24. Tampirān Muyimpu... Śāūlameleh (David and the Mosquito)

The story of how a mosquito helped young David to kill Goliath by biting the giant's forehead, so that he lifted his helmet and was hit by David’s stone. It begins with King Saul prormising his daughter and half the kingdom to the one who could kill the Philistine. The second half of each line is repeated.

Text

May God be for us the first help.
Shaul Hamelekh was asking and asking,
"With His help, who can go kill the Philistine?"
David the son of Ishai answered:
"With God's help I will go and kill him.”

"In that case, I will give my daughter,
And half my kingdom I'll also give."

Then David prayed to God, praising and saying:
"My God created me and I called out to Him,
Called out in my suffering and God heard my prayer.
He saved me from the great abyss.

***

Oh Lord Who rules over the nations,
I praise You, I praise You in so many ways.
You are the One who created the whole world.
But -- I have two problems.
How wonderful it is to see the rain!"
David submitted before the Lord,
"But why should there be a spider, such a fragile creature?
And why the mosquito, so small it can't be seen?"

Then the word came forth from the Father of Heaven:
"I did not create any thing which is useless."

He went out and searched the sea and the hills,
But he did not find a powerful animal.
Then David Hamelekh mounted a horse,
And then he fell into a pit.
It was there that he composed psalms,
One hundred and fifty mizmorim.
And there he remembered the three fathers.
Then swift as a tiger he sprang out of the pit,
Taking up a catapult and some stones.

Goliath the Philistine came with his army,
Girded in rattling armor he came.
Then said he, Goliath the Philistine:
"Do you bring stones to throw at an animal?"

"You are the one born of animals.
By God's grace I will defeat you!"

Then the mosquito resolved to humble him.
It stood on the forehead of Goliath the Philistine.
So Goliath lifted his metal helmet.
Just then David hit him with a stone from the sling.
When it struck the giant Philistine's forehead,
He fell on his face on the ground and he died.
The rest of the Philistines all ran away.
So David Mashiah got rid of the Philistine.
May God the Eternal be blessed, be blessed, be blessed.