²⁶ “My master and king,” Mephibosheth answered, “my servant abandoned me! Because your servant is lame, I asked my servant, ‘Saddle a donkey for me^[a] so I can ride and go to the king.’ ²⁷ So Ziba has slandered your servant to my master and king, but my master and king is a messenger of God. So do whatever seems best to you. ²⁸ Even though all the members of my grandfather’s family were nothing short of demonic^[b] toward my master and king, you still put your servant with those who eat at your table. So what right do I have to beg for still more from the king?”