David Is Kind to Mephibosheth
1 One day, David thought, “I wonder if any of Saul's family are still alive. If they are, I will be kind to them, because I made a promise to Jonathan.” 2 David called in Ziba, one of the servants of Saul's family. David said, “So you are Ziba.”
“Yes, Your Majesty, I am.”
3 David asked, “Are any of Saul's family still alive? If there are, I want to be kind to them.”
Ziba answered, “One of Jonathan's sons is still alive, but he can't walk.”
4 “Where is he?” David asked.
Ziba replied, “He lives in Lo-Debar with Machir the son of Ammiel.”
5-6 David sent some servants to bring Jonathan's son from Lo-Debar. His name was Mephibosheth, and he was the grandson of Saul. He came to David and knelt down.
David asked, “Are you Mephibosheth?”
“Yes, I am, Your Majesty.”
7 David said, “Don't be afraid. I'll be kind to you because Jonathan was your father. I'm going to give you back the land that belonged to your grandfather Saul. Besides that, you will always eat with me at my table.”
8 Mephibosheth knelt down again and said, “Why should you care about me? I'm worth no more than a dead dog.”
9 David called in Ziba, Saul's chief servant, and told him, “Since Mephibosheth is Saul's grandson, I've given him back everything that belonged to your master Saul and his family. 10 You and your 15 sons and 20 servants will work for Mephibosheth. You will farm his land and bring in his crops, so that Saul's family and servants will have food. But Mephibosheth will always eat with me at my table.”
11-13 Ziba replied, “Your Majesty, I will do exactly what you tell me to do.” So Ziba's family and servants worked for Mephibosheth.
Mephibosheth was lame, but he lived in Jerusalem and ate at David's table, just like one of David's own sons. And he had a young son of his own, named Mica.
Yauni Dawidi ro Mefiboseta ri
1 Dawidi eji tate ekye: “Inye'do 'diaza katidri Saulo ro ro e'be gi'da, maka'da yauni robe rigye ta Jonatana rota ya?”
2 Ruindu'ba aza orivoya katidri Saulo roya si ävuruna Ziba, ago äzi nda te oyine Dawidi re. Ago 'Bädri'ba eji nda te ekye: “Inye'do mi ni Ziba owo ya?”
Ndi nda zatadrite ekye: “Ma ni ruindu'ba miro owo.”
3 Ndi 'bädri'ba atate ndäri ekye: “Inye'do ni katidri Saulo ro yasi 'di aza alona e'be ṛo ko, maka'da yauni robe rigye ya?”
Ziba atate 'bädri'ba ri ekye: “Ŋgwa alo aza Jonatana ro drigba gi orivoya; nda orivoya ciṛiciṛi ro pa yasi.”
4 'Bädri'ba atate ndäri ekye: “Nda orivoya gaŋwaro ya?” Ago Ziba zatadri 'bädri'ba rote ekye: “Nda orivoya 'ba Makira ŋgwa Amiele ro roya, Lodebara ya.” 5 'Dooko Dawidi 'bädri'ba zo lazo te ago ezi nda teni 'ba Makira ŋgwa Amiele ro roya, ni Lodebara yasi.
6 Ondro Mefiboseta ŋgwa Jonatana, ŋgwa Saulo ro ro kikyite Dawidi re oko, nda 'dete vuru militi si ago ye taoro te. Ago Dawidi atate ndäri ekye: “Mefiboseta!” Ndi nda zatadrite ekye: “Ma ruindu'ba miro owo.”
7 'Dooko Dawidi atate ndäri ekye: “Nyuturi ko, tana maka'dana yauni ndi miri ta täpi miro Jonatana rota. Ago wari cini ti'bi miro Saulo ro mologona ndi miri; ago minyana ŋga ndi ondoalo tara'biza maro dri.”
8 Ndi Mefiboseta edi drî te kpa to'di ago atate ekye: “Ma ruindu'ba miro se kokye avo ronye ono mindrena vo ndi driigye ya?”
9 'Dooko 'Bädri'ba zi Ziba ruindu'ba Saulo rote, ago atate ndäri ekye: “Ŋga cini Saulo ro ndi ŋga cini katidri ndaro robe, mozote Mefiboseta kwozo 'desi miro ro ri. 10 Ago mi ndi ŋgwàagoro miro be ndi ruindu'bai miro be orine 'du ämvu osone katidri 'desi miro Saulo ro ri, ago ŋgase kabe owa, nyèzi ànya konya robe. Oko Mefiboseta kwozo 'desi miro ro ri ondoalo ŋgaonyane tara'biza maro dri.” (Mano gi Ziba ono ŋgwàagoro be 'butealo fonji ago ruindu'bai be 'buteritu.)
11 'Dooko Ziba atate 'bädri'ba ri ekye: “Tase cini 'desi 'bädri'ba katabe ma ruindu'ba ndaro ri ono, mayena ndi.”
Ago Mefiboseta nya ŋgaonya te tara'biza Dawidi ro dri, oso ŋgwa alo aza ŋgwàagoro 'bädri'ba ro ronye. 12 Mefiboseta orivoya ŋgwa agoanji robe, ävuruna Mika. Ago 'dise cini katidri Ziba roya a'doyite ruindu'bai ro Mefiboseta ri. 13 Mefiboseta rite Yerusalema ya; ago ondoalo nda nya ŋgaonya te tara'biza 'bädri'ba ro dri. Pa ndaro riti orivoya ciṛiciṛi ro.