STORIES FROM THE BIBLE ---5--5

 

The Fight with the Giant --2

 

     They said to the another ; " If any man will go out and kill this Philistine, the king will give him a great reward and a high rank ; and the king's daughter shall be his wife." And David said : " Who is the man that speaks in this proud manner against the armies of the living God? Why does not some one go out and kill him? If no one else will go , I will go

out and fight with this enemy of the Lord's people." They brought David before king Saul.

Saul said to David : " You can not fight with this great giant. You are very young ; and he

is a man of war, trained from his youth."

 

     And David answered King Saul : " I am only a shepherd, but I have fought with lions

and bears, when they have tried to steal my sheep. And I am not afraid  to fight  with the Philistine." David took his shephered's staff in his hand, as though that were to be his weapon. But out of sight, in a bag under his mantle, he have five smooth stones carefully chosen, and a sling, - the weapon that he knew how to use. Then he came out to meet

the Philistine.

 

     The giant look down on the youth and despised him and laughed. " Am I a dog?" He said, "that this boy comes to me with a staff? I will give this body to the birds of the air, and the beasts of the field." And the Philistine cursed David by the Gods of his people.

And David answered him: " You come aginst me with a sword, and a spear, and a dart ;

but I come to you in the name of the Lord of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel. This day will the Lord give yiou into my hand. I will strike you down , and take off your head,

and the host of the Philistines shall be dead bodies, to be eaten by the birds and the beasts ; so that all may know that there is a God in Israel, and that He can save in other ways besides with sword and spear."