First Reading
1 Samuel 17:32-33, 37, 40-51
Read this as the first big movement of the day. Notice what God is doing, who is speaking, and what part of the story or teaching should stay with you.
32And when he was brought to him, he said to him: Let not any man's heart be dismayed in him: I your servant will go, and will fight against the Philistine.
33And Saul said to David: You art not able to withstand this Philistine, nor to fight against him: for you art but a boy, but he is a warrior from his youth.
37And David said: The Lord who rescued 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 to David: Go, and the Lord be with you.
40And he took his staff, which he had always in his hands: and chose him five smooth stones out of the brook, and put them into the shepherd's scrip, which he had with him, and he took a sling in his hand, and went forth against the Philistine.
41And the Philistine came on, and drew nigh against David, and his armourbearer before him.
42And when the Philistine looked, and saw David, he despised him. For he was a young man, ruddy, and of a comely face.
43And the Philistine said to David: Am I a dog, that you come to me with a staff? And the Philistine cursed David by his gods.
44And he said to David: Come to me, and I will give your flesh to the birds of the air, and to the beasts of the earth.
45And David said 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, which you have defied.
46This day, and the Lord will deliver you into my hand, and I will kill you, and take away your head from you: and I will give the carcasses of the army of the Philistines this day to the birds of the air, and to the beasts of the earth: that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel.
47And all this assembly shall know, that the Lord saveth not with sword and spear: for it is his battle, and he will deliver you into our hands.
48And when the Philistine arose and was coming, and drew nigh to meet David, David made haste, and ran to the fight to meet the Philistine.
49And he put his hand into his scrip, and took a stone, and cast it with the sling, and fetching it about struck the Philistine in the forehead: and the stone was fixed in his forehead, and he fell on his face upon the earth.
50And David prevailed over the Philistine, with a sling and a stone, and he struck, and slew the Philistine. And as David had no sword in his hand,
51He ran, and stood over the Philistine, and took his sword, and drew it out of the sheath, and slew him, and cut off his head. And the Philistines seeing that their champion was dead, fled away.