1 N ow the Philistines gathered their armies for battle; and they were gathered at Socoh which belongs to Judah, and they camped between Socoh and Azekah, in Ephes-dammim.

¶ Now the Philistines gathered together their armies to battle and were gathered together at Shochoh, which belongs to Judah, and pitched camp between Shochoh and Azekah in Ephesdammim.

2 S aul and the men of Israel were gathered and camped in the valley of Elah, and drew up in battle array to encounter the Philistines.

And Saul and the men of Israel were gathered together and pitched camp by the valley of Elah and ordered the battle against the Philistines.

3 T he Philistines stood on the mountain on one side while Israel stood on the mountain on the other side, with the valley between them.

And 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.

4 T hen a champion came out from the armies of the Philistines named Goliath, from Gath, whose height was six cubits and a span.

And a man named Goliath, of Gath, whose height was six cubits and a span, came out of the camp of the Philistines and stood between the two camps.

5 H e had a bronze helmet on his head, and he was clothed with scale-armor which weighed five thousand shekels of bronze.

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

6 H e also had bronze greaves on his legs and a bronze javelin slung between his shoulders.

And he had greaves of brass upon his legs and a shield of brass between his shoulders.

7 T he shaft of his spear was like a weaver’s beam, and the head of his spear weighed six hundred shekels of iron; his shield-carrier also walked before him.

And 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.

8 H e stood and shouted to the ranks of Israel and said to them, “Why do you come out to draw up in battle array? Am I not the Philistine and you servants of Saul? Choose a man for yourselves and let him come down to me.

And 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 I not a Philistine, and ye slaves to Saul? Choose a man from among you, and let him come down to me.

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

If he is able to fight with me and to overcome me, then will we be your slaves, but if I prevail against him and overcome him, then ye shall be our slaves and serve us.

10 A gain the Philistine said, “ I defy the ranks of Israel this day; give me a man that we may fight together.”

And the Philistine said, I have dishonoured the ranks of Israel today; give me a man that we may fight together.

11 W hen Saul and all Israel heard these words of the Philistine, they were dismayed and greatly afraid.

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

12 N ow David was the son of the Ephrathite of Bethlehem in Judah, whose name was Jesse, and he had eight sons. And Jesse was old in the days of Saul, advanced in years among men.

¶ And David was the son of an Ephrathite man of Bethlehem of Judah, whose name was Jesse, and he had eight sons, and this man was old in the days of Saul and of advanced age among men.

13 T he three older 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 the second to him Abinadab, and the third Shammah.

And the three eldest sons of Jesse had gone 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.

14 D avid was the youngest. Now the three oldest followed Saul,

And David was the youngest, the three eldest having gone after Saul.

15 b ut David went back and forth from Saul to tend his father’s flock at Bethlehem.

But David had gone and returned from being with Saul to feed his father’s sheep in Bethlehem.

16 T he Philistine came forward morning and evening for forty days and took his stand.

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

17 T hen Jesse said to David his son, “ Take now for your brothers an ephah of this roasted grain and these ten loaves and run to the camp to your brothers.

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

18 B ring also these ten cuts of cheese to the commander of their thousand, and look into the welfare of your brothers, and bring back news of them.

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

19 F or Saul and they and all the men of Israel are in the valley of Elah, fighting with the Philistines.” David Accepts the Challenge

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

20 S o David arose early in the morning and left the flock with a keeper and took the supplies and went as Jesse had commanded him. And he came to the circle of the camp while the army was going out in battle array shouting the war cry.

And David rose up early in the morning and left the sheep with a keeper and took and went with his burden as Jesse had commanded him, and he came to the trench as the host was going forth in battle array, and they had already sounded the alarm for the battle.

21 I srael and the Philistines drew up in battle array, army against army.

For Israel and the Philistines had ordered the battle, army against army.

22 T hen David left his baggage in the care of the baggage keeper, and ran to the battle line and entered in order to greet his brothers.

And David left his carriage in the hand of the keeper of the carriage and ran into the army and came and asked about his brethren, if they were well.

23 A s he was talking with them, behold, the champion, the Philistine from Gath named Goliath, was coming up from the army of the Philistines, and he spoke these same words; and David heard them.

And as he talked with them, behold, there came up that man, the Philistine of Gath, Goliath by name, out of the armies of the Philistines, speaking the same words, and David heard them.

24 W hen all the men of Israel saw the man, they fled from him and were greatly afraid.

And all the men of Israel when they saw the man fled from him and feared greatly.

25 T he men of Israel said, “Have you seen this man who is coming up? Surely he is coming up to defy Israel. And it will be that the king will enrich the man who kills him with great riches and will give him his daughter and make his father’s house free in Israel.”

And each one of the men of Israel were saying, Have ye seen this man that is come up? He is come up to dishonour Israel. It shall be that the king will enrich the man who overcomes him with great riches and will give him his daughter and make his father’s house free in Israel.

26 T hen David spoke to the men who were standing by him, saying, “What will be done for the man who kills this Philistine and takes away the reproach from Israel? For who is this uncircumcised Philistine, that he should taunt the armies of the living God?”

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

27 T he people answered him in accord with this word, saying, “ Thus it will be done for the man who kills him.”

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

28 N ow Eliab 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? And with whom have you left those few sheep in the wilderness? I know your insolence and the wickedness of your heart; for you have come down in order to see the battle.”

And Eliab, his eldest brother, heard when he spoke unto the men, and Eliab’s anger was kindled against David, and he said, Why didst thou come down here? And with whom hast thou left those few sheep in the wilderness? I know thy pride and the malice of thy heart, for thou art come down that thou might see the battle.

29 B ut David said, “What have I done now? Was it not just a question?”

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

30 T hen he turned away from him to another and said the same thing; and the people answered the same thing as before. David Kills Goliath

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

31 W hen the words which David spoke were heard, they told them to Saul, and he sent for him.

¶ And the words which David had spoken were heard, and they were rehearsed before Saul, and he sent for him.

32 D avid said to Saul, “ Let no man’s heart fail on account of him; your servant will go and fight with this Philistine.”

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

33 T hen Saul said to David, “ You are not able to go against this Philistine to fight with him; for you are but a youth while he has been a warrior from his youth.”

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

34 B ut David said to Saul, “Your servant was tending his father’s sheep. When a lion or a bear came and took a lamb from the flock,

And David replied unto Saul, Thy slave was the pastor of his father’s sheep, and if a lion or a bear came and took a lamb out of the flock,

35 I went out after him and attacked him, and rescued it from his mouth; and when he rose up against me, I seized him by his beard and struck him and killed him.

I went out after him and smote him and delivered it out of his mouth; and if he arose against me, I caught him by his beard and smote him and slew him.

36 Y our servant has killed both the lion and the bear; and this uncircumcised Philistine will be like one of them, since he has taunted the armies of the living God.”

Whether it was a lion or a bear thy slave would kill it, and this uncircumcised Philistine shall be as one of them, seeing he has dishonoured the armies of the living God.

37 A nd David said, “ The Lord who delivered me from the paw of the lion and from the paw of the bear, He will deliver me from the hand of this Philistine.” And Saul said to David, “ Go, and may the Lord be with you.”

David 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.

38 T hen Saul clothed David with his garments and put a bronze helmet on his head, and he clothed him with armor.

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

39 D avid girded his sword over his armor and tried to walk, for he had not tested them. So David said to Saul, “I cannot go with these, for I have not tested them.” And David took them off.

And David girded Saul’s sword upon Saul’s clothing, and he undertook to go, for he had not proved them. And David said unto Saul, I cannot go with these, for I have not proved them. And putting them off, David

40 H e took his stick in his hand and chose for himself five smooth stones from the brook, and put them in the shepherd’s bag which he had, even in his pouch, and his sling was in his hand; and he approached the Philistine.

¶ took his staff in his hand and chose five smooth stones out of the brook and put them in a shepherd’s bag which he had, even in a provision bag, and with his sling in his hand he drew near to the Philistine.

41 T hen the Philistine came on and approached David, with the shield-bearer in front of him.

And the Philistine came on and drew near unto David, and the man that bore the shield went before him.

42 W hen the Philistine looked and saw David, he disdained him; for he was but a youth, and ruddy, with a handsome appearance.

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

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

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

44 T he Philistine also said to David, “Come to me, and I will give your flesh to the birds of the sky and the beasts of the field.”

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

45 T hen David said to the Philistine, “You come to me with a sword, a spear, and a javelin, but I come to you in the name of the Lord of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have taunted.

Then 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 the hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom thou hast dishonoured.

46 T his day the Lord will deliver you up into my hands, and I will strike you down and remove your head from you. And I will give the dead bodies of the army of the Philistines this day to the birds of the sky and the wild beasts of the earth, that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel,

This day the LORD will deliver thee into my hand, and I will smite thee and take thy head from thee, and I will give the carcasses of the host of the Philistines this day unto the fowls of the heaven and to the wild beasts of the earth, that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel.

47 a nd that all this assembly may know that the Lord does not deliver by sword or by spear; for the battle is the Lord’s and He will give you into our hands.”

And all this congregation shall know that the LORD does not save with sword and spear, for the battle is the LORD’s, and he will give you into our hands.

48 T hen it happened when the Philistine rose and came and drew near to meet David, that David ran quickly toward the battle line to meet the Philistine.

¶ And it came to pass when the Philistine arose and came and drew near to meet David that David hastened and ran to do battle against the Philistine.

49 A nd David put his hand into his bag and took from it a stone and slung it, and struck the Philistine on his forehead. And the stone sank into his forehead, so that he fell on his face to the ground.

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

50 T hus David prevailed over the Philistine with a sling and a stone, and he struck the Philistine and killed him; but there was no sword in David’s hand.

So David overcame 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.

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

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

52 T he men of Israel and Judah arose and shouted and pursued the Philistines as far as the valley, and to the gates of Ekron. And the slain Philistines lay along the way to Shaaraim, even to Gath and Ekron.

And the men of Israel and of Judah arose and shouted and pursued the Philistines unto 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.

53 T he sons of Israel returned from chasing the Philistines and plundered their camps.

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

54 T hen David took the Philistine’s head and brought it to Jerusalem, but he put his weapons in his tent.

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

55 N ow when Saul saw David going out against the Philistine, he said to Abner the commander of the army, “Abner, whose son is this young man?” And Abner said, “By your life, O king, I do not know.”

And 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 lives, O king, I cannot tell.

56 T he king said, “You inquire whose son the youth is.”

And the king said, Enquire whose son the young man is.

57 S o when David returned from killing the Philistine, Abner took him and brought him before Saul with the Philistine’s head in his hand.

And 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.

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

And Saul said to him, Whose son art thou, young man? And David answered, I am the son of thy slave Jesse of Bethlehem.