6. Joab refused to include anyone from the tribes of Levi and Benjamin, because he still disagreed with David's orders.
7. David's order to count the people made God angry, and he punished Israel.
8. David prayed, “I am your servant. But what I did was stupid and terribly wrong. Please forgive me.”
9. The Lord said to Gad, one of David's prophets,
10. “Tell David that I will punish him in one of three ways. But he will have to choose which one it will be.”
11. Gad went to David and told him:You must choose how the Lord will punish you:
12. Will there be three years when the land won't grow enough food for its people? Or will your enemies constantly defeat you for three months? Or will the Lord send a horrible disease to strike your land for three days? Think about it and decide, because I have to give your answer to God who sent me.
13. David was miserable and said, “It's a terrible choice to make! But the Lord is kind, and I'd rather be punished by him than by anyone else.”