Now after these things Absalom made himself chariots, and horsemen, and fifty men to run before him.

Igitur post hæc fecit sibi Absalom currus, et equites, et quinquaginta viros qui præcederent eum.

And now Absalom must drive in state, with chariots and outriders, and fifty men that ran before him.

And Absalom rising up early stood by the entrance of the gate, and when any man had business to come to the king’s judgment, Absalom called him to him, and said: Of what city art thou? He answered, and said: Thy servant is of such a tribe of Israel.

Et mane consurgens Absalom, stabat juxta introitum portæ, et omnem virum qui habebat negotium ut veniret ad regis judicium, vocabat Absalom ad se, et dicebat: De qua civitate es tu? Qui respondens aiebat: Ex una tribu Israël ego sum servus tuus.

He would rise early, and stand at the entrance to the gate, beckoning to him everyone who had business that called for the king’s award, asking what city he came from, and, if he mentioned one of the Israelite tribes,

And Absalom answered him: Thy words seem to me good and just. But there is no man appointed by the king to hear thee. And Absalom said:

Respondebatque ei Absalom: Videntur mihi sermones tui boni et justi, sed non est qui te audiat constitutus a rege. Dicebatque Absalom:

telling him, Thy pleadings seem to me well-founded and just, but the king has not appointed any judge to try thy cause. Ah, said Absalom,

O that they would make me judge over the land, that all that have business might come to me, that I might do them justice.

Quis me constituat judicem super terram, ut ad me veniant omnes qui habent negotium, et juste judicem?

if only I could be appointed as judge in the land, so that all who had matters to decide could bring them to me for a careful hearing!

Moreover when any man came to him to salute him, he put forth his hand, and took him, and kissed him.

Sed et cum accederet ad eum homo ut salutaret illum, extendebat manum suam, et apprehendens osculabatur eum.

And when men came up to greet him, he would put out his hand and take them to himself with a kiss.

And this he did to all Israel that came for judgment, to be heard by the king, and he enticed the hearts of the men of Israel.

Faciebatque hoc omni Israël venienti ad judicium ut audiretur a rege, et sollicitabat corda virorum Israël.

So he did to all the men of Israel who came up to get a hearing from the king, and stole away the hearts of the Israelites.

And after forty years, Absalom said to king David: Let me go, and pay my vows which I have vowed to the Lord in Hebron.

Post quadraginta autem annos, dixit Absalom ad regem David: Vadam, et reddam vota mea quæ vovi Domino in Hebron.

Then, in the fortieth year of the reign, Absalom said to David, Grant me leave to go to Hebron and pay a vow I made to the Lord.

For thy servant made a vow, when he was in Gessur of Syria, saying: If the Lord shall bring me again into Jerusalem, I will offer sacrifice to the Lord.

Vovens enim vovit servus tuus cum esset in Gessur Syriæ, dicens: Si reduxerit me Dominus in Jerusalem, sacrificabo Domino.

It is a vow thy servant took when he was at Gessur in Syria, that if the Lord would restore him to Jerusalem, he would offer a sacrifice.

And king David said to him: Go in peace. And he arose, and went to Hebron.

Dixitque ei rex David: Vade in pace. Et surrexit, et abiit in Hebron.

Go, said David, and peace go with thee. To Hebron, then, he went,

And Absalom sent spies into all the tribes of Israel, saying: As soon as you shall hear the sound of the trumpet, say ye: Absalom reigneth in Hebron.

Misit autem Absalom exploratores in universas tribus Israël, dicens: Statim ut audieritis clangorem buccinæ, dicite: Regnavit Absalom in Hebron.

and meanwhile he had sent agents of his throughout all the tribes of Israel, bidding them wait till they heard the trumpet sound, and then raise the cry, Absalom is king! Absalom reigns at Hebron!

Now there went with Absalom two hundred men out of Jerusalem that were called, going with simplicity of heart, and knowing nothing of the design.

Porro cum Absalom ierunt ducenti viri de Jerusalem vocati, euntes simplici corde, et causam penitus ignorantes.

And from Jerusalem itself he took two hundred men, who went with guileless hearts, not knowing why they had been summoned.

Absalom also sent for Achitophel the Gilonite, David’s counsellor, from his city Gilo. And while he was offering sacrifices, there was a strong conspiracy, and the people running together increased with Absalom.

Accersivit quoque Absalom Achitophel Gilonitem consiliarium David, de civitate sua Gilo. Cumque immolaret victimas, facta est conjuratio valida, populusque concurrens augebatur cum Absalom.

He also invited from Gilo Achitophel, the Gilonite that was David’s own counsellor. So Absalom began to offer his victims, and his conspiracy grew ever stronger, and the number ever greater that came to his support.

And there came a messenger to David, saying: All Israel with their whole heart followeth Absalom.

Venit igitur nuntius ad David, dicens: Toto corde universus Israël sequitur Absalom.

Soon a messenger came and told David that the whole of Israel was giving its allegiance to Absalom;

And David said to his servants, that were with him in Jerusalem: Arise and let us flee: for we shall not escape else from the face of Absalom: make haste to go out, lest he come and overtake us, and bring ruin upon us, and smite the city with the edge of the sword.

Et ait David servis suis qui erant cum eo in Jerusalem: Surgite, fugiamus: neque enim erit nobis effugium a facie Absalom: festinate egredi, ne forte veniens occupet nos, et impellat super nos ruinam, et percutiat civitatem in ore gladii.

and he said to the servants he had with him at Jerusalem, Up, we must make our escape, or we are in Absalom’s hands! We must depart with all speed, or he will come and take us by surprise, overwhelm us and put the whole city to the sword!

And the king’s servants said to him: Whatsoever our lord the king shall command, we thy servants will willingly execute.

Dixeruntque servi regis ad eum: Omnia quæcumque præceperit dominus noster rex, libenter exequemur servi tui.

And his servants answered, We are at the command of our lord the king, we will do his bidding.

And the king went forth, and all his household on foot: and the king left ten women his concubines to keep the house:

Egressus est ergo rex et universa domus ejus pedibus suis: et dereliquit rex decem mulieres concubinas ad custodiendam domum.

So the king left the city on foot with all his attendants, leaving only ten concubines in charge of the palace.

And the king going forth and all Israel on foot, stood afar off from the house:

Egressusque rex et omnis Israël pedibus suis, stetit procul a domo:

At some distance away he halted on his journey, with all the throng that accompanied him,

And all his servants walked by him, and the bands of the Cerethi, and the Phelethi, and all the Gethites, valiant warriors, six hundred men who had followed him from Geth on foot, went before the king.

et universi servi ejus ambulabant juxta eum, et legiones Cerethi, et Phelethi, et omnes Gethæi, pugnatores validi, sexcenti viri qui secuti eum fuerant de Geth pedites, præcedebant regem.

his own servants walking at his side, and the Cerethite and Phelethite companies, as well as the Gethite warriors (six hundred foot, that had come from Geth in his retinue), marching on before him.

And the king said to Ethai the Gethite: Why comest thou with us? return and dwell with the king, for thou art a stranger, and art come out of thy own place.

Dixit autem rex ad Ethai Gethæum: Cur venis nobiscum? revertere, et habita cum rege, quia peregrinus es, et egressus es de loco tuo.

Why dost thou come with us? the king asked of Ethai the Gethite. Go back to the court; thou art a wanderer who has already left his home

Yesterday thou camest, and to day shalt thou be forced to go forth with us? but I shall go whither I am going: return thou, and take back thy brethren with thee, and the Lord will shew thee mercy, and truth, because thou hast shewn grace and fidelity.

Heri venisti, et hodie compelleris nobiscum egredi? ego autem vadam quo iturus sum: revertere, et reduc tecum fratres tuos, et Dominus faciet tecum misericordiam et veritatem, quia ostendisti gratiam et fidem.

and camest here but yesterday; there is no need for thee to leave Jerusalem, as the rest of us are leaving it, to-day. I will go where I must; do thou and these brethren of thine return, and may the Lord’s faithful mercies reward thee for this loyal service thou hast shewn.

And Ethai answered the king, saying: As the Lord liveth, and as my lord the king liveth: in what place soever thou shalt be, my lord, O king, either in death, or in life, there will thy servant be.

Et respondit Ethai regi dicens: Vivit Dominus, et vivit dominus meus rex, quoniam in quocumque loco fueris, domine mi rex, sive in morte, sive in vita, ibi erit servus tuus.

But Ethai answered, As the Lord is a living God, as my lord the king is a living man, it cannot be. Wherever thou art, my lord king, in life or in death, there also will thy servant be.

And David said to Ethai: Come, and pass over. And Ethai the Gethite passed, and all the men that were with him, and the rest of the people.

Et ait David Ethai: Veni, et transi. Et transivit Ethai Gethæus, et omnes viri qui cum eo erant, et reliqua multitudo.

Come then, David said to him, pass on over the stream. So Ethai and his men passed over, and then the rest,

And they all wept with a loud voice, and all the people passed over: the king also himself went over the brook Cedron, and all the people marched towards the way that looketh to the desert.

Omnesque flebant voce magna, et universus populus transibat: rex quoque transgrediebatur torrentem Cedron, et cunctus populus incedebat contra viam quæ respicit ad desertum.

weeping aloud as they went, till the whole throng had gone across. The king himself crossed Cedron stream, and they all set out on the road which leads to the desert.

And Sadoc the priest also came, and all the Levites with him carrying the ark of the covenant of God, and they set down the ark of God: and Abiathar went up, till all the people that was come out of the city had done passing.

Venit autem et Sadoc sacerdos, et universi Levitæ cum eo, portantes arcam fœderis Dei: et deposuerunt arcam Dei. Et ascendit Abiathar, donec expletus esset omnis populus qui egressus fuerat de civitate.

Sadoc the priest was among them, and with him the Levites, carrying the ark that bore witness of God’s covenant. They now set the ark down, only Abiathar going forward on his journey, till the whole multitude that had left the city should have passed by.

And the king said to Sadoc: Carry back the ark of God into the city: if I shall find grace in the sight of the Lord, he will bring me again, and he will shew me it, and his tabernacle.

Et dixit rex ad Sadoc: Reporta arcam Dei in urbem: si invenero gratiam in oculis Domini, reducet me, et ostendet mihi eam, et tabernaculum suum.

But the king said to Sadoc, Carry God’s ark back into the city; if the Lord takes my part, he will bring me home again, and I shall see his ark and his tabernacle there;

But if he shall say to me: Thou pleasest me not: I am ready, let him do that which is good before him.

Si autem dixerit mihi: Non places: præsto sum: faciat quod bonum est coram se.

if he tells me that I have lost his favour, I am at his command; his will be done.

And the king said to Sadoc the priest: O seer, return into the city in peace: and let Achimaas thy son, and Jonathan the son of Abiathar, your two sons, be with you.

Et dixit rex ad Sadoc sacerdotem: O videns, revertere in civitatem in pace: et Achimaas filius tuus, et Jonathas filius Abiathar, duo filii vestri, sint vobiscum.

Thou hast the seer’s gift; go back in peace to the city with thy son Achimaas and Abiathar’s son Jonathan,

Behold I will lie hid in the plains of the wilderness, till there come word from you to certify me.

Ecce ego abscondar in campestribus deserti, donec veniat sermo a vobis indicans mihi.

and I will wait till I have word from thee before I come back from my hiding-place in the desert plain.

So Sadoc and Abiathar carried back the ark of God into Jerusalem: and they tarried there.

Reportaverunt ergo Sadoc et Abiathar arcam Dei in Jerusalem, et manserunt ibi.

So Sadoc and Abiathar carried the ark back to Jerusalem, and remained there.

But David went up by the ascent of mount Olivet, going up and weeping, walking barefoot, and with his head covered, and all the people that were with them, went up with their heads covered weeping.

Porro David ascendebat clivum Olivarum, scandens et flens, nudis pedibus incedens, et operto capite: sed et omnis populus qui erat cum eo, operto capite ascendebat plorans.

So David went up the mount of Olives, and wept as he climbed it; bare-footed he went and with his head covered, and all that were in his company passed on, with covered heads, lamenting.

And it was told David that Achitophel also was in the conspiracy with Absalom, and David said: Infatuate, O Lord, I beseech thee, the counsel of Achitophel.

Nuntiatum est autem David quod et Achitophel esset in conjuratione cum Absalom: dixitque David: Infatua, quæso, Domine, consilium Achitophel.

And now David was told that Achitophel had taken part in Absalom’s conspiracy; Lord, he prayed, do thou foil the designs of Achitophel.

And when David was come to the top of the mountain, where he was about to adore the Lord, behold Chusai the Arachite, came to meet him with his garment rent and his head covered with earth.

Cumque ascenderet David summitatem montis in quo adoraturus erat Dominum, ecce occurrit ei Chusai Arachites, scissa veste, et terra pleno capite.

He had already reached the top of the hill, where he meant to pay the Lord worship, when he met Chusai the Arachite, his garments torn, and his head all smeared with dust.

And David said to him: If thou come with me, thou wilt be a burden to me:

Et dixit ei David: Si veneris mecum, eris mihi oneri:

Nay, said David, if thou shouldst come with me, thou canst only be a burden to me;

But if thou return into the city, and wilt say to Absalom: I am thy servant, O king: as I have been thy father’s servant, so I will be thy servant: thou shalt defeat the counsel of Achitophel.

si autem in civitatem revertaris, et dixeris Absalom: Servus tuus sum, rex: sicut fui servus patris tui, sic ero servus tuus: dissipabis consilium Achitophel.

go back to the city, and tell Absalom, lord king, I am at thy command, I will be thy servant as I was thy father’s. So thou wilt be able to thwart the designs of Achitophel.

And thou hast with thee Sadoc, and Abiathar the priests: and what thing soever thou shalt hear out of the king’s house, thou shalt tell it to Sadoc and Abiathar the priests.

Habes autem tecum Sadoc et Abiathar sacerdotes: et omne verbum quodcumque audieris de domo regis, indicabis Sadoc et Abiathar sacerdotibus.

Thou hast the priests, Sadoc and Abiathar, to help thee; pass on to the priests, to Sadoc and Abiathar, every word thou hearest at court.

And there are with them their two sons Achimaas the son of Sadoc, and Jonathan the son of Abiathar: and you shall send by them to me every thing that you shall hear.

Sunt autem cum eis duo filii eorum Achimaas filius Sadoc, et Jonathas filius Abiathar: et mittetis per eos ad me omne verbum quod audieritis.

Their sons remain with them, Sadoc’s son Achimaas and Abiathar’s son Jonathan; by them thou canst send me news of all thou hearest.

Then Chusai the friend of David went into the city, and Absalom came into Jerusalem.

Veniente ergo Chusai amico David in civitatem, Absalom quoque ingressus est Jerusalem.

So David’s friend Chusai went back, and Absalom was entering Jerusalem as he reached it.