1 N ow the Philistines gathered their armies together to battle, and were gathered at Sochoh, which belongs to Judah; they encamped between Sochoh and Azekah, in Ephes Dammim.

Now the Philistines gathered their armies for battle. They were gathered at Socoh, which belongs to Judah. They set up their tents between Socoh and Azekah, in Ephes-dammim.

2 A nd Saul and the men of Israel were gathered together, and they encamped in the Valley of Elah, and drew up in battle array against the Philistines.

Saul and the men of Israel were gathered together, and set up their tents in the valley of Elah. They came up dressed for battle to fight against the Philistines.

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

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

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

Then a strong fighter came out from the armies of the Philistines. His name was Goliath, from Gath. He was almost twice as tall as most men.

5 H e had a bronze helmet on his head, and he was armed with a coat of mail, and the weight of the coat was five thousand shekels of bronze.

He had a head covering of brass, and wore brass battle-clothes that weighed as much as 5, 000 silver pieces.

6 A nd he had bronze armor on his legs and a bronze javelin between his shoulders.

He wore brass leg-coverings, and had a brass spear on his shoulders.

7 N ow the staff of his spear was like a weaver’s beam, and his iron spearhead weighed six hundred shekels; and a shield-bearer went before him.

The long part of his spear was like a cross-piece used on a cloth-maker. The iron head of his spear weighed as much as 600 pieces of silver. A man walked before him to carry his shield.

8 T hen he stood and cried out to the armies of Israel, and said to them, “Why have you come out to line up for battle? Am I not a Philistine, and you the servants of Saul? Choose a man for yourselves, and let him come down to me.

Goliath stood and called out to the army of Israel, saying, “Why have you come out dressed for battle? Am I not the Philistine, and you the servants of Saul? Choose a man for yourselves, and let him come down to me.

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

If he is able to fight with me and kill me, then we will be your servants. But if I fight him and kill him, then you must become our servants and work for us.”

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

Again the Philistine said, “I stand against the army of Israel this day. 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 these words of the Philistine, they were troubled and very afraid.

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

Now David was the son of Jesse, an Ephrathite of Bethlehem in Judah. Jesse had eight sons, and was old in the days of Saul. He had lived many years.

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

Jesse’s three older sons had followed Saul to the battle. Their names were Eliab the first-born, next Abinadab, and third Shammah.

14 D avid was the youngest. And the three oldest followed Saul.

David was the youngest. The three oldest sons followed Saul.

15 B ut David occasionally went and returned from Saul to feed his father’s sheep at Bethlehem.

But David went to and from Saul, to take care of his father’s flock at Bethlehem.

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

The Philistine came out and showed himself morning and evening for forty days.

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

Then Jesse said to his son David, “Take for your brothers a basket of this baked grain and these ten loaves. Hurry and carry them to your brothers among the army.

18 A nd carry these ten cheeses to the captain of their thousand, and see how your brothers fare, and bring back news of them.”

And take these ten pieces of cheese to the leader of the thousand man group who is with them. See how your brothers are doing, and bring me news of them.

19 N ow Saul and they and all the men of Israel were in the Valley of Elah, fighting with the Philistines.

Saul and your brothers and all the men of Israel are in the valley of Elah, fighting with the Philistines.”

20 S o David rose early in the morning, left the sheep with a keeper, and took the things and went as Jesse had commanded him. And he came to the camp as the army was going out to the fight and shouting for the battle.

So David got up early in the morning and left the flock in the care of a shepherd. He took the food and went, as Jesse had told him. And he came to the tents as the army was going out dressed for battle, calling out the war cry.

21 F or Israel and the Philistines had drawn up in battle array, army against army.

Israel and the Philistines came near each other dressed for battle, army against army.

22 A nd David left his supplies in the hand of the supply keeper, ran to the army, and came and greeted his brothers.

David left the things with the man to take care of them. He ran to the army, and went to meet with his brothers.

23 T hen as he talked with them, there was the champion, the Philistine of Gath, Goliath by name, coming up from the armies of the Philistines; and he spoke according to the same words. So David heard them.

As he talked with them, Goliath the Philistine from Gath came out of the army of the Philistines, and spoke the same words as before. And David heard him.

24 A nd all the men of Israel, when they saw the man, fled from him and were dreadfully afraid.

When all the men of Israel saw the man, they ran away from him and were very much afraid.

25 S o the men of Israel said, “Have you seen this man who has come up? Surely he has come up to defy Israel; and it shall be that the man who kills him the king will enrich with great riches, will give him his daughter, and give his father’s house exemption from taxes in Israel.”

The men of Israel said, “Have you seen the man who has come out? He has come out to stand against Israel. The king will make the man who kills him rich. And he will give him his daughter, and make his father’s family free from paying taxes in Israel.”

26 T hen David spoke to the men who stood by him, saying, “What shall 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 defy the armies of the living God?”

Then David said to the men standing by him, “What will be done for the man who kills this Philistine, and takes away Israel’s shame? For who is this Philistine who has not gone through the religious act of the Jews? Who is he, that he should make fun of the armies of the living God?”

27 A nd the people answered him in this manner, saying, “So shall it be done for the man who kills him.”

And the people answered him in the same way, “This is what will be done for the man who kills him.”

28 N ow Eliab his oldest brother heard when he spoke to the men; and Eliab’s anger was aroused against David, and he said, “Why did you come down here? And with whom have you left those few sheep in the wilderness? I know your pride and the insolence of your heart, for you have come down to see the battle.”

His oldest brother Eliab heard what he said to the men. He became very angry with David and said, “Why have you come here? With whom have you left those few sheep in the desert? I know of your pride and the sin of your heart. You have come to see the battle.”

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

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

30 T hen he turned from him toward another and said the same thing; and these people answered him as the first ones did.

Then David turned away from him to another and asked the same question. And the people gave him the same answer.

31 N ow when the words which David spoke were heard, they reported them to Saul; and he sent for him.

When David’s words were heard, they were told to Saul, and Saul sent for him.

32 T hen David said to Saul, “Let no man’s heart fail because of him; your servant will go and fight with this Philistine.”

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

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

Saul said to David, “You are not able to go and fight against this Philistine. You are only a young man, while he has been a man of war since he was young.”

34 B ut David said to Saul, “Your servant used to keep his father’s sheep, and when a lion or a bear came and took a lamb out of the flock,

But David said to Saul, “Your servant was taking care of his father’s sheep. When a lion or a bear came and took a lamb from the flock,

35 I went out after it and struck it, and delivered the lamb from its mouth; and when it arose against me, I caught it by its beard, and struck and killed it.

I went after him and fought him and saved it from his mouth. When he came against me, I took hold of him by the hair of his head and hit him and killed him.

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

Your servant has killed both the lion and the bear. And this Philistine who has not gone through our religious act will be like one of them. For he has made fun of the armies of the living God.”

37 M oreover 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 the Lord be with you!”

And David said, “The Lord Who saved me from the foot of the lion and from the foot of the bear, will save me from the hand of this Philistine.” Saul said to David, “Go, and may the Lord be with you.”

38 S o Saul clothed David with his armor, and he put a bronze helmet on his head; he also clothed him with a coat of mail.

Then Saul dressed David with his clothes. He put a brass head covering on his head, and dressed him with heavy battle-clothes.

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

David put on his sword over his heavy battle-clothes and tried to walk, for he was not used to them. Then David said to Saul, “I cannot go with these, for I am not used to them.” And David took them off.

40 T hen he took his staff in his hand; and he chose for himself five smooth stones from the brook, and put them in a shepherd’s bag, in a pouch which he had, and his sling was in his hand. And he drew near to the Philistine.

He took his stick in his hand, and chose five smooth stones from the river. He put them in his shepherd’s bag. His sling was in his hand, and he went to the Philistine.

41 S o the Philistine came, and began drawing near to David, and the man who bore the shield went before him.

The Philistine came near to David, with the man carrying his shield in front of him.

42 A nd when the Philistine looked about and saw David, he disdained him; for he was only a youth, ruddy and good-looking.

When the Philistine looked and saw David, he thought nothing of him. For he was only a young man, with good color in his skin, and good-looking.

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

The Philistine said to David, “Am I a dog, that you come to me with sticks?” And the Philistine spoke against David by his gods.

44 A nd the Philistine said to David, “Come to me, and I will give your flesh to the birds of the air and the beasts of the field!”

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

45 T hen 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 hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied.

Then David said to the Philistine, “You come to me with a sword and spears. But I come to you in the name of the Lord of All, the God of the armies of Israel, Whom you have stood against.

46 T his day the Lord will deliver you into my hand, and I will strike you and take your head from you. And this day I will give the carcasses of the camp of the Philistines to the birds of the air 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 give you into my hands. I will knock you down and cut off your head. This day I will give the dead bodies of the army of the Philistines to the birds of the sky and the wild animals of the earth. Then all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel.

47 T hen all this assembly 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.”

All these people gathered here may 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 S o it was, when the Philistine arose and came and drew near to meet David, that David hurried and ran toward the army to meet the Philistine.

Then the Philistine rose up and came to meet David. And David rushed to the center of the valley to meet the Philistine.

49 T hen David put his hand in his bag and took out a stone; and he slung it and struck the Philistine in his forehead, so that the stone sank into his forehead, and he fell on his face to the earth.

David put his hand into his bag, took out a stone and threw it, and hit the Philistine on his forehead. The stone went into his forehead, so that he fell on his face to the ground.

50 S o David prevailed over the Philistine with a sling and a stone, and struck the Philistine and killed him. But there was no sword in the hand of David.

So David won the fight against the Philistine with a sling and a stone. He hit the Philistine and killed him. There was no sword in David’s hand.

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

Then David ran and stood over the Philistine. He took his sword out of its holder and killed him, and cut off his head with it. When the Philistines saw that their strong soldier was dead, they ran away.

52 N ow the men of Israel and Judah arose and shouted, and pursued the Philistines as far as the entrance of the valley and to the gates of Ekron. And the wounded of the Philistines fell along the road to Shaaraim, even as far as Gath and Ekron.

The men of Israel and Judah rose up and called out and went after the Philistines as far as Gath and the gates of Ekron. The dead Philistines lay on the way from Shaaraim as far as Gath and Ekron.

53 T hen the children of Israel returned from chasing the Philistines, and they plundered their tents.

Then the Israelites returned from following the Philistines and took what had belonged to them among their tents.

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

David took the Philistine’s head and brought it to Jerusalem. But he put his battle-clothes in his tent.

55 W hen Saul saw David going out against the Philistine, he said to Abner, the commander of the army, “Abner, whose son is this youth?” And Abner said, “As your soul lives, O king, I do not know.”

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

56 S o the king said, “Inquire whose son this young man is. ”

The king said, “Find out whose son the young man is.”

57 T hen, 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.

So when David returned from killing the Philistine, Abner brought him to Saul with the Philistine’s head in his hand.

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

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