1 Samweli 5

1 Basi Wafilisti wakawa wamelitwaa sanduku la Mungu, wakalileta kutoka Ebenezeri hadi Ashdodi.

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

2 Wafilisti walilichukua sanduku la Mungu, wakalileta ndani ya nyumba ya Dagoni, na wakalikalisha pembeni mwa Dagoni.

The Philistines took God’s ark, and brought it into the house of Dagon and set it by Dagon.

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 arose early on the next day, behold, Dagon had fallen on his face to the ground before the LORD’s ark. They took Dagon and set him in his place again.

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.

When they arose early on the following morning, behold, Dagon had fallen on his face to the ground before the LORD’s ark; 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 Na hii ndiyo sababu, makuhani wa Dagoni na yeyote aingiae ndani ya nyumba ya Dagoni, hata leo, hawezi kukanyaga mlango wa Dagoni katika Ashdodi.

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. Aliwaangamiza akawatesa kwa majipu, Ashdodi na wilaya zake kwa pamoja.

But the LORD’s hand was heavy on the people of Ashdod, and he destroyed them and struck them with tumours, even Ashdod and its borders.

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.”

When the men of Ashdod saw that it was so, they said, “The ark of the God of Israel shall not stay with us, for his hand is severe on us and on Dagon our god.”

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.

They sent therefore and gathered together all the lords of the Philistines, and said, “What shall we do with the ark of the God of Israel?” They answered, “Let the ark of the God of Israel be carried over to Gath.” They carried the ark of the God of Israel there.

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.

It was so, that after they had carried it there, the LORD’s hand was against the city with a very great confusion; and he struck the men of the city, both small and great, so that tumours broke out on them.

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 God’s ark to Ekron. As God’s ark came to Ekron, the Ekronites cried out, saying, “They have brought the ark of the God of Israel here to us, 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.

They sent therefore and gathered together all the lords of the Philistines, and they said, “Send the ark of the God of Israel away, and let it go again to its own place, that it not kill us and our people.” For there was a deadly panic throughout all the city. The hand of God was very heavy there.

12 Watu ambao hawakufa waliteswa na majipu, na kilio cha mji kilipanda hadi mbinguni.

The men who didn’t die were struck with the tumours; and the cry of the city went up to heaven.