2 Samuel 19:26

Verse

“My lord the king,” he replied, “because I am lame, I said, ‘I will have my donkey saddled so that I may ride on it and go with the king.’ But my servant Ziba deceived me,

American Standard Version (1901)

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 with the king; because thy servant is lame.

Bible in Basic English

And he said in answer, Because of the deceit of my servant, my lord king: for I, your servant, said to him, You are to make ready an ass and on it I will go with the king, for your servant has not the use of his feet.

Douay-Rheims 1899

And he answering, said: My lord, O king, my servant despised me: for I thy servant spoke to him to saddle me an ass, that I might get on and go with the king: for I thy servant am lame.

Free Bible Version

Mephibosheth answered, “Your Majesty, my servant Ziba tricked me. I told him, ‘Saddle up my donkey so I can ride her and leave with the king,’ because you know that I'm lame.

Geneva Bible 1599

And he answered, My lorde the king, my seruant deceiued me: for thy seruant said, I would haue mine asse sadled to ride thereon, for to goe with the king, because thy seruant is lame.

King James (Authorized) Version

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.

Translation for Translators

He replied, “Your Majesty, you know that I am crippled. When I heard that you were leaving Jerusalem, I said to my servant Ziba, ‘Put a saddle on my donkey in order that I can ride on it and go with the king.’ But he deceived me and left without me.

Unlocked Literal Bible

He answered, “My master the king, my servant deceived me, for I said, 'I will saddle a donkey so I may ride on it and go with the king, because your servant is lame.'

Noah Webster Bible

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 on it, and go to the king; because thy servant is lame.

World English Bible

He answered, “My lord, O king, my servant deceived me. For your servant said, ‘I will saddle a donkey for myself, that I may ride on it and go with the king,’ because your servant is lame.

Young's Literal Translation

And he saith, 'My lord, O king, my servant deceived me, for thy servant said, I saddle for me the ass, and ride on it, and go with the king, for thy servant [is] lame;

Context

Mephibosheth Excused

²⁵And he came from Jerusalem to meet the king, who asked him, “Mephibosheth, why did you not go with me?” ²⁶“My lord the king,” he replied, “because I am lame, I said, ‘I will have my donkey saddled so that I may ride on it and go with the king.’ But my servant Ziba deceived me, ²⁷and he has slandered your servant to my lord the king. Yet my lord the king is like the angel of God, so do what is good in your eyes.

Summary

In this verse, King David shows mercy and grace to Barzillai by allowing him to return to Jerusalem despite Barzillai's advanced age. This act of kindness reflects David's gratitude for Barzillai's support and provision during his time of exile. It also demonstrates David's recognition of the loyalty and selflessness of Barzillai, highlighting the importance of honoring those who have shown kindness and loyalty to us. David's actions serve as a reminder of the value of gratitude and compassion in relationships, as well as the significance of repaying kindness with kindness.

Commentary

John Gill

John Gill Bible Commentary

And he answered, my lord, O king, my servant deceived me,.... His servant Ziba, who, instead of saddling an ass for him by his order, went off with that and another himself, Sa2 16:1; for thy servant said, I will saddle me an ass; he not only determined this in his own mind, but gave orders to his servant to saddle one for him: that I may ride thereon, and go to the king, because thy servant is lame; and could not walk afoot, being lame of both his feet, Sa2 4:4.