MLV(i)
1 And again the anger of Jehovah was kindled against Israel and he moved David against them, saying, Go, number Israel and Judah.
2 And the king said to Joab the captain of the army, who was with him, Go now to and fro through all the tribes of Israel, from Dan even to Beer-sheba and number you* the people, that I may know the sum of the people.
3 And Joab said to the king, Now Jehovah your God add to the people, however many they may be, a hundredfold and may the eyes of my lord the king see it, but why does my lord the king delight in this thing?
4 Notwithstanding, the king's word prevailed against Joab and against the captains of the army. And Joab and the captains of the army went out from the presence of the king to number the people of Israel. 5 And they passed over the Jordan and encamped in Aroer on the right side of the city that is in the middle of the valley of Gad and to Jazer. 6 Then they came to Gilead and to the land of Tahtim-hodshi. And they came to Dan-jaan and all around to Sidon, 7 and came to the stronghold of Tyre and to all the cities of the Hivites and of the Canaanites. And they went out to the south of Judah, at Beer-sheba.
8 So when they had gone to and fro through all the land, they came to Jerusalem at the end of nine months and twenty days. 9 And Joab gave the sum of the numbering of the people to the king. And there were in Israel eight hundred thousand valiant men who drew the sword and the men of Judah were five hundred thousand men.
10 And David's heart killed* him after he had numbered the people. And David said to Jehovah, I have sinned greatly in what I have done, but now, O Jehovah, I beseech you, put away the iniquity of your servant, for I have done very foolishly.
11 And when David rose up in the morning, the word of Jehovah came to the prophet Gad, David's seer, saying, 12 Go and speak to David, Jehovah says thus, I offer you three things. Choose you one of them, that I may do it to you. 13 So Gad came to David and told him and said to him, Shall three years of famine come to you in your land? Or will you flee three months before your foes while they pursue you? Or will there be three days' pestilence in your land? Now decide and see what answer I will return to him who sent me.
14 And David said to Gad, I am in a great strait. Let us fall now into the hand of Jehovah, for his mercies are great and do not let me fall into the hand of man. 15 So Jehovah sent a pestilence upon Israel from the morning even to the time appointed. And there died of the people from Dan even to Beer-sheba seventy thousand men.
4 Notwithstanding, the king's word prevailed against Joab and against the captains of the army. And Joab and the captains of the army went out from the presence of the king to number the people of Israel. 5 And they passed over the Jordan and encamped in Aroer on the right side of the city that is in the middle of the valley of Gad and to Jazer. 6 Then they came to Gilead and to the land of Tahtim-hodshi. And they came to Dan-jaan and all around to Sidon, 7 and came to the stronghold of Tyre and to all the cities of the Hivites and of the Canaanites. And they went out to the south of Judah, at Beer-sheba.
8 So when they had gone to and fro through all the land, they came to Jerusalem at the end of nine months and twenty days. 9 And Joab gave the sum of the numbering of the people to the king. And there were in Israel eight hundred thousand valiant men who drew the sword and the men of Judah were five hundred thousand men.
10 And David's heart killed* him after he had numbered the people. And David said to Jehovah, I have sinned greatly in what I have done, but now, O Jehovah, I beseech you, put away the iniquity of your servant, for I have done very foolishly.
11 And when David rose up in the morning, the word of Jehovah came to the prophet Gad, David's seer, saying, 12 Go and speak to David, Jehovah says thus, I offer you three things. Choose you one of them, that I may do it to you. 13 So Gad came to David and told him and said to him, Shall three years of famine come to you in your land? Or will you flee three months before your foes while they pursue you? Or will there be three days' pestilence in your land? Now decide and see what answer I will return to him who sent me.
14 And David said to Gad, I am in a great strait. Let us fall now into the hand of Jehovah, for his mercies are great and do not let me fall into the hand of man. 15 So Jehovah sent a pestilence upon Israel from the morning even to the time appointed. And there died of the people from Dan even to Beer-sheba seventy thousand men.