David and Mephibosheth 1 UST One day David asked some of his officials,“Are there any descendants of Saul still living? I promised Jonathan that I would act kindly toward his family, and I would like to do that if I can.” BSB BSB: Then David asked, “Is there anyone left from the house of Saul to whom I can show kindness for the sake of Jonathan?”
2 UST They told him that Saul’ s family had a household official whose name was Ziba. So David sent messengers to summon Ziba. When he arrived, King David asked him,“Are you Ziba?” He replied,“Yes, your Majesty, I am.” BSB BSB: And 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.
3 UST Then King David asked him,“Is there anyone still alive in Saul’ s family toward whom I can act kindly, as I promised God that I would do?” Ziba replied,“Yes, there is one son of Jonathan who is still alive. But he is not able to walk.” BSB BSB: So 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.”
4 UST Then the king asked him,“Where is he?” Ziba replied,“I can tell you that he is living in the house of Machir son of Ammiel in the city of Lo Debar.” BSB BSB: “Where is he?” replied the king. And Ziba said, “Indeed, he is in Lo-debar at the house of Machir son of Ammiel.”
5 UST So King David sent messengers to Machir’ s house in Lo Debar, and they brought Mephibosheth to Jerusalem. BSB BSB: So King David had him brought from the house of Machir son of Ammiel in Lo-debar.
6 UST When Mephibosheth came to David, he knelt down with his face on the ground, to show respect. Then David said,“Mephibosheth.” He replied,“What may I do for you, your Majesty?” BSB BSB: And when Mephibosheth 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.
7 UST David said to him,“Do not be afraid. You can be sure that I am going to be kind to you because Jonathan your father was my friend. I will give back to you all the land that belonged to your grandfather Saul. And I want you to always eat meals with my family in the royal palace.” BSB BSB: “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.”
8 UST Mephibosheth bowed in front of David again and said,“Sir, I am as worthless as a dead dog. I do not deserve for you to act kindly toward me!” BSB BSB: Mephibosheth bowed down and said, “What is your servant, that you should show regard for a dead dog like me?”
9 UST Then the king summoned Saul’ s servant Ziba. He told him,“I am now giving Mephibosheth everything that belonged to your master Saul and his family. BSB BSB: Then 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.
10 UST You and your sons and your servants must plow the land and plant crops and harvest them for Mephibosheth’ s family. That way they will have food to eat. Mephibosheth will eat meals regularly with me in my palace.”(Ziba had 15 sons and 20 servants.) BSB BSB: You 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.
11 UST Ziba replied to the king,“Your Majesty, I will do everything that you command me to do about this.” After that, Mephibosheth always ate with David’ s family as if he were one of his sons. BSB BSB: And Ziba said to the king, “Your servant will do all that my lord the king has commanded.” So Mephibosheth ate at David’s table like one of the king’s own sons.
12 UST Mephibosheth had a young son named Mica. All of Ziba’ s family and servants became servants of Mephibosheth. BSB BSB: And Mephibosheth had a young son named Mica, and all who dwelt in the house of Ziba were servants of Mephibosheth.
13 UST So Mephibosheth came to live in Jerusalem, since he always ate meals with David’ s family in the royal palace. He was still not able to walk, because he had injured both of his legs. BSB BSB: So Mephibosheth lived in Jerusalem, because he always ate at the king’s table, and he was lame in both feet.
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