Ii Samuelis 9

1 Et dixit David: Putasne est aliquis qui remanserit de domo Saul, ut faciam cum eo misericordiam propter Jonathan?

Then David asked, “Is there anyone left from the house of Saul to whom I can show kindness for the sake of 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.

And there was a servant of Saul’s family named Ziba. They summoned him to David, and the king inquired, “Are you Ziba?” “I am your servant,” he replied.

3 Et ait rex: Numquid superest aliquis de domo Saul, ut faciam cum eo misericordiam Dei? Dixitque Siba regi: Superest filius Jonathæ, debilis pedibus.

So the king asked, “Is there anyone left of Saul’s family to whom I can show the kindness of God?” Ziba answered, “There is still Jonathan’s son, who is lame in both feet.”

4 Ubi, inquit, est? Et Siba ad regem: Ecce, ait, in domo est Machir filii Ammiel, in Lodabar.

“Where is he?” replied the king. And Ziba said, “Indeed, he is in Lo-debar at the house of Machir son of Ammiel.”

5 Misit ergo rex David, et tulit eum de domo Machir filii Ammiel, de Lodabar.

So King David had him brought from the house of Machir son of Ammiel in Lo-debar.

6 Cum autem venisset Miphiboseth filius Jonathæ filii Saul ad David, corruit in faciem suam, et adoravit. Dixitque David: Miphiboseth? Qui respondit: Adsum servus tuus.

And when Mephibosheth son of Jonathan, the son of Saul, came to David, he fell facedown in reverence. Then David said, “Mephibosheth!” “I am your servant,” he replied.

7 Et ait ei David: Ne timeas, quia faciens faciam in te misericordiam propter Jonathan patrem tuum, et restituam tibi omnes agros Saul patris tui: et tu comedes panem in mensa mea semper.

“Do not be afraid,” said David, “for surely I will show you kindness for the sake of your father Jonathan. I will restore to you all the land of your grandfather Saul, and you will always eat at my table.”

8 Qui adorans eum, dixit: Quis ego sum servus tuus, quoniam respexisti super canem mortuum similem mei?

Mephibosheth bowed down and said, “What is your servant, that you should show regard for a dead dog like me?”

9 Vocavit itaque rex Sibam puerum Saul, et dixit ei: Omnia quæcumque fuerunt Saul, et universam domum ejus, dedi filio domini tui.

Then the king summoned Saul’s servant Ziba and said to him, “I have given to your master’s grandson all that belonged to Saul and to all his house.

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 sons and servants are to work the ground for him and bring in the harvest, so that your master’s grandson may have food to eat. But Mephibosheth, your master’s grandson, is always to eat at my table.” Now Ziba had fifteen sons and twenty servants.

11 Dixitque Siba ad regem: Sicut jussisti, domine mi rex, servo tuo, sic faciet servus tuus: et Miphiboseth comedet super mensam meam, quasi unus de filiis regis.

And Ziba said to the king, “Your servant will do all that my lord the king has commanded.” So Mephibosheth ate at David’s table like one of the king’s own sons.

12 Habebat autem Miphiboseth filium parvulum nomine Micha: omnis vero cognatio domus Sibæ serviebat Miphiboseth.

And Mephibosheth had a young son named Mica, and all who dwelt in the house of Ziba were servants of Mephibosheth.

13 Porro Miphiboseth habitabat in Jerusalem, quia de mensa regis jugiter vescebatur: et erat claudus utroque pede.

So Mephibosheth lived in Jerusalem, because he always ate at the king’s table, and he was lame in both feet.