David’s Lovingkindness to Mephibosheth

1Then David said, “Is there yet [†]anyone left of the house of Saul, that I may show him lovingkindness for Jonathan’s sake?” 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.” 3And the king said, “Is there not yet anyone of the house of Saul to whom I may show the lovingkindness of God?” And Ziba said to the king, “There is still a son of Jonathan who is crippled in both feet.” 4So the king said to him, “Where is he?” And Ziba said to the king, “Behold, he is in the house of Machir the son of Ammiel in Lo-debar.” 5Then King David sent and took him from the house of Machir the son of Ammiel, from Lo-debar. 6So Mephibosheth, the son of Jonathan the son of Saul, came to David and fell on his face and prostrated himself. And David said, “Mephibosheth.” And he said, “Here is your servant!” 7And David said to him, “Do not fear, for I will surely show lovingkindness to you for the sake of your father Jonathan, and will restore to you all the [†]land of your [†]grandfather Saul; and you shall [†]eat at my table continually.” 8So he prostrated himself and said, “What is your servant, that you should regard a dead dog like me?”

9Then the king called Saul’s young man Ziba 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 cultivate the land for him, and you shall bring in the produce so that your master’s grandson may have food and eat of it; nevertheless Mephibosheth your master’s grandson shall [†]eat at my table continually.” 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 your servant will do.” So Mephibosheth ate at [†]David’s table as one of the king’s sons. 12Now Mephibosheth had a young son whose name was Mica. And all who lived in the house of Ziba were servants to Mephibosheth. 13So Mephibosheth lived in Jerusalem, for he ate at the king’s table continually. Now he was lame in both feet.