1 N ow 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.

¶ 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 together, and set up their tents in the valley of Elah. They came up dressed for battle to fight against 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 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.

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

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

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

7 T he 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.

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 G oliath 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.

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 be your servants. But if I fight him and kill him, then you must become our servants and work for 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 stand against the army 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 troubled and very 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 Jesse, an Ephrathite of Bethlehem in Judah. Jesse had eight sons, and was old in the days of Saul. He had lived many years.

¶ 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 J esse’s three older sons had followed Saul to the battle. Their names were Eliab the first-born, next Abinadab, and 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. The three oldest sons followed Saul.

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

15 B ut David went to and from Saul, to take care of 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 out and showed himself morning and evening for forty days.

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

17 T hen 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.

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 A nd 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.

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

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

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

20 S o 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.

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 came near each other dressed for battle, army against army.

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

22 D avid left the things with the man to take care of them. He ran to the army, and went to meet with 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 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.

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 ran away from him and were very much 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 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.”

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 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?”

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 A nd the people answered him in the same way, “This is what 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 H is 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.”

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

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 David’s words were heard, they were told to Saul, and Saul 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 become weak because 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 S aul 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.”

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 taking care of 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 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.

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 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.”

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 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.”

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

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 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.

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 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.

¶ 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 he Philistine came near to David, with the man carrying his shield 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 thought nothing of him. For he was only a young man, with good color in his skin, and good-looking.

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 spoke against 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 said to David, “Come to me. I will give your flesh to the birds of the sky and the animals 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 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.

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 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.

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 ll 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.”

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

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 S o 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.

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. 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.

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 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.

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

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

54 D avid took the Philistine’s head and brought it to Jerusalem. But he put his battle-clothes 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 W hen 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.”

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

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

57 S o when David returned from killing the Philistine, Abner brought him to 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?” David answered, “I am the son of your servant Jesse of Bethlehem.”

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