2 Samuel 24:10-17

10And David’s heart smote him after that he had numbered the people. And David said unto Yhwh, I have sinned greatly in that I have done: and now, I beseech thee, O Yhwh, take away the iniquity of thy servant; for I have done very foolishly. 11For when David was up in the morning, the word of Yhwh came unto the prophet Gad, David’s seer, saying, 12Go and say unto David, Thus saith Yhwh, I offer thee three things; choose thee one of them, that I may do it unto thee. 13So Gad came to David, and told him, and said unto him, Shall seven years of famine come unto thee in thy land? or wilt thou flee three months before thine enemies, while they pursue thee? or that there be three days’ pestilence in thy land? now advise, and see what answer I shall return to him that sent me. 14And David said unto Gad, I am in a great strait: let us fall now into the hand of Yhwh; for his mercies are great: and let me not fall into the hand of man.1

15So Yhwh sent a pestilence upon Israel from the morning even to the time appointed: and there died of the people from Dan even to Beer–sheba seventy thousand men. 16And when the angel stretched out his hand upon Jerusalem to destroy it, Yhwh repented him of the evil, and said to the angel that destroyed the people, It is enough: stay now thine hand. And the angel of Yhwh was by the threshingplace of Araunah the Jebusite.2 17And David spake unto Yhwh when he saw the angel that smote the people, and said, Lo, I have sinned, and I have done wickedly: but these sheep, what have they done? let thine hand, I pray thee, be against me, and against my father’s house.