24. When the Israelites saw Goliath, they were very much afraid and ran away.
25. They said, “Look at this man Goliath. He keeps coming out to speak against Israel. The king will give much money to the man who kills Goliath. He will also give his daughter in marriage to whoever kills him. And his father’s family will not have to pay taxes in Israel.”
26. David asked the men who stood near him, “What will be done to reward the man who kills this Philistine? What will be done for whoever takes away the shame from Israel? Goliath is a Philistine. He is not circumcised. Why does he think he can speak against the armies of the living God?”
27. The Israelites told David what they had been saying. They said, “This is what will be done for the man who kills Goliath.”
28. David’s oldest brother Eliab heard David talking with the soldiers. He became angry with David. He asked David, “Why did you come here? Who’s taking care of those few sheep of yours in the desert? I know you are proud. Your attitude is very bad. You came down here just to watch the battle!”
29. David asked, “Now what have I done wrong? Can’t I even talk?”
30. He then turned to other people and asked the same questions. And they gave him the same answer as before.
31. Some men heard what David said and told Saul. Then Saul ordered David to be sent to him.
32. David said to Saul, “Don’t let anyone be discouraged. I, your servant, will go and fight this Philistine!”
33. Saul answered, “You can’t go out against this Philistine and fight him. You’re only a boy. Goliath has been a warrior since he was a young man.”
34. But David said to Saul, “I, your servant, have been keeping my father’s sheep. When a lion or bear came and took a sheep from the flock,
35. I would chase it. I would attack it and save the sheep from its mouth. When it attacked me, I caught it by its fur. I would hit it and kill it.
36. I, your servant, have killed both a lion and a bear! Goliath, the Philistine who is not circumcised, will be like the lion or bear I killed. He will die because he has stood against the armies of the living God.
37. The Lord saved me from a lion and a bear. He will also save me from this Philistine.”Saul said to David, “Go, and may the Lord be with you.”
38. Saul put his own clothes on David. He put a bronze helmet on David’s head and armor on his body.