The Tanakh · JPS 1917 Translation

2 Samuel 12

Jewish Publication Society 1917 · Nevi'im — the Prophets

2 Samuel chapter 12 — part of the Nevi'im — the Prophets in the Jewish Bible. In the classic JPS 1917 translation it opens: “And HaShem 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 complete text of all 31 verses is below, free to read online.

1And HaShem 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.

2The rich man had exceeding many flocks and herds;

3but the poor man had nothing save one little ewe lamb, which he had bought and reared; 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.

4And 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.'

5And David's anger was greatly kindled against the man; and he said to Nathan: 'As HaShem liveth, the man that hath done this deserveth to die;

6and he shall restore the lamb fourfold, because he did this thing, and because he had no pity.'

7And Nathan said to David: 'Thou art the man. Thus saith HaShem, the G-d of Israel: I anointed thee king over Israel, and I delivered thee out of the hand of Saul;

8and 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 were too little, then would I add unto thee so much more.

9Wherefore hast thou despised the word of HaShem, to do that which is evil in My sight? Uriah the Hittite thou hast smitten with the sword, and his wife thou hast taken to be thy wife, and him thou hast slain with the sword of the children of Ammon.

10Now 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.

11Thus saith HaShem: 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 neighbour, and he shall lie with thy wives in the sight of this sun.

12For thou didst it secretly; but I will do this thing before all Israel, and before the sun.'

13And David said unto Nathan: 'I have sinned against HaShem.' And Nathan said unto David: 'The HaShem also hath put away thy sin; thou shalt not die.

14Howbeit, because by this deed thou hast greatly blasphemed the enemies of HaShem, the child also that is born unto thee shall surely die.'

15And Nathan departed unto his house. And HaShem struck the child that Uriah's wife bore unto David, and it was very sick.

16David therefore besought G-d for the child; and David fasted, and as often as he went in, he lay all night upon the earth.

17And 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.

18And 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 spoke unto him, and he hearkened not unto our voice; how then shall we tell him that the child is dead, so that he do himself some harm?'

19But when David saw that his servants whispered together, David perceived that the child was dead; and David said unto his servants: 'Is the child dead?' And they said: 'He is dead.'

20Then David arose from the earth, and washed, and anointed himself, and changed his apparel; and he came into the house of HaShem, and worshipped; then he came to his own house; and when he required, they set bread before him, and he did eat.

21Then 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.'

22And he said: 'While the child was yet alive, I fasted and wept; for I said: Who knoweth whether HaShem will not be gracious to me, that the child may live?

23But 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.'

24And David comforted Bath-sheba his wife, and went in unto her, and lay with her; and she bore a son, and called his name Solomon. And HaShem loved him;

25and He sent by the hand of Nathan the prophet, and he called his name Jedidiah, for HaShem'S sake.

26Now Joab fought against Rabbah of the children of Ammon, and took the royal city.

27And Joab sent messengers to David, and said: 'I have fought against Rabbah, yea, I have taken the city of waters.

28Now 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.'

29And David gathered all the people together, and went to Rabbah, and fought against it, and took it.

30And he took the crown of Malcam 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.

31And he brought forth the people that were therein, and put them under saws, and under harrows of iron, and under axes of iron, and made them pass through the brickkiln; and thus did he unto all the cities of the children of Ammon. And David and all the people returned unto Jerusalem.

31 verses · JPS 1917 (public domain)

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