2 Kingdoms 15

Βασιλειῶν Β´

1 ΚΑΙ ἐγένετο μετὰ ταῦτα καὶ ἐποίησεν ἑαυτῷ Ἀβεσσαλὼμ ἅρματα καὶ ἵππους καὶ πεντήκοντα ἄνδρας παρατρέχειν ἔμπροσθεν αὐτοῦ.

And it came to pass after this that Abessalom prepared for himself chariots and horses, and fifty men to run before him.

2 καὶ ὤρθρισεν Ἀβεσσαλὼμ καὶ ἔστη ἀνὰ χεῖρας τῆς ὁδοῦ τῆς πύλης καὶ ἐγένετο πᾶς ἀνήρ, ᾧ ἐγένετο κρίσις, ἦλθε πρὸς τὸν βασιλέα εἰς κρίσιν, καὶ ἐβόησε πρὸς αὐτὸν Ἀβεσσαλὼμ καὶ ἔλεγεν αὐτῷ· ἐκ ποίας πόλεως σὺ εἶ; καὶ εἶπεν· ἐκ μιᾶς φυλῶν Ἰσραὴλ ὁ δοῦλός σου.

And Abessalom rose early, and stood by the side of the way of the gate: and it came to pass that every man who had a cause, came to the king for judgement, and Abessalom cried to him, and said to him, Of what city are you? And he said, Your servant [is] of one of the tribes of Israel.

3 καὶ εἶπε πρὸς αὐτὸν ὁ Ἀβεσσαλώμ· ἰδοὺ οἱ λόγοι σου ἀγαθοὶ καὶ εὔκολοι, καὶ ὁ ἀκούων οὐκ ἔστι σοι παρὰ τοῦ βασιλέως.

And Abessalom said to him, See, your affairs [are] right and clear, yet you have no one [appointed] of the king to hear you.

4 καὶ εἶπεν Ἀβεσσαλώμ· τίς με καταστήσει κριτὴν ἐν τῇ γῇ, καὶ ἐπ' ἐμὲ ἐλεύσεται πᾶς ἀνήρ, ᾧ ἐὰν ᾖ ἀντιλογία καὶ κρίσις, καὶ δικαιώσω αὐτόν;

And Abessalom said, O that one would make me a judge in the land; then every man who had a dispute or a cause would come to me, and I would judge him!

5 καὶ ἐγένετο ἐν τῷ ἐγγίζειν ἄνδρα τοῦ προσκυνῆσαι αὐτῷ καὶ ἐξέτεινε τὴν χεῖρα αὐτοῦ καὶ ἐπελαμβάνετο αὐτοῦ καὶ κατεφίλησεν αὐτόν.

And it came to pass when a man came near to do him obeisance, that he stretched out his hand, and took hold of him, and kissed him.

6 καὶ ἐποίησεν Ἀβεσσαλὼμ κατὰ τὸ ρῆμα τοῦτο παντὶ Ἰσραὴλ τοῖς παραγινομένοις εἰς κρίσιν πρὸς τὸν βασιλέα, καὶ ἰδιοποιεῖτο Ἀβεσσαλὼμ τὴν καρδίαν ἀνδρῶν Ἰσραήλ.

And Abessalom did after this manner to all Israel that came to the king for judgement; and Abessalom gained the hearts of the men of Israel.

7 καὶ ἐγένετο ἀπὸ τέλους τεσσαράκοντα ἐτῶν καὶ εἶπεν Ἀβεσσαλὼμ πρὸς τὸν πατέρα αὐτοῦ· πορεύσομαι δὴ καὶ ἀποτίσω τὰς εὐχάς μου, ἃς ηὐξάμην τῷ Κυρίῳ ἐν Χεβρών·

And it came to pass after forty years, that Abessalom said to his father, I will go now, and pay my vows, which I vowed to the Lord in Chebron.

8 ὅτι εὐχὴν ηὔξατο ὁ δοῦλός σου ἐν τῷ οἰκεῖν με ἐν Γεδσοὺρ ἐν Συρίᾳ λέγων· ἐὰν ἐπιστρέφων ἐπιστρέψῃ με Κύριος εἰς Ἱερουσαλήμ, καὶ λατρεύσω τῷ Κυρίῳ.

For your servant vowed a vow when I lived at Gedsur in Syria, saying, If the Lord should indeed restore me to Jerusalem, then will I serve the Lord.

9 καὶ εἶπεν αὐτῷ ὁ βασιλεύς· βάδιζε εἰς εἰρήνην· καὶ ἀναστὰς ἐπορεύθη εἰς Χεβρών.

And the king said to him, Go in peace. And he arose and went to Chebron.

10 καὶ ἀπέστειλεν Ἀβεσσαλὼμ κατασκόπους ἐν πάσαις φυλαῖς Ἰσραὴλ λέγων· ἐν τῷ ἀκοῦσαι ὑμᾶς τὴν φωνὴν τῆς κερατίνης καὶ ἐρεῖτε· βεβασίλευκε βασιλεὺς Ἀβεσσαλὼμ ἐν Χεβρών.

And Abessalom sent spies throughout all the tribes of Israel, saying, When you⌃ hear the sound of the trumpet, then shall you⌃ say, Abessalom is become king in Chebron.

11 καὶ μετὰ Ἀβεσσαλὼμ ἐπορεύθησαν διακόσιοι ἄνδρες ἐξ Ἱερουσαλὴμ κλητοὶ καὶ πορευόμενοι τῇ ἁπλότητι αὐτῶν καὶ οὐκ ἔγνωσαν πᾶν ρῆμα.

And there went with Abessalom two hundred chosen men from Jerusalem; and they went in their simplicity, and knew not anything.

12 καὶ ἀπέστειλεν Ἀβεσσαλὼμ καὶ ἐκάλεσε τὸν Ἀχιτόφελ τὸν Γελμωναῖον τὸν σύμβουλον Δαυὶδ ἐκ τῆς πόλεως αὐτοῦ ἐκ Γωλὰ ἐν τῷ θυσιάζειν αὐτόν. καὶ ἐγένετο σύστρεμμα ἰσχυρόν, καὶ ὁ λαὸς ὁ πορευόμενος καὶ πολὺς μετὰ Ἀβεσσαλώμ.

And Abessalom sent to Achitophel the Theconite, the counsellor of David, from his city, from Gola, where he was sacrificing: and there was a strong conspiracy; and the people with Abessalom were increasingly numerous.

13 καὶ παρεγένετο ὁ ἀπαγγέλλων πρὸς Δαυὶδ λέγων· ἐγενήθη ἡ καρδία ἀνδρῶν Ἰσραὴλ ὀπίσω Ἀβεσσαλώμ.

And there came a messenger to David, saying, the heart of the men of Israel is gone after Abessalom.

14 καὶ εἶπε Δαυὶδ πᾶσι τοῖς παισὶν αὐτοῦ τοῖς μετ' αὐτοῦ τοῖς ἐν Ἱερουσαλήμ· ἀνάστητε καὶ φύγωμεν, ὅτι οὐκ ἔστιν ἡμῖν σωτηρία ἀπὸ προσώπου Ἀβεσσαλώμ· ταχύνατε τοῦ πορευθῆναι, ἵνα μὴ ταχύνῃ καὶ καταλάβῃ ἡμᾶς καὶ ἐξώσῃ ἐφ' ἡμᾶς τὴν κακίαν καὶ πατάξῃ τὴν πόλιν ἐν στόματι μαχαίρας.

And David said to all his servants who were with him in Jerusalem, Rise, and let us flee, for we have no refuge from Abessalom: make haste and go, lest he overtake us speedily, and bring evil upon us, and strike the city with the edge of the sword.

15 καὶ εἶπον οἱ παῖδες τοῦ βασιλέως πρὸς τὸν βασιλέα· κατὰ πάντα, ὅσα αἱρεῖται ὁ κύριος ἡμῶν ὁ βασιλεύς, ἰδοὺ οἱ παῖδές σου.

And the king's servants said to the king, In all things which our lord the king chooses, behold [we are] your servants.

16 καὶ ἐξῆλθεν ὁ βασιλεὺς καὶ πᾶς ὁ οἶκος αὐτοῦ τοῖς ποσὶν αὐτῶν· καὶ ἀφῆκεν ὁ βασιλεὺς δέκα γυναῖκας τῶν παλλακῶν αὐτοῦ φυλάσσειν τὸν οἶκον.

And the king and all his house went out on foot: and the king left ten women of his concubines to keep the house.

17 καὶ ἐξῆλθεν ὁ βασιλεὺς καὶ πάντες οἱ παῖδες αὐτοῦ πεζῇ καὶ ἔστησαν ἐν οἴκῳ τῷ μακράν.

And the king and all his servants went out on foot; and abode in a distant house.

18 καὶ πάντες οἱ παῖδες αὐτοῦ ἀνὰ χεῖρα αὐτοῦ παρῆγον καὶ πᾶς Χελεθὶ καὶ πᾶς ὁ Φελεθὶ καὶ ἔστησαν ἐπὶ τῆς ἐλαίας ἐν τῇ ἐρήμῳ· καὶ πᾶς ὁ λαὸς παρεπορεύετο ἐχόμενος αὐτοῦ καὶ πάντες οἱ περὶ αὐτὸν καὶ πάντες οἱ ἁδροὶ καὶ πάντες οἱ μαχηταὶ ἑξακόσιοι ἄνδρες, καὶ παρῆσαν ἐπὶ χεῖρα αὐτοῦ· καὶ πᾶς ὁ Χελεθὶ καὶ πᾶς ὁ Φελεθὶ καὶ πάντες οἱ Γεθθαῖοι, οἱ ἑξακόσιοι ἄνδρες οἱ ἐλθόντες τοῖς ποσὶν αὐτῶν ἐκ Γέθ, πορευόμενοι ἐπὶ πρόσωπον τοῦ βασιλέως.

And all his servants passed on by his side, and every Chelethite, and every Phelethite, and they stood by the olive tree in the wilderness: and all the people marched near him, and all his court, and all the men of might, and all the men of war, six hundred: and they were present at his side: and every Chelethite, and every Phelethite, and all the six hundred Gittites that came on foot out of Geth, and they went on before the king.

19 καὶ εἶπεν ὁ βασιλεὺς πρὸς Ἐθθὶ τὸν Γεθθαῖον· ἱνατί πορεύῃ καὶ σὺ μεθ' ἡμῶν; ἐπίστρεφε καὶ οἴκει μετὰ τοῦ βασιλέως, ὅτι ξένος εἶ σὺ καὶ ὅτι μετῴκησας σὺ ἐκ τοῦ τόπου σου.

And the king said to Ethi, the Gittite, Why do you also go with us? return, and dwell with the king, for you are a stranger, and you have come forth as a sojourner out of your place.

20 εἰ ἐχθὲς παραγέγονας, καὶ σήμερον κινήσω σε μεθ' ἡμῶν; καί γε μεταναστήσεις τὸν τόπον σου; ἐχθὲς ἡ ἐξέλευσίς σου, καὶ σήμερον μετακινήσω σε μεθ' ἡμῶν τοῦ πορευθῆναι; καὶ ἐγὼ πορεύσομαι οὗ ἐὰν ἐγὼ πορευθῶ. ἐπιστρέφου καὶ ἐπίστρεψον τοὺς ἀδελφούς σου μετὰ σοῦ, καὶ Κύριος ποιήσει μετὰ σοῦ ἔλεος καὶ ἀλήθειαν.

Whereas you came yesterday, shall I today cause you to travel with us, and shall you [thus] change your place? you did come forth yesterday, and today shall I set you in motion to go along with us? I indeed will go wherever I may go: return then, and cause your brethren to return with you, and may the Lord deal mercifully and truly with you.

21 καὶ ἀπεκρίθη Ἐθθὶ τῷ βασιλεῖ καὶ εἶπε· ζῇ Κύριος καὶ ζῇ ὁ κύριός μου ὁ βασιλεύς, ὅτι εἰς τὸν τόπον, οὗ ἐὰν ᾖ ὁ κύριός μου, καὶ ἐὰν εἰς θάνατον καὶ ἐὰν εἰς ζωήν, ὅτι ἐκεῖ ἔσται ὁ δοῦλός σου.

And Ethi answered the king and said, [As] the Lord lives and as my lord the king lives, in the place wherever my lord shall be, whether it be for death or life, there shall your servant be.

22 καὶ εἶπεν ὁ βασιλεὺς πρὸς Ἐθθί· δεῦρο καὶ διάβαινε μετ' ἐμοῦ· καὶ παρῆλθεν Ἐθθὶ ὁ Γεθθαῖος καὶ ὁ βασιλεὺς καὶ πάντες οἱ παῖδες αὐτοῦ καὶ πᾶς ὁ ὄχλος ὁ μετ' αὐτοῦ.

And the king said to Ethi, Come and pass over with me. So Ethi the Gittite and the king passed over, and all his servants, and all the multitude with him.

23 καὶ πᾶσα ἡ γῆ ἔκλαιε φωνῇ μεγάλῃ. καὶ πᾶς ὁ λαὸς παρεπορεύοντο ἐν τῷ χειμάρρῳ τῶν Κέδρων, καὶ ὁ βασιλεὺς διέβη τὸν χειμάρρουν Κέδρων καὶ πᾶς ὁ λαὸς καὶ ὁ βασιλεὺς παρεπορεύοντο ἐπὶ πρόσωπον ὁδοῦ τὴν ἔρημον.

And all the country wept with a loud voice. And all the people passed by over the brook of Kedron; and the king crossed the brook Kedron: and all the people and the king passed on towards the way of the wilderness.

24 καὶ ἰδοὺ καί γε Σαδὼκ καὶ πάντες οἱ Λευῖται μετ' αὐτοῦ αἴροντες τὴν κιβωτὸν διαθήκης Κυρίου ἀπὸ Βαιθὰρ καὶ ἔστησαν τὴν κιβωτὸν τοῦ Θεοῦ. καὶ ἀνέβη Ἀβιάθαρ, ἕως ἐπαύσατο πᾶς ὁ λαὸς παρελθεῖν ἐκ τῆς πόλεως.

And behold also Sadoc, and all the Levites were with him, bearing the ark of the covenant of the Lord from Baethar: and they set down the ark of God; and Abiathar went up, until all the people had passed out of the city.

25 καὶ εἶπεν ὁ βασιλεὺς πρὸς τὸν Σαδώκ· ἀπόστρεψον τὴν κιβωτὸν τοῦ Θεοῦ εἰς τὴν πόλιν· ἐὰν εὕρω χάριν ἐν ὀφθαλμοῖς Κυρίου, καὶ ἐπιστρέψει με καὶ δείξει μοι αὐτήν καὶ τὴν εὐπρέπειαν αὐτῆς.

And the king said to Sadoc, Carry back the ark of God into the city: if I should find favour in the eyes of the Lord, then will he bring me back, and he will show me it and its beauty.

26 καὶ ἐὰν εἴπῃ οὕτως· οὐκ ἠθέληκα ἐν σοί, ἰδοὺ ἐγώ εἰμι, ποιείτω μοι κατὰ τὸ ἀγαθὸν ἐν ὀφθαλμοῖς αὐτοῦ.

But if he should say thus, I have no pleasure in you; behold, [here] I am, let him do to me according to that which is good in his eyes.

27 καὶ εἶπεν ὁ βασιλεὺς τῷ Σαδὼκ τῷ ἱερεῖ· ἴδετε, σὺ ἐπιστρέφεις εἰς τὴν πόλιν ἐν εἰρήνῃ, καὶ Ἀχιμάας ὁ υἱός σου καὶ Ἰωνάθαν ὁ υἱὸς Ἀβιάθαρ οἱ δύο υἱοὶ ὑμῶν μεθ' ὑμῶν·

And the king said to Sadoc the priest, Behold, you shall return to the city in peace, and Achimaas your son, and Jonathan the son of Abiathar, your two sons with you.

28 ἴδετε, ἐγώ εἰμι στρατεύομαι ἐν Ἀραβὼθ τῆς ἐρήμου ἕως τοῦ ἐλθεῖν ρῆμα παρ' ὑμῶν τοῦ ἀπαγγεῖλαί μοι.

Behold, I continue in arms in Araboth of the desert, until there come tidings from you to report to me.

29 καὶ ἀπέστρεψε Σαδὼκ καὶ Ἀβιάθαρ τὴν κιβωτὸν τοῦ Θεοῦ εἰς Ἱερουσαλὴμ καὶ ἐκάθισεν ἐκεῖ.

So Sadoc and Abiathar brought back the ark of the Lord to Jerusalem, and it continued there.

30 καὶ Δαυὶδ ἀνέβαινεν ἐν τῇ ἀναβάσει τῶν ἐλαιῶν ἀναβαίνων καὶ κλαίων καὶ τὴν κεφαλὴν ἐπικεκαλυμμένος, καὶ αὐτὸς ἐπορεύετο ἀνυπόδετος, καὶ πᾶς ὁ λαὸς ὁ μετ' αὐτοῦ ἐπεκάλυψεν ἀνὴρ τὴν κεφαλὴν αὐτοῦ καὶ ἀνέβαινον ἀναβαίνοντες καὶ κλαίοντες.

And David went up by the ascent of [the mount of] Olives, ascending and weeping, and had his head covered, and went barefooted: and all the people that were with him covered [every] man his head; and they went up, ascending and weeping.

31 καὶ ἀνηγγέλη Δαυὶδ λέγοντες· καὶ Ἀχιτόφελ ἐν τοῖς συστρεφομένοις μετὰ Ἀβεσσαλώμ· καὶ εἶπε Δαυίδ· διασκέδασον δὴ τὴν βουλὴν Ἀχιτόφελ, Κύριε ὁ Θεός μου.

And it was reported to David, saying, Achitophel also [is] amongst the conspirators with Abessalom. And David said, O Lord my God, disconcert, I pray you, the counsel of Achitophel.

32 καὶ ἦν Δαυὶδ ἐρχόμενος ἕως τοῦ Ροώς, οὗ προσεκύνησεν ἐκεῖ τῷ Θεῷ, καὶ ἰδοὺ εἰς ἀπαντὴν αὐτῷ Χουσὶ ὁ ἀρχιεταῖρος Δαυὶδ διερρηχὼς τὸν χιτῶνα αὐτοῦ καὶ γῆ ἐπὶ τῆς κεφαλῆς αὐτοῦ.

And David came as far as Ros, where he worshipped God: and behold, Chusi the chief friend of David came out to meet him, having torn his garment, and earth [was] upon his head.

33 καὶ εἶπεν αὐτῷ Δαυίδ· ἐὰν μὲν διαβῇς μετ' ἐμοῦ, καὶ ἔσῃ ἐπ' ἐμὲ εἰς βάσταγμα·

And David said to him, If you should go over with me, then will you be a burden to me;

34 καὶ ἐὰν ἐπιστρέψῃς ἐπὶ τὴν πόλιν, καὶ ἐρεῖς τῷ Ἀβεσσαλώμ· διεληλύθασιν οἱ ἀδελφοί σου, καὶ ὁ βασιλεὺς κατόπισθέν μου διελήλυθεν ὁ πατήρ σου, καὶ νῦν παῖς σού εἰμι, βασιλεῦ, ἔασόν με ζῆσαι, παῖς τοῦ πατρός σου ἤμην τότε καὶ ἀρτίως, καὶ νῦν ἐγὼ δοῦλος σός· καὶ διασκεδάσεις μοι τὴν βουλὴν Ἀχιτόφελ.

but if you shall return to the city, and shall say to Abessalom, Your brethren are passed over, and the king your father is passed over after me: and now I am your servant, O king, suffer me to live: at one time even of late I was the servant of your father, and now I [am] your humble servant—so shall you disconcert for me, the counsel of Achitophel.

35 καὶ ἰδοὺ ἐκεῖ μετὰ σοῦ Σαδὼκ καὶ Ἀβιάθαρ οἱ ἱερεῖς, καὶ ἔσται πᾶν ρῆμα, ὃ ἐὰν ἀκούσῃς ἐξ οἴκου τοῦ βασιλέως, καὶ ἀπαγγελεῖς τῷ Σαδὼκ καὶ τῷ Ἀβιάθαρ τοῖς ἱερεῦσιν.

And, behold, [there are] there with you Sadoc and Abiathar the priests; and it shall be that every word that you shall hear of the house of the king, you shall report it to Sadoc and Abiathar the priests.

36 ἰδοὺ ἐκεῖ μετ' αὐτῶν δύο υἱοὶ αὐτῶν, Ἀχιμάας υἱὸς τῷ Σαδὼκ καὶ Ἰωνάθαν υἱὸς τῷ Ἀβιάθαρ, καὶ ἀποστελεῖτε ἐν χειρὶ αὐτῶν πρός με πᾶν ρῆμα, ὃ ἐὰν ἀκούσητε.

Behold, [there are] there with them their two sons, Achimaas the son of Sadoc, and Jonathan the son of Abiathar; and by them you⌃ shall report to me every word which you⌃ shall hear.

37 καὶ εἰσῆλθε Χουσὶ ὁ ἑταῖρος Δαυὶδ εἰς τὴν πόλιν, καὶ Ἀβεσσαλὼμ ἄρτι εἰσεπορεύετο εἰς Ἱερουσαλήμ.

So Chusi the friend of David went into the city, and Abessalom was lately gone into Jerusalem.

Greek: the Septuagint as the Orthodox Media Network published it (Mount Athos); 2 Maccabees and the Prayer of Manasseh from Brenton's edition (1851). English: Brenton's translation (1851), its spelling updated by Michael Paul Johnson; public domain. About these texts.