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."
O God,whyhave You rejected[us] forever?Why does Your angersmokeagainst the sheepof Your pasture?
Now David'shearttroubledhim afterhe had numberedthe people.So Davidsaidto the LORD,"I have sinnedgreatlyin whatI have done.But now,O LORD,pleasetakeawaythe iniquityof Your servant,for I have actedveryfoolishly."
ThereforeI retract,And I repentin dustand ashes."
"Awake,O sword,againstMy Shepherd,And againstthe man,My Associate,"Declaresthe LORDof hosts."Strikethe Shepherdthat the sheepmay be scattered;And I will turnMy handagainstthe littleones.
Then I said,"Woeis me, for I am ruined!BecauseI am a manof uncleanlips,And I liveamonga peopleof uncleanlips;For my eyeshave seenthe King,the LORDof hosts."
You giveus as sheepto be eatenAnd have scatteredus among the nations.
"Have I sinned?Whathave I doneto You, O watcherof men?Whyhave You setme as Your target,So that I ama burdento myself?
So he said,"I sawallIsraelScatteredon the mountains,Like sheepwhichhavenoshepherd.And the LORDsaid,'Thesehave nomaster.Let eachof them returnto his housein peace.'"
"Now,therefore, pleaselet your servantremaininsteadof the lada slaveto my lord,and let the ladgoup with his brothers.
Abrahamcamenearand said,"Will You indeedsweepawaythe righteouswith the wicked?
"Nowtherefore, thusyou shall sayto My servantDavid,'Thussaysthe LORDof hosts,"I tookyou from the pasture,from followingthe sheep,to be ruleroverMy peopleIsrael.
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."
Then Pharaohhurriedlycalledfor Mosesand Aaron,and he said,"I have sinnedagainst the LORDyour Godand against you.
But they fellon their facesand said,"O God,Godof the spiritsof allflesh,when onemansins,will You be angrywith the entirecongregation?"
Then Davidsaidto Nathan,"I have sinnedagainst the LORD."And Nathansaidto David,"The LORDalsohas takenawayyour sin;you shall not die.
I acknowledgedmy sinto You, And my iniquityI did not hide;I said,"I will confessmy transgressionsto the LORD";And You forgavethe guiltof my sin.Selah.
From the careof the eweswith sucklinglambsHe broughthim To shepherdJacobHis people,And IsraelHis inheritance.
