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 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.
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 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 The people of Israel got rid of their Baals and Ashtoreth images and worshiped only the Lord.
以色列人就除掉諸巴力和亞斯她錄，單單地事奉耶和華。
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 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 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 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 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 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 Then the men of Israel ran out from Mizpah and chased them, killing them all the way to a place near Beth-car.
以色列人從米斯巴出來，追趕非利士人，擊殺他們，直到伯‧甲的下邊。
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 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.
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 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，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 was Israel's leader for the rest of his life.
撒母耳平生作以色列的士師。
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，在這幾處審判以色列人。
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.
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。
