8. And Dovid said unto HaElohim, I have sinned greatly, because I have done this thing, but now, take away the avon of Thy eved, for I have done very foolishly.
9. And Hashem spoke unto Gad, Chozeh Dovid (seer of David) saying,
10. Go and tell Dovid, saying, Thus saith Hashem, I offer thee shalosh (three); choose thee one of them, that I may do it unto thee.
11. So Gad came to Dovid, and said unto him, Thus saith Hashem, Choose for thee
12. Either shalosh shanim ra'av (famine); or shloshah chodashim to be subdued before thy foes, while that the cherev of thine oyevim overtaketh thee; or else sheloshet yamim cherev Hashem, even the dever, in HaAretz, and the Malach Hashem destroying throughout all the borders of Yisroel. Now therefore advise thyself what davar I shalll bring to Him that sent me.
13. And Dovid said unto Gad, I am in a great distress; let me fall now into the Yad Hashem; for rabbim me'od (very great) are His rachamim but let me not fall into the yad adam.
14. So Hashem sent dever upon Yisroel, and there fell of Yisroel shiv'im elef ish.
15. And HaElohim sent a Malach unto Yerushalayim to destroy her, and as he was destroying, Hashem beheld, and He relented Him of the ra'ah, and said to the Malach that destroyed, It is enough, stay now thine yad. And the Malach Hashem stood by the goren (threshing floor) of Ornan the Yevusi.
16. And Dovid lifted up his eyes, and saw the Malach Hashem stand between Ha'Aretz and HaShomayim, having a drawn cherev in his yad stretched out over Yerushalayim. Then Dovid and the Zekenim, who were clothed in sackcloth, fell upon their faces.
17. And Dovid said unto HaElohim, Is it not I that commanded the people to be numbered? Even I it is that have sinned and done harah indeed; but as for these tzon, what have they done? Let Thine Yad, Hashem Elohai, be on me, and on the Bais Avi, but not on Thy people, not with magefah (plague, see Isa 53:8 for fulfillment).