o kill
me, then will we be your servants," ran the message; "but if I prevail
against him, and kill him, then shall ye be our servants."

This challenge he repeated for forty days, but there was no man found
among the men of Israel who dared to go out against Goliath of Gath.

Then Saul made it known that whoever could kill Goliath should have
great riches, should marry the princess his daughter, and win great
honour for himself and for his family.

Now when David reached the place with the food for his brothers, he was
amazed to see that the men of Israel were so much afraid, and he asked,
"Who is this Philistine, that he should defy the armies of the living
God?" And those who stood around told him how the giant warrior had
come out day after day, and how the king had promised to enrich the man
who should slay him.

Then it was told to King Saul how David had come and had asked about
the king's promise. So the king sent for the youth; and when he had
been brought in, David said, "Let no man's heart be troubled, for thy
servant will go and fight with the Philistine." But Saul said, "Thou
art not able to go out against him; for thou art but a youth, and he a
man of war from his youth."

Then David told Saul how he had killed with his own hands a fierce
lion, and a bear which had stolen a lamb from the flock. "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," he said
simply. And Saul said, "Go, and the Lord be with thee."

The king then armed David with his own armour; but the mail was too
heavy for the young man, and he said, "I cannot fight with these, for I
have not tested them." So he took his shepherd's staff in his hand,
and choosing five smooth stones out of the brook, put them in his
shepherd's bag; and with his sling in his hand he drew near to the
Philistine.

When Goliath looked at David he was filled with scorn, and disdained
him; for he was but a youth, as any one could plainly see. And with a
frown upon his face he said angrily, "Am I a dog, that thou comest to
me with staves? I will give thy flesh unto the fowls of the air, and
to the beasts of the field."

Then David said to the boastful Philistine, "Thou comest to me with a
sword, and with a spear, and with a shield: but I come to thee in the
name of the Lord of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom thou
hast defied. This day will the L