David

Who is David? His life from shepherd to king, his encounter with Goliath and his psalms. Read the key chapters now.

David is described in the Old Testament as a figure who rose from shepherd to king. He is known for his courage before Goliath, his mistakes and sincere repentance, and the psalms attributed to him. The chapters below gather key moments of his life and the psalms he wrote in the language of prayer. Each link takes you straight to the reading page.

Read the chapters

• 1 Samuel 17
• 2 Samuel 7
• Psalms 23

  The best-known psalm pictures God as a shepherd who guides and protects, offering trust and comfort in the darkest moments.

• Psalms 51

  A heartfelt prayer of repentance, pleading for God's mercy, a clean heart and inner renewal after failure.

Related topics

• Repentance
• Prayer
• Courage and Leadership

Related places

• Jerusalem
• Babylon
• Shiloh

Related verse collections

• Bible Verses About Hope
• Bible Verses About Prayer
• Bible Verses of Comfort
• Bible Verses About Fear and Anxiety
• Bible Verses About Forgiveness
• Bible Verses About Patience
• Bible Verses About Thankfulness
• Bible Verses About Creation
• Bible Verses About Courage
• Bible Verses About Repentance
• Bible Verses About Family
• Bible Verses About Justice
• Bible Verses About Anger
• Bible Verses About Holiness
• Bible Verses About Waiting on God
• Bible Verses About Faithfulness
• Bible Verses About Loneliness
• Bible Verses About New Beginnings
• Bible Verses About Guidance
• Bible Verses About God's Protection
• Bible Verses About Trials and Testing
• Bible Verses About Joy
• Bible Verses About Healing
• Bible Verses About Strength
• Bible Verses About Peace and Rest
• Bible Verses About God's Promises
• Bible Verses About Mercy
• Bible Verses About Friendship
• Bible Verses About Honesty

Reading plans

• The Bible for Beginners — 10 Days
• 30 Days in the Psalms — Prayer and Praise
• Advent — 24 Days to Christmas
• The Bible in a Year — 365 Days from Cover to Cover

Related guides

• What Is the Zebur (Book of Psalms)?

  What is the Zebur, does it correspond to the book of Psalms and what does it contain? A short, neutral guide to the Zebur's place in the Bible.

Books

• 1 Samuel
• 2 Samuel
• Psalms

People in the Bible

• People in the Bible

Did David write the psalms?

Many of the poems in the book of Psalms are traditionally attributed to David; Psalm 23 and Psalm 51, a prayer of repentance, are among the most-read of them.

Where is the account of David and Goliath?

David's encounter with Goliath is told in 1 Samuel 17 and is one of the best-known examples of the theme of courage.