Then they kept crossingthe fordto bringoverthe king'shousehold,and to dowhatwas goodin his sight.And Shimeithe sonof Gerafelldownbeforethe kingas he was about to crossthe Jordan.
There were a thousandmenof Benjaminwith him, with Zibathe servantof the houseof Saul,and his fifteensonsand his twentyservantswith him; and they rushedto the Jordanbeforethe king.
So he saidto the king,"Let not my lordconsiderme guilty,norrememberwhatyour servantdidwrongon the daywhenmy lordthe kingcameout from Jerusalem,so that the kingwould take[it] to heart.
Mephiboshethsaidto the king,"Let him eventakeit all,sincemy lordthe kinghas comesafelyto his own house."
"You and your sonsand your servantsshall cultivatethe landfor him, and you shall bringin [the produce] so that your master'sgrandsonmay havefood;nevertheless Mephiboshethyour master'sgrandsonshall eatat my tableregularly."Now Zibahad fifteensonsand twentyservants.
Now there was a servantof the houseof Saulwhose namewas Ziba,and they calledhim to David;and the kingsaidto him, "Are you Ziba?"And he said,"[I am] your servant."
"Behold,there is with you Shimeithe sonof Gerathe Benjamite,of Bahurim;now it was he who cursedme with a violentcurseon the dayI wentto Mahanaim.But when he camedownto me at the Jordan,I sworeto him by the LORD,saying,'I will not putyou to deathwith the sword.'
Sayto God,"Howawesomeare Your works!Because of the greatnessof Your powerYour enemieswill givefeignedobedienceto You.
"Those who hatethe LORDwould pretendobedienceto Him, And their time[of punishment] would be forever.
Behold,I will cause[those] of the synagogueof Satan,who saythat they are Jewsand are not, but lie--I will makethem comeand bow downat your feet,and [make them] knowthat I have lovedyou.
"Did I [just] beginto inquireof Godfor him today?Farbe it from me! Do not let the kingimputeanythingto his servant[or] to anyof the householdof my father,for your servantknowsnothingat allof thiswholeaffair."
