2 Samuel 4

NEW JERUSALEM	DOUAI-RHEIMS
1 When Saul's son heard that Abner had died at Hebron, his heart failed him, and al Israel was alarmed.	1 And Isboseth the son of Saul heard that Abner was slain in Hebron: and his hands were weakened, and all Israel was troubled.
2 Now, Saul's son had two freebooting chieftains; one was cal ed Baanah, the other Rechab. They werethe sons of Rimmon of Beeroth, and Benjaminites -- for Beeroth is regarded as belonging to Benjamin.	2 Now the son of Saul had two men captains of his bands, the name of the one was Baana, and the name of the other Rechab, the sons of Remmon a Berothite of the children of Benjamin: for Beroth also was reckoned in Benjamin.
3 The people of Beeroth had taken refuge in Gittaim, where they have remained to this day as residentforeigners.	3 And the Berothites fled into Gethaim, and were sojourners there until that time.
4 Jonathan son of Saul had a son with crippled feet. He was five years old when the news about Saul andJonathan came from Jezreel. His nurse picked him up and fled but, as she hurried away, he fel and was lamed.His name was Meribbaal.	4 And Jonathan the son of Saul bad a son that was lame of his feet: for he was five years old when the tidings came of Saul and Jonathan from Jezrahel. And his nurse took him up and fled: and as she made haste to flee, he fell and became lame: and his name was Miphiboseth.
5 The sons of Rimmon of Beeroth, Rechab and Baanah, set out; they came to Ishbaal's house at thehottest part of the day when he was taking his midday rest.	5 And the sons of Remmon the Berothite, Rechab and Baana coming, went into the house of Isboseth in the heat of the day: and he was sleeping upon his bed at noon. And the doorkeeper of the house, who was cleansing wheat, was fallen asleep.
6 The woman who kept the door had been cleaning wheat and had drowsed off to sleep.	6 And they entered into the house secretly taking ears of corn, and Rechab and Baana his brother stabbed him in the groin, and fled away.
7 Rechab and his brother Baanah stole past her and entered the house, where he was lying on his bed inhis bedroom. They struck him and kil ed him, then cut off his head and, taking the head with them, travel ed alnight by way of the Arabah.	7 For when they came into the house, be was sleeping upon his bed in a parlour, and they struck him and killed him: and taking away his head they went off by the way of the wilderness, walking all night.
8 They brought Ishbaal's head to David at Hebron. 'Here', they said to the king, 'is the head of Ishbaalson of Saul, your enemy, who meant to take your life. Yahweh has avenged my lord the king today on Saul andon his offspring.'	8 And they brought the head of Isboseth to David to Hebron: and they said to the king: Behold the head of Isboseth the son of Saul thy enemy who sought thy life: and the Lord hath revenged my lord the king this day of Saul, and of his seed.
9 But David answered Rechab and his brother Baanah, the sons of Rimmon, by saying, 'As Yahwehlives, who has rescued me from every danger,	9 But David answered Rechab, and Baana his brother, the sons of Remmon the Berothite, and said to them: As the Lord liveth, who hath delivered my soul out of all distress,
10 when someone told me, "Saul is dead!" supposing himself to be bringing me good news, I seized andput him to death at Ziklag, and that was how I rewarded him for his news!	10 The man that told me, and said: Saul is dead, who thought he brought good tidings, I apprehended, and slew him in Siceleg, who should have been rewarded for his news.
11 How much more when bandits have kil ed an upright man in his house, and on his bed! Am I not todemand an account of his blood from you, and rid the earth of you?'	11 How much more now when wicked men have slain an innocent man in his own house, upon his bed, shall I not require his blood at your hand, and take you away from the earth?
12 David then gave an order to the men, who put them to death, cut off their hands and feet, and hungthem up beside the pool of Hebron. Ishbaal's head they took and buried in Abner's grave at Hebron.	12 And David commanded his servants and they slew them: and cutting off their hands and feet, hanged them up over the pool in Hebron: but the head of Isboseth they took and buried in the sepulchre of Abner in Hebron.