1 Samueli 5
1 Afilisti atalanda Bokosi la Mulungu lija, analitenga kuchoka ku Ebenezeri kupita ku Asidodi.
After the army of the Philistia people-group captured God’s sacred chest in Ebenezer [town], they took it to Ashdod [which is one of their biggest cities].
2 Kenaka anatenga Bokosi la Chipanganolo nabwera nalo ku nyumba ya Dagoni ndi kuliyika pambali pa Dagoni.
They carried it into the temple of [their god] Dagon, and placed it alongside a statue of Dagon.
3 Anthu a ku Asidodi atadzuka mmawa mwake, anangoona Dagoni atagwa pansi chafufumimba pamaso pa Bokosi la Yehova! Iwo anatenga Dagoni ndi kumuyimika pamalo pake.
But early the next morning, when the people of Ashdod [went to see it, they saw that] the statue had fallen on its face in front of Yahweh’s sacred chest! So they set the statue up in its place again.
4 Koma mmawa mwakenso atadzuka, anaona Dagoni atagwa chafufumimba pamaso pa Bokosi la Yehova. Mutu wake ndi manja ake zinali zitaduka ndi kugwera pa khonde polowera, thunthu lake lokha ndilo linatsala.
But the following morning, [they saw that] it had fallen down in front of the sacred chest again. But this time, the statue’s head and hands had broken off, and were lying in the doorway. Only its body remained intact/unbroken.
5 Nʼchifukwa chake mpaka lero ansembe a Dagoni kapena wina aliyense amene amalowa mʼkachisi wa Dagoni ku Asidodi saponda pa khonde.
That is the reason that since that time, the priests of Dagon and everyone else who enters the temple of Dagon in Ashdod do not step on the doorsill [where the hands and head of Dagon fell].
6 Yehova analanga koopsa anthu a ku Asidodi. Yehova anawawononga ndi kuwazunza ndi zithupsa Asidoniwa pamodzi ndi anthu a madera ozungulira.
Then Yahweh [SYN] powerfully caused the people of Ashdod and the people who lived in nearby villages to have (a very great plague/serious illness) of tumors.
7 Anthu a ku Asidodi ataona zimene zimachitika anati, “Bokosi la Mulungu wa Israeli lisakhale kuno chifukwa akutizunza ife pamodzi ndi mulungu wathu Dagoni.”
The men of Ashdod realized why this was happening, and they cried out, “The god of the Israeli people is punishing us and is also punishing our god Dagon. So we cannot allow the sacred chest of the god of the Israelis to remain here!”
8 Choncho anayitana atsogoleri onse a Afilisti kuti asonkhane ndipo anawafunsa kuti, “Kodi Bokosi la Mulungu wa Israeli tichite nalo chiyani?” Iwo anayankha kuti, “Bokosi la Mulungu wa Israeli lipite ku Gati.” Kotero analichotsa Bokosi la Mulungu wa Israelilo.
They summoned the five kings of the Philistia people-group, and asked them, “What should we do with the sacred chest of the god of the Israelis?” The kings replied, “Take the sacred chest to Gath [city].” So they moved it to Gath.
9 Koma atafika nalo ku Gati, Yehova analanga mzindawo, ndipo anthu anachita mantha aakulu. Iye anazunza anthu a mu mzindawo, ana ndi akulu omwe, ndi zithupsa.
But after they took it to Gath, Yahweh powerfully struck the people of that city also, with the result that many men, including young men and old men, got tumors on their skin. Then the people became very afraid.
10 Choncho anatumiza Bokosi la Mulungu ku Ekroni. Koma Bokosi la Mulungu lija litangofika ku Ekroni, anthu a ku Ekroni analira kuti, “Abwera nalo Bokosi la Mulungu wa Israeli kwa ife kuti atiphe pamodzi ndi anthu athu.”
So they took the sacred chest to Ekron [city]. But when the men carried the sacred chest into Ekron, the people there cried out, “Why are you bringing the sacred chest of the God of the Israelis into our city [RHQ]? [By doing that] you will cause us and the rest of our people to die!”
11 Kotero iwo anayitana atsogoleri onse a Afilisti kuti asonkhane ndipo anati, “Chotsani Bokosi la Mulungu wa Israeli, libwerere ku malo ake. Tikapanda kutero lidzatipha ife ndi anthu athu.” Pakuti mu mzinda monse munali mantha aakulu kwambiri ndipo Mulungu ankawalanga kwambiri anthu a kumeneko.
The people were terrified/in panic because [they knew that] God was starting to punish them severely. So they summoned the [five] kings of the Philistia people-group again, and [pleaded with them], saying, “Take this sacred chest of the god of the Israelis back to its own place! If you do not do that quickly, we will all die!”
12 Anthu amene sanafe anavutika ndi zithupsa, ndipo kulira kwa anthu a mu mzindamo kunamveka kumwamba.
Some of the people in Ekron had already died, and the rest of the people were suffering because of tumors on their skin. So they all cried out to their gods [MTY] [to help them].
