| New King James Version | English Standard Version |
| 1Now the Philistines gathered their armies together to battle, and were gathered at Sochoh, which belongs to Judah; they encamped between Sochoh and Azekah, in Ephes Dammim. | 1Now the Philistines gathered their armies for battle. And they were gathered at Socoh, which belongs to Judah, and encamped between Socoh and Azekah, in Ephes-dammim. |
| 2And Saul and the men of Israel were gathered together, and they encamped in the Valley of Elah, and drew up in battle array against the Philistines. | 2And Saul and the men of Israel were gathered, and encamped in the Valley of Elah, and drew up in line of battle against the Philistines. |
| 3The Philistines stood on a mountain on one side, and Israel stood on a mountain on the other side, with a valley between them. | 3And the Philistines stood on the mountain on the one side, and Israel stood on the mountain on the other side, with a valley between them. |
| 4And a champion went out from the camp of the Philistines, named Goliath, from Gath, whose height was six cubits and a span. | 4And there came out from the camp of the Philistines a champion named Goliath of Gath, whose height was six cubits and a span. |
| 5He had a bronze helmet on his head, and he was armed with a coat of mail, and the weight of the coat was five thousand shekels of bronze. | 5He had a helmet of bronze on his head, and he was armed with a coat of mail, and the weight of the coat was five thousand shekels of bronze. |
| 6And he had bronze armor on his legs and a bronze javelin between his shoulders. | 6And he had bronze armor on his legs, and a javelin of bronze slung between his shoulders. |
| 7Now the staff of his spear was like a weaver’s beam, and his iron spearhead weighed six hundred shekels; and a shield-bearer went before him. | 7The shaft of his spear was like a weaver’s beam, and his spear’s head weighed six hundred shekels of iron. And his shield-bearer went before him. |
| 8Then he stood and cried out to the armies of Israel, and said to them, “Why have you come out to line up for battle? Am I not a Philistine, and you the servants of Saul? Choose a man for yourselves, and let him come down to me. | 8He stood and shouted to the ranks of Israel, “Why have you come out to draw up for battle? Am I not a Philistine, and are you not servants of Saul? Choose a man for yourselves, and let him come down to me. |
| 9If he is able to fight with me and kill me, then we will be your servants. But if I prevail against him and kill him, then you shall be our servants and serve us.” | 9If he is able to fight with me and kill me, then we will be your servants. But if I prevail against him and kill him, then you shall be our servants and serve us.” |
| 10And the Philistine said, “I defy the armies of Israel this day; give me a man, that we may fight together.” | 10And the Philistine said, “I defy the ranks of Israel this day. Give me a man, that we may fight together.” |
| 11When Saul and all Israel heard these words of the Philistine, they were dismayed and greatly afraid. | 11When Saul and all Israel heard these words of the Philistine, they were dismayed and greatly afraid. |
| 12Now David was the son of that Ephrathite of Bethlehem Judah, whose name was Jesse, and who had eight sons. And the man was old, advanced in years, in the days of Saul. | 12Now David was the son of an Ephrathite of Bethlehem in Judah, named Jesse, who had eight sons. In the days of Saul the man was already old and advanced in years. |
| 13The three oldest sons of Jesse had gone to follow Saul to the battle. The names of his three sons who went to the battle were Eliab the firstborn, next to him Abinadab, and the third Shammah. | 13The three oldest sons of Jesse had followed 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. |
| 14David was the youngest. And the three oldest followed Saul. | 14David was the youngest. The three eldest followed Saul, |
| 15But David occasionally went and returned from Saul to feed his father’s sheep at Bethlehem. | 15but David went back and forth from Saul to feed his father’s sheep at Bethlehem. |
| 16And the Philistine drew near and presented himself forty days, morning and evening. | 16For forty days the Philistine came forward and took his stand, morning and evening. |
| 17Then Jesse said to his son David, “Take now for your brothers an ephah of this dried grain and these ten loaves, and run to your brothers at the camp. | 17And Jesse said to David his son, “Take for your brothers an ephah of this parched grain, and these ten loaves, and carry them quickly to the camp to your brothers. |
| 18And carry these ten cheeses to the captain of their thousand, and see how your brothers fare, and bring back news of them.” | 18Also take these ten cheeses to the commander of their thousand. See if your brothers are well, and bring some token from them.” |
| 19Now Saul and they and all the men of Israel were in the Valley of Elah, fighting with the Philistines. | 19Now Saul and they and all the men of Israel were in the Valley of Elah, fighting with the Philistines. |
| 20So David rose early in the morning, left the sheep with a keeper, and took the things and went as Jesse had commanded him. And he came to the camp as the army was going out to the fight and shouting for the battle. | 20And David rose early in the morning and left the sheep with a keeper and took the provisions and went, as Jesse had commanded him. And he came to the encampment as the host was going out to the battle line, shouting the war cry. |
| 21For Israel and the Philistines had drawn up in battle array, army against army. | 21And Israel and the Philistines drew up for battle, army against army. |
| 22And David left his supplies in the hand of the supply keeper, ran to the army, and came and greeted his brothers. | 22And David left the things in charge of the keeper of the baggage and ran to the ranks and went and greeted his brothers. |
| 23Then as he talked with them, there was the champion, the Philistine of Gath, Goliath by name, coming up from the armies of the Philistines; and he spoke according to the same words. So David heard them. | 23As he talked with them, behold, the champion, the Philistine of Gath, Goliath by name, came up out of the ranks of the Philistines and spoke the same words as before. And David heard him. |
| 24And all the men of Israel, when they saw the man, fled from him and were dreadfully afraid. | 24All the men of Israel, when they saw the man, fled from him and were much afraid. |
| 25So the men of Israel said, “Have you seen this man who has come up? Surely he has come up to defy Israel; and it shall be that the man who kills him the king will enrich with great riches, will give him his daughter, and give his father’s house exemption from taxes in Israel.” | 25And the men of Israel said, “Have you seen this man who has come up? Surely he has come up to defy Israel. And 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.” |
| 26Then David spoke to the men who stood by him, saying, “What shall 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 defy the armies of the living God?” | 26And David said to the men who stood by him, “What shall 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 defy the armies of the living God?” |
| 27And the people answered him in this manner, saying, “So shall it be done for the man who kills him.” | 27And the people answered him in the same way, “So shall it be done to the man who kills him.” |
| 28Now Eliab his oldest brother heard when he spoke to the men; and Eliab’s anger was aroused against David, and he said, “Why did you come down here? And with whom have you left those few sheep in the wilderness? I know your pride and the insolence of your heart, for you have come down to see the battle.” | 28Now Eliab his eldest brother heard when he spoke to the men. And Eliab’s anger was kindled 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 presumption and the evil of your heart, for you have come down to see the battle.” |
| 29And David said, “What have I done now? Is there not a cause?” | 29And David said, “What have I done now? Was it not but a word?” |
| 30Then he turned from him toward another and said the same thing; and these people answered him as the first ones did. | 30And he turned away from him toward another, and spoke in the same way, and the people answered him again as before. |
| 31Now when the words which David spoke were heard, they reported them to Saul; and he sent for him. | 31When the words that David spoke were heard, they repeated them before Saul, and he sent for him. |
| 32Then David said to Saul, “Let no man’s heart fail because of him; your servant will go and fight with this Philistine.” | 32And David said to Saul, “Let no man’s heart fail because of him. Your servant will go and fight with this Philistine.” |
| 33And Saul said to David, “You are not able to go against this Philistine to fight with him; for you are a youth, and he a man of war from his youth.” | 33And Saul said to David, “You are not able to go against this Philistine to fight with him, for you are but a youth, and he has been a man of war from his youth.” |
| 34But David said to Saul, “Your servant used to keep his father’s sheep, and when a lion or a bear came and took a lamb out of the flock, | 34But David said to Saul, “Your servant used to keep sheep for his father. And when there came a lion, or a bear, and took a lamb from the flock, |
| 35I went out after it and struck it, and delivered the lamb from its mouth; and when it arose against me, I caught it by its beard, and struck and killed it. | 35I went after him and struck him and delivered it out of his mouth. And if he arose against me, I caught him by his beard and struck him and killed him. |
| 36Your servant has killed both lion and bear; and this uncircumcised Philistine will be like one of them, seeing he has defied the armies of the living God.” | 36Your servant has struck down both lions and bears, and this uncircumcised Philistine shall be like one of them, for he has defied the armies of the living God.” |
| 37Moreover 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 the LORD be with you!” | 37And David said, “The LORD who delivered me from the paw of the lion and from the paw of the bear will deliver me from the hand of this Philistine.” And Saul said to David, “Go, and the LORD be with you!” |
| 38So Saul clothed David with his armor, and he put a bronze helmet on his head; he also clothed him with a coat of mail. | 38Then Saul clothed David with his armor. He put a helmet of bronze on his head and clothed him with a coat of mail, |
| 39David fastened his sword to his armor and tried to walk, for he had not tested them. And David said to Saul, “I cannot walk with these, for I have not tested them.” So David took them off. | 39and David strapped his sword over his armor. And he tried in vain to go, for he had not tested them. Then David said to Saul, “I cannot go with these, for I have not tested them.” So David put them off. |
| 40Then he took his staff in his hand; and he chose for himself five smooth stones from the brook, and put them in a shepherd’s bag, in a pouch which he had, and his sling was in his hand. And he drew near to the Philistine. | 40Then he took his staff in his hand and chose five smooth stones from the brook and put them in his shepherd’s pouch. His sling was in his hand, and he approached the Philistine. |
| 41So the Philistine came, and began drawing near to David, and the man who bore the shield went before him. | 41And the Philistine moved forward and came near to David, with his shield-bearer in front of him. |
| 42And when the Philistine looked about and saw David, he disdained him; for he was only a youth, ruddy and good-looking. | 42And when the Philistine looked and saw David, he disdained him, for he was but a youth, ruddy and handsome in appearance. |
| 43So the Philistine said to David, “Am I a dog, that you come to me with sticks?” And the Philistine cursed David by his gods. | 43And the Philistine said to David, “Am I a dog, that you come to me with sticks?” And the Philistine cursed David by his gods. |
| 44And the Philistine said to David, “Come to me, and I will give your flesh to the birds of the air and the beasts of the field!” | 44The Philistine said to David, “Come to me, and I will give your flesh to the birds of the air and to the beasts of the field.” |
| 45Then 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 the LORD of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied. | 45Then David said to the Philistine, “You come to me with a sword and with a spear and with 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 defied. |
| 46This day the LORD will deliver you into my hand, and I will strike you and take your head from you. And this day I will give the carcasses of the camp of the Philistines to the birds of the air and the wild beasts of the earth, that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel. | 46This day the LORD will deliver you into my hand, and I will strike you down and cut off your head. And I will give the dead bodies of the host of the Philistines this day to the birds of the air and to the wild beasts of the earth, that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel, |
| 47Then all this assembly 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.” | 47and that all this assembly may know that the LORD saves not with sword and spear. For the battle is the LORD’s, and he will give you into our hand.” |
| 48So it was, when the Philistine arose and came and drew near to meet David, that David hurried and ran toward the army to meet the Philistine. | 48When the Philistine arose and came and drew near to meet David, David ran quickly toward the battle line to meet the Philistine. |
| 49Then David put his hand in his bag and took out a stone; and he slung it and struck the Philistine in his forehead, so that the stone sank into his forehead, and he fell on his face to the earth. | 49And David put his hand in his bag and took out a stone and slung it and struck the Philistine on his forehead. The stone sank into his forehead, and he fell on his face to the ground. |
| 50So David prevailed over the Philistine with a sling and a stone, and struck the Philistine and killed him. But there was no sword in the hand of David. | 50So David prevailed over the Philistine with a sling and with a stone, and struck the Philistine and killed him. There was no sword in the hand of David. |
| 51Therefore David ran and stood over the Philistine, took his sword and drew it out of its sheath and killed him, and cut off his head with it. And when the Philistines saw that their champion was dead, they fled. | 51Then 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. |
| 52Now the men of Israel and Judah arose and shouted, and pursued the Philistines as far as the entrance of the valley and to the gates of Ekron. And the wounded of the Philistines fell along the road to Shaaraim, even as far as Gath and Ekron. | 52And the men of Israel and Judah rose with a shout and pursued the Philistines as far as Gath and the gates of Ekron, so that the wounded Philistines fell on the way from Shaaraim as far as Gath and Ekron. |
| 53Then the children of Israel returned from chasing the Philistines, and they plundered their tents. | 53And the people of Israel came back from chasing the Philistines, and they plundered their camp. |
| 54And David took the head of the Philistine and brought it to Jerusalem, but he put his armor in his tent. | 54And David took the head of the Philistine and brought it to Jerusalem, but he put his armor in his tent. |
| 55When Saul saw David going out against the Philistine, he said to Abner, the commander of the army, “Abner, whose son is this youth?” And Abner said, “As your soul lives, O king, I do not know.” | 55As soon as Saul saw David go out against the Philistine, he said to Abner, the commander of the army, “Abner, whose son is this youth?” And Abner said, “As your soul lives, O king, I do not know.” |
| 56So the king said, “Inquire whose son this young man is.” | 56And the king said, “Inquire whose son the boy is.” |
| 57Then, 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. | 57And as soon as David returned from the striking down of the Philistine, Abner took him, and brought him before Saul with the head of the Philistine in his hand. |
| 58And Saul said to him, “Whose son are you, young man?” So David answered, “I am the son of your servant Jesse the Bethlehemite.” | 58And Saul said to him, “Whose son are you, young man?” And David answered, “I am the son of your servant Jesse the Bethlehemite.” |
| The Holy Bible, New King James Version, Copyright © 1982 Thomas Nelson. All rights reserved. | ESV Text Edition: 2016. The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®) copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. The ESV® text has been reproduced in cooperation with and by permission of Good News Publishers. Unauthorized reproduction of this publication is prohibited. All rights reserved. |
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