1 Samuel 4
1 The word of Samuel came to all of Israel. Now Israel went out to battle against the Philistines. They set up camp at Ebenezer, and the Philistines set up camp at Aphek.
Nalo neno la Samweli likaja kwa Israeli yote. Basi Waisraeli walitoka kwenda kupigana dhidi ya Wafilisti. Waisraeli wakapiga kambi huko Ebenezeri, nao Wafilisti wakapiga kambi huko Afeki.
2 The Philistines lined up for battle against Israel. When the battle spread, Israel was defeated by the Philistines, who killed about four thousand men on the field of battle.
Wafilisti wakapanga safu za majeshi yao kupambana na Israeli, wakati vita vilipoenea, Israeli wakashindwa na Wafilisti, ambao waliwaua askari wa Israeli wapatao 4,000 kwenye uwanja wa vita.
3 When the people came into the camp, the elders of Israel said, “Why has Yahweh defeated us today before the Philistines? Let us bring the ark of the covenant of Yahweh here from Shiloh, that it may be here with us, that it might keep us safe from the hands of our enemies.”
Askari waliporudi kambini, wazee wa Israeli wakawauliza, “Kwa nini Bwana ameruhusu leo tushindwe mbele ya Wafilisti? Tuleteni Sanduku la Agano la Bwana kutoka Shilo, ili lipate kwenda pamoja nasi, na kutuokoa kutoka mikono ya adui zetu.”
4 So the people sent men to Shiloh; from there they carried the ark of the covenant of Yahweh of hosts, who sits above the cherubim. The two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, were there with the ark of the covenant of God.
Hivyo wakawatuma watu huko Shilo, nao wakalichukua Sanduku la Agano la Bwana Mwenye Nguvu Zote, aliyekaa kwenye kiti chake cha enzi kati ya makerubi. Nao wale wana wawili wa Eli, Hofni na Finehasi, walikuwako huko pamoja na Sanduku la Agano la Mungu.
5 When the ark of the covenant of Yahweh came into the camp, all of the people of Israel gave a great shout, and the earth resounded.
Wakati Sanduku la Agano la Bwana lilikuja kambini, Waisraeli wote wakapiga kelele kwa sauti kuu hata ardhi ikatikisika.
6 When the Philistines heard the noise of the shouting, they said, “What does this loud shouting in the camp of the Hebrews mean?” Then they realized that the ark of Yahweh had come into the camp.
Wafilisti waliposikia makelele wakauliza, “Ni nini makelele haya yote katika kambi ya Waebrania?” Walipofahamu kuwa Sanduku la Bwana limekuja kambini,
7 The Philistines were afraid; they said, “A god has come into the camp.” They said, “Woe to us! Nothing like this has happened before!
Wafilisti wakaogopa, wakasema, “Mungu amekuja kambini, ole wetu. Halijatokea jambo kama hili tangu hapo.
8 Woe to us! Who will protect us from the strength of these mighty gods? These are the gods who attacked the Egyptians with many different kinds of plagues in the wilderness.
Ole wetu! Ni nani atakayetuokoa kutoka mikononi mwa miungu hii yenye nguvu? Ni miungu ile iliyowapiga Wamisri kwa mapigo ya aina zote huko jangwani.
9 Take courage, and be men, you Philistines, or you will become slaves to the Hebrews, as they have been slaves to you. Be men, and fight.”
Tuweni hodari, enyi Wafilisti! Tuweni wanaume, la sivyo mtakuwa watumwa wa Waebrania, kama wao walivyokuwa kwenu. Kuweni wanaume, mpigane!”
10 The Philistines fought, and Israel was defeated. Every man fled to his house, and the slaughter was very great; for thirty thousand foot soldiers from Israel fell.
Basi Wafilisti wakapigana, nao Waisraeli wakashindwa na kila mtu akakimbilia hemani mwake. Mauaji yalikuwa makubwa sana, Israeli wakapoteza askari 30,000 waendao kwa miguu.
11 The ark of God was taken, and the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, died.
Sanduku la Mungu likatekwa, na hao wana wawili wa Eli, Hofni na Finehasi, wakauawa.
12 A man of Benjamin ran from the battle line and came to Shiloh the same day, arriving with his clothes torn and earth on his head.
Siku ile ile mtu mmoja wa kabila la Benyamini akakimbia kutoka kwenye uwanja wa vita na kwenda Shilo, nguo zake zikiwa zimeraruka na akiwa na mavumbi kichwani mwake.
13 When he arrived, Eli was sitting on his seat by the road watching because his heart trembled with concern for the ark of God. When the man entered the city and told the news, the whole city cried out.
Alipofika, Eli alikuwa ameketi juu ya kiti chake kando ya barabara akiangalia, kwa sababu moyo wake ulikuwa na hofu kwa ajili ya Sanduku la Mungu. Mtu yule alipoingia mjini na kueleza kilichokuwa kimetokea, mji wote ukalia.
14 When Eli heard the noise of the outcry, he said, “What is the meaning of this uproar?” The man quickly came and told Eli.
Eli akasikia kelele za kilio, naye akauliza, “Ni nini maana ya makelele haya?” Yule mtu akafanya haraka kwenda kwa Eli,
15 Now Eli was ninety-eight years old; his eyes did not focus, and he could not see.
wakati huu Eli alikuwa na miaka tisini na minane nayo macho yake yalikuwa yamepofuka na hakuweza kuona.
16 The man said to Eli, “I am the one who came from the battle line. I fled from the battle today.” Eli said, “How did it go, my son?”
Akamwambia Eli, “Mimi nimetoka vitani sasa hivi, nimekimbia kutoka huko leo hii.” Eli akamuuliza, “Je, mwanangu, ni nini kimetokea huko?”
17 The man who brought the news answered and said, “Israel fled from the Philistines. Also, there has been a great defeat among the people. Also, your two sons, Hophni and Phinehas, are dead, and the ark of God has been taken.”
Yule mtu aliyeleta habari akajibu, “Israeli amekimbia mbele ya Wafilisti, nalo jeshi limepata hasara kubwa. Pia wana wako wawili, Hofni na Finehasi, wamekufa, na Sanduku la Mungu limetekwa.”
18 When he mentioned the ark of God, Eli fell over backward from his seat by the side of the gate. His neck was broken, and he died, because he was old and heavy. He had judged Israel for forty years.
Mara alipotaja Sanduku la Mungu, Eli alianguka kutoka kwenye kiti chake kwa nyuma kando ya lango. Shingo yake ikavunjika naye akafa, kwa kuwa alikuwa mzee tena mzito. Alikuwa amewaongoza Israeli kwa miaka arobaini.
19 Now his daughter-in-law, Phinehas' wife, was pregnant and about to give birth. When she heard the news that the ark of God was captured and that her father-in-law and her husband were dead, she knelt down and gave birth, but her labor pains overwhelmed her.
Mkwewe, mke wa Finehasi, alikuwa mjamzito na karibu wakati wa kujifungua. Aliposikia habari kwamba Sanduku la Mungu limetekwa na ya kuwa baba mkwe wake na mumewe wamekufa, akapata utungu naye akajifungua lakini akazidiwa na utungu.
20 About the time of her death the women attending to her said, “Do not be afraid, for you have given birth to a son.” But she did not answer or take what they said to heart.
Alipokuwa akifa, wanawake waliokuwa wanamhudumia wakamwambia, “Usikate tamaa, umemzaa mwana.” Lakini hakujibu wala kuweka maanani.
21 She named the child Ichabod, saying, “The glory has gone away from Israel!” for the ark of God had been captured, and because of her father-in-law and her husband.
Alimwita yule mtoto Ikabodi, akisema, “Utukufu umeondoka katika Israeli,” kwa sababu ya kutekwa kwa Sanduku la Mungu na vifo vya baba mkwe na mumewe.
22 She said, “The glory has gone away from Israel, because the ark of God has been captured.”
Akasema, “Utukufu umeondoka katika Israeli, kwa kuwa Sanduku la Mungu limetekwa.”
