Exodus 10

1 ସଦାପ୍ରଭୁ ମାଶାଙ୍କେୁ କହିଲେ, ଫାରୋଙ୍କ ନିକଟକୁ ୟାଅ। ମୁଁ ତାଙ୍କୁ ନିଷ୍ଠୁର କରିଛି ଏବଂ କର୍ମଚାରୀମାନଙ୍କୁ ମଧ୍ଯ ନିଷ୍ଠୁର ହୃଦଯ କରିଛି। ମୁଁ ଏପରି କରିଅଛି ୟଦ୍ବାରା ମୁଁ ସମାନଙ୍କେୁ ମାରେ ଶକ୍ତିଶାଳୀ ଅଦ୍ଭୁତ କର୍ମ ଦଖାଇେ ପାରିବି.

2 ମୁଁ ଏପରି କଲି କାରଣ ତୁମ୍ଭେ ତୁମ୍ଭର ଭବିଷ୍ଯତ ବଂଶଧରମାନଙ୍କୁ କହିବାକୁ ସକ୍ଷମ ହବେ, ମୁଁ କିପରି ମିଶରୀଯମାନଙ୍କୁ ତାଚ୍ଛଲ୍ଯ କଲି ଏବଂ ଅଦ୍ଭୁତ କର୍ମ ବିଷଯ ରେ କହିପାରିବ ଯାହା ମୁଁ ମିଶର ରେ କରିଅଛି। ଏହାପରେ ତୁମ୍ଭମାନେେ ସମସ୍ତେ ଜାଣିବ ଯେ ମୁଁ ହେଉଛି ସଦାପ୍ରଭୁ।

3 ତେଣୁ ମାଶାେ ଏବଂ ହାରୋଣ ଫାରୋଙ୍କ ନିକଟକୁ ଗଲେ। ସମାନେେ ତାଙ୍କୁ କହିଲେ, ସଦାପ୍ରଭୁ ଏବ୍ରୀଯମାନଙ୍କର ପରମେଶ୍ବର କହିନ୍ତି, ' କେତେ ଦିନ ତୁମ୍ଭେ ମାେତେ ଅମାନ୍ଯ କରିବ? ମାରେ ଲୋକମାନଙ୍କୁ ୟିବାକୁ ଦିଅ ଓ ସମାନଙ୍କେୁ ମାରେ ଉପାସନା କରିବାକୁ ଦିଅ।

4 ତୁମ୍ଭମାନେେ ଯଦି ମାରେ ଲୋକମାନଙ୍କୁ ୟିବାକୁ ନଦିଅ। ତବେେ କାଲି ତୁମ୍ଭ ରାଜ୍ଯ ରେ ପଙ୍ଗପାଳ ଦଳ ଆଣିବି।

5 ପଙ୍ଗପାଳ ଦଳ ତୁମ୍ଭ ଦେଶର ସମସ୍ତ ଭୂମିକୁ ଆଚ୍ଛାଦନ କରିବେ। ସମାନେେ ଏତେ ସଂଖ୍ଯକ ହବେେ ଯେ, ତୁମ୍ଭମାନେେ ଆଉ ଭୂମି ଦେଖିପାରିବ ନାହିଁ। ଯେକୌଣସି ଦ୍ରବ୍ଯ ଶିଳାବୃଷ୍ଟିରୁ ବଞ୍ଚିଛି, ସେସବୁ ସେ ଖାଇଯିବେ। ସମାନେେ କ୍ଷେତ୍ର ମଧ୍ଯସ୍ତ ସମସ୍ତ ବୃକ୍ଷ ପତ୍ରାଦି ଭକ୍ଷଣ କରିବେ।

6 ପଙ୍ଗପାଳଦଳ ତୁମ୍ଭର ଗୃହ, ତୁମ୍ଭର କର୍ମଚାରୀମାନଙ୍କର ଗୃହ ଏପରିକି ମିଶରର ସମସ୍ତ ଗୃହ ପଙ୍ଗପାଳ ରେ ପୂର୍ଣ୍ଣ ହାଇଯେିବ। ଏତେ ପଙ୍ଗପାଳ ତୁମ୍ଭର ପୂର୍ବପୁରୁଷଗଣ ପୂର୍ବରୁ କବେେ ଦେଖି ନଥିବେ। ଏପରିକି ମିଶରକୁ ତୁମ୍ଭର ପୂର୍ବପୁରୁଷଗଣ ଆସିବା ଦିନଠାରୁ ବର୍ତ୍ତମାନ ୟାଏ ଏତେ ପଙ୍ଗପାଳ ହାଇେ ନଥିବ।' ଏହାପରେ ମାଶାେ ଫାରୋଙ୍କ ନିକଟରୁ ବିଦାଯ ନେଲେ।

7 ଏହାପରେ ଫାରୋଙ୍କର କର୍ମଚାରୀମାନେ ତାଙ୍କୁ କହିଲେ, କେତଦେିନ ୟାଏ ଏ ମନୁଷ୍ଯ ଆମ୍ଭମାନଙ୍କର ଫାନ୍ଦ ସ୍ବରୂପ ହାଇେଥିବ। ସମାନଙ୍କେୁ ୟିବାକୁ ଦିଅ ଏବଂ ସଦାପ୍ରଭୁ ସମାନଙ୍କେ ପରମେଶ୍ବରଙ୍କୁ ଉପାସନା କରିବାକୁ ଦିଅ। ତୁମ୍ଭେ ଅନୁଭବ କରୁନାହିଁ କି ମିଶର ଧ୍ବଂସ ହେଉଅଛି ବୋଲି?

8 ତେଣୁ ଫାରୋ ଆଜ୍ଞା ଦେଲେ, ତାଙ୍କର କର୍ମଚାରୀମାନଙ୍କୁ ଯେ, ତୁମ୍ଭମାନେେ ମାଶାେ ଓ ହାରୋଣଙ୍କୁ ଫରୋଇ ଆଣ। ଫାରୋ ସମାନଙ୍କେୁ କହିଲେ, ତୁମ୍ଭମାନେେ ୟାଅ ଓ ସଦାପ୍ରଭୁ ତୁମ୍ଭର ପରମେଶ୍ବରଙ୍କର ଉପାସନା କର। କିନ୍ତୁ ମାେତେ କୁହ, କେଉଁମାନେ ୟିବ?

9 ମାଶାେ ଉତ୍ତର ଦେଲେ, ଆମ୍ଭର ସମସ୍ତ ଲୋକ ଏପରିକି ଆବାଳବୃଦ୍ଧବନିତା ଏବଂ ଆମ୍ଭମାନଙ୍କର ମେଣ୍ଢା ଓ ଗୋରୁ-ଗାଈମାନେ ମଧ୍ଯ ଯିବେ। ଆମ୍ଭମାନେେ ସମସ୍ତେ ୟିବୁ କାରଣ ସଦାପ୍ରଭୁଙ୍କର ଉଦ୍ଦେଶ୍ଯ ରେ ଉତ୍ସବ ହବେ।

10 ଫାରୋ ସମାନଙ୍କେୁ କହିଲେ, ସଦାପ୍ରଭୁ ତୁମ୍ଭ ସହିତ ରହିବା ଉଚିତ୍, ଯଦି ମୁଁ ତୁମ୍ଭର ପିଲାମାନଙ୍କୁ ତୁମ୍ଭ ସହିତ ୟିବାକୁ ଦିଏ! ଦେଖ, ତୁମ୍ଭମାନେେ ତୁମ୍ଭ ନିଜ ପାଇଁ ଅସୁବିଧା କରୁଛ।

11 ଆରମ୍ଭରୁ ଯେଉଁ ଲୋକମାନଙ୍କୁ ତୁମ୍ଭେ ପ୍ରସ୍ତାବ କରିଅଛ, କବଳେ ସହେି ଲୋକମାନେ ସଦାପ୍ରଭୁଙ୍କୁ ଉପାସନା କରିବା ପାଇଁ ଯିବେ। କିନ୍ତୁ ସବୁଲୋକମାନେ ୟାଇ ପାରିବେ ନାହିଁ। ଏହାପରେ ସେ ହାରୋଣ ଓ ମାଶାଙ୍କେୁ ବିଦାଯ ଦେଲେ।

12 ସଦାପ୍ରଭୁ ମାଶାଙ୍କେୁ କହିଲେ, ମିଶରର ଭୂମିରେ ତୁମ୍ଭ ହସ୍ତ ପ୍ରସାରଣ କର, ଏବଂ ମିଶର ଭୂମିରେ ପଙ୍ଗପାଳ ଦଳ ମିଶର ରେ ମାଡିଯିବେ। ଯାହା କୁଆପଥର ବୃଷ୍ଟିରୁ ବଞ୍ଚିଛି ତାହାସବୁ ସମାନେେ ଖାଇଯିବେ।

13 ତେଣୁ ମାଶାେ ତାଙ୍କର ଆଶାବାଡିଟିକୁ ମିଶର ଭୂମିରେ ବିସ୍ତାର କଲେ ଏବଂ ଏହାପରେ ସଦାପ୍ରଭୁ ପୂର୍ବଦିଗରୁ ଖୁବ୍ ୟୋର ରେ ପବନ ବୁହାଇଲେ। ଏହି ପବନ ଦିନ ଏ ରାତି ତମାମ ଲାଗି ରହିଲା। ପ୍ରଭାତ ହବୋରୁ ସହେି ପବନ ଦ୍ବାରା ପଙ୍ଗପାଳ ଦ୍ବାରା ମିଶର ଭୂମି ପରିପୂର୍ଣ୍ଣ ହାଇଗେଲା।

14 ପଙ୍ଗପାଳ ଦଳ ଉଡିଆସି ମିଶର ଦେଶ ରେ ଭୂମିସ୍ଥ ହେଲେ। ଏତେ ସଂଖ୍ଯା ରେ ପଙ୍ଗପାଳଦଳ ଆସିଲେ ଯେ ପୂର୍ବରୁ ଏତେ ସଂଖ୍ଯକ ପଙ୍ଗପାଳ ଦଳ ମିଶର ରେ କଦାପି ଦଖାୟୋଇ ନଥିଲେ।

15 ପଙ୍ଗପାଳମାନେ ଭୂମିକୁ ଆଚ୍ଛାଦନ କଲେ ଏବଂ ସମଗ୍ର ମିଶର ଅନ୍ଧକାରଚ୍ଛନ୍ନ ହାଇଗେଲା। ପଥର ବର୍ଷା ରେ ଯାହାସବୁ ନଷ୍ଟ ହାଇେ ନଥିଲା, ଅବଶିଷ୍ଟାଂଶ ଗଛର ପୁତ୍ରକୁ ପଙ୍ଗପାଳ ଦଳ ଖାଇଗଲେ। ଏପରିକି ମିଶର ରେ କୌଣସି ବୃକ୍ଷ ରେ ଆଉ ପତ୍ର ରହିଲା ନାହିଁ।

16 ଫାରୋ ବେଗ୍ରତାର ସହକା ରେ ମାଶାେ ଏବଂ ହାରୋଣଙ୍କୁ ଡକାଇ ପଠାଇଲେ। ଫାରୋ କହିଲେ, ମୁଁ ତୁମ୍ଭର ଓ ସଦାପ୍ରଭୁ ତୁମ୍ଭମାନଙ୍କର ପରମେଶ୍ବରଙ୍କର ବିରୁଦ୍ଧ ରେ ପାପ କରିଅଛି।

17 ଏଇଥରକ ପାଇଁ ମାେତେ କ୍ଷମା କର। ଏହି 'ମାରାତ୍ମକ' ପଙ୍ଗପାଳଗୁଡିକୁ ଦୂ ରଇେ ନଇୟିବୋ ପାଇଁ ସଦାପ୍ରଭୁ ତୁମ୍ଭର ପରମେଶ୍ବରଙ୍କୁ ପ୍ରାର୍ଥନା କର।

18 ମାଶାେ ଫାରୋଙ୍କ ନିକଟରୁ ବିଦାଯ ନଇେ ସଦାପ୍ରଭୁଙ୍କୁ ପ୍ରାର୍ଥନା କଲେ।

19 ତେଣୁ ସଦାପ୍ରଭୁ ପବନର ଦିନ ପରିବର୍ତ୍ତନ କଲେ। ପଶ୍ଚିମ ଦିଗରୁ ପ୍ରଚଣ୍ଡ ବଗେ ରେ ପବନ ବହିଲା। ଏହି ପବନ ମିଶରରୁ ସମସ୍ତ ପଙ୍ଗପାଳଦଳକୁ ଉଡାଇ ନଇେ ଲୋହିତ ସୂଫ ସାଗର ରେ ପକାଇଲା। ଏପରିକି ଗୋଟିଏ ହେଲେ ପଙ୍ଗପାଳ ମିଶର ରେ ରହିଲେ ନାହିଁ।

20 କିନ୍ତୁ ସଦାପ୍ରଭୁ ପୁନ୍ନରାଯ ଫାରୋଙ୍କ ହୃଦଯ କଠାେର କଲେ। ଯେଉଁଥି ରେ ଫାରୋ ଇଶ୍ରାୟେଲର ଲୋକମାନଙ୍କୁ ୟିବାକୁ ଦେଲେ ନାହିଁ।

21 ଏହାପରେ ସଦାପ୍ରଭୁ ମାଶାଙ୍କେୁ କହିଲେ, ତୁମ୍ଭର ହସ୍ତ ଆକାଶ ଆଡକୁ ଉଠାଅ। ତା ହେଲେ ମିଶର ଦେଶ ଅନ୍ଧକାର ରେ ଆଚ୍ଛାଦିତ ହବେ। ମିଶରୀଯମାନେ ଅନ୍ଧକାର ରେ ଦରାଣ୍ଡି ହବେେ।

22 ତେଣୁ ସଦାପ୍ରଭୁଙ୍କର ଆଜ୍ଞା ଅନୁସାରେ ମାଶାେ ତାଙ୍କର ହସ୍ତ ଆକାଶ ଆଡକୁ ଉଠାଇଲେ। ତା'ପରେ ଅନ୍ଧକାର ସାରା ମିଶର ଦେଶକୁ ଆଚ୍ଛାଦନ କଲା। ଏହି ଅନ୍ଧକାର ମିଶର ରେ କ୍ରମାଗତ ତିନିଦିନ ରହିଲା।

23 ଜଣେେ ବ୍ଯକ୍ତି ଅନ୍ୟ ଜଣଙ୍କୁ ଦେଖିପାରିଲା ନାହିଁ। କହେି କୁଆଡେ ୟାଇ ପାରିଲେ ନାହିଁ । କିନ୍ତୁ ଯେଉଁଠା ରେ ଇଶ୍ରାୟେଲୀୟମାନେ ବାସ କରୁଥିଲେ ସଠାେରେ ଅନ୍ଧକାର ନଥିଲା।

24 ପୁନ୍ନରାଯ ଫାରୋ ମାଶାଙ୍କେୁ ଡାକିଲେ ଏବଂ କହିଲେ, ୟାଅ ସଦାପ୍ରଭୁଙ୍କର ଉପାସନା କର! ତୁମ୍ଭେ ତୁମ୍ଭର ପୁତ୍ରକନ୍ଯାମାନଙ୍କୁ ସାଙ୍ଗ ରେ ନଇୟୋଅ। କିନ୍ତୁ ତୁମ୍ଭର ମଷଗେୁଡିକୁ ଓ ଗୋରୁଗାଈଗୁଡିକ ନିଅ ନାହିଁ।

25 ମାଶାେ କହିଲେ, ତୁମ୍ଭେ ନିଜେ ଆମ୍ଭମାନଙ୍କୁ, ଆମ୍ଭମାନଙ୍କର ପରମେଶ୍ବରଙ୍କର ଉପାସନା ପାଇଁ ହାମବେଳି ଓ ନବୈେଦ୍ଯ ଉତ୍ସର୍ଗ କରିବା ଉଚିତ୍।

26 ହଁ, ସଦାପ୍ରଭୁଙ୍କ ଉପାସନା ପାଇଁ ଆମ୍ଭମାନଙ୍କର ପଶୁଗଣଙ୍କୁ ଆମ୍ଭମାନଙ୍କ ସହିତ ନବେୁ। ଏଠା ରେ ଗୋଟିଏ ହେଲେ ଖୁରା ହିଁ ରହିବ ନାହିଁ। କାରଣ ଆମ୍ଭମାନଙ୍କ ସଦାପ୍ରଭୁଙ୍କର ଉପାସନା ନିମନ୍ତେ ସମାନଙ୍କେ ମଧ୍ଯରୁ ବଳି ନବୋକୁ ହବେ। କଣ ଦଇେ ସଦାପ୍ରଭୁଙ୍କର ଉପାସନା କରିବାକୁ ହବେ, ତାହା ଆମ୍ଭମାନେେ ସଠାେରେ ଉପସ୍ଥିତ ନ ହେଲେ ଜାଣି ପାରିବୁ ନାହିଁ। ତେଣୁ ଆମ୍ଭମାନଙ୍କର ଯାହାସବୁ ଅଛି ଆମ୍ଭମାନଙ୍କୁ ସେସମସ୍ତ ଦ୍ରବ୍ଯ ସଙ୍ଗ ରେ ନଇେ ୟିବାକୁ ହବେ।

27 ସଦାପ୍ରଭୁ ଫାରୋଙ୍କର ହୃଦଯକୁ ପୁଣି କଠାେର କଲେ, ତେଣୁ ଫାରୋ ସମାନଙ୍କେୁ ଆଉ ୟିବାକୁ ଦେଲେ ନାହିଁ।

28 ଏହାପରେ ଫାରୋ ମାଶାଙ୍କେୁ କହିଲେ, ମାେ ନିକଟରୁ ଦୂର ହୁଅ। ମୁଁ ତୁମ୍ଭର ମୁଖ ଯେପରି ଆଉ ନ ଦେଖେ। ଯଦି ମୁଁ ତୁମ୍ଭକୁ ପୁଣି ଦେଖେ, ତୁମ୍ଭେ ମୃତ୍ଯୁବରଣ କରିବ।

29 ଏହାପରେ ମାଶାେ ଫାରୋଙ୍କୁ କହିଲେ, ତୁମ୍ଭେ ଗୋଟିଏ ଠିକ୍ କଥା କହିଛ, ମୁଁ ତୁମ୍ଭକୁ ଆଉ ଦଖାେ କରିବାକୁ ଆସିବି ନାହିଁ।

1 And the Lord said unto Moses, Go in unto Pharaoh: for I have hardened his heart, and the heart of his servants, that I might shew these my signs before him:

2 And that thou mayest tell in the ears of thy son, and of thy son’s son, what things I have wrought in Egypt, and my signs which I have done among them; that ye may know how that I am the Lord.

3 And Moses and Aaron came in unto Pharaoh, and said unto him, Thus saith the Lord God of the Hebrews, How long wilt thou refuse to humble thyself before me? let my people go, that they may serve me.

4 Else, if thou refuse to let my people go, behold, to morrow will I bring the locusts into thy coast:

5 And they shall cover the face of the earth, that one cannot be able to see the earth: and they shall eat the residue of that which is escaped, which remaineth unto you from the hail, and shall eat every tree which groweth for you out of the field:

6 And they shall fill thy houses, and the houses of all thy servants, and the houses of all the Egyptians; which neither thy fathers, nor thy fathers’ fathers have seen, since the day that they were upon the earth unto this day. And he turned himself, and went out from Pharaoh.

7 And Pharaoh’s servants said unto him, How long shall this man be a snare unto us? let the men go, that they may serve the Lord their God: knowest thou not yet that Egypt is destroyed?

8 And Moses and Aaron were brought again unto Pharaoh: and he said unto them, Go, serve the Lord your God: but who are they that shall go?

9 And Moses said, We will go with our young and with our old, with our sons and with our daughters, with our flocks and with our herds will we go; for we must hold a feast unto the Lord.

10 And he said unto them, Let the Lord be so with you, as I will let you go, and your little ones: look to it; for evil is before you.

11 Not so: go now ye that are men, and serve the Lord; for that ye did desire. And they were driven out from Pharaoh’s presence.

12 And the Lord said unto Moses, Stretch out thine hand over the land of Egypt for the locusts, that they may come up upon the land of Egypt, and eat every herb of the land, even all that the hail hath left.

13 And Moses stretched forth his rod over the land of Egypt, and the Lord brought an east wind upon the land all that day, and all that night; and when it was morning, the east wind brought the locusts.

14 And the locusts went up over all the land of Egypt, and rested in all the coasts of Egypt: very grievous were they; before them there were no such locusts as they, neither after them shall be such.

15 For they covered the face of the whole earth, so that the land was darkened; and they did eat every herb of the land, and all the fruit of the trees which the hail had left: and there remained not any green thing in the trees, or in the herbs of the field, through all the land of Egypt.

16 Then Pharaoh called for Moses and Aaron in haste; and he said, I have sinned against the Lord your God, and against you.

17 Now therefore forgive, I pray thee, my sin only this once, and intreat the Lord your God, that he may take away from me this death only.

18 And he went out from Pharaoh, and intreated the Lord.

19 And the Lord turned a mighty strong west wind, which took away the locusts, and cast them into the Red sea; there remained not one locust in all the coasts of Egypt.

20 But the Lord hardened Pharaoh’s heart, so that he would not let the children of Israel go.

21 And the Lord said unto Moses, Stretch out thine hand toward heaven, that there may be darkness over the land of Egypt, even darkness which may be felt.

22 And Moses stretched forth his hand toward heaven; and there was a thick darkness in all the land of Egypt three days:

23 They saw not one another, neither rose any from his place for three days: but all the children of Israel had light in their dwellings.

24 And Pharaoh called unto Moses, and said, Go ye, serve the Lord; only let your flocks and your herds be stayed: let your little ones also go with you.

25 And Moses said, Thou must give us also sacrifices and burnt offerings, that we may sacrifice unto the Lord our God.

26 Our cattle also shall go with us; there shall not an hoof be left behind; for thereof must we take to serve the Lord our God; and we know not with what we must serve the Lord, until we come thither.

27 But the Lord hardened Pharaoh’s heart, and he would not let them go.

28 And Pharaoh said unto him, Get thee from me, take heed to thyself, see my face no more; for in that day thou seest my face thou shalt die.

29 And Moses said, Thou hast spoken well, I will see thy face again no more.

1 And Satan stood up against Israel, and provoked David to number Israel.

2 And David said to Joab and to the rulers of the people, Go, number Israel from Beer-sheba even to Dan; and bring the number of them to me, that I may know it.

3 And Joab answered, The Lord make his people an hundred times so many more as they be: but, my lord the king, are they not all my lord’s servants? why then doth my lord require this thing? why will he be a cause of trespass to Israel?

4 Nevertheless the king’s word prevailed against Joab. Wherefore Joab departed, and went throughout all Israel, and came to Jerusalem.

5 And Joab gave the sum of the number of the people unto David. And all they of Israel were a thousand thousand and an hundred thousand men that drew sword: and Judah was four hundred threescore and ten thousand men that drew sword.

6 But Levi and Benjamin counted he not among them: for the king’s word was abominable to Joab.

7 And God was displeased with this thing; therefore he smote Israel.

8 And David said unto God, I have sinned greatly, because I have done this thing: but now, I beseech thee, do away the iniquity of thy servant; for I have done very foolishly.

9 And the Lord spake unto Gad, David’s seer, saying,

10 Go and tell David, saying, Thus saith the Lord, I offer thee three things: choose thee one of them, that I may do it unto thee.

11 So Gad came to David, and said unto him, Thus saith the Lord, Choose thee

12 Either three years’ famine; or three months to be destroyed before thy foes, while that the sword of thine enemies overtaketh thee; or else three days the sword of the Lord, even the pestilence, in the land, and the angel of the Lord destroying throughout all the coasts of Israel. Now therefore advise thyself what word I shall bring again to him that sent me.

13 And David said unto Gad, I am in a great strait: let me fall now into the hand of the Lord; for very great are his mercies: but let me not fall into the hand of man.

14 So the Lord sent pestilence upon Israel: and there fell of Israel seventy thousand men.

15 And God sent an angel unto Jerusalem to destroy it: and as he was destroying, the Lord beheld, and he repented him of the evil, and said to the angel that destroyed, It is enough, stay now thine hand. And the angel of the Lord stood by the threshingfloor of Ornan the Jebusite.

16 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.

17 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.

18 Then the angel of the Lord commanded Gad to say to David, that David should go up, and set up an altar unto the Lord in the threshingfloor of Ornan the Jebusite.

19 And David went up at the saying of Gad, which he spake in the name of the Lord.

20 And Ornan turned back, and saw the angel; and his four sons with him hid themselves. Now Ornan was threshing wheat.

21 And as David came to Ornan, Ornan looked and saw David, and went out of the threshingfloor, and bowed himself to David with his face to the ground.

22 Then David said to Ornan, Grant me the place of this threshingfloor, that I may build an altar therein unto the Lord: thou shalt grant it me for the full price: that the plague may be stayed from the people.

23 And Ornan said unto David, Take it to thee, and let my lord the king do that which is good in his eyes: lo, I give thee the oxen also for burnt offerings, and the threshing instruments for wood, and the wheat for the meat offering; I give it all.

24 And king David said to Ornan, Nay; but I will verily buy it for the full price: for I will not take that which is thine for the Lord, nor offer burnt offerings without cost.

25 So David gave to Ornan for the place six hundred shekels of gold by weight.

26 And David built there an altar unto the Lord, and offered burnt offerings and peace offerings, and called upon the Lord; and he answered him from heaven by fire upon the altar of burnt offering.

27 And the Lord commanded the angel; and he put up his sword again into the sheath thereof.

28 At that time when David saw that the Lord had answered him in the threshingfloor of Ornan the Jebusite, then he sacrificed there.

29 For the tabernacle of the Lord, which Moses made in the wilderness, and the altar of the burnt offering, were at that season in the high place at Gibeon.

30 But David could not go before it to inquire of God: for he was afraid because of the sword of the angel of the Lord.