2 Samuel 9 – NIRV & NIVUK

New International Reader’s Version

2 Samuel 9:1-13

David and Mephibosheth

1David asked, “Is anyone left from the royal house of Saul? If there is, I want to be kind to him because of Jonathan.”

2Ziba was a servant in Saul’s family. David sent for him to come and see him. The king said to him, “Are you Ziba?”

“I’m ready to serve you,” he replied.

3The king asked, “Isn’t there anyone still alive from the royal house of Saul? God has been very kind to me. I would like to be kind to that person in the same way.”

Ziba answered the king, “A son of Jonathan is still living. Both of his feet were hurt so that he can’t walk.”

4“Where is he?” the king asked.

Ziba answered, “He’s in the town of Lo Debar. He’s staying at the house of Makir, the son of Ammiel.”

5So King David had Mephibosheth brought from Makir’s house in Lo Debar.

6Mephibosheth came to David. He was the son of Jonathan, the son of Saul. Mephibosheth bowed down to David to show him respect.

David said, “Mephibosheth!”

“I’m ready to serve you,” he replied.

7“Don’t be afraid,” David told him. “You can be sure that I will be kind to you because of your father Jonathan. I’ll give back to you all the land that belonged to your grandfather Saul. And I’ll always provide what you need.”

8Mephibosheth bowed down to David. He said, “Who am I? Why should you pay attention to me? I’m nothing but a dead dog.”

9Then the king sent for Saul’s servant Ziba. He said to him, “I’m giving your master’s grandson everything that belonged to Saul and his family. 10You and your sons and your servants must farm the land for him. You must bring in the crops. Then he’ll be taken care of. I’ll always provide what he needs.” Ziba had 15 sons and 20 servants.

11Then Ziba said to the king, “I’ll do anything you command me to do. You are my king and master.” So David provided what Mephibosheth needed. He treated him like one of the king’s sons.

12Mephibosheth had a young son named Mika. All the members of Ziba’s family became servants of Mephibosheth. 13Mephibosheth lived in Jerusalem. The king always provided what he needed. Both of his feet were hurt so that he could not walk.

New International Version – UK

2 Samuel 9:1-13

David and Mephibosheth

1David asked, ‘Is there anyone still left of the house of Saul to whom I can show kindness for Jonathan’s sake?’

2Now there was a servant of Saul’s household named Ziba. They summoned him to appear before David, and the king said to him, ‘Are you Ziba?’

‘At your service,’ he replied.

3The king asked, ‘Is there no-one still alive from the house of Saul to whom I can show God’s kindness?’

Ziba answered the king, ‘There is still a son of Jonathan; he is lame in both feet.’

4‘Where is he?’ the king asked.

Ziba answered, ‘He is at the house of Makir son of Ammiel in Lo Debar.’

5So King David had him brought from Lo Debar, from the house of Makir son of Ammiel.

6When Mephibosheth son of Jonathan, the son of Saul, came to David, he bowed down to pay him honour.

David said, ‘Mephibosheth!’

‘At your service,’ he replied.

7‘Don’t be afraid,’ David said to him, ‘for I will surely show you kindness for the sake of your father Jonathan. I will restore to you all the land that belonged to your grandfather Saul, and you will always eat at my table.’

8Mephibosheth bowed down and said, ‘What is your servant, that you should notice a dead dog like me?’

9Then the king summoned Ziba, Saul’s steward, and said to him, ‘I have given your master’s grandson everything that belonged to Saul and his family. 10You and your sons and your servants are to farm the land for him and bring in the crops, so that your master’s grandson may be provided for. And Mephibosheth, grandson of your master, will always eat at my table.’ (Now Ziba had fifteen sons and twenty servants.)

11Then Ziba said to the king, ‘Your servant will do whatever my lord the king commands his servant to do.’ So Mephibosheth ate at David’s9:11 Septuagint; Hebrew my table like one of the king’s sons.

12Mephibosheth had a young son named Mika, and all the members of Ziba’s household were servants of Mephibosheth. 13And Mephibosheth lived in Jerusalem, because he always ate at the king’s table; he was lame in both feet.