1Or dopo queste cose avvenne che, avendo Absalom, figliuolo di Davide, una sorella di nome Tamar, ch’era di bell’aspetto, Amnon, figliuolo di Davide, se ne innamorò. 2Ed Amnon si appassionò a tal punto per Tamar sua sorella da diventarne malato; perché ella era vergine, e pareva difficile ad Amnon di poterle fare alcun che. 3Or Amnon aveva un amico, per nome Jonadab, figliuolo di Shimea, fratello di Davide; e Jonadab era un uomo molto accorto. 4Questi gli disse: "O figliuolo del re, perché vai tu di giorno in giorno dimagrando a cotesto modo? Non me lo vuoi dire?" Amnon gli rispose: "Sono innamorato di Tamar, sorella di mio fratello Absalom". 5Jonadab gli disse: "Mettiti a letto e fingiti malato; e quando tuo padre verrà a vederti, digli: Fa’, ti prego, che la mia sorella Tamar venga a darmi da mangiare e a preparare il cibo in mia presenza, sì ch’io lo vegga; e lo mangerò quando mi sarà pòrto dalle sue mani". 6Amnon dunque si mise a letto e si finse ammalato; e quando il re lo venne a vedere, Amnon gli disse: "Fa’, ti prego, che la mia sorella Tamar venga e faccia un paio di frittelle in mia presenza; così le mangerò quando mi saran pòrte dalle sue mani". 7Allora Davide mandò a casa di Tamar a dirle: "Va’ a casa di Amnon, tuo fratello, e preparagli qualcosa da mangiare". 8Tamar andò a casa di Amnon, suo fratello, che giaceva in letto. Ella prese della farina stemperata, l’intrise, ne fece delle frittelle in sua presenza, e le cosse. 9Poi, prese la padella, ne trasse le frittelle e gliele mise dinanzi; ma egli rifiutò di mangiare, e disse: "Fate uscire di qui tutta la gente". E tutti uscirono. 10Allora Amnon disse a Tamar: "Portami il cibo in camera, e lo prenderò dalle tue mani". E Tamar prese le frittelle che avea fatte, e le portò in camera ad Amnon suo fratello. 11E com’essa gliele porgeva perché mangiasse, egli l’afferrò, e le disse: "Vieni a giacerti meco, sorella mia". 12Essa gli rispose: "No, fratel mio, non farmi violenza; questo non si fa in Israele; non commettere una tale infamia! 13Io dove andrei a portar la mia vergogna? E quanto a te, tu saresti messo tra gli scellerati in Israele. Te ne prego, parlane piuttosto al re, ed egli non mi negherà a te". 14Ma egli non volle darle ascolto; ed essendo più forte di lei, la violentò, e si giacque con lei. 15Poi Amnon concepì verso di lei un odio fortissimo; talmente, che l’odio per lei fu maggiore dell’amore di cui l’aveva amata prima. E le disse: 16"Lèvati, vattene!" Ella gli rispose: "Non mi fare, cacciandomi, un torto maggiore di quello che m’hai già fatto". Ma egli non volle ascoltarla. 17Anzi, chiamato il servo che lo assisteva, gli disse: "Caccia via costei lungi da me, e chiudile la porta dietro!" 18Or ella portava una tunica con le maniche, poiché le figliuole del re portavano simili vesti finché erano vergini. Il servo di Amnon dunque la mise fuori, e le chiuse la porta dietro. 19E Tamar si sparse della cenere sulla testa, si stracciò di dosso la tunica con le maniche, e mettendosi la mano sul capo, se n’andò gridando. 20Absalom, suo fratello, le disse: "Forse che Amnon, tuo fratello, è stato teco? Per ora, taci, sorella mia; egli è tuo fratello; non t’accorare per questo". E Tamar, desolata, rimase in casa di Absalom, suo fratello. 21Il re Davide udì tutte queste cose, e ne fu fortemente adirato. 22Ed Absalom non rivolse ad Amnon alcuna parola, né in bene né in male; poiché odiava Amnon, per aver egli violata Tamar, sua sorella. 23Or due anni dopo avvenne che, facendo Absalom tosar le sue pecore a Baal-Hatsor presso Efraim, egli invitò tutti i figliuoli del re. 24Absalom andò a trovare il re, e gli disse: "Ecco, il tuo servo ha i tosatori; ti prego, venga anche il re coi suoi servitori a casa del tuo servo!" 25Ma il re disse ad Absalom: "No, figliuol mio, non andiamo tutti, che non ti siam d’aggravio". E benché Absalom insistesse, il re non volle andare; ma gli diede la sua benedizione. 26E Absalom disse: "Se non vuoi venir tu, ti prego, permetti ad Amnon, mio fratello, di venir con noi". Il re gli rispose: "E perché andrebb’egli teco?" 27Ma Absalom tanto insisté, che Davide lasciò andare con lui Amnon e tutti i figliuoli del re. 28Or Absalom diede quest’ordine ai suoi servi: "Badate, quando Amnon avrà il cuore riscaldato dal vino, e io vi dirò: Colpite Amnon! voi uccidetelo, e non abbiate paura; non son io che ve lo comando? Fatevi cuore, e comportatevi da forti!" 29I servi di Absalom fecero ad Amnon come Absalom avea comandato. Allora tutti i figliuoli del re si levarono, montaron ciascun sul suo mulo e se ne fuggirono. 30Or mentr’essi erano ancora per via, giunse a Davide la notizia che Absalom aveva ucciso tutti i figliuoli del re, e che non uno di loro era scampato. 31Allora il re si levò, si strappò le vesti, e si gettò per terra; e tutti i suoi servi gli stavan dappresso, con le vesti stracciate. 32Ma Jonadab, figliuolo di Shimea, fratello di Davide, prese a dire: "Non dica il mio signore che tutti i giovani, figliuoli del re, sono stati uccisi; il solo Amnon è morto; per Absalom era cosa decisa fin dal giorno che Amnon gli violò la sorella Tamar. 33Così dunque non si accori il re, mio signore, come se tutti i figliuoli del re fossero morti; il solo Amnon è morto". Or Absalom aveva preso la fuga. 34E il giovine che stava alle vedette alzò gli occhi, guardò, ed ecco che una gran turba di gente veniva per la via di ponente dal lato del monte. 35E Jonadab disse al re: "Ecco i figliuoli del re che arrivano! La cosa sta come il tuo servo ha detto". 36E com’egli ebbe finito di parlare, ecco giungere i figliuoli del re, i quali alzarono la voce e piansero; ed anche il re e tutti i suoi servi versarono abbondanti lagrime. 37Quanto ad Absalom, se ne fuggì e andò da Talmai, figliuolo di Ammihur, re di Gheshur. E Davide faceva cordoglio del suo figliuolo ogni giorno. 38Absalom rimase tre anni a Gheshur, dov’era andato dopo aver preso la fuga. 39E l’ira del re Davide contro Absalom si calmò perché Davide s’era consolato della morte di Amnon.
1After this, Absalom the son of David had a beautiful sister, whose name was Tamar; and Amnon the son of David loved her. 2Amnon was so troubled that he fell sick because of his sister Tamar; for she was a virgin; and it seemed hard to Amnon to do anything to her. 3But Amnon had a friend, whose name was Jonadab, the son of Shimeah, David’s brother; and Jonadab was a very subtle man. 4He said to him, “Why, son of the king, are you so sad from day to day? Won’t you tell me?” Amnon said to him, “I love Tamar, my brother Absalom’s sister.” 5Jonadab said to him, “Lay down on your bed, and pretend to be sick. When your father comes to see you, tell him, ‘Please let my sister Tamar come and give me bread to eat, and dress the food in my sight, that I may see it, and eat it from her hand.’” 6So Amnon lay down and faked being sick. When the king came to see him, Amnon said to the king, “Please let my sister Tamar come, and make me a couple of cakes in my sight, that I may eat from her hand.” 7Then David sent home to Tamar, saying, “Go now to your brother Amnon’s house, and prepare food for him.” 8So Tamar went to her brother Amnon’s house; and he was laid down. She took dough, and kneaded it, and made cakes in his sight, and baked the cakes. 9She took the pan, and poured them out before him; but he refused to eat. Amnon said, “Have all men leave me.” Every man went out from him. 10Amnon said to Tamar, “Bring the food into the room, that I may eat from your hand.” Tamar took the cakes which she had made, and brought them into the room to Amnon her brother. 11When she had brought them near to him to eat, he took hold of her, and said to her, “Come, lie with me, my sister!” 12She answered him, “No, my brother, do not force me! For no such thing ought to be done in Israel. Don’t you do this folly. 13I, where would I carry my shame? And as for you, you will be as one of the fools in Israel. Now therefore, please speak to the king; for he will not withhold me from you.” 14However he would not listen to her voice; but being stronger than she, he forced her, and lay with her. 15Then Amnon hated her with exceeding great hatred; for the hatred with which he hated her was greater than the love with which he had loved her. Amnon said to her, “Arise, be gone!” 16She said to him, “Not so, because this great wrong in sending me away is worse than the other that you did to me!” But he would not listen to her. 17Then he called his servant who ministered to him, and said, “Put now this woman out from me, and bolt the door after her.” 18She had a garment of various colors on her; for with such robes were the king’s daughters who were virgins dressed. Then his servant brought her out, and bolted the door after her. 19Tamar put ashes on her head, and tore her garment of various colors that was on her; and she laid her hand on her head, and went her way, crying aloud as she went. 20Absalom her brother said to her, “Has Amnon your brother been with you? But now hold your peace, my sister. He is your brother. Don’t take this thing to heart.” So Tamar remained desolate in her brother Absalom’s house. 21But when king David heard of all these things, he was very angry. 22Absalom spoke to Amnon neither good nor bad; for Absalom hated Amnon, because he had forced his sister Tamar. 23After two full years, Absalom had sheep shearers in Baal Hazor, which is beside Ephraim: and Absalom invited all the king’s sons. 24Absalom came to the king, and said, “See now, your servant has sheep shearers. Please let the king and his servants go with your servant.” 25The king said to Absalom, “No, my son, let us not all go, lest we be burdensome to you.” He pressed him; however he would not go, but blessed him. 26Then Absalom said, “If not, please let my brother Amnon go with us.” The king said to him, “Why should he go with you?” 27But Absalom pressed him, and he let Amnon and all the king’s sons go with him. 28Absalom commanded his servants, saying, “Mark now, when Amnon’s heart is merry with wine; and when I tell you, ‘Strike Amnon,’ then kill him. Don’t be afraid. Haven’t I commanded you? Be courageous, and be valiant!” 29The servants of Absalom did to Amnon as Absalom had commanded. Then all the king’s sons arose, and every man got up on his mule, and fled. 30While they were on the way, the news came to David, saying, “Absalom has slain all the king’s sons, and there is not one of them left!” 31Then the king arose, and tore his garments, and lay on the earth; and all his servants stood by with their clothes torn. 32Jonadab, the son of Shimeah, David’s brother, answered, “Don’t let my lord suppose that they have killed all the young men the king’s sons; for Amnon only is dead; for by the appointment of Absalom this has been determined from the day that he forced his sister Tamar. 33Now therefore don’t let my lord the king take the thing to his heart, to think that all the king’s sons are dead; for Amnon only is dead.” 34But Absalom fled. The young man who kept the watch lifted up his eyes, and looked, and behold, many people were coming by way of the hillside behind him. 35Jonadab said to the king, “Behold, the king’s sons are coming! It is as your servant said.” 36As soon as he had finished speaking, behold, the king’s sons came, and lifted up their voice, and wept. The king also and all his servants wept bitterly. 37But Absalom fled, and went to Talmai the son of Ammihur, king of Geshur. David mourned for his son every day. 38So Absalom fled, and went to Geshur, and was there three years. 39King David longed to go out to Absalom: for he was comforted concerning Amnon, since he was dead.
1En het geschiedde daarna, alzo Absalom, Davids zoon, een schone zuster had, welker naam was Thamar, dat Amnon, Davids zoon, haar lief kreeg. 2En Amnon was benauwd tot krank wordens toe, om zijner zuster Thamars wil; want zij was een maagd, zodat het in Amnons ogen zwaar was, haar iets te doen. 3Doch Amnon had een vriend, wiens naam was Jonadab, een zoon van Simea, Davids broeder; en Jonadab was een zeer wijs man. 4Die zeide tot hem: Waarom zijt gij van morgen tot morgen zo mager, gij koningszoon, zult gij het mij niet te kennen geven? Toen zeide Amnon tot hem: Ik heb Thamar, de zuster van mijn broeder Absalom, lief. 5En Jonadab zeide tot hem: Leg u op uw leger, en maak u krank; als dan uw vader zal komen om u te zien, zo zult gij tot hem zeggen: Dat toch mijn zuster Thamar kome, dat zij mij met brood spijzige, en de spijze voor mijn ogen toemake, opdat ik het aanzie, en van haar hand ete. 6Amnon dan legde zich, en maakte zich krank. Toen nu de koning kwam om hem te zien, zeide Amnon tot den koning: Dat toch mijn zuster Thamar kome, dat zij twee koekjes voor mijn ogen toemake, en ik van haar hand ete. 7Toen zond David heen tot Thamar in het huis, zeggende: Ga toch heen in het huis van uw broeder Amnon, en maak hem een spijze. 8En Thamar ging heen in het huis van haar broeder Amnon, (hij nu was nederliggende), en zij nam deeg, en kneedde het, en maakte koekjes toe voor zijn ogen, en bakte de koekjes. 9En zij nam een pan, en goot ze uit voor zijn aangezicht; maar hij weigerde te eten. En Amnon zeide: Doet alle man van mij uitgaan. En alle man ging van hem uit. 10Toen zeide Amnon tot Thamar: Breng de spijze in de kamer, dat ik van uw hand ete; zo nam Thamar de koekjes, die zij gemaakt had, en bracht ze haar broeder Amnon in de kamer. 11Als zij ze nu tot hem nabij bracht, dat hij ate, zo greep hij haar, en zeide tot haar: Kom, lig bij mij, mijn zuster! 12Maar zij zeide tot hem: Niet, mijn broeder, verkracht mij niet, want alzo doet men niet in Israel; doe deze dwaasheid niet. 13Want ik, waarhenen zou ik mijn schande brengen? En gij, gij zoudt zijn als een der dwazen in Israel; zo spreek toch nu tot den koning, want hij zal mij van u niet onthouden. 14Doch hij wilde naar haar stem niet horen; maar sterker zijnde dan zij, zo verkrachtte hij haar, en lag bij haar. 15Daarna haatte haar Amnon met een zeer groten haat; want de haat, waarmede hij haar haatte, was groter dan de liefde, waarmede hij haar had liefgehad; en Amnon zeide tot haar: Maak u op, ga weg. 16Toen zeide zij tot hem: Er zijn geen oorzaken om mij uit te drijven; dit kwaad zou groter zijn dan het andere, dat gij bij mij gedaan hebt; maar hij wilde naar haar niet horen. 17En hij riep zijn jongen, die hem diende, en zeide: Drijf nu deze van mij uit naar buiten, en grendel de deur achter haar toe. 18Zij nu had een veelvervigen rok aan; want alzo werden des konings dochteren, die maagden waren, met mantels gekleed; en zijn dienaar bracht haar uit tot buiten, en grendelde de deur achter haar toe. 19Toen nam Thamar as op haar hoofd, en scheurde den veelvervigen rok, dien zij aanhad; en zij legde haar hand op haar hoofd, en ging vast henen en kreet. 20En haar broeder Absalom zeide tot haar: Is uw broeder Amnon bij u geweest? Nu dan, mijn zuster, zwijg stil, hij is uw broeder; zet uw hart niet op deze zaak. Alzo bleef Thamar en was eenzaam in het huis van haar broeder Absalom. 21Als de koning David al deze dingen hoorde, zo ontstak hij zeer. 22Doch Absalom sprak niet met Amnon, noch kwaad noch goed; maar Absalom haatte Amnon, ter oorzake dat hij zijn zuster Thamar verkracht had. 23En het geschiedde, na twee volle jaren, dat Absalom, schaaps scheerders had te Baal-Hazor, dat bij Efraim is; zo nodigde Absalom al des konings zonen. 24En Absalom kwam tot den koning, en zeide: Zie, nu heeft uw knecht schaaps scheerders; dat toch de koning en zijn knechten met uw knecht gaan. 25Maar de koning zeide tot Absalom: Niet, mijn zoon, laat ons toch niet al te zamen gaan, opdat wij u niet bezwaarlijk zijn; en hij hield bij hem aan, doch hij wilde niet gaan, maar zegende hem. 26Toen zeide Absalom: Zo niet, laat toch mijn broeder Amnon met ons gaan. Maar de koning zeide tot hem: Waarom zou hij met u gaan? 27Als Absalom bij hem aanhield, zo liet hij Amnon en al des konings zonen met hem gaan. 28Absalom nu gebood zijn jongens, zeggende: Let er nu op, als Amnons hart vrolijk is van den wijn, en ik tot ulieden zal zeggen: Slaat Amnon, dan zult gij hem doden; vreest niet; is het niet, omdat ik het u geboden heb? Zijt sterk en weest dapper. 29En Absaloms jongens deden aan Amnon, gelijk als Absalom geboden had. Toen stonden alle zonen des konings op, en reden een iegelijk op zijn muildier, en vloden. 30En het geschiedde, als zij op den weg waren, dat het gerucht tot David kwam, dat men zeide: Absalom heeft al de zonen des konings geslagen, en er is niet een van hen overgelaten. 31Toen stond de koning op, en scheurde zijn klederen, en legde zich neder ter aarde; desgelijks stonden al zijn knechten met gescheurde klederen. 32Maar Jonadab, de zoon van Simea, Davids broeder, antwoordde en zeide: Mijn heer zegge niet, dat zij al de jongelingen, des konings zonen, gedood hebben; maar Amnon alleen is dood; want bij Absalom is er op toegelegd, van den dag af, dat hij zijn zuster Thamar verkracht heeft. 33Zo neme nu mijn heer de koning de zaak niet in zijn hart, denkende: al des konings zonen zijn dood; want Amnon alleen is dood. 34Absalom nu vluchtte; en de jongen, die de wacht hield, hief zijn ogen op, en zag toe, en ziet, er kwam veel volks van den weg achter hem, aan de zijde van het gebergte. 35Toen zeide Jonadab tot den koning: Zie, de zonen des konings komen; naar het woord uws knechts, alzo is het geschied. 36En het geschiedde, als hij geeindigd had te spreken, ziet, zo kwamen de zonen des konings, en hieven hun stemmen op en weenden; en de koning ook en al zijn knechten weenden met een zeer groot geween. 37(Absalom dan vluchtte, en toog tot Thalmai, den zoon van Ammihur, koning van Gesur.) En hij droeg rouw over zijn zoon, al die dagen. 38Alzo vluchtte Absalom, en toog naar Gesur; en hij was aldaar drie jaren. 39Toen verlangde de ziel van den koning David zeer om naar Absalom uit te trekken; want hij had zich getroost over Amnon, dat hij dood was.
La numerazione dei versetti segue la traduzione scelta e in alcuni capitoli può differire di un versetto.