23. While he was speaking with them, suddenly the champion named Goliath, the Philistine from Gath, came forward from the Philistine battle line and shouted his usual words, which David heard.
24. When all the Israelite men saw Goliath, they retreated from him terrified.
25. Previously, an Israelite man had declared: “Do you see this man who keeps coming out? He comes to defy Israel. The king will make the man who kills him very rich and will give him his daughter. The king will also make the household of that man’s father exempt from paying taxes in Israel.”
26. David spoke to the men who were standing with him: “What will be done for the man who kills that Philistine and removes this disgrace from Israel? Just who is this uncircumcised Philistine that he should defy the armies of the living God? ”
27. The people told him about the offer, concluding, “That is what will be done for the man who kills him.”
28. David’s oldest brother Eliab listened as he spoke to the men, and became angry with him. “Why did you come down here? ” he asked. “Who did you leave those few sheep with in the wilderness? I know your arrogance and your evil heart — you came down to see the battle! ”
29. “What have I done now? ” protested David. “It was just a question.”
30. Then he turned from those beside him to others in front of him and asked about the offer. The people gave him the same answer as before.
31. What David said was overheard and reported to Saul, so he had David brought to him.
32. David said to Saul, “Don’t let anyone be discouraged by him; your servant will go and fight this Philistine! ”
33. But Saul replied, “You can’t go fight this Philistine. You’re just a youth, and he’s been a warrior since he was young.”
34. David answered Saul: “Your servant has been tending his father’s sheep. Whenever a lion or a bear came and carried off a lamb from the flock,
35. I went after it, struck it down, and rescued the lamb from its mouth. If it reared up against me, I would grab it by its fur, strike it down, and kill it.