The census
Satan rose up against Israel and provoked David to count Israel. David told Joab and the leaders of the people: Go and count Israel from Beersheba to Dan, then bring me the total so I know how many there are. Joab answered: May the Lord multiply his people a hundred times over. But, my lord the king, aren't they all your servants already? Why do you want this done? Why bring guilt on Israel? But the king overruled Joab. So Joab went throughout Israel and returned to Jerusalem. Joab gave the sum of the number of the people to David. And all Israel was one million one hundred thousand men who drew the sword. And Judah was four hundred and seventy thousand men who drew the sword. But Joab did not count Levi and Benjamin among them, because the king's command was abhorrent to him. God was displeased with this thing, so he struck Israel. David said to God: I've sinned terribly by doing this. Please take away your servant's guilt, because I've acted very foolishly. The Lord spoke to Gad, David's seer: Go and tell David: This is what the Lord says. I set three things before you. Choose one of them, so I can do it to you. Gad came to David and said to him: This is what the Lord says. Take your choice — You have three choices: three years of famine; three months fleeing before your enemies while their swords overtake you; or three days of the Lord's sword — plague in the land, with the angel of the Lord destroying throughout Israel. Now decide what answer I should take back to the one who sent me. David said to Gad: I'm in deep trouble. Let me fall into the Lord's hands, because his mercies are very great; don't let me fall into human hands. So the Lord sent a plague on Israel, and seventy thousand men of Israel died. God sent an angel to destroy Jerusalem. But as the angel was destroying it, the Lord saw and relented from the disaster. He told the destroying angel: Enough. Hold your hand. The angel of the Lord was standing by the threshing floor of Ornan the Jebusite. David looked up and saw the angel of the Lord standing between earth and heaven, with a drawn sword stretched out over Jerusalem. David and the elders, dressed in coarse mourning cloth, fell facedown. David said to God: Wasn't I the one who ordered the people counted? I'm the one who sinned and did wrong. These sheep — what have they done? Lord my God, let your hand fall on me and my father's house, but not on your people with this plague.
And Satan stood up against Israel and stirred up David to count Israel. And David said to Joab and to the rulers of the people: Go, count Israel from Beersheba right to Dan. And bring me the number of them, so I know it. And Joab answered: The Lord make his people a hundred times as many as they are. But my lord the king, aren't they all my lord's servants? Why does my lord want this thing? Why should he be a cause of guilt to Israel? But the king's word won against Joab. So Joab went out and went through all Israel and came to Jerusalem. And Joab gave the sum of the number of the people to David. And all Israel was one million one hundred thousand men who drew the sword. And Judah was four hundred and seventy thousand men who drew the sword. But he didn't count Levi and Benjamin among them, because the king's word was disgusting to Joab. And God was displeased with this thing, so he struck Israel. And David said to God: I've sinned badly, because I've done this thing. But now, please take away the wrongdoing of your servant. Because I've done very stupidly. And the Lord spoke to Gad, David's seer: Go and tell David: This is what the Lord says. I set three things in front of you. Choose one of them, so I can do it to you. So Gad came to David and said to him: This is what the Lord says. Take your choice — either three years of famine, or three months to be wasted in front of the ones against you while the sword of the ones against you catches up with you, or three days of the sword of the Lord — plague in the land, and the angel of the Lord wrecking through all the borders of Israel. So now think about what word I'll bring back to the one who sent me. And David said to Gad: I'm in a hard place. Let me fall now into the hand of the Lord, because his mercies are very great. But don't let me fall into the hand of man. So the Lord sent plague on Israel, and seventy thousand men of Israel fell. And God sent an angel to Jerusalem to wreck it. And as he was wrecking, the Lord looked and was sorry about the trouble, and said to the angel who was wrecking: It's enough. Hold back your hand now. And the angel of the Lord stood by the threshing floor of Ornan the Jebusite. And David lifted up his eyes and saw the angel of the Lord standing between the earth and the sky, with a drawn sword in his hand stretched out over Jerusalem. Then David and the elders, dressed in sackcloth, fell on their faces. And David said to God: Wasn't it me who ordered the people to be counted? It's me who's sinned and done wrong for sure. But these sheep — what have they done? Please, Lord my God, let your hand be on me and on my father's house, but not on your people, that they should be struck.
And Satan stood up against Israel, and provoked David to number Israel. And David said to Joab and to the rulers of the people, Go, number Israel from Beersheba even to Dan; and bring the number of them to me, that I may know it. And Joab answered, The LORD make his people an hundred times so many more as they be: but, my lord the king, are they not all my lord’s servants? why then doth my lord require this thing? why will he be a cause of trespass to Israel? Nevertheless the king’s word prevailed against Joab. Wherefore Joab departed, and went throughout all Israel, and came to Jerusalem. And Joab gave the sum of the number of the people unto David. And all they of Israel were a thousand thousand and an hundred thousand men that drew sword: and Judah was four hundred threescore and ten thousand men that drew sword. But Levi and Benjamin counted he not among them: for the king’s word was abominable to Joab. And God was displeased with this thing; therefore he smote Israel. And David said unto God, I have sinned greatly, because I have done this thing: but now, I beseech thee, do away the iniquity of thy servant; for I have done very foolishly. And the LORD spake unto Gad, David’s seer, saying, Go and tell David, saying, Thus saith the LORD, I offer thee three things: choose thee one of them, that I may do it unto thee. So Gad came to David, and said unto him, Thus saith the LORD, Choose thee Either three years’ famine; or three months to be destroyed before thy foes, while that the sword of thine enemies overtaketh thee; or else three days the sword of the LORD, even the pestilence, in the land, and the angel of the LORD destroying throughout all the coasts of Israel. Now therefore advise thyself what word I shall bring again to him that sent me. And David said unto Gad, I am in a great strait: let me fall now into the hand of the LORD; for very great are his mercies: but let me not fall into the hand of man. So the LORD sent pestilence upon Israel: and there fell of Israel seventy thousand men. And God sent an angel unto Jerusalem to destroy it: and as he was destroying, the LORD beheld, and he repented him of the evil, and said to the angel that destroyed, It is enough, stay now thine hand. And the angel of the LORD stood by the threshingfloor of Ornan the Jebusite. And David lifted up his eyes, and saw the angel of the LORD stand between the earth and the heaven, having a drawn sword in his hand stretched out over Jerusalem. Then David and the elders of Israel, who were clothed in sackcloth, fell upon their faces. And David said unto God, Is it not I that commanded the people to be numbered? even I it is that have sinned and done evil indeed; but as for these sheep, what have they done? let thine hand, I pray thee, O LORD my God, be on me, and on my father’s house; but not on thy people, that they should be plagued.
Satan rose up against Israel and provoked David to count Israel.
And Satan stood up against Israel and stirred up David to count Israel.
And Satan stood up against Israel, and provoked David to number Israel.
David told Joab and the leaders of the people: Go and count Israel from Beersheba to Dan, then bring me the total so I know how many there are.
And David said to Joab and to the rulers of the people: Go, count Israel from Beersheba right to Dan. And bring me the number of them, so I know it.
And David said to Joab and to the rulers of the people, Go, number Israel from Beersheba even to Dan; and bring the number of them to me, that I may know it.
Joab answered: May the Lord multiply his people a hundred times over. But, my lord the king, aren't they all your servants already? Why do you want this done? Why bring guilt on Israel?
And Joab answered: The Lord make his people a hundred times as many as they are. But my lord the king, aren't they all my lord's servants? Why does my lord want this thing? Why should he be a cause of guilt to Israel?
And Joab answered, The LORD make his people an hundred times so many more as they be: but, my lord the king, are they not all my lord’s servants? why then doth my lord require this thing? why will he be a cause of trespass to Israel?
But the king overruled Joab. So Joab went throughout Israel and returned to Jerusalem.
But the king's word won against Joab. So Joab went out and went through all Israel and came to Jerusalem.
Nevertheless the king’s word prevailed against Joab. Wherefore Joab departed, and went throughout all Israel, and came to Jerusalem.
Joab gave the sum of the number of the people to David. And all Israel was one million one hundred thousand men who drew the sword. And Judah was four hundred and seventy thousand men who drew the sword.
And Joab gave the sum of the number of the people to David. And all Israel was one million one hundred thousand men who drew the sword. And Judah was four hundred and seventy thousand men who drew the sword.
And Joab gave the sum of the number of the people unto David. And all they of Israel were a thousand thousand and an hundred thousand men that drew sword: and Judah was four hundred threescore and ten thousand men that drew sword.
But Joab did not count Levi and Benjamin among them, because the king's command was abhorrent to him.
But he didn't count Levi and Benjamin among them, because the king's word was disgusting to Joab.
But Levi and Benjamin counted he not among them: for the king’s word was abominable to Joab.
God was displeased with this thing, so he struck Israel.
And God was displeased with this thing, so he struck Israel.
And God was displeased with this thing; therefore he smote Israel.
David said to God: I've sinned terribly by doing this. Please take away your servant's guilt, because I've acted very foolishly.
And David said to God: I've sinned badly, because I've done this thing. But now, please take away the wrongdoing of your servant. Because I've done very stupidly.
And David said unto God, I have sinned greatly, because I have done this thing: but now, I beseech thee, do away the iniquity of thy servant; for I have done very foolishly.
The Lord spoke to Gad, David's seer:
And the Lord spoke to Gad, David's seer:
And the LORD spake unto Gad, David’s seer, saying,
Go and tell David: This is what the Lord says. I set three things before you. Choose one of them, so I can do it to you.
Go and tell David: This is what the Lord says. I set three things in front of you. Choose one of them, so I can do it to you.
Go and tell David, saying, Thus saith the LORD, I offer thee three things: choose thee one of them, that I may do it unto thee.
Gad came to David and said to him: This is what the Lord says. Take your choice —
So Gad came to David and said to him: This is what the Lord says. Take your choice —
So Gad came to David, and said unto him, Thus saith the LORD, Choose thee
You have three choices: three years of famine; three months fleeing before your enemies while their swords overtake you; or three days of the Lord's sword — plague in the land, with the angel of the Lord destroying throughout Israel. Now decide what answer I should take back to the one who sent me.
either three years of famine, or three months to be wasted in front of the ones against you while the sword of the ones against you catches up with you, or three days of the sword of the Lord — plague in the land, and the angel of the Lord wrecking through all the borders of Israel. So now think about what word I'll bring back to the one who sent me.
Either three years’ famine; or three months to be destroyed before thy foes, while that the sword of thine enemies overtaketh thee; or else three days the sword of the LORD, even the pestilence, in the land, and the angel of the LORD destroying throughout all the coasts of Israel. Now therefore advise thyself what word I shall bring again to him that sent me.
David said to Gad: I'm in deep trouble. Let me fall into the Lord's hands, because his mercies are very great; don't let me fall into human hands.
And David said to Gad: I'm in a hard place. Let me fall now into the hand of the Lord, because his mercies are very great. But don't let me fall into the hand of man.
And David said unto Gad, I am in a great strait: let me fall now into the hand of the LORD; for very great are his mercies: but let me not fall into the hand of man.
So the Lord sent a plague on Israel, and seventy thousand men of Israel died.
So the Lord sent plague on Israel, and seventy thousand men of Israel fell.
So the LORD sent pestilence upon Israel: and there fell of Israel seventy thousand men.
God sent an angel to destroy Jerusalem. But as the angel was destroying it, the Lord saw and relented from the disaster. He told the destroying angel: Enough. Hold your hand. The angel of the Lord was standing by the threshing floor of Ornan the Jebusite.
And God sent an angel to Jerusalem to wreck it. And as he was wrecking, the Lord looked and was sorry about the trouble, and said to the angel who was wrecking: It's enough. Hold back your hand now. And the angel of the Lord stood by the threshing floor of Ornan the Jebusite.
And God sent an angel unto Jerusalem to destroy it: and as he was destroying, the LORD beheld, and he repented him of the evil, and said to the angel that destroyed, It is enough, stay now thine hand. And the angel of the LORD stood by the threshingfloor of Ornan the Jebusite.
David looked up and saw the angel of the Lord standing between earth and heaven, with a drawn sword stretched out over Jerusalem. David and the elders, dressed in coarse mourning cloth, fell facedown.
And David lifted up his eyes and saw the angel of the Lord standing between the earth and the sky, with a drawn sword in his hand stretched out over Jerusalem. Then David and the elders, dressed in sackcloth, fell on their faces.
And David lifted up his eyes, and saw the angel of the LORD stand between the earth and the heaven, having a drawn sword in his hand stretched out over Jerusalem. Then David and the elders of Israel, who were clothed in sackcloth, fell upon their faces.
David said to God: Wasn't I the one who ordered the people counted? I'm the one who sinned and did wrong. These sheep — what have they done? Lord my God, let your hand fall on me and my father's house, but not on your people with this plague.
And David said to God: Wasn't it me who ordered the people to be counted? It's me who's sinned and done wrong for sure. But these sheep — what have they done? Please, Lord my God, let your hand be on me and on my father's house, but not on your people, that they should be struck.
And David said unto God, Is it not I that commanded the people to be numbered? even I it is that have sinned and done evil indeed; but as for these sheep, what have they done? let thine hand, I pray thee, O LORD my God, be on me, and on my father’s house; but not on thy people, that they should be plagued.
The threshing floor of Ornan
Then the angel of the Lord commanded Gad to say to David that David should go up and set up an altar to the Lord in the threshing floor of Ornan the Jebusite. David went up, just as Gad had spoken in the name of the Lord. Ornan turned back and saw the angel. And his four sons with him hid themselves. Now Ornan was threshing wheat. When David approached Ornan, Ornan looked up, saw him, came out from the threshing floor and bowed before David with his face to the ground. David told Ornan: Give me this threshing floor so I can build an altar to the Lord here. Sell it to me for the full price, so the plague may be stopped among the people. Ornan said to David: Take it. Let my lord the king do whatever he thinks is right. I'll give the oxen for burnt offerings, the threshing tools for firewood and the wheat for the grain offering. I'll give you everything. King David told Ornan: No. I'll pay the full price. I won't take what is yours for the Lord, and I won't offer a burnt offering that costs me nothing. David gave Ornan six hundred shekels of gold by weight for the place. David built an altar to the Lord there and offered burnt offerings and peace offerings. He called on the Lord, and the Lord answered him with fire from heaven on the altar of burnt offering. The Lord commanded the angel, and he put his sword back into its sheath. At that time, when David saw the Lord had answered him in the threshing floor of Ornan the Jebusite, then he sacrificed there. Because the tent of the Lord that Moses made in the wilderness, and the altar of the burnt offering, were at that time in the high place at Gibeon. But David could not go before it to seek God, because he was afraid of the sword of the angel of the Lord.
Then the angel of the Lord ordered Gad to say to David that David should go up and set up an altar to the Lord in the threshing floor of Ornan the Jebusite. And David went up at the word of Gad, that he spoke in the name of the Lord. And Ornan turned back and saw the angel. And his four sons with him hid themselves. Now Ornan was threshing wheat. And as David came to Ornan, Ornan looked and saw David and went out of the threshing floor and bowed down to David with his face to the ground. Then David said to Ornan: Give me the place of this threshing floor, so I can build an altar to the Lord on it. Give it me for the full price, so the plague can be stopped from the people. And Ornan said to David: Take it for yourself, and let my lord the king do what's good in his eyes. Look — I'll give the oxen too for burnt offerings, and the threshing tools for wood, and the wheat for the grain offering. I'll give it all. And King David said to Ornan: No — I'll definitely buy it for the full price. Because I won't take what's yours for the Lord, or offer burnt offerings that cost me nothing. So David gave Ornan six hundred shekels of gold by weight for the place. And David built an altar to the Lord there and offered burnt offerings and peace offerings, and called on the Lord. And he answered him from heaven by fire on the altar of burnt offering. And the Lord ordered the angel, and he put his sword back into its sheath. At that time, when David saw the Lord had answered him in the threshing floor of Ornan the Jebusite, then he sacrificed there. Because the tent of the Lord that Moses made in the wilderness, and the altar of the burnt offering, were at that time in the high place at Gibeon. But David couldn't go in front of it to ask of God, because he was frightened of the sword of the angel of the Lord.
Then the angel of the LORD commanded Gad to say to David, that David should go up, and set up an altar unto the LORD in the threshingfloor of Ornan the Jebusite. And David went up at the saying of Gad, which he spake in the name of the LORD. And Ornan turned back, and saw the angel; and his four sons with him hid themselves. Now Ornan was threshing wheat. And as David came to Ornan, Ornan looked and saw David, and went out of the threshingfloor, and bowed himself to David with his face to the ground. Then David said to Ornan, Grant me the place of this threshingfloor, that I may build an altar therein unto the LORD: thou shalt grant it me for the full price: that the plague may be stayed from the people. And Ornan said unto David, Take it to thee, and let my lord the king do that which is good in his eyes: lo, I give thee the oxen also for burnt offerings, and the threshing instruments for wood, and the wheat for the meat offering; I give it all. And king David said to Ornan, Nay; but I will verily buy it for the full price: for I will not take that which is thine for the LORD, nor offer burnt offerings without cost. So David gave to Ornan for the place six hundred shekels of gold by weight. And David built there an altar unto the LORD, and offered burnt offerings and peace offerings, and called upon the LORD; and he answered him from heaven by fire upon the altar of burnt offering. And the LORD commanded the angel; and he put up his sword again into the sheath thereof. At that time when David saw that the LORD had answered him in the threshingfloor of Ornan the Jebusite, then he sacrificed there. For the tabernacle of the LORD, which Moses made in the wilderness, and the altar of the burnt offering, were at that season in the high place at Gibeon. But David could not go before it to enquire of God: for he was afraid because of the sword of the angel of the LORD.
Then the angel of the Lord commanded Gad to say to David that David should go up and set up an altar to the Lord in the threshing floor of Ornan the Jebusite.
Then the angel of the Lord ordered Gad to say to David that David should go up and set up an altar to the Lord in the threshing floor of Ornan the Jebusite.
Then the angel of the LORD commanded Gad to say to David, that David should go up, and set up an altar unto the LORD in the threshingfloor of Ornan the Jebusite.
David went up, just as Gad had spoken in the name of the Lord.
And David went up at the word of Gad, that he spoke in the name of the Lord.
And David went up at the saying of Gad, which he spake in the name of the LORD.
Ornan turned back and saw the angel. And his four sons with him hid themselves. Now Ornan was threshing wheat.
And Ornan turned back and saw the angel. And his four sons with him hid themselves. Now Ornan was threshing wheat.
And Ornan turned back, and saw the angel; and his four sons with him hid themselves. Now Ornan was threshing wheat.
When David approached Ornan, Ornan looked up, saw him, came out from the threshing floor and bowed before David with his face to the ground.
And as David came to Ornan, Ornan looked and saw David and went out of the threshing floor and bowed down to David with his face to the ground.
And as David came to Ornan, Ornan looked and saw David, and went out of the threshingfloor, and bowed himself to David with his face to the ground.
David told Ornan: Give me this threshing floor so I can build an altar to the Lord here. Sell it to me for the full price, so the plague may be stopped among the people.
Then David said to Ornan: Give me the place of this threshing floor, so I can build an altar to the Lord on it. Give it me for the full price, so the plague can be stopped from the people.
Then David said to Ornan, Grant me the place of this threshingfloor, that I may build an altar therein unto the LORD: thou shalt grant it me for the full price: that the plague may be stayed from the people.
Ornan said to David: Take it. Let my lord the king do whatever he thinks is right. I'll give the oxen for burnt offerings, the threshing tools for firewood and the wheat for the grain offering. I'll give you everything.
And Ornan said to David: Take it for yourself, and let my lord the king do what's good in his eyes. Look — I'll give the oxen too for burnt offerings, and the threshing tools for wood, and the wheat for the grain offering. I'll give it all.
And Ornan said unto David, Take it to thee, and let my lord the king do that which is good in his eyes: lo, I give thee the oxen also for burnt offerings, and the threshing instruments for wood, and the wheat for the meat offering; I give it all.
King David told Ornan: No. I'll pay the full price. I won't take what is yours for the Lord, and I won't offer a burnt offering that costs me nothing.
And King David said to Ornan: No — I'll definitely buy it for the full price. Because I won't take what's yours for the Lord, or offer burnt offerings that cost me nothing.
And king David said to Ornan, Nay; but I will verily buy it for the full price: for I will not take that which is thine for the LORD, nor offer burnt offerings without cost.
David gave Ornan six hundred shekels of gold by weight for the place.
So David gave Ornan six hundred shekels of gold by weight for the place.
So David gave to Ornan for the place six hundred shekels of gold by weight.
David built an altar to the Lord there and offered burnt offerings and peace offerings. He called on the Lord, and the Lord answered him with fire from heaven on the altar of burnt offering.
And David built an altar to the Lord there and offered burnt offerings and peace offerings, and called on the Lord. And he answered him from heaven by fire on the altar of burnt offering.
And David built there an altar unto the LORD, and offered burnt offerings and peace offerings, and called upon the LORD; and he answered him from heaven by fire upon the altar of burnt offering.
The Lord commanded the angel, and he put his sword back into its sheath.
And the Lord ordered the angel, and he put his sword back into its sheath.
And the LORD commanded the angel; and he put up his sword again into the sheath thereof.
At that time, when David saw the Lord had answered him in the threshing floor of Ornan the Jebusite, then he sacrificed there.
At that time when David saw that the LORD had answered him in the threshingfloor of Ornan the Jebusite, then he sacrificed there.
Because the tent of the Lord that Moses made in the wilderness, and the altar of the burnt offering, were at that time in the high place at Gibeon.
For the tabernacle of the LORD, which Moses made in the wilderness, and the altar of the burnt offering, were at that season in the high place at Gibeon.
But David could not go before it to seek God, because he was afraid of the sword of the angel of the Lord.
But David couldn't go in front of it to ask of God, because he was frightened of the sword of the angel of the Lord.
But David could not go before it to enquire of God: for he was afraid because of the sword of the angel of the LORD.