16
David saw the angel standing in midair, holding his sword in his hand, ready to destroy Jerusalem. Then David and the leaders of the people - all of whom were wearing sackcloth - bowed low, with their faces touching the ground.
17
David prayed, "O God, I am the one who did wrong. I am the one who ordered the census. What have these poor people done? Lord, my God, punish me and my family, and spare your people."
18
The angel of the Lord told Gad to command David to go and build an altar to the Lord at Araunah's threshing place.
19
David obeyed the Lord's command and went, as Gad had told him to.
20
There at the threshing place Araunah and his four sons were threshing wheat, and when they saw the angel, the sons ran and hid.
Scripture taken from the Good News Translation - Second Edition, Copyright 1992 by American Bible Society. Used by Permission.