< 1 Samweli 4 >

1 Neno la Samweli likawafikia Israeli wote. Basi Israeli wakatoka kupigana dhidi ya Wafilisti. Nao wakaweka kambi hapo Ebenezeri, na Wafilisti waliweka kambi yao huko Afeki.
And Samuel's words came to all Israel. And Eli grew very old, and his sons kept advancing in their wicked behavior before Jehovah. And it came to pass in those days that the Philistines gathered themselves together against Israel. And Israel went out to meet them in battle, and camped beside Ebenezer, and the Philistines camped in Aphek.
2 Nao Wafilisti walijipanga kwa ajili ya vita dhidi ya Waisraeli. Vita ilipopamba moto, Israeli ilishindwa na Wafilisti, wakauawa watu wapatao elfu nne kwenye uwanja wa vita.
The Philistines put themselves in array against Israel: and when they joined battle, Israel was struck before the Philistines; and they killed of the army in the field about four thousand men.
3 Watu walipokuja kambini, wazee wa Israeli walisema, “Kwa nini BWANA ametushinda leo mbele ya Wafilisti? Hebu tulilete hapa sanduku la ushuhuda wa BWANA kutoka Shilo, ili kwamba liwe hapa pamoja nasi, ili litufanye tuwe salama kutokana na nguvu za maadui zetu.”
When the people had come into the camp, the elders of Israel said, "Why has Jehovah struck us today before the Philistines? Let us get the ark of the covenant of Jehovah out of Shiloh to us, that it may come among us, and save us out of the hand of our enemies."
4 Hivyo waliwatuma watu huko Shilo; kutokea huko walilibeba sanduku la ushuhuda wa BWANA wa majeshi, akaaye juu ya makerubi. Hofni na Finehasi, watoto wawili wa Eli, walikuwapo pamoja na lile sanduku la ushuhuda wa Mungu.
So the people sent to Shiloh; and they brought from there the ark of the covenant of Jehovah of hosts, who sits above the cherubim: and the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, were there with the ark of the covenant of God.
5 Sanduku la ushuhuda wa BWANA lilipofika kambini, watu wote wa Israeli walipiga yowe, na nchi ikavuma.
When the ark of the covenant of Jehovah came into the camp, all Israel shouted with a great shout, so that the earth rang again.
6 Wafilisti waliposikia kelele za mayowe, wakasema, “sauti hii ya mayowe katika kambi ya Waebrania inamaanisha nini?” Baadaye walitambua kwamba sanduku la BWANA limefika kambini.
When the Philistines heard the noise of the shout, they said, "What does the noise of this great shout in the camp of the Hebrews mean?" They understood that the ark of Jehovah had come into the camp.
7 Wafilisti waliogopa sana, “Mungu ameingia kambini.” Wakasema, “Ole wetu! Jambo kama hili halijawahi kutokea huko nyuma!
The Philistines were afraid, for they said, "Gods have come into the camp." They said, "Woe to us. For there has not been such a thing before.
8 Ole wetu! Ni nani atatulinda dhidi ya nguvu za Mungu mwenye uwezo? Huyu ndiye Mungu aliyewashambulia Wamisri kwa aina tofauti za mapigo mengi jangwani.
Woe to us. Who shall deliver us out of the hand of these mighty gods? These are the gods that struck the Egyptians with all kinds of plagues in the wilderness.
9 Enyi Wafilisti, iweni hodari, na fanyeni kiume, vinginevyo mtakuwa watumwa wa Waebrabia, kama walivyokuwa watumwa wenu. Fanyeni kiume, na piganeni nao.”
Be strong, and behave like men, O you Philistines, that you not be servants to the Hebrews, as they have been to you. Strengthen yourselves like men, and fight."
10 Wafilisti walipigana, na Waisraeli wakashindwa. Kila mtu alikimbilia nyumbani kwake, na mauaji yalikuwa makubwa sana; maana askari wa Israeli elfu thelathini waendao kwa miguu vitani, walianguka.
So they fought, and Israel was defeated, and they fled every man to his tent. And there was a very great slaughter, for there fell of Israel thirty thousand footmen.
11 Lile sanduku la Mungu lilichukuliwa, na watoto wa Eli, Hofni na Finehasi waliuawa.
The ark of God was taken; and the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, were slain.
12 Mtu mmoja wa Benjamini alikimbia kutoka uwanja wa vita akaja Shilo siku iyo hiyo, aliwasili na mavazi yake yamechanika na matope kichwani pake.
There ran a man of Benjamin out of the army, and came to Shiloh the same day, with his clothes torn, and with earth on his head.
13 Alipofika, Eli alikuwa amekaa kitini pake karibu na barabara akitazama kwa sababu moyo wake ulitetemeka kwa ajili ya sanduku la Mungu. Mtu yule alipoingia mjini na kutoa taarifa, mji wote ulilia.
When he came, look, Eli was sitting on his seat by the side of the gate watching the road, for his heart trembled for the ark of God. When the man came into the city, and told it, all the city cried out.
14 Eli aliposikia kelele ya kilio kile, alisema, “Kilio hicho kina maana gani?” Kwa haraka mtu yule alikuja na kumweleza Eli.
When Eli heard the noise of the crying, he said, "What does the noise of this tumult mean?" The man hurried, and came and told Eli.
15 Basi Eli alikuwa na umri wa miaka tisini na nane; macho yake yamepofuka, na hakuweza kuona.
Now Eli was ninety-eight years old; and his eyes were set, so that he could not see.
16 Yule mtu akamwambia Eli, “Mimi ndiye nimechomoka kutoka vitani. Nimetoroka kutoka kwenye mapigano leo.” Eli akasema, “Mambo yalienda namna gani, mwanangu?”
The man said to Eli, "I am he who came out of the army, and I fled today out of the army." He said, "How did the matter go, my son?"
17 Yule mtu aliyeleta hizo habari alijibu na kusema, “Israeli wamewakimbia Wafilisti. Pia watu wengi wameuwawa. Watoto wako, Hofni na Finehasi, wamekufa, na sanduku la Mungu limechukuliwa.”.
He who brought the news answered, "Israel has fled before the Philistines, and there has been also a great slaughter among the people. Your two sons also, Hophni and Phinehas, are dead, and the ark of God has been captured."
18 Alipotamka sanduku la Mungu, Eli alianguka chali kutoka kwenye kiti chake karibu na mlango. akavunjika shingo lake, na kufariki, kwa sababu alikuwa mzee tena mzito. Naye alikuwa mwamuzi wa Israeli kwa miaka arobaini.
It happened, when he made mention of the ark of God, that Eli fell from off his seat backward by the side of the gate; and his neck broke, and he died; for he was an old man, and heavy. He had judged Israel forty years.
19 Basi mkwewe, mke wa Finihasi, alikuwa mjamzito akikaribia kujifungua. aliposikia habari kwamba sanduku la Mungu limetekwa nyara na kwamba baba mkwe na mme wake wamefariki, alichuchumaa chini akajifungua, lakini utungu wake ulimzidi na ulimtaabisha sana.
His daughter-in-law, Phinehas' wife, was with child, near to be delivered. When she heard the news that the ark of God was taken, and that her father-in-law and her husband were dead, she bowed herself and gave birth; for her pains came on her.
20 Alipokaribia kufariki, wanawake waliokuwa wakimhudumia walisema, “Usiogope, maana umejifungua mtoto wa kiume.” Lakini hakuwajibu lolote au kuzingatia alichoambiwa.
About the time of her death the women who stood by her said to her, "Do not be afraid; for you have given birth to a son." But she did not answer, neither did she regard it.
21 Akamwita mtoto Ikabodi, akisema, “Utukufu umetoweka Israeli!” Kwa sababu sanduku la Mungu limetekwa nyara, na kwa sababu ya kifo cha baba mkwe na mme wake.
She named the child Ichabod, saying, "The glory has departed from Israel"; because the ark of God was taken, and because of her father-in-law and her husband.
22 Na alisema, “Utukufu umetoweka kutoka Israeli, kwa sababu sanduku la Mungu limetekwa nyala.”
She said, "The glory has departed from Israel; for the ark of God is taken."

< 1 Samweli 4 >