1 USamuyeli 7
1 Ngakho abantu baseKhiriyathi-Jeyarimi beza balithatha ibhokisi lesivumelwano sikaThixo. Balisa endlini ka-Abhinadabi eqaqeni bangcwelisa u-Eliyazari indodana yakhe ukuba agcine ibhokisi lesivumelwano sikaThixo.
The men of Kiriath Jearim came, took the ark of Yahweh, and brought it into the house of Abinadab on the hill. They set apart his son Eleazar to keep the ark of Yahweh.
2 Kwakuyisikhathi eside, iminyaka engamatshumi amabili isiyonke, ibhokisi lesivumelwano liseKhiriyathi-Jeyarimi. Njalo bonke abantu bako-Israyeli bakhala befuna uThixo.
From the day the ark remained in Kiriath Jearim, a long time passed, twenty years. All the house of Israel lamented and wished to turn to Yahweh.
3 USamuyeli wasesithi kuyo yonke indlu ka-Israyeli, “Nxa libuyela kuThixo ngezinhliziyo zenu zonke zehlukaniseni labonkulunkulu bezizweni labo-Ashithorethi lizinikele kuThixo njalo likhonze yena kuphela, uzalikhulula esandleni samaFilistiya.”
Samuel said to the entire house of Israel, “If you return to Yahweh with your whole heart, remove the foreign gods and the Ashtoreths from among you, turn your hearts to Yahweh, and worship him only, then he will rescue you from the hand of the Philistines.”
4 Ngakho abako-Israyeli babalahla oBhali babo labo-Ashithorethi, bakhonza uThixo kuphela.
Then the people of Israel removed the Baals and the Ashtoreths, and worshiped Yahweh only.
5 USamuyeli wasesithi, “Buthanisani u-Israyeli wonke eMizipha mina ngizalikhulekela kuThixo.”
Then Samuel said, “Bring together all Israel to Mizpah, and I will pray to Yahweh for you.”
6 Kwathi sebebuthene eMizipha, bakha amanzi bawathela phambi kukaThixo. Ngalolosuku bazila njalo bavuma izono zabo khonapho besithi, “Sonile.” Njalo uSamuyeli wahlulela abantu bako-Israyeli eMizipha.
They gathered at Mizpah, drew water and poured it out before Yahweh. They fasted that day and said, “We have sinned against Yahweh.” It was there that Samuel decided disputes for the people of Israel and led the people.
7 Kwathi amaFilistiya esizwa ukuthi u-Israyeli wayebuthene eMizipha, ababusi bamaFilistiya baya khona ukuyabahlasela. Kwathi abako-Israyeli bekuzwa, besaba ngenxa yamaFilistiya.
Now when the Philistines heard the people of Israel had gathered at Mizpah, the rulers of the Philistines attacked Israel. When the people of Israel heard of it, they were afraid of the Philistines.
8 Bathi kuSamuyeli, “Ungayekeli ukusikhalela kuThixo uNkulunkulu wethu ukuba asihlenge esandleni samaFilistiya.”
Then the people of Israel said to Samuel, “Do not stop calling out to Yahweh our God for us, so he will save us from the hand of the Philistines.”
9 USamuyeli wathatha iwundlu elimunyayo walinikela kuThixo njengomnikelo opheleleyo wokutshiswa. Wamkhulekela kuThixo u-Israyeli, uThixo wamphendula.
Samuel took a nursing lamb and offered it as a whole burnt offering to Yahweh. Then Samuel cried out to Yahweh for Israel, and Yahweh answered him.
10 Kwathi uSamuyeli enikela umnikelo wokutshiswa, amaFilistiya asondela eduze ukuba alwe lo-Israyeli. Kodwa mhlalokho uThixo waduma ngomdumo omkhulu emelane lamaFilistiya wawenza athuthumela kangangoba aze achithwachithwa phambi kwabako-Israyeli.
As Samuel was offering up the burnt offering, the Philistines approached to attack Israel. But Yahweh thundered with a loud sound that day against the Philistines and threw them into confusion, and they were routed before Israel.
11 Abantu bako-Israyeli bagijima bephuma eMizipha baxotshana lamaFilistiya bewabulala endleleni baze bayafika endaweni engaphansi kweBhethi-Khari.
The men of Israel went from Mizpah, and they pursued the Philistines and killed them as far as below Beth Kar.
12 USamuyeli wasethatha ilitshe walimisa phakathi kweMizipha leSheni. Walibiza ngokuthi yi-Ebhenezeri, esithi, “Kuze kube khathesi uThixo usisizile.”
Then Samuel took a stone and set it between Mizpah and Shen. He named it Ebenezer, saying, “Thus far Yahweh has helped us.”
13 Ngakho amaFilistiya anqotshwa njalo kawazange ahlasele ilizwe lako-Israyeli futhi. Kuyo yonke impilo kaSamuyeli, isandla sikaThixo sasimelane lamaFilistiya.
So the Philistines were subdued and they did not enter the border of Israel. The hand of Yahweh was against the Philistines all the days of Samuel.
14 Amadolobho kusukela e-Ekroni kusiya eGathi ayethunjwe ngamaFilistiya ku-Israyeli abuyiselwa kuye, njalo u-Israyeli wakhulula ilizwe eliseduze emandleni amaFilistiya. Njalo kwaba lokuthula phakathi kuka-Israyeli lama-Amori.
The towns that the Philistines had taken from Israel were restored to Israel, from Ekron to Gath; Israel brought back their territory from the Philistines. Then there was peace between Israel and the Amorites.
15 USamuyeli waqhubeka engumahluleli ka-Israyeli kuzozonke insuku zokuphila kwakhe.
Samuel judged Israel all the days of his life.
16 Iminyaka ngeminyaka wayenquma esuka eBhetheli aye eGiligali leMizipha, esahlulela u-Israyeli kuzozonke lezindawo.
Each year he went on a circuit to Bethel, to Gilgal, and to Mizpah. He decided disputes for Israel in all these places.
17 Kodwa wayehlezi ebuyela eRama lapho okwakulomuzi wakhe khona, lakhona wahlulela u-Israyeli. Njalo wakhela uThixo i-alithari.
Then he would return to Ramah, because his house was there; and there also he decided disputes for Israel. He also built an altar there to Yahweh.
