24. Then Mephibosheth the son of Saul came down to meet the king; and he had neither cared for his feet, nor trimmed his mustache, nor washed his clothes, from the day the king departed until the day he came home in peace.
25. It was when he came from Jerusalem to meet the king, that the king said to him, "Why did you not go with me, Mephibosheth?"
26. So he answered, "O my lord, the 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.
27. Moreover, he has slandered your servant to my lord the king; but my lord the king is like the angel of God, therefore do what is good in your sight.
28. For all my father's household was nothing but dead men before my lord the king; yet you set your servant among those who ate at your own table. What right do I have yet that I should complain anymore to the king?"
29. So the king said to him, "Why do you still speak of your affairs? I have decided, 'You and Ziba shall divide the land.'"
30. Mephibosheth said to the king, "Let him even take it all, since my lord the king has come safely to his own house."
31. Now Barzillai the Gileadite had come down from Rogelim; and he went on to the Jordan with the king to escort him over the Jordan.
32. Now Barzillai was very old, being eighty years old; and he had sustained the king while he stayed at Mahanaim, for he was a very great man.
33. The king said to Barzillai, "You cross over with me and I will sustain you in Jerusalem with me."
34. But Barzillai said to the king, "How long have I yet to live, that I should go up with the king to Jerusalem?
35. I am now eighty years old. Can I distinguish between good and bad? Or can your servant taste what I eat or what I drink? Or can I hear anymore the voice of singing men and women? Why then should your servant be an added burden to my lord the king?