the woman said: Why hast thou thought such a thing against the people of God, and why hath the king spoken this word, that he would sin, and not bring again his banished one?And the woman sayd: Why hast thou thought such a thing agaynst the people of God, and why hath the king spoken this word, that he would sinne, and not bring againe his banished one?Dixitque mulier : Quare cogitasti hujuscemodi rem contra populum Dei, et locutus est rex verbum istud, ut peccet, et non reducat ejectum suum ?
14We do all die, and as waters that return not, we fall down on the earth: neither will God have a soul to perish, but retractat: cancels, annuls; calls back, recalls, meaning that he perish not altogether that is cast off.We doe al dye, and as waters that returne not, we fal downe on the earth: neither wil God haue a soule to perish, but reuoketh, meaning that he perish not altogether that is cast of.✦Omnes morimur, et quasi aquæ dilabimur in terram, quæ non revertuntur : nec vult Deus perire animam, sed retractat cogitans ne penitus pereat qui abjectus est.
15Now therefore I come, that I may speak to my lord the king this word, the people being present. And thy handmaid said: I will speak to the king, if by any means the king may do the word of his handmaid.Now therefore I come, that I may speake to my lord the king this word, the people being present. And thy handmayd sayd: I wil speake to the king, if by any meanes the king may doe the word of his handmaide.Nunc igitur veni, ut loquar ad dominum meum regem verbum hoc, præsente populo. Et dixit ancilla tua : Loquar ad regem, si quomodo faciat rex verbum ancillæ suæ.
16And the king hath heard, to deliver his handmaid out of the hand of all, that would destroy me out of the inheritance of our Lord, and my son together.And the king hath heard, to deliuer his handmaide out of the hand of al, that would destroy me out of the inheritance of our Lord, and my sonne together.Et audivit rex, ut liberaret ancillam suam de manu omnium qui volebant de hæreditate Dei delere me, et filium meum simul.
17Let thy handmaid therefore say, that the word of my lord the king be made as a sacrifice. For even as an Angel of God, so is my lord the king, that he is moved neither with blessing nor cursing: Wherefore our Lord also thy God is with thee.Let thy handmaide therefore say, that the word of my lord the king be made as a sacrifice. For euen as an Angel of God, so is my lord the king, that he is moued neither with blessing nor cursing: Wherefore our Lord also thy God is with thee.Dicat ergo ancilla tua, ut fiat verbum domini mei regis sicut sacrificium. Sicut enim angelus Dei, sic est dominus meus rex, ut nec benedictione, nec maledictione moveatur : unde et Dominus Deus tuus est tecum.
18And the king answering, said to the woman: Hide not from me the thing that I ask thee. And the woman said to him: Speak my lord king.And the king answering, sayd to the woman: Hide not from me the thing that I aske thee. And the woman sayd to him: Speake my lord king.Et respondens rex, dixit ad mulierem : Ne abscondas a me verbum quod te interrogo. Dixitque ei mulier : Loquere, domine mi rex.
19And the king said: Is the hand of Joab with thee in all these things? The woman answered, and said: By the health of thy soul, my lord king, it is neither on the left hand, nor on the right of all these things, which my lord the king hath spoken: for thy servant Joab, he commanded me, and he put all these words into the mouth of thy handmaid.And the king sayd: Is the hand of Ioab with thee in al these thinges? The woman answered, and sayd: By the health of thy soule, my lord king, it is neither on the left hand, nor on the right of al these thinges, which my lord the king hath spoken: for thy seruant Ioab, he commanded me, and he put al these wordes into the mouth of thy handmayde.✦Et ait rex : Numquid manus Joab tecum est in omnibus istis ? Respondit mulier, et ait : Per salutem animæ tuæ, domine mi rex, nec ad sinistram, nec ad dexteram est ex omnibus his quæ locutus est dominus meus rex : servus enim tuus Joab, ipse præcepit mihi, et ipse posuit in os ancillæ tuæ omnia verba hæc.
20That I should change the form of this speech, thy servant Joab commanded this: and thou my lord king, art wise, as an Angel of God hath wisdom, that thou understandest all things upon the earth.That I should change the forme of this speach, thy seruant Ioab commanded this: and thou my lord king, art wise, as an Angel of God hath wisdom, that thou vnderstandest al thinges vpon the earth.Ut verterem figuram sermonis hujus, servus tuus Joab præcepit istud : tu autem, domine mi rex, sapiens es, sicut habet sapientiam angelus Dei, ut intelligas omnia super terram.
21And the king said to Joab: Behold I being pacified have done thy word: Go therefore, and call again the boy Absalom.And the king sayd to Ioab: Behold I being pacified haue done thy word: Goe therefore, and cal agayne the boy Absalom.✦Et ait rex ad Joab : Ecce placatus feci verbum tuum : vade ergo, et revoca puerum Absalom.
22And Joab falling upon his face unto the earth, adored, and blessed the king: and Joab said: This day thy servant hath understood, that I have found grace in thy sight my lord king: for thou hast done the word of thy servant.And Ioab falling vpon his face vnto the earth, adored, and blessed the king: and Ioab sayd: This day thy seruant hath vnderstood, that I haue found grace in thy sight my lord king: for thou hast done the word of thy seruant.Cadensque Joab super faciem suam in terram, adoravit, et benedixit regi : et dixit Joab : Hodie intellexit servus tuus quia inveni gratiam in oculis tuis, domine mi rex : fecisti enim sermonem servi tui.
23Joab therefore arose and went into Gessur, and brought Absalom into Jerusalem.Ioab therefore arose and went into Gessur, and brought Absalom into Ierusalem.Surrexit ergo Joab et abiit in Gessur, et adduxit Absalom in Jerusalem.
24But the king said: Let him return into his house, and not see my face. Absalom therefore returned into his house, and the king's face he saw not.But the king sayd: Let him returne into his house, and not see my face. Absalom therefore returned into his house, and the kings face he saw not.Dixit autem rex : Revertatur in domum suam, et faciem meam non videat. Reversus est itaque Absalom in domum suam, et faciem regis non vidit.
25Moreover like as Absalom, there was not a man in all Israel so beautiful, and exceeding comely: from the sole of the foot to the crown there was no blemish in him.Moreouer like as Absalom, there was not a man in al Israel so beautiful, and exceding comelie: from the sole of the foote to the crowne there was no blemish in him.✦Porro sicut Absalom, vir non erat pulcher in omni Israël, et decorus nimis : a vestigio pedis usque ad verticem non erat in eo ulla macula.
26And when he tondebat: cut off the hair of, shore his hair (once a year he was polled, because his cæsaries: thick head of hair did burden him) he weighed the hair of his head at two hundred sicles, of the common weight.And when he powled his heare (once a yeare he was powled, because his bush did burden him) he weighed the heare of his head at two hundred sicles, of the common weight.Et quando tondebat capillum (semel autem in anno tondebatur, quia gravabat eum cæsaries), ponderabat capillos capitis sui ducentis siclis, pondere publico.
27And there were born to Absalom three sons: and one daughter, named Thamar, of a goodly beauty.And there were borne to Absalom three sonnes: and one daughter, named Thamar, of a goodly beautie.✦Nati sunt autem Absalom filii tres, et filia una nomine Thamar, elegantis formæ.
28And Absalom abode in Jerusalem two years, and saw not the king's face.And Absalom abode in Ierusalem two yeares, and saw not the kinges face.Mansitque Absalom in Jerusalem duobus annis, et faciem regis non vidit.
29He therefore sent to Joab, to send him to the king: who would not come to him. And when he had sent the second time, and he would not come to him,He therefore sent to Ioab, to send him to the king: who would not come to him. And when he had sent the second time, and he would not come to him,Misit itaque ad Joab, ut mitteret eum ad regem : qui noluit venire ad eum. Cumque secundo misisset, et ille noluisset venire ad eum,
30he said to his servants: You know the field of Joab beside my field, that hath barley harvest: go therefore and burn it with fire. The servants therefore of Absalom burnt the corn with fire. And Joab's servants coming, scissis: leasing; rending, tearing their garments, said: The servants of Absalom have burnt part of the field with fire.he sayd to his seruantes: You know the filde of Ioab beside my filde, that hath barley haruest: goe therefore and burne it with fyre. The seruantes therefore of Absalom burnt the corne with fyre. And Ioabs seruantes coming, renting their garments, sayd: The seruantes of Absalom haue burnt part of the filde with fyre.dixit servis suis : Scitis agrum Joab juxta agrum meum, habentem messem hordei : ite igitur, et succendite eum igni. Succenderunt ergo servi Absalom segetem igni. Et venientes servi Joab, scissis vestibus suis, dixerunt : Succenderunt servi Absalom partem agri igni.
31And Joab arose, & came to Absalom in his house, & said: Why have thy servants burnt my corn with fire?And Ioab arose, & came to Absalom in his house, & sayd: Why haue thy seruantes burnt my corne with fyre?Surrexitque Joab, et venit ad Absalom in domum ejus, et dixit : Quare succenderunt servi tui segetem meam igni ?
32And Absalom answered Joab: I sent to thee beseeching that thou wouldest come unto me, and I might send thee to the king, and thou shouldest say to him: Wherefore came I out of Gessur? It was better for me to be there: I beseech thee therefore that I may see the face of the king: & if he be mindful of mine iniquity, let him kill me.And Absalom answered Ioab: I sent to thee beseeching that thou wouldest come vnto me, and I might send thee to the king, and thou shouldest say to him: Wherefore came I out of Gessur? It was better for me to be there: I beseech thee therefore that I may see the face of the king: & if he be mindeful of mine iniquitie, let him kil me.Et respondit Absalom ad Joab : Misi ad te obsecrans ut venires ad me, et mitterem te ad regem, et diceres ei : Quare veni de Gessur ? melius mihi erat ibi esse : obsecro ergo ut videam faciem regis : quod si memor est iniquitatis meæ, interficiat me.
33Joab therefore entering in to the king, told him all things: and Absalom was called, and he entered in to the king: and adored upon the face of the earth before him: and the king kissed Absalom.Ioab therefore entring in to the king, told him al thinges: and Absalom was called, and he entred in to the king: and adored vpon the face of the earth before him: and the king kissed Absalom.✦Ingressus itaque Joab ad regem, nuntiavit ei omnia : vocatusque est Absalom, et intravit ad regem, et adoravit super faciem terræ coram eo : osculatusque est rex Absalom.
The reading text follows the 1582 first edition.