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.

^4 (A)Jonathan, the son of Saul, had a son who was crippled in his feet. He was five years old when the news about Saul and Jonathan ^(B)came from Jezreel, and his nurse took him up and fled, and as she fled in her haste, he fell and became lame. And his name was Mephibosheth.

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

^15 (A)and do not cut off^[a] 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.”

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

¹⁰ And you and your sons and your servants shall till the land for him and shall bring in the produce, that your master's grandson may have bread to eat. But Mephibosheth your master's grandson ^(A)shall always eat at my table.” Now Ziba had ^(B)fifteen sons and twenty servants.

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?”

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]

¹⁷ And Jonathan made David swear again by his love for him, ^(A)for he loved him as he loved his own soul.

²⁵ And when he came to Jerusalem to meet the king, the king said to him, ^(A)“Why did you not go with me, Mephibosheth?”