2 Samuel 24:14
Good News Translation
David answered, "I am in a desperate situation! But I don't want to be punished by people. Let the LORD himself be the one to punish us, for he is merciful."

New Revised Standard Version
Then David said to Gad, “I am in great distress; let us fall into the hand of the LORD, for his mercy is great; but let me not fall into human hands.”

Contemporary English Version
David was really frightened and said, "It's a terrible choice to make! But the LORD is kind, and I'd rather be punished by him than by anyone else."

New American Bible
David answered Gad: “I am greatly distressed. But let us fall into the hand of God, whose mercy is great, rather than into human hands.”

Douay-Rheims Bible
And David said to Gad: I am in a great strait: but it is better that I should fall into the hands of the Lord (for his mercies are many) than into the hands of men.

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

And David said to Gad: I am in a great strait: but it is better that I should fall into the hands of the Lord (for his mercies are many) than into the hands of men.

I am in

1 Samuel 13:6 And when the men of Israel saw that they were straitened (for the people were distressed), they hid themselves in caves, and in thickets, and in rocks, and in dens, and in pits.

2 Kings 6:15 And the servant of the man of God, rising early went out, and saw an army round about the city, and horses and chariots: and he told him, saying: Alas, alas, alas, my lord, what shall we do?

John 12:27 Now is my soul troubled. And what shall I say? Father, save me from this hour. But for this cause I came unto this hour.

Philippians 1:23 But I am straitened between two: having a desire to be dissolved and to be with Christ, a thing by far the better.

for his

Exodus 34:6,7 And when he passed before him, he said: O the Lord, the Lord God, merciful and gracious, patient and of much compassion, and true, . . .

1 Chronicles 21:13 And David said to Gad: I am on every side in a great strait: but it is better for me to fall into the hands of the Lord, for his mercies are many, than into the hands of men.

Psalm 51:1 Unto the end, a psalm of David, [2] When Nathan the prophet came to him, after he had sinned with Bethsabee. [3] Have mercy on me, O God, according to thy great mercy. And according to the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my iniquity.

Psalm 86:5,15 For thou, O Lord, art sweet and mild: and plenteous in mercy to all that call upon thee. . . .

Psalm 103:8-14 The Lord is compassionate and merciful: longsuffering and plenteous in mercy. . . .

Psalm 119:156 Many, O Lord, are thy mercies: quicken me according to thy judgment.

Psalm 145:9 The Lord is sweet to all: and his tender mercies are over all his works.

Isaiah 55:7 Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unjust man his thoughts, and let him return to the Lord, and he will have mercy on him, and to our God: for he is bountiful to forgive.

Jonah 4:2 And Jonah was exceedingly troubled, and was angry:

Micah 7:18 Who is a God like to thee, who takest away iniquity, and passest by the sin of the remnant of thy inheritance? he will send his fury in no more, because he delighteth in mercy.

great.

2 Kings 13:3-7 And the wrath of the Lord was kindled against Israel, and he delivered them into the hand of Hazael, the king of Syria, and into the hand of Benadad, the son of Hazael, all days. . . .

2 Chronicles 28:5-9 And the Lord his God delivered him into the hands of the king of Syria, who defeated him, and took a great booty out of his kingdom, and carried it to Damascus: he was also delivered into the hands of the king of Israel, who overthrew him with a great slaughter. . . .

Psalm 106:41,42 And he delivered them into the hands of the nations: and they that hated them had dominion over them. . . .

Proverbs 12:10 He that tilleth his land shall be satisfied with bread: but he that pursueth idleness is very foolish.

Isaiah 47:6 I was angry with my people, I have polluted my inheritance, and have given them into thy hand: thou hast shewn no mercy to them: upon the ancient thou hast laid thy yoke exceeding heavy.

Zechariah 1:15 And I am angry with a great anger with the wealthy nations: for I was angry a little, but they helped forward the evil.

Context
Judgment for David's Sin
13And when Gad was come to David, he told him, saying: Either seven years of famine shall come to thee in thy land: or thou shalt flee three months before thy adversaries, and they shall pursue thee: or for three days there shall be a pestilence in thy land. Now therefore deliberate, and see what answer I shall return to him that sent me. 14And David said to Gad: I am in a great strait: but it is better that I should fall into the hands of the Lord (for his mercies are many) than into the hands of men.
Cross References
2 Samuel 9:8
He bowed down to him, and said: Who am I thy servant, that thou shouldst look upon such a dead dog as I am?

Psalm 51:1
Unto the end, a psalm of David, [2] When Nathan the prophet came to him, after he had sinned with Bethsabee. [3] Have mercy on me, O God, according to thy great mercy. And according to the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my iniquity.

Psalm 119:156
Many, O Lord, are thy mercies: quicken me according to thy judgment.

Psalm 130:4
For with thee there is merciful forgiveness: and by reason of thy law, I have waited for thee, O Lord. My soul hath relied on his word:

Psalm 130:7
Because with the Lord there is mercy: and with him plentiful redemption.

2 Samuel 24:13
Top of Page
Top of Page