1And David said, “Is there still anyone left of the house of Saul, that I may show him kindness for Jonathan’s sake?” (1Sa 18:3; 1Sa 20:14; 1Sa 20:42)2Now there was a servant of the house of Saul whose name was Ziba, and they called him to David. And the king said to him, “Are you Ziba?” And he said, “I am your servant.” (2Sa 16:1; 2Sa 19:17; 2Sa 19:29)3And the king said, “Is there not still someone of the house of Saul, that I may show the kindness of God to him?” Ziba said to the king, “There is still a son of Jonathan; he is crippled in his feet.” (1Sa 20:14; 2Sa 4:4)4The king said to him, “Where is he?” And Ziba said to the king, “He is in the house of Machir the son of Ammiel, at Lo-debar.” (2Sa 17:27)5Then King David sent and brought him from the house of Machir the son of Ammiel, at Lo-debar.6And Mephibosheth the son of Jonathan, son of Saul, came to David and fell on his face and paid homage. And David said, “Mephibosheth!” And he answered, “Behold, I am your servant.” (2Sa 16:4; 2Sa 19:24; 2Sa 19:30; 2Sa 21:7; 1Ch 8:34; 1Ch 9:40)7And David said to him, “Do not fear, for I will show you kindness for the sake of your father Jonathan, and I will restore to you all the land of Saul your father, and you shall eat at my table always.” (2Sa 9:1; 2Sa 19:28; 1Ki 2:7; 2Ki 25:29)8And he paid homage and said, “What is your servant, that you should show regard for a dead dog such as I?” (1Sa 24:14; 2Sa 16:9)9Then the king called Ziba, Saul’s servant, and said to him, “All that belonged to Saul and to all his house I have given to your master’s grandson.10And you and your sons and your servants shall till the land for him and shall bring in the produce, that your master’s grandson may have bread to eat. But Mephibosheth your master’s grandson shall always eat at my table.” Now Ziba had fifteen sons and twenty servants. (2Sa 9:7; 2Sa 19:17)11Then Ziba said to the king, “According to all that my lord the king commands his servant, so will your servant do.” So Mephibosheth ate at David’s[1] table, like one of the king’s sons. (2Sa 9:7)12And Mephibosheth had a young son, whose name was Mica. And all who lived in Ziba’s house became Mephibosheth’s servants. (1Ch 8:34)13So Mephibosheth lived in Jerusalem, for he ate always at the king’s table. Now he was lame in both his feet. (2Sa 9:3; 2Sa 9:7)
2 Samuel 9
New International Version
David and Mephibosheth
1David asked, ‘Is there anyone still left of the house of Saul to whom I can show kindness for Jonathan’s sake?’2Now there was a servant of Saul’s household named Ziba. They summoned him to appear before David, and the king said to him, ‘Are you Ziba?’ ‘At your service,’ he replied.3The king asked, ‘Is there no-one still alive from the house of Saul to whom I can show God’s kindness?’ Ziba answered the king, ‘There is still a son of Jonathan; he is lame in both feet.’4‘Where is he?’ the king asked. Ziba answered, ‘He is at the house of Makir son of Ammiel in Lo Debar.’5So King David had him brought from Lo Debar, from the house of Makir son of Ammiel.6When Mephibosheth son of Jonathan, the son of Saul, came to David, he bowed down to pay him honour. David said, ‘Mephibosheth!’ ‘At your service,’ he replied.7‘Don’t be afraid,’ David said to him, ‘for I will surely show you kindness for the sake of your father Jonathan. I will restore to you all the land that belonged to your grandfather Saul, and you will always eat at my table.’8Mephibosheth bowed down and said, ‘What is your servant, that you should notice a dead dog like me?’9Then the king summoned Ziba, Saul’s steward, and said to him, ‘I have given your master’s grandson everything that belonged to Saul and his family.10You and your sons and your servants are to farm the land for him and bring in the crops, so that your master’s grandson may be provided for. And Mephibosheth, grandson of your master, will always eat at my table.’ (Now Ziba had fifteen sons and twenty servants.)11Then Ziba said to the king, ‘Your servant will do whatever my lord the king commands his servant to do.’ So Mephibosheth ate at David’s[1] table like one of the king’s sons.12Mephibosheth had a young son named Mika, and all the members of Ziba’s household were servants of Mephibosheth.13And Mephibosheth lived in Jerusalem, because he always ate at the king’s table; he was lame in both feet.