Then the king called Ziba, Saul's servant, and said, "I am giving Mephibosheth, your master's grandson, everything that belonged to Saul and his family.

You, your sons, and your servants will farm the land for your master Saul's family and bring in the harvest, to provide food for them. But Mephibosheth himself will always be a guest at my table." (Ziba had fifteen sons and twenty servants.)

You have made even my closest friends abandon me, and darkness is my only companion.

Don't believe your neighbor or trust your friend. Be careful what you say even to your husband or wife.

Then Mephibosheth, Saul's grandson, came down to meet the king. He had not washed his feet, trimmed his beard, or washed his clothes from the time the king left Jerusalem until he returned victorious.

He answered, "As you know, Your Majesty, I am crippled. I told my servant to saddle my donkey so that I could ride along with you, but he betrayed me.

All of my father's family deserved to be put to death by Your Majesty, but you gave me the right to eat at your table. I have no right to ask for any more favors from Your Majesty."

"Let Ziba have it all," Mephibosheth answered. "It's enough for me that Your Majesty has come home safely."

"Do not accuse anyone falsely.

The judges will investigate the case thoroughly; and if you have made a false accusation,

you are to receive the punishment the accused would have received. In this way your nation will get rid of this evil.

and who do not slander others. They do no wrong to their friends nor spread rumors about their neighbors.

I will get rid of anyone who whispers evil things about someone else; I will not tolerate anyone who is proud and arrogant.

Robbery always claims the life of the robber---this is what happens to anyone who lives by violence.

The testimony of a liar is not believed, but the word of someone who thinks matters through is accepted.

But those who want to get rich fall into temptation and are caught in the trap of many foolish and harmful desires, which pull them down to ruin and destruction.

For the love of money is a source of all kinds of evil. Some have been so eager to have it that they have wandered away from the faith and have broken their hearts with many sorrows.

How terrible for them! They have followed the way that Cain took. For the sake of money they have given themselves over to the error that Balaam committed. They have rebelled as Korah rebelled, and like him they are destroyed.