2 Samuel 9

1 David said, “Is there anyone still left of Saul's family so I can be kind to him for Jonathan's sake?”

David said, "Is there yet any who is left of the house of Saul, that I may show him kindness for Jonathan's sake?"

2 There was a man called Ziba who used to be a servant of Saul's family. They called for him to come to David, and the king asked him, “Are you Ziba?” “Yes, I am your servant,” he replied.

There was of the house of Saul a servant whose name was Ziba, and they called him to David; and the king said to him, "Are you Ziba?" He said, "Your servant is he."

3 The king asked him, “Is there anyone still left of Saul's family so I can be kind to him as I promised before God?” “There's still one of Jonathan's sons, who is lame in both feet,” Ziba replied.

The king said, "Is there not yet any of the house of Saul, that I may show the kindness of God to him?" Ziba said to the king, "Jonathan has yet a son, who is lame of his feet."

4 “Where is he?” asked the king. “He's in the town of Lo-debar, living in the home of Machir, son of Ammiel,” Ziba replied.

And the king said, "Where is he?" And Ziba said to the king, "Look, he is in the house of Makir the son of Ammiel, in Lo Debar."

5 So King David had him brought from Machir's home.

Then the king sent, and brought him out of the house of Makir the son of Ammiel, from Lo Debar.

6 When Mephibosheth, son of Jonathan, son of Saul, came to David, he bowed facedown to the ground in respect. Then David said, “Welcome Mephibosheth.” “I am your servant,” he replied.

And Mippibaal, the son of Jonathan, the son of Saul, came to David, and he fell face down in homage. And David said, "Mippibaal?" And he answered, "Look, your servant."

7 “Do not be afraid,” said David, “for I will truly be kind to you for the sake of your father Jonathan. I will return to you all the land owned by your grandfather Saul, and you will always eat at my table.”

And David said to him, "Do not be afraid, for I will surely show you kindness for Jonathan your father's sake, and will restore to you all the land of Saul your grandfather. You shall eat bread at my table continually."

8 Mephibosheth bowed down and said, “Who am I, your servant, that you should pay any attention to a dead dog like me?”

He bowed down, and said, "What is your servant, that you should look on such a dead dog as I am?"

9 Then the king called for Saul's servant Ziba and told him, “I have given to your master's grandson everything that belonged to Saul and his family.

Then the king called to Ziba, Saul's servant, and said to him, "All that pertained to Saul and to all his house have I given to your master's son.

10 You and your sons and workers are to farm the ground for him and bring in the produce, so that your master's grandson will have food to eat. But Mephibosheth, your master's grandson, will always eat at my table.” Ziba had fifteen sons and twenty workers.

You shall till the land for him, you, and your sons, and your servants, and you shall bring food into your master's house that they may eat. But Mippibaal your master's son shall eat bread always at my table." Now Ziba had fifteen sons and twenty servants.

11 Ziba replied to the king, “My lord the king, your servant will do everything that you have commanded.” So Mephibosheth ate at David's table like one of the king's sons.

Then Ziba said to the king, "According to all that my lord the king commands his servant, so your servant shall do." So Mippibaal ate at David's table like one of the king's sons.

12 Mephibosheth had a young son named Mica. All the people who lived in Ziba's house became Mephibosheth's servants.

Mippibaal had a young son, whose name was Micah. All that lived in the house of Ziba were servants to Mippibaal.

13 But Mephibosheth lived in Jerusalem, because he always ate at the king's table. He was lame in both feet.

So Mippibaal lived in Jerusalem; for he ate continually at the king's table. He was lame in both his feet.