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?”

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 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.

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 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.

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?” 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 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 Machir's home.

Then sent King David, —and fetched him out of the house of Machir 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.

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 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 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, “Who am I, your servant, that you should pay any attention to 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 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 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 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.

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

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

13 But Mephibosheth lived in Jerusalem, because he always ate at the king's table. 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.