1 Samuel 17:8-16

New International Reader's Version

⁸ Goliath stood there and shouted to the soldiers of Israel. He said, “Why do you come out and line up for battle? I’m a Philistine. You are servants of Saul. Choose one of your men. Have him come down and face me. ⁹ If he’s able to fight and kill me, we’ll become your slaves. But if I win and kill him, you will become our slaves and serve us.” ¹⁰ Goliath continued, “This day I dare the soldiers of Israel to send a man down to fight against me.” ¹¹ Saul and the whole army of Israel heard what the Philistine said. They were terrified.

¹² David was the son of an Ephrathite whose name was Jesse. Jesse was from Bethlehem in Judah and had eight sons. When Saul was king, Jesse was already very old. ¹³ Jesse’s three oldest sons had followed Saul into battle. The oldest son was Eliab. The second was Abinadab. The third was Shammah. ¹⁴ David was the youngest. The three oldest sons followed Saul. ¹⁵ But David went back and forth from Saul’s camp to Bethlehem. He went to Bethlehem to take care of his father’s sheep.

¹⁶ Every morning and evening Goliath came forward and stood there. He did it for 40 days.