1 Samuel 17

NEW JERUSALEM	CATHOLIC PUBLIC DOMAIN
1 The Philistines mustered their troops for war; they assembled at Socoh in Judah and pitched campbetween Socoh and Azekah, in Ephes-Dammim.	1 Now the Philistines, gathering their troops for battle, assembled at Socoh of Judah. And they made camp between Socoh and Azekah, within the borders of 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 But Saul and the sons of Israel, having gathered together, went to the Valley of Terebinth. And they positioned the army so as to fight against 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 And the Philistines were standing on a mountain on the one side, and Israel was standing on a mountain on the other side. And there was 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 And there went out from the camp of the Philistines, a man of illegitimate birth, named Goliath of Gath, whose height was six cubits and a palm.
5 On his head was a bronze helmet and he wore a breastplate of scale-armour; the breastplate weighedfive thousand shekels of bronze.	5 And he had a helmet of brass upon his head, and he was clothed with a breastplate of scales. Moreover, the weight of his breastplate was five thousand shekels of brass.
6 He had bronze greaves on his legs and a bronze scimitar slung across his shoulders.	6 And he had plates of brass on his lower legs, and a small shield of brass was covering his shoulders.
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 Now the shaft of his spear was like the beam used by a weaver. And the iron of his spear held six hundred shekels of iron. And his armor 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 And standing still, he cried out to the battle lines of Israel, and he said to them: “Why have you arrived, prepared for battle? Am I not a Philistine, and are you not the servants of Saul? Choose one man from among you, and let him descend to do battle alone.
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 is able to fight with me and to strike me down, we will be your servants. But if I will prevail over him, and strike him down, you will be the servants, and you will 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 And the Philistine was saying: “I have reproached the troops of Israel today. Present a man to me, and let him undertake a fight against me alone.”
11 When Saul and all Israel heard what the Philistine said, they were dismayed and terrified.	11 And Saul and all the Israelites, hearing these words of the Philistine in this manner, were stupefied and exceedingly afraid.
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 Now David was the son of an Ephrathite man, the one mentioned above, from Bethlehem of Judah, whose name was Jesse. He had eight sons, and during the days of Saul, he was an elderly man, and of great age among men.
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 Now his three eldest sons followed Saul into battle. And the names of his three sons, who went to the battle, were Eliab, the firstborn, and the second, Abinadab, and the third Shammah.
14 David was the youngest; the eldest three followed Saul.	14 But David was the youngest. Therefore, when the three eldest had followed Saul,
15 David alternated between serving Saul and looking after his father's sheep at Bethlehem.	15 David went away from Saul, and he returned, so that he might pasture the flock of his father at Bethlehem.
16 Morning and evening, the Philistine advanced, presenting himself thus for forty days.	16 Truly, the Philistine advanced morning and evening, and he stood forth, 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, for your brothers, an ephah of cooked grain, and these ten loaves, and hurry to the camp, to your brothers.
18 And take these ten cheeses to their commanding officer; find out how your brothers are and bringsome token back from them;	18 And you shall carry these ten little cheeses to the tribune. And visit your brothers, to see if they are doing well. And learn with whom they have been stationed.”
19 they are with Saul and al the men of Israel in the Val ey of the Terebinth, fighting the Philistines.'	19 But they were in the valley of Terebinth, with Saul and all the sons of Israel, fighting against the Philistines.
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 And so, David rose up in the morning, and he commended the flock to the caretaker. And he went away burdened, just as Jesse had instructed him. And he went to the place of the battle line, and to the army, which, in going out to fight, was shouting in the conflict.
21 Israel and the Philistines drew up their lines facing one another.	21 For Israel had positioned their troops, but the Philistines also had prepared themselves against them.
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 Then, leaving the items that he had brought under the hand of the keeper of baggage, David ran to the place of the conflict. And he was asking if all was going well with 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 And while he was still speaking with them, there appeared the man of spurious descent, whose name was Goliath, the Philistine of Gath, ascending from the camp of the Philistines. And he was speaking in these same words, which David heard.
24 As soon as the Israelites saw this man, they all ran away from him and were terrified.	24 Then all the Israelites, when they had seen the man, fled from his face, fearing him greatly.
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 And someone of Israel said: “Have you seen this man, who has risen up. For he ascended in order to reproach Israel. Therefore, the man who will strike him down, the king will enrich with great wealth, and will give to him his daughter, and will cause his father’s house to be free of tribute 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 And David spoke to the men who were standing with him, saying: “What will be given to the man who will have struck down this Philistine, and who will have taken away the disgrace from Israel? For who is this uncircumcised Philistine, that he should reproach the soldiers 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 Then the people repeated to him the same words, saying, “These things shall be given to the man who will have struck him down.”
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 Now when Eliab, his eldest brother, had heard this, as he was speaking with the others, he became angry against David, and he said: “Why did you come here? And why did you leave behind those few sheep in the wilderness? I know your pride and the wickedness of your heart, that you have come down so that you might see the battle.”
29 David retorted, 'What have I done? May I not even speak?'	29 And David said: “What have I done? Is there any word against me?”
30 And he turned away from him to someone else and asked the same question, to which the peoplereplied as before.	30 And he turned away from him a little, toward another. And he asked the same question. And the people responded to him as before.
31 David's words were noted, however, and reported to Saul, who sent for him.	31 Now the words that David had spoken were heard and reported in the sight of Saul.
32 David said to Saul, 'Let no one be discouraged on his account; your servant wil go and fight thisPhilistine.'	32 When he had been led to Saul, he said to him: “Let no one lose heart over him. I, your servant, shall go and fight against the 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 And Saul said to David: “You are not able to withstand this Philistine, nor to fight against him. For you are a boy, but he has been a warrior from his boyhood.”
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 And David said to Saul: “Your servant was pasturing the flock of his father. And there approached a lion or a bear, and it took a ram from the midst of 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 And I pursued after them, and I struck them, and I rescued from their mouth. And they rose up against me. And I caught them by the throat, and I strangled and killed them.
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 For I, your servant, have killed both lion and bear. And so this uncircumcised Philistine, too, will be like one of them. Now I will go and take away the reproach of the people. For who is this uncircumcised Philistine, who has dared to curse the army 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 And David said, “The Lord who rescued me from the hand of the lion, and from the hand of the bear, he himself will free me from the hand of this Philistine.” Then Saul said to David, “Go, and may the Lord be with you.”
38 Saul dressed David in his own armour; he put a bronze helmet on his head, dressed him in abreastplate	38 And Saul clothed David with his garments. And he placed a helmet of brass upon his head, and he clothed him with a breastplate.
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 Then David, having girded his sword over his armor, began to see if he could walk in the armor. But he was not accustomed to it. And David said to Saul: “I cannot move about in this way. For I am not used to it.” And he put them aside.
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 And he took up his staff, which he held always in his hands. And he chose for himself five very smooth stones from the torrent. And he put them into the shepherd’s bag that he had with him. And he took up a sling in his hand. And he went out against the Philistine.
41 The Philistine, preceded by his shield-bearer, came nearer and nearer to David.	41 And the Philistine, advancing, went and drew near against David. And his armor bearer was before him.
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 And when the Philistine had seen and considered David, he despised him. For he was a youth, ruddy and of handsome appearance.
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 And the Philistine said to David, “Am I a dog, that you approach against me with a staff?” And 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 he said to David, “Come to me, and I will give your flesh to the birds of the air, and to the beasts of the earth.”
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 But David said to the Philistine: “You approach me with sword, and spear, and shield. But I come to you in the name of the Lord of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, which you have reproached.
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 will deliver you into my hand, and I will strike you down. And I will take your head from you. And today, I will give the carcasses of the camp of the Philistines to the birds of the air, and to the beasts of the earth, so that all the earth may know that God is with Israel.
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 And this entire assembly will know that the Lord does not save by sword, nor by spear. For this is his war, and he will 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 Then, when the Philistine had risen up, and was approaching, and was drawing near against David, David hurried and ran to the fight against 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 And he put his hand into his bag, and took out one stone. And swinging it around, he cast it with the sling and struck the Philistine on the forehead. And the stone became imbedded in his forehead. And he fell on his face, upon 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 And David prevailed against the Philistine with a sling and a stone. And he struck and killed the Philistine. But since David held no sword in his hand,
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 he ran and stood over the Philistine, and he took his sword, and withdrew it from the sheath. And he killed him and cut off his head. Then the Philistines, seeing that their strongest man was dead, fled away.
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 And the men of Israel and Judah, rising up, shouted and pursued after the Philistines, even until they arrived at the valley and as far as the gates of Ekron. And many wounded among the Philistines fell on the way of Shaaraim, and as far as Gath, and as far as Ekron.
53 Turning back from their ferocious pursuit of the Philistines, the Israelites plundered their camp.	53 And the sons of Israel, returning after they had pursued the Philistines, invaded their camp.
54 And David took the Philistine's head and brought it to Jerusalem; his weapons, however, he put in hisown tent.	54 Then David, taking up the head of the Philistine, brought it to Jerusalem. Yet truly, he placed his 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 Now at the time that Saul had seen David going out against the Philistines, he said to Abner, the leader of the military, “From what stock is this youth descended, Abner?” And Abner said, “As your soul lives, O king, I do not know.”
56 The king said, 'Find out whose son the lad is.'	56 And the king said, “You shall inquire as to whose son this boy may be.”
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 And when David had returned, after the Philistine had been struck down, Abner took him, and brought him before Saul, having the head of the Philistine in his hand.
58 Saul asked him, 'Whose son are you, young man?' David replied, 'The son of your servant Jesse ofBethlehem.'	58 And Saul said to him, “Young man, from what ancestry are you?” And David said, “I am the son of your servant Jesse of Bethlehem.”