1 Samuel 7

1 The men of Kiriath Jearim came and took the LORD’s ark, and brought it into Abinadab’s house on the hill, and consecrated Eleazar his son to keep the LORD’s ark.

基列‧耶琳人就下來，將耶和華的約櫃接上去，放在山上亞比拿達的家中，分派他兒子以利亞撒看守耶和華的約櫃。

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

約櫃在基列‧耶琳許久。過了二十年，以色列全家都傾向耶和華。

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

撒母耳對以色列全家說：「你們若一心歸順耶和華，就要把外邦的神和亞斯她錄從你們中間除掉，專心歸向耶和華，單單地事奉他。他必救你們脫離非利士人的手。」

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

以色列人就除掉諸巴力和亞斯她錄，單單地事奉耶和華。

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

撒母耳說：「要使以色列眾人聚集在米斯巴，我好為你們禱告耶和華。」

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.

他們就聚集在米斯巴，打水澆在耶和華面前，當日禁食，說：「我們得罪了耶和華。」於是撒母耳在米斯巴審判以色列人。

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.

非利士人聽見以色列人聚集在米斯巴，非利士的首領就上來要攻擊以色列人。以色列人聽見，就懼怕非利士人。

8 The children of Israel said to Samuel, “Don’t stop crying to the LORD our God for us, that he will save us out of the hand of the Philistines.”

以色列人對撒母耳說：「願你不住地為我們呼求耶和華－我們的上帝，救我們脫離非利士人的手。」

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

撒母耳就把一隻吃奶的羊羔獻與耶和華作全牲的燔祭，為以色列人呼求耶和華；耶和華就應允他。

10 As Samuel was offering up the burnt offering, the Philistines came 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.

撒母耳正獻燔祭的時候，非利士人前來要與以色列人爭戰。當日，耶和華大發雷聲，驚亂非利士人，他們就敗在以色列人面前。

11 The men of Israel went out of Mizpah and pursued the Philistines, and struck them until they came under Beth Kar.

以色列人從米斯巴出來，追趕非利士人，擊殺他們，直到伯‧甲的下邊。

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

撒母耳將一塊石頭立在米斯巴和善的中間，給石頭起名叫以便以謝，說：「到如今耶和華都幫助我們。」

13 So the Philistines were subdued, and they stopped coming within the border of Israel. The LORD’s hand was against the Philistines all the days of Samuel.

從此，非利士人就被制伏，不敢再入以色列人的境內。撒母耳作士師的時候，耶和華的手攻擊非利士人。

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

非利士人所取以色列人的城邑，從以革倫直到迦特，都歸以色列人了。屬這些城的四境，以色列人也從非利士人手下收回。那時以色列人與亞摩利人和好。

15 Samuel judged Israel all the days of his life.

撒母耳平生作以色列的士師。

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

他每年巡行到伯特利、吉甲、米斯巴，在這幾處審判以色列人。

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

隨後回到拉瑪，因為他的家在那裏；也在那裏審判以色列人，且為耶和華築了一座壇。