1 Samuel 5

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

Basi Wafilisti wakawa wamelitwaa sanduku la Mungu, wakalileta kutoka Ebenezeri hadi Ashdodi.

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.

Wafilisti walilichukua sanduku la Mungu, wakalileta ndani ya nyumba ya Dagoni, na wakalikalisha pembeni mwa Dagoni.

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.

Watu wa Ashdodi walipoamka mapema siku ya pili, tazama, Dagoni ilianguka chini kifudifudi mbele ya sanduku la BWANA. Hivyo waliichukua Dagoni na kuisimamisha tena katika sehemu yake.

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.

Lakini walipoamka mapema kesho yake, tazama, Dagoni alikuwa ameanguka chini kifudifudi mbele ya sanduku la BWANA. Kichwa cha Dagoni na vitanga vyake miwili vilikatika na kulala mlangoni. Kiwiliwili cha Dagoni ndicho kilibaki tu.

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.

Na hii ndiyo sababu, makuhani wa Dagoni na yeyote aingiae ndani ya nyumba ya Dagoni, hata leo, hawezi kukanyaga mlango wa Dagoni katika Ashdodi.

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

Mkono wa BWANA ulikuwa mzito juu ya watu wa Ashdodi. Aliwaangamiza akawatesa kwa majipu, Ashdodi na wilaya zake kwa pamoja.

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.

Watu wa Ashdodi walipotambua kilichokuwa kinatokea, walisema, “Sanduku la Mungu wa Israeli lisikae kwetu, kwa sababu mkono wake ni mzito juu yetu na juu ya mungu wetu Dagoni.”

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.

Basi wakawatuma watu wawakusanye pamoja viongozi wote wa Wafilisti; wakawambia, “Tufanye nini na sanduku la Mungu wa Israeli?” Wakawajibu, “Sanduku la Mungu wa Israeli lihamishwe na kupelekwa Gathi.” Basi wakalihamisha hilo sanduku la Mungu wa Israeli hadi huko Gathi.

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.

Lakini baada ya kulipeleka huko, mkono wa BWANA ulikuwa juu ya mji huo, ukasababisha machafuko makubwa. Akawatesa watu wa mji huo, wakubwa kwa wadogo; na majipu yakaota juu ya miili yao.

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!

Basi, wakalipeleka sanduku la Mungu hadi Ekroni. Lakini mara tu sanduku la Mungu lilipoingia Ekroni, watu wa Ekroni walipiga kelele wakisema, “Wametuletea sanduku la Mungu wa Israeli kutuua sisi na watu wetu.”

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.

Basi wakawatuma watu wawakusanye pamoja viongozi wote wa Wafilisti; wakawambia, “Lipelekeni mbali sanduku la Mungu wa Israeli, na lirudishwe katika makao yake, ili lisije kutuua sisi na watu wetu.” Kwa maana kulikuwa na hofu ya kutisha mjini mwote; Mkono wa Mungu ulikuwa mzito mno huko.

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

Watu ambao hawakufa waliteswa na majipu, na kilio cha mji kilipanda hadi mbinguni.