Gad went to David and told him, “This is what the Lord says: ‘Pick one of these:

For David said, “The Lord God of Israel has given his people rest and has permanently settled in Jerusalem.

Adaiah son of Jeroham, son of Pashhur, son of Malkijah; and Maasai son of Adiel, son of Jahzerah, son of Meshullam, son of Meshillemith, son of Immer.

“Go, tell my servant David: ‘This is what the Lord says: “You must not build me a house in which to live.

“Go, tell David, ‘This is what the Lord says: “I am offering you three forms of judgment from which to choose. Pick one of them.”’”

So the Lord’s messenger told Gad to instruct David to go up and build an altar for the Lord on the threshing floor of Ornan the Jebusite.

David did not count the males twenty years old and under, for the Lord had promised to make Israel as numerous as the stars in the sky.

But God said to me, ‘You must not build a temple to honor me, for you are a warrior and have spilled blood.’

Then David said, “Only the Levites may carry the ark of God, for the Lord chose them to carry the ark of the Lord and to serve before him perpetually.

“So now, say this to my servant David: ‘This is what the Lord who commands armies says: “I took you from the pasture and from your work as a shepherd to make you a leader of my people Israel.