³ And Joab said to the king, Whatever the number of the people, may the Lord make it a hundred times as much, and may the eyes of my lord the king see it: but why does my lord the king take pleasure in doing this thing?

¹¹ May the Lord, the God of your fathers, make you a thousand times greater in number than you are, and give you his blessing as he has said!

¹⁴ May the Lord give you and your children still greater increase.

¹² Take heart, and let us be strong for our people and for the towns of our God, and may the Lord do what seems good to him.

³ And Joab said, May the Lord make his people a hundred times more in number than they are; but, my lord king, are they not all my lord's servants? why would my lord have this done? why will he become a cause of sin to Israel?

⁴ But the king's word was stronger than Joab's. So Joab went out and went through all Israel and came to Jerusalem.

²⁸ A king's glory is in the number of his people: and for need of people a ruler may come to destruction.

⁵ Then you will see, and be bright with joy, and your heart will be shaking with increase of delight: for the produce of the sea will be turned to you, the wealth of the nations will come to you.