³ Then Jonathan made a covenant with David, because ^(A)he loved him as his own soul.

⁴² Then Jonathan said to David, ^(A)“Go in peace, because we have sworn both of us in the name of the Lord, saying, ^(B)‘The Lord shall be between me and you, ^(C)and between my offspring and your offspring, forever.’” And he rose and departed, and Jonathan went into the city.^[a]

⁸ Therefore deal kindly with your servant, ^(A)for you have brought your servant into a covenant of the Lord with you. ^(B)But if there is guilt in me, kill me yourself, for why should you bring me to your father?” ⁹ And Jonathan said, “Far be it from you! If I knew that ^(C)it was determined by my father that harm should come to you, would I not tell you?” ¹⁰ Then David said to Jonathan, “Who will tell me if your father answers you roughly?” ¹¹ And Jonathan said to David, “Come, let us go out into the field.” So they both went out into the field.

¹² And Jonathan said to David, “The Lord, the God of Israel, be witness!^[a] When I have sounded out my father, about this time tomorrow, or the third day, behold, if he is well disposed toward David, shall I not then send and disclose it to you? ¹³ But should it please my father to do you harm, ^(D)the Lord do so to Jonathan and more also if I do not disclose it to you and send you away, that you may go in safety. ^(E)May the Lord be with you, as he has been with my father. ¹⁴ If I am still alive, show me the steadfast love of the Lord, that I may not die; ^15 (F)and do not cut off^[b] your steadfast love from my house forever, when the Lord cuts off every one of the enemies of David from the face of the earth.” ¹⁶ And Jonathan made a covenant with the house of David, saying, ^(G)“May^[c] the Lord take vengeance on David's enemies.” ¹⁷ And Jonathan made David swear again by his love for him, ^(H)for he loved him as he loved his own soul.

⁷ But the king spared Mephibosheth, the son of Saul's son Jonathan, because of ^(A)the oath of the Lord that was between them, between David and Jonathan the son of Saul.

David's Kindness to Mephibosheth

9 And David said, “Is there still anyone left of the house of Saul, that I may ^(A)show him kindness for Jonathan's sake?” ² Now there was a servant of the house of Saul whose name was ^(B)Ziba, and they called him to David. And the king said to him, “Are you Ziba?” And he said, “I am your servant.” ³ And the king said, “Is there not still someone of the house of Saul, that I may show ^(C)the kindness of God to him?” Ziba said to the king, “There is still a son of ^(D)Jonathan; he is crippled in his feet.”

^18 (A)And the two of them made a covenant before the Lord. David remained at Horesh, and Jonathan went home.