14 However, because by this deed you have given great occasion to the enemies of the Lord ^ato blaspheme, the child also who is born to you shall surely die.”  ‡

15 Then Nathan departed to his house. And the ^aLord struck the child that Uriah’s wife bore to David, and it became ill.  ‡

17 So the elders of his house arose and went to him, to raise him up from the ground. But he would not, nor did he eat food with them.

18 Then on the seventh day it came to pass that the child died. And the servants of David were afraid to tell him that the child was dead. For they said, “Indeed, while the child was alive, we spoke to him, and he would not heed our voice. How can we tell him that the child is dead? He may do some harm!”