24 Mephibosheth,(A) Saul’s grandson, also went down to meet the king. He had not taken care of his feet, trimmed his mustache, or washed his clothes from the day the king left until the day he returned safely. 25 When he came from Jerusalem to meet the king, the king asked him, “Mephibosheth, why didn’t you come with me?”

26 “My lord the king,” he replied, “my servant Ziba betrayed me. Actually your servant said, ‘I’ll saddle the donkey for myself[a] so that I may ride it and go with the king’—for your servant is lame.(B) 27 Ziba slandered your servant to my lord the king.(C) But my lord the king is like the angel of God,(D) so do whatever you think best.[b] 28 For my grandfather’s entire family deserves death from my lord the king, but you set your servant among those who eat at your table.(E) So what further right do I have to keep on making appeals to the king?”

29 The king said to him, “Why keep on speaking about these matters of yours? I hereby declare: you and Ziba are to divide the land.”(F)

30 Mephibosheth said to the king, “Instead, since my lord the king has come to his palace safely, let Ziba take it all!”

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Footnotes

  1. 19:26 LXX, Syr, Vg read said to him, ‘Saddle the donkey for me
  2. 19:27 Lit do what is good in your eyes

David Meets Mephibosheth

24 Meanwhile, Saul’s grandson Mephibosheth also went out to greet the king. He had not taken care of his feet, trimmed his mustache, or washed his clothes from the day the king left until the day he returned safely. 25 When he arrived from Jerusalem to greet the king, the king asked him, “So why didn’t you come with me, Mephibosheth?”

26 He replied, “Well, your majesty, since your servant is lame, I told myself, ‘I’ll have my donkey saddled and I’ll ride on it so I can leave with the king.’ But my servant Ziba deceived me 27 by slandering your servant to your majesty.[a] But your majesty the king is like an angel from God: so do what you think is best. 28 Everyone from my grandfather’s household deserved nothing but death from your majesty the king, but you provided a place for your servant among those who have been eating from your table. So what right do I have to ask for anything more from the king?”

29 In response, the king told him, “What’s the point of us talking anymore? My decision is that you and Ziba divide the fields.”

30 But Mephibosheth told the king, “Let him take all of it, now that your majesty the king has returned safely to his palace.”

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24 Mephibosheth,(A) Saul’s grandson, also went down to meet the king. He had not taken care of his feet or trimmed his mustache or washed his clothes from the day the king left until the day he returned safely. 25 When he came from Jerusalem to meet the king, the king asked him, “Why didn’t you go with me,(B) Mephibosheth?”

26 He said, “My lord the king, since I your servant am lame,(C) I said, ‘I will have my donkey saddled and will ride on it, so I can go with the king.’ But Ziba(D) my servant betrayed me. 27 And he has slandered your servant to my lord the king. My lord the king is like an angel(E) of God; so do whatever you wish. 28 All my grandfather’s descendants deserved nothing but death(F) from my lord the king, but you gave your servant a place among those who eat at your table.(G) So what right do I have to make any more appeals to the king?”

29 The king said to him, “Why say more? I order you and Ziba to divide the land.”

30 Mephibosheth said to the king, “Let him take everything, now that my lord the king has returned home safely.”

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24 And Mephibosheth the son of Saul came down to meet the king, and had neither dressed his feet, nor trimmed his beard, nor washed his clothes, from the day the king departed until the day he came again in peace.

25 And it came to pass, when he was come to Jerusalem to meet the king, that the king said unto him, Wherefore wentest not thou with me, Mephibosheth?

26 And he answered, My lord, O king, my servant deceived me: for thy servant said, I will saddle me an ass, that I may ride thereon, and go to the king; because thy servant is lame.

27 And he hath slandered thy servant unto my lord the king; but my lord the king is as an angel of God: do therefore what is good in thine eyes.

28 For all of my father's house were but dead men before my lord the king: yet didst thou set thy servant among them that did eat at thine own table. What right therefore have I yet to cry any more unto the king?

29 And the king said unto him, Why speakest thou any more of thy matters? I have said, Thou and Ziba divide the land.

30 And Mephibosheth said unto the king, Yea, let him take all, forasmuch as my lord the king is come again in peace unto his own house.

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