King David disposeth his army in three parts, giving special charge to save Absalom alive. 9. Whom nevertheless (hanging by the hairs of his head in an oak) Joab killeth: 16. and saveth the common people. 19. Which David understanding greatly bewaileth Absalom.King Dauid disposeth his armie in three partes, geuing speciall charge to saue Absalom aliue. 9. VVhom neuertheles (hanging by the heares of his head in an oke) Ioab killeth: 16. and saueth the common people. 19. VVhich Dauid vnderstanding greatly bewayleth Absalom.✦
David therefore having viewed his people, appointed over them tribunes and centurions,DAVID therfore hauing viewed his people, appointed ouer them tribunes & centurions,Igitur considerato David populo suo, constituit super eos tribunos et centuriones,
2and gave the third part of the people under the hand of Joab, and the third part under the hand of Abisai the son of Servia the brother of Joab, and the third part under the hand of Ethai, who was of Geth: and the king said to the people: I also will go forth with you.and gaue the third part of the people vnder the hand of Ioab, and the third part vnder the hand of Abisai the sonne of Seruia the brother of Ioab, and the third part vnder the hand of Ethai, who was of Geth: and the king said to the people: I also wil goe forth with you.et dedit populi tertiam partem sub manu Joab, et tertiam partem sub manu Abisai filii Sarviæ fratris Joab, et tertiam partem sub manu Ethai, qui erat de Geth. Dixitque rex ad populum : Egrediar et ego vobiscum.
3And the people answered: Thou shalt not go forth: for whether we flee, it will be no great importance to them of us: or whether the half part of us shall fall, they will not greatly care: because thou alone art accounted for ten thousands: it is better therefore that thou be in the city to aid us.And the people answered: Thou shalt not goe forth: for whether we flee, it wil be no great importance to them of vs: or whether the halfe part of vs shal fal, they wil not greatly care: because thou alone art accounted for ten thousandes: it is better therefore that thou be in the citie to ayde vs.Et respondit populus : Non exibis : sive enim fugerimus, non magnopere ad eos de nobis pertinebit : sive media pars ceciderit e nobis, non satis curabunt, quia tu unus pro decem millibus computaris : melius est igitur ut sis nobis in urbe præsidio.
4To whom the king said: What seemeth good to you, that will I do. The king therefore stood beside the gate: and all the people went forth by their troops, by hundreds and by thousands.To whom the king said: What seemeth good to you, that wil I doe. The king therfore stoode beside the gate: and al the people went forth by their troupes, by hundredes and by thousandes.Ad quos rex ait : Quod vobis videtur rectum, hoc faciam. Stetit ergo rex juxta portam : egrediebaturque populus per turmas suas centeni et milleni.
5And the King commanded Joab, and Abisai, and Ethai, saying: Save me the child Absalom. And all the people heard the King commanding all the princes for Absalom.And the King commanded Ioab, and Abisai, and Ethai, saying: Saue me the child Absalom. And al the people heard the King commanding al the princes for Absalom.✦Et præcepit rex Joab, et Abisai, et Ethai, dicens : Servate mihi puerum Absalom. Et omnis populus audiebat præcipientem regem cunctis principibus pro Absalom.
6The people therefore went out into the field against Israel, and the battle was fought in the forest of Ephraim.The people therefore went out into the filde against Israel, & the battel was fought in the forest of Ephraim.✦Itaque egressus est populus in campum contra Israël, et factum est prælium in saltu Ephraim.
7And the people of Israel was slain there of David's army, and there was made a great slaughter in that day, of twenty thousand.And the people of Israel was slayne there of Dauids armie, and there was made a great slaughter in that day, of twentie thousand.Et cæsus est ibi populus Israël ab exercitu David, factaque est plaga magna in die illa, viginti millium.
8And the battle there was dispersed upon the face of all the earth, and there were many more, whom the forest had consumed of the people, than they whom the sword devoured in that day.And the battel there was dispersed vpon the face of al the earth, and there were manie moe, whom the forest had consumed of the people, then they whom the sword deuoured in that day.✦Fuit autem ibi prælium dispersum super faciem omnis terræ, et multo plures erant quos saltus consumpserat de populo, quam hi quos voraverat gladius in die illa.
9And it chanced that Absalom met the servants of David, sitting on a mule: and when the mule was gone in under a thick oak and a great, his head stuck to the oak: and he hanging between heaven and earth, the mule that he rode upon passed through.And it chanced that Absalom mette the seruantes of Dauid, sitting on a mule: and when the mule was gone in vnder a thicke oke and a great, his head stucke to the oke: and he hanging between heauen and earth, the mule that he rode vpon passed through.✦Accidit autem ut occurreret Absalom servis David, sedens mulo : cumque ingressus fuisset mulus subter condensam quercum et magnam, adhæsit caput ejus quercui : et illo suspenso inter cælum et terram, mulus cui insederat, pertransivit.
10And one saw this and told it to Joab: saying: I saw Absalom hang upon an oak.And one saw this & told it to Ioab: saying: I saw Absalom hang vpon an oke.Vidit autem hoc quispiam, et nuntiavit Joab, dicens : Vidi Absalom pendere de quercu.
11And Joab said to the man that told him: If thou sawest him, why didst thou not nail him to the earth, and I had given thee ten siclos: shekels of silver, and one belt?And Ioab said to the man that told him: If thou sawest him, why didst thou not nayle him to the earth, and I had geuen thee ten sicles of siluer, and one belt?✦Et ait Joab viro qui nuntiaverat ei : Si vidisti, quare non confodisti eum cum terra, et ego dedissem tibi decem argenti siclos, et unum balteum ?
12Who said to Joab: If thou wouldest pay down in my hands a thousand pieces of silver, I would not lay my hands upon the king's son: for in our hearing the king commanded thee, and Abisai, and Ethai, saying: Keep me the child Absalom.Who sayd to Ioab: If thou wouldest pay downe in my handes a thousand peeces of siluer, I would not lay my handes vpon the kinges sonne: for in our hearing the king commanded thee, and Abisai, and Ethai, saying: Keepe me the child Absalom.Qui dixit ad Joab : Si appenderes in manibus meis mille argenteos, nequaquam mitterem manum meam in filium regis : audientibus enim nobis præcepit rex tibi, et Abisai, et Ethai, dicens : Custodite mihi puerum Absalom.
13Yea and if I had done against my life boldly, this could not have been hid from the king, and thou wouldest have stand against it?Yea and if I had done agaynst my life boldly, this could not haue beene hid from the king, and thou wouldest haue stand agaynst it?Sed etsi fecissem contra animam meam audacter, nequaquam hoc regem latere potuisset, et tu stares ex adverso ?
14And Joab said: Not as thou wilt, but I will set upon him before thee. He took therefore three lances in his hand, and thrust them in the heart of Absalom: and when as yet he panted, for life sticking on the oak,And Ioab sayd: Not as thou wilt, but I wil set vpon him before thee. He tooke therefore three lances in his hand, and thrust them in the hart of Absalom: and when as yet he panted, for life sticking on the oke,✦Et ait Joab : Non sicut tu vis, sed aggrediar eum coram te. Tulit ergo tres lanceas in manu sua, et infixit eas in corde Absalom : cumque adhuc palpitaret hærens in quercu,
15there ran ten young men the armigeri: country gentlemen; armour-bearers, attendants of Joab, and striking they killed him.there ranne ten yong men the squyers of Ioab, and striking they killed him.cucurrerunt decem juvenes armigeri Joab, et percutientes interfecerunt eum.
16And Joab sounded the trumpet, and stayed the people, that they should not pursue Israel fleeing, willing to spare the multitude.And Ioab sounded the trumpet, and stayed the people, that they should not pursew Israel fleeing, willing to spare the multitude.✦Cecinit autem Joab buccina, et retinuit populum, ne persequeretur fugientem Israël, volens parcere multitudini.
17And they took Absalom, and cast him into the forest; into a great pit, and they heaped upon him an exceeding great heap of stones: but all Israel fled into their tabernacles.And they tooke Absalom, and cast him into the forest; into a great pitte, and they heaped vpon him an exceeding great heape of stones: but al Israel fled into their tabernacles.✦Et tulerunt Absalom, et projecerunt eum in saltu, in foveam grandem, et comportaverunt super eum acervum lapidum magnum nimis : omnis autem Israël fugit in tabernacula sua.
18Moreover Absalom had erected to himself, whiles he yet lived, a titulum: a name or heading; a monument, memorial pillar which is in the king's Valley: for he said: I have no son, and this shall be a monument of my name. And he called the title by his name, and it is called The hand of Absalom, until this present day.Moreouer Absalom had erected to himself, whiles he yet liued, a title which is in the kinges Valley: for he said: I haue no sonne, and this shal be a monument of my name. And he called the title by his name, and it is called The hand of Absalom, vntil this present day.✦Porro Absalom erexerat sibi, cum adhuc viveret, titulum qui est in Valle regis : dixerat enim : Non habeo filium, et hoc erit monimentum nominis mei. Vocavitque titulum nomine suo, et appellatur Manus Absalom, usque ad hanc diem.
19And Achimaas the son of Sadoc said: I will run, and tell the king, that our Lord hath done him judgement of the hand of his enemies.And Achimaas the sonne of Sadoc said: I wil runne, and tel the king, that our Lord hath done him iudgement of the hand of his enemies.Achimaas autem filius Sadoc, ait : Curram, et nuntiabo regi quia judicium fecerit ei Dominus de manu inimicorum ejus.
20To whom Joab said: Thou shalt not be messenger this day, but thou shalt carry the message another day: to day I will not have thee carry the message, for the king's son is dead.To whom Ioab said: Thou shalt not be messenger this day, but thou shalt carie the message an other day: to day I wil not haue thee carie the message, for the kinges sonne is dead.Ad quem Joab dixit : Non eris nuntius in hac die, sed nuntiabis in alia : hodie nolo te nuntiare : filius enim regis est mortuus.
21And Joab said to Chusai: Go, and tell the king what thou hast seen. Chusai adored Joab, and ran.And Ioab said to Chusai: Goe, and tel the king what thou hast seene. Chusai adored Ioab, and ranne.Et ait Joab Chusi : Vade, et nuntia regi quæ vidisti. Adoravit Chusi Joab, et cucurrit.
22And again Achimaas the son of Sadoc said to Joab: What impedit: permitteth; hindereth, preventeth if I also run after Chusai? And Joab said to him: Why wilt thou run my son? thou shalt not be carrier of good tidings.And agayne Achimaas the sonne of Sadoc said to Ioab: What letteth if I also runne after Chusai? And Ioab sayd to him: Why wilt thou runne my sonne? thou shalt not be carryer of good tydinges.Rursus autem Achimaas filius Sadoc dixit ad Joab : Quid impedit si etiam ego curram post Chusi ? Dixitque ei Joab : Quid vis currere, fili mi ? non eris boni nuntii bajulus.
23Who answered: But what if I run? And he said to him: Run. Achimaas therefore ran a nearer way out went Chusai.Who answered: But what if I runne? And he said to him: Runne. Achimaas therefore ranne a nere way out went Chusai.Qui respondit : Quid enim si cucurrero ? Et ait ei : Curre. Currens ergo Achimaas per viam compendii, transivit Chusi.
24And David sat between the two gates: and the watchman that was in the top of the gate upon the wall, lifting up his eyes, saw a man running alone.And Dauid sate betwen the two gates: and the watchman that was in the toppe of the gate vpon the wal, lifting vp his eies, saw a man running alone.David autem sedebat inter duas portas : speculator vero, qui erat in fastigio portæ super murum, elevans oculos, vidit hominem currentem solum.
25And crying out he told the king: and the king said: If he be alone, there are good tidings in his mouth. And he making haste, and coming nearer,And crying out he told the king: and the king said: If he be alone, there are good tydinges in his mouth. And he making hast, and coming neerer,✦Et exclamans indicavit regi : dixitque rex : Si solus est, bonus est nuntius in ore ejus. Properante autem illo, et accedente propius,
26the watchman saw another man running, and crying aloud in the top, he said: There appeareth unto me another man running alone. And the king said: And this is a good messenger.the watchman saw an other man running, and crying alowde in the toppe, he said: There appeareth vnto me an other man running alone. And the king said: And this is a good messenger.vidit speculator hominem alterum currentem, et vociferans in culmine, ait : Apparet mihi alter homo currens solus. Dixitque rex : Et iste bonus est nuntius.
27And the watchman, I behold, said he, the running of the former, as it were the running of Achimaas the son of Sadoc. And the king said: He is a good man, and cometh bringing good news.And the watchman, I behold, said he, the running of the former, as it were the running of Achimaas the sonne of Sadoc. And the king sayd: He is a good man, and cometh bringing good newes.Speculator autem : Contemplor, ait, cursum prioris, quasi cursum Achimaas filii Sadoc. Et ait rex : Vir bonus est, et nuntium portans bonum venit.
28And Achimaas crying, said to the king: God save thee O king. And adoring the king before him flat to the earth, he said: Blessed be our Lord thy God, who hath shut up the men that have lifted up their hands against my lord the king.And Achimaas crying, sayd to the king: God saue thee O king. And adoring the king before him flatte to the earth, he said: Blessed be our Lord thy God, who hath shut vp the men that haue lifted vp their handes against my lord the king.Clamans autem Achimaas, dixit ad regem : Salve rex. Et adorans regem coram eo pronus in terram, ait : Benedictus Dominus Deus tuus, qui conclusit homines qui levaverunt manus suas contra dominum meum regem.
29And the king said: Is the child Absalom safe? And Achimaas said: I saw a great tumult, when thy servant Joab sent, O king, me thy servant: other thing I know not.And the king sayd: Is the child Absalom safe? And Achimaas sayd: I saw a great tumult, when thy seruant Ioab sent, O king, me thy seruant: other thing I know not.Et ait rex : Estne pax puero Absalom ? Dixitque Achimaas : Vidi tumultum magnum cum mitteret Joab servus tuus, o rex, me servum tuum : nescio aliud.
30To whom the king, Pass, said he, and stand here. And when he had passed, and stood,To whom the king, Passe, said he, and stand here. And when he had passed, and stood,Ad quem rex : Transi, ait, et sta hic. Cumque ille transisset, et staret,
31Chusai appeared: and coming he said: I bring good tidings my lord king: for our Lord hath judged for thee this day of the hand of all that have risen against thee.Chusai appeared: and coming he said: I bring good tydinges my lord king: for our Lord hath iudged for thee this day of the hand of al that haue rysen against thee.apparuit Chusi : et veniens ait : Bonum apporto nuntium, domine mi rex : judicavit enim pro te Dominus hodie de manu omnium qui surrexerunt contra te.
32And the king said to Chusai: Is the child Absalom safe? To whom Chusai answering, said: Let the enemies of my lord the king become, as the child, and all that rise against him unto evil.And the king said to Chusai: Is the child Absalom safe? To whom Chusai answering, said: Let the enemies of my lord the king become, as the child, and al that ryse against him vnto euil.Dixit autem rex ad Chusi : Estne pax puero Absalom ? Cui respondens Chusi : Fiant, inquit, sicut puer, inimici domini mei regis, et universi qui consurgunt adversus eum in malum.
33The king therefore being made sorrowful, went up into the high chamber of the gate, and wept. And thus he spake, going: My son Absalom, Absalom my son: who would grant me that I might die for thee, Absalom my son, my son Absalom.The king therfore being made sorie, went vp into the high chamber of the gate, and wept. And thus he spake, going: My sonne Absalom, Absalom my sonne: who would graunt me that I might die for thee, Absalom my sonne, my sonne Absalom.✦Contristatus itaque rex, ascendit cœnaculum portæ, et flevit. Et sic loquebatur, vadens : Fili mi Absalom, Absalom fili mi : quis mihi tribuat ut ego moriar pro te, Absalom fili mi, fili mi Absalom ?
The reading text follows the 1582 first edition.