Nathan told David all these words that were revealed to him.

Now Joab did not number Levi and Benjamin, for the king’s edict disgusted him.

So the Lord sent a plague through Israel, and 70,000 Israelite men died.

They did not neglect any detail of the king’s orders pertaining to the priests, Levites, and treasuries.

Then Jehoshaphat added, “First seek an oracle from the Lord.”

He posted guards at the gates of the Lord’s temple, so no one who was ceremonially unclean in any way could enter.

I recognized the fact that God had not sent him, for he had spoken the prophecy against me as a hired agent of Tobiah and Sanballat.

For they were under royal orders which determined their activity day by day.

Pethahiah son of Meshezabel, one of the descendants of Zerah son of Judah, was an adviser to the king in every matter pertaining to the people.

If you say, ‘How we will pursue him, since the root of the trouble is found in him!’

Is it your opinion that God should recompense it, because you reject this? But you must choose, and not I, so tell us what you know.

They say, ‘An awful disease overwhelms him, and now that he is bed-ridden he will never recover.’

Appear in your majesty and be victorious! Ride forth for the sake of what is right, on behalf of justice! Then your right hand will accomplish mighty acts!

A psalm by Asaph. El, God, the Lord speaks, and summons the earth to come from the east and west.

They speak sinful words. So let them be trapped by their own pride and by the curses and lies they speak!

God has spoken in his sanctuary: “I will triumph! I will parcel out Shechem; the Valley of Succoth I will measure off.

God has declared one principle; two principles I have heard: God is strong,

They sharpen their tongues like a sword; they aim their arrow, a slanderous charge,

They encourage one another to carry out their evil deed. They plan how to hide snares, and boast, “Who will see them?”

I will not even consider doing what is dishonest. I hate doing evil; I will have no part of it.