| NET Bible | Holman Christian Standard Bible |
| 1The Philistines gathered their troops for battle. They assembled at Socoh in Judah. They camped in Ephes Dammim, between Socoh and Azekah. | 1The Philistines gathered their forces for war at Socoh in Judah and camped between Socoh and Azekah in Ephes-dammim. |
| 2Saul and the Israelite army assembled and camped in the valley of Elah, where they arranged their battle lines to fight against the Philistines. | 2Saul and the men of Israel gathered and camped in the Valley of Elah; then they lined up in battle formation to face the Philistines. |
| 3The Philistines were standing on one hill, and the Israelites on another hill, with the valley between them. | 3The Philistines were standing on one hill, and the Israelites were standing on another hill with a ravine between them. |
| 4Then a champion came out from the camp of the Philistines. His name was Goliath; he was from Gath. He was close to seven feet tall. | 4Then a champion named Goliath, from Gath, came out from the Philistine camp. He was nine feet, nine inches tall |
| 5He had a bronze helmet on his head and was wearing scale body armor. The weight of his bronze body armor was five thousand shekels. | 5and wore a bronze helmet and bronze scale armor that weighed 125 pounds. |
| 6He had bronze shin guards on his legs, and a bronze javelin was slung over his shoulders. | 6There was bronze armor on his shins, and a bronze sword was slung between his shoulders. |
| 7The shaft of his spear was like a weaver's beam, and the iron point of his spear weighed six hundred shekels. His shield bearer was walking before him. | 7His spear shaft was like a weaver's beam, and the iron point of his spear weighed 15 pounds. In addition, a shield-bearer was walking in front of him. |
| 8Goliath stood and called to Israel's troops, "Why do you come out to prepare for battle? Am I not the Philistine, and are you not the servants of Saul? Choose for yourselves a man so he may come down to me! | 8He stood and shouted to the Israelite battle formations: "Why do you come out to line up in battle formation?" He asked them, "Am I not a Philistine and are you not servants of Saul? Choose one of your men and have him come down against me. |
| 9If he is able to fight with me and strike me down, we will become your servants. But if I prevail against him and strike him down, you will become our servants and will serve us." | 9If he wins in a fight against me and kills me, we will be your servants. But if I win against him and kill him, then you will be our servants and serve us." |
| 10Then the Philistine said, "I defy Israel's troops this day! Give me a man so we can fight each other!" | 10Then the Philistine said, "I defy the ranks of Israel today. Send me a man so we can fight each other!" |
| 11When Saul and all the Israelites heard these words of the Philistine, they were upset and very afraid. | 11When Saul and all Israel heard these words from the Philistine, they lost their courage and were terrified. |
| 12Now David was the son of this Ephrathite named Jesse from Bethlehem in Judah. He had eight sons, and in Saul's days he was old and well advanced in years. | 12Now David was the son of the Ephrathite from Bethlehem of Judah named Jesse. Jesse had eight sons and during Saul's reign was already an old man. |
| 13Jesse's three oldest sons had followed Saul to war. The names of the three sons who went to war were Eliab, his firstborn, Abinadab, the second oldest, and Shammah, the third oldest. | 13Jesse's three oldest sons had followed Saul to the war, and their names were Eliab, the firstborn, Abinadab, the next, and Shammah, the third, |
| 14Now David was the youngest. While the three oldest sons followed Saul, | 14and David was the youngest. The three oldest had followed Saul, |
| 15David was going back and forth from Saul in order to care for his father's sheep in Bethlehem. | 15but David kept going back and forth from Saul to tend his father's flock in Bethlehem. |
| 16Meanwhile for forty days the Philistine approached every morning and evening and took his position. | 16Every morning and evening for 40 days the Philistine came forward and took his stand. |
| 17Jesse said to his son David, "Take your brothers this ephah of roasted grain and these ten loaves of bread; go quickly to the camp to your brothers. | 17One day Jesse had told his son David: "Take this half-bushel of roasted grain along with these 10 loaves of bread for your brothers and hurry to their camp. |
| 18Also take these ten portions of cheese to their commanding officer. Find out how your brothers are doing and bring back their pledge that they received the goods. | 18Also take these 10 portions of cheese to the field commander. Check on the welfare of your brothers and bring a confirmation from them. |
| 19They are with Saul and the whole Israelite army in the valley of Elah, fighting with the Philistines." | 19They are with Saul and all the men of Israel in the Valley of Elah fighting with the Philistines." |
| 20So David got up early in the morning and entrusted the flock to someone else who would watch over it. After loading up, he went just as Jesse had instructed him. He arrived at the camp as the army was going out to the battle lines shouting its battle cry. | 20So David got up early in the morning, left the flock with someone to keep it, loaded up, and set out as Jesse had instructed him. He arrived at the perimeter of the camp as the army was marching out to its battle formation shouting their battle cry. |
| 21Israel and the Philistines drew up their battle lines opposite one another. | 21Israel and the Philistines lined up in battle formation facing each other. |
| 22After David had entrusted his cargo to the care of the supply officer, he ran to the battlefront. When he arrived, he asked his brothers how they were doing. | 22David left his supplies in the care of the quartermaster and ran to the battle line. When he arrived, he asked his brothers how they were. |
| 23As he was speaking with them, the champion named Goliath, the Philistine from Gath, was coming up from the battle lines of the Philistines. He spoke the way he usually did, and David heard it. | 23While he was speaking with them, suddenly the champion named Goliath, the Philistine from Gath, came forward from the Philistine battle line and shouted his usual words, which David heard. |
| 24When all the men of Israel saw this man, they retreated from his presence and were very afraid. | 24When all the Israelite men saw Goliath, they retreated from him terrified. |
| 25The men of Israel said, "Have you seen this man who is coming up? He does so to defy Israel. But the king will make the man who can strike him down very wealthy! He will give him his daughter in marriage, and he will make his father's house exempt from tax obligations in Israel." | 25Previously, an Israelite man had declared: "Do you see this man who keeps coming out? He comes to defy Israel. The king will make the man who kills him very rich and will give him his daughter. The king will also make the household of that man's father exempt from paying taxes in Israel." |
| 26David asked the men who were standing near him, "What will be done for the man who strikes down this Philistine and frees Israel from this humiliation? For who is this uncircumcised Philistine, that he defies the armies of the living God?" | 26David spoke to the men who were standing with him: "What will be done for the man who kills that Philistine and removes this disgrace from Israel? Just who is this uncircumcised Philistine that he should defy the armies of the living God?" |
| 27The soldiers told him what had been promised, saying, "This is what will be done for the man who can strike him down." | 27The people told him about the offer, concluding, "That is what will be done for the man who kills him." |
| 28When David's oldest brother Eliab heard him speaking to the men, he became angry with David and said, "Why have you come down here? To whom did you entrust those few sheep in the desert? I am familiar with your pride and deceit! You have come down here to watch the battle!" | 28David's oldest brother Eliab listened as he spoke to the men, and became angry with him. "Why did you come down here?" he asked. "Who did you leave those few sheep with in the wilderness? I know your arrogance and your evil heart--you came down to see the battle!" |
| 29David replied, "What have I done now? Can't I say anything?" | 29"What have I done now?" protested David. "It was just a question." |
| 30Then he turned from those who were nearby to someone else and asked the same question, but they gave him the same answer as before. | 30Then he turned from those beside him to others in front of him and asked about the offer. The people gave him the same answer as before. |
| 31When David's words were overheard and reported to Saul, he called for him. | 31What David said was overheard and reported to Saul, so he had David brought to him. |
| 32David said to Saul, "Don't let anyone be discouraged. Your servant will go and fight this Philistine!" | 32David said to Saul, "Don't let anyone be discouraged by him; your servant will go and fight this Philistine!" |
| 33But Saul replied to David, "You aren't able to go against this Philistine and fight him! You're just a boy! He has been a warrior from his youth!" | 33But Saul replied, "You can't go fight this Philistine. You're just a youth, and he's been a warrior since he was young." |
| 34David replied to Saul, "Your servant has been a shepherd for his father's flock. Whenever a lion or bear would come and carry off a sheep from the flock, | 34David answered Saul: "Your servant has been tending his father's sheep. Whenever a lion or a bear came and carried off a lamb from the flock, |
| 35I would go out after it, strike it down, and rescue the sheep from its mouth. If it rose up against me, I would grab it by its jaw, strike it, and kill it. | 35I went after it, struck it down, and rescued the lamb from its mouth. If it reared up against me, I would grab it by its fur, strike it down, and kill it. |
| 36Your servant has struck down both the lion and the bear. This uncircumcised Philistine will be just like one of them. For he has defied the armies of the living God!" | 36Your servant has killed lions and bears; this uncircumcised Philistine will be like one of them, for he has defied the armies of the living God." |
| 37David went on to say, "The LORD who delivered me from the lion and the bear will also deliver me from the hand of this Philistine!" Then Saul said to David, "Go! The LORD will be with you." | 37Then David said, "The LORD who rescued me from the paw of the lion and the paw of the bear will rescue me from the hand of this Philistine." Saul said to David, "Go, and may the LORD be with you." |
| 38Then Saul clothed David with his own fighting attire and put a bronze helmet on his head. He also put body armor on him. | 38Then Saul had his own military clothes put on David. He put a bronze helmet on David's head and had him put on armor. |
| 39David strapped on his sword over his fighting attire and tried to walk around, but he was not used to them. David said to Saul, "I can't walk in these things, for I'm not used to them." So David removed them. | 39David strapped his sword on over the military clothes and tried to walk, but he was not used to them. "I can't walk in these," David said to Saul, "I'm not used to them." So David took them off. |
| 40He took his staff in his hand, picked out five smooth stones from the stream, placed them in the pouch of his shepherd's bag, took his sling in hand, and approached the Philistine. | 40Instead, he took his staff in his hand and chose five smooth stones from the wadi and put them in the pouch, in his shepherd's bag. Then, with his sling in his hand, he approached the Philistine. |
| 41The Philistine kept coming closer to David, with his shield bearer walking in front of him. | 41The Philistine came closer and closer to David, with the shield-bearer in front of him. |
| 42When the Philistine looked carefully at David, he despised him, for he was only a ruddy and handsome boy. | 42When the Philistine looked and saw David, he despised him because he was just a youth, healthy and handsome. |
| 43The Philistine said to David, "Am I a dog, that you are coming after me with sticks?" Then the Philistine cursed David by his gods. | 43He said to David, "Am I a dog that you come against me with sticks?" Then he cursed David by his gods. |
| 44The Philistine said to David, "Come here to me, so I can give your flesh to the birds of the sky and the wild animals of the field!" | 44"Come here," the Philistine called to David, "and I'll give your flesh to the birds of the sky and the wild beasts!" |
| 45But David replied to the Philistine, "You are coming against me with sword and spear and javelin. But I am coming against you in the name of the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel's armies, whom you have defied! | 45David said to the Philistine: "You come against me with a dagger, spear, and sword, but I come against you in the name of Yahweh of Hosts, the God of Israel's armies--you have defied Him. |
| 46This very day the LORD will deliver you into my hand! I will strike you down and cut off your head. This day I will give the corpses of the Philistine army to the birds of the sky and the wild animals of the land. Then all the land will realize that Israel has a God | 46Today, the LORD will hand you over to me. Today, I'll strike you down, cut your head off, and give the corpses of the Philistine camp to the birds of the sky and the creatures of the earth. Then all the world will know that Israel has a God, |
| 47and all this assembly will know that it is not by sword or spear that the LORD saves! For the battle is the LORD's, and he will deliver you into our hand." | 47and this whole assembly will know that it is not by sword or by spear that the LORD saves, for the battle is the LORD's. He will hand you over to us." |
| 48The Philistine drew steadily closer to David to attack him, while David quickly ran toward the battle line to attack the Philistine. | 48When the Philistine started forward to attack him, David ran quickly to the battle line to meet the Philistine. |
| 49David reached his hand into the bag and took out a stone. He slung it, striking the Philistine on the forehead. The stone sank deeply into his forehead, and he fell down with his face to the ground. | 49David put his hand in the bag, took out a stone, slung it, and hit the Philistine on his forehead. The stone sank into his forehead, and he fell on his face to the ground. |
| 50David prevailed over the Philistine with just the sling and the stone. He struck down the Philistine and killed him. David did not even have a sword in his hand. | 50David defeated the Philistine with a sling and a stone. Even though David had no sword, he struck down the Philistine and killed him. |
| 51David ran and stood over the Philistine. He grabbed Goliath's sword, drew it from its sheath, killed him, and cut off his head with it. When the Philistines saw their champion was dead, they ran away. | 51David ran and stood over him. He grabbed the Philistine's sword, pulled it from its sheath, and used it to kill him. Then he cut off his head. When the Philistines saw that their hero was dead, they ran. |
| 52Then the men of Israel and Judah charged forward, shouting a battle cry. They chased the Philistines to the valley and to the very gates of Ekron. The Philistine corpses lay fallen along the Shaaraim road to Gath and Ekron. | 52The men of Israel and Judah rallied, shouting their battle cry, and chased the Philistines to the entrance of the valley and to the gates of Ekron. Philistine bodies were strewn all along the Shaaraim road to Gath and Ekron. |
| 53When the Israelites returned from their hot pursuit of the Philistines, they looted their camp. | 53When the Israelites returned from the pursuit of the Philistines, they plundered their camps. |
| 54David took the head of the Philistine and brought it to Jerusalem, and he put Goliath's weapons in his tent. | 54David took Goliath's head and brought it to Jerusalem, but he put Goliath's weapons in his own tent. |
| 55Now as Saul watched David going out to fight the Philistine, he asked Abner, the general in command of the army, "Whose son is this young man, Abner?" Abner replied, "As surely as you live, O king, I don't know." | 55 When Saul had seen David going out to confront the Philistine, he asked Abner the commander of the army, "Whose son is this youth, Abner?" "My king, as surely as you live, I don't know," Abner replied. |
| 56The king said, "Find out whose son this boy is!" | 56The king said, "Find out whose son this young man is!" |
| 57So when David returned from striking down the Philistine, Abner took him and brought him before Saul. He still had the head of the Philistine in his hand. | 57When David returned from killing the Philistine, Abner took him and brought him before Saul with the Philistine's head still in his hand. |
| 58Saul said to him, "Whose son are you, young man?" David replied, "I am the son of your servant Jesse in Bethlehem." | 58Saul said to him, "Whose son are you, young man?" "The son of your servant Jesse of Bethlehem," David answered. |
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