1 N ow 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.

Now 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.

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

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

3 T he 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.

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

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

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

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

6 H e had brass shin armor on his legs, and a brass javelin between his shoulders.

He also had bronze greaves on his legs and a bronze javelin slung between his shoulders.

7 T he 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.

The 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.

8 H e 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.

He 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.

9 I f 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.”

If 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.”

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

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

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

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

12 N ow 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.

Now 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.

13 T he 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.

The 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.

14 D avid was the youngest; and the three oldest followed Saul.

David was the youngest. Now the three oldest followed Saul,

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

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

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

The Philistine came forward morning and evening for forty days and took his stand.

17 J esse 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;

Then 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.

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

Bring 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.

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

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

20 D avid rose up early in the morning, and left the sheep with a keeper, and took 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.

So 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.

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

Israel and the Philistines drew up in battle array, army against army.

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

Then 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.

23 A s 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.

As 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.

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

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

25 T he 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 make his father’s house free in Israel.”

The 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.”

26 D avid 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?”

Then 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?”

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

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

28 E liab 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 naughtiness of your heart; for you have come down that you might see the battle.”

Now 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.”

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

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

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

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

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

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

32 D avid 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 fail on account of him; your servant will go and fight with this Philistine.”

33 S aul 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.”

Then 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.”

34 D avid 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,

But 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,

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

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.

36 Y our 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.”

Your 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.”

37 D avid said, “Yahweh 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.” Saul said to David, “Go! Yahweh will be with you.”

And 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.”

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

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

39 D avid 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.

David 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.

40 H e 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.

He 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.

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

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

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

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

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

44 T he 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.”

The 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.”

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 Yahweh of Armies, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied.

Then 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.

46 T oday, Yahweh 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,

This 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,

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

and 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.”

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

Then 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.

49 D avid 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.

And 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.

50 S o 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 the hand of David.

Thus 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.

51 T hen 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.

Then 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.

52 T he 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.

The 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.

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

The sons of Israel returned from chasing the Philistines and plundered their camps.

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

Then David took the Philistine’s head and brought it to Jerusalem, but he put his weapons in his tent.

55 W hen 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.”

Now 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.”

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

The king said, “You inquire whose son the youth is.”

57 A s 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 took him and brought him before Saul with the Philistine’s head in his hand.

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

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