2 Samuel 11

NEW AMERICAN BIBLE	CATHOLIC PUBLIC DOMAIN
1 At the turn of the year, when kings go out on campaign, David sent out Joab along with his officers and the army of Israel, and they ravaged the Ammonites and besieged Rabbah. David, however, remained in Jerusalem.	1 Now it happened that, at the turn of the year, in the time when kings usually go forth to war, David sent Joab, and his servants with him, and all of Israel, and they laid waste to the sons of Ammon, and they besieged Rabbah. But David remained in Jerusalem.
2 One evening David rose from his siesta and strolled about on the roof of the palace. From the roof he saw a woman bathing, who was very beautiful.	2 While these things were taking place, David happened to arise from his bed after midday, and he walked upon the terrace of the king’s house. And he saw, across from his terrace, a woman washing herself. And the woman was very beautiful.
3 David had inquiries made about the woman and was told, "She is Bathsheba, daughter of Eliam, and wife of (Joab's armor-bearer) Uriah the Hittite."	3 Therefore, the king sent and inquired who the woman might be. And it was reported to him that she was Bathsheba, the daughter of Eliam, the wife of Uriah, the Hittite.
4 Then David sent messengers and took her. When she came to him, he had relations with her, at a time when she was just purified after her monthly period. She then returned to her house.	4 And so, David sent messengers, and he took her. And when she had entered to him, he slept with her. And presently, she was purified from her uncleanness.
5 But the woman had conceived, and sent the information to David, "I am with child."	5 And she returned to her house, having conceived an unborn child. And sending, she informed David, and she said, “I have conceived.”
6 David therefore sent a message to Joab, "Send me Uriah the Hittite." So Joab sent Uriah to David.	6 Then David sent to Joab, saying, “Send me Uriah, the Hittite.” And Joab sent Uriah to David.
7 When he came, David questioned him about Joab, the soldiers, and how the war was going, and Uriah answered that all was well.	7 And Uriah went to David. And David inquired whether Joab was doing well, and about the people, and how the war was being conducted.
8 David then said to Uriah, "Go down to your house and bathe your feet." Uriah left the palace, and a portion was sent out after him from the king's table.	8 And David said to Uriah, “Go into your house, and wash your feet.” And Uriah departed from the house of the king. And a meal from the king followed after him.
9 But Uriah slept at the entrance of the royal palace with the other officers of his lord, and did not go down to his own house.	9 But Uriah slept before the gate of the king’s house, with the other servants of his lord, and he did not go down to his own house.
10 David was told that Uriah had not gone home. So he said to Uriah, "Have you not come from a journey? Why, then, did you not go down to your house?"	10 And it was reported to David by some, saying, “Uriah did not go into his house.” And David said to Uriah: “Did you not arrive from a journey? Why did you not go down to your house?”
11 Uriah answered David, "The ark and Israel and Judah are lodged in tents, and my lord Joab and your majesty's servants are encamped in the open field. Can I go home to eat and to drink and to sleep with my wife? As the LORD lives and as you live, I will do no such thing."	11 And Uriah said to David: “The ark of God, and Israel and Judah, dwell in tents, and my lord Joab, and the servants of my lord, stay upon the face of the earth. And should I then go into my own house, so that I may eat and drink, and sleep with my wife? By your welfare and by the welfare of your soul, I will not do this thing.”
12 Then David said to Uriah, "Stay here today also, I shall dismiss you tomorrow." So Uriah remained in Jerusalem that day. On the day following,	12 Therefore, David said to Uriah, “Even so, remain here today, and tomorrow I will send you away.” So Uriah remained in Jerusalem, on that day and the next.
13 David summoned him, and he ate and drank with David, who made him drunk. But in the evening he went out to sleep on his bed among his lord's servants, and did not go down to his home.	13 And David called him, so that he might eat and drink before him, and he made him inebriated. And departing in the evening, he slept on his bedding, with the servants of his lord, and he did not go down to his own house.
14 The next morning David wrote a letter to Joab which he sent by Uriah.	14 Therefore, when morning arrived, David wrote a letter to Joab. And he sent it by the hand of Uriah,
15 In it he directed: "Place Uriah up front, where the fighting is fierce. Then pull back and leave him to be struck down dead."	15 writing in the letter: “Place Uriah opposite the warfare, where the battle is the strongest, and then abandon him, so that, having been wounded, he may die.”
16 So while Joab was besieging the city, he assigned Uriah to a place where he knew the defenders were strong.	16 And so, when Joab was besieging the city, he positioned Uriah in the place where he knew the strongest men to be.
17 When the men of the city made a sortie against Joab, some officers of David's army fell, and among them Uriah the Hittite died.	17 And the men, departing from the city, made war against Joab. And some of the people among the servants of David fell, and Uriah the Hittite also died.
18 Then Joab sent David a report of all the details of the battle,	18 And so, Joab sent and reported to David every word about the battle.
19 instructing the messenger, "When you have finished giving the king all the details of the battle,	19 And he instructed the messenger, saying: “When you have completed all the words about the war to the king,
20 the king may become angry and say to you: 'Why did you go near the city to fight? Did you not know that they would shoot from the wall above?	20 if you see him to be angry, and if he says: ‘Why did you draw near to the wall in order to fight? Are you ignorant that many darts are thrown from above the wall?
21 Who killed Abimelech, son of Jerubbaal? Was it not a woman who threw a millstone down on him from the wall above, so that he died in Thebez? Why did you go near the wall?' Then you in turn shall say, 'Your servant Uriah the Hittite is also dead.'"	21 Who struck down Abimelech, the son of Jerubbaal? Did not a woman throw a fragment of a millstone upon him from the wall, and so kill him at Thebez? Why did you approach beside the wall?’ then you shall say: ‘Your servant Uriah, the Hittite, also lies dead.’ ”
22 The messenger set out, and on his arrival he relayed to David all the details as Joab had instructed him.	22 Therefore, the messenger departed. And he went and described to David all that Joab had instructed him.
23 He told David: "The men had us at a disadvantage and came out into the open against us, but we pushed them back to the entrance of the city gate.	23 And the messenger said to David: “The men prevailed against us, and they went out to us in the field. Then we pursued them, making an assault, even to the gate of the city.
24 Then the archers shot at your servants from the wall above, and some of the king's servants died, among them your servant Uriah."	24 And the archers directed their arrows at your servants from the wall above. And some of the king’s servants died, and then also your servant Uriah the Hittite died.”
25 David said to the messenger: "This is what you shall convey to Joab: 'Do not be chagrined at this, for the sword devours now here and now there. Strengthen your attack on the city and destroy it.' Encourage him."	25 And David said to the messenger: “You shall say these things to Joab: ‘Do not let this matter dishearten you. For varied are the events of war. Now this one, and now that one, is consumed by the sword. Encourage your warriors against the city and exhort them, so that you may destroy it.’ ”
26 When the wife of Uriah heard that her husband had died, she mourned her lord.	26 Then the wife of Uriah heard that her husband Uriah had died, and she mourned for him.
27 But once the mourning was over, David sent for her and brought her into his house. She became his wife and bore him a son. But the LORD was displeased with what David had done.	27 But when the lamentation was completed, David sent and brought her into his house, and she became his wife, and she bore a son to him. And this word, which David had done, was displeasing in the sight of the Lord.