²And David said to Joab, and to the rulers of the people: Go, and number Israel from Bersabee even to Dan, and bring me the number of them that I may know it.

³And Joab answered: The Lord make his people a hundred times more than they are: but, my lord the king, are they not all thy servants: why doth my lord seek this thing, which may be imputed as a sin to Israel?

⁴But the king’s word rather prevailed: and Joab departed, and went through all Israel: and returned to Jerusalem.

⁵And he gave David the number of them, whom he had surveyed: and all the number of Israel was found to be eleven hundred thousand men that drew the sword: and of Juda four hundred and seventy thousand fighting men.

⁶But Levi and Benjamin he did not number: for Joab unwillingly executed the king’s orders.

⁷And God was displeased with this thing that was commanded: and he struck Israel.

⁸And David said to God: I have sinned exceedingly in doing this: I beseech thee take away the iniquity of thy servant, for I have done foolishly.

⁹And the Lord spoke to Gad the seer of David, saying:

¹⁰Go, and speak to David, and tell him: Thus saith the Lord: I give thee the choice of three things: choose one which thou wilt, and I will do it to thee.

¹¹And when Gad was come to David, he said to him: Thus saith the Lord: choose which thou wilt:

¹²Either three years famine: or three months to flee from thy enemies, and not to be able to escape their sword: or three days to have the sword of the Lord, and pestilence in the land, and the angel of the Lord destroying in all the coasts of Israel: now therefore see what I shall answer him who sent me.

¹³And David said to Gad: I am on every side in a great strait: but it is better for me to fall into the hands of the Lord, for his mercies are many, than into the hands of men.

¹⁴So the Lord sent a pestilence upon Israel. And there fell of Israel seventy thousand men.

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