1 Samweli 5
1 Basi Wafilisti wakawa wamelitwaa sanduku la Mungu, wakalileta kutoka Ebenezeri hadi Ashdodi.
After the Philistines had captured the ark of God, they took it from Ebenezer to Ashdod,
2 Wafilisti walilichukua sanduku la Mungu, wakalileta ndani ya nyumba ya Dagoni, na wakalikalisha pembeni mwa Dagoni.
carried it into the temple of Dagon, and set it beside his statue.
3 Watu wa Ashdodi walipoamka mapema siku ya pili, tazama, Dagoni ilianguka chini kifudifudi mbele ya sanduku la BWANA. Hivyo waliichukua Dagoni na kuisimamisha tena katika sehemu yake.
When the people of Ashdod got up early the next morning, there was Dagon, fallen on his face before the ark of the LORD. So they took Dagon and returned him to his place.
4 Lakini walipoamka mapema kesho yake, tazama, Dagoni alikuwa ameanguka chini kifudifudi mbele ya sanduku la BWANA. Kichwa cha Dagoni na vitanga vyake miwili vilikatika na kulala mlangoni. Kiwiliwili cha Dagoni ndicho kilibaki tu.
But when they got up early the next morning, there was Dagon, fallen on his face before the ark of the LORD, with his head and his hands broken off and lying on the threshold. Only the torso remained.
5 Na hii ndiyo sababu, makuhani wa Dagoni na yeyote aingiae ndani ya nyumba ya Dagoni, hata leo, hawezi kukanyaga mlango wa Dagoni katika Ashdodi.
That is why, to this day, the priests of Dagon and all who enter the temple of Dagon in Ashdod do not step on the threshold.
6 Mkono wa BWANA ulikuwa mzito juu ya watu wa Ashdodi. Aliwaangamiza akawatesa kwa majipu, Ashdodi na wilaya zake kwa pamoja.
Now the hand of the LORD was heavy on the people of Ashdod and its vicinity, ravaging them and afflicting them with tumors.
7 Watu wa Ashdodi walipotambua kilichokuwa kinatokea, walisema, “Sanduku la Mungu wa Israeli lisikae kwetu, kwa sababu mkono wake ni mzito juu yetu na juu ya mungu wetu Dagoni.”
And when the men of Ashdod saw what was happening, they said, “The ark of the God of Israel must not stay here with us, because His hand is heavy upon us and upon our god Dagon.”
8 Basi wakawatuma watu wawakusanye pamoja viongozi wote wa Wafilisti; wakawambia, “Tufanye nini na sanduku la Mungu wa Israeli?” Wakawajibu, “Sanduku la Mungu wa Israeli lihamishwe na kupelekwa Gathi.” Basi wakalihamisha hilo sanduku la Mungu wa Israeli hadi huko Gathi.
So they called together all the rulers of the Philistines and asked, “What shall we do with the ark of the God of Israel?” “It must be moved to Gath,” they replied. So they carried away the ark of the God of Israel.
9 Lakini baada ya kulipeleka huko, mkono wa BWANA ulikuwa juu ya mji huo, ukasababisha machafuko makubwa. Akawatesa watu wa mji huo, wakubwa kwa wadogo; na majipu yakaota juu ya miili yao.
But after they had moved the ark to Gath, the LORD’s hand was also against that city, throwing it into great confusion and afflicting the men of the city, both young and old, with an outbreak of tumors.
10 Basi, wakalipeleka sanduku la Mungu hadi Ekroni. Lakini mara tu sanduku la Mungu lilipoingia Ekroni, watu wa Ekroni walipiga kelele wakisema, “Wametuletea sanduku la Mungu wa Israeli kutuua sisi na watu wetu.”
So they sent the ark of God to Ekron, but as it arrived, the Ekronites cried out, “They have brought us the ark of the God of Israel in order to kill us and our people!”
11 Basi wakawatuma watu wawakusanye pamoja viongozi wote wa Wafilisti; wakawambia, “Lipelekeni mbali sanduku la Mungu wa Israeli, na lirudishwe katika makao yake, ili lisije kutuua sisi na watu wetu.” Kwa maana kulikuwa na hofu ya kutisha mjini mwote; Mkono wa Mungu ulikuwa mzito mno huko.
Then the Ekronites assembled all the rulers of the Philistines and said, “Send away the ark of the God of Israel. It must return to its place, so that it will not kill us and our people!” For a deadly confusion had pervaded the city; the hand of God was heavy upon it.
12 Watu ambao hawakufa waliteswa na majipu, na kilio cha mji kilipanda hadi mbinguni.
Those who did not die were afflicted with tumors, and the outcry of the city went up to heaven.
