13 Then David said to Nathan, “I have sinned(A) against the Lord.”

Nathan replied, “The Lord has taken away(B) your sin.(C) You are not going to die.(D) 14 But because by doing this you have shown utter contempt for[a] the Lord,(E) the son born to you will die.”

15 After Nathan had gone home, the Lord struck(F) the child that Uriah’s wife had borne to David, and he became ill. 16 David pleaded with God for the child. He fasted and spent the nights lying(G) in sackcloth[b] on the ground. 17 The elders of his household stood beside him to get him up from the ground, but he refused,(H) and he would not eat any food with them.(I)

18 On the seventh day the child died. David’s attendants were afraid to tell him that the child was dead, for they thought, “While the child was still living, he wouldn’t listen to us when we spoke to him. How can we now tell him the child is dead? He may do something desperate.”

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Footnotes

  1. 2 Samuel 12:14 An ancient Hebrew scribal tradition; Masoretic Text for the enemies of
  2. 2 Samuel 12:16 Dead Sea Scrolls and Septuagint; Masoretic Text does not have in sackcloth.

12 Even if they rear children,
    I will bereave(A) them of every one.
Woe(B) to them
    when I turn away from them!(C)
13 I have seen Ephraim,(D) like Tyre,
    planted in a pleasant place.(E)
But Ephraim will bring out
    their children to the slayer.”(F)

14 Give them, Lord
    what will you give them?
Give them wombs that miscarry
    and breasts that are dry.(G)

15 “Because of all their wickedness in Gilgal,(H)
    I hated them there.
Because of their sinful deeds,(I)
    I will drive them out of my house.
I will no longer love them;(J)
    all their leaders are rebellious.(K)
16 Ephraim(L) is blighted,
    their root is withered,
    they yield no fruit.(M)
Even if they bear children,
    I will slay(N) their cherished offspring.”

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