1 Samuel 7

1 The men of Kiriath Jearim came and took up the ark of the LORD and brought it into the house of Abinadab, which was on the hill, and sanctified Eleazar his son to keep the ark of the LORD.

Que’ di Kiriath-Jearim vennero, menarono su l’arca dell’Eterno, e la trasportarono in casa di Abinadab, sulla collina, e consacrarono il suo figliuolo Eleazar, perché custodisse l’arca dell’Eterno.

2 It happened, from the day that the ark stayed in Kiriath Jearim, that the time was long; for it was twenty years: and all the house of Israel lamented after the LORD.

Ora dal giorno che l’arca era stata collocata a Kiriath-Jearim era passato molto tempo, vent’anni erano trascorsi e tutta la casa d’Israele sospirava, anelando all’Eterno.

3 Samuel spoke to all the house of Israel, saying, "If you do return to the LORD with all your heart, then put away the foreign gods and the Ashtaroth from among you, and direct your hearts to the LORD, and serve him only; and he will deliver you out of the hand of the Philistines."

Allora Samuele parlò a tutta la casa d’Israele dicendo: “Se tornate all’Eterno con tutto il vostro cuore, togliete di mezzo a voi gli dèi stranieri e gl’idoli di Astarte, volgete risolutamente il cuor vostro verso l’Eterno, e servite a lui solo; ed egli vi libererà dalle mani dei Filistei”.

4 Then the children of Israel removed the Baals and the Ashtaroth, and served the LORD only.

E i figliuoli d’Israele tolsero via gl’idoli di Baal e di Astarte, e servirono all’Eterno soltanto.

5 Samuel said, "Gather all Israel to Mizpah, and I will pray for you to the LORD."

Poi Samuele disse: “Radunate tutto Israele a Mitspa, e io pregherò l’Eterno per voi”.

6 They gathered together to Mizpah, and drew water, and poured it out before the LORD, and fasted on that day, and said there, "We have sinned against the LORD." Samuel judged the children of Israel in Mizpah.

Ed essi si adunarono a Mitspa, attinsero dell’acqua e la sparsero davanti all’Eterno, e digiunarono quivi quel giorno, e dissero: “Abbiamo peccato contro l’Eterno”. E Samuele fece la funzione di giudice d’Israele a Mitspa.

7 When the Philistines heard that the children of Israel were gathered together at Mizpah, the lords of the Philistines went up against Israel. When the children of Israel heard it, they were afraid of the Philistines.

Quando i Filistei seppero che i figliuoli d’Israele s’erano adunati a Mitspa, i principi loro salirono contro Israele. La qual cosa avendo udita i figliuoli d’Israele, ebbero paura dei Filistei,

8 The children of Israel said to Samuel, "Do not cease to cry to the LORD your God for us, that he will save us out of the hand of the Philistines."

e dissero a Samuele: “Non cessare di gridar per noi all’Eterno, all’Iddio nostro, affinché ci liberi dalle mani dei Filistei”.

9 Samuel took a suckling lamb, and offered it for a whole burnt offering to the LORD: and Samuel cried to the LORD for Israel; and the LORD answered him.

E Samuele prese un agnello di latte e l’offerse intero in olocausto all’Eterno; e gridò all’Eterno per Israele, e l’Eterno l’esaudì.

10 As Samuel was offering up the burnt offering, the Philistines drew near to battle against Israel; but the LORD thundered with a great thunder on that day on the Philistines, and confused them; and they were struck down before Israel.

Ora mentre Samuele offriva l’olocausto, i Filistei s’avvicinarono per assalire Israele; ma l’Eterno tuonò quel giorno con gran fracasso contro i Filistei, e li mise in rotta, talché furono sconfitti dinanzi a Israele.

11 The men of Israel went out of Mizpah, and pursued the Philistines, and struck them, as far as below Beth Kar.

Gli uomini d’Israele uscirono da Mitspa, inseguirono i Filistei, e li batterono fin sotto Beth-Car.

12 Then Samuel took a stone, and set it between Mizpah and Jashan, and called its name Ebenezer, saying, "The LORD helped us until now."

Allora Samuele prese una pietra, la pose tra Mitspa e Scen, e la chiamò Eben-Ezer, dicendo: “Fin qui l’Eterno ci ha soccorsi”.

13 So the Philistines were subdued, and they came no more within the territory of Israel. The hand of the LORD was against the Philistines all the days of Samuel.

I Filistei furono umiliati, e non tornaron più ad invadere il territorio d’Israele; e la mano dell’Eterno fu contro i Filistei per tutto il tempo di Samuele.

14 The cities which the Philistines had taken from Israel were restored to Israel, from Ekron even to Gath; and Israel recovered its territory out of the hand of the Philistines. There was peace between Israel and the Amorites.

Le città che i Filistei aveano prese ad Israele, tornarono ad Israele, da Ekron fino a Gath. Israele liberò il loro territorio dalle mani dei Filistei. E vi fu pace fra Israele e gli Amorei.

15 Samuel judged Israel all the days of his life.

E Samuele fu giudice d’Israele per tutto il tempo della sua vita.

16 He went from year to year in circuit to Bethel and Gilgal, and Mizpah; and he judged Israel in all those places.

Egli andava ogni anno a fare il giro di Bethel, di Ghilgal e di Mitspa, ed esercitava il suo ufficio di giudice d’Israele in tutti quei luoghi.

17 His return was to Ramah, for there was his house; and there he judged Israel: and he built there an altar to the LORD.

Poi tornava a Rama, dove stava di casa; quivi fungeva da giudice d’Israele, e quivi edificò un altare all’Eterno.