24. And Mephibosheth the son of Saul came down to meet the king. He had neither taken care of his feet nor trimmed his beard nor washed his clothes, from the day the king departed until the day he came back in safety.
25. And when he came to Jerusalem to meet the king, the king said to him, “Why did you not go with me, Mephibosheth?”
26. He answered, “My lord, O king, my servant deceived me, for your servant said to him, ‘I will saddle a donkey for myself, that I may ride on it and go with the king.’ For your servant is lame.
27. He has slandered your servant to my lord the king. But my lord the king is like the angel of God; do therefore what seems good to you.
28. For all my father’s house were but men doomed to death before my lord the king, but you set your servant among those who eat at your table. What further right have I, then, to cry to the king?”
29. And the king said to him, “Why speak any more of your affairs? I have decided: you and Ziba shall divide the land.”
30. And Mephibosheth said to the king, “Oh, let him take it all, since my lord the king has come safely home.”
31. Now Barzillai the Gileadite had come down from Rogelim, and he went on with the king to the Jordan, to escort him over the Jordan.
32. Barzillai was a very aged man, eighty years old. He had provided the king with food while he stayed at Mahanaim, for he was a very wealthy man.
33. And the king said to Barzillai, “Come over with me, and I will provide for you with me in Jerusalem.”
34. But Barzillai said to the king, “How many years have I still to live, that I should go up with the king to Jerusalem?
35. I am this day eighty years old. Can I discern what is pleasant and what is not? Can your servant taste what he eats or what he drinks? Can I still listen to the voice of singing men and singing women? Why then should your servant be an added burden to my lord the king?
36. Your servant will go a little way over the Jordan with the king. Why should the king repay me with such a reward?
37. Please let your servant return, that I may die in my own city near the grave of my father and my mother. But here is your servant Chimham. Let him go over with my lord the king, and do for him whatever seems good to you.”