1 Samuel 17

NEW JERUSALEM	NEW AMERICAN BIBLE
1 The Philistines mustered their troops for war; they assembled at Socoh in Judah and pitched campbetween Socoh and Azekah, in Ephes-Dammim.	1 The Philistines rallied their forces for battle at Socoh in Judah and camped between Socoh and Azekah at Ephes-dammim.
2 Saul and the Israelites also mustered, pitching camp in the Val ey of the Terebinth, and drew up theirbattle-line opposite the Philistines.	2 Saul and the Israelites also gathered and camped in the Vale of the Terebinth, drawing up their battle line to meet the Philistines.
3 The Philistines occupied the high ground on one side and the Israelites occupied the high ground onthe other side, with the valley between them.	3 The Philistines were stationed on one hill and the Israelites on an opposite hill, with a valley between them.
4 A champion stepped out from the Philistine ranks; his name was Goliath, from Gath; he was six cubitsand one span tal .	4 A champion named Goliath of Gath came out from the Philistine camp; he was six and a half feet tall.
5 On his head was a bronze helmet and he wore a breastplate of scale-armour; the breastplate weighedfive thousand shekels of bronze.	5 He had a bronze helmet on his head and wore a bronze corselet of scale armor weighing five thousand shekels,
6 He had bronze greaves on his legs and a bronze scimitar slung across his shoulders.	6 and bronze greaves, and had a bronze scimitar slung from a baldric.
7 The shaft of his spear was like a weaver's beam, and the head of his spear weighed six hundredshekels of iron. A shield-bearer walked in front of him.	7 The shaft of his javelin was like a weaver's heddle-bar, and its iron head weighed six hundred shekels. His shield-bearer went before him.
8 Taking position in front of the Israelite lines, he shouted, 'Why have you come out to range yourselvesfor battle? Am I not a Philistine and are you not Saul's lackeys? Choose a man and let him come down to me.	8 He stood and shouted to the ranks of Israel: "Why come out in battle formation? I am a Philistine, and you are Saul's servants. Choose one of your men, and have him come down to me.
9 If he can fight it out with me and kil me, we wil be your servants; but if I can beat him and kill him, youbecome our servants and serve us.'	9 If he beats me in combat and kills me, we will be your vassals; but if I beat him and kill him, you shall be our vassals and serve us."
10 The Philistine then said, 'I challenge the ranks of Israel today. Give me a man and we will fight it out!'	10 The Philistine continued: "I defy the ranks of Israel today. Give me a man and let us fight together."
11 When Saul and all Israel heard what the Philistine said, they were dismayed and terrified.	11 Saul and all the men of Israel, when they heard this challenge of the Philistine, were dismayed and terror-stricken.
12 David was the son of an Ephrathite from Bethlehem of Judah whose name was Jesse; Jesse hadeight sons and, by Saul's time, he was old and wel on in years.	12 (David was the son of an Ephrathite named Jesse, who was from Bethlehem in Judah. He had eight sons, and in the days of Saul was old and well on in years.
13 Jesse's eldest three sons fol owed Saul to the war. The names of the three sons who went to the warwere: the eldest Eliab, the second Abinadab and the third Shammah.	13 The three oldest sons of Jesse had followed Saul to war; these three sons who had gone off to war were named, the first-born Eliab, the second son Abinadab, and the third Shammah.
14 David was the youngest; the eldest three followed Saul.	14 David was the youngest. While the three oldest had joined Saul,
15 David alternated between serving Saul and looking after his father's sheep at Bethlehem.	15 David would go and come from Saul to tend his father's sheep at Bethlehem.
16 Morning and evening, the Philistine advanced, presenting himself thus for forty days.	16 (Meanwhile the Philistine came forward and took his stand morning and evening for forty days.
17 Jesse said to his son David, 'Take your brothers this ephah of roasted grain and these ten loaves,and hurry to the camp, to your brothers.	17 (Now Jesse said to his son David: "Take this ephah of roasted grain and these ten loaves for your brothers, and bring them quickly to your brothers in the camp.
18 And take these ten cheeses to their commanding officer; find out how your brothers are and bringsome token back from them;	18 Also take these ten cheeses for the field officer. Greet your brothers and bring home some token from them.
19 they are with Saul and al the men of Israel in the Val ey of the Terebinth, fighting the Philistines.'	19 Saul, and they, and all Israel are fighting against the Philistines in the Vale of the Terebinth."
20 David got up early in the morning and, leaving the sheep with someone to guard them, took up hisload and went off as Jesse had ordered; he reached the encampment just as the troops were leaving to take upbattle stations and shouting the war cry.	20 Early the next morning, having left the flock with a shepherd, David set out on his errand, as Jesse had commanded him. He reached the barricade of the camp just as the army, on their way to the battleground, were shouting their battle cry.
21 Israel and the Philistines drew up their lines facing one another.	21 The Israelites and the Philistines drew up opposite each other in battle array.
22 David left his bundle in charge of the baggage guard and, running to the battle-line, went and askedhis brothers how they were.	22 David entrusted what he had brought to the keeper of the baggage and hastened to the battle line, where he greeted his brothers.
23 While he was talking to them, the champion (Goliath, the Philistine from Gath) came up from thePhilistine ranks and made his usual speech, which David heard.	23 While he was talking with them, the Philistine champion, by name Goliath of Gath, came up from the ranks of the Philistines and spoke as before, and David listened.
24 As soon as the Israelites saw this man, they all ran away from him and were terrified.	24 When the Israelites saw the man, they all retreated before him, very much afraid.
25 The Israelites said, 'You saw that man who just came up? He comes to challenge Israel. The king willavish riches on the man who kills him, he wil give him his daughter in marriage and exempt his father's familyfrom al taxes in Israel.'	25 The Israelites had been saying: "Do you see this man coming up? He comes up to insult Israel. If anyone should kill him, the king would give him great wealth, and his daughter as well, and would grant exemption to his father's family in Israel."
26 David asked the men who were standing near him, 'What would be the reward for kil ing thisPhilistine and saving Israel from disgrace? Who is this uncircumcised Philistine, to chal enge the armies of theliving God?'	26 David now said to the men standing by: "What will be done for the man who kills this Philistine and frees Israel of the disgrace? Who is this uncircumcised Philistine in any case, that he should insult the armies of the living God?"
27 The people told him what they had been saying, 'That would be the reward for killing him,' they said.	27 They repeated the same words to him and said, "That is how the man who kills him will be rewarded."
28 His eldest brother Eliab heard David talking to the men and grew angry with him. 'Why have youcome down here?' he said. 'Whom have you left in charge of those few sheep in the desert? I know howimpudent and artful you are; you have come to watch the battle!'	28 When Eliab, his oldest brother, heard him speaking with the men, he grew angry with David and said: "Why did you come down? With whom have you left those sheep in the desert meanwhile? I know your arrogance and your evil intent. You came down to enjoy the battle!"
29 David retorted, 'What have I done? May I not even speak?'	29 David replied, "What have I done now?--I was only talking."
30 And he turned away from him to someone else and asked the same question, to which the peoplereplied as before.	30 Yet he turned from him to another and asked the same question; and everyone gave him the same answer as before.
31 David's words were noted, however, and reported to Saul, who sent for him.	31 The words that David had spoken were overheard and reported to Saul, who sent for him.)
32 David said to Saul, 'Let no one be discouraged on his account; your servant wil go and fight thisPhilistine.'	32 Then David spoke to Saul: "Let your majesty not lose courage. I am at your service to go and fight this Philistine."
33 Saul said to David, 'You cannot go and fight the Philistine; you are only a boy and he has been awarrior since his youth.'	33 But Saul answered David, "You cannot go up against this Philistine and fight with him, for you are only a youth, while he has been a warrior from his youth."
34 David said to Saul, 'Your servant used to look after the sheep for his father and whenever a lion or abear came and took a sheep from the flock,	34 Then David told Saul: "Your servant used to tend his father's sheep, and whenever a lion or bear came to carry off a sheep from the flock,
35 I used to fol ow it up, lay into it and snatch the sheep out of its jaws. If it turned on me, I would seize itby the beard and batter it to death.	35 I would go after it and attack it and rescue the prey from its mouth. If it attacked me, I would seize it by the jaw, strike it, and kill it.
36 Your servant has kil ed both lion and bear, and this uncircumcised Philistine will end up like one ofthem for having chal enged the armies of the living God.'	36 Your servant has killed both a lion and a bear, and this uncircumcised Philistine will be as one of them, because he has insulted the armies of the living God."
37 'Yahweh,' David went on, 'who delivered me from the claws of lion and bear, wil deliver me from theclutches of this Philistine.' Then Saul said to David, 'Go, and Yahweh be with you!'	37 David continued: "The LORD, who delivered me from the claws of the lion and the bear, will also keep me safe from the clutches of this Philistine." Saul answered David, "Go! the LORD will be with you."
38 Saul dressed David in his own armour; he put a bronze helmet on his head, dressed him in abreastplate	38 Then Saul clothed David in his own tunic, putting a bronze helmet on his head and arming him with a coat of mail.
39 and buckled his own sword over David's armour. David tried to walk but, not being used to them, saidto Saul, 'I cannot walk in these; I am not used to them.' So they took them off again.	39 David also girded himself with Saul's sword over the tunic. He walked with difficulty, however, since he had never tried armor before. He said to Saul, "I cannot go in these, because I have never tried them before." So he took them off.
40 He took his stick in his hand, selected five smooth stones from the river bed and put them in hisshepherd's bag, in his pouch; then, sling in hand, he walked towards the Philistine.	40 Then, staff in hand, David selected five smooth stones from the wadi and put them in the pocket of his shepherd's bag. With his sling also ready to hand, he approached the Philistine.
41 The Philistine, preceded by his shield-bearer, came nearer and nearer to David.	41 With his shield-bearer marching before him, the Philistine also advanced closer and closer to David.
42 When the Philistine looked David up and down, what he saw fil ed him with scorn, because Davidwas only a lad, with ruddy cheeks and an attractive appearance.	42 When he had sized David up, and seen that he was youthful, and ruddy, and handsome in appearance, he held him in contempt.
43 The Philistine said to David, 'Am I a dog for you to come after me with sticks?' And the Philistinecursed David by his gods.	43 The Philistine said to David, "Am I a dog that you come against me with a staff?" Then the Philistine cursed David by his gods
44 The Philistine said to David, 'Come over here and I wil give your flesh to the birds of the air and thewild beasts!'	44 and said to him, "Come here to me, and I will leave your flesh for the birds of the air and the beasts of the field."
45 David retorted to the Philistine, 'You come to me with sword, spear and scimitar, but I come to you inthe name of Yahweh Sabaoth, God of the armies of Israel, whom you have chal enged.	45 David answered him: "You come against me with sword and spear and scimitar, but I come against you in the name of the LORD of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel that you have insulted.
46 Today, Yahweh will deliver you into my hand; I shall kil you, I shall cut off your head; today, I shallgive your corpse and the corpses of the Philistine army to the birds of the air and the wild beasts, so that thewhole world may know that there is a God in Israel,	46 Today the LORD shall deliver you into my hand; I will strike you down and cut off your head. This very day I will leave your corpse and the corpses of the Philistine army for the birds of the air and the beasts of the field; thus the whole land shall learn that Israel has a God.
47 and this whole assembly know that Yahweh does not give victory by means of sword and spear -- forYahweh is lord of the battle and he wil deliver you into our power.'	47 All this multitude, too, shall learn that it is not by sword or spear that the LORD saves. For the battle is the LORD'S, and he shall deliver you into our hands."
48 No sooner had the Philistine started forward to confront David than David darted out of the lines andran to meet the Philistine.	48 The Philistine then moved to meet David at close quarters, while David ran quickly toward the battle line in the direction of the Philistine.
49 Putting his hand in his bag, he took out a stone, slung it and struck the Philistine on the forehead; thestone penetrated his forehead and he fel face downwards on the ground.	49 David put his hand into the bag and took out a stone, hurled it with the sling, and struck the Philistine on the forehead. The stone embedded itself in his brow, and he fell prostrate on the ground.
50 Thus David triumphed over the Philistine with a sling and a stone; he hit the Philistine and kil ed him,though he had no sword in his hand.	50 (Thus David overcame the Philistine with sling and stone; he struck the Philistine mortally, and did it without a sword.)
51 David ran and stood over the Philistine, seized his sword, pul ed it from the scabbard, despatchedhim and cut off his head. When the Philistines saw that their champion was dead, they fled.	51 Then David ran and stood over him; with the Philistine's own sword (which he drew from its sheath) he dispatched him and cut off his head.When they saw that their hero was dead, the Philistines took to flight.
52 The men of Israel and of Judah started forward, shouting their war cry, and pursued the Philistines asfar as the approaches of Gath and the gates of Ekron. The Philistine dead lay al along the road from Shaaraimas far as Gath and Ekron.	52 Then the men of Israel and Judah, with loud shouts, went in pursuit of the Philistines to the approaches of Gath and to the gates of Ekron, and Philistines fell wounded along the road from Shaaraim as far as Gath and Ekron.
53 Turning back from their ferocious pursuit of the Philistines, the Israelites plundered their camp.	53 On their return from the pursuit of the Philistines, the Israelites looted their camp.
54 And David took the Philistine's head and brought it to Jerusalem; his weapons, however, he put in hisown tent.	54 David took the head of the Philistine and brought it to Jerusalem; but he kept Goliath's armor in his own tent.
55 When Saul saw David going to engage the Philistine he said to Abner, the army commander, 'Abner,whose son is that boy?' 'On your life, O king,' Abner replied, 'I do not know.'	55 (When Saul saw David go out to meet the Philistine, he asked his general Abner, "Abner, whose son is that youth?" Abner replied, "As truly as your majesty is alive, I have no idea."
56 The king said, 'Find out whose son the lad is.'	56 And the king said, "Find out whose son the lad is."
57 When David came back after kil ing the Philistine, Abner took him and brought him before Saul withthe Philistine's head in his hand.	57 So when David returned from slaying the Philistine, Abner took him and presented him to Saul. David was still holding the Philistine's head.
58 Saul asked him, 'Whose son are you, young man?' David replied, 'The son of your servant Jesse ofBethlehem.'	58 Saul then asked him, "Whose son are you, young man?" David replied, "I am the son of your servant Jesse of Bethlehem."