< 1 Samuel 4 >
1 And so it was, when the word of Samuel had reached all Israel, that Israel went forth to meet the Philistines in battle, and they encamped near Eben-ezer, while, the Philistines, encamped in Aphek.
Neno la Samweli likawafikia Israeli wote. Basi Israeli wakatoka kupigana dhidi ya Wafilisti. Nao wakaweka kambi hapo Ebenezeri, na Wafilisti waliweka kambi yao huko Afeki.
2 And the Philistines set themselves in array to meet Israel, and, when the battle spread, then was Israel smitten before the Philistines, —and there were slain of the army in the field about four thousand men.
Nao Wafilisti walijipanga kwa ajili ya vita dhidi ya Waisraeli. Vita ilipopamba moto, Israeli ilishindwa na Wafilisti, wakauawa watu wapatao elfu nne kwenye uwanja wa vita.
3 And, when the people came into the camp, the elders of Israel said, Wherefore hath Yahweh smitten us to-day, before the Philistines? Let us fetch unto us, out of Shiloh, the ark of the covenant of Yahweh, that, when it cometh into our midst, it may save us out of the hand of our enemies.
Watu walipokuja kambini, wazee wa Israeli walisema, “Kwa nini BWANA ametushinda leo mbele ya Wafilisti? Hebu tulilete hapa sanduku la ushuhuda wa BWANA kutoka Shilo, ili kwamba liwe hapa pamoja nasi, ili litufanye tuwe salama kutokana na nguvu za maadui zetu.”
4 So the people sent to Shiloh, and bare from thence the ark of the covenant of Yahweh of hosts, who inhabiteth the cherubim, —and, there, were the two sons of Eli, with the ark of the covenant of God, namely, Hophni and Phinehas.
Hivyo waliwatuma watu huko Shilo; kutokea huko walilibeba sanduku la ushuhuda wa BWANA wa majeshi, akaaye juu ya makerubi. Hofni na Finehasi, watoto wawili wa Eli, walikuwapo pamoja na lile sanduku la ushuhuda wa Mungu.
5 And so it was, when the ark of the covenant of Yahweh came into the camp, that all Israel brake out into a loud shout of joy, —so that the earth rang again.
Sanduku la ushuhuda wa BWANA lilipofika kambini, watu wote wa Israeli walipiga yowe, na nchi ikavuma.
6 And, when the Philistines heard the noise of the shout, they said—What meaneth the noise of this loud shout of joy in the camp of the Hebrews? And they learned that, the ark of Yahweh, had come into the camp.
Wafilisti waliposikia kelele za mayowe, wakasema, “sauti hii ya mayowe katika kambi ya Waebrania inamaanisha nini?” Baadaye walitambua kwamba sanduku la BWANA limefika kambini.
7 And the Philistines were afraid, for they said—God hath come into the camp. And they said—Woe to us! for there hath not happened the like of this, heretofore.
Wafilisti waliogopa sana, “Mungu ameingia kambini.” Wakasema, “Ole wetu! Jambo kama hili halijawahi kutokea huko nyuma!
8 Woe to us! Who shall rescue us out of the hand of these majestic gods? These, are the gods, who smote the Egyptians with all manner of smiting in the desert!
Ole wetu! Ni nani atatulinda dhidi ya nguvu za Mungu mwenye uwezo? Huyu ndiye Mungu aliyewashambulia Wamisri kwa aina tofauti za mapigo mengi jangwani.
9 Take courage, and quit yourselves like men, ye Philistines, lest ye come into bondage to the Hebrews, as they have been in bondage unto you, —therefore must ye quit yourselves like men, and fight.
Enyi Wafilisti, iweni hodari, na fanyeni kiume, vinginevyo mtakuwa watumwa wa Waebrabia, kama walivyokuwa watumwa wenu. Fanyeni kiume, na piganeni nao.”
10 So the Philistines fought, and Israel was smitten, and they fled every man to his home; and the slaughter became exceeding great, —and there fell of Israel—thirty thousand footmen.
Wafilisti walipigana, na Waisraeli wakashindwa. Kila mtu alikimbilia nyumbani kwake, na mauaji yalikuwa makubwa sana; maana askari wa Israeli elfu thelathini waendao kwa miguu vitani, walianguka.
11 And, the ark of God, was taken, —and, the two sons of Eli, were slain, Hophni and Phinehas.
Lile sanduku la Mungu lilichukuliwa, na watoto wa Eli, Hofni na Finehasi waliuawa.
12 And there ran a man of Benjamin out of the army, and entered Shiloh on the same day, —with his clothes rent, and with earth upon his head.
Mtu mmoja wa Benjamini alikimbia kutoka uwanja wa vita akaja Shilo siku iyo hiyo, aliwasili na mavazi yake yamechanika na matope kichwani pake.
13 And, when he entered, lo! Eli was sitting upon his chair, by the wayside, watching, for his heart was trembling for the ark of God, —and, the man, entered to tell the news in the city, and all the city made outcry.
Alipofika, Eli alikuwa amekaa kitini pake karibu na barabara akitazama kwa sababu moyo wake ulitetemeka kwa ajili ya sanduku la Mungu. Mtu yule alipoingia mjini na kutoa taarifa, mji wote ulilia.
14 And, when Eli heard the noise of the outcry, he said—What meaneth the noise of this tumult? And, the man, hasted, and came, and told Eli.
Eli aliposikia kelele ya kilio kile, alisema, “Kilio hicho kina maana gani?” Kwa haraka mtu yule alikuja na kumweleza Eli.
15 Now, Eli, was ninety-eight years old; and his eyes were fixed, that he could not see.
Basi Eli alikuwa na umri wa miaka tisini na nane; macho yake yamepofuka, na hakuweza kuona.
16 So the man said unto Eli, I, am he that came in from the army, yea, I, from the army, fled to-day. And he said—What is the thing that hath happened, my son?
Yule mtu akamwambia Eli, “Mimi ndiye nimechomoka kutoka vitani. Nimetoroka kutoka kwenye mapigano leo.” Eli akasema, “Mambo yalienda namna gani, mwanangu?”
17 And the bearer of tidings answered, and said—Israel hath fled before the Philistines, Moreover also, a great smiting, hath taken place among the people, —Moreover also, thy two sons, are slain, Hophni and Phinehas, And, the ark of God, is taken.
Yule mtu aliyeleta hizo habari alijibu na kusema, “Israeli wamewakimbia Wafilisti. Pia watu wengi wameuwawa. Watoto wako, Hofni na Finehasi, wamekufa, na sanduku la Mungu limechukuliwa.”.
18 And it came to pass, when he mentioned the ark of God, that he fell from off his seat backwards, at the side of the gate, and his neck brake, and he died, for, old, was the man, and, heavy, —and, he had judged Israel forty years.
Alipotamka sanduku la Mungu, Eli alianguka chali kutoka kwenye kiti chake karibu na mlango. akavunjika shingo lake, na kufariki, kwa sababu alikuwa mzee tena mzito. Naye alikuwa mwamuzi wa Israeli kwa miaka arobaini.
19 Now, his daughter-in-law, wife of Phinehas, was with child, ready to give birth, and, when she heard the tidings, as to the taking of the ark of God, and the death of her father-in-law, and her husband, she bowed herself and gave birth, for her pains had seized her.
Basi mkwewe, mke wa Finihasi, alikuwa mjamzito akikaribia kujifungua. aliposikia habari kwamba sanduku la Mungu limetekwa nyara na kwamba baba mkwe na mme wake wamefariki, alichuchumaa chini akajifungua, lakini utungu wake ulimzidi na ulimtaabisha sana.
20 And, about the time of her death, the women that stood by her said: Do not fear, for, to a son, hast thou given birth. But she neither answered nor regarded.
Alipokaribia kufariki, wanawake waliokuwa wakimhudumia walisema, “Usiogope, maana umejifungua mtoto wa kiume.” Lakini hakuwajibu lolote au kuzingatia alichoambiwa.
21 And she called the boy I-chabod ["Where’s the glory?"]! saying, Exiled is the glory from Israel, —In regard to the taking of the ark of God, and to her father-in-law, and to her husband.
Akamwita mtoto Ikabodi, akisema, “Utukufu umetoweka Israeli!” Kwa sababu sanduku la Mungu limetekwa nyara, na kwa sababu ya kifo cha baba mkwe na mme wake.
22 So she said—Exiled is the glory from Israel, —For the ark of God hath been taken.
Na alisema, “Utukufu umetoweka kutoka Israeli, kwa sababu sanduku la Mungu limetekwa nyala.”