1 Samweli 7

1 Watu wa Kiriath Yearimu walikuja, wakalichukua sanduku la BWANA, wakalileta ndani ya nyumba ya Abinadabu mlimani iliyokuwa kilimani. Wakamteua Eleazari, mwanawe, kulitunza sanduku la BWANA.

The men of Kiriath Jearim came, took the ark of Yahweh, and brought it into the house of Abinadab on the hill. They set apart his son Eleazar to keep the ark of Yahweh.

2 Tangu siku ambayo sanduku lilikaa huko Kiiriath Yearimu, ulipita muda mrefu, miaka ishirini. Nyumba yote ya Israeli iliomboleza na ikaazimu kumrudia BWANA.

From the day the ark remained in Kiriath Jearim, a long time passed, twenty years. All the house of Israel lamented and wished to turn to Yahweh.

3 Samweli akawaambia watu wote wa Israeli, “Kama mtamrudia BWANA kwa moyo wenu wote, mkaiondoa miungu migeni na Ashtorethi kutoka katikati yenu, igeuzeni mioyo yenu kwa BWANA, na mwabuduni yeye peke yake, ndipo atawaokoa kutoka mkono wa Wafilisti.”

Samuel said to the entire house of Israel, “If you return to Yahweh with your whole heart, remove the foreign gods and the Ashtoreths from among you, turn your hearts to Yahweh, and worship him only, then he will rescue you from the hand of the Philistines.”

4 Ndipo watu wa Israeli wakamuondoa Baali na Ashtorethi, na wakamwabudu BWANA peke yake.

Then the people of Israel removed the Baals and the Ashtoreths, and worshiped Yahweh only.

5 Ndipo Samweli akasema, “Waleteni Israeli wote hadi Mizpa, nami nitamwomba BWANA kwa ajili yenu.”

Then Samuel said, “Bring together all Israel to Mizpah, and I will pray to Yahweh for you.”

6 Wakakusanyika Mispa, wakateka maji na kuyamwaga chini mbele za BWANA. Siku hiyo walifunga na kusema, “Tumemfanyia BWANA dhambi.” Hapo Mispa ndipo Samweli aliwaamu na kuwaongoza watu wa Iraeli. -8

They gathered at Mizpah, drew water and poured it out before Yahweh. They fasted that day and said, “We have sinned against Yahweh.” It was there that Samuel decided disputes for the people of Israel and led the people.

7 Basi Wafilisti waliposikiakwamba Waisraeli wamekusanyika hapo Mispa, viongozi wa Wafilisti waliwashambulia Israeli. Waisraeli waliposikia hivyo, waliwaogopa Wafilisti.

Now when the Philistines heard the people of Israel had gathered at Mizpah, the rulers of the Philistines attacked Israel. When the people of Israel heard of it, they were afraid of the Philistines.

8 Ndipo Waisraeli wakamwambia Samweli, “Usiache kumwomba BWANA Mungu wetu kwa ajili yetu, ili atuokoe kutoka mkono wa Wafilisti.”

Then the people of Israel said to Samuel, “Do not stop calling out to Yahweh our God for us, so he will save us from the hand of the Philistines.”

9 Samweli alimchukua kondoo mchanga nakumtoa sadaka ya kuteketezwa kikamilifu kwa BWANA. Ndipo Samweli akamlilia BWANA kwa ajili ya Israeli, na BWANA akamjibu.

Samuel took a nursing lamb and offered it as a whole burnt offering to Yahweh. Then Samuel cried out to Yahweh for Israel, and Yahweh answered him.

10 Hata Samweli alipokuwa akitoa sadaka ya kuteketezwa, Wafilisti wakasogea karibu kuwashambulia Israeli; lakini BWANA alipiga kwa nguromo ya sauti kubwa siku hiyo dhidi ya Wafilisti na kuwatia kiwewe, na wakashindwa mbele ya Israeli.

As Samuel was offering up the burnt offering, the Philistines approached to attack Israel. But Yahweh thundered with a loud sound that day against the Philistines and threw them into confusion, and they were routed before Israel.

11 Waisraeli wakaondoka Mispa, wakawafuatia Wafilisti na kuwaua hadi kufika chini ya Beth kari.

The men of Israel went from Mizpah, and they pursued the Philistines and killed them as far as below Beth Kar.

12 KIsha Samweli akachukua jiwe akalisimamisha kati ya Mispa na Sheni. Akaliita hilo jiwe Ebeneza, akisema, “Hata sasa BWANA ametusaidia.”

Then Samuel took a stone and set it between Mizpah and Shen. He named it Ebenezer, saying, “Thus far Yahweh has helped us.”

13 Kwa hiyo, Wafilisti walishindwa na hawakuingia katika mipaka ya Israeli. Mkono wa BWANA uliwalemea Wafilisti siku zote za Samweli.

So the Philistines were subdued and they did not enter the border of Israel. The hand of Yahweh was against the Philistines all the days of Samuel.

14 Miji ambayo Wafilisti waliitwaa kutoka kwa Israeli ilirudishwa, kutokea Ekroni hadi Gathi; Israeli ikarudisha tena sehemu za nchi zake kutoka kwa Wafilisti. Ndipo ikawa amani kati ya Israeli na Waamori.

The towns that the Philistines had taken from Israel were restored to Israel, from Ekron to Gath; Israel brought back their territory from the Philistines. Then there was peace between Israel and the Amorites.

15 Samweli akawa mwamuzi wa Israeli siku zote za maisha yake.

Samuel judged Israel all the days of his life.

16 Kila mwaka alienda Betheli kwa kuzunguka, akienda Gilgali, na huko Mispa.

Each year he went on a circuit to Bethel, to Gilgal, and to Mizpah. He decided disputes for Israel in all these places.

17 Kisha angerudi Rama, kwa sababu mji wake ulikuwa huko; na huko pia aliwaamua Waisiraeli. Hata huko Rama, pia alimjengea BWANA madhabahu.

Then he would return to Ramah, because his house was there; and there also he decided disputes for Israel. He also built an altar there to Yahweh.