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2 Samuel 12
American Standard Version

12 And Jehovah sent Nathan unto David. And he came unto him, and said unto him, There were two men in one city; the one rich, and the other poor. 2 The rich man had exceeding many flocks and herds; 3 but the poor man had nothing, save one little ewe lamb, which he had bought and nourished up: and it grew up together with him, and with his children; it did eat of his own morsel, and drank of his own cup, and lay in his bosom, and was unto him as a daughter. 4 And there came a traveller unto the rich man, and he spared to take of his own flock and of his own herd, to dress for the wayfaring man that was come unto him, but took the poor man’s lamb, and dressed it for the man that was come to him. 5 And David’s anger was greatly kindled against the man; and he said to Nathan, As Jehovah liveth, the man that hath done this is [a]worthy to die: 6 and he shall restore the lamb fourfold, because he did this thing, and because he had no pity.

7 And Nathan said to David, Thou art the man. Thus saith Jehovah, the God of Israel, I anointed thee king over Israel, and I delivered thee out of the hand of Saul; 8 and I gave thee thy master’s house, and thy master’s wives into thy bosom, and gave thee the house of Israel and of Judah; and if that had been too little, I would have added unto thee such and such things. 9 Wherefore hast thou despised the word of Jehovah, to do that which is evil in his sight? thou hast smitten Uriah the Hittite with the sword, and hast taken his wife to be thy wife, and hast slain him with the sword of the children of Ammon. 10 Now therefore the sword shall never depart from thy house, because thou hast despised me, and hast taken the wife of Uriah the Hittite to be thy wife. 11 Thus saith Jehovah, Behold, I will raise up evil against thee out of thine own house; and I will take thy wives before thine eyes, and give them unto thy neighbor, and he shall lie with thy wives in the sight of this sun. 12 For thou didst it secretly: but I will do this thing before all Israel, and before the sun. 13 And David said unto Nathan, I have sinned against Jehovah. And Nathan said unto David, Jehovah also hath put away thy sin; thou shalt not die. 14 Howbeit, because by this deed thou hast given great occasion to the enemies of Jehovah to blaspheme, the child also that is born unto thee shall surely die. 15 And Nathan departed unto his house.

And Jehovah struck the child that Uriah’s wife bare unto David, and it was very sick. 16 David therefore besought God for the child; and David fasted, and went in, and lay all night upon the earth. 17 And the elders of his house arose, and stood beside him, to raise him up from the earth: but he would not, neither did he eat bread with them. 18 And it came to pass on the seventh day, that the child died. And the servants of David feared to tell him that the child was dead; for they said, Behold, while the child was yet alive, we spake unto him, and he hearkened not unto our voice: [b]how will he then vex himself, if we tell him that the child is dead! 19 But when David saw that his servants were whispering together, David perceived that the child was dead; and David said unto his servants, Is the child dead? And they said, He is dead. 20 Then David arose from the earth, and washed, and anointed himself, and changed his apparel; and he came into the house of Jehovah, and worshipped: then he came to his own house; and when he required, they set bread before him, and he did eat. 21 Then said his servants unto him, What thing is this that thou hast done? thou didst fast and weep for the child, while it was alive; but when the child was dead, thou didst rise and eat bread. 22 And he said, While the child was yet alive, I fasted and wept: for I said, Who knoweth whether Jehovah will not be gracious to me, that the child may live? 23 But now he is dead, wherefore should I fast? can I bring him back again? I shall go to him, but he will not return to me.

24 And David comforted Bath-sheba his wife, and went in unto her, and lay with her: and she bare a son, and [c]he called his name Solomon. And Jehovah loved him; 25 and he sent by the hand of Nathan the prophet; and he called his name [d]Jedidiah, for Jehovah’s sake.

26 Now Joab fought against Rabbah of the children of Ammon, and took the royal city. 27 And Joab sent messengers to David, and said, I have fought against Rabbah; yea, I have taken the city of waters. 28 Now therefore gather the rest of the people together, and encamp against the city, and take it; lest I take the city, and [e]it be called after my name. 29 And David gathered all the people together, and went to Rabbah, and fought against it, and took it. 30 And he took the crown of [f]their king from off his head; and the weight thereof was a talent of gold, and in it were precious stones; and it was set on David’s head. And he brought forth the spoil of the city, exceeding much. 31 And he brought forth the people that were therein, and put them [g]under saws, and [h]under harrows of iron, and [i]under axes of iron, and [j]made them pass through the [k]brickkiln: and thus did he unto all the cities of the children of Ammon. And David and all the people returned unto Jerusalem.

Footnotes

  1. 2 Samuel 12:5 Hebrew a son of death.
  2. 2 Samuel 12:18 Or, how then shall we tell him that the child is dead, so that he do himself some harm?
  3. 2 Samuel 12:24 Another reading is, she called.
  4. 2 Samuel 12:25 That is, Beloved of Jehovah.
  5. 2 Samuel 12:28 Hebrew my name be called upon it.
  6. 2 Samuel 12:30 Or, Malcam. See Zeph. 1:5.
  7. 2 Samuel 12:31 Or, to
  8. 2 Samuel 12:31 Or, to
  9. 2 Samuel 12:31 Or, to
  10. 2 Samuel 12:31 Or with a slight change in the Hebrew text, made them labor at
  11. 2 Samuel 12:31 Or, brick-mould
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2 Samuel 12
New King James Version

Nathan’s Parable and David’s Confession

12 Then the Lord sent Nathan to David. And (A)he came to him, and (B)said to him: “There were two men in one city, one rich and the other poor. 2 The rich man had exceedingly many flocks and herds. 3 But the poor man had nothing, except one little ewe lamb which he had bought and nourished; and it grew up together with him and with his children. It ate of his own food and drank from his own cup and lay in his bosom; and it was like a daughter to him. 4 And a traveler came to the rich man, who refused to take from his own flock and from his own herd to prepare one for the wayfaring man who had come to him; but he took the poor man’s lamb and prepared it for the man who had come to him.”

5 So David’s anger was greatly aroused against the man, and he said to Nathan, “As the Lord lives, the man who has done this [a]shall surely die! 6 And he shall restore (C)fourfold for the lamb, because he did this thing and because he had no pity.”

7 Then Nathan said to David, “You are the man! Thus says the Lord God of Israel: ‘I (D)anointed you king over Israel, and I delivered you from the hand of Saul. 8 I gave you your master’s house and your master’s wives into your keeping, and gave you the house of Israel and Judah. And if that had been too little, I also would have given you much more! 9 (E)Why have you (F)despised the commandment of the Lord, to do evil in His sight? (G)You have killed Uriah the Hittite with the sword; you have taken his wife to be your wife, and have killed him with the sword of the people of Ammon. 10 Now therefore, (H)the sword shall never depart from your house, because you have despised Me, and have taken the wife of Uriah the Hittite to be your wife.’ 11 Thus says the Lord: ‘Behold, I will raise up adversity against you from your own house; and I will (I)take your wives before your eyes and give them to your neighbor, and he shall lie with your wives in the sight of this sun. 12 For you did it secretly, (J)but I will do this thing before all Israel, before the sun.’ ”

13 (K)So David said to Nathan, (L)“I have sinned against the Lord.”

And Nathan said to David, “The Lord also has (M)put away your sin; you shall not die. 14 However, because by this deed you have given great occasion to the enemies of the Lord (N)to blaspheme, the child also who is born to you shall surely die.” 15 Then Nathan departed to his house.

The Death of David’s Son

And the (O)Lord struck the child that Uriah’s wife bore to David, and it became ill. 16 David therefore pleaded with God for the child, and David fasted and went in and (P)lay all night on the ground. 17 So the elders of his house arose and went to him, to raise him up from the ground. But he would not, nor did he eat food with them. 18 Then on the seventh day it came to pass that the child died. And the servants of David were afraid to tell him that the child was dead. For they said, “Indeed, while the child was alive, we spoke to him, and he would not heed our voice. How can we tell him that the child is dead? He may do some harm!”

19 When David saw that his servants were whispering, David perceived that the child was dead. Therefore David said to his servants, “Is the child dead?”

And they said, “He is dead.”

20 So David arose from the ground, washed and (Q)anointed himself, and changed his clothes; and he went into the house of the Lord and (R)worshiped. Then he went to his own house; and when he requested, they set food before him, and he ate. 21 Then his servants said to him, “What is this that you have done? You fasted and wept for the child while he was alive, but when the child died, you arose and ate food.”

22 And he said, “While the child was alive, I fasted and wept; (S)for I said, ‘Who can tell whether [b]the Lord will be gracious to me, that the child may live?’ 23 But now he is dead; why should I fast? Can I bring him back again? I shall go (T)to him, but (U)he shall not return to me.”

Solomon Is Born

24 Then David comforted Bathsheba his wife, and went in to her and lay with her. So (V)she bore a son, and (W)he[c] called his name Solomon. Now the Lord loved him, 25 and He sent word by the hand of Nathan the prophet: So [d]he called his name [e]Jedidiah, because of the Lord.

Rabbah Is Captured(X)

26 Now (Y)Joab fought against (Z)Rabbah of the people of Ammon, and took the royal city. 27 And Joab sent messengers to David, and said, “I have fought against Rabbah, and I have taken the city’s water supply. 28 Now therefore, gather the rest of the people together and encamp against the city and take it, lest I take the city and it be called after my name.” 29 So David gathered all the people together and went to Rabbah, fought against it, and took it. 30 (AA)Then he took their king’s crown from his head. Its weight was a talent of gold, with precious stones. And it was set on David’s head. Also he brought out the [f]spoil of the city in great abundance. 31 And he brought out the people who were in it, and put them to work with saws and iron picks and iron axes, and made them cross over to the brick works. So he did to all the cities of the people of Ammon. Then David and all the people returned to Jerusalem.

Footnotes

  1. 2 Samuel 12:5 deserves to die, lit. is a son of death
  2. 2 Samuel 12:22 Heb. mss., Syr. God
  3. 2 Samuel 12:24 So with Kt., LXX, Vg.; Qr., a few Heb. mss., Syr., Tg. she
  4. 2 Samuel 12:25 Qr., some Heb. mss., Syr., Tg. she
  5. 2 Samuel 12:25 Lit. Beloved of the Lord
  6. 2 Samuel 12:30 plunder
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2 Samuel 12
Segond 21

12 L'Eternel envoya Nathan vers David. Il vint donc le trouver et lui dit: «Il y avait dans une ville deux hommes, l'un riche et l'autre pauvre. 2 Le riche avait des brebis et des bœufs en très grand nombre. 3 Le pauvre n'avait rien du tout, sauf une petite brebis, qu'il avait achetée. Il la nourrissait et elle grandissait chez lui avec ses enfants. Elle mangeait de son pain, buvait dans sa coupe et dormait contre lui. Il la considérait comme sa fille. 4 Un voyageur est arrivé chez l'homme riche, mais le riche n'a pas voulu toucher à ses brebis ou à ses bœufs pour préparer un repas au voyageur venu chez lui: il a pris la brebis du pauvre et l'a préparée pour l'homme qui était venu chez lui.»

5 La colère de David s'enflamma violemment contre cet homme et il dit à Nathan: «L'Eternel est vivant! L'homme qui a fait cela mérite la mort. 6 En outre il remplacera la brebis par 4 autres, puisqu’il a commis cet acte et s’est montré sans pitié.»

7 Nathan déclara alors à David: «C’est toi qui es cet homme-là! Voici ce que dit l'Eternel, le Dieu d'Israël: Je t'ai désigné par onction comme roi sur Israël et je t'ai délivré de Saül. 8 Je t'ai donné la famille de ton maître, j'ai mis ses femmes contre ta poitrine et je t'ai donné la communauté d'Israël et de Juda. Si cela avait été trop peu, j'y aurais encore ajouté. 9 Pourquoi donc as-tu méprisé la parole de l'Eternel en faisant ce qui est mal à mes yeux? Tu as tué par l'épée Urie le Hittite, tu as pris sa femme pour faire d’elle ta femme et lui, tu l'as tué sous les coups d'épée des Ammonites. 10 Désormais, puisque tu m'as méprisé et que tu as pris la femme d'Urie le Hittite pour faire d’elle ta femme, l'épée ne s'éloignera plus de ton foyer. 11 Voici ce que dit l'Eternel: Je vais faire sortir de ta propre famille le malheur contre toi et je vais prendre sous tes yeux tes propres femmes pour les donner à un autre, qui couchera au grand jour avec elles. 12 En effet, tu as agi en secret, mais moi, c’est en présence de tout Israël et en plein jour que je ferai cela.»

13 David dit à Nathan: «J'ai péché contre l'Eternel!» Nathan lui répondit: «L'Eternel pardonne ton péché, tu ne mourras pas. 14 Cependant, parce que tu as fait blasphémer les ennemis de l'Eternel en commettant cet acte, le fils qui t'est né mourra.»

15 Nathan retourna chez lui. L'Eternel frappa l'enfant que la femme d'Urie avait donné à David, et il fut gravement malade. 16 David pria Dieu pour l'enfant et jeûna. Lorsqu’il rentra, il passa la nuit couché par terre. 17 Les responsables du palais insistèrent auprès de lui pour qu’il se relève, mais il refusa et il ne mangea rien avec eux. 18 Le septième jour, l'enfant mourut. Les serviteurs de David avaient peur de lui annoncer que l'enfant était mort, car ils se disaient: «Lorsque l'enfant était encore vivant, nous lui avons parlé et il ne nous a pas écoutés. Comment oserons-nous lui dire que l'enfant est mort? Il réagira mal.» 19 David s’aperçut que ses serviteurs parlaient tout bas entre eux et comprit que l'enfant était mort. Il leur demanda: «L'enfant est-il mort?» Ils répondirent: «Il est mort.» 20 Alors David se releva. Il se lava, se parfuma et changea d’habits. Puis il se rendit dans la maison de l'Eternel et s’y prosterna. De retour chez lui, il demanda qu'on lui serve à manger et il mangea. 21 Ses serviteurs lui dirent: «Que signifie ta façon d’agir? Tant que l'enfant était vivant, tu jeûnais et tu pleurais. Maintenant qu’il est mort, tu te relèves et tu manges!» 22 Il répondit: «Lorsque l'enfant était encore vivant, je jeûnais et je pleurais, car je me disais: ‘Qui sait? Peut-être l'Eternel me fera-t-il grâce et peut-être l'enfant restera-t-il en vie.’ 23 Maintenant qu'il est mort, pourquoi jeûner? Puis-je le faire revenir? C’est moi qui irai le retrouver, mais lui ne reviendra pas vers moi.»

24 David consola sa femme Bath-Shéba, et il alla vers elle et coucha avec elle. Elle mit au monde un fils qu'elle appela Salomon et que l'Eternel aima. 25 Il le confia au prophète Nathan et celui-ci l’appela Jedidja[a] à cause de l'Eternel.

Prise de Rabba par David et Joab

26 Joab combattait toujours à Rabba, la capitale des Ammonites, et il s'empara du quartier royal. 27 Il envoya alors des messagers à David pour lui dire: «J'ai attaqué Rabba et je me suis déjà emparé du quartier des eaux. 28 Rassemble maintenant le reste du peuple, campe près de la ville et prends-la. Si je m’en empare moi-même, la gloire risque de m'en revenir.» 29 David rassembla tout le peuple et marcha vers Rabba. Il l'attaqua et s'en empara. 30 Il retira la couronne de la tête de son roi; elle était faite d’une trentaine de kilos d'or et était garnie de pierres précieuses. On la mit sur la tête de David, qui emporta de la ville un très grand butin. 31 Il déporta ses habitants et les affecta au maniement des scies, des pics de fer et des haches de fer, ou encore les fit travailler au moule à briques. Il traita de la même manière toutes les villes des Ammonites. Puis David retourna à Jérusalem avec tout le peuple.

Footnotes

  1. 2 Samuel 12:25 Jedidja: littéralement bien-aimé de l’Eternel.
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2 Samuel 12
New International Version

Nathan Rebukes David(A)

12 The Lord sent Nathan(B) to David.(C) When he came to him,(D) he said, “There were two men in a certain town, one rich and the other poor. 2 The rich man had a very large number of sheep and cattle, 3 but the poor man had nothing except one little ewe lamb he had bought. He raised it, and it grew up with him and his children. It shared his food, drank from his cup and even slept in his arms. It was like a daughter to him.

4 “Now a traveler came to the rich man, but the rich man refrained from taking one of his own sheep or cattle to prepare a meal for the traveler who had come to him. Instead, he took the ewe lamb that belonged to the poor man and prepared it for the one who had come to him.”

5 David(E) burned with anger(F) against the man(G) and said to Nathan, “As surely as the Lord lives,(H) the man who did this must die! 6 He must pay for that lamb four times over,(I) because he did such a thing and had no pity.”

7 Then Nathan said to David, “You are the man!(J) This is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says: ‘I anointed(K) you(L) king over Israel, and I delivered you from the hand of Saul. 8 I gave your master’s house to you,(M) and your master’s wives into your arms. I gave you all Israel and Judah. And if all this had been too little, I would have given you even more. 9 Why did you despise(N) the word of the Lord by doing what is evil in his eyes? You struck down(O) Uriah(P) the Hittite with the sword and took his wife to be your own. You killed(Q) him with the sword of the Ammonites. 10 Now, therefore, the sword(R) will never depart from your house, because you despised me and took the wife of Uriah the Hittite to be your own.’

11 “This is what the Lord says: ‘Out of your own household(S) I am going to bring calamity on you.(T) Before your very eyes I will take your wives and give them to one who is close to you, and he will sleep with your wives in broad daylight.(U) 12 You did it in secret,(V) but I will do this thing in broad daylight(W) before all Israel.’”

13 Then David said to Nathan, “I have sinned(X) against the Lord.”

Nathan replied, “The Lord has taken away(Y) your sin.(Z) You are not going to die.(AA) 14 But because by doing this you have shown utter contempt for[a] the Lord,(AB) the son born to you will die.”

15 After Nathan had gone home, the Lord struck(AC) the child that Uriah’s wife had borne to David, and he became ill. 16 David pleaded with God for the child. He fasted and spent the nights lying(AD) in sackcloth[b] on the ground. 17 The elders of his household stood beside him to get him up from the ground, but he refused,(AE) and he would not eat any food with them.(AF)

18 On the seventh day the child died. David’s attendants were afraid to tell him that the child was dead, for they thought, “While the child was still living, he wouldn’t listen to us when we spoke to him. How can we now tell him the child is dead? He may do something desperate.”

19 David noticed that his attendants were whispering among themselves, and he realized the child was dead. “Is the child dead?” he asked.

“Yes,” they replied, “he is dead.”

20 Then David got up from the ground. After he had washed,(AG) put on lotions and changed his clothes,(AH) he went into the house of the Lord and worshiped. Then he went to his own house, and at his request they served him food, and he ate.

21 His attendants asked him, “Why are you acting this way? While the child was alive, you fasted and wept,(AI) but now that the child is dead, you get up and eat!”

22 He answered, “While the child was still alive, I fasted and wept. I thought, ‘Who knows?(AJ) The Lord may be gracious to me and let the child live.’(AK) 23 But now that he is dead, why should I go on fasting? Can I bring him back again? I will go to him,(AL) but he will not return to me.”(AM)

24 Then David comforted his wife Bathsheba,(AN) and he went to her and made love to her. She gave birth to a son, and they named him Solomon.(AO) The Lord loved him; 25 and because the Lord loved him, he sent word through Nathan the prophet to name him Jedidiah.[c](AP)

26 Meanwhile Joab fought against Rabbah(AQ) of the Ammonites and captured the royal citadel. 27 Joab then sent messengers to David, saying, “I have fought against Rabbah and taken its water supply. 28 Now muster the rest of the troops and besiege the city and capture it. Otherwise I will take the city, and it will be named after me.”

29 So David mustered the entire army and went to Rabbah, and attacked and captured it. 30 David took the crown(AR) from their king’s[d] head, and it was placed on his own head. It weighed a talent[e] of gold, and it was set with precious stones. David took a great quantity of plunder from the city 31 and brought out the people who were there, consigning them to labor with saws and with iron picks and axes, and he made them work at brickmaking.[f] David did this to all the Ammonite(AS) towns. Then he and his entire army returned to Jerusalem.

Footnotes

  1. 2 Samuel 12:14 An ancient Hebrew scribal tradition; Masoretic Text for the enemies of
  2. 2 Samuel 12:16 Dead Sea Scrolls and Septuagint; Masoretic Text does not have in sackcloth.
  3. 2 Samuel 12:25 Jedidiah means loved by the Lord.
  4. 2 Samuel 12:30 Or from Milkom’s (that is, Molek’s)
  5. 2 Samuel 12:30 That is, about 75 pounds or about 34 kilograms
  6. 2 Samuel 12:31 The meaning of the Hebrew for this clause is uncertain.
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