1 Samuel 7

1 The men of Kiriath Jearim came and took the LORD’s ark, and brought it into Abinadab’s house on the hill, and consecrated Eleazar his son to keep the LORD’s ark.

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.

2 From the day that the ark stayed in Kiriath Jearim, the time was long—for it was twenty years; and all the house of Israel lamented after the LORD.

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

3 Samuel spoke to all the house of Israel, saying, “If you are returning to the LORD with all your heart, then put away the foreign gods and the Ashtaroth from among you, and direct your hearts to the LORD, and serve him only; and he will deliver you out of the hand of the Philistines.”

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.”

4 Then the children of Israel removed the Baals and the Ashtaroth, and served the LORD only.

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

5 Samuel said, “Gather all Israel to Mizpah, and I will pray to the LORD for you.”

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

6 They gathered together to Mizpah, and drew water, and poured it out before the LORD, and fasted on that day, and said there, “We have sinned against the LORD.” Samuel judged the children of Israel in Mizpah.

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

7 When the Philistines heard that the children of Israel were gathered together at Mizpah, the lords of the Philistines went up against Israel. When the children of Israel heard it, they were afraid of the Philistines.

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

8 The children of Israel said to Samuel, “Do not stop crying to the LORD our God for us, that he will save us out of the hand of the Philistines.”

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

9 Samuel took a suckling lamb, and offered it for a whole burnt offering to the LORD. Samuel cried to the LORD for Israel, and the LORD answered him.

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

10 As Samuel was offering up the burnt offering, the Philistines came near to battle against Israel; but the LORD thundered with a great thunder on that day on the Philistines and confused them; and they were struck down before Israel.

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.

11 The men of Israel went out of Mizpah and pursued the Philistines, and struck them until they came under Beth Kar.

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

12 Then Samuel took a stone and set it between Mizpah and Shen, and called its name Ebenezer, saying, “The LORD helped us until now.”

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

13 So the Philistines were subdued, and they stopped coming within the border of Israel. The LORD’s hand was against the Philistines all the days of Samuel.

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

14 The cities which the Philistines had taken from Israel were restored to Israel, from Ekron even to Gath; and Israel recovered its border out of the hand of the Philistines. There was peace between Israel and the Amorites.

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.

15 Samuel judged Israel all the days of his life.

Samweli akawa mwamuzi wa Israeli siku zote za maisha yake.

16 He went from year to year in a circuit to Bethel, Gilgal, and Mizpah; and he judged Israel in all those places.

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

17 His return was to Ramah, for his house was there, and he judged Israel there; and he built an altar to the LORD there.

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