And David said, “Is there still anyone left of the house of Saul,
that I may show him kindness for Jonathan's sake?” Now there was a
servant of the house of Saul whose name was Ziba, and they called
him to David. And the king said to him, “Are you Ziba?” And he
said, “I am your servant.” And the king said, “Is there not still
someone of the house of Saul, that I may show the kindness of God
to him?” Ziba said to the king, “There is still a son of Jonathan;
he is crippled in his feet.” The king said to him, “Where is he?”
And Ziba said to the king, “He is in the house of Machir the son of
Ammiel, at Lo-debar.” Then King David sent and brought him from the
house of Machir the son of Ammiel, at Lo-debar. And Mephibosheth
the son of Jonathan, son of Saul, came to David and fell on his
face and paid homage. And David said, “Mephibosheth!” And he
answered, “Behold, I am your servant.” And David said to him, “Do
not fear, for I will show you kindness for the sake of your father
Jonathan, and I will restore to you all the land of Saul your
father, and you shall eat at my table always.” And he paid homage
and said, “What is your servant, that you should show regard for a
dead dog such as I?”

  Then the king called Ziba, Saul's servant, and said to him, “All
that belonged to Saul and to all his house I have given to your
master's grandson. 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 shall always eat at my table.” Now Ziba had
fifteen sons and twenty servants. Then Ziba said to the king,
“According to all that my lord the king commands his servant, so
will your servant do.” So Mephibosheth ate at David's table, like
one of the king's sons. And Mephibosheth had a young son, whose
name was Mica. And all who lived in Ziba's house became
Mephibosheth's servants. So Mephibosheth lived in Jerusalem, for he
ate always at the king's table. Now he was lame in both his feet.

The Holy Bible, English Standard Version® (ESV®), copyright © 2001
by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by
permission. All rights reserved.