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 Samuel's words were communicated to all the Israelites. The Israelites marched out to confront the Philistines in battle. They set up camp at Ebenezer, while the Philistines set up camp at Aphek.
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.
The Philistines attacked the Israelites in formation, and when the battle spread, the Philistines defeated the Israelites, killing 4,000 of them on the battlefield.
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.”
When the Israelite army returned to camp, the elders of Israel asked, “Why did the Lord defeat us before Philistines today? Let's go and get the Ark of the Lord's Agreement from Shiloh, so that he can accompany us and save us from 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 army sent men to Shiloh, and they brought back the Ark of the Lord Almighty's Agreement, he who sits on his throne between the cherubim. Hophni and Phinehas, the two sons of Eli, were there with the Ark of the God's Agreement.
5 Wakati Sanduku la Agano la Bwana lilikuja kambini, Waisraeli wote wakapiga kelele kwa sauti kuu hata ardhi ikatikisika.
When the Ark of the Lord's Agreement arrived in the camp, all the Israelites gave such a loud shout it made the ground shake.
6 Wafilisti waliposikia makelele wakauliza, “Ni nini makelele haya yote katika kambi ya Waebrania?” Walipofahamu kuwa Sanduku la Bwana limekuja kambini,
When the Philistines heard all the shouting, they asked, “What's the meaning of this shouting in the Israelite camp?” When they found out that the Ark of the Lord had arrived in the camp,
7 Wafilisti wakaogopa, wakasema, “Mungu amekuja kambini, ole wetu. Halijatokea jambo kama hili tangu hapo.
the Philistines were afraid. “A god has arrived in the camp,” they said. “We're in trouble, for nothing like this has happened before.
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.
This is disaster for us! Who will save us from the power of these mighty gods? These are the gods who attacked the Egyptians with all kinds of plagues in the wilderness.
9 Tuweni hodari, enyi Wafilisti! Tuweni wanaume, la sivyo mtakuwa watumwa wa Waebrania, kama wao walivyokuwa kwenu. Kuweni wanaume, mpigane!”
Be brave, and fight like real men, Philistines! Otherwise you'll end up as slaves to the Israelites, just as they were your slaves. Now be real men 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 the Israelites were defeated—every man ran away home. The death toll was very large: thirty thousand of the Israelite infantry were killed.
11 Sanduku la Mungu likatekwa, na hao wana wawili wa Eli, Hofni na Finehasi, wakauawa.
The Ark of God was captured, and Hophni and Phinehas, Eli's two sons, died.
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.
A man from the tribe of Benjamin ran from the battle that day all the way to Shiloh. His clothes were torn and he had dirt on his head.
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.
When he arrived, Eli was sitting there on his chair by the road, watching out for news because he was worried about the Ark of God. When the man came into town and gave his report, the whole town cried out loud.
14 Eli akasikia kelele za kilio, naye akauliza, “Ni nini maana ya makelele haya?” Yule mtu akafanya haraka kwenda kwa Eli,
Eli heard the crying and asked, “What's all this noise?” The man rushed over to Eli and told him what had happened.
15 wakati huu Eli alikuwa na miaka tisini na minane nayo macho yake yalikuwa yamepofuka na hakuweza kuona.
Eli was ninety-eight years old, and his eyes were fixed because he couldn't see.
16 Akamwambia Eli, “Mimi nimetoka vitani sasa hivi, nimekimbia kutoka huko leo hii.” Eli akamuuliza, “Je, mwanangu, ni nini kimetokea huko?”
“I've just come from the battle,” the man said. “I ran away from it today.” “What happened, my son?” Eli asked.
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.”
“Israel ran away from the Philistines—we were badly defeated,” the messenger replied. “Also your two sons, Hophni and Phinehas, were killed, and the Ark of God has been captured.”
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.
As soon as the Ark of God was mentioned, Eli fell backward from his chair by the town gate. Since he was old and heavy, he broke his neck and died. Eli had been Israel's leader for 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.
His daughter-in-law, Phinehas' wife, was pregnant and about to give birth. When she heard the news that the Ark of God had been captured, and that her father-in-law and her husband were dead, she went into labor and gave birth, but her labor pains were too strong.
20 Alipokuwa akifa, wanawake waliokuwa wanamhudumia wakamwambia, “Usikate tamaa, umemzaa mwana.” Lakini hakujibu wala kuweka maanani.
Just before she died, the women caring for her said, “Don't give up—you have given birth to a son!” But she didn't answer or give any response.
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.
She named the boy Ichabod, saying, “The glory has left Israel,” because Ark of God had been captured, and her father-in-law and her husband had died.
22 Akasema, “Utukufu umeondoka katika Israeli, kwa kuwa Sanduku la Mungu limetekwa.”
She said, “The glory has left Israel, for the Ark of God has been captured.”
