Study Desk

Then the Lord sent ^(a)Nathan to David. And ^(b)he came to him and ^[a]said, "There were two men in one city, the one rich and the other poor.

"The rich man had a great many flocks and herds.

"But the poor man had nothing except ^(c)one little ewe lamb Which he bought and nourished; And it grew up together with him and his children. It would eat of his ^[b]bread and drink of his cup and lie in his bosom, And was like a daughter to him.

"Now a traveler came to the rich man, And he ^[c]was unwilling to take from his own flock or his own herd, To prepare for the wayfarer who had come to him; Rather he took the poor man's ewe lamb and prepared it for the man who had come to him."

Then David's anger burned greatly against the man, and he said to Nathan, "As the Lord lives, surely the man who has done this ^[d](d)deserves to die.

He must make restitution for the lamb ^(e)fourfold, because he did this thing and had no compassion."

Nathan then said to David, "^(f)You are the man! Thus says the Lord God of Israel, ‘^(g)It is I who anointed you king over Israel and it is I who delivered you from the hand of Saul.