And David lifted up his eyes, and saw the angel of the LORD stand between the earth and the heaven, having a drawn sword in his hand stretched out over Jerusalem. Then David and the elders {of Israel, who were} clothed in sackcloth, fell upon their faces.

[Maschil of Asaph.] O God, why hast thou cast {us} off for ever? {why} doth thine anger smoke against the sheep of thy pasture? {Maschil...: or, A Psalm for Asaph to give instruction}

And David's heart smote him after that he had numbered the people. And David said unto the LORD, I have sinned greatly in that I have done: and now, I beseech thee, O LORD, take away the iniquity of thy servant; for I have done very foolishly.

Wherefore I abhor {myself}, and repent in dust and ashes.

And I will set up one shepherd over them, and he shall feed them, {even} my servant David; he shall feed them, and he shall be their shepherd.

Now therefore, I pray thee, let thy servant abide instead of the lad a bondman to my lord; and let the lad go up with his brethren.

I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep.

Wash me throughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin.

Son of man, prophesy against the shepherds of Israel, prophesy, and say unto them, Thus saith the Lord GOD unto the shepherds; Woe {be} to the shepherds of Israel that do feed themselves! should not the shepherds feed the flocks?

Thou hast given us like sheep {appointed} for meat; and hast scattered us among the heathen. {like...: Heb. as sheep of meat}

Then said I, Woe {is} me! for I am undone; because I {am} a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips: for mine eyes have seen the King, the LORD of hosts. {undone: Heb. cut off}

I have sinned; what shall I do unto thee, O thou preserver of men? why hast thou set me as a mark against thee, so that I am a burden to myself?

Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed. {on: or, to}

And he said, I saw all Israel scattered upon the hills, as sheep that have not a shepherd: and the LORD said, These have no master: let them return every man to his house in peace.

Awake, O sword, against my shepherd, and against the man {that is} my fellow, saith the LORD of hosts: smite the shepherd, and the sheep shall be scattered: and I will turn mine hand upon the little ones.

I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep.

And Abraham drew near, and said, Wilt thou also destroy the righteous with the wicked?

And he said unto them, Take me up, and cast me forth into the sea; so shall the sea be calm unto you: for I know that for my sake this great tempest {is} upon you.

Now therefore restore the man {his} wife; for he {is} a prophet, and he shall pray for thee, and thou shalt live: and if thou restore {her} not, know thou that thou shalt surely die, thou, and all that {are} thine.

And they fell upon their faces, and said, O God, the God of the spirits of all flesh, shall one man sin, and wilt thou be wroth with all the congregation?

And when they were gone aside, they talked between themselves, saying, This man doeth nothing worthy of death or of bonds.

For he longed after you all, and was full of heaviness, because that ye had heard that he had been sick.

And Judah acknowledged {them}, and said, She hath been more righteous than I; because that I gave her not to Shelah my son. And he knew her again no more.

And David said unto God, {Is it} not I {that} commanded the people to be numbered? even I it is that have sinned and done evil indeed; but {as for} these sheep, what have they done? let thine hand, I pray thee, O LORD my God, be on me, and on my father's house; but not on thy people, that they should be plagued.

And be it indeed {that} I have erred, mine error remaineth with myself.

I will bear the indignation of the LORD, because I have sinned against him, until he plead my cause, and execute judgment for me: he will bring me forth to the light, {and} I shall behold his righteousness.