1 Samuel 7
1 And the men of Kirjath–jearim came, and fetched up the ark of Yhwh, and brought it into the house of Abinadab in the hill, and sanctified Eleazar his son to keep the ark of Yhwh.
Kisha watu wa Kiriath-Yearimu wakaja na kulichukua Sanduku la Bwana. Wakalipeleka katika nyumba ya Abinadabu juu kilimani na kumweka Eleazari mwanawe wakfu kulichunga Sanduku la Bwana.
2 And it came to pass, while the ark abode in Kirjath–jearim, that the time was long; for it was twenty years: and all the house of Israel lamented after Yhwh.
Sanduku la Bwana lilibakia huko Kiriath-Yearimu kwa muda mrefu, yaani jumla ya miaka ishirini, nao watu wa Israeli wakaomboleza na kumtafuta Bwana.
3 And Samuel spake unto all the house of Israel, saying, If ye do return unto Yhwh with all your hearts, then put away the strange gods and Ashtaroth from among you, and prepare your hearts unto Yhwh, and serve him only: and he will deliver you out of the hand of the Philistines.
Naye Samweli akawaambia nyumba yote ya Israeli, “Ikiwa mtamrudia Bwana kwa mioyo yenu yote, basi iacheni miungu migeni na Maashtorethi na kujitoa wenyewe kwa Bwana na kumtumikia yeye peke yake, naye atawaokoa ninyi na mkono wa Wafilisti.”
4 Then the children of Israel did put away Baalim and Ashtaroth, and served Yhwh only.
Hivyo Waisraeli wakaweka mbali Mabaali yao na Maashtorethi, nao wakamtumikia Bwana peke yake.
5 And Samuel said, Gather all Israel to Mizpeh, and I will pray for you unto Yhwh.
Kisha Samweli akasema, “Wakusanyeni Israeli wote huko Mispa, nami nitawaombea ninyi kwa Bwana.”
6 And they gathered together to Mizpeh, and drew water, and poured it out before Yhwh, and fasted on that day, and said there, We have sinned against Yhwh. And Samuel judged the children of Israel in Mizpeh.
Walipokwisha kukutanika huko Mispa, walichota maji na kuyamimina mbele za Bwana. Siku hiyo walifunga na wakaungama, wakisema, “Tumetenda dhambi dhidi ya Bwana.” Naye Samweli alikuwa kiongozi wa Israeli huko Mispa.
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.
Wafilisti waliposikia kwamba Israeli wamekusanyika huko Mispa, watawala wa Wafilisti wakapanda ili kuwashambulia. Waisraeli waliposikia habari hiyo, waliogopa kwa sababu ya Wafilisti.
8 And the children of Israel said to Samuel, Cease not to cry unto Yhwh our God for us, that he will save us out of the hand of the Philistines.
Wakamwambia Samweli, “Usiache kumlilia Bwana, Mungu wetu, kwa ajili yetu, ili apate kutuokoa na mikono ya Wafilisti.”
9 And Samuel took a sucking lamb, and offered it for a burnt offering wholly unto Yhwh: and Samuel cried unto Yhwh for Israel; And Yhwh heard him.
Kisha Samweli akamchukua mwana-kondoo anyonyaye na kumtoa mzima kama sadaka ya kuteketezwa kwa Bwana. Akamlilia Bwana kwa niaba ya Israeli, naye Bwana akamjibu.
10 And as Samuel was offering up the burnt offering, the Philistines drew near to battle against Israel: But Yhwh thundered with a great thunder on that day upon the Philistines, and discomfited them; and they were smitten before Israel.
Samweli alipokuwa anatoa hiyo dhabihu ya kuteketezwa, Wafilisti wakasogea karibu ili kupigana vita na Israeli. Lakini siku ile Bwana alinguruma kwa ngurumo kubwa dhidi ya Wafilisti na kuwafanya wafadhaike na kutetemeka hivi kwamba walikimbizwa mbele ya Waisraeli.
11 And the men of Israel went out of Mizpeh, and pursued the Philistines, and smote them, until they came under Beth–car.
Watu wa Israeli wakatoka mbio huko Mispa na kuwafuatia Wafilisti, wakiwachinja njiani hadi mahali chini ya Beth-Kari.
12 Then Samuel took a stone, and set it between Mizpeh and Shen, and called the name of it Eben–ezer, saying, Hitherto hath Yhwh helped us.
Ndipo Samweli akachukua jiwe na kulisimamisha kati ya Mispa na Sheni. Akaliita Ebenezeri, akisema, “Hata sasa Bwana ametusaidia.”
13 So the Philistines were subdued, and they came no more into the coast of Israel: and the hand of Yhwh was against the Philistines all the days of Samuel.
Basi Wafilisti wakashindwa na hawakuvamia nchi ya Israeli tena. Katika maisha yote ya Samweli, mkono wa Bwana ulikuwa dhidi ya Wafilisti.
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.
Miji kuanzia Ekroni hadi Gathi, ile ambayo Wafilisti walikuwa wameiteka kutoka Israeli, ilirudishwa kwake, naye Israeli akazikomboa nchi jirani mikononi mwa Wafilisti. Kukawepo amani kati ya Israeli na Waamori.
15 And Samuel judged Israel all the days of his life.
Samweli akaendelea kama mwamuzi juu ya Israeli siku zote za maisha yake.
16 And he went from year to year in circuit to Beth–el, and Gilgal, and Mizpeh, and judged Israel in all those places.
Mwaka hadi mwaka aliendelea kuzunguka kutoka Betheli mpaka Gilgali na Mispa, akiamua Israeli katika sehemu hizo zote.
17 And his return was to Ramah; for there was his house; and there he judged Israel; and there he built an altar unto Yhwh.
Lakini kila mara alirudi Rama, kulikokuwa nyumbani kwake, huko pia aliwaamua Israeli. Naye huko alimjengea Bwana madhabahu.
