Lectionary Calendar
Thursday, August 21st, 2025
the Week of Proper 15 / Ordinary 20
the Week of Proper 15 / Ordinary 20
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Read the Bible
THE MESSAGE
1 Chronicles 21:13
David told Gad, "They're all terrible! But I'd rather be punished by God whose mercy is great, than fall into human hands."
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Concordances:
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- CondensedParallel Translations
Christian Standard Bible®
David answered Gad, “I’m in anguish. Please, let me fall into the Lord’s hands because his mercies are very great, but don’t let me fall into human hands.”
David answered Gad, “I’m in anguish. Please, let me fall into the Lord’s hands because his mercies are very great, but don’t let me fall into human hands.”
Hebrew Names Version
David said to Gad, I am in a great strait: let me fall, I pray, into the hand of the LORD; for very great are his mercies: and let me not fall into the hand of man.
David said to Gad, I am in a great strait: let me fall, I pray, into the hand of the LORD; for very great are his mercies: and let me not fall into the hand of man.
King James Version
And David said unto Gad, I am in a great strait: let me fall now into the hand of the Lord ; for very great are his mercies: but let me not fall into the hand of man.
And David said unto Gad, I am in a great strait: let me fall now into the hand of the Lord ; for very great are his mercies: but let me not fall into the hand of man.
English Standard Version
Then David said to Gad, "I am in great distress. Let me fall into the hand of the Lord , for his mercy is very great, but do not let me fall into the hand of man."
Then David said to Gad, "I am in great distress. Let me fall into the hand of the Lord , for his mercy is very great, but do not let me fall into the hand of man."
New Century Version
David said to Gad, "I am in great trouble. Let the Lord punish me, because the Lord is very merciful. Don't let my punishment come from human beings."
David said to Gad, "I am in great trouble. Let the Lord punish me, because the Lord is very merciful. Don't let my punishment come from human beings."
New English Translation
David said to Gad, "I am very upset! I prefer to be attacked by the Lord , for his mercy is very great; I do not want to be attacked by men!"
David said to Gad, "I am very upset! I prefer to be attacked by the Lord , for his mercy is very great; I do not want to be attacked by men!"
Amplified Bible
David said to Gad, "I am in great distress; please let me fall into the hands of the LORD, for His mercies are very great; but do not let me fall into the hand of man."
David said to Gad, "I am in great distress; please let me fall into the hands of the LORD, for His mercies are very great; but do not let me fall into the hand of man."
New American Standard Bible
David said to Gad, "I am in great distress; please let me fall into the hand of the LORD, for His mercies are very great. But do not let me fall into human hands."
David said to Gad, "I am in great distress; please let me fall into the hand of the LORD, for His mercies are very great. But do not let me fall into human hands."
World English Bible
David said to Gad, I am in a great strait: let me fall, I pray, into the hand of Yahweh; for very great are his mercies: and let me not fall into the hand of man.
David said to Gad, I am in a great strait: let me fall, I pray, into the hand of Yahweh; for very great are his mercies: and let me not fall into the hand of man.
Geneva Bible (1587)
And Dauid said vnto Gad, I am in a wonderfull strait. let me nowe fall into the hande of the Lorde: for his mercies are exceeding great, and let me not fall into the hande of man.
And Dauid said vnto Gad, I am in a wonderfull strait. let me nowe fall into the hande of the Lorde: for his mercies are exceeding great, and let me not fall into the hande of man.
Legacy Standard Bible
Then David said to Gad, "I am in great distress. Let me now fall into the hand of Yahweh, for His compassions are exceedingly abundant. But do not let me fall into the hand of man."
Then David said to Gad, "I am in great distress. Let me now fall into the hand of Yahweh, for His compassions are exceedingly abundant. But do not let me fall into the hand of man."
Berean Standard Bible
David answered Gad, "I am deeply distressed. Please, let me fall into the hands of the LORD, for His mercies are very great; but do not let me fall into the hands of men."
David answered Gad, "I am deeply distressed. Please, let me fall into the hands of the LORD, for His mercies are very great; but do not let me fall into the hands of men."
Contemporary English Version
David was miserable and said, "It's a terrible choice to make! But the Lord is kind, and I'd rather have him punish me than for anyone else to do it."
David was miserable and said, "It's a terrible choice to make! But the Lord is kind, and I'd rather have him punish me than for anyone else to do it."
Complete Jewish Bible
David said to Gad, "This is very hard for me. Let me fall into the hand of Adonai , because his mercies are very great, rather than have me fall into the hand of man."
David said to Gad, "This is very hard for me. Let me fall into the hand of Adonai , because his mercies are very great, rather than have me fall into the hand of man."
Darby Translation
And David said to Gad, I am in a great strait: let me fall, I pray thee, into the hand of Jehovah, for his mercies are very great; but let me not fall into the hand of man.
And David said to Gad, I am in a great strait: let me fall, I pray thee, into the hand of Jehovah, for his mercies are very great; but let me not fall into the hand of man.
Easy-to-Read Version
David said to Gad, "I am in trouble! I don't want some man to decide my punishment. The Lord is very merciful, so let him decide how to punish me."
David said to Gad, "I am in trouble! I don't want some man to decide my punishment. The Lord is very merciful, so let him decide how to punish me."
George Lamsa Translation
And David said .to Gad, I am in a great distress; let me be delivered into the hands of the LORD; for his mercies are very great; but let me not be delivered into the hand of men.
And David said .to Gad, I am in a great distress; let me be delivered into the hands of the LORD; for his mercies are very great; but let me not be delivered into the hand of men.
Good News Translation
David replied to Gad, "I am in a desperate situation! But I don't want to be punished by people. Let the Lord himself be the one to punish me, because he is merciful."
David replied to Gad, "I am in a desperate situation! But I don't want to be punished by people. Let the Lord himself be the one to punish me, because he is merciful."
Lexham English Bible
Then David said to Gad, "I am very troubled. Let me into the hand of Yahweh, for his compassion is very great, but do not let me fall into the hand of a man."
Then David said to Gad, "I am very troubled. Let me into the hand of Yahweh, for his compassion is very great, but do not let me fall into the hand of a man."
Literal Translation
And David said to Gad, It is great distressing to me; now let me fall into the hand of Jehovah, for His mercies are very many; but do not let me fall into the hand of man.
And David said to Gad, It is great distressing to me; now let me fall into the hand of Jehovah, for His mercies are very many; but do not let me fall into the hand of man.
Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
Dauid sayde vnto Gad: I am in greate trouble: yet wyl I rather fall in to ye hande of the LORDE, for his mercy is exceadynge greate, & I wil not fall in to the handes of men.
Dauid sayde vnto Gad: I am in greate trouble: yet wyl I rather fall in to ye hande of the LORDE, for his mercy is exceadynge greate, & I wil not fall in to the handes of men.
American Standard Version
And David said unto Gad, I am in a great strait: let me fall, I pray, into the hand of Jehovah; for very great are his mercies: and let me not fall into the hand of man.
And David said unto Gad, I am in a great strait: let me fall, I pray, into the hand of Jehovah; for very great are his mercies: and let me not fall into the hand of man.
Bible in Basic English
And David said to Gad, This is a hard decision for me to make: let me come into the hands of the Lord, for great are his mercies: let me not come into the hands of men.
And David said to Gad, This is a hard decision for me to make: let me come into the hands of the Lord, for great are his mercies: let me not come into the hands of men.
Bishop's Bible (1568)
And Dauid sayde vnto Gad, I am in an exceeding strayte: Let me fall nowe into the hande of the Lorde (for passing great are his mercies) but let me not fal into the hand of men.
And Dauid sayde vnto Gad, I am in an exceeding strayte: Let me fall nowe into the hande of the Lorde (for passing great are his mercies) but let me not fal into the hand of men.
JPS Old Testament (1917)
And David said unto Gad: 'I am in a great strait; let me fall now into the hand of the LORD, for very great are His mercies; and let me not fall into the hand of man.'
And David said unto Gad: 'I am in a great strait; let me fall now into the hand of the LORD, for very great are His mercies; and let me not fall into the hand of man.'
King James Version (1611)
And Dauid said vnto Gad, I am in a great strait. Let mee fall now into the hand of the Lord (for very great are his mercies,) but let me not fall into the hand of man.
And Dauid said vnto Gad, I am in a great strait. Let mee fall now into the hand of the Lord (for very great are his mercies,) but let me not fall into the hand of man.
Brenton's Septuagint (LXX)
And David said to Gad, They are very hard for me, even all the three: let me fall now into the hands of the Lord, for his mercies are very abundant, and let me not fall by any means into the hands of man.
And David said to Gad, They are very hard for me, even all the three: let me fall now into the hands of the Lord, for his mercies are very abundant, and let me not fall by any means into the hands of man.
English Revised Version
And David said unto Gad, I am in a great strait: let me fall now into the hand of the LORD; for very great are his mercies: and let me not fall into the hand of man.
And David said unto Gad, I am in a great strait: let me fall now into the hand of the LORD; for very great are his mercies: and let me not fall into the hand of man.
Wycliffe Bible (1395)
And Dauid seide to Gad, Angwischis oppresse me on ech part, but it is betere to me, that Y falle in to the hondis of the Lord, for his merciful doynges ben manye, than in to the hondis of men.
And Dauid seide to Gad, Angwischis oppresse me on ech part, but it is betere to me, that Y falle in to the hondis of the Lord, for his merciful doynges ben manye, than in to the hondis of men.
Update Bible Version
And David said to Gad, I am in a great strait: let me fall, I pray, into the hand of Yahweh; for very great are his mercies: and don't let me fall into the hand of man.
And David said to Gad, I am in a great strait: let me fall, I pray, into the hand of Yahweh; for very great are his mercies: and don't let me fall into the hand of man.
Webster's Bible Translation
And David said to Gad, I am in a great strait: let me fall now into the hand of the LORD; for very great [are] his mercies: but let me not fall into the hand of man.
And David said to Gad, I am in a great strait: let me fall now into the hand of the LORD; for very great [are] his mercies: but let me not fall into the hand of man.
New King James Version
And David said to Gad, "I am in great distress. Please let me fall into the hand of the LORD, for His mercies are very great; but do not let me fall into the hand of man."
And David said to Gad, "I am in great distress. Please let me fall into the hand of the LORD, for His mercies are very great; but do not let me fall into the hand of man."
New Living Translation
"I'm in a desperate situation!" David replied to Gad. "But let me fall into the hands of the Lord , for his mercy is very great. Do not let me fall into human hands."
"I'm in a desperate situation!" David replied to Gad. "But let me fall into the hands of the Lord , for his mercy is very great. Do not let me fall into human hands."
New Life Bible
David said to Gad, "I am in much trouble. Let me fall into the hand of the Lord. For His loving-kindness is very great. But do not let me fall into the hand of man."
David said to Gad, "I am in much trouble. Let me fall into the hand of the Lord. For His loving-kindness is very great. But do not let me fall into the hand of man."
New Revised Standard
Then David said to Gad, "I am in great distress; let me fall into the hand of the Lord , for his mercy is very great; but let me not fall into human hands."
Then David said to Gad, "I am in great distress; let me fall into the hand of the Lord , for his mercy is very great; but let me not fall into human hands."
J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
And David said unto Gad, I am in a great strait, - Oh let me fall, I pray thee, into the hand of Yahweh, for abounding are his compassions, exceedingly, but, into the hand of man, let me not fall.
And David said unto Gad, I am in a great strait, - Oh let me fall, I pray thee, into the hand of Yahweh, for abounding are his compassions, exceedingly, but, into the hand of man, let me not fall.
Douay-Rheims Bible
And David said to Gad: I am on every side in a great strait: but it is better for me to fall into the hands of the Lord, for his mercies are many, than into the hands of men.
And David said to Gad: I am on every side in a great strait: but it is better for me to fall into the hands of the Lord, for his mercies are many, than into the hands of men.
Revised Standard Version
Then David said to Gad, "I am in great distress; let me fall into the hand of the LORD, for his mercy is very great; but let me not fall into the hand of man."
Then David said to Gad, "I am in great distress; let me fall into the hand of the LORD, for his mercy is very great; but let me not fall into the hand of man."
Young's Literal Translation
And David saith unto Gad, `I am greatly distressed, let me fall, I pray thee, into the hand of Jehovah, for very many [are] His mercies, and into the hand of man let me not fall.'
And David saith unto Gad, `I am greatly distressed, let me fall, I pray thee, into the hand of Jehovah, for very many [are] His mercies, and into the hand of man let me not fall.'
New American Standard Bible (1995)
David said to Gad, "I am in great distress; please let me fall into the hand of the LORD, for His mercies are very great. But do not let me fall into the hand of man."
David said to Gad, "I am in great distress; please let me fall into the hand of the LORD, for His mercies are very great. But do not let me fall into the hand of man."
Contextual Overview
8 Then David prayed, "I have sinned badly in what I have just done, substituting statistics for trust; forgive my sin—I've been really stupid." 9 God answered by speaking to Gad, David's pastor: "Go and give David this message: ‘ God 's word: You have your choice of three punishments; choose one and I'll do the rest.'" 11Gad delivered the message to David: "Do you want three years of famine, three months of running from your enemies while they chase you down, or three days of the sword of God —an epidemic unleashed on the country by an angel of God ? Think it over and make up your mind. What shall I tell the One who sent me?" 13 David told Gad, "They're all terrible! But I'd rather be punished by God whose mercy is great, than fall into human hands." 14So God unleashed an epidemic in Israel—seventy thousand Israelites died. God then sent the angel to Jerusalem but when he saw the destruction about to begin, he compassionately changed his mind and ordered the death angel, "Enough's enough! Pull back!" The angel of God had just reached the threshing floor of Araunah the Jebusite. David looked up and saw the angel hovering between earth and sky, sword drawn and about to strike Jerusalem. David and the elders bowed in prayer and covered themselves with rough burlap. David prayed, "Please! I'm the one who sinned; I'm the one at fault. But these sheep, what did they do wrong? Punish me, not them, me and my family; don't take it out on them." The angel of God ordered Gad to tell David to go and build an altar to God on the threshing floor of Araunah the Jebusite. David did what Gad told him in obedience to God 's command. Meanwhile Araunah had quit threshing the wheat and was watching the angel; his four sons took cover and hid. David came up to Araunah. When Araunah saw David, he left the threshing floor and bowed deeply before David, honoring the king. David said to Araunah, "Give me the site of the threshing floor so I can build an altar to God . Charge me the market price; we're going to put an end to this disaster." "O Master, my king," said Araunah, "just take it; do whatever you want with it! Look, here's an ox for the burnt offering and threshing paddles for the fuel and wheat for the meal offering—it's all yours!" David replied to Araunah, "No. I'm buying it from you, and at the full market price. I'm not going to offer God sacrifices that are no sacrifice." So David bought the place from Araunah for six hundred shekels of gold. He built an altar to God there and sacrificed Whole-Burnt-Offerings and Peace-Offerings. He called out to God and God answered by striking the altar of Whole-Burnt-Offering with lightning. Then God told the angel to put his sword back into its scabbard. And that's the story of what happened when David saw that God answered him on the threshing floor of Araunah the Jebusite at the time he offered the sacrifice. At this time the Tabernacle that Moses had constructed in the desert, and with it the Altar of Burnt Offering, were set up at the worship center at Gibeon. But David, terrified by the angel's sword, wouldn't go there to 16David, Satan, and Araunah Now Satan entered the scene and seduced David into taking a census of Israel. David gave orders to Joab and the army officers under him, "Canvass all the tribes of Israel, from Dan to Beersheba, and get a count of the population. I want to know the number." Joab resisted: "May God multiply his people by hundreds! Don't they all belong to my master the king? But why on earth would you do a thing like this—why risk getting Israel into trouble with God?" But David wouldn't take no for an answer, so Joab went off and did it—canvassed the country and then came back to Jerusalem and reported the results of the census: There were 1,100,000 fighting men; of that total, Judah accounted for 470,000. Joab, disgusted by the command—it, in fact, turned his stomach!—protested by leaving Levi and Benjamin out of the census-taking. And God, offended by the whole thing, punished Israel. Then David prayed, "I have sinned badly in what I have just done, substituting statistics for trust; forgive my sin—I've been really stupid." God answered by speaking to Gad, David's pastor: "Go and give David this message: ‘ God 's word: You have your choice of three punishments; choose one and I'll do the rest.'" Gad delivered the message to David: "Do you want three years of famine, three months of running from your enemies while they chase you down, or three days of the sword of God —an epidemic unleashed on the country by an angel of God ? Think it over and make up your mind. What shall I tell the One who sent me?" David told Gad, "They're all terrible! But I'd rather be punished by God whose mercy is great, than fall into human hands." So God unleashed an epidemic in Israel—seventy thousand Israelites died. God then sent the angel to Jerusalem but when he saw the destruction about to begin, he compassionately changed his mind and ordered the death angel, "Enough's enough! Pull back!" The angel of God had just reached the threshing floor of Araunah the Jebusite. David looked up and saw the angel hovering between earth and sky, sword drawn and about to strike Jerusalem. David and the elders bowed in prayer and covered themselves with rough burlap. 17 David prayed, "Please! I'm the one who sinned; I'm the one at fault. But these sheep, what did they do wrong? Punish me, not them, me and my family; don't take it out on them."
Bible Verse Review
from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge
I am in: 2 Kings 6:15, 2 Kings 7:4, Esther 4:11, Esther 4:16, John 12:27, Philippians 1:23
let me fall: David here acted nobly: had he chosen war, his personal safety was in no danger, as there was an ordinance preventing him from going to battle; and in famine, his wealth would have secured his and his family's support; but all were equally exposed to the pestilence. Hebrews 10:31
great: or, many, Exodus 34:6, Exodus 34:7, Psalms 5:7, Psalms 51:1, Psalms 51:2, Psalms 69:13, Psalms 69:16, Psalms 86:5, Psalms 86:15, Psalms 103:8, Psalms 106:7, Psalms 130:7, Isaiah 55:7, Isaiah 63:7, Isaiah 63:15, Lamentations 3:32, Jonah 3:9, Jonah 4:2, Micah 7:18, Habakkuk 3:2
but let me: 2 Chronicles 28:9, Proverbs 12:10, Isaiah 46:7, Isaiah 47:6
Reciprocal: 2 Samuel 24:14 - for his Psalms 119:156 - are thy James 5:11 - the Lord is
Cross-References
Genesis 17:20
"And Ishmael? Yes, I heard your prayer for him. I'll also bless him; I'll make sure he has plenty of children—a huge family. He'll father twelve princes; I'll make him a great nation. But I'll establish my covenant with Isaac whom Sarah will give you about this time next year."
"And Ishmael? Yes, I heard your prayer for him. I'll also bless him; I'll make sure he has plenty of children—a huge family. He'll father twelve princes; I'll make him a great nation. But I'll establish my covenant with Isaac whom Sarah will give you about this time next year."
Gill's Notes on the Bible
See Gill "1Ch 21:1".
Clarke's Notes on the Bible
Verse 1 Chronicles 21:13. David said - I am in a great strait — The Targum reasons thus: "And David said to Gad, If I choose famine, the Israelites may say, The granaries of David are full of corn; neither doth he care should the people of Israel die with hunger. And if I choose war, and fly before an enemy, the Israelites may say, David is a strong and warlike man, and he cares not though the people of Israel should fall by the sword. I am brought into a great strait; I will deliver myself now into the HAND of the WORD of the LORD, ביד מימרא דיי beyad meymera dayai, for his mercies are many; but into the hands of the children of men I will not deliver myself."
