6
But Joab numbered not Levi and Benjamin, for against his will he did the commandment of the king. (But Joab did not count the Levites and the Benjaminites, for he did the king's commandment against his own will.)
7
Forsooth that thing that was commanded displeased the Lord, therefore he smote Israel. (But what was commanded displeased the Lord, and so he struck Israel.)
8
And David said to God, I have sinned greatly, that I would do this thing; I beseech thee, Lord, do thou away the wickedness of thy servant, for I did follily. (And David said to God, I have greatly sinned, that I would do this thing; I beseech thee, Lord, do thou away the wickedness of thy servant, for I did foolishly.)
9
And the Lord spake to Gad, the prophet of David, and said to him,
10
Go thou, and speak to David, and say to him, The Lord saith these things, I give to thee the choosing of three things; choose thou one which thou wilt, that I do to thee.
11
And when Gad was come to David, he said to David, The Lord saith these things, Choose thou that that thou wilt of these (Choose thou what thou wilt from these three punishments),
12
either pestilence three years, either that three months thou flee thine enemies, and be not able to escape their sword, either that the sword of the Lord and death reign three days in the land, and that the angel of the Lord slay in all the coasts of Israel. Now therefore see thou, what I shall answer to him that sent me. (either three years of famine, or for three months thou shalt flee thy enemies, and not be able to escape their swords, or for three days the sword of the Lord, that is, pestilence, shall reign in the land, and the angel of the Lord shall kill in all of Israel's coasts. And so now say thou, what shall I answer to him who sent me.)
13
And David said to Gad, Anguishes oppress me on each part, but it is better to me (but it is better for me), that I fall into the hands of the Lord, for his merciful doings be many, then into the hands of men.
14
Therefore the Lord sent pestilence into Israel, and seventy thousand of men felled down of Israel. (And so the Lord sent pestilence into Israel, and seventy thousand Israelites died.)
15
Also the Lord sent an angel into Jerusalem, that he should smite it; and when it was smitten, the Lord saw, and had mercy upon the greatness of (the) evil; and he commanded to the angel that smote, and said, It sufficeth, now thine hand cease. And the angel of the Lord stood beside the cornfloor of Ornan (the) Jebusite. (And the Lord sent an angel into Jerusalem, to strike it; and when it was struck, the Lord saw, and had mercy on the greatness of the evil; and he commanded to the angel who struck it, and said, It sufficeth, now stay thy hand. And the angel of the Lord stood still beside the threshing floor of Ornan the Jebusite.)
16
And David raised up his eyes, and saw the angel of the Lord standing betwixt heaven and (the) earth, and a drawn sword in his hand, turned against Jerusalem. And both he and the greater men in birth were clothed with hair-shirts, and they fell down upon the earth (And both he and the men of great age, that is, the elders, were clothed with hair-shirts, and they fell down on the ground).