out and thundered, "Why do you fight against

us?

Send out one man who shall meet me

in battle and slay me if he can!"

And, as he shouted, the Israelites all fell back afraid.

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Who is this Philistine that he can frighten the Israelites, the chosen people of God?" David cried.

But David's brother was angry when he heard David's words. "What know you of battle," he sneered, "you who art a tender of sheep?"

But some one had told Saul what David had said, and Saul, ready to lean upon anybody or anything, sent for David.

And

when David came into the presence of Saul,

he cried, "O fear not this Philistine!

I myself

will go out to fight him!"

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But thou art a mere boy," Saul said.

"Thou art unused to battle, and this giant is armed with sword and spear."

"True, I know little of battle and am unused to the sword and spear. But I am not weak. One day a lion and a bear came to my flock and I ran and took away the lamb and slew the lion and the bear. For it was God who gave me strength. So will he help me to contend against this giant."

Then Saul said, "Go, brave boy; and may the Lord be with thee!" Then Saul took his own sword and spear and gave it to David. But David took them not. "I know not how to use them," he said; "but I have with me my sling, and it is with this I will fight."

So David chose five smooth stones and put them into his shepherd's bag and went out to meet the giant.

When Goliath saw David, he roared with

laughter.

Hast thou come out to kill me?"

he said. "Thou, a boy! Come to me and let me at once give thy body to the birds of the air for food!"

But David shrank not. "Thou comest to me with sword and spear," he called back to the giant, "but I come to thee in the name of the Lord, God of Israel!

“I know thou art very strong and I am very weak but God is with me, and he is stronger than thou!

He will give me power to conquer and to slay thee; for the battle is God's, and he will give thee into my. hands."

And, with these brave words, David ran out to meet Goliath. He took one of the smooth stones and put it into his sling and shot it at the giant. Straight through the air

it flew and hit the giant in the forehead, so that he fell, stunned, to the ground. Then David ran and took the giant's sword, and cut off his head, and held it up before the people.

A great cry of terror went up from the Philistines who had seen their great commander fall, they hardly knew why; and they turned and fled. Then the Israelites pursued them and drove them, scattered, into the forests and across the plains.

Then Saul took the head of Goliath and carried it to Jerusalem; and the Israelites held a great feast and rejoiced in their victory. Now, although David before this had played and sung to Saul, that king had forgotten him. So that now when he came into the tent he said, "Who art thou?"

And David answered, "I am David, the

son of Jesse, of Bethlehem."