1 Samuel 7

1 And the men of Kirjathjearim came, and fetched up the ark of the LORD, and brought it into the house of Abinadab in the hill, and sanctified Eleazar his son to keep the ark of the LORD.

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 And it came to pass, while the ark abode in Kirjathjearim, that 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 And Samuel spoke unto all the house of Israel, saying, If all of you do return unto the LORD with all your hearts, then put away the strange gods and Ashtaroth from among you, and prepare your hearts unto 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 did put away Baalim and Ashtaroth, and served the LORD only.

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

5 And Samuel said, Gather all Israel to Mizpeh, and I will pray for you unto the LORD.

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

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

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 And when the Philistines heard that the children of Israel were gathered together to Mizpeh, the lords of the Philistines went up against Israel. And 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 And the children of Israel said to Samuel, Cease not to cry unto 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 And Samuel took a sucking lamb, and offered it for a burnt offering wholly unto the LORD: and Samuel cried unto the LORD for Israel; and the LORD heard him.

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

10 And as Samuel was offering up the burnt offering, the Philistines drew near to battle against Israel: but the LORD thundered with a great thunder on that day upon the Philistines, and humiliated them; and they were smitten 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 And the men of Israel went out of Mizpeh, and pursued the Philistines, and stroke them, until they came under Bethcar.

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

12 Then Samuel took a stone, and set it between Mizpeh and Shen, and called the name of it Ebenezer, saying, Until now has the LORD helped us.

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 came no more into the coast of Israel: and the hand of the LORD 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 And the cities which the Philistines had taken from Israel were restored to Israel, from Ekron even unto Gath; and the coasts thereof did Israel deliver out of the hands of the Philistines. And 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 And Samuel judged Israel all the days of his life.

Samweli akawa mwamuzi wa Israeli siku zote za maisha yake.

16 And he went from year to year in circuit to Bethel, and Gilgal, and Mizpeh, and judged Israel in all those places.

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

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

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