Ii Samuelis 9
1 Et dixit David: Putasne est aliquis qui remanserit de domo Saul, ut faciam cum eo misericordiam propter Ionathan?
One day David asked, “Is there anyone who is a descendant of Saul to whom I can be kind?” He asked this because he wanted to honor Jonathan.
2 Erat autem de domo Saul, servus nomine Siba: quem cum vocasset rex ad se, dixit ei: Tune es Siba? Et ille respondit: Ego sum servus tuus.
[They told him that] there was [in Jerusalem] a man named Ziba who had been a servant of Saul’s family. So [David sent messengers to summon Ziba. When he arrived], the king asked him, “Are you Ziba?” He replied, “Yes, your majesty, I am.”
3 Et ait rex: Numquid superest aliquis de domo Saul. ut faciam cum eo misericordiam Dei? Dixitque Siba regi: Superest filius Ionathæ, debilis pedibus.
The king asked him, “Is there anyone in Saul’s family to whom I can be kind, [as I promised Jonathan that I would do]?” Ziba replied, “Yes, there is one son of Jonathan who is still [alive]. His feet are crippled.”
4 Ubi, inquit, est? Et Siba ad regem, Ecce, ait, in domo est Machir filii Ammiel in Lodabar.
The king asked him, “Where is he?” Ziba replied, “He is [living] in the house of Machir, son of Ammiel, in Lo-Debar [city east of the Jordan River].”
5 Misit ergo rex David, et tulit eum de domo Machir filii Ammiel de Lodabar.
So King David sent [messengers] to bring Mephibosheth [to Jerusalem].
6 Cum autem venisset Miphiboseth filius Ionathæ filii Saul ad David, corruit in faciem suam, et adoravit. Dixitque David: Miphiboseth? Qui respondit: Adsum servus tuus.
When Mephibosheth came to David, he knelt down with his face on the ground, to show respect. Then David said, “Mephibosheth!” He replied, “Yes, your majesty, how may I serve you?”
7 Et ait ei David: Ne timeas, quia faciens faciam in te misericordiam propter Ionathan patrem tuum, et restituam tibi omnes agros Saul patris tui, et tu comedes panem in mensa mea semper.
David said to him, “Do not be afraid; I will be kind to you because Jonathan your father [was my loyal friend]. I will give back to you all the land that belonged to your grandfather Saul. And [I want] you to always eat with me at my house [MTY].”
8 Qui adorans eum, dixit: Quis ego sum servus tuus, quoniam respexisti super canem mortuum similem mei?
Mephibosheth bowed [in front of David again] and said, “Sir, I am [as worthless as] [MET] a dead dog; I do not deserve [RHQ] that you be kind to me!”
9 Vocavit itaque rex Sibam puerum Saul, et dixit ei: Omnia quæcumque fuerunt Saul, et universam domum eius, dedi filio domini tui.
Then the king summoned Saul’s servant Ziba and said to him, “Saul was your master; now I am giving to Mephibosheth everything that belonged to Saul and his family.
10 Operare igitur ei terram tu, et filii tui, et servi tui: et inferes filio domini tui cibos ut alatur: Miphiboseth autem filius domini tui comedet semper panem super mensam meam. Erant autem Sibæ quindecim filii, et viginti servi.
You and your 15 sons and your 20 servants must till/plow the land for Mephibosheth’s [family], and [plant crops] and harvest them, in order that they will have food to eat. But Mephibosheth will eat food with me at my house.”
11 Dixitque Siba ad regem: Sicut iussisti domine mi rex servo tuo, sic faciet servus tuus: et Miphiboseth comedet super mensam meam, quasi unus de filiis regis.
Ziba replied to the king, “Your majesty, I will do everything that you have commanded me to do.” So [after that], Mephibosheth always ate at the king’s table, as though he were one of the king’s sons.
12 Habebat autem Miphiboseth filium parvulum nomine Micha: omnis vero cognatio domus Sibæ serviebat Miphiboseth.
Mephibosheth had a young son named Mica. All of Ziba’s family became servants of Mephibosheth.
13 Porro Miphiboseth habitabat in Ierusalem: quia de mensa regis iugiter vescebatur: et erat claudus utroque pede.
And Mephibosheth, who was still crippled in both of his feet, started to live in Jerusalem, and he always ate (at the king’s table/with the king).
