1 Samuel, 7

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.

1. The people of Kiriath-jearim came for the ark of Yahweh. They brought it into the house of Abinadab on the hill, and they consecrated his son, Eleazar, to take charge of it.

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.

2. A very long time passed from the day the ark was lodged at Kiriath-jearim. For some twenty years, all Israel mourned and longed for Yahweh.

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.

3. Then Samuel told the Israelites, "If you turn back to Yahweh in all sincerity, get rid of the foreign gods and your Ashteroth. When you have set your heart on Yahweh and serve no one but him, he will deliver you from the Philistines."

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

4. So the Israelites got rid of the Baals and the Ashteroth and began serving no one but Yahweh.

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

5. Then Samuel said, "Gather all Israel in Mizpah and I will pray to Yahweh on your behalf."

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.

6. And so they gathered at Mizpah. They drew water and poured it out before Yahweh. They fasted on that day and said, "We have sinned against Yahweh." It was Samuel who led this assembly of Israel at Mizpah.

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.

7. When the Philistines heard that the people of Israel had gathered at Mizpah, the chiefs of the Philistine cities went up to Israel's land. The Israelites became afraid when they learned this

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.

8. and they said to Samuel, "Pray without ceasing to Yahweh our God on our behalf so that he may save us from the Philistines."

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.

9. Samuel then took a suckling lamb and offered it to Yahweh as a whole burnt offering, appealing to him on behalf of the people. And Yahweh answered him.

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.

10. At the very time Samuel was offering the sacrifice, the Philistines launched an attack against Israel. But Yahweh's voice thundered loudly in the midst of the Philistines; they were suddenly confused and defeated by Israel.

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

11. The Israelites left Mizpah, pursuing and slaying the Philistines to a point beyond Bethcar.

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.

12. Samuel, then, took a stone and set it up between Mizpah and Jeshanah and named it Ebenezar, for he said, "Unto this place Yahweh has helped us."

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.

13. After this defeat, the Philistines did not dare enter the territory of Israel and Yahweh held them in check for as long as Samuel lived.

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.

14. The Israelites recovered the towns from Ekron to Gath which the Philistines had seized from Israel. Israel rescued their territories. And there was peace, even between the Israelites and the Amorites.

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

15. Samuel was judge in Israel for the rest of his life.

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

16. Every year he went around to Bethel, Gilgal, and Mizpah and judged Israel in all these places.

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.

17. After that he returned to Ramah for his home was there. There he judged Israel and there he built an altar to Yahweh.