Gad went to David and told him, &#8220;This is what the <sc>Lordsc> says: &#8216;Pick one of these:

For David said, &#8220;The <sc>Lordsc> God of Israel has given his people rest and has permanently settled in Jerusalem.<n id="1" />

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.p>

&#8220;Go, tell my servant David: &#8216;This is what the <sc>Lordsc> says: &#8220;You must not build me a house in which to live.

&#8220;Go, tell David, &#8216;This is what the <sc>Lordsc> says: &#8220;I am offering you three forms of judgment from which to choose. Pick one of them.&#8221;&#8217;&#8221;<n id="1" />

<p class="bodytext">So the <sc>Lordsc>&#8217;s messenger told Gad to instruct David to go up and build<n id="1" /> an altar for the <sc>Lordsc> on the threshing floor of Ornan the Jebusite.

<p class="bodytext">David did not count the males twenty years old and under, for the <sc>Lordsc> had promised to make Israel as numerous as the stars in the sky.

But God said to me, &#8216;You must not build a temple to honor me,<n id="1" /> for you are a warrior and have spilled blood.&#8217;

Then David said, &#8220;Only the Levites may carry the ark of God, for the <sc>Lordsc> chose them to carry the ark of the <sc>Lordsc> and to serve before him perpetually.

<p class="bodytext">&#8220;So now, say this to my servant David: &#8216;This is what the <sc>Lordsc> who commands armies<n id="1" /> says: &#8220;I took you from the pasture and from your work as a shepherd<n id="2" /> to make you a leader of my people Israel.