But David's heart struck him, after the people were numbered. And David said to the Lord: I have sinned very much in what I have done; but I pray thee, O Lord, to take away the iniquity of thy servant, because I have done exceeding foolishly.
Why therefore hast thou despised the word of the Lord, to do evil in my sight? Thou hast killed Urias the Hethite with the sword; and hast taken his wife to be thy wife; and hast slain him with the sword of the children of Ammon.
But yet acknowledge thy iniquity, that thou hast transgressed against the Lord thy God: and thou hast scattered thy ways to strangers under every green tree, and hast not heard my voice, saith the Lord.
And thou hast said: I am without sin and am innocent: and therefore let thy anger be turned away from me. Behold, I will contend with thee in judgement, because thou hast said: I have not sinned.
How canst thou say: I am not polluted, and I have not walked after Baalim? See thy ways in the valley, know what thou hast done: as a swift runner pursuing his course.
And he said to them: You are they who justify yourselves before men, but God knoweth your hearts; for that which is high to men, is an abomination before God.
Surely Ephraim is an honourable son to me, surely he is a tender child: for since I spoke of him, I will still remember him. Therefore are my bowels troubled for him: pitying, I will pity him, saith the Lord.
And David said to the Lord, when he saw the angel striking the people: It is I. I am he that have sinned. I have done wickedly. These that are the sheep, what have they done? Let thy hand, I beseech thee, be turned against me, and against my father's house.
And forgive thy people, that have sinned against thee, and all their iniquities, by which they have transgressed against thee. And give them mercy before them that have made them captives, that they may have compassion on them.
And now make confession to the Lord the God of your fathers; and do his pleasure; and separate yourselves from the people of the land, and from your strange wives.