And Jesse said unto David his son, "Take now…an ephah of this parched corn, and these ten loaves, and run to the camp to your brothers…."

And David rose up early in the morning, and left the sheep with a keeper, and took, and went, as Jesse had commanded him; and he came to the trench, as the army was going out to the fight, and shouted for the battle.

And as he talked with them, look, there came up the champion, the Philistine of Gath, Goliath by name…and spoke according to the same words..."I defy the armies of Israel this day; give me a man, that we may fight together. If he be able to fight with me, and to kill me, then will we be your servants: but if I prevail against him, and kill him, then shall you be our servants, and serve us." And David heard them. And David said to Saul, "Let no man's heart fail because of Goliath; your servant will go and fight with this Philistine."

And Saul said to David, "You are not able to go against this Philistine to fight with him: for you are but a youth, and he a man of war from his youth."

David said…, "The LORD that delivered me out of the paw of the lion, and out of the paw of the bear, he will deliver me out of the hand of this Philistine."

And Saul said unto David, "Go, and the LORD be with you."

And David took his staff in his hand, and chose him five smooth stones out of the brook, and put them in a shepherd's bag which he had…and his sling was in his hand: and he drew near to the Philistine. And the Philistine…drew near unto David; and the man that held the shield went before Goliath.

And when the Philistine looked about, and saw David, he despised him: for David was but a youth, and ruddy, and of a fair countenance. And the Philistine said unto David, "Am I a dog, that you come to me with sticks and stones?" And the Philistine cursed David by his gods. And…said to him, "Come to me, and I will give your flesh unto the fowls of the air, and to the beasts of the field."

Then said David to the Philistine, "You come to me with a sword, and with a spear, and with a shield: but I come to you in the name of the LORD of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied. This day will the LORD deliver you into my hand; and I will strike you, and take your head from you; and I will give the carcasses of the army of the Philistines this day unto the fowls of the air, and to the wild beasts of the earth; that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel. And all this assembly shall know that the LORD saves not with sword and spear: for the battle is the LORD'S, and he will give you into our hands."

And it came to pass, when the Philistine…drew near to meet David, that David hurried, and ran toward the army to meet the Philistine. And David put his hand in his bag, and took from there a stone, and slung it, and struck the Philistine in his forehead, that the stone sunk into his forehead; and he fell upon his face to the earth. So David prevailed over the Philistine with a sling and with a stone, and struck the Philistine, and killed him; but there was no sword in the hand of David. So David ran, and stood upon the Philistine, and took his sword…and cut off his head….

And when the Philistines saw their champion was dead, they fled. And the men of Israel and of Judah arose, and shouted, and pursued the Philistines, until they come to the valley, and to the gates of Ekron. And the wounded of the Philistines fell down by the way to Shaaraim, even unto Gath, and unto Ekron.

As David returned from the slaughter of the Philistine, Abner took him, and brought him before Saul with the head of the Philistine in his hand. And Saul took him that day, and would let him go no more home to his father's house. And David went out whereever Saul sent him, and behaved himself wisely: and Saul set him over the men of war, and he was accepted in the sight of all the people, and also in the sight of Saul's servants.
But the Spirit of the LORD departed from Saul, and an evil spirit from the LORD troubled him. And it came to pass, when the evil spirit from God was upon Saul, that David took a harp, and played with his hand: so Saul was refreshed, and was well, and the evil spirit departed from him.

A Psalm of David

"The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.
He makes me to lie down in green pastures: he leads me beside the still waters. He restores my soul: he leads me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake.
Truly, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
I will fear no evil: for you are with me; your rod and your staff they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies:
You anoint my head with oil; my cup runs over.
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life:
And I will live in the house of the LORD forever."

Michtam of David

Preserve me, O God: for in you do I put my trust.
O my soul, you have said unto the LORD, ‘You are my Lord’:
My goodness is nothing apart from you….
Their sorrows shall be multiplied that hurries after another god:
Their drink offerings of blood will I not offer, nor take up their names into my lips. The LORD is the portion of my inheritance and of my cup:
You maintain my lot…yes, I have a goodly heritage.
I will bless the LORD, who has given me counsel:
My heart also instructs me in the night seasons.
I have set the LORD always before me:
Because he is at my right hand, I shall not be moved.
Therefore my heart is glad, and my glory rejoices:
My flesh also shall rest in hope.
For you will not leave my soul in the grave;
Neither will you suffer your Holy One to see corruption.
You will show me the path of life: in your presence is fullness of joy,
At your right hand there are pleasures for evermore.
Your word have I hid in my heart, that I might not sin against you.

A Psalm of David

LORD, who shall abide in your tabernacle?
Who shall dwell in your holy hill?
He that walks uprightly, and works righteousness,
And speaks the truth in his heart.
He that backbites not with his tongue, nor does evil to his neighbor,
Nor takes up a reproach against his neighbor.
In whose eyes a wicked person is condemned;
But he honors them that fear the LORD.
He that swears to his own hurt, and changes not.
He that puts not out his money to interest,
Nor takes reward against the innocent.
He that does these things shall never be moved.

To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David

The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament shows his handiwork. Day unto day utters speech, and night unto night shows knowledge.
There is no speech nor language, where their voice is not heard.
Their line is gone out through all the earth,
And their words to the end of the world.
The law of the LORD is perfect, converting the soul:
The testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple.
The statutes of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart:
The commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes.
The fear of the LORD is clean, enduring forever:
The judgments of the LORD are true and righteous altogether.
More to be desired are they than gold, yes, than much fine gold:
Sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb.
Furthermore by them is your servant warned:
And in keeping of them there is great reward.
Who can understand his errors?
Cleanse…me from secret faults.
Keep back your servant also from presumptuous sins;
Let them not have dominion over me:
Then shall I be upright, and I shall be innocent from the great transgression.
Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart,
Be acceptable in your sight, O LORD, my strength, and my redeemer.

To the chief Musician upon Gittith, A Psalm of David

O LORD our Lord, how excellent is Your name in all the earth!
Who has set your glory above the heavens.
Out of the mouth of babes and nursing infants have you established strength
Because of your enemies, that you might still the enemy and the avenger.
When I consider your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, Which you have set in place;
What is man, that your are mindful of him?
And the son of man, that you visit him?
For you have made him a little lower than the angels,
And have crowned him with glory and honor.
You made him to have dominion over the works of your hands;
You have put all things under his feet:
All sheep and oxen, yes, and the beasts of the field;
The fowl of the air, and the fish of the sea,
And whatever passes through the paths of the seas.
O LORD our Lord, how excellent is your name in all the earth!

And Saul was afraid of David, because the LORD was with him, and was departed from Saul. Therefore Saul removed David from him, and made him his captain over a thousand; and he went out and came in before the people. And David behaved himself wisely in all his ways; and the LORD was with him. So when Saul saw that David behaved himself very wisely, he was afraid of him. But all Israel and Judah loved David.… And Michal Saul's daughter loved David: and they told Saul, and the thing pleased him.

And Saul said, "I will give him her, that she may be a snare to him, and that the hand of the Philistines may be against him." And Saul gave him Michal his daughter to wife.

And Saul saw and knew that the LORD was with David, and that Michal Saul's daughter loved him. And Saul was yet the more afraid of David; and Saul became David's enemy continually. Saul also sent messengers unto David's house, to watch him, and to kill him in the morning….

… Michtam of David; when Saul sent, and they watched the house to kill him

"Deliver me from my enemies, O my God:
Defend me from them that rise up against me.
Deliver me from the workers of iniquity, and save me from bloody men.
For, lo, they lie in wait for my soul: the mighty are gathered against me,
Not for my transgression, nor for my sin, O LORD.
They run and prepare themselves without my fault: awake to help me, and look.
You therefore, O LORD God of hosts, the God of Israel,
Awake to visit all the heathen: be not merciful to any wicked transgressors.
Because of his strength will I wait upon you: for God is my defense.
The God of my mercy shall keep me:
God shall let me see my desire upon my enemies.
I will sing of your power; yes, I will sing aloud of your mercy in the morning: For you have been my defense and refuge in the day of my trouble.
Unto you, O my strength, will I sing:
For God is my defense, and the God of my mercy."

Then David fled, and escaped, and came to Samuel to Ramah, and told him all that Saul had done to him. And he and Samuel went and lived in Naioth.

Then came David to Nob to Ahimelech the priest…. And David said unto Ahimelech…. "Give me five loaves of bread in my hand, or what there is present." So the priest gave him holy bread: for there was no bread there but the bread of the Presence, that was taken from before the LORD, to replace it with hot bread in the day when the old was taken away.

And David arose, and fled that day for fear of Saul, and went to Achish the king of Gath. And everyone that was in distress, and everyone that was in debt, and everyone that was discontented, gathered themselves unto him; and he became a captain over them: and there were with him about four hundred men.

And David stayed in the wilderness in strong holds, and remained in a mountain in the wilderness of Ziph. And Saul sought him every day, but God delivered him not into his hand. And Saul gave Michal his daughter, David's wife, to Phalti the son of Laish, which was of Gallim.

... A Psalm of David, when the Ziphims came and said to Saul, "Does not David hide himself with us?"

"Save me, O God, by your name, and judge me by your strength.
Hear my prayer, O God; give ear to the words of my mouth.
For strangers have risen up against me, and oppressors seek after my soul:
They have not set God before them….
Behold, God is my helper: the Lord is with them that uphold my soul.
He shall reward evil unto my enemies: cut them off in your truth.
I will freely sacrifice unto you:
I will praise your name, O LORD; for it is good.
For he has delivered me out of all trouble:
And my eye has seen his desire upon my enemies."

Then Saul took three thousand chosen men out of all Israel, and went to seek David and his men upon the rocks of the wild goats.

And Saul came to the sheepfolds by the way, where was a cave; and Saul went in… and David and his men remained in the sides of the cave.

And the men of David said unto him, "Look, the day of which the LORD said unto you, ‘Behold, I will deliver your enemy into your hand, that you may do to him as it shall seem good unto you.’" Then David arose, and cut off the skirt of Saul's robe secretly.

And it came to pass afterward, that David's heart troubled him, because he had cut off Saul's skirt. And he said unto his men, "The LORD forbid that I should do this thing unto my master, the LORD'S anointed, to stretch out my hand against him, seeing he is the anointed of the LORD." So David stayed his servants with these words, and permitted them not to rise against Saul. But Saul rose up out of the cave, and went on his way.

…Michtam of David, when he fled from Saul in the cave

Be merciful unto me, O God, be merciful unto me:
For my soul trusts in you:
Yes, in the shadow of your wings will I make my refuge,
Until these calamities be over.
I will cry unto God most high; unto God that performs all things for me.
He shall send from heaven,
And save me from the reproach of him that would swallow me up….
God shall send forth his mercy and his truth.
Be you exalted, O God, above the heavens,
Let your glory be above all the earth.
They have prepared a net for my steps; my soul is bowed down:
They have dug a pit before me,
Into the midst where they are fallen themselves….
My heart is fixed, O God, my heart is fixed:
I will sing and give praise….
I will praise you, O Lord, among the people:
I will sing unto you among the nations.
For your mercy is great unto the heavens,
And your truth unto the clouds.
Be you exalted, O God, above the heavens:
Let your glory be above all the earth.

And Samuel died; and all the Israelites were gathered together, and mourned for him, and buried him in his house at Ramah. And David arose, and went down to the wilderness of Paran.

REFERENCES

1 Samuel 17:17, 20, 23ab, 10; 1 Samuel 17: 9, 23c, 32-33, 37, 40-52, 57; 1 Samuel 18:2, 5; 1 Samuel 16:14, 23, Psalms 23:1-6; Psalms 16:1-11; Psalm 119:11; Psalms 15:1-5; Psalms 19:1-14; Psalms 8:1-9; 1 Samuel 18:12-16, 20-21a, 27b-29; 1 Samuel 19:11; Psalms 59:1-5,9-10,16-17; 1 Samuel 19:18; 1 Samuel 21:1a, 2a, 3,6, 10; 1 Samuel 22:2; 1 Samuel 23:14; 1 Samuel 25:44; Psalms 54:1-7; 1 Samuel 24:2-7; Psalms 57:1-11; 1 Samuel 25:1.

CHAPTER 24