< 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 the word of Samuel came to all Israel. Now Israel went out against the Philistines to battle, and pitched beside Eben-ezer: and the Philistines pitched 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.
And the Philistines put themselves in array against Israel: and when they joined battle, Israel was smitten before the Philistines: and they slew 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.”
And when the people were come into the camp, the elders of Israel said, Wherefore hath the LORD smitten us today before the Philistines? Let as fetch the ark of the covenant of the LORD out of Shiloh unto 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 thence the ark of the covenant of the LORD of hosts, which sitteth upon 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.
And when the ark of the covenant of the LORD 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.
And when the Philistines heard the noise of the shout, they said, What meaneth the noise of this great shout in the camp of the Hebrews? And they understood that the ark of the LORD was come into the camp.
7 Wafilisti waliogopa sana, “Mungu ameingia kambini.” Wakasema, “Ole wetu! Jambo kama hili halijawahi kutokea huko nyuma!
And the Philistines were afraid, for they said, God is come into the camp. And they said, Woe unto us! for there hath not been such a thing heretofore.
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 unto us! who shall deliver us out of the hand of these mighty gods? these are the gods that smote the Egyptians with all manner 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 quit yourselves like men, O ye Philistines, that ye be not servants unto the Hebrews, as they have been to you: quit 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.
And the Philistines fought, and Israel was smitten, 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.
And 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.
And there ran a man of Benjamin out of the army, and came to Shiloh the same day with his clothes rent, and with earth upon 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.
And when he came, lo, Eli sat upon his seat by the way side watching: for his heart trembled for the ark of God. And 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.
And when Eli heard the noise of the crying, he said, What meaneth the noise of this tumult? And the man hasted 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 and eight years old; and his eyes were set, 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?”
And the man said unto Eli, I am he that came out of the army, and I fled today out of the army. And he said, How went the matter, 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.”.
And he that brought the tidings answered and said, Israel is fled before the Philistines, and there hath been also a great slaughter among the people, and thy two sons also, Hophni and Phinehas, are dead, and the ark of God is taken.
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.
And it came to pass, when he made mention of the ark of God, that he fell from off his seat backward by the side of the gate, and his neck brake, and he died: for he was an old man, and heavy. And 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.
And his daughter in law, Phinehas’ wife, was with child, near to be delivered: and when she heard the tidings that the ark of God was taken, and that her father in law and her husband were dead, she bowed herself and brought forth; for her pains came upon her.
20 Alipokaribia kufariki, wanawake waliokuwa wakimhudumia walisema, “Usiogope, maana umejifungua mtoto wa kiume.” Lakini hakuwajibu lolote au kuzingatia alichoambiwa.
And about the time of her death the women that stood by her said unto her, Fear not; for thou hast brought forth a son. But she answered not, 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.
And she named the child Ichabod, saying, The glory is 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.”
And she said, The glory is departed from Israel; for the ark of God is taken.

< 1 Samweli 4 >