2 Samuel, 9

1. David asked, "Is there any survivor of Saul's house to whom I may show kindness for the sake of Jonathan?"

1. David asked, 'Is there anyone belonging to Saul's family left, to whom I might show faithful love for Jonathan's sake?'

2. Now there was a servant of the family of Saul named Ziba. He was summoned to David, and the king asked him, "Are you Ziba?" He replied, "Your servant."

2. Now Saul's family had a servant whose name was Ziba. When he had been summoned to David, the king said, 'Are you Ziba?' 'At your service,' he replied.

3. Then the king inquired, "Is there any survivor of Saul's house to whom I may show God's kindness?" Ziba answered the king, "There is still Jonathan's son, whose feet are crippled."

3. The king said, 'Is there no one left, belonging to Saul's family, for me to treat with God's own faithful love?' Ziba said to the king, 'There is still one of Jonathan's sons. He has crippled feet.'

4. The king said to him, "Where is he?" and Ziba answered, "He is in the house of Machir, son of Ammiel, in Lodebar."

4. The king asked 'Where is he?' Ziba replied, 'He is living in the household of Machir son of Ammiel, at Lo-Debar.'

5. So King David sent for him and had him brought from the house of Machir, son of Ammiel, in Lodebar.

5. So King David sent for him to be fetched from the house of Machir son of Ammiel at Lo-Debar.

6. When Meribbaal, son of Jonathan, son of Saul, came to David, he fell prostrate in homage. David said, "Meribbaal," and he answered, "Your servant."

6. On entering David's presence, Meribbaal son of Jonathan, son of Saul, fell on his face and prostrated himself. David said, 'Meribbaal!' He replied, 'Here I am, at your service.'

7. "Fear not," David said to him, "I will surely be kind to you for the sake of your father Jonathan. I will restore to you all the lands of your grandfather Saul, and you shall always eat at my table."

7. David then said, 'Do not be afraid; I will indeed treat you with faithful love for your father Jonathan's sake. I shall restore all your grandfather Saul's estates to you, and you will always eat at my table.'

8. Bowing low, he answered, "What is your servant that you should pay attention to a dead dog like me?"

8. Meribbaal prostrated himself and said, 'Who is your servant, for you to show favour to a dead dog like me?'

9. The king then called Ziba, Saul's attendant, and said to him: "I am giving your lord's son all that belonged to Saul and to all his family.

9. The king then summoned Saul's servant Ziba and said, 'Everything belonging to Saul and his family, I give to your master's son.

10. You and your sons and servants must till the land for him. You shall bring in the produce, which shall be food for your lord's family to eat. But Meribbaal, your lord's son, shall always eat at my table." Ziba, who had fifteen sons and twenty servants,

10. You must work the land for him, you and your sons and your slaves; you must harvest the produce to provide food for your master's family to eat. But Meribbaal, your master's son, will always take his own meals at my table.' Now, Ziba had fifteen sons and twenty slaves.

11. said to the king, "Your servant shall do just as my lord the king has commanded him." And so Meribbaal ate at David's table like one of the king's sons.

11. Ziba said to the king, 'Your servant will do everything my lord the king has ordered his servant.' So Meribbaal ate at David's table like one of the king's sons.

12. Meribbaal had a young son whose name was Mica; and all the tenants of Ziba's family worked for Meribbaal.

12. Meribbaal had a young son whose name was Micha. All the people living in Ziba's household entered Meribbaal's service.

13. But Meribbaal lived in Jerusalem, because he always ate at the king's table. He was lame in both feet.

13. Meribbaal lived in Jerusalem, since he always ate at the king's table. He was crippled in both feet.