The Lord's Judgment of David's Sin

10 But (A)David's heart struck him after he had numbered the people. And David said to the Lord, (B)“I have sinned greatly in what I have done. But now, O Lord, please take away the iniquity of your servant, for I have done (C)very foolishly.” 11 And when David arose in the morning, the word of the Lord came to (D)the prophet Gad, David's (E)seer, saying, 12 “Go and say to David, ‘Thus says the Lord, Three things I offer[a] you. Choose one of them, that I may do it to you.’” 13 So Gad came to David and told him, and said to him, “Shall (F)three[b] years of famine come to you in your land? Or will you flee three months before your foes while they pursue you? Or shall there be three days' pestilence in your land? Now consider, and decide what answer I shall return to him who sent me.” 14 Then David said to Gad, “I am in great distress. Let us fall into the hand of the Lord, (G)for his mercy is great; but let me not fall into the hand of man.”

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Footnotes

  1. 2 Samuel 24:12 Or hold over
  2. 2 Samuel 24:13 Compare 1 Chronicles 21:12, Septuagint; Hebrew seven

10 David was conscience-stricken(A) after he had counted the fighting men, and he said to the Lord, “I have sinned(B) greatly in what I have done. Now, Lord, I beg you, take away the guilt of your servant. I have done a very foolish thing.(C)

11 Before David got up the next morning, the word of the Lord had come to Gad(D) the prophet, David’s seer:(E) 12 “Go and tell David, ‘This is what the Lord says: I am giving you three options. Choose one of them for me to carry out against you.’”

13 So Gad went to David and said to him, “Shall there come on you three[a] years of famine(F) in your land? Or three months of fleeing from your enemies while they pursue you? Or three days of plague(G) in your land? Now then, think it over and decide how I should answer the one who sent me.”

14 David said to Gad, “I am in deep distress. Let us fall into the hands of the Lord, for his mercy(H) is great; but do not let me fall into human hands.”

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Footnotes

  1. 2 Samuel 24:13 Septuagint (see also 1 Chron. 21:12); Hebrew seven