6. But Levi and Binyamin counted he not among them, for the davar HaMelech was abominable to Yoav.
7. And HaElohim was displeased with this thing; therefore He struck Yisroel.
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).
18. Then the Malach Hashem commanded Gad to say to Dovid, that Dovid should go up, and set up a Mizbe'ach unto Hashem in the goren (threshing floor) of Ornan the Yevusi.
19. And Dovid went up at the davar of Gad, which he spoke B'Shem Hashem.
20. And Ornan turned back, and saw the Malach, and his four banim with him hid themselves. Now Ornan was threshing chittim (wheat).
21. And as Dovid came to Ornan, Ornan looked and saw Dovid, and went out from the goren (threshing floor), and prostated himself to Dovid with his face to the ground.
22. Then Dovid said to Ornan, Give me the makom of this goren (threshing floor), that I may build a Mizbe'ach therein unto Hashem; thou shalt give it me for the kesef male (full price), that the magefah (plague) may be withdrawn from HaAm.