2 Samuel 9

1 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.

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 [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.”

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 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.”

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 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].”

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 sent [messengers] to bring Mephibosheth [to Jerusalem].

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

6 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?”

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 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].”

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 [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!”

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, “Saul was your master; now I am giving to Mephibosheth 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 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.”

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, “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.

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 of Ziba’s family became 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 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).

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