I reached the camp as the army was going out to its battle positions, shouting the war cry. I left my things and ran to the battle line and asked my sisters how they were. They had assembled their poison javelin and, knowing that I had helped to kill both the lion and the bear, said “Join us, and the LORD be with you.” As the strongest of the group I was to wrestle the creature once on the ground. His sword and spear had been taken from him but we were still wary of the powers that come to one who knows he is being killed. We swept his legs from beneath him and threw him to the ground. I threw myself atop the adversary to keep him still. The poison javelin was precise in its cuts and drew only a drop of blood.
The poison we had readied was not strong enough. Another dagger was hastily prepared and the veins of the beast, still struggling for its life and not knowing why it had to die, were cut once again. The beast fought on. Exhausted, I continued my struggle against Goliath.
I was the youngest son, he who tends to the sheep, wrestling with the giant and his bronze armor weighing five thousand shekels. I was he who had rescued sheep from danger and was to help kill this uncircumcised Philistine.
But I had not come against this giant in the name of the LORD Almighty, the God of the armies of Israel, whom he defiled. I came against this giant in the name of those relish in death and poverty. I came against this giant in the name of those who gamble on the fates of the living with money stolen from them. I came against this giant in the name of those who slaughter he who cannot pay tribute. I came against this giant to murder it, for tribute could not be paid.
Twice struck with poisoned javelin, the beast roared and tried to bite with its bound jaws. We had only weakened it. Another poison javelin was assembled. This third javelin was to be driven into the heart. Like a stone in the forehead, the spike sunk into the chest.
As Goliath did, he fell facedown on the ground.
As Goliath was, he was a dog and we came at him with sticks.
