2 Samuel 9

1David said, “Is there still anyone left of the house of Saul, that I may show kindness to him for Jonathan’s sake?”

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

3Then the king said, “Is there still anyone left of the house of Saul, that I may show him the kindness of God?” Ziba said to the king, “There is still a son of Jonathan, crippled in his feet.”

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

5So King David sent and took him from the house of Machir son of Ammiel, from Lo-debar.

6Mephibosheth son of Jonathan, son of Saul, came to David and fell on his face and bowed down. David said, “Mephibosheth,” and he said, “Here is your servant.”

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

8And he bowed down and said, “What is your servant, that you have turned toward a dead dog like me?”

9Then the king called 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 and your sons and your servants shall work the land for him, and you shall bring in the produce, and it shall be bread for your master's son, and he shall eat it. But Mephibosheth, your master's son, shall always eat bread at my table. Now Ziba had fifteen sons and twenty servants.

11Ziba said to the king, “According to all that my lord the king commands his servant, so your servant will do.” And Mephibosheth ate at my table like one of the king’s sons.

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

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