¹¹ So Gad went to David and said to him, “·This is what the Lord says [^TThus says the Lord]: ‘·Choose for yourself [Take your choice:] ¹² three years of ·hunger [famine]. Or choose three months of ·running from [being swept away by] your enemies as they ·chase [overtake] you with their swords. Or choose three days of ·punishment from [^Lthe sword of] the Lord, in which a ·terrible disease [plague; pestilence] will spread through the ·country [land]. The angel of the Lord will go through Israel ·destroying [ravaging] the people.’ Now, David, decide ·which of these things [what answer] I should ·tell [give] the Lord who sent me.”

¹³ David said to Gad, “I am in ·great trouble [deep distress; a desperate situation]. Let ·the Lord punish me [^Lme fall into the hand of the Lord], because the Lord is very merciful. Don’t let ·my punishment come from [^Lme fall into the hand of] human beings.”