1 Samweli 7
1 Kisha watu wa Kiriath-Yearimu wakaja na kulichukua Sanduku la Bwana. Wakalipeleka katika nyumba ya Abinadabu juu kilimani na kumweka Eleazari mwanawe wakfu kulichunga Sanduku la Bwana.
And the men of Kiriath-jearim came, and fetched up the ark of Jehovah, and brought it into the house of Abinadab in the hill, and sanctified Eleazar his son to keep the ark of Jehovah.
2 Sanduku la Bwana lilibakia huko Kiriath-Yearimu kwa muda mrefu, yaani jumla ya miaka ishirini, nao watu wa Israeli wakaomboleza na kumtafuta Bwana.
And it came to pass, from the day that the ark abode in Kiriath-jearim, that the time was long, for it was twenty years, and all the house of Israel lamented after Jehovah.
3 Naye Samweli akawaambia nyumba yote ya Israeli, “Ikiwa mtamrudia Bwana kwa mioyo yenu yote, basi iacheni miungu migeni na Maashtorethi na kujitoa wenyewe kwa Bwana na kumtumikia yeye peke yake, naye atawaokoa ninyi na mkono wa Wafilisti.”
And Samuel spoke to all the house of Israel, saying, If ye do return to Jehovah with all your heart, then put away the foreign gods and the Ashtaroth from among you, and direct your hearts to Jehovah, and serve him only. And he will deliver you out of the hand of the Philistines.
4 Hivyo Waisraeli wakaweka mbali Mabaali yao na Maashtorethi, nao wakamtumikia Bwana peke yake.
Then the sons of Israel did put away the Baalim and the Ashtaroth, and served Jehovah only.
5 Kisha Samweli akasema, “Wakusanyeni Israeli wote huko Mispa, nami nitawaombea ninyi kwa Bwana.”
And Samuel said, Gather all Israel to Mizpah, and I will pray for you to Jehovah.
6 Walipokwisha kukutanika huko Mispa, walichota maji na kuyamimina mbele za Bwana. Siku hiyo walifunga na wakaungama, wakisema, “Tumetenda dhambi dhidi ya Bwana.” Naye Samweli alikuwa kiongozi wa Israeli huko Mispa.
And they gathered together to Mizpah, and drew water, and poured it out before Jehovah, and fasted on that day, and said there, We have sinned against Jehovah. And Samuel judged the sons of Israel in Mizpah.
7 Wafilisti waliposikia kwamba Israeli wamekusanyika huko Mispa, watawala wa Wafilisti wakapanda ili kuwashambulia. Waisraeli waliposikia habari hiyo, waliogopa kwa sababu ya Wafilisti.
And when the Philistines heard that the sons of Israel were gathered together to Mizpah, the lords of the Philistines went up against Israel. And when the sons of Israel heard it, they were afraid of the Philistines.
8 Wakamwambia Samweli, “Usiache kumlilia Bwana, Mungu wetu, kwa ajili yetu, ili apate kutuokoa na mikono ya Wafilisti.”
And the sons of Israel said to Samuel, Do not cease to cry to Jehovah our God for us, that he will save us out of the hand of the Philistines.
9 Kisha Samweli akamchukua mwana-kondoo anyonyaye na kumtoa mzima kama sadaka ya kuteketezwa kwa Bwana. Akamlilia Bwana kwa niaba ya Israeli, naye Bwana akamjibu.
And Samuel took a sucking lamb, and offered it for a whole burnt offering to Jehovah. And Samuel cried to Jehovah for Israel, and Jehovah answered him.
10 Samweli alipokuwa anatoa hiyo dhabihu ya kuteketezwa, Wafilisti wakasogea karibu ili kupigana vita na Israeli. Lakini siku ile Bwana alinguruma kwa ngurumo kubwa dhidi ya Wafilisti na kuwafanya wafadhaike na kutetemeka hivi kwamba walikimbizwa mbele ya Waisraeli.
And as Samuel was offering up the burnt offering, the Philistines drew near to battle against Israel, but Jehovah thundered with a great thunder on that day upon the Philistines, and discomfited them, and they were smitten down before Israel.
11 Watu wa Israeli wakatoka mbio huko Mispa na kuwafuatia Wafilisti, wakiwachinja njiani hadi mahali chini ya Beth-Kari.
And the men of Israel went out of Mizpah, and pursued the Philistines, and smote them until they came under Beth-car.
12 Ndipo Samweli akachukua jiwe na kulisimamisha kati ya Mispa na Sheni. Akaliita Ebenezeri, akisema, “Hata sasa Bwana ametusaidia.”
Then Samuel took a stone, and set it between Mizpah and Shen, and called the name of it Ebenezer, saying, Jehovah has helped us to now.
13 Basi Wafilisti wakashindwa na hawakuvamia nchi ya Israeli tena. Katika maisha yote ya Samweli, mkono wa Bwana ulikuwa dhidi ya Wafilisti.
So the Philistines were subdued, and they came no more within the border of Israel, and the hand of Jehovah was against the Philistines all the days of Samuel.
14 Miji kuanzia Ekroni hadi Gathi, ile ambayo Wafilisti walikuwa wameiteka kutoka Israeli, ilirudishwa kwake, naye Israeli akazikomboa nchi jirani mikononi mwa Wafilisti. Kukawepo amani kati ya Israeli na Waamori.
And the cities which the Philistines had taken from Israel were restored to Israel, from Ekron even to Gath. And Israel delivered the border of it out of the hand of the Philistines. And there was peace between Israel and the Amorites.
15 Samweli akaendelea kama mwamuzi juu ya Israeli siku zote za maisha yake.
And Samuel judged Israel all the days of his life.
16 Mwaka hadi mwaka aliendelea kuzunguka kutoka Betheli mpaka Gilgali na Mispa, akiamua Israeli katika sehemu hizo zote.
And he went from year to year in circuit to Bethel, and Gilgal, and Mizpah. And he judged Israel in all those places.
17 Lakini kila mara alirudi Rama, kulikokuwa nyumbani kwake, huko pia aliwaamua Israeli. Naye huko alimjengea Bwana madhabahu.
And his return was to Ramah, for his house was there. And there he judged Israel, and there he built an altar to Jehovah.
