Abner's forces daily decay, David increaseth in power, and hath many sons. 7. Abner upon occasion of a slander breaketh from Isboseth, and serveth David, bringing Michol to him, and much people of Israel. 23. Joab of emulation and revenge killeth Abner. 28. for which David is offended with Joab, 31. and mourneth for Abner.Abners forces daily decay, Dauid increaseth in power, and hath manie sonnes. 7. Abner vpon occasion of a slander breaketh from Isboseth, and serueth Dauid, bringing Michol to him, and much people of Israel. 23. Ioab of emulation and reuenge killeth Abner. 28. for which Dauid is offended with Ioab, 31. and mourneth for Abner.✦
There was made therefore long strife between the house of Saul, and between the house of David: David prospering and always stronger than himself, but the house of Saul decreasing daily.THERE was made therefore long strife betwen the house of Saul, and betwen the house of Dauid: Dauid prospering and alwaies stronger then himself, but the house of Saul decreasing daily.Facta est ergo longa concertatio inter domum Saul et inter domum David : David proficiscens, et semper seipso robustior, domus autem Saul decrescens quotidie.
2And there were sons born to David in Hebron: and his first begotten was Amnon of Achinoam the Jezrahelite.And there were sonnes borne to Dauid in Hebron: and his first begotten was Amnon of Achinoam the Iezrahelite.Natique sunt filii David in Hebron : fuitque primogenitus ejus Amnon, de Achinoam Jezraëlitide.
3And after him Cheleab of Abigail the wife of Nabal of Carmel: moreover the third Absalom the son of Maacha the daughter of Tolmai king of Gessur.And after him Cheleab of Abigail the wife of Nabal of Carmel: moreouer the third Absalom the sonne of Maacha the daughter of Tolmai king of Gessur.✦Et post eum Cheleab, de Abigail uxore Nabal Carmeli : porro tertius Absalom, filius Maacha filiæ Tholmai regis Gessur.
4And the fourth Adonias, the son of Haggith: and the fifth Saphathia, the son of Abital.And the fourth Adonias, the sonne of Haggith: and the fifth Saphathia, the sonne of Abital.Quartus autem Adonias, filius Haggith : et quintus Saphathia, filius Abital.
5The sixth also Jethraam of Egla the wife of David. these were born to David in Hebron.The sixth also Iethraam of Egla the wife of Dauid. these were borne to Dauid in Hebron.✦Sextus quoque Jethraam, de Egla uxore David : hi nati sunt David in Hebron.
6Therefore when there was battle between the house of Saul and house of David, Abner the son of Ner ruled the house of Saul.Therefore when there was battel betwen the house of Saul and house of Dauid, Abner the sonne of Ner ruled the house of Saul.Cum ergo esset prælium inter domum Saul et domum David, Abner filius Ner regebat domum Saul.
7And Saul had a concubine named Respha, the daughter of Aia. And Isboseth said to Abner:And Saul had a concubine named Respha, the daughter of Aia. And Isboseth said to Abner:Fuerat autem Sauli concubina nomine Respha, filia Aja. Dixitque Isboseth ad Abner :
8Why didst thou go in to my father's concubine? Who being wroth exceedingly for the words of Isboseth, said: What am I a dog's head against Juda this day, which have done mercy upon the house of Saul thy father, and upon his brethren and nearest friends, and have not delivered thee into the hands of David, and hast thou sought against me that thou mightest charge me for a woman to day?Why diddest thou go in to my fathers concubine? Who being wrath exceedingly for the wordes of Isboseth, said: What am I a dogges head against Iuda this day, which haue done mercie vpon the house of Saul thy father, and vpon his brethren and neerest freinds, & haue not deliuered thee into the hands of Dauid, and hast thou sought against me that thou mightest charge me for a woman to day?✦Quare ingressus es ad concubinam patris mei ? Qui iratus nimis propter verba Isboseth, ait : Numquid caput canis ego sum adversum Judam hodie, qui fecerim misericordiam super domum Saul patris tui, et super fratres et proximos ejus, et non tradidi te in manus David, et tu requisisti in me quod argueres pro muliere hodie ?
9These things do God to Abner, and these things add he to him, unless as our Lord hath sworn to David, so I do truth to him.These things do God to Abner, and these things adde he to him, vnlesse as our Lord hath sworne to Dauid, so I doe truth to him.Hæc faciat Deus Abner, et hæc addat ei, nisi quomodo juravit Dominus David, sic faciam cum eo,
10That the kingdom be transferred from the house of Saul, and the throne of David be exalted over Israel, and over Juda, from Dan to Bersabee.That the kingdome be transferred from the house of Saul, and the throne of Dauid be exalted ouer Israel, and ouer Iuda, from Dan to Bersabee.ut transferatur regnum de domo Saul, et elevetur thronus David super Israël et super Judam, a Dan usque Bersabee.
11And he could not answer him any thing, because he feared him.And he could not answer him any thing, because he feared him.Et non potuit respondere ei quidquam, quia metuebat illum.
12Abner therefore sent messengers to David for himself, saying: Whose is the land? And that they should say: Make amity with me, and my hand shall be with thee: and I will reduce unto thee all Israel.Abner therefore sent messengers to Dauid for himself, saying: Whose is the land? And that they should say: Make amitie with me, & my hand shal be with thee: and I wil reduce vnto thee al Israel.Misit ergo Abner nuntios ad David pro se dicentes : Cujus est terra ? et ut loquerentur : Fac mecum amicitias, et erit manus mea tecum, et reducam ad te universum Israël.
13Who said: Very well: I will make amity with thee: but one thing I desire of thee, saying: Thou shalt not see my face before thou bring Michol the daughter of Saul: and so thou shalt come, and see me.Who said: Very wel: I wil make amitie with thee: but one thing I desire of thee, saying: Thou shalt not see my face before thou bring Michol the daughter of Saul: and so thou shalt come, and see me.Qui ait : Optime : ego faciam tecum amicitias : sed unam rem peto a te, dicens : Non videbis faciem meam antequam adduxeris Michol filiam Saul : et sic venies, et videbis me.
14And David sent messengers to Isboseth the son of Saul, saying: Restore my wife Michol, which I betrothed to me for an hundred præputiis: foreskins of the Philisthims.And Dauid sent messengers to Isboseth the sonne of Saul, saying: Restore my wife Michol, which I betrothed to me for an hundred preputes of the Philisthims.✦Misit autem David nuntios ad Isboseth filium Saul, dicens : Redde uxorem meam Michol, quam despondi mihi centum præputiis Philisthiim.
15Isboseth therefore sent her, and took her from her husband Phaltiel, the son of Lais.Isboseth therefore sent her, and tooke her from her husband Phaltiel, the sonne of Lais.Misit ergo Isboseth, et tulit eam a viro suo Phaltiel filio Lais.
16And her husband followed her, weeping as far as Bahurim: and Abner said to him: Go, and return. Who returned.And her husband folowed her, weeping as farre as Bahurim: and Abner said to him: Goe, and returne. Who returned.Sequebaturque eam vir suus, plorans usque Bahurim : et dixit ad eum Abner : Vade, et revertere. Qui reversus est.
17Abner also spake to the ancients of Israel, saying: Both yesterday and the day before you sought David that he might reign over you.Abner also spake to the ancients of Israel, saying: Both yesterday and the day before you sought Dauid that he might reigne ouer you.Sermonem quoque intulit Abner ad seniores Israël, dicens : Tam heri quam nudiustertius quærebatis David ut regnaret super vos.
18Now therefore do so: because our Lord hath spoken to David, saying: In the hand of my servant David I will save my people Israel from the hands of the Philisthims, and of all their enemies.Now therefore do so: because our Lord hath spoken to Dauid, saying: In the hand of my seruant Dauid I wil saue my people Israel from the hands of the Philisthims, and of al their enemies.✦Nunc ergo facite : quoniam Dominus locutus est ad David, dicens : In manu servi mei David salvabo populum meum Israël de manu Philisthiim, et omnium inimicorum ejus.
19And Abner spake also to Benjamin. And he went to speak unto David in Hebron all things which pleased Israel, and all Benjamin.And Abner spake also to Beniamin. And he went to speake vnto Dauid in Hebron al things which pleased Israel, and al Beniamin.Locutus est autem Abner etiam ad Benjamin. Et abiit ut loqueretur ad David in Hebron omnia quæ placuerant Israëli et universo Benjamin.
20And he came to David into Hebron with twenty men: and David made a feast to Abner, and to his men that came with him.And he came to Dauid into Hebron with twentie men: and Dauid made a feast to Abner, and to his men that came with him.Venitque ad David in Hebron cum viginti viris : et fecit David Abner, et viris ejus qui venerant cum eo, convivium.
21And Abner said to David: I will rise, that I may gather unto thee my lord king all Israel, and may enter a league with thee, and thou mayst reign over all, as thy soul desireth. when David therefore had brought Abner on the way, and he was gone in peace,And Abner sayd to Dauid: I wil rise, that I may gather vnto thee my lord king al Israel, and may enter a league with thee, and thou mayst reigne ouer al, as thy soule desireth. when Dauid therefore had brought Abner on the way, and he was gone in peace,Et dixit Abner ad David : Surgam, ut congregem ad te dominum meum regem omnem Israël, et ineam tecum fœdus, et imperes omnibus, sicut desiderat anima tua. Cum ergo deduxisset David Abner, et ille isset in pace,
22forthwith David's servants and Joab came, having slain the robbers, with a præda: plunder, spoil taken in war, not a hunted animal exceeding great: and Abner was not with David in Hebron, because he had now dismissed him, and he was departed in peace.forthwith Dauids seruantes and Ioab came, hauing slayne the robbers, with a praye exceding great: and Abner was not with Dauid in Hebron, because he had now dismissed him, and he was departed in peace.statim pueri David et Joab venerunt, cæsis latronibus, cum præda magna nimis : Abner autem non erat cum David in Hebron, quia jam dimiserat eum, et profectus fuerat in pace.
23And Joab, and all the army which were with him, came afterward: it was therefore told Joab, that Abner the son of Ner came to the king, and he dismissed him, and he departed in peace.And Ioab, and al the armie which were with him, came afterward: it was therefore tould Ioab, that Abner the sonne of Ner came to the king, and he dismissed him, and he departed in peace.Et Joab, et omnis exercitus qui erat cum eo, postea venerunt : nuntiatum est itaque Joab a narrantibus : Venit Abner filius Ner ad regem, et dimisit eum, et abiit in pace.
24And Joab went in to the king, and said: What hast thou done? Behold Abner came to thee: why didst thou dismiss him, and he is gone and departed?And Ioab went in to the king, and said: What hast thou done? Behold Abner came to thee: why didst thou dismisse him, and he is gone and departed?Et ingressus est Joab ad regem, et ait : Quid fecisti ? Ecce venit Abner ad te : quare dimisisti eum, et abiit et recessit ?
25knowest thou not Abner the son of Ner, that to this end he came to thee, that he might deceive thee, and might know thy going out, and thy coming in, and understand all things that thou doest?knowest thou not Abner the sonne of Ner, that to this end he came to thee, that he might deceiue thee, and might know thy going out, and thy coming in, and vnderstand al things that thou doest?ignoras Abner filium Ner, quoniam ad hoc venit ad te ut deciperet te, et sciret exitum tuum et introitum tuum, et nosset omnia quæ agis ?
26Joab therefore being gone from David, sent messengers after Abner, and brought him back from the cistern Sira, David being ignorant thereof.Ioab therefore being gone from Dauid, sent messengers after Abner, and brought him backe from the cesterne Sira, Dauid being ignorant therof.Egressus itaque Joab a David, misit nuntios post Abner, et reduxit eum a cisterna Sira, ignorante David.
27And when Abner was returned into Hebron, Joab brought him aside to the midst of the gate, to speak unto him in guile: and struck him there in the privy inguine: the groin, not the genitals the modern phrase implies, and he died, in revenge of the blood of Asael his brother.And when Abner was returned into Hebron, Ioab brought him aside to the middes of the gate, to speake vnto him in guile: and stroke him there in the priuie partes, and he died, in reuenge of the bloud of Asael his brother.✦Cumque rediisset Abner in Hebron, seorsum adduxit eum Joab ad medium portæ ut loqueretur ei, in dolo : et percussit illum ibi in inguine, et mortuus est in ultionem sanguinis Asaël fratris ejus.
28Which when David had heard, that the thing was now done, he said: I am innocent, and my kingdom before God for ever from the blood of Abner the son of Ner,Which when Dauid had heard, that the thing was now done, he said: I am innocent, and my kingdom before God for euer from the bloud of Abner the sonne of Ner,Quod cum audisset David rem jam gestam, ait : Mundus ego sum, et regnum meum apud Dominum usque in sempiternum, a sanguine Abner filii Ner :
29and come it upon the head of Joab, and upon all his father's house: neither let there fail of the house of Joab one having a fluxum: a flowing issue, a discharge of seed, and a leper, and holding the fusum: the cleft staff that holds the wool for spinning, here a figure of effeminate weakness, and falling by the sword, lacking bread.and come it vpon the head of Ioab, and vpon al his fathers house: neither let there fayle of the house of Ioab one hauing a fluxe of seede, and a leper, and houlding the distaffe, and falling by the sword, lacking bread.✦et veniat super caput Joab, et super omnem domum patris ejus : nec deficiat de domo Joab fluxum seminis sustinens, et leprosus, et tenens fusum, et cadens gladio, et indigens pane.
30Joab therefore and Abisai his brother slew Abner, because he had killed Asael their brother in Gabaon in the battle.Ioab therefore and Abisai his brother slewe Abner, because he had killed Asael their brother in Gabaon in the battel.Igitur Joab et Abisai frater ejus interfecerunt Abner, eo quod occidisset Asaël fratrem eorum in Gabaon in prælio.
31And David said to Joab, and to all the people, that were with him: Rend your garments, and be girded with sackcloth, and mourn before the funeral of Abner. Moreover king David followed the feretrum: the frame on which a corpse is borne to burial, not a drink.And Dauid said to Ioab, and to al the people, that were with him: Rent your garmentes, and be girded with sacke clothes, and mourne before the funeral of Abner. Moreouer king Dauid folowed the beere.Dixit autem David ad Joab, et ad omnem populum qui erat cum eo : Scindite vestimenta vestra, et accingimini saccis, et plangite ante exequias Abner. Porro rex David sequebatur feretrum.
32And when they had buried Abner in Hebron, king David lifted up his voice, and wept upon the grave of Abner: and all the people also wept.And when they had buried Abner in Hebron, king Dauid lifted vp his voice, and wept vpon the graue of Abner: and al the people also wept.Cumque sepelissent Abner in Hebron, levavit rex David vocem suam, et flevit super tumulum Abner : flevit autem et omnis populus.
33And the king mourning and lamenting Abner, said: Not as cowards are wont to die, hath Abner died.And the king mourning and lamenting Abner, sayd: Not as cowards are wont to die, hath Abner died.✦Plangensque rex, et lugens Abner, ait : Nequaquam ut mori solent ignavi, mortuus est Abner.
34Thy hands were not bound, and thy feet were not laden with fetters: but as men are wont to fall before the children of iniquity, so art thou fallen. And all the people congeminans: redoubling their lament it wept upon him.Thy handes were not bound, and thy feete were not loden with fetters: but as men are wont to fal before the children of iniquitie, so art thou fallen. And al the people dubling it wept vpon him.Manus tuæ ligatæ non sunt, et pedes tui non sunt compedibus aggravati : sed sicut solent cadere coram filiis iniquitatis, sic corruisti. Congeminansque omnis populus flevit super eum.
35And when all the multitude was come to take meat with David, when it was yet clear day David sware, saying: These things do God to me, and these add he, if before sun set I shall taste bread or any thing else.And when al the multitude was come to take meate with Dauid, when it was yet cleere day Dauid sware, saying: These thinges do God to me, and these adde he, if before sunne set I shal tast bread or any thing els.✦Cumque venisset universa multitudo cibum capere cum David, clara adhuc die juravit David, dicens : Hæc faciat mihi Deus, et hæc addat, si ante occasum solis gustavero panem vel aliud quidquam.
36And all the people heard, and all things pleased them which the king did in the sight of all the people.And al the people heard, and al thinges pleased them which the king did in the sight of al the people.Omnisque populus audivit, et placuerunt eis cuncta quæ fecit rex in conspectu totius populi.
37And all the people knew, and all Israel in that day that it was not the king's doing, that Abner the son of Ner was slain.And al the people knewe, and al Israel in that day that it was not the kinges doing, that Abner the sonne of Ner was slayne.Et cognovit omne vulgus et universus Israël in die illa, quoniam non actum fuisset a rege ut occideretur Abner filius Ner.
38The king also said to his servants: Are you ignorant that a prince and the greatest is slain this day in Israel?The king also said to his seruantes: Are you ignorant that a prince and the greatest is slayne this day in Israel?Dixit quoque rex ad servos suos : Num ignoratis quoniam princeps et maximus cecidit hodie in Israël ?
39But I as yet delicatus: tender and soft, here weak and newly established, not refined or fragile, and anointed king: moreover the sons of Sarvia are hard to me: our Lord reward him that doth evil according to his malice.But I as yet delicate, and annointed king: moreouer the sonnes of Saruia are hard to me: our Lord reward him that doth euil according to his malice.✦Ego autem adhuc delicatus, et unctus rex : porro viri isti filii Sarviæ duri sunt mihi : retribuat Dominus facienti malum juxta malitiam suam.
The reading text follows the 1582 first edition.