Jabez cried out to the God of Israel, “Oh, that you would bless me and enlarge my territory! Let your hand be with me, and keep me from harm so that I will be free from pain.” And God granted his request.

He then said to the whole assembly of Israel, “If it seems good to you and if it is the will of the Lord our God, let us send word far and wide to the rest of our people throughout the territories of Israel, and also to the priests and Levites who are with them in their towns and pasturelands, to come and join us.

Let us bring the ark of our God back to us, for we did not inquire of it during the reign of Saul.”

Glory in his holy name; let the hearts of those who seek the Lord rejoice.

Let the heavens rejoice, let the earth be glad; let them say among the nations, “The Lord reigns!”

Let the sea resound, and all that is in it; let the fields be jubilant, and everything in them!

Let the trees of the forest sing, let them sing for joy before the Lord, for he comes to judge the earth.

“And now, Lord, let the promise you have made concerning your servant and his house be established forever. Do as you promised,

Be strong, and let us fight bravely for our people and the cities of our God. The Lord will do what is good in his sight.”

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

David said to God, “Was it not I who ordered the fighting men to be counted? I, the shepherd, have sinned and done wrong. These are but sheep. What have they done? Lord my God, let your hand fall on me and my family, but do not let this plague remain on your people.”

David said to him, “Let me have the site of your threshing floor so I can build an altar to the Lord, that the plague on the people may be stopped. Sell it to me at the full price.”

Araunah said to David, “Take it! Let my lord the king do whatever pleases him. Look, I will give the oxen for the burnt offerings, the threshing sledges for the wood, and the wheat for the grain offering. I will give all this.”