Then the king and his men advanced to Jerusalem against the Jebusites who lived in the land. The Jebusites said to David, "You cannot invade this place! Even the blind and the lame will turn you back, saying, 'David cannot invade this place!'"

David said on that day, "Whoever attacks the Jebusites must approach the 'lame' and the 'blind' who are David's enemies by going through the water tunnel." For this reason it is said, "The blind and the lame cannot enter the palace."

But now he is dead. Why should I fast? Am I able to bring him back? I will go to him, but he cannot return to me!'"

Certainly we must die, and are like water spilled on the ground that cannot be gathered up again. But God does not take away life; instead he devises ways for the banished to be restored.

I wipe them out and beat them to death; they cannot get up; they fall at my feet.

But evil people are like thorns -- all of them are tossed away, for they cannot be held in the hand.

The Lord's anger again raged against Israel, and he incited David against them, saying, "Go count Israel and Judah."