2 Samuel 9

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

And David said, Is there yet one left unto the house of Saul, —that I may show him lovingkindness, for the sake of, Jonathan?

2 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.

Now, unto the house of Saul, belonged a servant, whose name, was Ziba, and, when they had called him unto David, the king said unto him—Art, thou, Ziba? And he said—Thy servant!

3 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.”

Then said the king—Is there never a man remaining unto the house of Saul, that I may show him the lovingkindness of God? And Ziba said unto the king, There remaineth a son unto Jonathan, lame in his feet.

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

And the king said to him, Where is he? And Ziba said unto the king, Lo! he, is in the house of Machir son of Ammiel, in Lo-debar.

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

Then sent King David, —and fetched him out of the house of Machir son of Ammiel, from Lo-debar.

6 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.

Now, when Mephibosheth, son of Jonathan, son of Saul, came in unto David, he fell on his face and did homage. And David said, Mephibosheth? And he said, Lo! thy servant.

7 “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.”

And David said to him—Do not fear, for I will, indeed shew, thee lovingkindness, for the sake of Jonathan thy father, and will restore unto thee all the land of Saul thy father, —but, thou thyself, shall eat bread at my table, continually.

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

And he did homage, and said—What is thy servant, —that thou hast turned towards such a dead dog as I?

9 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.

Then the king called for Ziba, Saul’s servant, and said unto him, —All that pertained unto Saul and unto all his house, have I given unto the son of thy lord:

10 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.

therefore shalt thou till for him the ground, thou, and thy sons, and thy servants, and shalt bring in, so that thy lord’s son may have bread to eat, but, Mephibosheth, thy lord’s son, shall continually eat bread at my table. Now, Ziba, had fifteen sons, and twenty servants.

11 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.

Then said Ziba unto the king, According to all that my lord the king shall command his servant, so, will thy servant do, —but, Mephibosheth, is to eat at the table of David, as one of the sons of the king.

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

Now, Mephibosheth, had a little son, whose name, was Micha. And, all that dwelt in the house of Ziba, were servants unto Mephibosheth.

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

So, Mephibosheth, dwelt in Jerusalem, for, at the table of the king, continually, had he to eat, —he being lame, in both his feet.