8 David then said to the true God: “I have sinned+ greatly by doing this. And now, please, forgive your servant’s error,+ for I have acted very foolishly.”+ 9 Jehovah then spoke to Gad,+ David’s visionary, saying: 10 “Go and say to David, ‘This is what Jehovah says: “I am giving you three options. Choose the one that I should bring on you.”’” 11 So Gad came in to David and said to him: “This is what Jehovah says, ‘Take your pick 12 whether there should be three years of famine,+ or three months of being swept away by your adversaries while the sword of your enemies overtakes you,+ or three days of the sword of Jehovah—pestilence in the land+—with Jehovah’s angel bringing destruction+ in all the territory of Israel.’ Now consider what I should reply to the One who sent me.” 13 So David said to Gad: “It is very distressing to me. Please, let me fall into the hand of Jehovah, for his mercy is very great;+ but do not let me fall into the hand of man.”+