¹David said, “Is there yet any who is left of Saul ’s house , that I may show him kindness for Jonathan ’s sake ?”

²There was of Saul ’s house a servant whose name was Ziba , and they called him to David ; and the king said to him , “Are you Ziba ?”

He said , “I am your servant .”

³The king said, “Is there not yet any of Saul ’s house , that I may show the kindness of God to him ?”

Ziba said to the king , “Jonathan still has a son , who is lame in his feet .”

⁴The king said to him , “Where is he ?”

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 brought him out of the house of Machir the son of Ammiel , from Lo Debar.

⁶Mephibosheth , the son of Jonathan , the son of Saul , came to David , fell on his face , and showed respect . David said, “Mephibosheth ?”

He answered, “Behold , your servant !”

⁷David said to him , “Don’t be afraid , for I will surely show you kindness for Jonathan your father’s sake , and will restore to you all the land of Saul your father. You will eat bread at my table continually .”

⁸He bowed down , and said, “What is your servant , that you should look at such a dead dog 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 .

¹⁰Till the land for him —you , your sons , and your servants . Bring in the harvest, that your master’s son may have bread to eat ; but Mephibosheth your master’s son will 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 your servant will 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 . All who lived in Ziba ’s house were servants to Mephibosheth .

¹³So Mephibosheth lived in Jerusalem , for he ate continually at the king ’s table . He was lame in both his feet .