Primo libro di Samuele 7

BIBBIA CEI 1974	CATHOLIC PUBLIC DOMAIN
1 Gli abitanti di Kiriat-Iearìm scesero a prendere l'arca del Signore e la introdussero nella casa di Abinadàb, sulla collina; consacrarono suo figlio Eleazaro perché custodisse l'arca del Signore.	1 Then the men of Kiriath-jearim arrived, and they led away the ark of the Lord. And they brought it into the house of Abinadab, in Gibeah. Then they sanctified Eleazar, his son, so that he might care for the ark of the Lord.
2 Erano trascorsi molti giorni da quando era stata collocata l'arca a Kiriat-Iearìm, erano passati venti anni, quando tutta la casa d'Israele alzò grida di lamento verso il Signore.	2 And it happened that, from that day, the ark of the Lord remained in Kiriath-jearim. And the days were multiplied (for it was now the twentieth year) and all the house of Israel rested, following the Lord.
3 Allora Samuele si rivolse a tutta la casa d'Israele dicendo: "Se è proprio di tutto cuore che voi tornate al Signore, eliminate da voi tutti gli dèi stranieri e le Astàrti; fate in modo che il vostro cuore sia indirizzato al Signore e servite lui, lui solo, ed egli vi libererà dalla mano dei Filistei".	3 Then Samuel spoke to the entire house of Israel, saying: “If you would return to the Lord with your whole heart, take away strange gods from among you, the Baals and Ashtaroth, and prepare your hearts for the Lord, and serve him alone. And he will rescue you from the hand of the Philistines.”
4 Subito gli Israeliti eliminarono i Baal e le Astàrti e servirono solo il Signore.	4 Therefore, the sons of Israel took away the Baals and Ashtaroth, and they served the Lord alone.
5 Disse poi Samuele: "Radunate tutto Israele a Mizpa, perché voglio pregare il Signore per voi".	5 And Samuel said, “Gather all of Israel at Mizpah, so that I may pray for you to the Lord.”
6 Si radunarono pertanto in Mizpa, attinsero acqua, la sparsero davanti al Signore e digiunarono in quel giorno, dicendo: "Abbiamo peccato contro il Signore!". A Mizpa Samuele fu giudice degli Israeliti.	6 And they convened at Mizpah. And they drew water, and they poured it out in the sight of the Lord. And on that day they fasted, and in that place they said, “We have sinned against the Lord.” And Samuel judged the sons of Israel at Mizpah.
7 Udirono anche i Filistei che gli Israeliti si erano radunati a Mizpa e i capi filistei mossero contro Israele. Quando gli Israeliti lo seppero, ebbero paura dei Filistei.	7 And the Philistines heard that the sons of Israel had gathered together at Mizpah. And the princes of the Philistines ascended against Israel. And when the sons of Israel had heard this, they were afraid before the face of the Philistines.
8 Dissero allora gli Israeliti a Samuele: "Non cessar di supplicare per noi il Signore Dio nostro perché ci liberi dalle mani dei Filistei".	8 And they said to Samuel, “May you not cease to cry out to the Lord our God on our behalf, so that he may save us from the hand of the Philistines.”
9 Samuele prese un agnello da latte e lo offrì tutto intero in olocausto al Signore; lo stesso Samuele alzò grida al Signore per Israele e il Signore lo esaudì.	9 Then Samuel took one suckling lamb, and he offered it whole, as a holocaust to the Lord. And Samuel cried out to the Lord on behalf of Israel, and the Lord heeded him.
10 Mentre Samuele offriva l'olocausto, i Filistei si accostarono in ordine di battaglia a Israele; ma in quel giorno il Signore tuonò con voce potente contro i Filistei, li disperse ed essi furono sconfitti davanti a Israele.	10 Then it happened that, while Samuel was offering the holocaust, the Philistines began the battle against Israel. But the Lord thundered with a great crash, on that day, over the Philistines, and he terrified them, and they were cut down before the face of Israel.
11 Gli Israeliti uscirono da Mizpa per inseguire i Filistei e li batterono fin sotto Bet-Car.	11 And the men of Israel, departing from Mizpah, pursued the Philistines, and they struck them down as far as the place which was below Bethcar.
12 Samuele prese allora una pietra e la pose tra Mizpa e Iesana e la chiamò Eben-Ezer, dicendo: "Fin qui ci ha soccorso il Signore".	12 Then Samuel took a single stone, and he placed it between Mizpah and Shen. And he called the name of this place: The Stone of Assistance. And he said, “For in this place the Lord gave assistance to us.”
13 Così i Filistei furono umiliati e non invasero più il territorio d'Israele: la mano del Signore fu contro i Filistei per tutto il periodo di Samuele.	13 And the Philistines were humbled, and they no longer drew near, so that they might enter into the borders of Israel. And so, the hand of the Lord was over the Philistines during all the days of Samuel.
14 Tornarono anche in possesso d'Israele le città che i Filistei avevano sottratto agli Israeliti, da Ekron a Gat: Israele liberò il loro territorio dal dominio dei Filistei. Ci fu anche pace tra Israele e l'Amorreo.	14 And the cities that the Philistines had taken from Israel were restored to Israel, from Ekron as far as Gath, with their borders. And he freed Israel from the hand of the Philistines. And there was peace between Israel and the Amorites.
15 Samuele fu giudice d'Israele per tutto il tempo della sua vita.	15 And Samuel judged Israel all the days of his life.
16 Ogni anno egli compiva il giro di Bètel, Gàlgala e Mizpa, esercitando l'ufficio di giudice d'Israele in tutte queste località.	16 And he went each year, traveling around to Bethel, and to Gilgal, and to Mizpah, and he judged Israel in the above-stated places.
17 Poi ritornava a Rama, perché là era la sua casa e anche là giudicava Israele. In quel luogo costruì anche un altare al Signore.	17 And he returned to Ramah. For his house was there, and he judged Israel there. And then he built an altar to the Lord there.