42 When the Philistine looked and saw David, he despised him(A) because he was just a youth, healthy[a](B) and handsome. 43 He said to David, “Am I a dog(C) that you come against me with sticks?”[b] Then he cursed David by his gods.(D) 44 “Come here,” the Philistine called to David, “and I’ll give your flesh to the birds of the sky and the wild beasts!”(E)

45 David 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.(F) 46 Today, the Lord will hand you over to me. Today, I’ll strike you down, cut your head off, and give the corpses[c] 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,(G) 47 and this whole assembly will know that it is not by sword or by spear that the Lord saves,(H) for the battle is the Lord’s.(I) He will hand you over to us.”

48 When the Philistine started forward to attack him, David ran quickly to the battle line to meet the Philistine.(J) 49 David 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. 50 David defeated the Philistine with a sling and a stone. Even though David had no sword, he struck down the Philistine and killed him. 51 David ran and stood over him. He grabbed the Philistine’s sword,(K) 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.(L)

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. 1 Samuel 17:42 Or ruddy
  2. 1 Samuel 17:43 Some LXX mss add and stones?” And David said, “No! Worse than a dog!”
  3. 1 Samuel 17:46 LXX reads give your limbs and the limbs

42 He looked David over and saw that he was little more than a boy, glowing with health and handsome,(A) and he despised(B) him. 43 He said to David, “Am I a dog,(C) that you come at me with sticks?” And the Philistine cursed David by his gods. 44 “Come here,” he said, “and I’ll give your flesh to the birds(D) and the wild animals!(E)

45 David said to the Philistine, “You come against me with sword and spear and javelin,(F) but I come against you in the name(G) of the Lord Almighty, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied.(H) 46 This day the Lord will deliver(I) you into my hands, and I’ll strike you down and cut off your head. This very day I will give the carcasses(J) of the Philistine army to the birds and the wild animals, and the whole world(K) will know that there is a God in Israel.(L) 47 All those gathered here will know that it is not by sword(M) or spear that the Lord saves;(N) for the battle(O) is the Lord’s, and he will give all of you into our hands.”

48 As the Philistine moved closer to attack him, David ran quickly toward the battle line to meet him. 49 Reaching into his bag and taking out a stone, he slung it and struck the Philistine on the forehead. The stone sank into his forehead, and he fell facedown on the ground.

50 So David triumphed over the Philistine with a sling(P) and a stone; without a sword in his hand he struck down the Philistine and killed him.

51 David ran and stood over him. He took hold of the Philistine’s sword and drew it from the sheath. After he killed him, he cut(Q) off his head with the sword.(R)

When the Philistines saw that their hero was dead, they turned and ran.

Read full chapter