²⁸ When Eliab, David’s oldest brother, heard him speaking with the men, he burned with anger^(A) at him and asked, “Why have you come down here? And with whom did you leave those few sheep in the wilderness? I know how conceited you are and how wicked your heart is; you came down only to watch the battle.”

²⁹ “Now what have I done?” said David. “Can’t I even speak?” ³⁰ He then turned away to someone else and brought up the same matter, and the men answered him as before. ³¹ What David said was overheard and reported to Saul, and Saul sent for him.

³² David said to Saul, “Let no one lose heart^(B) on account of this Philistine; your servant will go and fight him.”

³³ Saul replied,^(C) “You are not able to go out against this Philistine and fight him; you are only a young man, and he has been a warrior from his youth.”