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2 Samuel 12:17

Verse 17 of 31. The 12th of 24 chapters in 2 Samuel, in History.

13David said to Nathan, “I have sinned against the LORD.” Nathan said to David, “The LORD also has put away your sin. You will not die.

14However, because by this deed you have given great occasion to the LORD’s enemies to blaspheme, the child also who is born to you will surely die.”

15Then Nathan departed to his house. The LORD struck the child that Uriah’s wife bore to David, and he was very sick.

16David therefore begged God for the child; and David fasted, and went in and lay all night on the ground.

17The elders of his house arose beside him, to raise him up from the earth; but he would not, and he didn’t eat bread with them.

18On the seventh day, the child died. David’s servants were afraid to tell him that the child was dead, for they said, “Behold, while the child was yet alive, we spoke to him and he didn’t listen to our voice. How will he then harm himself if we tell him that the child is dead?”

19But when David saw that his servants were whispering together, David perceived that the child was dead; and David said to his servants, “Is the child dead?” They said, “He is dead.”

20Then David arose from the earth, and washed and anointed himself, and changed his clothing; and he came into the LORD’s house, and worshiped. Then he came to his own house; and when he requested, they set bread before him and he ate.

21Then his servants said to him, “What is this that you have done? You fasted and wept for the child while he was alive, but when the child was dead, you rose up and ate bread.”

Read 2 Samuel 12

World English Bible. Public domain. Set as prose throughout, including the poetry, because the text is published to us without its lines.