Ritröð Guðfræðistofnunar - 01.01.2011, Page 20

“What shall be done for the man who kills this Philistine, and takes away
the reproach from Israel? For who is this uncircumcised Philistine that he
should defy the armies of the living God?” 27The people answered him in
the same way, “So shall it be done for the man who kills him.”
28His eldest brother Eliab heard him talking to the men; and Eliab’s
anger was kindled against David. He said, “Why have you come down?
With whom have you left those few sheep in the wilderness? I know your
presumption and the evil of your heart; for you have come down just to see
the battle.” 29David said, “What have I done now? It was only a question.”
30He turned away from him toward another and spoke in the same way;
and the people answered him again as before.
31When the words that David spoke were heard, they repeated them
before Saul; and he sent for him. 32David said to Saul, “Let no one’s heart
fail because of him; your servant will go and fight with this Philistine.”
33Saul said to David, “You are not able to go against this Philistine to fight
with him; for you are just a boy, and he has been a warrior from his youth.”
34But David said to Saul, “Your servant used to keep sheep for his father;
and whenever a lion or a bear came, and took a lamb from the flock, 35I
went after it and struck it down, rescuing the lamb from its mouth; and if
it turned against me, I would catch it by the jaw, strike it down, and kill
it. 36Your servant has killed both lions and bears; and this uncircumcised
Philistine shall be like one of them, since he has defied the armies of the
living God.” 37David said, “The Lord, who saved me from the paw of
the lion and from the paw of the bear, will save me from the hand of this
Philistine.” So Saul said to David, “Go, and may the Lord be with you!”
38Saul clothed David with his armor; he put a bronze helmet on his
head and clothed him with a coat of mail. 39David strapped Saul’s sword
over the armor, and he tried in vain to walk, for he was not used to them.
Then David said to Saul, “I cannot walk with these; for I am not used
to them.” So David removed them. 40Then he took his staff in his hand,
and chose five smooth stones from the wadi, and put them in his shep-
herd’s bag, in the pouch; his sling was in his hand, and he drew near to
the Philistine.
41The Philistine came on and drew near to David, with his shield-bearer
in front of him. 42When the Philistine looked and saw David, he disdained
him, for he was only a youth, ruddy and handsome in appearance. 43The
Philistine said to David, “Am I a dog, that you come to me with sticks?”
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