Judges 8

CATHOLIC PUBLIC DOMAIN	DIODATI
1 And the men of Ephraim said to him, “What is this, that you wanted to do, so that you would not call us when you went to fight against Midian?” And they rebuked him strongly, and came close to using violence.	1 E GLI uomini di Efraim gli dissero: Che cosa è questo che tu ci hai fatto, di non averci chiamati, quando tu sei andato a combattere contro a Madian? E contesero aspramente con lui.
2 And he responded to them: “But what could I have done that would be so great as what you have done? Is not one bunch of grapes of Ephraim better than the vintages of Abiezer?	2 Ma egli disse loro: Che ho io ora fatto al par di voi? il raspollar d’Efraim non vale egli meglio che la vendemmia d’Abiezer?
3 The Lord has delivered into your hands the leaders of Midian, Oreb and Zeeb. What could I have done that would be so great as what you have done?” And when he had said this, their spirit, which was swelling up against him, was quieted.	3 Iddio vi ha dati i Capi de’ Madianiti, Oreb, e Zeeb, nelle mani; e che ho io potuto fare al par di voi? Allora, dopo ch’ebbe loro così parlato, il lor cruccio contro a lui si acquetò
4 And when Gideon had arrived at the Jordan, he crossed over it with the three hundred men who were with him. And they were so weary that they were unable to pursue those who were fleeing.	4 Or Gedeone arrivò al Giordano, e, passandolo con que’ trecent’uomini ch’erano con lui, i quali stanchi come erano, pur perseguitavano i Madianiti,
5 And he said to the men of Succoth, “I beg you, give bread to the people who are with me, for they are greatly weakened, so that we may be able to pursue Zebah and Zalmunna, the kings of Midian.”	5 disse a que’ di Succot: Deh! date alcuni pezzi di pane alla gente che è al mio seguito; perciocchè sono stanchi, e io perseguito Zeba, e Salmunna, re di Madian.
6 The leaders of Succoth answered, “Perhaps the palms of the hands of Zebah and Zalmunna are in your hand, and for this reason, you request that we give bread to your army.”	6 Ma i principali di Succot risposero: Hai tu già in mano le palme di Zeba e di Salmunna, che noi diamo del pane al tuo esercito?
7 And he said to them, “So then, when the Lord will have delivered Zebah and Zalmunna into my hands, I will thresh your flesh with the thorns and briers of the desert.”	7 E Gedeone rispose: Perciò, quando il Signore mi avrà dato nelle mani Zeba e Salmunna, io vi sminuzzerò le carni con delle spine del deserto, e con triboli.
8 And going up from there, he arrived at Penuel. And he spoke to the men of that place similarly. And they also answered him, just as the men of Succoth had answered.	8 Poi di là egli salì in Penuel, e parlò a que’ di Penuel nella medesima maniera; ed essi gli risposero come que’ di Succot aveano risposto.
9 And so he said to them also, “When I will have returned as a victor in peace, I will destroy this tower.”	9 Ed egli disse parimente a que’ di Penuel: Quando io ritornerò in pace, io disfarò questa torre.
10 Now Zebah and Zalmunna were resting with their entire army. For fifteen thousand men were left out of all the troops of the eastern people. And one hundred twenty thousand warriors that drew the sword had been cut down.	10 Or Zeba e Salmunna, erano in Carcor, co’ lor campi d’intorno a quindicimila uomini, ch’erano tutti quelli ch’erano rimasti di tutto il campo degli Orientali; e i morti erano cenventimila uomini, che potevano trar la spada.
11 And Gideon ascended by the way of those who were dwelling in tents, to the eastern part of Nobah and Jogbehah. And he struck the camp of the enemies, who were confident and were suspecting nothing adverse.	11 E Gedeone salì traendo al paese di coloro che abitano in padiglioni, dal lato orientale di Noba, e di Iogbea; e percosse il campo, il qual se ne stava in sicurtà.
12 And Zebah and Zalmunna fled. And Gideon pursued and overtook them, sending their entire army into confusion.	12 E Zeba, e Salmunna, fuggirono; ma egli li perseguitò, e prese i due re di Madian, Zeba, e Salmunna, e mise in rotta tutto il campo.
13 And returning from the war before sunrise,	13 Poi Gedeone, figliuolo di Ioas, se ne ritornò dalla battaglia, dalla salita di Heres.
14 he took a boy from among the men of Succoth. And he asked him the names of the leaders and elders of Succoth. And he described seventy-seven men.	14 E prese un fanciullo della gente di Succot, e lo domandò; ed egli gli descrisse i principali e gli Anziani di Succot, ch’erano settantasette uomini.
15 And he went to Succoth, and he said to them: “Behold Zebah and Zalmunna, over whom you rebuked me, saying: ‘Perhaps the hands of Zebah and Zalmunna are in your hands, and for this reason, you request that we give bread to men who are languishing and weakened.’ ”	15 Poi Gedeone venne agli uomini di Succot, e disse: Ecco Zeba, e Salmunna, de’ quali per ischerno voi mi diceste: Hai tu già nelle mani le palme di Zeba, e di Salmunna, che noi diamo del pane alla tua gente stanca?
16 Therefore, he took the elders of the city, and, using the thorns and briers of the desert, he threshed them with these, and he cut the men of Succoth to pieces.	16 Ed egli prese gli Anziani della città, e delle spine del deserto, e de’ triboli, e con essi castigò quegli uomini di Succot.
17 He also overturned the tower of Penuel, and he killed the men of the city.	17 Disfece ancora la torre di Penuel, e uccise gli uomini della città
18 And he said to Zebah and Zalmunna, “What kind of men were those whom you killed at Tabor?” They responded, “They were like you, and one of them was like the son of a king.”	18 Poi disse a Zeba, ed a Salmunna: Come erano quegli uomini che voi uccideste in Tabor? Ed essi risposero: Come tu appunto; ciascuno di essi pareva nel sembiante un figliuolo di re.
19 He answered them: “They were my brothers, the sons of my mother. As the Lord lives, if you had preserved them, I would not kill you.”	19 Ed egli disse loro: Essi erano miei fratelli, figliuoli di mia madre; come il Signore vive, se voi aveste loro salvata la vita, io non vi ucciderei.
20 And he said to Jether, his firstborn son, “Rise up, and put them to death.” But he did not draw his sword. For he was afraid, being still a boy.	20 Poi disse a Ieter, suo primogenito: Levati, uccidili. Ma il fanciullo non trasse fuori la sua spada; perciocchè avea paura; conciossiachè egli fosse ancor giovanetto.
21 And Zebah and Zalmunna said: “You should rise up and rush against us. For the strength of a man is in accord with his age.” Gideon rose up, and he killed Zebah and Zalmunna. And he took the ornaments and studs, with which the necks of the royal camels are usually adorned.	21 E Zeba, e Salmunna, dissero: Levati su tu, e avventati sopra noi; perciocchè quale è l’uomo tale è la sua forza. Gedeone adunque si levò, e uccise Zeba, e Salmunna, e prese le borchie che i lor cammelli aveano al collo
22 And all the men of Israel said to Gideon: “You should rule over us, and your son, and your son’s son. For you freed us from the hand of Midian.”	22 E gl’Israeliti dissero a Gedeone: Signoreggia sopra noi, tu, e il tuo figliuolo, e il figliuolo del tuo figliuolo; conciossiachè tu ci abbi salvati dalla mano de’ Madianiti.
23 And he said to them: “I will not rule over you. Neither shall my son rule over you. Instead, the Lord shall rule over you.”	23 Ma Gedeone disse loro: Nè io, nè il mio figliuolo, signoreggeremo sopra voi; il Signore signoreggerà sopra voi.
24 And he said to them: “I petition one request from you. Give me the earrings from your spoils.” For the Ishmaelites were accustomed to wear gold earrings.	24 Poi Gedeone disse loro: Io vi farò una richiesta, che ciascun di voi mi dia il monile ch’egli ha predato; perciocchè coloro aveano de’ monili d’oro, perchè erano Ismaeliti.
25 They responded, “We are very willing to give them.” And spreading a cloak on the ground, they cast upon it the earrings from the spoils.	25 Ed essi dissero: Noi del tutto te li daremo. Steso adunque un ammanto, ciascuno vi gittò il monile ch’egli aveva predato.
26 And the weight of the earrings that he requested was one thousand seven hundred shekels of gold, aside from the ornaments, and necklaces, and purple garments, which the kings of Midian were accustomed to use, and aside from the gold chains on the camels.	26 E il peso dei monili d’oro, che Gedeone avea chiesti, fu di mille settecento sicli d’oro; oltre alle borchie, e alle collane, e a’ vestimenti di porpora, che i re di Madian aveano indosso; e oltre a’ collari che i cammelli loro aveano al collo.
27 And Gideon made an ephod from these, and he kept it in his city, Ophrah. And all of Israel committed fornication with it, and it became a ruin to Gideon and to all his house.	27 E Gedeone fece di quell’oro un Efod, e lo pose in Ofra, sua città; e tutto Israele fornicò quivi dietro ad esso; e ciò fu in laccio a Gedeone e alla sua casa.
28 But Midian was humbled before the sons of Israel. Neither were they able any longer to lift up their necks. But the land rested for forty years, while Gideon presided.	28 Così Madian fu depresso davanti a’ figliuoli d’Israle, e non alzò più il capo; e il paese ebbe riposo per quarant’anni, a’ dì di Gedeone
29 And so Jerubbaal, the son of Joash, went and lived in his own house.	29 E Ierubbaal, figliuolo di Ioas, se ne andò, e dimorò in casa sua.
30 And he had seventy sons, who went forth from his own thigh. For he had many wives.	30 Or Gedeone ebbe settanta figliuoli, ch’erano usciti della sua anca; conciossiachè egli avesse molte mogli.
31 But his concubine, whom he had in Shechem, bore him a son named Abimelech.	31 E la sua concubina, ch’era in Sichem, gli partorì anch’essa un figliuolo, al quale egli pose nome Abimelec.
32 And Gideon, the son of Joash, died in a good old age, and he was buried in the sepulcher of his father, at Ophrah, of the family of Ezri.	32 Poi Gedeone, figliolo di Ioas, morì in buona vecchiezza, e fu seppellito nella sepoltura di Ioas, suo padre, in Ofra degli Abiezeriti.
33 But after Gideon died, the sons of Israel turned away, and they committed fornication with the Baals. And they struck a covenant with Baal, so that he would be their god.	33 E, dopo che Gedeone fu morto, i figliuoli d’Israele tornarono a fornicare dietro a’ Baali, e si costituirono Baal-berit per dio.
34 And they did not remember the Lord their God, who rescued them from the hands of all their enemies on all sides.	34 E non si ricordarono del Signore Iddio loro, il quale li avea riscossi dalle mani di tutti i lor nemici d’ogn’intorno;
35 Neither did they show mercy to the house of Jerubbaal Gideon, in accord with all the good that he had done for Israel.	35 e non usarono benignità inverso la casa di Ierubbaal, cioè, di Gedeone, secondo tutto il bene ch’egli avea operato inverso Israele