1 Samuel 17

Douay-Rheims Bible

1Now the Philistines gathering together their troops to battle, assembled at Socho of Juda, and camped between Socho and Azeca in the borders of Dommim.

2And Saul and the children of Israel being gathered together came to the valley of Terebinth, and they set the army in array to fight against the Philistines.

3And the Philistines stood on a mountain on the one side, and Israel stood on a mountain on the other side: and there was a valley between them.

4And there went out a man baseborn from the camp of the Philistines named Goliath, of Geth, whose height was six cubits and a span:

5And he had a helmet of brass upon his head, and he was clothed with a coat of mail with scales, and the weight of his coat of mail was five thousand sicles of brass:

6And he had greaves of brass on his legs, and a buckler of brass covered his shoulders.

7And the staff of his spear was like a weaver’s beam, and the head of his spear weighed six hundred sicles of iron: and his armourbearer went before him.

8And standing he cried out to the bands of Israel, and said to them: Why are you come out prepared to fight? am not I a Philistine, and you the servants of Saul? Choose out a man of you, and let him come down and fight hand to hand.

9If he be able to fight with me, and kill me, we will be servants to you: but if I prevail against him, and kill him, you shall be servants, and shall serve us.

10And the Philistine said: I have defied the bands of Israel this day: Give me a man, and let him fight with me hand to hand.

11And Saul and all the Israelites hearing these words of the Philistine were dismayed, and greatly afraid.

12Now David was the son of that Ephrathite of Bethlehem Juda before mentioned, whose name was Isai, who had eight sons, and was an old man in the days of Saul, and of great age among men.

13And his three eldest sons followed Saul to the battle: and the names of his three sons that went to the battle, were Eliab the firstborn, and the second Abinadab, and the third Samma.

14But David was the youngest. So the three eldest having followed Saul,

15David went, and returned from Saul, to feed his father’s flock at Bethlehem.

16Now the Philistine came out morning and evening, and presented himself forty days.

17And Isai said to David his son: Take for thy brethren an ephi of frumenty, and these ten loaves, and run to the camp to thy brethren.

18And carry these ten little cheeses to the tribune: and go see thy brethren, if they are well: and learn with whom they are placed.

19But Saul, and they, and all the children of Israel were in the valley of Terebinth fighting against the Philistines.

20David therefore arose in the morning, and gave the charge of the flock to the keeper: and went away loaded as Isai had commanded him. And he came to the place of Magala, and to the army, which was going out to fight, and shouted for the battle.

21For Israel had put themselves in array, and the Philistines who stood against them were prepared.

22And David leaving the vessels which he had brought, under the care of the keeper of the baggage, ran to the place of the battle and asked if all things went well with his brethren.

23And as he talked with them, that baseborn man whose name was Goliath, the Philistine, of Geth, shewed himself coming up from the camp of the Philistines: and he spoke according to the same words, and David heard them.

24And all the Israelites when they saw the man, fled from his face, fearing him exceedingly.

25And some one of Israel said: Have you seen this man that is come up, for he is come up to defy Israel. And the man that shall slay him, the king will enrich with great riches, and will give him his daughter, and will make his father’s house free from tribute in Israel.

26And David spoke to the men that stood by him, saying: What shall be given to the man that shall kill this Philistine, and shall take away the reproach from Israel? for who is this uncircumcised Philistine, that he should defy the armies of the living God?

27And the people answered him the same words saying: These things shall be given to the man that shall slay him.

28Now when Eliab his eldest brother heard this, when he was speaking with others, he was angry with David, and said: Why earnest thou hither? and why didst thou leave those few sheep in the desert? I know thy pride, and the wickedness of thy heart: that thou art come down to see the battle.

29And David said: What have I done? is there not cause to speak?

30And he turned a little aside from him to another: and said the same word. And the people answered him as before.

31And the words which David spoke were heard, and were rehearsed before Saul.

32And when he was brought to him, he said to him: Let not any man’s heart be dismayed in him: I thy servant will go, and will fight against the Philistine.

33And Saul said to David: Thou art not able to withstand this Philistine, nor to fight against him: for thou art but a boy, but he is a warrior from his youth.

34And David said to Saul: Thy servant kept his father’s sheep, and there came a lion, or a bear, and took a ram out of the midst of the flock:

35And I pursued after them, and struck them, and delivered it out of their mouth: and they rose up against me, and I caught them by the throat, and I strangled and killed them.

36For I thy servant have killed both a lion and a bear: and this uncircumcised Philistine shall be also as one of them. I will go now, and take away the reproach of the people: for who is this uncircumcised Philistine, who hath dared to curse the army of the living God?

37And David said: The Lord who delivered me out of the paw of the lion, and out of the paw of the bear, he will deliver me out of the hand of this Philistine. And Saul said to David: Go, and the Lord be with thee.

38And Saul clothed David with his garments, and put a helmet of brass upon his head, and armed him with a coat of mail.

39And David having girded his sword upon his armour, began to try if he could walk in armour: for he was not accustomed to it. And David said to Saul: I cannot go thus, for I am not used to it. And he laid them off,

40And he took his staff, which he had always in his hands: and chose him five smooth stones out of the brook, and put them into the shepherd’s scrip, which he had with him, and he took a sling in his hand, and went forth against the Philistine.

41And the Philistine came on, and drew nigh against David, and his armourbearer before him.

42And when the Philistine looked, and beheld David, he despised him. For he was a young man, ruddy, and of a comely countenance.

43And the Philistine said to David: Am I a dog, that thou comest to me with a staff? And the Philistine cursed David by his gods.

44And he said to David: Come to me, and I will give thy flesh to the birds of the air, and to the beasts of the earth.

45And David said to the Philistine: Thou comest to me with a sword, and with a spear, and with a shield: but I come to thee in the name of the Lord of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, which thou hast defied.

46This day, and the Lord will deliver thee into my hand, and I will slay thee, and take away thy head from thee: and I will give the carcasses of the army of the Philistines this day to the birds of the air, and to the beasts of the earth: that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel.

47And all this assembly shall know, that the Lord saveth not with sword and spear: for it is his battle, and he will deliver you into our hands.

48And when the Philistine arose and was coming, and drew nigh to meet David, David made haste, and ran to the fight to meet the Philistine.

49And he put his hand into his scrip, and took a stone, and cast it with the sling, and fetching it about struck the Philistine in the forehead: and the stone was fixed in his forehead, and he fell on his face upon the earth.

50And David prevailed over the Philistine, with a sling and a stone, and he struck, and slew the Philistine. And as David had no sword in his hand,

51He ran, and stood over the Philistine, and took his sword, and drew it out of the sheath, and slew him, and cut off his head. And the Philistines seeing that their champion was dead, fled away.

52And the men of Israel and Juda rising up shouted, and pursued after the Philistines till they came to the valley and to the gates of Accaron, and there fell many wounded of the Philistines in the way of Saraim, and as far as Geth, and as far as Accaron.

53And the children of Israel returning, after they had pursued the Philistines, fell upon their camp.

54And David taking the head of the Philistine brought it to Jerusalem: but his armour he put in his tent.

55Now at the time that Saul saw David going out against the Philistines, he said to Abner the captain of the army: Of what family is this young man descended, Abner? And Abner said: As thy soul liveth, O king, I know not.

56And the king said: Inquire thou, whose son this man is.

57And when David was returned, after the Philistine was slain, Abner took him, and brought him in before Saul, with the head of the Philistine in his hand.

58And Saul said to him: Young man, of what family art thou? And David said: I am the son of thy servant Isai the Bethlehemite.

Reina-Valera 1909

1Y LOS Filisteos juntaron sus ejércitos para la guerra, y congregáronse en Sochô, que es de Judá, y asentaron el campo entre Sochô y Azeca, en Ephes-dammim.

2Y también Saúl y los hombres de Israel se juntaron, y asentaron el campo en el valle del Alcornoque, y ordenaron la batalla contra los Filisteos.

3Y los Filisteos estaban sobre el un monte de la una parte, é Israel estaba sobre el otro monte de la otra parte, y el valle entre ellos:

4Salió entonces un varón del campo de los Filisteos que se puso entre los dos campos, el cual se llamaba Goliath, de Gath, y tenía de altura seis codos y un palmo.

5Y traía un almete de acero en su cabeza, é iba vestido con corazas de planchas: y era el peso de la coraza cinco mil siclos de metal:

6Y sobre sus piernas traía grebas de hierro, y escudo de acero á sus hombros.

7El asta de su lanza era como un enjullo de telar, y tenía el hierro de su lanza seiscientos siclos de hierro: é iba su escudero delante de él.

8Y paróse, y dió voces á los escuadrones de Israel, diciéndoles: ¿Para qué salís á dar batalla? ¿no soy yo el Filisteo, y vosotros los siervos de Saúl? Escoged de entre vosotros un hombre que venga contra mí:

9Si él pudiere pelear conmigo, y me venciere, nosotros seremos vuestros siervos: y si yo pudiere más que él, y lo venciere, vosotros seréis nuestros siervos y nos serviréis.

10Y añadió el Filisteo: Hoy yo he desafiado el campo de Israel; dadme un hombre que pelee conmigo.

11Y oyendo Saúl y todo Israel estas palabras del Filisteo, conturbáronse, y tuvieron gran miedo.

12Y David era hijo de aquel hombre Ephrateo de Beth-lehem de Judá, cuyo nombre era Isaí, el cual tenía ocho hijos; y era este hombre en el tiempo de Saúl, viejo, y de grande edad entre los hombres.

13Y los tres hijos mayores de Isaí habían ido á seguir á Saúl en la guerra. Y los nombres de sus tres hijos que habían ido á la guerra, eran, Eliab el primogénito, el segundo Abinadab, y el tercero Samma.

14Y David era el menor. Siguieron pues los tres mayores á Saúl.

15Empero David había ido y vuelto de con Saúl, para apacentar las ovejas de su padre en Beth-lehem.

16Venía pues aquel Filisteo por la mañana y á la tarde, y presentóse por cuarenta días.

17Y dijo Isaí á David su hijo: Toma ahora para tus hermanos un epha de este grano tostado, y estos diez panes, y llévalo presto al campamento á tus hermanos.

18Llevarás asimismo estos diez quesos de leche al capitán, y cuida de ver si tus hermanos están buenos, y toma prendas de ellos.

19Y Saúl y ellos y todos lo de Israel, estaban en el valle del Alcornoque, peleando con los Filisteos.

20Levantóse pues David de mañana, y dejando las ovejas al cuidado de un guarda, fuése con su carga, como Isaí le había mandado; y llegó al atrincheramiento del ejército, el cual había salido en ordenanza, y tocaba alarma para la pelea.

21Porque así los Israelitas como los Filisteos estaban en ordenanza, escuadrón contra escuadrón.

22Y David dejó de sobre sí la carga en mano del que guardaba el bagaje, y corrió al escuadrón; y llegado que hubo, preguntaba por sus hermanos, si estaban buenos.

23Y estando él hablando con ellos, he aquí aquel varón que se ponía en medio de los dos campos, que se llamaba Goliath, el Filisteo de Gath, salió de los escuadrones de los Filisteos, y habló las mismas palabras; las cuales oyó David.

24Y todos los varones de Israel que veían aquel hombre, huían de su presencia, y tenían gran temor.

25Y cada uno de los de Israel decía: ¿No habéis visto aquel hombre que ha salido? él se adelanta para provocar á Israel. Al que le venciere, el rey le enriquecerá con grandes riquezas, y le dará su hija, y hará franca la casa de su padre en Israel.

26Entonces habló David á los que junto á él estaban, diciendo: ¿Qué harán al hombre que venciere á este Filisteo, y quitare el oprobio de Israel? Porque ¿quién es este Filisteo incircunciso, para que provoque á los escuadrones del Dios viviente?

27Y el pueblo le respondió las mismas palabras, diciendo: Así se hará al hombre que lo venciere.

28Y oyéndole hablar Eliab su hermano mayor con aquellos hombres, Eliab se encendió en ira contra David, y dijo: ¿Para qué has descendido acá? ¿y á quién has dejado aquellas pocas ovejas en el desierto? Yo conozco tu soberbia y la malicia de tu corazón, que para ver la batalla has venido.

29Y David respondió: ¿Qué he hecho yo ahora? Estas, ¿no son palabras?

30Y apartándose de él hacia otros, habló lo mismo; y respondiéronle los del pueblo como primero.

31Y fueron oídas las palabras que David había dicho, las cuales como refiriesen delante de Saúl, él lo hizo venir.

32Y dijo David á Saúl: No desmaye ninguno á causa de él; tu siervo irá y peleará con este Filisteo.

33Y dijo Saúl á David: No podrás tú ir contra aquel Filisteo, para pelear con él; porque tú eres mozo, y él un hombre de guerra desde su juventud.

34Y David respondió á Saúl: Tu siervo era pastor en las ovejas de su padre, y venía un león, ó un oso, y tomaba algún cordero de la manada,

35Y salía yo tras él, y heríalo, y librábale de su boca: y si se levantaba contra mí, yo le echaba mano de la quijada, y lo hería y mataba.

36Fuese león, fuese oso, tu siervo lo mataba; pues este Filisteo incircunciso será como uno de ellos, porque ha provocado al ejército del Dios viviente.

37Y añadió David: Jehová que me ha librado de las garras del león y de las garras del oso, él también me librará de la mano de este Filisteo. Y dijo Saúl á David: Ve, y Jehová sea contigo.

38Y Saúl vistió á David de sus ropas, y puso sobre su cabeza un almete de acero, y armóle de coraza.

39Y ciñó David su espada sobre sus vestidos, y probó á andar, porque nunca había probado. Y dijo David á Saúl: Yo no puedo andar con esto, porque nunca lo practiqué. Y echando de sí David aquellas cosas,

40Tomó su cayado en su mano, y escogióse cinco piedras lisas del arroyo, y púsolas en el saco pastoril y en el zurrón que traía, y con su honda en su mano vase hacia el Filisteo.

41Y el Filisteo venía andando y acercándose á David, y su escudero delante de él.

42Y como el Filisteo miró y vió á David túvole en poco; porque era mancebo, y rubio, y de hermoso parecer.

43Y dijo el Filisteo á David: ¿Soy yo perro para que vengas á mí con palos? Y maldijo á David por sus dioses.

44Dijo luego el Filisteo á David: Ven á mí, y daré tu carne á las aves del cielo, y á las bestias del campo.

45Entonces dijo David al Filisteo: Tú vienes á mí con espada y lanza y escudo; mas yo vengo á ti en el nombre de Jehová de los ejércitos, el Dios de los escuadrones de Israel, que tú has provocado.

46Jehová te entregará hoy en mi mano, y yo te venceré, y quitaré tu cabeza de ti: y daré hoy los cuerpos de los Filisteos á las aves del cielo y á las bestias de la tierra: y sabrá la tierra toda que hay Dios en Israel.

47Y sabrá toda esta congregación que Jehová no salva con espada y lanza; porque de Jehová es la guerra, y él os entregará en nuestras manos.

48Y aconteció que, como el Filisteo se levantó para ir y llegarse contra David, David se dió priesa, y corrió al combate contra el Filisteo.

49Y metiendo David su mano en el saco, tomó de allí una piedra, y tirósela con la honda, é hirió al Filisteo en la frente: y la piedra quedó hincada en la frente, y cayó en tierra sobre su rostro.

50Así venció David al Filisteo con honda y piedra; é hirió al Filisteo y matólo, sin tener David espada en su mano.

51Mas corrió David y púsose sobre el Filisteo, y tomando la espada de él, sacándola de su vaina, matólo, y cortóle con ella la cabeza. Y como los Filisteos vieron su gigante muerto, huyeron.

52Y levantándose los de Israel y de Judá, dieron grita, y siguieron á los Filisteos hasta llegar al valle, y hasta las puertas de Ecrón. Y cayeron heridos de los Filisteos por el camino de Saraim, hasta Gath y Ecrón.

53Tornando luego los hijos de Israel de seguir los Filisteos, despojaron su campamento.

54Y David tomó la cabeza del Filisteo, y trájola á Jerusalem, mas puso sus armas en su tienda.

55Y cuando Saúl vió á David que salía á encontrarse con el Filisteo, dijo á Abner general del ejército: Abner, ¿de quién es hijo aquel mancebo? Y Abner respondió:

56Vive tu alma, oh rey, que no lo sé. Y el rey dijo: Pregunta pues de quién es hijo aquel mancebo.

57Y cuando David volvía de matar al Filisteo, Abner lo tomó, y llevólo delante de Saúl, teniendo la cabeza del Filisteo en su mano.

58Y díjole Saúl: Mancebo, ¿de quién eres hijo? Y David respondió: Yo soy hijo de tu siervo Isaí de Beth-lehem.

King James Version

1Now the Philistines gathered together their armies to battle, and were gathered together at Shochoh, which belongeth to Judah, and pitched between Shochoh and Azekah, in Ephes-dammim.

2And Saul and the men of Israel were gathered together, and pitched by the valley of Elah, and set the battle in array against the Philistines.

3And the Philistines stood on a mountain on the one side, and Israel stood on a mountain on the other side: and there was a valley between them.

4And there went out a champion out of the camp of the Philistines, named Goliath, of Gath, whose height was six cubits and a span.

5And he had an helmet of brass upon his head, and he was armed with a coat of mail; and the weight of the coat was five thousand shekels of brass.

6And he had greaves of brass upon his legs, and a target of brass between his shoulders.

7And the staff of his spear was like a weaver’s beam; and his spear’s head weighed six hundred shekels of iron: and one bearing a shield went before him.

8And he stood and cried unto the armies of Israel, and said unto them, Why are ye come out to set your battle in array? am not I a Philistine, and ye servants to Saul? choose you a man for you, and let him come down to me.

9If he be able to fight with me, and to kill me, then will we be your servants: but if I prevail against him, and kill him, then shall ye be our servants, and serve us.

10And the Philistine said, I defy the armies of Israel this day; give me a man, that we may fight together.

11When Saul and all Israel heard those words of the Philistine, they were dismayed, and greatly afraid.

12Now David was the son of that Ephrathite of Beth-lehem-judah, whose name was Jesse; and he had eight sons: and the man went among men for an old man in the days of Saul.

13And the three eldest sons of Jesse went and followed Saul to the battle: and the names of his three sons that went to the battle were Eliab the firstborn, and next unto him Abinadab, and the third Shammah.

14And David was the youngest: and the three eldest followed Saul.

15But David went and returned from Saul to feed his father’s sheep at Beth-lehem.

16And the Philistine drew near morning and evening, and presented himself forty days.

17And Jesse said unto David his son, Take now for thy brethren an ephah of this parched corn, and these ten loaves, and run to the camp to thy brethren;

18And carry these ten cheeses unto the captain of their thousand, and look how thy brethren fare, and take their pledge.

19Now Saul, and they, and all the men of Israel, were in the valley of Elah, fighting with the Philistines.

20And David rose up early in the morning, and left the sheep with a keeper, and took, and went, as Jesse had commanded him; and he came to the trench, as the host was going forth to the fight, and shouted for the battle.

21For Israel and the Philistines had put the battle in array, army against army.

22And David left his carriage in the hand of the keeper of the carriage, and ran into the army, and came and saluted his brethren.

23And as he talked with them, behold, there came up the champion, the Philistine of Gath, Goliath by name, out of the armies of the Philistines, and spake according to the same words: and David heard them.

24And all the men of Israel, when they saw the man, fled from him, and were sore afraid.

25And the men of Israel said, Have ye seen this man that is come up? surely to defy Israel is he come up: and it shall be, that the man who killeth him, the king will enrich him with great riches, and will give him his daughter, and make his father’s house free in Israel.

26And David spake to the men that stood by him, saying, What shall be done to the man that killeth this Philistine, and taketh away the reproach from Israel? for who is this uncircumcised Philistine, that he should defy the armies of the living God?

27And the people answered him after this manner, saying, So shall it be done to the man that killeth him.

28And Eliab his eldest brother heard when he spake unto the men; and Eliab’s anger was kindled against David, and he said, Why camest thou down hither? and with whom hast thou left those few sheep in the wilderness? I know thy pride, and the naughtiness of thine heart; for thou art come down that thou mightest see the battle.

29And David said, What have I now done? Is there not a cause?

30And he turned from him toward another, and spake after the same manner: and the people answered him again after the former manner.

31And when the words were heard which David spake, they rehearsed them before Saul: and he sent for him.

32And David said to Saul, Let no man’s heart fail because of him; thy servant will go and fight with this Philistine.

33And Saul said to David, Thou art not able to go against this Philistine to fight with him: for thou art but a youth, and he a man of war from his youth.

34And David said unto Saul, Thy servant kept his father’s sheep, and there came a lion, and a bear, and took a lamb out of the flock:

35And I went out after him, and smote him, and delivered it out of his mouth: and when he arose against me, I caught him by his beard, and smote him, and slew him.

36Thy servant slew both the lion and the bear: and this uncircumcised Philistine shall be as one of them, seeing he hath defied the armies of the living God.

37David said moreover, The LORD that delivered me out of the paw of the lion, and out of the paw of the bear, he will deliver me out of the hand of this Philistine. And Saul said unto David, Go, and the LORD be with thee.

38And Saul armed David with his armour, and he put an helmet of brass upon his head; also he armed him with a coat of mail.

39And David girded his sword upon his armour, and he assayed to go; for he had not proved it. And David said unto Saul, I cannot go with these; for I have not proved them. And David put them off him.

40And he took his staff in his hand, and chose him five smooth stones out of the brook, and put them in a shepherd’s bag which he had, even in a scrip; and his sling was in his hand: and he drew near to the Philistine.

41And the Philistine came on and drew near unto David; and the man that bare the shield went before him.

42And when the Philistine looked about, and saw David, he disdained him: for he was but a youth, and ruddy, and of a fair countenance.

43And the Philistine said unto David, Am I a dog, that thou comest to me with staves? And the Philistine cursed David by his gods.

44And the Philistine said to David, Come to me, and I will give thy flesh unto the fowls of the air, and to the beasts of the field.

45Then said David to the Philistine, Thou comest to me with a sword, and with a spear, and with a shield: but I come to thee in the name of the LORD of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom thou hast defied.

46This day will the LORD deliver thee into mine hand; and I will smite thee, and take thine head from thee; and I will give the carcases of the host of the Philistines this day unto the fowls of the air, and to the wild beasts of the earth; that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel.

47And all this assembly shall know that the LORD saveth not with sword and spear: for the battle is the LORD’s, and he will give you into our hands.

48And it came to pass, when the Philistine arose, and came and drew nigh to meet David, that David hasted, and ran toward the army to meet the Philistine.

49And David put his hand in his bag, and took thence a stone, and slang it, and smote the Philistine in his forehead, that the stone sunk into his forehead; and he fell upon his face to the earth.

50So David prevailed over the Philistine with a sling and with a stone, and smote the Philistine, and slew him; but there was no sword in the hand of David.

51Therefore David ran, and stood upon the Philistine, and took his sword, and drew it out of the sheath thereof, and slew him, and cut off his head therewith. And when the Philistines saw their champion was dead, they fled.

52And the men of Israel and of Judah arose, and shouted, and pursued the Philistines, until thou come to the valley, and to the gates of Ekron. And the wounded of the Philistines fell down by the way to Shaaraim, even unto Gath, and unto Ekron.

53And the children of Israel returned from chasing after the Philistines, and they spoiled their tents.

54And David took the head of the Philistine, and brought it to Jerusalem; but he put his armour in his tent.

55And when Saul saw David go forth against the Philistine, he said unto Abner, the captain of the host, Abner, whose son is this youth? And Abner said, As thy soul liveth, O king, I cannot tell.

56And the king said, Enquire thou whose son the stripling is.

57And as David returned from the slaughter of the Philistine, Abner took him, and brought him before Saul with the head of the Philistine in his hand.

58And Saul said to him, Whose son art thou, thou young man? And David answered, I am the son of thy servant Jesse the Beth-lehemite.

World English Bible

1Now the Philistines gathered together their armies to battle; and they were gathered together at Socoh, which belongs to Judah, and encamped between Socoh and Azekah in Ephesdammim.

2Saul and the men of Israel were gathered together, and encamped in the valley of Elah, and set the battle in array against the Philistines.

3The Philistines stood on the mountain on the one side, and Israel stood on the mountain on the other side: and there was a valley between them.

4A champion out of the camp of the Philistines named Goliath of Gath, whose height was six cubits and a span went out.

5He had a helmet of bronze on his head, and he wore a coat of mail; and the weight of the coat was five thousand shekels of bronze.

6He had bronze shin armor on his legs and a bronze javelin between his shoulders.

7The staff of his spear was like a weaver’s beam; and his spear’s head weighed six hundred shekels of iron. His shield bearer went before him.

8He stood and cried to the armies of Israel, and said to them, “Why have you come out to set your battle in array? Am I not a Philistine, and you servants to Saul? Choose a man for yourselves, and let him come down to me.

9If he is able to fight with me and kill me, then will we be your servants; but if I prevail against him and kill him, then you will be our servants and serve us.”

10The Philistine said, “I defy the armies of Israel today! Give me a man, that we may fight together!”

11When Saul and all Israel heard those words of the Philistine, they were dismayed and greatly afraid.

12Now David was the son of that Ephrathite of Bethlehem Judah, whose name was Jesse; and he had eight sons. The man was an elderly old man in the days of Saul.

13The three oldest sons of Jesse had gone after Saul to the battle; and the names of his three sons who went to the battle were Eliab the firstborn, and next to him Abinadab, and the third Shammah.

14David was the youngest; and the three oldest followed Saul.

15Now David went back and forth from Saul to feed his father’s sheep at Bethlehem.

16The Philistine came near morning and evening, and presented himself forty days.

17Jesse said to David his son, “Now take for your brothers an ephah of this parched grain and these ten loaves, and carry them quickly to the camp to your brothers;

18and bring these ten cheeses to the captain of their thousand; and see how your brothers are doing, and bring back news.”

19Now Saul, and they, and all the men of Israel were in the valley of Elah, fighting with the Philistines.

20David rose up early in the morning and left the sheep with a keeper, and took the provisions and went, as Jesse had commanded him. He came to the place of the wagons as the army which was going out to the fight shouted for the battle.

21Israel and the Philistines put the battle in array, army against army.

22David left his baggage in the hand of the keeper of the baggage and ran to the army, and came and greeted his brothers.

23As he talked with them, behold, the champion, the Philistine of Gath, Goliath by name, came up out of the ranks of the Philistines, and said the same words; and David heard them.

24All the men of Israel, when they saw the man, fled from him and were terrified.

25The men of Israel said, “Have you seen this man who has come up? He has surely come up to defy Israel. The king will give great riches to the man who kills him, and will give him his daughter, and will make his father’s house tax-free in Israel.”

26David spoke to the men who stood by him, saying, “What shall be done to the man who kills this Philistine and takes away the reproach from Israel? For who is this uncircumcised Philistine, that he should defy the armies of the living God?”

27The people answered him in this way, saying, “So shall it be done to the man who kills him.”

28Eliab his oldest brother heard when he spoke to the men; and Eliab’s anger burned against David, and he said, “Why have you come down? With whom have you left those few sheep in the wilderness? I know your pride and the evil of your heart; for you have come down that you might see the battle.”

29David said, “What have I now done? Is there not a cause?”

30He turned away from him toward another, and spoke like that again; and the people answered him again the same way.

31When the words were heard which David spoke, they rehearsed them before Saul; and he sent for him.

32David said to Saul, “Let no man’s heart fail because of him. Your servant will go and fight with this Philistine.”

33Saul said to David, “You are not able to go against this Philistine to fight with him; for you are but a youth, and he a man of war from his youth.”

34David said to Saul, “Your servant was keeping his father’s sheep; and when a lion or a bear came and took a lamb out of the flock,

35I went out after him, struck him, and rescued it out of his mouth. When he arose against me, I caught him by his beard, struck him, and killed him.

36Your servant struck both the lion and the bear. This uncircumcised Philistine shall be as one of them, since he has defied the armies of the living God.”

37David said, “The LORD, who delivered me out of the paw of the lion and out of the paw of the bear, will deliver me out of the hand of this Philistine.” Saul said to David, “Go! The LORD will be with you.”

38Saul dressed David with his clothing. He put a helmet of bronze on his head, and he clad him with a coat of mail.

39David strapped his sword on his clothing and he tried to move, for he had not tested it. David said to Saul, “I can’t go with these, for I have not tested them.” Then David took them off.

40He took his staff in his hand, and chose for himself five smooth stones out of the brook, and put them in the pouch of his shepherd’s bag which he had. His sling was in his hand; and he came near to the Philistine.

41The Philistine walked and came near to David; and the man who bore the shield went before him.

42When the Philistine looked around and saw David, he disdained him; for he was but a youth, and ruddy, and had a good looking face.

43The Philistine said to David, “Am I a dog, that you come to me with sticks?” The Philistine cursed David by his gods.

44The Philistine said to David, “Come to me, and I will give your flesh to the birds of the sky and to the animals of the field.”

45Then David said to the Philistine, “You come to me with a sword, with a spear, and with a javelin; but I come to you in the name of the LORD of Armies, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied.

46Today, the LORD will deliver you into my hand. I will strike you and take your head from off you. I will give the dead bodies of the army of the Philistines today to the birds of the sky and to the wild animals of the earth, that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel,

47and that all this assembly may know that the LORD doesn’t save with sword and spear; for the battle is the LORD’s, and he will give you into our hand.”

48When the Philistine arose, and walked and came near to meet David, David hurried and ran toward the army to meet the Philistine.

49David put his hand in his bag, took a stone and slung it, and struck the Philistine in his forehead. The stone sank into his forehead, and he fell on his face to the earth.

50So David prevailed over the Philistine with a sling and with a stone, and struck the Philistine and killed him; but there was no sword in David’s hand.

51Then David ran, stood over the Philistine, took his sword, drew it out of its sheath, killed him, and cut off his head with it. When the Philistines saw that their champion was dead, they fled.

52The men of Israel and of Judah arose and shouted, and pursued the Philistines as far as Gai and to the gates of Ekron. The wounded of the Philistines fell down by the way to Shaaraim, even to Gath and to Ekron.

53The children of Israel returned from chasing after the Philistines, and they plundered their camp.

54David took the head of the Philistine and brought it to Jerusalem, but he put his armor in his tent.

55When Saul saw David go out against the Philistine, he said to Abner, the captain of the army, “Abner, whose son is this youth?” Abner said, “As your soul lives, O king, I can’t tell.”

56The king said, “Inquire whose son the young man is!”

57As David returned from the slaughter of the Philistine, Abner took him and brought him before Saul with the head of the Philistine in his hand.

58Saul said to him, “Whose son are you, you young man?” David answered, “I am the son of your servant Jesse the Bethlehemite.”