So the kingsaidto Ziba,"Behold,allthat belongs to Mephiboshethis yours." And Zibasaid,"I prostratemyself; let me findfavorin your sight,O my lord,the king!"
Joabfellon his faceto the ground,prostratedhimself and blessedthe king;then Joabsaid,"Todayyour servantknowsthat I have foundfavorin your sight,O my lord,the king,in that the kinghas performedthe requestof his servant."
Now when the womanof Tekoaspoketo the king,she fellon her faceto the groundand prostratedherself and said,"Help,O king."
Then the kingsaidto the woman,"Goto your house,and I will giveordersconcerningyou."
Then the kingsaid,"And whereis your master'sson?"And Zibasaidto the king,"Behold,he is stayingin Jerusalem,for he said,'Todaythe houseof Israelwill restorethe kingdomof my fatherto me.'"
When KingDavidcameto Bahurim,behold,there cameout from therea manof the familyof the houseof Saulwhose namewas Shimei,the sonof Gera;he cameout cursingcontinually as he came.
"Moreover, he has slanderedyour servantto my lordthe king;but my lordthe kingis like the angelof God,therefore dowhatis goodin your sight.
Mephibosheth,the sonof Jonathanthe sonof Saul,cameto Davidand fellon his faceand prostratedhimself. And Davidsaid,"Mephibosheth."And he said,"Hereis your servant!"
Then the kingcalledSaul'sservantZibaand saidto him, "Allthat belongedto Sauland to allhis houseI have givento your master'sgrandson.
"You shall not takea bribe,for a bribeblindsthe clear-sightedand subvertsthe causeof the just.
He who givesan answerbeforehe hears,It is follyand shameto him.
The firstto pleadhis case[seems] right,[Until] anothercomesand examineshim.
Alsoit is not goodfor a personto be withoutknowledge,And he who hurrieshis footstepserrs.
"A singlewitnessshall not riseup against a manon account of anyiniquityor anysinwhichhe has committed;on the evidenceof twoorthreewitnessesa mattershall be confirmed.
