2 Samuel 9

English TL (The Living Bible) (1971)

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1One day David began wondering if any of Saul's family was still living, for he wanted to be kind to them, as he had promised Prince Jonathan.

2He heard about a man named Ziba, who had been one of Saul's servants, and summoned him. “Are you Ziba?“ the king asked. “Yes, sir, I am,“ he replied.

3The king then asked him, “Is anyone left from Saul's family? If so, I want to fulfill a sacred vow by being kind to him.“ “Yes,“ Ziba replied, “Jonathan's lame son is still alive.“

4“Where is he?“ the king asked. “In Lo-debar,“ Ziba told him. “At the home of Machir.“

5So King David sent for Mephibosheth—Jonathan's son and Saul's grandson.

6Mephibosheth arrived in great fear and greeted the king in deep humility, bowing low before him.

7But David said, “Don't be afraid! I've asked you to come so that I can be kind to you because of my vow to your father Jonathan. I will restore to you all the land of your grandfather Saul, and you shall live here at the palace!“

8Mephibosheth fell to the ground before the king. “Should the king show kindness to a dead dog like me?“ he exclaimed.

9Then the king summoned Saul's servant Ziba. “I have given your master's grandson everything that belonged to Saul and his family,“ he said.

10“You and your sons and servants are to farm the land for him, to produce food for his family; but he will live here with me.“

11Ziba, who had fifteen sons and twenty servants, replied, “Sir, I will do all you have commanded.“ And from that time on, Mephibosheth ate regularly with King David, as though he were one of his own sons.

12Mephibosheth had a young son, Mica. All the household of Ziba became Mephibosheth's servants,

13but Mephibosheth (who was lame in both feet) moved to Jerusalem to live at the palace.

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