1 ¶ Then Nahash, the Ammonite, came up and encamped against Jabeshgilead. And all the men of Jabesh said unto Nahash, Make a covenant with us, and we will serve thee.

Então subiu Naás, o amonita, e sitiou a Jabes-Gileade. E disseram todos os homens de Jabes a Naás: Faze aliança conosco, e te serviremos.

2 A nd Nahash, the Ammonite, answered them, On this condition will I make a covenant with you, that I may thrust out all your right eyes and lay it for a reproach upon all Israel.

Respondeu-lhes, porém, Naás, o amonita: Com esta condição farei aliança convosco: que a todos vos arranque o olho direito; assim porei opróbrio sobre todo o Israel.

3 A nd the elders of Jabesh said unto him, Give us seven days’ respite, that we may send messengers unto all the borders of Israel, and then, if there is no one to save us, we will come out to thee.

Ao que os anciãos de Jabes lhe disseram: Concede-nos sete dias, para que enviemos mensageiros por todo o território de Israel; e, não havendo ninguém que nos livre, entregar-nos-emos a ti.

4 T hen the messengers came to Gibeah of Saul and told the tidings in the ears of the people, and all the people lifted up their voices and wept.

Então, vindo os mensageiros a Gibeá de Saul, falaram estas palavras aos ouvidos do povo. Pelo que todo o povo levantou a voz e chorou.

5 ¶ And, behold, Saul came after the oxen out of the field, and Saul said, What ails the people that they weep? And they told him the tidings of the men of Jabesh.

E eis que Saul vinha do campo, atrás dos bois; e disse Saul: Que tem o povo, que chega? E contaram-lhe as palavras dos homens de Jabes.

6 A nd the Spirit of God prospered Saul when he heard those tidings, and his anger was kindled greatly.

Então o Espírito de Deus se apoderou de Saul, ao ouvir ele estas palavras; e acendeu-se sobremaneira a sua ira.

7 A nd he took a yoke of oxen and hewed them in pieces and sent them throughout all the borders of Israel by the hands of messengers, saying, Whoever does not come forth after Saul and after Samuel, so shall it be done unto his oxen. And the fear of the LORD fell on the people, and they came out with one consent.

Tomou ele uma junta de bois, cortou-os em pedaços, e os enviou por todo o território de Israel por mãos de mensageiros, dizendo: Qualquer que não sair após Saul e após Samuel, assim se fará aos seus bois. Então caiu o temor do Senhor sobre o povo, e acudiram como um só homem.

8 A nd when he numbered them in Bezek, the sons of Israel were three hundred thousand and the men of Judah thirty thousand.

Saul passou-lhes revista em Bezeque; e havia dos homens de Israel trezentos mil, e dos homens de Judá trinta mil.

9 A nd they said unto the messengers that came, Thus shall ye say unto the men of Jabeshgilead, Tomorrow, by the time the sun is hot, ye shall have salvation. And the messengers came and declared it to the men of Jabesh, and they were glad.

Então disseram aos mensageiros que tinham vindo: Assim direis aos homens de Jabes-Gileade: Amanhã, em aquentando o sol, vos virá livramento. Vindo, pois, os mensageiros, anunciaram-no aos homens de Jabes, os quais se alegraram.

10 T herefore the men of Jabesh said, Tomorrow we will come out unto you, and ye shall do with us all that seems good unto you.

E os homens de Jabes disseram aos amonitas: Amanhã nos entregaremos a vós; então nos fareis conforme tudo o que bem vos parecer.

11 A nd it was so on the next day that Saul put the people in order in three companies, and they came into the midst of the host in the morning watch and slew the Ammonites until the heat of the day, and it came to pass that those who remained were scattered so that two of them were not left together.

Ao outro dia Saul dividiu o povo em três companhias; e pela vigília da manhã vieram ao meio do arraial, e feriram aos amonitas até que o dia aquentou; e sucedeu que os restantes se espalharam de modo a não ficarem dois juntos.

12 ¶ Then the people said unto Samuel, Who were those that said, Shall Saul reign over us? Bring the men, that we may put them to death.

Então disse o povo a Samuel: Quais são os que diziam: Reinará porventura Saul sobre nós? Dai cá esses homens, para que os matemos.

13 A nd Saul said, There shall not a man be put to death this day, for today the LORD has wrought salvation in Israel.

Saul, porém, disse: Hoje não se há de matar ninguém, porque neste dia o senhor operou um livramento em Israel:

14 T hen Samuel said to the people, Come, and let us go to Gilgal and renew the kingdom there.

Depois disse Samuel ao povo: Vinde, vamos a Gilgal, e renovemos ali o reino.

15 A nd all the people went to Gilgal, and there they made Saul king before the LORD in Gilgal, and there they sacrificed sacrifices of peace offerings before the LORD, and there Saul and all the men of Israel rejoiced greatly.

Foram, pois, para Gilgal, onde constituíram rei a Saul perante o Senhor, e imolaram sacrifícios de ofertas pacíficas perante o Senhor; e ali Saul se alegrou muito com todos os homens de Israel.