2 Samuel 9

Modern

Literal

David and Mephibosheth

¹Then David asked, “Is there anyone left from the house of Saul to whom I can show kindness for the sake of Jonathan?”

¹And David said, “Is there one yet who is left to the house of Saul, that I may do for him kindness for the sake of Jonathan?”

²And there was a servant of the house of Saul named Ziba. They summoned him to David, and the king inquired, “Are you Ziba?”

“I am your servant,” he replied.

²And to the house of Saul was a servant, and his name was Ziba. And they called him to David, and the king said to him, “Are you Ziba?” And he said, “Your servant.”

³So the king asked, “Is there anyone left of the house of Saul to whom I can show the kindness of God?”

Ziba answered, “There is still Jonathan’s son, who is lame in both feet.”

³And the king said, “Is not still a man to the house of Saul, that I may show to him the kindness of God?” And Ziba said to the king, “Of Jonathan there is still a son, lame in his feet.”

⁴“Where is he?” replied the king.

And Ziba said, “Indeed, he is in Lo-debar at the house of Machir son of Ammiel.”

⁴And the king said to him, “Where is he?” And Ziba said to the king, “Behold, he is in the house of Machir son of Ammiel in Lo-debar.”

⁵So King David had him brought from the house of Machir son of Ammiel in Lo-debar.

⁵And King David sent and brought him out of the house of Machir son of Ammiel in Lo-debar.

⁶And when Mephibosheth^a son of Jonathan, the son of Saul, came to David, he fell facedown in reverence.

Then David said, “Mephibosheth!”

“I am your servant,” he replied.

⁶And Mephibosheth son of Jonathan, son of Saul, had come to David, and he fell on his face and bowed low. And David said, “Mephibosheth.” And he answered, “Behold, your servant!”

⁷“Do not be afraid,” said David, “for surely I will show you kindness for the sake of your father Jonathan. I will restore to you all the land of your grandfather Saul, and you will always eat at my table.”

⁷And David said to him, “Do not fear, for surely I will show to you kindness for the sake of Jonathan your father, and I will restore to you all the land of Saul your grandfather, and you shall eat bread at my table continually.”

⁸Mephibosheth bowed down and said, “What is your servant, that you should show regard for a dead dog like me?”

⁸And he bowed low and said, “What is your servant, that you should look upon a dead dog such as I?”

⁹Then the king summoned Saul’s servant Ziba and said to him, “I have given to your master’s grandson all that belonged to Saul and to all his house.

⁹And the king called to Ziba servant of Saul and said to him, “All that belonged to Saul and to all his house, I have given to the son of your master.

¹⁰You and your sons and servants are to work the ground for him and bring in the harvest, so that your master’s grandson may have food to eat. But Mephibosheth, your master’s grandson, is always to eat at my table.”

Now Ziba had fifteen sons and twenty servants.

¹⁰And you will work the land for him—you and your sons and your servants, and you shall bring in, that the son of your master may have food to eat. And Mephibosheth son of your master shall always eat bread at my table.” And Ziba had fifteen sons and twenty servants.

¹¹And Ziba said to the king, “Your servant will do all that my lord the king has commanded.”

So Mephibosheth ate at David’s table^a like one of the king’s own sons.

¹¹And Ziba said to the king, “According to all that my lord the king has commanded his servant, so your servant will do.” “And as for Mephibosheth, he shall eat at David’s table, like one of the sons of the king.”

¹²And Mephibosheth had a young son named Mica,^a and all who dwelt in the house of Ziba were servants of Mephibosheth.

¹²And to Mephibosheth was a young son, and his name was Mica. And all who dwelt in the house of Ziba were servants of Mephibosheth.

¹³So Mephibosheth lived in Jerusalem, because he always ate at the king’s table, and he was lame in both feet.

¹³And Mephibosheth dwelt in Jerusalem, for at the table of the king he ate continually. And he was lame in both of his feet.