Giudici 8

BIBBIA TINTORI	CATHOLIC PUBLIC DOMAIN
1 Gli uomini di Efraim dissero a Gedeone: « Che hai inteso di fare col non invitarci andando a combattere contro Madian? » E contesero aspramente con lui, quasi fino alla violenza.	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.
2 Ma egli rispose loro: « E che ho potuto fare io di simile a quello che voi avete fatto? Non vai forse più un grappolo d'Efraim, che le vendemmie di Abiezer?	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?
3 Il Signore vi ha dato nelle mani i principi di Madian, Oreb e Zeb: ed io che ho potuto fare di simile a quello che voi avete fatto? » Dette queste parole, si calmò lo spirito da cui erano animati contro di lui.	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.
4 Or Gedeone, giunto al Giordano, lo passò con i trecento uomini che erano con lui; ma per la stanchezza non potevano inseguire i fuggiaschi.	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.
5 Allora egli disse alla gente di Soccot: « Date, vi prego, del pane agli uomini che son con me, chè sono molto stanchi, affinchè possiamo inseguire Zebee e Salmana, re di Madian ».	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.”
6 Ma i principi di Soccot risposero: « Hai forse già in mano i pugni di Zebee e di Salmana per domandarci dei viveri pel tuo esercito? ».	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.”
7 Gedeone rispose loro: « Ebbene, quando il Signore avrà dato nelle mie mani Zebee e Salmana, io vi farò lacerar le carni colle spine e coi triboli del deserto ».	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.”
8 Poi di là salito a Fanuel, parlò nella stessa guisa agli uomini di quel luogo, i quali gli risposero come quelli di Soccot.	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.
9 E a loro disse: « Quando in pace tornerò dalla vittoria, distruggerò questa torre ».	9 And so he said to them also, “When I will have returned as a victor in peace, I will destroy this tower.”
10 Intanto Zebee e Salmana prendevano riposo con tutta la loro gente, coi quindici mila rimasti di tutte le schiere dei popoli d'oriente; gli altri centoventimila combattenti che menavan la spada, eran già stati fatti a pezzi.	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.
11 Or Gedeone, salendo per la via di coloro che abitavano sot­to le tende, dalla parte orientale di Nobe e di Iegbaa, percosse il campo dei nemici che se ne stavano sicuri e senza alcun sospet­to.	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.
12 Zebee e Salmana fuggirono; ma Gedeone li inseguì e li prese dopo avere messo in scompiglio tutto il loro esercito.	12 And Zebah and Zalmunna fled. And Gideon pursued and overtook them, sending their entire army into confusion.
13 Tornando dalla battaglia prima del levar del sole, Gedeo­ne,	13 And returning from the war before sunrise,
14 preso un fanciullo della gente di Soccot, gli domandò i nomi dei principi e dei seniori di Soccot, e prese nota di settantasette persone.	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.
15 Andato poi a Soccot, disse loro: « Eccovi Zebee e Salmana, riguardo ai quali mi scherniste col dire: I pugni di Zebee e di Salmana son già nelle tue mani, da domandarci dei viveri per la tua gente stanca e sfinita? »	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.’ ”
16 Presi poi i seniori della città e quegli uomini di Soccot, con spine del deserto e triboli li fece lacerare e sbranare.	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.
17 Abbattè pure la torre di Fanuel, dopo avere uccisi gli abitanti della città.	17 He also overturned the tower of Penuel, and he killed the men of the city.
18 E disse a Zebee e a Salmana: « Come erano quegli uomini che voi uccideste sul Tabor? » Risposero: « Somigliavano a te, e uno di essi pareva figlio di re ».	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.”
19 Gedeone disse loro: « Erano miei fratelli, figli di mia madre. Viva il Signore; se voi aveste lasciato loro la vita, io non vi ucciderei ».	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.”
20 E disse a Ieter suo primogenito: « Levati e uccidili ». Ma egli non trasse fuori la spada, perchè aveva paura, essendo ancor giovane.	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.
21 Allora Zebee e Salmana dissero: « Levati su tu stesso e ammazzaci, chè la forza è proporzionata all'età ». Gedeone si levò e uccise Zebee e Salmana, e prese gli ornamenti e le borchie con cui suole essere ornato il collo dei cammelli reali.	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.
22 Or tutti gli uomini d'Israele dissero a Gedeone: « Sii tu il nostro signore, tu, il tuo figlio e il figlio del tuo figlio, giacché ci hai liberati dalla mano di Madian ».	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.”
23 E Gedeone: « Non io sarò il vostro signore, nè lo sarà il mio figlio; ma soltanto il Signore comanderà a voi ».	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.”
24 Gedeone disse loro: « Io vi chiedo soltanto che mi diate gli orecchini che avete predati ». Gli Ismaeliti solevano portare orecchini d'oro.	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.
25 Ed essi risposero: « Te li daremo molto volentieri ». E steso per terra un mantello, vi gettarono sopra gli orecchini predati.	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.
26 Il peso degli orecchini richiesti fu di mille settecento sicli d'oro, senza gli ornamenti, i monili, le vesti di porpora, che solevano usare i re di Madian, e senza i collari d'oro dei cammelli.	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.
27 Gedeone ne fece un Efod, e lo pose nella sua città di Efra. E tutto Israele peccò a causa di questo Efod, che divenne una rovina per Gedeone e per tutta la sua casa.	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.
28 Essendo stati così umiliati dinanzi ai figli d'Israele, i Madianiti non poteron più alzare la testa, e il paese ebbe riposo per quarantanni nei quali governò Gedeone.	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.
29 Ierobaal figlio di Gioas se ne tornò ad abitare in casa sua.	29 And so Jerubbaal, the son of Joash, went and lived in his own house.
30 Egli ebbe settanta figli nati da lui e dalle molte mogli che aveva.	30 And he had seventy sons, who went forth from his own thigh. For he had many wives.
31 La sua concubina che aveva in Sichem gli partorì un figlio chiamato Abimelec.	31 But his concubine, whom he had in Shechem, bore him a son named Abimelech.
32 E Gedeone figlio di Gioas morì in prospera vecchiaia, e fu sepolto nel sepolcro di Gioas suo padre, in Etra della famiglia di Ezri.	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.
33 Ma dopo la morte di Gedeone i figli d'Israele traviarono e fornicarono con Baal. Fecero alleanza con Baal, lo scelsero come loro dio,	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.
34 senza ricordarsi del Signore Dio loro, che li aveva liberati dalle mani di tutti i nemici d'ogni intorno.	34 And they did not remember the Lord their God, who rescued them from the hands of all their enemies on all sides.
35 Essi non ebbero gratitudine alcuna verso la famiglia di Ierobaal, o Gedeone, in proporzione del grande bene che egli aveva fatto a Israele.	35 Neither did they show mercy to the house of Jerubbaal Gideon, in accord with all the good that he had done for Israel.