I defy the armies of Israel
this day; give me a man, that we may
fight together!"
When King Saul heard these words, he
was dismayed, and all the men of Israel,
when they saw the man, fled from him
and were sore afraid. David heard them
talking among themselves, whispering and
murmuring. They were saying, "Have ye
seen this man that is come up? Surely
if any one killeth him that man will the
king make rich; perhaps he will give him
his daughter in marriage, and make his
family free in Israel!"
David heard this, and he asked the men
if it were so. It was surely so, they said.
"But," said David, "who is this Philistine,
that he should defy the armies of
the living God?" And he was stirred with
anger.
Very soon, some of the officers told the
king about the youth who was asking so
many questions, and who said that a mere
Philistine should not be let defy the armies
of the living God. Immediately Saul sent
for him. When David came before Saul,
he said to the king, "Let no man's heart
fail because of him; thy servant will go and
fight with this Philistine."
But Saul looked at David, and said,
"Thou art not able to go against this
Philistine, to fight with him, for thou art but a
youth, and he has been a man of war from
his youth."
Then David said to Saul, "Once I was
keeping my father's sheep, and there came
a lion and a bear, and took a lamb out of
the flock; and I went out after the lion,
and struck him, and delivered the lamb
out of his mouth, and when he arose against
me, I caught him by the beard, and struck
him, and slew him! Thy servant slew both
the lion and the bear; and this Philistine
shall be as one of them, for he hath defied
the armies of the living God.
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