1 Samweli 4
1 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.
And it came to pass in those days, that the Philistines gathered themselves together to fight: and Israel went out to war against the Philistines, and camped by the Stone of help. And the Philistines came to Aphec,
2 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.
And put their army in array against Israel. And when they had joined battle, Israel turned their backs to the Philistines, and there was slain in that fight here and there in the fields about four thousand men.
3 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.”
And the people returned to the camp: and the ancients of Israel said: Why hath the Lord defeated us today before the Philistines? Let us fetch unto us the ark of the covenant of the Lord from Silo, and let it come in the midst of us, that it may save us from the hand of our enemies.
4 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.
So the people sent to Silo, and they brought from thence the ark of the covenant of the Lord of hosts sitting upon the cherubims: and the two sons of Heli, Ophni and Phinees, were with the ark of the covenant of God.
5 Wakati Sanduku la Agano la Bwana lilikuja kambini, Waisraeli wote wakapiga kelele kwa sauti kuu hata ardhi ikatikisika.
And when the ark of the covenant of the Lord was come into the camp, all Israel shouted with a great shout, and the earth rang again.
6 Wafilisti waliposikia makelele wakauliza, “Ni nini makelele haya yote katika kambi ya Waebrania?” Walipofahamu kuwa Sanduku la Bwana limekuja kambini,
And the Philistines heard the noise of the shout, and they said: What is this noise of a great shout in the camp of the Hebrews? And they understood that the ark of the Lord was come into the camp.
7 Wafilisti wakaogopa, wakasema, “Mungu amekuja kambini, ole wetu. Halijatokea jambo kama hili tangu hapo.
And the Philistines were afraid, saying: God is come into the camp. And sighing, they said:
8 Ole wetu! Ni nani atakayetuokoa kutoka mikononi mwa miungu hii yenye nguvu? Ni miungu ile iliyowapiga Wamisri kwa mapigo ya aina zote huko jangwani.
Woe to us: for there was no such great joy yesterday and the day before: Woe to us. Who shall deliver us from the hand of these high gods? these are the gods that struck Egypt with all the plagues in the desert.
9 Tuweni hodari, enyi Wafilisti! Tuweni wanaume, la sivyo mtakuwa watumwa wa Waebrania, kama wao walivyokuwa kwenu. Kuweni wanaume, mpigane!”
Take courage and behave like men, ye Philistines: lest you come to be servants to the Hebrews, as they have served you: take courage and fight.
10 Basi Wafilisti wakapigana, nao Waisraeli wakashindwa na kila mtu akakimbilia hemani mwake. Mauaji yalikuwa makubwa sana, Israeli wakapoteza askari 30,000 waendao kwa miguu.
So the Philistines fought, and Israel was overthrown, and every man fled to his own dwelling: and there was an exceeding great slaughter; for there fell of Israel thirty thousand footmen.
11 Sanduku la Mungu likatekwa, na hao wana wawili wa Eli, Hofni na Finehasi, wakauawa.
And the ark of God was taken: and the two sons of Heli, Ophni and Phinees, were slain.
12 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.
And there ran a man of Benjamin out of the army, and came to Silo the same day, with his clothes rent, and his head strewed with dust.
13 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.
And when he was come, Heli sat upon a stool over against the way watching. For his heart was fearful for the ark of God. And when the man was come into the city, he told it: and all the city cried out.
14 Eli akasikia kelele za kilio, naye akauliza, “Ni nini maana ya makelele haya?” Yule mtu akafanya haraka kwenda kwa Eli,
And Heli heard the noise of the cry, and he said: What meaneth the noise of this uproar? But he made haste, and came, and told Heli.
15 wakati huu Eli alikuwa na miaka tisini na minane nayo macho yake yalikuwa yamepofuka na hakuweza kuona.
Now Heli was ninety and eight years old, and his eyes were dim, and he could not see.
16 Akamwambia Eli, “Mimi nimetoka vitani sasa hivi, nimekimbia kutoka huko leo hii.” Eli akamuuliza, “Je, mwanangu, ni nini kimetokea huko?”
And he said to Heli: I am he that came from the battle, and have fled out of the field this day. And he said to him: What is there done, my son?
17 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.”
And he that brought the news answered, and said: Israel has fled before the Philistines, and there has been a great slaughter of the people: moreover thy two sons, Ophni and Phinees, are dead: and the ark of God is taken.
18 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.
And when he had named the ark of God, he fell from his stool backwards by the door, and broke his neck, and died. For he was an old man, and far advanced in years: and he judged Israel forty years.
19 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.
And his daughter in law the wife of Phinees, was big with child, and near her time: and hearing the news that the ark of God was taken, and her father in law, and her husband, were dead, she bowed herself and fell in labour: for her pains came upon her on a sudden.
20 Alipokuwa akifa, wanawake waliokuwa wanamhudumia wakamwambia, “Usikate tamaa, umemzaa mwana.” Lakini hakujibu wala kuweka maanani.
And when she was upon the point of death, they that stood about her said to her: Fear not, for thou hast borne a son. She answered them not, nor gave heed to them.
21 Alimwita yule mtoto Ikabodi, akisema, “Utukufu umeondoka katika Israeli,” kwa sababu ya kutekwa kwa Sanduku la Mungu na vifo vya baba mkwe na mumewe.
And she called the child Ichabod, saying: The glory is gone from Israel, because the ark of God was taken, and for her father in law, and her husband:
22 Akasema, “Utukufu umeondoka katika Israeli, kwa kuwa Sanduku la Mungu limetekwa.”
And she said: The glory is departed from Israel, because the ark of God was taken.
