2 Samuel 10

NEW JERUSALEM	DOUAI-RHEIMS
1 After this, when the king of the Ammonites died and his son Hanun succeeded him,	1 And it came to pass after this, that the king of the children of Ammon died, and Hanon his son reigned in his stead.
2 David thought, 'I shal show Hanun son of Nahash the same faithful love as his father showed me.'And David sent his representatives to offer him condolences over his father. But, when David's representativesreached the Ammonites' country,	2 And David said: I Will shew kindness to Hanon the son of Daas, as his father shewed kindness to me. So David sent his servants to comfort him for the death of his father. But when the servants of David were come into the land of the children of Ammon,
3 the Ammonite princes said to Hanun their master, 'Do you really think David means to honour yourfather when he sends you messengers with sympathy? On the contrary, the reason why David has sent hisrepresentatives to you is to explore the city, to reconnoitre and so overthrow it.'	3 The princes of the children of Ammon said to Hanon their lord: Thinkest thou that for the honour of thy father, David hath sent comforters to thee, and hath not David rather sent his servants to thee to search, and spy into the city, and overthrow it?
4 Whereupon Hanun seized David's representatives, shaved off half their beards, cut their clothes offhalfway up, at their buttocks, and sent them away.	4 Wherefore Hanon took the servants of David, and shaved off the one half of their beards, and cut away half of their garments even to the buttocks, and sent them away.
5 When David was told, he sent someone to meet them, since the men were overcome with shame.'Stay in Jericho', the king said, 'until your beards have grown again, and come back then.'	5 When this was told David, he sent to meet them: for the men were sadly put to confusion, and David commanded them, saying: Stay at Jericho, till your beards be grown, and then return.
6 When the Ammonites realised that they had antagonised David, they sent agents to hire twentythousand foot soldiers from the Aramaeans of Beth-Rehob and the Aramaeans of Zobah, one thousand menfrom the king of Maacah and twelve thousand men from the prince of Tob.	6 And the children of Ammon seeing that they had done an injury to David, Bent and hired the Syrians of Rohob, and the Syrians of Soba, twenty thousand footmen, and of the king of Maacha a thousand men, and of Istob twelve thousand men.
7 When David heard this, he sent Joab with the whole army, the champions.	7 And when David heard this, he sent Joab and the whole army of warriors.
8 The Ammonites marched out and drew up their line of battle at the city gate, while the Aramaeans ofZobah and of Rehob and the men of Tob and Maacah kept their distance in the open country.	8 And the children of Ammon came out, and set their men in array at the entering in of the gate: but the Syrians of Soba, and of Rohob, and of Istob, and of Maacha were by themselves in the field.
9 Joab, seeing that he had to fight on two fronts, to his front and to his rear, chose the best of Israel'spicked men and drew them up in line facing the Aramaeans.	9 Then Joab seeing that the battle was prepared against him, both before and behind, chose of all the choice men of Israel, and put them in array against the Syrians:
10 He entrusted the rest of the army to his brother Abishai, and drew them up in line facing theAmmonites.	10 And the rest of the people he delivered to Abisai his brother, who set them in array against the children of Ammon.
11 'If the Aramaeans prove too strong for me,' he said, 'you must come to my help; if the Ammonitesprove too strong for you, I shal come to yours.	11 And Joab said: If the Syrians are too strong for me, then thou shalt help me: but if the children of Ammon are too strong for thee, then I will help thee.
12 Be brave! Let us acquit ourselves like men for the sake of our people and for the cities of our God.And let Yahweh do as he thinks right!'	12 Be of good courage, and let us fight for our people, and for the city of our God: and the Lord will do what is good in his sight.
13 Joab and the force with him joined battle with the Aramaeans, who fled at his onslaught.	13 And Joab and the people that were with him, began to fight against the Syrians: and they immediately fled before him.
14 When the Ammonites saw that the Aramaeans had fled, they too fled from Abishai and withdrew intothe city. Hence, Joab broke off his campaign against the Ammonites and returned to Jerusalem.	14 And the children of Ammon seeing that the Syrians were fled, they fled also before Abisai, and entered into the city: and Joab returned from the children of Ammon, and came to Jerusalem.
15 The Aramaeans, realising that Israel had got the better of them, concentrated their forces.	15 Then the Syrians seeing that they had fallen before Israel, gathered themselves together.
16 Hadadezer sent messengers and mobilised the Aramaeans living on the other side of the river; andthese arrived at Helam, with Shobach the commander of Hadadezer's army, at their head.	16 And Adarezer sent and fetched the Syrians, that were beyond the river, and brought over their army: and Sobach, the captain of the host of Adarezer, was their general.
17 David, being informed of this, mustered al Israel, crossed the Jordan and arrived at Helam. TheAramaeans drew up in line facing David and engaged him.	17 And when this was told David, he gathered all Israel together, and passed over the Jordan, and came to Helam: and the Syrians set themselves in array against David, and fought against him.
18 But the Aramaeans fled from Israel, and David kil ed seven hundred of their chariot teams and fortythousand men; he also cut down Shobach the commander of their army, who died there.	18 And the Syrians fled before Israel, and David slew of the Syrians the men of seven hundred chariots, and forty thousand horsemen: and smote Sobach the captain of the army, who presently died.
19 When al Hadadezer's vassal kings saw that Israel had got the better of them, they made peace withthe Israelites and became their subjects. The Aramaeans were afraid to give any more help to the Ammonites.	19 And all the kings that were auxiliaries of Adarezer, seeing themselves overcome by Israel, were afraid and fled away, eight and fifty thousand men before Israel. And they made peace with Israel: and served them, and all the Syrians were afraid to help the children of Ammon any more.