YHWHיְהוָהsentוַיִּשְׁלַחNathanנָתָןtoאֶלDavid;דָּוִדhe cameוַיָּבֹאto himאֵלָיוand saidוַיֹּאמֶרto him,לוֹ“There wereהָיוּtwoשְׁנֵיmenאֲנָשִׁיםin oneבְּ אֶחָתcity,עִירoneאֶחָדrichעָשִׁירand oneוְאֶחָדpoor.רָאשׁ
The rich manלְעָשִׁירhadהָיָהflocksצֹאןand herds,וּבָקָרveryמְאֹדmany;הַרְבֵּה
but the poor manוְלָרָשׁhad nothingאֵין כֹּלexceptכִּי אִםoneאַחַתlittleקְטַנָּהewe lambכִּבְשָׂהthatאֲשֶׁרhe had acquired.קָנָהHe raised it,וַיְחַיֶּהָand it grew upוַתִּגְדַּלwith himעִמּוֹand withוְעִםhis sonsבָּנָיוtogether;יַחְדָּוfrom his morselמִפִּתּוֹit would eat,תֹאכַלand from his cupוּמִכֹּסוֹit would drink,תִשְׁתֶּהand in his bosomוּבְחֵיקוֹit would lie;תִשְׁכָּבand it wasוַתְּהִיto himלוֹlike a daughter.כְּבַת
A travelerהֵלֶךְcameוַיָּבֹאto the richלְ הֶעָשִׁירman,אִישׁand he was loathוַיַּחְמֹלto takeלָקַחַתfrom his own flockמִצֹּאנוֹand from his own herdוּמִבְּקָרוֹto prepare a mealלַעֲשׂוֹתfor the wayfarerלָאֹרֵחַwho had comeהַבָּאto him;לוֹso he tookוַיִּקַּחthe ewe lambכִּבְשַׂתof the poorהָרָאשׁmanהָאִישׁand prepared itוַיַּעֲשֶׂהָfor the manלָאִישׁwho had comeהַבָּאto him.”אֵלָיו
David’sדָּוִדangerאַףburnedוַיִּחַרgreatlyמְאֹדagainst the man,בָּאִישׁand he saidוַיֹּאמֶרtoאֶלNathan,נָתָן“As YHWHיְהוָהlives,חַיthe manהָאִישׁwho has doneהָעֹשֶׂהthisזֹאתdeserves to die.כִּי בֶן מָוֶת
And he shall repayוְ יְשַׁלֵּםthe ewe lambהַכִּבְשָׂהfourfold,אַרְבַּעְתָּיִםbecauseעֵקֶב אֲשֶׁרhe didעָשָׂהthisהַזֶּהthing,הַדָּבָרand becauseוְעַל אֲשֶׁרhe had noלֹאpity.”חָמָל
NathanנָתָןsaidוַיֹּאמֶרtoאֶלDavid,דָּוִד“Youאַתָּהarethe man!הָאִישׁThusכֹּהsaysאָמַרYHWH,יְהוָהElohimאֱלֹהֵיof Israel:יִשְׂרָאֵל‘Iאָנֹכִיanointed youמְשַׁחְתִּיךָas kingלְמֶלֶךְoverעַלIsrael,יִשְׂרָאֵלand Iוְאָנֹכִיdelivered youהִצַּלְתִּיךָfrom the handמִיַּדof Saul.שָׁאוּל
I gaveוָאֶתְּנָהyouלְךָyour lord’sאֲדֹנֶיךָhouseבֵּיתand your lord’sוְ אֲדֹנֶיךָwivesנְשֵׁיinto your bosom,בְּחֵיקֶךָand I gaveוָאֶתְּנָהyouלְךָthe houseבֵּיתof Israelיִשְׂרָאֵלand of Judah;וִיהוּדָהand ifוְאִםthat weretoo little,מְעָטI would addוְאֹסִפָהto youלְּךָas muchכָּהֵנָּהand as much again.וְכָהֵנָּה
Whyמַדּוּעַhave you despisedבָּזִיתָthe wordדְּבַרof YHWH,יְהוָהdoingלַעֲשׂוֹתevilהָרַעin my eyes?בְּעֵינַיUriahאוּרִיָּהthe Hittiteהַחִתִּיyou struckהִכִּיתָwith the sword,בַחֶרֶבand his wifeוְ אִשְׁתּוֹyou tookלָקַחְתָּfor yourselfלְּךָas wife,לְאִשָּׁהand himוְאֹתוֹyou killedהָרַגְתָּwith the swordבְּחֶרֶבof the sonsבְּנֵיof Ammon.עַמּוֹן
And nowוְעַתָּהthe swordחֶרֶבshall notלֹאdepartתָסוּרfrom your houseמִבֵּיתְךָforever,עַד עוֹלָםbecauseעֵקֶב כִּיyou have despised meבְזִתָנִיand have takenוַתִּקַּחthe wifeאֵשֶׁתof Uriahאוּרִיָּהthe Hittiteהַחִתִּיto beלִהְיוֹתyourלְךָwife.’לְאִשָּׁה
ThusכֹּהsaysאָמַרYHWH:יְהוָה‘Look,הִנְנִיI am raising upמֵקִיםevilרָעָהagainst youעָלֶיךָfrom your own house;מִבֵּיתֶךָand I will takeוְלָקַחְתִּיyour wivesנָשֶׁיךָbefore your eyesלְעֵינֶיךָand give themוְנָתַתִּיto your companion,לְרֵעֶיךָand he will lieוְשָׁכַבwithעִםyour wivesנָשֶׁיךָin the sightלְעֵינֵיof thisהַזֹּאתsun.הַשֶּׁמֶשׁ
Forכִּיyouאַתָּהdid itעָשִׂיתָin secret,בַסָּתֶרbut Iוַאֲנִיwill doאֶעֱשֶׂהthisהַזֶּהthingהַדָּבָרbeforeנֶגֶדallכָּלIsraelיִשְׂרָאֵלand beforeוְנֶגֶדthe sun.’”הַשָּׁמֶשׁ
DavidדָּוִדsaidוַיֹּאמֶרtoאֶלNathan,נָתָן“I have sinnedחָטָאתִיagainst YHWH.”לַיהוָהNathanנָתָןsaidוַיֹּאמֶרtoאֶלDavid,דָּוִד“YHWHיְהוָהalsoגַּםhas caused your sin to pass;הֶעֱבִיר חַטָּאתְךָyou shall notלֹאdie.תָמוּת
However,אֶפֶסbecauseכִּיby thisבַּ הַזֶּהthingדָּבָרyou have utterly scornedנִאֵץ נִאַצְתָּthe enemiesאֹיְבֵיof YHWH,יְהוָהalsoגַּםthe sonהַבֵּןbornהַיִּלּוֹדto youלְךָshall surely die.”מוֹת יָמוּת
Then Nathanוַ נָתָןwentיֵּלֶךְtoאֶלhis house.בֵּיתוֹAnd YHWHוַ יְהוָהstruckיִּגֹּףthe childהַיֶּלֶדthatאֲשֶׁרthe wifeאֵשֶׁתof Uriahאוּרִיָּהhad borneיָלְדָהto David,לְדָוִדand he became very ill.וַיֵּאָנַשׁ
DavidדָּוִדsoughtוַיְבַקֵּשׁElohimהָאֱלֹהִיםforבְּעַדthe boy;הַנָּעַרDavidדָּוִדfastedוַיָּצָםa fast,צוֹםand he went inוּבָאand spent the nightוְלָןand layוְשָׁכַבon the ground.אָרְצָה
The eldersזִקְנֵיof his houseבֵיתוֹstoodוַיָּקֻמוּover himעָלָיוto raise himלַהֲקִימוֹfromמִןthe ground;הָאָרֶץbut he was notוְלֹאwilling,אָבָהand he did notוְלֹאeatבָרָאbreadלָחֶםwith them.אִתָּם
And it happenedוַיְהִיon the seventhבַּ הַשְּׁבִיעִיdayיּוֹםthat the childוַ הַיָּלֶדdied.יָּמָתAnd the servantsוַ עַבְדֵיof Davidדָוִדwere afraidיִּרְאוּto tellלְהַגִּידhimלוֹthatכִּיthe childהַיֶּלֶדwas dead,מֵתforכִּיthey said,אָמְרוּ“Look,הִנֵּהwhileבִהְיוֹתthe childהַיֶּלֶדwas alive,חַיwe spokeדִּבַּרְנוּto him,אֵלָיוand he did notוְלֹאlistenשָׁמַעto our voice;בְּקוֹלֵנוּso howוְאֵיךְcan we sayנֹאמַרto him,אֵלָיו‘The childהַיֶּלֶדis dead’?מֵתHe may doוְעָשָׂהsomething evil.”רָעָה
When Davidוַ דָּוִדsawיַּרְאthatכִּיhis servantsעֲבָדָיוwere whispering together,מִתְלַחֲשִׁיםDavidדָּוִדunderstoodוַיָּבֶןthatכִּיthe childהַיָּלֶדwas dead;מֵתand Davidוַ דָּוִדsaidיֹּאמֶרtoאֶלhis servants,עֲבָדָיו“Is the childהֲ הַיֶּלֶדdead?”מֵתThey said,וַיֹּאמְרוּ“He is dead.”מֵת
Then Davidוַ דָּוִדroseיָּקָםfromמֵthe ground,הָאָרֶץwashed,וַיִּרְחַץanointed himself,וַיָּסֶךְand changedוַיְחַלֵּףhis cloaks;שִׂמְלֹתָיוhe went intoוַיָּבֹאthe houseבֵיתof YHWHיְהוָהand bowed down;וַיִּשְׁתָּחוּthen he wentוַיָּבֹאtoאֶלhis own houseבֵּיתוֹand asked,וַיִּשְׁאַלand they setוַיָּשִׂימוּbefore himלוֹbread,לֶחֶםand he ate.וַיֹּאכַל
His servantsוַ עֲבָדָיוsaidיֹּאמְרוּto him,אֵלָיו“Whatמָהisthisהַזֶּהthingהַדָּבָרthatאֲשֶׁרyou have done?עָשִׂיתָהFor the sake ofבַּעֲבוּרthe child,הַיֶּלֶדwhile he wasalive,חַיyou fastedצַמְתָּand wept;וַתֵּבְךְּbut whenוְכַאֲשֶׁרthe childהַיֶּלֶדdied,מֵתyou roseקַמְתָּand ateוַתֹּאכַלbread.”לָחֶם
He said,וַיֹּאמֶר“Whileבְּעוֹדthe childהַיֶּלֶדwas still alive,חַיI fastedצַמְתִּיand wept,וָאֶבְכֶּהforכִּיI said,אָמַרְתִּי‘WhoמִיknowsיוֹדֵעַwhetherYHWHיְהוָהwill show me favor,וְחַנַּנִיand the childוְ הַיָּלֶדwill live?’חַי
But nowוְעַתָּהhe is dead;מֵתwhyלָמָּה זֶּהshould Iאֲנִיfast?צָםCan Iהַאוּכַלbring him backלַהֲשִׁיבוֹagain?עוֹדIאֲנִיam goingהֹלֵךְto him,אֵלָיוbut heוְהוּאwill notלֹאreturnיָשׁוּבto me.”אֵלָי
DavidדָּוִדcomfortedוַיְנַחֵםBathshebaבַּת שֶׁבַעhis wife;אִשְׁתּוֹand he went inוַיָּבֹאto herאֵלֶיהָand layוַיִּשְׁכַּבwith her,עִמָּהּand she boreוַתֵּלֶדa son,בֵּןand she calledוַתִּקְרָאhis nameשְׁמוֹSolomon.שְׁלֹמֹהAnd YHWHוַיהוָהloved him,אֲהֵבוֹ
and he sentוַיִּשְׁלַחby the handבְּיַדof Nathanנָתָןthe prophet,הַנָּבִיאand he calledוַיִּקְרָאhis nameשְׁמוֹJedidiah,יְדִידְיָהּfor the sake ofבַּעֲבוּרYHWH.יְהוָה
Joabיוֹאָבfoughtוַיִּלָּחֶםagainst Rabbahבְּרַבַּתof the sonsבְּנֵיof Ammonעַמּוֹןand tookוַיִּלְכֹּדthe cityעִירof the kingdom.הַמְּלוּכָה
JoabיוֹאָבsentוַיִּשְׁלַחmessengersמַלְאָכִיםtoאֶלDavidדָּוִדand said,וַיֹּאמֶר“I have foughtנִלְחַמְתִּיagainst Rabbah;בְרַבָּהI have alsoגַּםtakenלָכַדְתִּיthe cityעִירof the waters.הַמָּיִם
Now then,וְעַתָּהgatherאֱסֹףthe restיֶתֶרof the people,הָעָםencampוַחֲנֵהagainstעַלthe city,הָעִירand take it,וְלָכְדָהּlestפֶּןIאֲנִיtakeאֶלְכֹּדthe cityהָעִירand my nameוְ שְׁמִיbe calledנִקְרָאover it.”עָלֶיהָ
So Davidוַ דָּוִדgatheredיֶּאֱסֹףallכָּלthe peopleהָעָםand wentוַיֵּלֶךְto Rabbah,רַבָּתָהfoughtוַיִּלָּחֶםagainst it,בָּהּand took it.וַיִּלְכְּדָהּ
He tookוַיִּקַּחthe crownעֲטֶרֶתof their kingמַלְכָּםfromמֵעַלhis headרֹאשׁוֹ(its weightוּמִשְׁקָלָהּwasa talentכִּכַּרof gold,זָהָבand it hadוְa preciousיְקָרָהstone),אֶבֶןand it wasוַתְּהִיonעַלthe headרֹאשׁof David.דָּוִדAnd the spoilוּשְׁלַלof the cityהָעִירhe brought out,הוֹצִיאa veryמְאֹדgreat amount.הַרְבֵּה
And the peopleוְ הָעָםwhoאֲשֶׁרwerein itבָּהּhe brought out,הוֹצִיאand he put themוַיָּשֶׂםwith the sawבַּמְּגֵרָהand with the picksוּבַחֲרִצֵיof ironהַבַּרְזֶלand with the axesוּבְמַגְזְרֹתof iron,הַבַּרְזֶלand he made them pass throughוְהֶעֱבִיר אוֹתָםthe brick kiln;בַּמַּלְבֵּןand soוְכֵןhe didיַעֲשֶׂהto allלְכֹלthe citiesעָרֵיof the sonsבְנֵיof Ammon.עַמּוֹןThen Davidוַ דָּוִדand allוְכָלthe peopleהָעָםreturnedיָּשָׁבto Jerusalem.יְרוּשָׁלִָם