David’s Census of Israel and Judah^(A)

24 Again ^(B)the anger of the Lord was aroused against Israel, and He moved David against them to say, ^(C)“Go, ^[a]number Israel and Judah.”

The Census of Israel and Judah^(A)

21 Now ^(B)Satan stood up against Israel, and moved David to ^[a]number Israel.

²³ But David did not take the number of those twenty years old and under, because ^(A)the Lord had said He would multiply Israel like the ^(B)stars of the heavens. ²⁴ Joab the son of Zeruiah began a census, but he did not finish, for ^(C)wrath came upon Israel because of this census; nor was the number recorded in the account of the chronicles of King David.

¹³ Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am tempted by God”; for God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does He Himself tempt anyone. ¹⁴ But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed.

^28 (A)to do whatever Your hand and Your purpose determined before to be done.

²⁵ “Therefore ^(A)I also gave them up to statutes that were not good, and judgments by which they could not live;

⁹ “And if the prophet is induced to speak anything, I the Lord ^(A)have induced that prophet, and I will stretch out My hand against him and destroy him from among My people Israel.

²⁰ And the Lord said, ‘Who will persuade Ahab to go up, that he may fall at Ramoth Gilead?’ So one spoke in this manner, and another spoke in that manner. ²¹ Then a spirit came forward and stood before the Lord, and said, ‘I will persuade him.’ ²² The Lord said to him, ‘In what way?’ So he said, ‘I will go out and be a lying spirit in the mouth of all his prophets.’ And the Lord said, ^(A)‘You shall persuade him, and also prevail. Go out and do so.’ ^23 (B)Therefore look! The Lord has put a lying spirit in the mouth of all these prophets of yours, and the Lord has declared disaster against you.”

¹⁰ But the king said, ^(A)“What have I to do with you, you sons of Zeruiah? So let him curse, because ^(B)the Lord has said to him, ‘Curse David.’ ^(C)Who then shall say, ‘Why have you done so?’ ”

¹¹ Thus says the Lord: ‘Behold, I will raise up adversity against you from your own house; and I will ^(A)take your wives before your eyes and give them to your neighbor, and he shall lie with your wives in the sight of this sun.