1 Samweli 5

1 Baada ya Wafilisti kuteka Sanduku la Mungu, walilichukua kutoka Ebenezeri mpaka Ashdodi.

Now the Philistines had taken the ark of God, and they brought it from Ebenezer to Ashdod.

2 Kisha wakaliingiza lile Sanduku ndani ya hekalu la Dagoni na kuliweka kando ya huyo Dagoni.

The Philistines took it, and brought it into the house of Dagon, and set it by Dagon.

3 Watu wa Ashdodi walipoamka asubuhi na mapema kesho yake, kumbe, wakamkuta Dagoni ameanguka chini kifudifudi mbele ya Sanduku la Bwana! Wakamwinua Dagoni na kumrudisha mahali pake.

And the Ashdodites rose early on the next day, and look, Dagon had fallen on his face before the ark of Jehovah. So they raised up Dagon and set him in his place again.

4 Lakini asubuhi iliyofuata, walipoamka kumbe, walimkuta huyo Dagoni ameanguka chini kifudifudi mbele ya Sanduku la Bwana! Kichwa chake na mikono vilikuwa vimevunjwa navyo vimelala kizingitini, ni kiwiliwili chake tu kilichokuwa kimebaki.

And it happened when they arose early the next morning, look, Dagon had fallen on his face before the ark of Jehovah; and the head of Dagon and both the palms of his hands were cut off on the threshold. Only Dagon's torso was intact.

5 Ndiyo sababu mpaka leo makuhani wa Dagoni wala wengine waingiao katika hekalu la Dagoni huko Ashdodi hawakanyagi kizingiti.

Therefore neither the priests of Dagon, nor any who come into Dagon's house, step on the threshold of Dagon in Ashdod, to this day.

6 Mkono wa Bwana ulikuwa mzito juu ya watu wa Ashdodi na vijiji jirani, akaleta uharibifu juu yao na kuwatesa kwa majipu.

But the hand of Jehovah was heavy on the Ashdodites, and he ravaged them and afflicted them with tumors, both Ashdod and its territory. And he brought up against them mice, and they burst out in their ships, and mice sprang up in the midst of their land, and there was a great terror of death in the city.

7 Watu wa Ashdodi walipoona kile kilichokuwa kikitokea, wakasema, “Sanduku la Mungu wa Israeli kamwe lisikae hapa pamoja na sisi, kwa sababu mkono wake ni mzito juu yetu na juu ya Dagoni mungu wetu.”

When the men of Ashdod saw what was happening, they said, "The ark of God shall not stay with us; for his hand is severe on us, and on Dagon our god."

8 Basi wakawaita watawala wote wa Wafilisti pamoja na kuwauliza, “Tutafanya nini na hili Sanduku la Mungu wa Israeli?” Wakajibu, “Sanduku la Mungu wa Israeli na liende Gathi.” Basi wakalihamisha Sanduku la Mungu wa Israeli.

So they sent and gathered all the lords of the Philistines to them, and said, "What shall we do with the ark of God?" Then the Gittites answered, "Let the ark of God be carried over to us." So they brought the ark of God to Gath.

9 Lakini baada ya kulihamisha, mkono wa Bwana ulikuwa dhidi ya huo mji wa Gathi, akiuweka katika fadhaa kuu. Mungu akawatesa watu wa huo mji, vijana kwa wazee, kwa kuwaletea majipu.

And it came about that after they had brought it around, the hand of Jehovah was against the city with a very great confusion: and he struck the men of the city, both small and great; and tumors broke out on them.

10 Basi wakapeleka Sanduku la Mungu Ekroni. Wakati Sanduku la Mungu lilipokuwa linaingia Ekroni, watu wa Ekroni walilia wakisema “Wamelileta Sanduku la Mungu wa Israeli kwetu ili kutuua sisi na watu wetu.”

So they sent the ark of God to Ekron. It happened, as the ark of God came to Ekron, that the Ekronites cried out, saying, "Why have you brought about the ark of the God of Israel to us, to kill us and our people?"

11 Basi wakawaita watawala wote wa Wafilisti pamoja na kusema, “Liondoeni Sanduku la Mungu wa Israeli na lirudishwe mahali pake, la sivyo litatuua sisi na watu wetu.” Kwa kuwa kifo kilikuwa kimeujaza mji hofu; kwani mkono wa Mungu ulikuwa mzito sana juu yake.

And they sent and gathered together all the lords of the Philistines, and they said, "Send away the ark of the God of Israel, and let it go again to its own place, so that it will not kill us and our people." For there was a panic throughout all the city when the ark of God arrived there.

12 Wale ambao hawakufa walipatwa na majipu, na kilio cha mji kilikwenda juu hadi mbinguni.

The men who did not die were struck with the tumors; and the cry of the city went up to heaven.