1 And it came to pass the year turning about, at such time when kings are wont to proceed to battles, David sent Joab, and his servants with him, and all Israel, and they spoiled the children of Ammon, and besieged Rabba: but David remained in Jerusalem.
1 And it came to pass at the return of the year, ¹at the time when kings go forth to war, that David sent Joab and his servants with him, and all Israel, and they spoiled the children of Ammon, and besieged Rabba: but David remained in Jerusalem.
2 Whilst these things were in doing, it chanced that David arose from his bed after noon, and walked in the top of the king's house: and he saw a woman washing herself, over-against the roof of his house: and the woman was very beautiful.
2 In the mean time it happened that David arose from his bed after noon, and walked upon the roof of the king’s house: And he saw from the roof of his house a woman washing herself, over against him: and the woman was very beautiful.
3 The king therefore sent, and inquired what woman it was. And it was told him, that she was Bethsabee the daughter of Eliam, the wife of Urias the Hetheite.
3 And the king sent, and inquired who the woman was. And it was told him, that she was Bethsabee the daughter of Eliam, the wife of Urias the Hethite.
4 David therefore sending messengers took her, who when she was entered in to him, he slept with her: and forth with she was sanctified from her uncleanness:
4 And David sent messengers, and took her, and she came in to him, and he slept with her: ²and presently she was purified from her uncleanness:
5 and she returned into her house having conceived a child. And sending she told David, and said: I have conceived.
5 And she returned to her house having conceived. And she sent and told David, and said: I have conceived.
6 And David sent to Joab, saying: Send Urias the Hetheite. And Joab sent Urias to David.
6 And David sent to Joab, saying: Send me Urias the Hethite. And Joab sent Urias to David.
7 And Urias came to David. And David asked how well Joab did, & the people, and how the war was ordered.
7 And Urias came to David. And David asked how Joab did, and the people, and how the war was carried on.
8 And David said to Urias: Go into thy house, and wash thy feet. And Urias went forth out of the king's house, & the king's meat followed him.
8 And David said to Urias: Go into thy house, and wash thy feet. And Urias went out from the king’s house, and there went out after him a mess of meat from the king.
9 But Urias slept before the gate of the king's house, with the other servants of his lord, and went not down to his own house.
9 But Urias slept before the gate of the king’s house, with the other servants of his lord, and went not down to his own house.
10 And it was told David of them that said: Urias went not into his house. And David said to Urias: Didst thou not come from thy journey? Why didst thou not go down into thy house?
10 And it was told David by some that said: Urias went not to his house. And David said to Urias: Didst thou not come from thy journey? Why didst thou not go down to thy house?
11 And Urias said to David: The Ark of God and Israel & Juda dwell in pavilions, & my lord Joab and the servants of my lord abide upon the face of the earth: and shall I enter into my house, to eat and to drink, and sleep with my wife? By thy health, and by the health of thy soul I will not do this thing.
11 And Urias said to David: The ark of God and Israel and Juda dwell in tents, and my lord Joab and the servants of my lord abide upon the face of the earth: and shall I go into my house, to eat and to drink, and to sleep with my wife? By thy welfare and by the welfare of thy soul I will not do this thing.
12 David therefore said to Urias: tarry here also this day, and tomorrow I will dismiss thee. Urias tarried in Jerusalem that day and the next:
12 Then David said to Urias: Tarry here today, and tomorrow I will send thee away. Urias tarried in Jerusalem that day and the next.
13 and David called him to eat before him and to drink, and he made him drunk: who going out at even, slept on his couch with the servants of his lord, and went not down into his house.
13 And David called him to eat and to drink before him, and he made him drunk: and he went out in the evening, and slept on his couch with the servants of his lord, and went not down into his house.
14 The morning therefore was come, and David wrote a letter to Joab: and sent it by the hand of Urias,
14 And when the morning was come, David wrote a letter to Joab: and sent it by the hand of Urias,
15 writing in the letter: Set ye Urias in the front of the battle, where the fight is strongest: and leave him, that being strucken he may die.
15 Writing in the letter: Set ye Urias in the front of the battle, where the fight is strongest: and leave ye him, that he may be wounded and die.
16 Therefore when Joab besieged the city, he put Urias in the place where he knew the strongest men were.
16 Wherefore as Joab was besieging the city, he put Urias in the place where he knew the bravest men were.
17 And the men issuing out of the city, fought against Joab, and there fell of the people of the servants of David, and Urias also the Hetheite died.
17 And the men coming out of the city, fought against Joab, and there fell some of the people of the servants of David, and Urias the Hethite was killed also.
18 Joab therefore sent, and told David all the story of the battle:
18 Then Joab sent, and told David all things concerning the battle.
19 and he commanded the messenger, saying: When thou hast told all the story of the battle to the king,
19 And he charged the messenger, saying: When thou hast told all the words of the battle to the king,
20 if thou see him to be angry, and he say: Why approached you to the wall, to fight? Knew you not that many weapons are thrown from above of the wall?
20 If thou see him to be angry, and he shall say: Why did you approach so near to the wall to fight? Knew you not that many darts are thrown from above off the wall?
21 Who struck Abimelec the son of Jerobaal? Did not a woman cast upon him a piece of a millstone from the wall, and slew him in Thebes? Why approached you near the wall? Thou shalt say: Also thy servant Urias the Hetheite is slain.
21 Who killed Abimelech the son of Jerobaal? ³Did not a woman cast a piece of a millstone upon him from the wall and slew him in Thebes? Why did you go near the wall? Thou shalt say: Thy servant Urias the Hethite is also slain.
22 The messenger therefore departed, and came, and told David all things that Joab had commanded him,
22 So the messenger departed, and came and told David all that Joab had commanded him.
23 And the messenger said to David: The men have prevailed against us, and they issued forth to us into the field: and we violently pursued them even to the gate of the city.
23 And the messenger said to David: The men prevailed against us, and they came out to us into the field: and we vigorously charged and pursued them even to the gate of the city.
24 And the archers shot arrows at thy servants from off the wall above: and there died of the king's servants, yea and thy servant Urias the Hetheite is dead.
24 And the archers shot their arrows at thy servants from off the wall above: and some of the king’s servants are slain, and thy servant Urias the Hethite is also dead.
25 And David said to the messenger: Thus shalt thou say to Joab: Let not this thing discomfort thee: for the event of war is diverse: now this man, and now that man the sword consumeth: encourage thy warriors against the city, that thou mayest destroy it, and exhort them.
25 And David said to the messenger: Thus shalt thou say to Joab: Let not this thing discourage thee: for various is the event of war: and sometimes one, sometimes another is consumed by the sword: encourage thy warriors against the city, and exhort them that thou mayest overthrow it.
26 Also the wife of Urias heard, that Urias her husband was dead, & she mourned for him.
26 And the wife of Urias heard that Urias her husband was dead, and she mourned for him.
27 And the mourning being past, David sent and brought her in into his house, & she became his wife, and she bare him a son: and this thing which David had done, was displeasant before our Lord.
27 And the mourning being over, David sent and brought her into his house, and she became his wife, and she bore him a son: and this thing which David had done, was displeasing to the Lord.