1Then David said, “Is there yet anyone left of the house of Saul, that I may show him loyal love for Jonathan’s sake?”
2Now the house of Saul had a servant whose name was Ziba, and they called him to David. The king said to him, “Are you Ziba?” And he said, “Your servant.”
3The king said, “Is there no longer anyone of the house of Saul, that I may show him the loyal love of God?” And Ziba said to the king, “There is still a son of Jonathan, crippled in his feet.”
4The king said to him, “Where is he?” And Ziba said to the king, “He is there, in the house of Machir son of Ammiel, at Lo-debar.”
5So King David sent and took him from the house of Machir son of Ammiel, from Lo-debar.
6When Mephibosheth son of Jonathan, son of Saul, came to David, he fell on his face and bowed down. And David said, “Mephibosheth!” And he said, “Here is your servant.”
7And David said to him, “Do not be afraid, for I will surely show you loyal love for the sake of Jonathan your father, and I will restore to you all the field of Saul your father, and you yourself shall eat bread at my table continually.”
8He bowed down and said, “What is your servant, that you have turned toward a dead dog such as I am?”
9Then the king called to 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 son.
10You shall work the ground for him — you, your sons, and your servants — and bring in the produce, so that your master’s son may have bread to eat; but Mephibosheth, your master’s son, shall always eat bread at my table.” Now Ziba had fifteen sons and twenty servants.
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 the king’s table like one of the king’s sons.
12Mephibosheth had a young son whose name was Mica; and all who dwelt in Ziba’s house were servants to Mephibosheth.
13So Mephibosheth lived in Jerusalem, for he ate continually at the king’s table; and he was lame in both his feet.
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