I Samuel, 7

1. Vieram, pois, os habitantes de Caria­­-tarim, transportaram a arca do Senhor, puseram-na em casa de Abinadab, sobre a colina e consagraram o seu filho Eleazar para que a guardasse.

1. And the men of Kirjathjearim came, and fetched up the ark of the LORD, and brought it into the house of Abinadab in the hill, and sanctified Eleazar his son to keep the ark of the LORD.

2. E o tempo passou. Decorridos vinte anos desde o dia em que a arca fora levada para Cariatarim, todo o Israel se lamentava, invocando o Senhor.

2. And it came to pass, while the ark abode in Kirjathjearim, that the time was long; for it was twenty years: and all the house of Israel lamented after the LORD.

3. E Samuel falou a todo o povo de Israel, dizendo: “Se voltardes de todo o vosso coração para o Senhor, tirando do meio de vós os deuses estranhos e as Astarot, se vos apegardes de todo o vosso coração ao Senhor e só a ele servirdes, então ele vos livrará das mãos dos filisteus”.

3. And Samuel spake unto all the house of Israel, saying, If ye do return unto the LORD with all your hearts, [then] put away the strange gods and Ashtaroth from among you, and prepare your hearts unto the LORD, and serve him only: and he will deliver you out of the hand of the Philistines.

4. Os israelitas afastaram os baals e as astartes e serviram só ao Senhor.

4. Then the children of Israel did put away Baalim and Ashtaroth, and served the LORD only.

5. “Convocai todo o Israel em Masfa – disse Samuel – e orarei por vós ao Senhor.”

5. And Samuel said, Gather all Israel to Mizpeh, and I will pray for you unto the LORD.

6. Reuniram-se em Masfa, tiraram água, derramaram-na diante do Senhor e jejuaram aquele dia, dizendo: “Pecamos contra o Senhor”. Samuel era juiz de Israel, em Masfa.

6. And they gathered together to Mizpeh, and drew water, and poured [it] out before the LORD, and fasted on that day, and said there, We have sinned against the LORD. And Samuel judged the children of Israel in Mizpeh.

7. Os filisteus foram informados de que os israelitas tinham se juntado em Masfa e os seus príncipes marcharam contra Israel. Os israelitas o souberam e ficaram aterrorizados.

7. And when the Philistines heard that the children of Israel were gathered together to Mizpeh, the lords of the Philistines went up against Israel. And when the children of Israel heard [it], they were afraid of the Philistines.

8. Disseram a Samuel: “Não cesses de clamar por nós ao Senhor, nosso Deus, para que ele nos salve das mãos dos filisteus”.

8. And the children of Israel said to Samuel, Cease not to cry unto the LORD our God for us, that he will save us out of the hand of the Philistines.

9. Samuel tomou um cordeiro de leite e ofereceu-o inteiro em holocausto ao Senhor; depois, clamou ao Senhor por Israel e o Senhor o ouviu.

9. And Samuel took a sucking lamb, and offered [it for] a burnt offering wholly unto the LORD: and Samuel cried unto the LORD for Israel; and the LORD heard him.

10. Enquanto Samuel oferecia o holocausto, os filisteus começaram o combate contra Israel. O Senhor, porém, trovejou com a sua voz fortíssima sobre os filisteus naquele momento e eles se dispersaram, sendo batidos pelos israelitas.

10. And as Samuel was offering up the burnt offering, the Philistines drew near to battle against Israel: but the LORD thundered with a great thunder on that day upon the Philistines, and discomfited them; and they were smitten before Israel.

11. Os vencedores, saindo de Masfa, perseguiram os filisteus e feriram-nos até o lugar que está por baixo de Bet-Car.

11. And the men of Israel went out of Mizpeh, and pursued the Philistines, and smote them, until [they came] under Bethcar.

12. Tomou Samuel uma pedra e pô-la entre Masfa e Sen, dando-lhe o nome de Eben-Ezer, pois disse: “Até aqui nos socorreu o Senhor”.*

12. Then Samuel took a stone, and set [it] between Mizpeh and Shen, and called the name of it Ebenezer, saying, Hitherto hath the LORD helped us.

13. Humilhados dessa forma, os filisteus não tentaram mais voltar ao território de Israel. A mão do Senhor pesou sobre os filisteus durante toda a vida de Samuel.

13. So the Philistines were subdued, and they came no more into the coast of Israel: and the hand of the LORD was against the Philistines all the days of Samuel.

14. Foram devolvidas a Israel as cidades que os filisteus lhes tinham tomado, desde Acaron até Gat. Israel livrou sua terra das mãos dos filisteus e havia paz entre Israel e os amorreus.

14. And the cities which the Philistines had taken from Israel were restored to Israel, from Ekron even unto Gath; and the coasts thereof did Israel deliver out of the hands of the Philistines. And there was peace between Israel and the Amorites.

15. Samuel foi juiz em Israel durante toda a sua vida.

15. And Samuel judged Israel all the days of his life.

16. Ia a cada ano visitar Betel, Gálgala e Masfa, onde pronunciava os seus juízos em favor de todo o Israel.

16. And he went from year to year in circuit to Bethel, and Gilgal, and Mizpeh, and judged Israel in all those places.

17. Voltava depois para Ramá, onde habitava. Ali também julgava Israel e edificou naquele lugar um altar ao Senhor.

17. And his return [was] to Ramah; for there [was] his house; and there he judged Israel; and there he built an altar unto the LORD.