I Samuelis 7

1 Venerunt ergo viri Cariathiarim, et reduxerunt arcam Domini, et intulerunt eam in domum Abinadab in Gabaa: Eleazarum autem filium eius sanctificaverunt, ut custodiret arcam Domini.

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.

2 Et factum est, ex qua die mansit arca Domini in Cariathiarim, multiplicati sunt dies (erat quippe iam annus vigesimus) et requievit omnis domus Israel post Dominum.

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.

3 Ait autem Samuel ad universam domum Israel, dicens: Si in toto corde vestro revertimini ad Dominum, auferte deos alienos de medio vestri, Baalim et Astaroth: et præparate corda vestra Domino, et servite ei soli, et eruet vos de manu Philisthiim.

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.”

4 Abstulerunt ergo filii Israel Baalim et Astaroth, et servierunt Domino soli.

The people of Israel got rid of their Baals and Ashtoreth images and worshiped only the Lord.

5 Dixit autem Samuel: Congregate universum Israel in Masphath, ut orem pro vobis Dominum.

Then Samuel said, “Have all the people of Israel gather at Mizpah, and I will pray to the Lord for you.”

6 Et convenerunt in Masphath: hauseruntque aquam, et effuderunt in conspectu Domini, et ieiunaverunt in die illa, atque dixerunt ibi: Peccavimus Domino. Iudicavitque Samuel filios Israel in Masphath.

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.

7 Et audierunt Philisthiim quod congregati essent filii Israel in Masphath, et ascenderunt satrapæ Philisthinorum ad Israel. Quod cum audissent filii Israel, timuerunt a facie Philisthinorum.

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.

8 Dixeruntque ad Samuelem: Ne cesses pro nobis clamare ad Dominum Deum nostrum, ut salvet nos de manu Philisthinorum.

They told Samuel, “Don't stop pleading with the Lord our God for us so he can save us from the Philistines.”

9 Tulit autem Samuel agnum lactentem unum, et obtulit illum holocaustum integrum Domino: et clamavit Samuel ad Dominum pro Israel, et exaudivit eum Dominus.

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.

10 Factum est autem, cum Samuel offerret holocaustum, Philisthiim iniere prœlium contra Israel: intonuit autem Dominus fragore magno in die illa super Philisthiim, et exterruit eos, et cæsi sunt a facie Israel.

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.

11 Egressique viri Israel de Masphath persecuti sunt Philisthæos, et percusserunt eos usque ad locum, qui erat subter Bethchar.

Then the men of Israel ran out from Mizpah and chased them, killing them all the way to a place near Beth-car.

12 Tulit autem Samuel lapidem unum, et posuit eum inter Masphath et inter Sen: et vocavit nomen loci illius, Lapis Adiutorii. Dixitque: Hucusque auxiliatus est nobis Dominus.

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!”

13 Et humiliati sunt Philisthiim, nec apposuerunt ultra ut venirent in terminos Israel. Facta est itaque manus Domini super Philisthæos, cunctis diebus Samuelis.

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.

14 Et redditæ sunt urbes, quas tulerant Philisthiim ab Israel, Israeli, ab Accaron usque Geth, et terminos suos: liberavitque Israel de manu Philisthinorum, eratque pax inter Israel et Amorrhæum.

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.

15 Iudicabat quoque Samuel Israelem cunctis diebus vitæ suæ:

Samuel was Israel's leader for the rest of his life.

16 et ibat per singulos annos circuiens Bethel et Galgala et Masphath, et iudicabat Israelem in supradictis locis.

Every year he went around, going to Bethel, Gilgal, and Mizpah. At all these places he ruled Israel.

17 Revertebaturque in Ramatha: ibi enim erat domus eius, et ibi iudicabat Israelem: ædificavit etiam ibi altare Domino.

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.