King James Version (KJV)
But David could not go before it to enquire of God: for he was afraid because of the sword of the angel of the LORD.
Modern English
but David could not go before it to inquire of God, for he was afraid of the sword of the angel of the LORD.
Hebrew
וְלֹ֤א יָכֹל֙ דָּוִ֔יד לָלֶ֣כֶת לְפָנָ֔יו לִדְרֹ֖שׁ אֱלֹהִ֑ים כִּ֥י נִבְעַ֖ת מִפְּנֵ֥י חֶ֖רֶב מַלְאַ֥ךְ יְהוָֽה׃
vloʾ yakol daviyd laleket lpanayv lidrosh ʾelohiym kiy nibʿat mipney ḥereb malʾak yhvah