I Samuelis 5

1 Philisthiim autem tulerunt arcam Dei, et asportaverunt eam a lapide Adjutorii in Azotum.

Now, the Philistines, having taken the ark of God, —brought it in from Eben-ezer, unto Ashdod.

2 Tuleruntque Philisthiim arcam Dei, et intulerunt eam in templum Dagon, et statuerunt eam juxta Dagon.

And, when the Philistines took the ark of God, they brought it into the house of Dagon, —and placed it by the side of Dagon.

3 Cumque surrexissent diluculo Azotii altera die, ecce Dagon jacebat pronus in terra ante arcam Domini: et tulerunt Dagon, et restituerunt eum in locum suum.

And, when they of Ashdod rose early on the morrow and entered into the house of Dagon, they looked and lo! Dagon, was lying prostrate on his face to the earth, before the ark of Yahweh, —so they took Dagon and restored him to his place.

4 Rursumque mane die altera consurgentes, invenerunt Dagon jacentem super faciem suam in terra coram arca Domini: caput autem Dagon, et duæ palmæ manuum ejus abscissæ erant super limen:

And, when they rose up early in the morning of the morrow, lo! Dagon, was lying prostrate on his face to the earth, before the ark of Yahweh—and, the head of Dagon, and both the palms of his hands, had been cut off against the threshold, only, Dagon himself, was left to him.

5 porro Dagon solus truncus remanserat in loco suo. Propter hanc causam non calcant sacerdotes Dagon, et omnes qui ingrediuntur templum ejus, super limen Dagon in Azoto, usque in hodiernum diem.

For this cause, do not the priests of Dagon, nor any that enter into the house of Dagon, tread upon the threshold of Dagon, in Ashdod, —until this day.

6 Aggravata est autem manus Domini super Azotios, et demolitus est eos: et percussit in secretiori parte natium Azotum, et fines ejus. Et ebullierunt villæ et agri in medio regionis illius, et nati sunt mures et facta est confusio mortis magnæ in civitate.

Then was the hand of Yahweh heavy against them of Ashdod, and he astounded them, —and smote with tumours Ashdod and her bounds.

7 Videntes autem viri Azotii hujuscemodi plagam, dixerunt: Non maneat arca Dei Israël apud nos: quoniam dura est manus ejus super nos, et super Dagon deum nostrum.

And, when the men of Ashdod saw that, so, it was, then kept they saying, Let not the ark of the God of Israel abide with us, for, hard, is his hand upon us, and upon Dagon our god.

8 Et mittentes congregaverunt omnes satrapas Philisthinorum ad se, et dixerunt: Quid faciemus de arca Dei Israël? Responderuntque Gethæi: Circumducatur arca Dei Israël. Et circumduxerunt arcam Dei Israël.

So they sent and gathered together all the lords of the Philistines unto them, and said—What shall we do with the ark of the God of Israel? And they said: To Gath, let the ark of the God of Israel go round. So they took round the ark of the God of Israel.

9 Illis autem circumducentibus eam, fiebat manus Domini per singulas civitates interfectionis magnæ nimis: et percutiebat viros uniuscujusque urbis, a parvo usque ad majorem, et computrescebant prominentes extales eorum. Inieruntque Gethæi consilium, et fecerunt sibi sedes pelliceas.

And so it was, after they had taken it round, then was the hand of Yahweh against the city, with an exceeding great consternation, and he smote the men of the city, from the least, even unto the greatest, —and they brake out with tumours.

10 Miserunt ergo arcam Dei in Accaron. Cumque venisset arca Dei in Accaron, exclamaverunt Accaronitæ, dicentes: Adduxerunt ad nos arcam Dei Israël ut interficiat nos et populum nostrum.

Then sent they the ark of God to Ekron, —and so it was, when the ark of God entered Ekron, that the Ekronites made outcry, saying—They have brought round unto me the ark of the God of Israel, to slay me, and my people!

11 Miserunt itaque et congregaverunt omnes satrapas Philisthinorum: qui dixerunt: Dimittite arcam Dei Israël, et revertatur in locum suum, et non interficiat nos cum populo nostro.

So they sent and gathered together all the lords of the Philistines, and said—Send away the ark of the God of Israel, and restore it to its own place, that it slay not me, and my people. For there had come a deadly consternation, throughout all the city, heavy exceedingly, was the hand of God there.

12 Fiebat enim pavor mortis in singulis urbibus, et gravissima valde manus Dei. Viri quoque qui mortui non fuerant, percutiebantur in secretiori parte natium: et ascendebat ululatus uniuscujusque civitatis in cælum.

And, the men who died not, were smitten with the tumours, —so the cry of the city for help, ascended the heavens.