< 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 came to all Israel. And Eli grew very old, and his sons kept advancing in their wicked behavior before YHWH. And it came to pass in those days that the Philistines gathered themselves together against Israel. And Israel went out to meet them in battle, and camped beside Ebenezer, and the Philistines camped in 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 put themselves in array against Israel: and when they joined battle, Israel was struck before the Philistines; and they killed of the army in the field 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.”
When the people had come into the camp, the elders of Israel said, "Why has YHWH struck us today before the Philistines? Let us get the ark of YHWH out of Shiloh to us, that it may come among us, and save us out of 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 Shiloh; and they brought from there the ark of YHWH, who sits above the cherubim: and the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, were there with the ark.
5 Wakati Sanduku la Agano la Bwana lilikuja kambini, Waisraeli wote wakapiga kelele kwa sauti kuu hata ardhi ikatikisika.
When the ark of YHWH came into the camp, all Israel shouted with a great shout, so that 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,
When the Philistines heard the noise of the shout, they said, "What does the noise of this great shout in the camp of the Hebrews mean?" They understood that the ark of YHWH had come into the camp.
7 Wafilisti wakaogopa, wakasema, “Mungu amekuja kambini, ole wetu. Halijatokea jambo kama hili tangu hapo.
The Philistines were afraid, for they said, "Gods have come into the camp." They said, "Woe to us. For there has not been such a thing 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.
Woe to us. Who shall deliver us out of the hand of these mighty gods? These are the gods that struck 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 strong, and behave like men, O you Philistines, that you not be servants to the Hebrews, as they have been to you. Strengthen yourselves like 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 they fought, and Israel was defeated, and they fled every man to his tent. And there was a very 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.
The ark of God was taken; and the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, 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.
There ran a man of Benjamin out of the army, and came to Shiloh the same day, with his clothes torn, and with earth 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 came, look, Eli was sitting on his seat by the side of the gate watching the road, for his heart trembled for the ark of God. When the man came into the city, and told it, 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,
When Eli heard the noise of the crying, he said, "What does the noise of this tumult mean?" The man hurried, and came and told Eli.
15 wakati huu Eli alikuwa na miaka tisini na minane nayo macho yake yalikuwa yamepofuka na hakuweza kuona.
Now Eli was ninety-eight years old; and his eyes were set, so that 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?”
The man said to Eli, "I am he who came out of the army, and I fled today out of the army." He said, "How did the matter go, 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.”
He who brought the news answered, "Israel has fled before the Philistines, and there has been also a great slaughter among the people. Your two sons also, Hophni and Phinehas, are dead, 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.
It happened, when he made mention of the ark of God, that Eli fell from off his seat backward by the side of the gate; and his neck broke, and he died; for he was an old man, and heavy. He had 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.
His daughter-in-law, Phinehas' wife, was with child, near to be delivered. When she heard the news that the ark of God was taken, and that her father-in-law and her husband were dead, she bowed herself and gave birth; for her pains came on her.
20 Alipokuwa akifa, wanawake waliokuwa wanamhudumia wakamwambia, “Usikate tamaa, umemzaa mwana.” Lakini hakujibu wala kuweka maanani.
When her time came, she was abount to die, and the women who stood by her said to her, "Do not be afraid; for you have given birth to a son." But she did not answer, neither did she regard it.
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 named the boy Ichabod, because of the ark of God, and because of her father-in-law and her husband.
22 Akasema, “Utukufu umeondoka katika Israeli, kwa kuwa Sanduku la Mungu limetekwa.”
She said, "The glory has departed from Israel, for the ark of God has been captured."