eitherthreeyearsof famine,or threemonthsto be sweptawaybeforeyour foes,while the swordof your enemiesovertakes[you], or else threedaysof the swordof the LORD,even pestilencein the land,and the angelof the LORDdestroyingthroughout allthe territoryof Israel.'Now,therefore, considerwhatanswerI shall returnto Him who sentme."
Now there was a faminein the daysof Davidfor threeyears,yearafteryear;and Davidsoughtthe presenceof the LORD.And the LORDsaid,"It is for Sauland his bloodyhouse,becausehe putthe Gibeonitesto death."
Now Elijahthe Tishbite,who was of the settlersof Gilead,saidto Ahab,"As the LORD,the Godof Israellives,beforewhomI stand,surelythere shall be neitherdewnor raintheseyears,exceptby my word."
Then it happenedthat nightthat the angelof the LORDwentout and struck185000in the campof the Assyrians;and when men roseearlyin the morning,behold,allof them were dead.
Now Elishaspoketo the womanwhosesonhe had restoredto life,saying,"Ariseand gowith your household,and sojournwhereveryou can sojourn;for the LORDhas calledfor a famine,and it will evencomeon the landfor sevenyears."
So Gadcameto Davidand saidto him, "Thussaysthe LORD,'Takefor yourself
Of the pestilencethat stalksin darkness,Or of the destructionthat layswasteat noon.
"For the LORDwill passthroughto smitethe Egyptians;and when He seesthe bloodon the linteland on the twodoorposts,the LORDwill passoverthe doorand will not allowthe destroyerto comein to your housesto smite[you].
For the LORDwill executejudgmentby fireAnd by His swordon allflesh,And those slainby the LORDwill be many.
"On allthe bareheightsin the wildernessDestroyershave come,For a swordof the LORDis devouringFrom one endof the landeven to the other;Thereis nopeacefor anyone.
then the sword,whichyou are afraidof, will overtakeyou therein the landof Egypt;and the famine,about whichyou are anxious,will followcloselyafteryou there[in] Egypt,and you will diethere.
"Ah,swordof the LORD,Howlongwill you not be quiet?Withdrawinto your sheath;Be at restand staystill.
Betterare those slainwith the swordThanthose slainwith hunger;For they pineaway,being strickenFor lack of the fruitsof the field.
You will eatthe oldsupplyand clearout the oldbecauseof the new.
I will setMy faceagainst you so that you will be struckdownbeforeyour enemies;and those who hateyou will ruleover you, and you will fleewhen nooneis pursuingyou.
"But I sayto you in truth,there were manywidowsin Israelin the daysof Elijah,whenthe skywas shutup for threeyearsand sixmonths,whena greatfaminecameoverallthe land;
And immediatelyan angelof the Lordstruckhim becausehe did not giveGodthe glory,and he was eaten by wormsand died.
"But it shall comeabout, ifyou do not obeythe LORDyour God,to observeto doallHis commandmentsand His statuteswith whichI chargeyou today,that allthesecurseswill comeupon you and overtakeyou:
"The LORDwill smiteyou with consumptionand with feverand with inflammationand with fieryheatand with the swordand with blightand with mildew,and they will pursueyou untilyou perish.
"The LORDshall causeyou to be defeatedbeforeyour enemies;you will goout onewayagainstthem, but you will fleesevenwaysbeforethem, and you will be [an example of] terrorto allthe kingdomsof the earth.
"The LORDwill smiteyou with the boilsof Egyptand with tumorsand with the scaband with the itch,from whichyou cannotbe healed.
"The LORDwill strikeyou on the kneesand legswith soreboils,from whichyou cannotbe healed,from the soleof your footto the crownof your head.
