2 Samuel 12:1-7 ▼

1 so the LORD sent Nathan to David. Nathan approached David and said, |There are two men in the city. One is rich and one is poor.

2 The rich man has many flocks and herds,

3 but the poor man had nothing except for one little ewe lamb that he had bought. He raised it, and it grew up with him and his children. It used to share his food and drink from his own cup. It even slept in his arms. It was like a daughter to him.

4 A traveler arrived to visit the rich man. Because he was unwilling to take an animal from one of his own flocks or herds to prepare for the guest who had come to visit him, he took the poor man's lamb and prepared it for the man who had come to visit him.|

5 David flew into a rage at the man and told Nathan, |As the LORD lives, the man who did this deserves to die!

6 He will restore the lamb four times its value, because he did this thing, and because he did it without compassion.|

7 But Nathan replied to David, |You are the man! This is what the LORD God of Israel says: |'I anointed you king—and you became king over Israel. |'I delivered you from Saul's control.