1 Chronicles 21:7-17
Expanded Bible
7 David had done something ·God had said was wrong [that displeased/offended God], so God ·punished [attacked; struck] Israel [C taking a census of the army indicated confidence in military strength].
8 Then David said to God, “I have sinned greatly by what I have done! Now, I beg you to ·forgive me, [take away the guilt/iniquity of] your servant, because I have been very foolish.”
9 The Lord said to Gad, who was David’s ·seer [prophet], 10 “Go and tell David, ‘·This is what the Lord says [T Thus says the Lord]: I offer you three ·choices [L things]. Choose one of them and I will ·do it [inflict it on you].’”
11 So Gad went to David and said to him, “·This is what the Lord says [T Thus says the Lord]: ‘·Choose for yourself [Take your choice:] 12 three years of ·hunger [famine]. Or choose three months of ·running from [being swept away by] your enemies as they ·chase [overtake] you with their swords. Or choose three days of ·punishment from [L the sword of] the Lord, in which a ·terrible disease [plague; pestilence] will spread through the ·country [land]. The angel of the Lord will go through Israel ·destroying [ravaging] the people.’ Now, David, decide ·which of these things [what answer] I should ·tell [give] the Lord who sent me.”
13 David said to Gad, “I am in ·great trouble [deep distress; a desperate situation]. Let ·the Lord punish me [L me fall into the hand of the Lord], because the Lord is very merciful. Don’t let ·my punishment come from [L me fall into the hand of] human beings.”
14 So the Lord sent a ·terrible disease [plague; pestilence] on Israel, and seventy thousand people died. 15 God sent an angel to destroy Jerusalem, but when the angel ·started [was about/preparing] to destroy it, the Lord saw it and ·felt very sorry about the terrible things that had happened [L relented regarding the disaster/calamity]. So he said to the angel who was destroying, “That is enough! ·Put down your arm [L Withhold your hand]!” The angel of the Lord was then standing at the threshing floor of ·Araunah [or Ornan; or Aravna; 2 Sam. 24:16] the Jebusite.
16 David looked up and saw the angel of the Lord ·in the sky [L standing between earth and heaven], with his drawn sword in this hand ·pointing toward [extended over] Jerusalem. Then David and the ·elders [leaders] bowed facedown on the ground. They were wearing ·rough cloth [sackcloth; burlap; C a sign of grief or repentance]. 17 David said to God, “·I am [L Am not I…?] the one who sinned and did wrong. I gave the order for the ·people to be counted [census]. ·These people only followed me like sheep. They did nothing wrong. [L These sheep—what have they done?] Lord my God, please ·punish [L let your hand fall on] me and my ·family [L father’s house], but ·stop the terrible disease that is killing [lift the plague from] your people.”
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