Old Testament

New Testament

1 Samuel 17:9-16 Catholic Public Domain Version (CPDV)

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. 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. And Saul and all the Israelites, hearing these words of the Philistine in this manner, were stupefied and exceedingly afraid.

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. 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. But David was the youngest. Therefore, when the three eldest had followed Saul,

15. David went away from Saul, and he returned, so that he might pasture the flock of his father at Bethlehem.

16. Truly, the Philistine advanced morning and evening, and he stood forth, for forty days.

Read complete chapter 1 Samuel 17