2 Samuel 9
1 And David said: 'Is there yet any that is left of the house of Saul, that I may show him kindness for Jonathan's sake?'
One day David asked, “Is there anyone who is a descendant of Saul to whom I can be kind?” He asked this because he wanted to honor Jonathan.
2 Now there was of the house of Saul a servant whose name was Ziba, and they called him unto David; and the king said unto him: 'Art thou Ziba?' And he said: 'Thy servant is he.'
[They told him that] there was [in Jerusalem] a man named Ziba who had been a servant of Saul’s family. So [David sent messengers to summon Ziba. When he arrived], the king asked him, “Are you Ziba?” He replied, “Yes, your majesty, I am.”
3 And the king said: 'Is there not yet any of the house of Saul, that I may show the kindness of God unto him?' And Ziba said unto the king: 'Jonathan hath yet a son, who is lame on his feet.'
The king asked him, “Is there anyone in Saul’s family to whom I can be kind, [as I promised Jonathan that I would do]?” Ziba replied, “Yes, there is one son of Jonathan who is still [alive]. His feet are crippled.”
4 And the king said unto him: 'Where is he?' And Ziba said unto the king: 'Behold, he is in the house of Machir the son of Ammiel, in Lo-debar.'
The king asked him, “Where is he?” Ziba replied, “He is [living] in the house of Machir, son of Ammiel, in Lo-Debar [city east of the Jordan River].”
5 Then king David sent, and fetched him out of the house of Machir the son of Ammiel, from Lo-debar.
So King David sent [messengers] to bring Mephibosheth [to Jerusalem].
6 And Mephibosheth, the son of Jonathan, the son of Saul, came unto David, and fell on his face, and prostrated himself. And David said: 'Mephibosheth!' And he answered: 'Behold thy servant!'
When Mephibosheth came to David, he knelt down with his face on the ground, to show respect. Then David said, “Mephibosheth!” He replied, “Yes, your majesty, how may I serve you?”
7 And David said unto him: 'Fear not; for I will surely show thee kindness for Jonathan thy father's sake, and will restore thee all the land of Saul thy father; and thou shalt eat bread at my table continually.'
David said to him, “Do not be afraid; I will be kind to you because Jonathan your father [was my loyal friend]. I will give back to you all the land that belonged to your grandfather Saul. And [I want] you to always eat with me at my house [MTY].”
8 And he bowed down, and said: 'What is thy servant, that thou shouldest look upon such a dead dog as I am?'
Mephibosheth bowed [in front of David again] and said, “Sir, I am [as worthless as] [MET] a dead dog; I do not deserve [RHQ] that you be kind to me!”
9 Then the king called to Ziba, Saul's servant, and said unto him: 'All that pertained to Saul and to all his house have I given unto thy master's son.
Then the king summoned Saul’s servant Ziba and said to him, “Saul was your master; now I am giving to Mephibosheth everything that belonged to Saul and his family.
10 And thou shalt till the land for him, thou, and thy sons, and thy servants; and thou shalt bring in the fruits, that thy master's son may have bread to eat; but Mephibosheth thy master's son shall eat bread continually at my table.' Now Ziba had fifteen sons and twenty servants.
You and your 15 sons and your 20 servants must till/plow the land for Mephibosheth’s [family], and [plant crops] and harvest them, in order that they will have food to eat. But Mephibosheth will eat food with me at my house.”
11 Then said Ziba unto the king: 'According to all that my lord the king commandeth his servant, so shall thy servant do; but Mephibosheth eateth at my table as one of the king's sons.'
Ziba replied to the king, “Your majesty, I will do everything that you have commanded me to do.” So [after that], Mephibosheth always ate at the king’s table, as though he were one of the king’s sons.
12 Now Mephibosheth had a young son, whose name was Mica. And all that dwelt in the house of Ziba were servants unto Mephibosheth.
Mephibosheth had a young son named Mica. All of Ziba’s family became servants of Mephibosheth.
13 But Mephibosheth dwelt in Jerusalem; for he did eat continually at the king's table; and he was lame on both his feet.
And Mephibosheth, who was still crippled in both of his feet, started to live in Jerusalem, and he always ate (at the king’s table/with the king).
