1 Samuel 7

1 The men of Kiriath Jearim came and took up the ark of YHWH and brought it into the house of Abinadab, which was on 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 It happened, from the day that the ark stayed in Kiriath 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 Samuel spoke to all the house of Israel, saying, "If you do return to YHWH with all your heart, then put away the foreign gods and the Ashtaroth from among you, and direct your hearts to 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 removed the Baals and the Ashtaroth, and served YHWH only.

Hivyo Waisraeli wakaweka mbali Mabaali yao na Maashtorethi, nao wakamtumikia Bwana peke yake.

5 Samuel said, "Gather all Israel to Mizpah, and I will pray for you to YHWH."

Kisha Samweli akasema, “Wakusanyeni Israeli wote huko Mispa, nami nitawaombea ninyi kwa Bwana.”

6 They gathered together to Mizpah, and drew water, and poured it out before YHWH, and fasted on that day, and said, "We have sinned against YHWH." Samuel judged the children of Israel in Mizpah.

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 When the Philistines heard that the children of Israel were gathered together at Mizpah, the lords of the Philistines went up against Israel. 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 The children of Israel said to Samuel, "Do not cease to cry to 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 Samuel took a suckling lamb, and offered it for a whole burnt offering to YHWH: and Samuel cried to YHWH for Israel; and YHWH answered 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 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 on the Philistines, and confused them; and they were struck down 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 The men of Israel went out of Mizpah, and pursued the Philistines, and struck them, as far as below Beth Kar.

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 Mizpah and Jashan, and called its name Ebenezer, saying, "YHWH helped us until now."

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 within the territory of Israel. 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 The cities which the Philistines had taken from Israel were restored to Israel, from Ekron even to Gath; and Israel recovered its territory out of the hand of the Philistines. 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 Samuel judged Israel all the days of his life.

Samweli akaendelea kama mwamuzi juu ya Israeli siku zote za maisha yake.

16 He went from year to year in circuit to Bethel and Gilgal, and Mizpah; and he judged Israel in all those places.

Mwaka hadi mwaka aliendelea kuzunguka kutoka Betheli mpaka Gilgali na Mispa, akiamua Israeli katika sehemu hizo zote.

17 His return was to Ramah, for there was his house; and there he judged Israel: and he built there an altar to YHWH.

Lakini kila mara alirudi Rama, kulikokuwa nyumbani kwake, huko pia aliwaamua Israeli. Naye huko alimjengea Bwana madhabahu.