Mulier autem quædam de uxoribus prophetarum clamabat ad Eliseum, dicens: Servus tuus vir meus mortuus est, et tu nosti quia servus tuus fuit timens Dominum: et ecce creditor venit ut tollat duos filios meos ad serviendum sibi.

There was a woman once that appealed to Eliseus for aid; her husband had been among the disciples of the prophets. Master, she said, thou knewest my husband for a faithful servant of thine, and one that feared the Lord. Now he is dead, and here is a creditor of mine that will come and take away my two sons, to be his bondsmen.

Now a certain woman of the wives of the prophets cried to Eliseus, saying: Thy servant my husband is dead, and thou knowest that thy servant was one that feared God, and behold the creditor is come to take away my two sons to serve him.

Cui dixit Eliseus: Quid vis ut faciam tibi? dic mihi, quid habes in domo tua? At illa respondit: Non habeo ancilla tua quidquam in domo mea, nisi parum olei quo ungar.

What wouldst thou have me do for thee? asked Eliseus. How much hast thou by thee? My lord, she answered, I have nothing left in my house at all but a drop of oil to anoint myself with.

And Eliseus said to her: What wilt thou have me to do for thee? Tell me, what hast thou in thy house? And she answered: I thy handmaid have nothing in my house but a little oil, to anoint me.

Cui ait: Vade, pete mutuo ab omnibus vicinis tuis vasa vacua non pauca,

Go then, said he, and borrow empty jars from all thy neighbours, and do not stint thyself.

And he said to her: Go, borrow of all thy neighbours empty vessels not a few.

et ingredere, et claude ostium tuum cum intrinsecus fueris tu, et filii tui: et mitte inde in omnia vasa hæc, et cum plena fuerint, tolles.

Then go home, and lock the door on thyself and thy two sons within; fill all these jars with the oil, and set them aside when they are full.

And go in, and shut thy door, when thou art within, and thy sons: and pour out thereof into all those vessels: and when they are full take them away.

Ivit itaque mulier, et clausit ostium super se, et super filios suos: illi offerebant vasa, et illa infundebat.

So the woman went, and locked the door on herself and her two sons, and they began holding out the jars for her, while she filled them.

So the woman went, and shut the door upon her, and upon her sons: they brought her the vessels, and she poured in.

Cumque plena fuissent vasa, dixit ad filium suum: Affer mihi adhuc vas. Et ille respondit: Non habeo. Stetitque oleum.

When she had filled them, and, asking one of her sons for a fresh jar, was told that he had no more, the oil gave out.

And when the vessels were full, she said to her son: Bring me yet a vessel. And he answered: I have no more. And the oil stood.

Venit autem illa, et indicavit homini Dei. Et ille: Vade, inquit, vende oleum, et redde creditori tuo: tu autem, et filii tui vivite de reliquo.

So she came and told her story to the servant of God, and he said, Go and sell the oil, and pay thy creditor; what is left shall provide thee and thy sons with a living.

And she came, and told the man of God. And he said: Go, sell the oil, and pay thy creditor: and thou and thy sons live of the rest.

Facta est autem quædam dies, et transibat Eliseus per Sunam: erat autem ibi mulier magna, quæ tenuit eum ut comederet panem: cumque frequenter inde transiret, divertebat ad eam ut comederet panem.

At another time, Eliseus chanced to be passing through Sunam, and here there was a woman of rank that bade him to a meal, and would take no denial. He must needs go that way often, and ever this woman entertained him,

And there was a day when Eliseus passed by Sunam: now there was a great woman there, who detained him to eat bread; and as he passed often that way, he turned into her house to eat bread.

Quæ dixit ad virum suum: Animadverto quod vir Dei sanctus est iste, qui transit per nos frequenter.

till at last she said to her husband, I find him to be a servant of God, and a holy one, this man that passes our way so often.

And she said to her husband: I perceive that this is a holy man of God, who often passeth by us.

Faciamus ergo ei cœnaculum parvum, et ponamus ei in eo lectulum, et mensam, et sellam, et candelabrum, ut cum venerit ad nos, maneat ibi.

It would be well if we kept a little room for his use, with bed and table and chair and lamp-stand in it, so that he may pass his time there whenever he visits us.

Let us therefore make him a little chamber, and put a little bed in it for him, and a table, and a stool, and a candlestick, that when he cometh to us, he may abide there.

Facta est ergo dies quædam, et veniens divertit in cœnaculum, et requievit ibi.

And so, one day, when he had turned in to this room of his, to rest there,

Now there was a certain day when he came and turned in to the chamber, and rested there.

Dixitque ad Giezi puerum suum: Voca Sunamitidem istam. Qui cum vocasset eam, et illa stetisset coram eo,

he bade his servant Giezi fetch the woman of Sunam; and she, thus summoned, stood awaiting his audience.

And he said to Giezi his servant: Call this Sunamitess. And when he had called her, and she stood before him,

dixit ad puerum suum: Loquere ad eam: Ecce, sedule in omnibus ministrasti nobis: quid vis ut faciam tibi? numquid habes negotium, et vis ut loquar regi, sive principi militiæ? Quæ respondit: In medio populi mei habito.

And Eliseus sent her, through his servant, this message, In all things thou hast bestowed thy constant care on us; what wouldst thou have me do for thee in return? Is there any business of thine, over which thou wouldst have me say a word for thee to the king, or to the commander of his army? And her answer was, Nay, my place is with my own folk.

He said to his servant: Say to her: Behold thou hast diligently served us in all things, what wilt thou have me to do for thee? hast thou any business, and wilt thou that I speak to the king, or to the general of the army? And she answered: I dwell in the midst of my own people.

Et ait: Quid ergo vult ut faciam ei? Dixitque Giezi: Ne quæras: filium enim non habet, et vir ejus senex est.

And now, as he wondered what he could do for her, Giezi told him, No need to ask; she has no son, and her husband is an old man.

And he said: What will she then that I do for her? And Giezi said: Do not ask, for she hath no son, and her husband is old.

Præcepit itaque ut vocaret eam: quæ cum vocata fuisset, et stetisset ante ostium,

So Eliseus would have her brought to him, and as she stood there in the doorway,

Then he bid him call her: And when she was called, and stood before the door,

dixit ad eam: In tempore isto, et in hac eadem hora, si vita comes fuerit, habebis in utero filium. At illa respondit: Noli quæso, domine mi vir Dei, noli mentiri ancillæ tuæ.

When this time of year comes round again, he told her, at this very hour, live thou till then, thou shalt conceive a son. Nay, my lord, she said, wouldst thou, a prophet, trifle thus with thy handmaid?

He said to her: At this time, and this same hour, if life accompany, thou shalt have a son in thy womb. But she answered: Do not, I beseech thee, my lord, thou man of God, do not lie to thy handmaid.

Et concepit mulier, et peperit filium in tempore, et in hora eadem, qua dixerat Eliseus.

But at that very season of the year, and at the very time Eliseus had foretold, she conceived, and bore a son.

And the woman conceived, and brought forth a son in the time, and at the same hour, that Eliseus had said.

Crevit autem puer: et cum esset quædam dies, et egressus isset ad patrem suum, ad messores,

The child grew to boyhood, and one day, when he had gone out to be with his father where they were reaping the corn,

And the child grew. And on a certain day, when he went out to his father to the reapers,

ait patri suo: Caput meum doleo, caput meum doleo. At ille dixit puero: Tolle, et duc eum ad matrem suam.

he told his father, My head aches, my head aches sorely. His father bade one of the servants carry him back to his mother;

He said to his father: My head acheth, my head acheth. But he said to his servant: Take him, and carry him to his mother.

Qui cum tulisset, et duxisset eum ad matrem suam, posuit eum illa super genua sua usque ad meridiem, et mortuus est.

carry him back he did, and brought him to his mother, and she nursed him on her lap till noon came, but at noon he died.

And when he had taken him, and brought him to his mother, she set him on her knees until noon, and then he died.

Ascendit autem, et collocavit eum super lectulum hominis Dei, et clausit ostium: et egressa,

Thereupon she carried him up and laid him on the prophet’s own bed, and shut the door on him; then went out

And she went up and laid him upon the bed of the man of God, and shut the door: and going out,

vocavit virum suum, et ait: Mitte mecum, obsecro, unum de pueris, et asinam, ut excurram usque ad hominem Dei, et revertar.

and called her husband, and asked to have one of the servants with her, and an ass; she must go and see the prophet with all speed, and with all speed return.

She called her husband, and said: Send with me, I beseech thee, one of thy servants, and an ass that I may run to the man of God, and come again.

Qui ait illi: Quam ob causam vadis ad eum? hodie non sunt calendæ, neque sabbatum. Quæ respondit: Vadam.

Why, said he, what means this journey of thine? This is no feast of the new moon, no sabbath day. But she answered, Go I must.

And he said to her: Why dost thou go to him? to day is neither new moon nor sabbath. She answered: I will go.

Stravitque asinam, et præcepit puero: Mina, et propera: ne mihi moram facias in eundo: et hoc age quod præcipio tibi.

Then she saddled the ass, and bade the servant lead on, and that in haste; let him lose no time over the journey, and wait ever on her bidding.

And she saddled an ass, and commanded her servant: Drive, and make haste, make no stay in going. And do that which I bid thee.

Profecta est igitur, et venit ad virum Dei in montem Carmeli: cumque vidisset eam vir Dei e contra, ait ad Giezi puerum suum: Ecce Sunamitis illa.

So out she went, and found the servant of God on mount Carmel. And he, when he saw her approaching, said to his servant Giezi, That is the woman from Sunam;

So she went forward, and came to the man of God to mount Carmel: and when the man of God saw her coming towards, he said to Giezi his servant: Behold that Sunamitess.

Vade ergo in occursum ejus, et dic ei: Recte ne agitur circa te, et circa virum tuum, et circa filium tuum? Quæ respondit: Recte.

go to meet her, and ask her if all is well with her, all well, too, with her husband and her son. All is well, she said;

Go therefore to meet her, and say to her: Is all well with thee, and with thy husband, and with thy son? and she answered: Well.

Cumque venisset ad virum Dei in montem, apprehendit pedes ejus: et accessit Giezi ut amoveret eam. Et ait homo Dei: Dimitte illam: anima enim ejus in amaritudine est, et Dominus celavit a me, et non indicavit mihi.

but when she reached the servant of God, there on the mountain, she clasped him by the knees. Giezi would have pulled her away, but the servant of God said, Let her alone; here is great anguish of spirit, and I none the wiser; the Lord told me nothing of it.

And when she came to the man of God to the mount, she caught hold on his feet: and Giezi came to remove her. And the man of God said: Let her alone for her soul is in anguish, and the Lord hath hid it from me, and hath not told me.

Quæ dixit illi: Numquid petivi filium a domino meo? numquid non dixi tibi: Ne illudas me?

Then she said, My lord, did I not ask to have a son, imploring thee not to cheat me of my hopes?

And she said to him: Did I ask a son of my lord? did I not say to thee: Do not deceive me?

Et ille ait ad Giezi: Accinge lumbos tuos, et tolle baculum meum in manu tua, et vade. Si occurrerit tibi homo, non salutes eum: et si salutaverit te quispiam, non respondeas illi: et pones baculum meum super faciem pueri.

Whereupon he said to Giezi, Gird thyself, and take this staff of mine with thee; go at once, greeting none and returning no greeting by the way, till thou reachest the boy; and lay down my staff on his face.

Then he said to Giezi: Gird up thy loins, and take my staff in thy hand, and go. If any man meet thee, salute him not: and if any man salute thee, answer him not: and lay my staff upon the face of the child.

Porro mater pueri ait: Vivit Dominus, et vivit anima tua, non dimittam te. Surrexit ergo, et secutus est eam.

As thou livest, the woman said, and servest a living Lord, I will not part from thee. So he rose up and went with her.

But the mother of the child said: As the Lord liveth, and as thy soul liveth, I will not leave thee. He arose, therefore, and followed her.

Giezi autem præcesserat ante eos, et posuerat baculum super faciem pueri, et non erat vox, neque sensus: reversusque est in occursum ejus, et nuntiavit ei, dicens: Non surrexit puer.

Giezi had gone on before him, and put down the staff on the boy’s face; but no sound came, no sign of life, so he went back to meet his master with the news, The boy did not stir.

But Giezi was gone before them, and laid the staff upon the face of the child, and there was no voice nor sense: and he returned to meet him, and told him, saying: The child is not risen.

Ingressus est ergo Eliseus domum, et ecce puer mortuus jacebat in lectulo ejus:

Then Eliseus went into the house, where the boy lay dead in his bed;

Eliseus therefore went into the house, and behold the child lay dead on his bed.

ingressusque clausit ostium super se et super puerum, et oravit ad Dominum.

and there he shut himself in with the boy, and prayed to the Lord.

And going in he shut the door upon him, and upon the child, and prayed to the Lord.

Et ascendit, et incubuit super puerum: posuitque os suum super os ejus, et oculos suos super oculos ejus, et manus suas super manus ejus: et incurvavit se super eum, et calefacta est caro pueri.

So, rising from his prayer, he laid himself down on the dead body, mouth to mouth, eyes to eyes, hands to hands, bending down close, till the boy’s flesh grew warm.

And he went up, and lay upon the child: and he put his mouth upon his mouth, and his eyes upon his eyes, and his hands upon his hands: and he bowed himself upon him, and the child’s flesh grew warm.

At ille reversus, deambulavit in domo, semel huc atque illuc: et ascendit, et incubuit super eum: et oscitavit puer septies, aperuitque oculos.

Then he went away, and walked to the end of the house and back, and now when he mounted the bed and lay down, the boy yawned seven times, and opened his eyes.

Then he returned and walked in the house, once to and fro: and he went up, and lay upon him: and the child gaped seven times, and opened his eyes.

At ille vocavit Giezi, et dixit ei: Voca Sunamitidem hanc. Quæ vocata, ingressa est ad eum. Qui ait: Tolle filium tuum.

Then Eliseus sent Giezi to fetch the woman of Sunam, and when she answered the summons, bade her take her son into her arms.

And he called Giezi, and said to him: Call this Sunamitess. And she being called, went in to him: and he said: Take up thy son.

Venit illa, et corruit ad pedes ejus, et adoravit super terram: tulitque filium suum, et egressa est.

So she came up, and fell at his feet, bowing down to the earth; then she took up her son and went out,

She came and fell at his feet, and worshipped upon the ground: and took up her son, and went out.

Et Eliseus reversus est in Galgala. Erat autem fames in terra, et filii prophetarum habitabant coram eo. Dixitque uni de pueris suis: Pone ollam grandem, et coque pulmentum filiis prophetarum.

and Eliseus made his way to Galgal.There was once a famine in the country, at a time when Eliseus had some of the young prophets staying with him. And he bade one of his servants put on the greatest pot they had, and cook broth for these disciples of his.

And Eliseus returned to Galgal, and there was a famine in the land, and the sons of the prophets dwelt before him. And he said to one of his servants: Set on the great pot, and boil pottage for the sons of the prophets.

Et egressus est unus in agrum ut colligeret herbas agrestes: invenitque quasi vitem silvestrem, et collegit ex ea colocynthidas agri, et implevit pallium suum, et reversus concidit in ollam pulmenti: nesciebat enim quid esset.

The man who had gone out afield to gather wild herbs for them found a creeping plant in the woods, from which he filled his lap with wild gourds; and these, when he came home, he shredded into the pot of broth, never enquiring what they were.

And one went out into the field to gather wild herbs: and he found something like a wild vine, and gathered of it wild gourds of the field, and filled his mantle, and coming back he shred them into the pot of pottage, for he knew not what it was.

Infuderunt ergo sociis ut comederent: cumque gustassent de coctione, clamaverunt, dicentes: Mors in olla, vir Dei. Et non potuerunt comedere.

When the time came for his guests to have their meal, the broth was poured out; but no sooner had they tasted it than they cried out, Death it were, lord prophet, to taste this broth of thine; drink it they might not.

And they poured it out for their companions to eat: and when they had tasted of the pottage, they cried out, saying: Death is in the pot, O man of God. And they could not eat thereof.

At ille: Afferte, inquit, farinam. Cumque tulissent, misit in ollam, et ait: Infunde turbæ, ut comedant. Et non fuit amplius quidquam amaritudinis in olla.

Thereupon he would have some flour brought him; brought it was, and when he threw it into the pot and had broth poured out for the company, all bitterness had left it.

But he said: Bring some meal. And when they had brought it, he cast it into the pot, and said: Pour out for the people, that they may eat. And there was now no bitterness in the pot.

Vir autem quidam venit de Baalsalisa deferens viro Dei panes primitiarum, viginti panes hordeaceos, et frumentum novum in pera sua. At ille dixit: Da populo, ut comedat.

Once, too, a man came from Baal-Salisa, bringing with him twenty barley loaves, his first-fruit offering, and nothing besides except some fresh grain in his wallet. Eliseus would have a meal set before the company,

And a certain man came from Baalsalisa bringing to the man of God bread of the firstfruits, twenty loaves of barley, and new corn in his scrip. And he said: Give to the people, that they may eat.

Responditque ei minister ejus: Quantum est hoc, ut apponam centum viris? Rursum ille ait: Da populo, ut comedat: hæc enim dicit Dominus: Comedent, et supererit.

and when his servant asked how this would suffice for a hundred mouths, he said again, Set it before the company for their meal; they shall eat, the Lord says, and leave some over.

And his servant answered him: How much is this, that I should set it before a hundred men? He said again: Give to the people, that they may eat: for thus saith the Lord: They shall eat, and there shall be left.

Posuit itaque coram eis: qui comederunt, et superfuit juxta verbum Domini.

And when he set it before them, eat they did and leave they did; so the Lord’s promise was fulfilled.

So he set it before them: and they ate, and there was left according to the word of the Lord.