1 Samuel 7
1 So the people of Kiriath-jearim came and took the Ark of the Lord. They put it in Abinadab's house on the hill. They dedicated his son Eleazar to take care of the Ark of the Lord.
基列·耶琳人就下来，将耶和华的约柜接上去，放在山上亚比拿达的家中，分派他儿子以利亚撒看守耶和华的约柜。
2 The Ark remained there in Kiriath-jearim from that day for a long time, in fact for twenty years. Everyone in Israel mourned and in repentance came back to the Lord.
约柜在基列·耶琳许久。过了二十年，以色列全家都倾向耶和华。
3 Then Samuel said to all of Israel, “If you sincerely wish to come back to the Lord, then get rid of the foreign gods and the Ashtoreth images you have, and commit yourselves to the Lord and only worship him, and he will save you from the Philistines.”
撒母耳对以色列全家说：“你们若一心归顺耶和华，就要把外邦的神和亚斯她录从你们中间除掉，专心归向耶和华，单单地事奉他。他必救你们脱离非利士人的手。”
4 The people of Israel got rid of their Baals and Ashtoreth images and worshiped only the Lord.
以色列人就除掉诸巴力和亚斯她录，单单地事奉耶和华。
5 Then Samuel said, “Have all the people of Israel gather at Mizpah, and I will pray to the Lord for you.”
撒母耳说：“要使以色列众人聚集在米斯巴，我好为你们祷告耶和华。”
6 Once they had gathered at Mizpah, they drew water and poured it out before the Lord. They fasted that day, and admitted, “We have sinned against the Lord.” Samuel became the leader of the Israelites at Mizpah.
他们就聚集在米斯巴，打水浇在耶和华面前，当日禁食，说：“我们得罪了耶和华。”于是撒母耳在米斯巴审判以色列人。
7 When the Philistines found out that the Israelites had gathered at Mizpah, their rulers led an attack on Israel. When the Israelites heard about this, they were terrified at what the Philistines might do.
非利士人听见以色列人聚集在米斯巴，非利士的首领就上来要攻击以色列人。以色列人听见，就惧怕非利士人。
8 They told Samuel, “Don't stop pleading with the Lord our God for us so he can save us from the Philistines.”
以色列人对撒母耳说：“愿你不住地为我们呼求耶和华—我们的 神，救我们脱离非利士人的手。”
9 Samuel took a young lamb and presented it as a whole burnt offering to the Lord. He cried out for help to the Lord for Israel, and the Lord responded.
撒母耳就把一只吃奶的羊羔献与耶和华作全牲的燔祭，为以色列人呼求耶和华；耶和华就应允他。
10 While Samuel was presenting the burnt offering, the Philistines approached to attack Israel. But the Lord thundered extremely loudly against the Philistines that day, which totally confused them, and they were defeated as Israel watched.
撒母耳正献燔祭的时候，非利士人前来要与以色列人争战。当日，耶和华大发雷声，惊乱非利士人，他们就败在以色列人面前。
11 Then the men of Israel ran out from Mizpah and chased them, killing them all the way to a place near Beth-car.
以色列人从米斯巴出来，追赶非利士人，击杀他们，直到伯·甲的下边。
12 After this Samuel took a stone and placed it between Mizpah and Shen. He called it Ebenezer, saying, “The Lord helped us right up to here!”
撒母耳将一块石头立在米斯巴和善的中间，给石头起名叫以便以谢，说：“到如今耶和华都帮助我们。”
13 In this way the Philistines were kept under control and did not invade Israel again. During Samuel's lifetime the Lord used his power against the Philistines.
从此，非利士人就被制伏，不敢再入以色列人的境内。撒母耳作士师的时候，耶和华的手攻击非利士人。
14 The towns the Philistines had taken from Israel were restored to Israel, all the way from Ekron to Gath, and Israel also liberated the neighboring territory from the hands of the Philistines. There was also peace between Israel and the Amorites.
非利士人所取以色列人的城邑，从以革伦直到迦特，都归以色列人了。属这些城的四境，以色列人也从非利士人手下收回。那时以色列人与亚摩利人和好。
15 Samuel was Israel's leader for the rest of his life.
撒母耳平生作以色列的士师。
16 Every year he went around, going to Bethel, Gilgal, and Mizpah. At all these places he ruled Israel.
他每年巡行到伯特利、吉甲、米斯巴，在这几处审判以色列人。
17 Then he would return to Ramah because that was where he lived. He ruled Israel from there, and also built an altar to the Lord.
随后回到拉玛，因为他的家在那里；也在那里审判以色列人，且为耶和华筑了一座坛。
