I Samuelis 5

1 Philisthiim autem tulerunt arcam Dei, et asportaverunt eam a Lapide adiutorii in Azotum.

Then the Philistines took the ark of God, and they transported it from the Stone of Assistance into Ashdod.

2 Tuleruntque Philisthiim arcam Dei, et intulerunt eam in templum Dagon, et statuerunt eam iuxta Dagon.

And the Philistines took the ark of God, and carried it into the temple of Dagon. And they stationed it beside Dagon.

3 Cumque surrexissent diluculo Azotii altera die, ecce Dagon iacebat pronus in terra ante arcam Domini: et tulerunt Dagon, et restituerunt eum in locum suum.

And when the Ashdodites had risen up at first light on the next day, behold, Dagon was lying prone on the ground before the ark of the Lord. And they took Dagon, and they set him again in his place.

4 Rursumque mane die altera consurgentes, invenerunt Dagon iacentem super faciem suam in terra coram arca Domini: caput autem Dagon, et duae palmae manuum eius abscissae erant super limen:

And again, on the next day, rising up in the morning, they found Dagon lying on his face upon the ground, before the ark of the Lord. But the head of Dagon, and both palms of his hands had been cut off upon the threshold.

5 porro Dagon solus truncus remanserat in loco suo. Propter hanc causam non calcant sacerdotes Dagon, et omnes qui ingrediuntur templum eius, super limen Dagon in Azoto, usque in hodiernum diem.

Moreover, only the trunk of Dagon remained in its place. For this reason, the priests of Dagon, and all who enter his temple, do not tread upon the threshold of Dagon in Ashdod, even to this day.

6 Aggravata est autem manus Domini super Azotios, et demolitus est eos: et percussit in secretiori parte natium Azotum, et fines eius. Et ebullierunt villae et agri in medio regionis illius, et nati sunt mures, et facta est confusio mortis magnae in civitate.

Now the hand of the Lord weighed heavily upon the Ashdodites, and he destroyed them. And he struck Ashdod and its borders at the inner part of the buttocks. And in the villages and fields, in the midst of that region, mice rose up and burst forth. And this caused a great tumult unto death in the city.

7 Videntes autem viri Azotii huiuscemodi plagam, dixerunt: Non maneat arca Dei Israel apud nos: quoniam dura est manus eius super nos, et super Dagon deum nostrum.

Then the men of Ashdod, seeing this kind of plague, said: “The ark of the God of Israel shall not remain with us. For his hand is harsh, over us and over Dagon, our god.”

8 Et mittentes congregaverunt omnes satrapas Philisthinorum ad se, et dixerunt: Quid faciemus de arca Dei Israel? Responderuntque Gethaei: Circumducatur arca Dei Israel. Et circumduxerunt arcam Dei Israel.

And sending, they gathered together all the princes of the Philistines to them, and they said, “What shall we do about the ark of the God of Israel?” And the Gathites responded, “Let the ark of the God of Israel be led around.” And they led the ark of the God of Israel around.

9 Illis autem circumducentibus eam, fiebat manus Domini per singulas civitates interfectionis magnae nimis: et percutiebat viros uniuscuiusque urbis, a parvo usque ad maiorem, et computrescebant prominentes extales eorum. Inieruntque Gethaei consilium, et fecerunt sibi sedes pelliceas.

And as they were carrying it around, the hand of the Lord fell upon every single city with an exceedingly great slaughter. And he struck down the men of each and every city, from the small even to the great. And cysts were festering at their buttocks. And the Gathites took counsel, and they made for themselves seat covers from pelts.

10 Miserunt ergo arcam Dei in Accaron. Cumque venisset arca Dei in Accaron, exclamaverunt Accaronitae, dicentes: Adduxerunt ad nos arcam Dei Israel, ut interficiat nos et populum nostrum.

Therefore, they sent the ark of God into Ekron. And when the ark of God had arrived at Ekron, the Ekronites cried out, saying, “They have brought the ark of the God of Israel to us, so that it may kill us and our people!”

11 Miserunt itaque et congregaverunt omnes satrapas Philisthinorum: qui dixerunt: Dimittite arcam Dei Israel, et revertatur in locum suum, et non interficiat nos cum populo nostro.

And so they sent and gathered together all the princes of the Philistines, and they said: “Release the ark of the God of Israel, and return it to its own place. And let it not kill us, with our people.”

12 Fiebat enim pavor mortis in singulis urbibus, et gravissima valde manus Dei. viri quoque, qui mortui non fuerant, percutiebantur in secretiori parte natium: et ascendebat ululatus uniuscuiusque civitatis in caelum.

For the fear of death fell upon every single city, and the hand of God was very heavy. Also, the men who did not die were being afflicted in the inner part of the buttocks. And the wailing of each city was ascending to heaven.