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.
The word of Samuel came to all of Israel. Now Israel went out to battle against the Philistines. They set up camp at Ebenezer, and the Philistines set up camp at 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 lined up for battle against Israel. When the battle spread, Israel was defeated by the Philistines, who killed about four thousand men on the field of battle.
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 came into the camp, the elders of Israel said, “Why has Yahweh defeated us today before the Philistines? Let us bring the ark of the covenant of Yahweh here from Shiloh, that it may be here with us, that it might keep us safe from the hands 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 men to Shiloh; from there they carried the ark of the covenant of Yahweh of hosts, who sits above the cherubim. 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 Yahweh came into the camp, all of the people of Israel gave a great shout, and the earth resounded.
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 shouting, they said, “What does this loud shouting in the camp of the Hebrews mean?” Then they realized that the ark of Yahweh 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; they said, “A god has come into the camp.” They said, “Woe to us! Nothing like this has happened 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 will protect us from the strength of these mighty gods? These are the gods who attacked the Egyptians with many different 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.”
Take courage, and be men, you Philistines, or you will become slaves to the Hebrews, as they have been slaves to you. Be 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.
The Philistines fought, and Israel was defeated. Every man fled to his house, and the slaughter was very great; for thirty thousand foot soldiers from Israel fell.
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, died.
12 Mtu mmoja wa Benjamini alikimbia kutoka uwanja wa vita akaja Shilo siku iyo hiyo, aliwasili na mavazi yake yamechanika na matope kichwani pake.
A man of Benjamin ran from the battle line and came to Shiloh the same day, arriving with his clothes torn and 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 arrived, Eli was sitting on his seat by the road watching because his heart trembled with concern for the ark of God. When the man entered the city and told the news, the whole 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 outcry, he said, “What is the meaning of this uproar?” The man quickly 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; his eyes did not focus, and 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 the one who came from the battle line. I fled from the battle today.” Eli said, “How did it 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.”.
The man who brought the news answered and said, “Israel fled from the Philistines. Also, there has been a great defeat among the people. Also, your two sons, Hophni and Phinehas, are dead, and the ark of God has been 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.
When he mentioned the ark of God, Eli fell over backward from his seat by the side of the gate. His neck was broken, and he died, because he was old and heavy. He had judged Israel for 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.
Now his daughter-in-law, Phinehas' wife, was pregnant and about to give birth. When she heard the news that the ark of God was captured and that her father-in-law and her husband were dead, she knelt down and gave birth, but her labor pains overwhelmed 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 attending to her said, “Do not be afraid, for you have given birth to a son.” But she did not answer or take what they said to heart.
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 gone away from Israel!” for the ark of God had been captured, 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 gone away from Israel, because the ark of God has been captured.”
