1 Samuel 5

1 Now, the Philistines, having taken the ark of God, —brought it in from Eben-ezer, unto Ashdod.

And the Philistines took the ark of Elohim, and brought it from Eben-ezer unto Ashdod.

2 And, when the Philistines took the ark of God, they brought it into the house of Dagon, —and placed it by the side of Dagon.

When the Philistines took the ark of Elohim, they brought it into the house of Dagon, and set it by Dagon.

3 And, when they of Ashdod rose early on the morrow and entered into the house of Dagon, they looked and lo! Dagon, was lying prostrate on his face to the earth, before the ark of Yahweh, —so they took Dagon and restored him to his place.

And when they of Ashdod arose early on the morrow, behold, Dagon was fallen upon his face to the earth before the ark of YHWH. And they took Dagon, and set him in his place again.

4 And, when they rose up early in the morning of the morrow, lo! Dagon, was lying prostrate on his face to the earth, before the ark of Yahweh—and, the head of Dagon, and both the palms of his hands, had been cut off against the threshold, only, Dagon himself, was left to him.

And when they arose early on the morrow morning, behold, Dagon was fallen upon his face to the ground before the ark of YHWH; and the head of Dagon and both the palms of his hands were cut off upon the threshold; only the stump of Dagon was left to him.

5 For this cause, do not the priests of Dagon, nor any that enter into the house of Dagon, tread upon the threshold of Dagon, in Ashdod, —until this day.

Therefore neither the priests of Dagon, nor any that come into Dagon's house, tread on the threshold of Dagon in Ashdod unto this day.

6 Then was the hand of Yahweh heavy against them of Ashdod, and he astounded them, —and smote with tumours Ashdod and her bounds.

But the hand of YHWH was heavy upon them of Ashdod, and he destroyed them, and smote them with emerods, even Ashdod and the coasts thereof.

7 And, when the men of Ashdod saw that, so, it was, then kept they saying, Let not the ark of the God of Israel abide with us, for, hard, is his hand upon us, and upon Dagon our god.

And when the men of Ashdod saw that it was so, they said, The ark of the Elohim of Israel shall not abide with us: for his hand is sore upon us, and upon Dagon our elohim.

8 So they sent and gathered together all the lords of the Philistines unto them, and said—What shall we do with the ark of the God of Israel? And they said: To Gath, let the ark of the God of Israel go round. So they took round the ark of the God of Israel.

They sent therefore and gathered all the rulers of the Philistines unto them, and said, What shall we do with the ark of the Elohim of Israel? And they answered, Let the ark of the Elohim of Israel be carried about unto Gath. And they carried the ark of the Elohim of Israel about thither.

9 And so it was, after they had taken it round, then was the hand of Yahweh against the city, with an exceeding great consternation, and he smote the men of the city, from the least, even unto the greatest, —and they brake out with tumours.

And it was so, that, after they had carried it about, the hand of YHWH was against the city with a very great destruction: and he smote the men of the city, both small and great, and they had emerods in their secret parts.

10 Then sent they the ark of God to Ekron, —and so it was, when the ark of God entered Ekron, that the Ekronites made outcry, saying—They have brought round unto me the ark of the God of Israel, to slay me, and my people!

Therefore they sent the ark of Elohim to Ekron. And it came to pass, as the ark of Elohim came to Ekron, that the Ekronites cried out, saying, They have brought about the ark of the Elohim of Israel to us, to slay us and our people.

11 So they sent and gathered together all the lords of the Philistines, and said—Send away the ark of the God of Israel, and restore it to its own place, that it slay not me, and my people. For there had come a deadly consternation, throughout all the city, heavy exceedingly, was the hand of God there.

So they sent and gathered together all rulers of the Philistines, and said, Send away the ark of the Elohim of Israel, and let it go again to his own place, that it slay us not, and our people: for there was a deadly destruction throughout all the city; the hand of Elohim was very heavy there.

12 And, the men who died not, were smitten with the tumours, —so the cry of the city for help, ascended the heavens.

And the men that died not were smitten with the emerods: and the cry of the city went up to heaven.