Davidsaidto God,"Is it not I who commandedto countthe people?Indeed, I am the one whohas sinnedand doneverywickedly,but thesesheep,whathave they done?O LORDmy God,pleaselet Your handbe against me and my father'shousehold,but not against Your peoplethat they should be plagued."
"Now,therefore, pleaselet your servantremaininsteadof the lada slaveto my lord,and let the ladgoup with his brothers.
Nowtherefore, the swordshall neverdepartfrom your house,becauseyou have despisedMe and have takenthe wifeof Uriahthe Hittiteto be your wife.'
Now againthe angerof the LORDburnedagainst Israel,and it incitedDavidagainst them to say,"Go,numberIsraeland Judah."
Then Davidspoketo the LORDwhen he sawthe angelwho was strikingdownthe people,and said,"Behold,it is I who have sinned,and it is I who have donewrong;but thesesheep,whathave they done?Pleaselet Your handbe against me and against my father'shouse."
"Nowtherefore, thusyou shall sayto My servantDavid,'Thussaysthe LORDof hosts,"I tookyou from the pasture,from followingthe sheep,to be ruleroverMy peopleIsrael.
So he said,"I sawallIsraelScatteredon the mountains,Like sheepwhichhavenoshepherd.And the LORDsaid,'Thesehave nomaster.Let eachof them returnto his housein peace.'"
Davidsaidto God,"I have sinnedgreatly,in that I have donethisthing.But now,pleasetakeawaythe iniquityof Your servant,for I have doneveryfoolishly."
You giveus as sheepto be eatenAnd have scatteredus among the nations.
Deliverme from bloodguiltiness,O God,the Godof my salvation;[Then] my tonguewill joyfullysingof Your righteousness.
Against You, You only,I have sinnedAnd donewhatis evilin Your sight,Sothat You are justifiedwhen You speakAnd blamelesswhen You judge.
O God,whyhave You rejected[us] forever?Why does Your angersmokeagainst the sheepof Your pasture?
"You shall not worshipthem or servethem; for I, the LORDyour God,am a jealousGod,visitingthe iniquityof the fatherson the children,on the thirdand the fourthgenerations of those who hateMe,
so that you may rememberand be ashamedand neveropenyour mouthanymorebecauseof your humiliation,when I have forgivenyou for allthat you have done,"the LordGODdeclares.
He saidto them, "Pickme up and throwme into the sea.Then the seawill becomecalmfor you, for I knowthat on accountof me thisgreatstorm[has come] upon you."
For I could wishthat I myselfwere accursed,[separated] from Christfor the sakeof my brethren,my kinsmenaccordingto the flesh,
that you must turnawaythis dayfrom followingthe LORD?If you rebelagainst the LORDtoday,He will be angrywith the wholecongregationof Israeltomorrow.
We knowloveby this,that He laiddownHis lifefor us; and we oughtto lay downour livesfor the brethren.
