16
David looked up and saw the angel hovering between earth and sky, sword drawn and about to strike Jerusalem. David and the elders bowed in prayer and covered themselves with rough burlap.
17
David prayed, "Please! I'm the one who sinned; I'm the one at fault. But these sheep, what did they do wrong? Punish me, not them, me and my family; don't take it out on them."
18
The angel of God ordered Gad to tell David to go and build an altar to God on the threshing floor of Araunah the Jebusite.
19
David did what Gad told him in obedience to God's command.
20
Meanwhile Araunah had quit threshing the wheat and was watching the angel; his four sons took cover and hid.
Published by permission. Originally published by NavPress in English as THE MESSAGE: The Bible in Contemporary Language copyright 2002 by Eugene Peterson. All rights reserved.