I Samuel 17

vayya'asfu felishtim et-makhanehem lammilkhamah vayye'asefu sokhoh asher lihudah vayyakhanu ben-sokhoh uven-azeqah be'efes dammim

The Philistines assembled their forces for battle; they massed at Socoh of Judah, and encamped at Ephes-dammim, between Socoh and Azekah.

vesha'ul ve'ish-yisra'el ne'esfu vayyakhanu be'emeq ha'elah vayya'arkhu milkhamah liqrat pelishtim

Saul and the rest of Israel’s side massed and encamped in the valley of Elah. They drew up their line of battle against the Philistines,

ufelishtim omedim el-hahar mizzeh veyisra'el omedim el-hahar mizzeh vehaggay benehem

with the Philistines stationed on one hill and Israel stationed on the opposite hill; the ravine was between them.

vayyetse ish-habbenayim mimmakhanot pelishtim golyat shemo miggat govho shesh ammot vazaret

A champion of the Philistine forces stepped forward; his name was Goliath of Gath, and he was six cubits and a span tall.

vekhova nekhoshet al-rosho veshiryon qasqassim hu lavush umishqal hashiryon khameshet-alafim sheqalim nekhoshet

He had a bronze helmet on his head, and wore a breastplate of scale armor, a bronze breastplate weighing five thousand shekels.

umitskhat nekhoshet al-raglayw vekhidon nekhoshet ben ketefayw

He had bronze greaves on his legs, and a bronze javelin [slung] from his shoulders.

(vkhts) [ve'ets] khanito kimnor oregim velahevet khanito shesh-me'ot sheqalim barzel venose hatsinnah holekh lefanayw

The shaft of his spear was like a weaver’s bar, and the iron head of his spear weighed six hundred shekels; and the shield-bearer marched in front of him.

vayya'amod vayyiqra el-ma'arkhot yisra'el vayyomer lahem lammah tetse'u la'arokh milkhamah halo anokhi happelishti ve'attem avadim lesha'ul beru-lakhem ish veyered elay

He stopped and called out to the ranks of Israel and he said to them, “Why should you come out to engage in battle? I am the Philistine [champion], and you are Saul’s servants. Choose your man and let him come down against me.

im-yukhal lehillakhem itti vehikkani vehayinu lakhem la'avadim ve'im-ani ukhal-lo vehikkitiv vihyitem lanu la'avadim va'avadtem otanu

If he bests me in combat and kills me, we will become your slaves; but if I best him and kill him, you shall be our slaves and serve us.”

vayyomer happelishti ani kherafti et-ma'arkhot yisra'el hayyom hazzeh tenu-li ish venillakhamah yakhad

And the Philistine ended, “So I now defy the ranks of Israel. Get me a man and let’s fight it out!”

vayyishma sha'ul vekhol-yisra'el et-divre happelishti ha'elleh vayyekhattu vayyiru me'od

When Saul and all Israel heard these words of the Philistine, they were dismayed and terror-stricken.

vedavid ben-ish efrati hazzeh mibbet lekhem yehudah ushemo yishay velo shemonah vanim veha'ish bime sha'ul zaqen ba va'anashim

David was the son of a certain Ephrathite of Bethlehem in Judah whose name was Jesse. He had eight sons, and in the days of Saul the man was already old, advanced in years.

vayyelekhu sheloshet bene-yishay haggedolim halekhu akhare-sha'ul lammilkhamah veshem sheloshet banayw asher halekhu bammilkhamah eli'av habbekhor umishnehu avinadav vehashelishi shammah

The three oldest sons of Jesse had left and gone with Saul to the war. The names of his three sons who had gone to the war were Eliab the first-born, the next Abinadab, and the third Shammah;

vedavid hu haqqatan usheloshah haggedolim halekhu akhare sha'ul

and David was the youngest. The three oldest had followed Saul,

vedavid holekh vashav me'al sha'ul lirot et-tson aviv bet lakhem

and David would go back and forth from attending on Saul to shepherd his father’s flock at Bethlehem.

vayyiggash happelishti hashkem veha'arev vayyityatsev arba'im yom

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

vayyomer yishay ledavid beno qakh-na le'akhekha efat haqqali hazzeh va'asarah lekhem hazzeh veharets hammakhaneh le'akhekha

Jesse said to his son David, “Take an ephah of this parched corn and these ten loaves of bread for your brothers, and carry them quickly to your brothers in camp.

ve'et aseret kharitse hekhalav ha'elleh tavi lesar-ha'alef ve'et-akhekha tifqod leshalom ve'et-arubbatam tiqqakh

Take these ten cheeses to the captain of their thousand. Find out how your brothers are and bring some token from them.”

vesha'ul vehemmah vekhol-ish yisra'el be'emeq ha'elah nilkhamim im-pelishtim

Saul and the brothers and everyone else on Israel’s side were in the valley of Elah, in the war against the Philistines.

vayyashkem david babboqer vayyittosh et-hatson al-shomer vayyissa vayyelekh ka'asher tsivvahu yishay vayyavo hammagalah vehakhayil hayyotse el-hamma'arakhah vehere'u bammilkhamah

Early next morning, David left someone in charge of the flock, took [the provisions], and set out, as his father Jesse had instructed him. He reached the barricade as the army was going out to the battle lines shouting the war cry.

vatta'arokh yisra'el ufelishtim ma'arakhah liqrat ma'arakhah

Israel and the Philistines drew up their battle lines opposite each other.

vayyittosh david et-hakkelim me'alayw al-yad shomer hakkelim vayyarots hamma'arakhah vayyavo vayyishal le'ekhayw leshalom

David left his baggage with the man in charge of the baggage and ran toward the battle line and went to greet his brothers.

vehu medabber immam vehinneh ish habbenayim oleh golyat happelishti shemo miggat (mmrvt) [mimma'arkhot] pelishtim vayedabber kaddevarim ha'elleh vayyishma david

While he was talking to them, the champion, whose name was Goliath, the Philistine of Gath, stepped forward from the Philistine ranks and spoke the same words as before; and David heard him.

vekhol ish yisra'el birotam et-ha'ish vayyanusu mippanayw vayyire'u me'od

When everyone on Israel’s side saw the man, they fled in terror.

vayyomer ish yisra'el harre'item ha'ish ha'oleh hazzeh ki lekharef et-yisra'el oleh vehayah ha'ish asher-yakkennu yasherennu hammelekh osher gadol ve'et-bitto yitten-lo ve'et bet aviv ya'aseh khofshi beyisra'el

And on Israel’s side they were saying, “Do you see that man coming out? He comes out to defy Israel! The one who kills him will be rewarded by the king with great riches; he’ll also give him his daughter in marriage and grant exemption to his father’s house in Israel.”

vayyomer david el-ha'anashim ha'omedim immo lemor mah-yye'aseh la'ish asher yakkeh et-happelishti hallaz vehesir kherpah me'al yisra'el ki mi happelishti he'arel hazzeh ki kheref ma'arkhot elohim khayyim

David asked the men standing near him, “What’ll be done for the one who kills that Philistine and removes the disgrace from Israel? Who is that uncircumcised Philistine that he dares defy the ranks of the living God?”

vayyomer lo ha'am kaddavar hazzeh lemor koh ye'aseh la'ish asher yakkennu

The troops told him in the same words what would be done for the one who killed him.

vayyishma eli'av akhiv haggadol bedabbero el-ha'anashim vayyikhar-af eli'av bedavid vayyomer lammah-zzeh yaradta ve'al-mi natashta me'at hatson hahennah bammidbar ani yadati et-zedonekha ve'et roa levavekha ki lema'an re'ot hammilkhamah yaradeta

When Eliab, his oldest brother, heard him speaking to the men, Eliab became angry with David and said, “Why did you come down here, and with whom did you leave those few sheep in the wilderness? I know your impudence and your impertinence: you came down to watch the fighting!”

vayyomer david meh asiti attah halo davar hu

But David replied, “What have I done now? I was only asking!”

vayyissov me'etslo el-mul akher vayyomer kaddavar hazzeh vayeshivuhu ha'am davar kaddavar harishon

And he turned away from him toward someone else; he asked the same question, and the troops gave him the same answer as before.

vayyishame'u haddevarim asher dibber david vayyaggidu lifne-sha'ul vayyiqqakhehu

The things David said were overheard and were reported to Saul, who had him brought over.

vayyomer david el-sha'ul al-yippol lev-adam alayw avdekha yelekh venilkham im-happelishti hazzeh

David said to Saul, “Let no man’s courage fail him. Your servant will go and fight that Philistine!”

vayyomer sha'ul el-david lo tukhal lalekhet el-happelishti hazzeh lehillakhem immo ki-na'ar attah vehu ish milkhamah minne'urayw

But Saul said to David, “You cannot go to that Philistine and fight him; you are only a boy, and he has been a warrior from his youth!”

vayyomer david el-sha'ul ro'eh hayah avdekha le'aviv batson uva ha'ari ve'et-haddov venasa seh meha'eder

David replied to Saul, “Your servant has been tending his father’s sheep, and if a lion or a bear came and carried off an animal from the flock,

veyatsati akharayw vehikkitiv vehitsalti mippiv vayyaqom alay vehekhezaqti bizqano vehikkitiv vahamittiv

I would go after it and fight it and rescue it from its mouth. And if it attacked me, I would seize it by the beard and strike it down and kill it.

gam et-ha'ari gam-haddov hikkah avdekha vehayah happelishti he'arel hazzeh ke'akhad mehem ki kheref ma'arkhot elohim khayyim

Your servant has killed both lion and bear; and that uncircumcised Philistine shall end up like one of them, for he has defied the ranks of the living God.

vayyomer david Adonai asher hitsilani miyyad ha'ari umiyyad haddov hu yatsileni miyyad happelishti hazzeh vayyomer sha'ul el-david lekh va-Adonai yihyeh immakh

GOD,” David went on, “who saved me from lion and bear will also save me from that Philistine.” “Then go,” Saul said to David, “and may GOD be with you!”

vayyalbesh sha'ul et-david maddayw venatan qova nekhoshet al-rosho vayyalbesh oto shiryon

Saul clothed David in his own garment; he placed a bronze helmet on his head and fastened a breastplate on him.

vayyakhgor david et-kharbo me'al lemaddayw vayyo'el lalekhet ki lo-nissah vayyomer david el-sha'ul lo ukhal lalekhet ba'elleh ki lo nissiti vayesirem david me'alayw

David girded his sword over his garment. Then he tried to walk; but he was not used to it. And David said to Saul, “I cannot walk in these, for I am not used to them.” So David took them off.

vayyiqqakh maqlo beyado vayyivkhar-lo khamisha khalluqe-avanim min-hannakhal vayyasem otam bikhli haro'im asher-lo uvayyalqut veqalo veyado vayyiggash el-happelishti

He took his stick, picked a few smooth stones from the wadi, put them in the pocket of his shepherd’s bag and, sling in hand, he went toward the Philistine.

vayyelekh happelishti holekh veqarev el-david veha'ish nose hatsinnah lefanayw

The Philistine, meanwhile, was coming closer to David, preceded by his shield-bearer.

vayyabbet happelishti vayyireh et-david vayyivzehu ki-hayah na'ar ve'admoni im-yefeh mareh

When the Philistine caught sight of David, he scorned him, for he was but a lad, ruddy and handsome.

vayyomer happelishti el-david hakhelev anokhi ki-attah va-elay bammaqlot vayeqallel happelishti et-david belohayw

And the Philistine called out to David, “Am I a dog that you come against me with sticks?” The Philistine cursed David by his gods;

vayyomer happelishti el-david lekhah elay ve'ettenah et-besarekha le'of hashamayim ulevehemat hassadeh

and the Philistine said to David, “Come here, and I will give your flesh to the birds of the sky and the beasts of the field.”

vayyomer david el-happelishti attah ba elay bekherev uvakhanit uvekhidon ve'anokhi va-elekha beshem Adonai tseva'ot elohe ma'arkhot yisra'el asher kherafta

David replied to the Philistine, “You come against me with sword and spear and javelin; but I come against you in the name of GOD of Hosts, the God of the ranks of Israel, whom you have defied.

hayyom hazzeh yesaggerkha Adonai beyadi vehikkitikha vahasiroti et-roshekha me'alekha venatatti peger makhaneh felishtim hayyom hazzeh le'of hashamayim ulekhayyat ha'arets veyede'u kol-ha'arets ki yesh elohim leyisra'el

This very day GOD will deliver you into my hands. I will kill you and cut off your head; and I will give the carcasses of the Philistine camp to the birds of the sky and the beasts of the earth. All the earth shall know that there is a God in Israel.

veyede'u kol-haqqahal hazzeh ki-lo bekherev uvakhanit yehoshia Adonai ki la-Adonai hammilkhamah venatan etkhem beyadenu

And this whole assembly shall know that GOD can give victory without sword or spear. For the battle is GOD’s, and you will be delivered into our hands.”

vehayah ki-qam happelishti vayyelekh vayyiqrav liqrat david vayemaher david vayyarots hamma'arakhah liqrat happelishti

When the Philistine began to advance toward him again, David quickly ran up to the battle line to face the Philistine.

vayyishlakh david et-yado el-hakkeli vayyiqqakh misham even vayeqalla vayyakh et-happelishti el-mitskho vattitba ha'even bemitskho vayyippol al-panayw aretsah

David put his hand into the bag; he took out a stone and slung it. It struck the Philistine in the forehead; the stone sank into his forehead, and he fell face down on the ground.

vayyekhezaq david min-happelishti baqqela uva'even vayyakh et-happelishti vayemitehu vekherev en beyad-david

Thus David bested the Philistine with sling and stone; he struck him down and killed him. David had no sword;

vayyarots david vayya'amod el-happelishti vayyiqqakh et-kharbo vayyishlefah mittarah vayemotetehu vayyikhrot-bah et-rosho vayyiru happelishtim ki-met gibboram vayyanusu

so David ran up and stood over the Philistine, grasped his sword and pulled it from its sheath; and with it he dispatched him and cut off his head. When the Philistines saw that their warrior was dead, they ran.

vayyaqumu anshe yisra'el vihudah vayyari'u vayyirdefu et-happelishtim ad-bo'akha gay ve'ad sha'are eqron vayyippelu khalle felishtim bederekh sha'arayim ve'ad-gat ve'ad-eqron

The men of Israel and Judah rose up with a war cry and they pursued the Philistines all the way to Gai and up to the gates of Ekron; the Philistines fell mortally wounded along the road to Shaaraim up to Gath and Ekron.

vayyashuvu bene yisra'el middeloq akhare felishtim vayyashossu et-makhanehem

Then the Israelites returned from chasing the Philistines and looted their camp.

vayyiqqakh david et-rosh happelishti vayevi'ehu yerushalai͏m ve'et-kelayw sam be'oholo

David took the head of the Philistine and brought it to Jerusalem; and he put his weapons in his own tent.

vekhirot sha'ul et-david yotse liqrat happelishti amar el-avner sar hatsava ben-mi-zeh hanna'ar avner vayyomer avner khe-nafshekha hammelekh im-yada'eti

When Saul saw David going out to assault the Philistine, he asked his army commander Abner, “Whose son is that young man, Abner?” And Abner replied, “By your life, Your Majesty, I do not know.”

vayyomer hammelekh she'al attah ben-mi-zeh ha'alem

“Then find out whose son that young fellow is,” the king ordered.

ukheshuv david mehakkot et-happelishti vayyiqqakh oto avner vayevi'ehu lifne sha'ul verosh happelishti beyado

So when David returned after killing the Philistine, Abner took him and brought him to Saul, with the head of the Philistine still in his hand.

vayyomer elayw sha'ul ben-mi attah hanna'ar vayyomer david ben-avdekha yishay bet hallakhmi

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