1 Samuel 5

1 After the Philistines had captured the ark of God, they took it from Ebenezer to Ashdod,

1 Baada ya Wafilisti kuteka Sanduku la Mungu, walilichukua kutoka Ebenezeri mpaka Ashdodi.

2 carried it into the temple of Dagon, and set it beside his statue.

2 Kisha wakaliingiza lile Sanduku ndani ya hekalu la Dagoni na kuliweka kando ya huyo Dagoni.

3 When the people of Ashdod got up early the next morning, there was Dagon, fallen on his face before the ark of the LORD. So they took Dagon and returned him to his place.

3 Watu wa Ashdodi walipoamka asubuhi na mapema kesho yake, kumbe, wakamkuta Dagoni ameanguka chini kifudifudi mbele ya Sanduku la Bwana! Wakamwinua Dagoni na kumrudisha mahali pake.

4 But when they got up early the next morning, there was Dagon, fallen on his face before the ark of the LORD, with his head and his hands broken off and lying on the threshold. Only the torso remained.

4 Lakini asubuhi iliyofuata, walipoamka kumbe, walimkuta huyo Dagoni ameanguka chini kifudifudi mbele ya Sanduku la Bwana! Kichwa chake na mikono vilikuwa vimevunjwa navyo vimelala kizingitini, ni kiwiliwili chake tu kilichokuwa kimebaki.

5 That is why, to this day, the priests of Dagon and all who enter the temple of Dagon in Ashdod do not step on the threshold.

5 Ndiyo sababu mpaka leo makuhani wa Dagoni wala wengine waingiao katika hekalu la Dagoni huko Ashdodi hawakanyagi kizingiti.

6 Now the hand of the LORD was heavy on the people of Ashdod and its vicinity, ravaging them and afflicting them with tumors.

6 Mkono wa Bwana ulikuwa mzito juu ya watu wa Ashdodi na vijiji jirani, akaleta uharibifu juu yao na kuwatesa kwa majipu.

7 And when the men of Ashdod saw what was happening, they said, “The ark of the God of Israel must not stay here with us, because His hand is heavy upon us and upon our god Dagon.”

7 Watu wa Ashdodi walipoona kile kilichokuwa kikitokea, wakasema, “Sanduku la Mungu wa Israeli kamwe lisikae hapa pamoja na sisi, kwa sababu mkono wake ni mzito juu yetu na juu ya Dagoni mungu wetu.”

8 So they called together all the rulers of the Philistines and asked, “What shall we do with the ark of the God of Israel?” “It must be moved to Gath,” they replied. So they carried away the ark of the God of Israel.

8 Basi wakawaita watawala wote wa Wafilisti pamoja na kuwauliza, “Tutafanya nini na hili Sanduku la Mungu wa Israeli?” Wakajibu, “Sanduku la Mungu wa Israeli na liende Gathi.” Basi wakalihamisha Sanduku la Mungu wa Israeli.

9 But after they had moved the ark to Gath, the LORD’s hand was also against that city, throwing it into great confusion and afflicting the men of the city, both young and old, with an outbreak of tumors.

9 Lakini baada ya kulihamisha, mkono wa Bwana ulikuwa dhidi ya huo mji wa Gathi, akiuweka katika fadhaa kuu. Mungu akawatesa watu wa huo mji, vijana kwa wazee, kwa kuwaletea majipu.

10 So they sent the ark of God to Ekron, but as it arrived, the Ekronites cried out, “They have brought us the ark of the God of Israel in order to kill us and our people!”

10 Basi wakapeleka Sanduku la Mungu Ekroni. Wakati Sanduku la Mungu lilipokuwa linaingia Ekroni, watu wa Ekroni walilia wakisema “Wamelileta Sanduku la Mungu wa Israeli kwetu ili kutuua sisi na watu wetu.”

11 Then the Ekronites called together all the rulers of the Philistines and said, “Send away the ark of the God of Israel. It must return to its place, so that it will not kill us and our people!” For a deadly confusion had pervaded the city; the hand of God was very heavy upon it.

11 Basi wakawaita watawala wote wa Wafilisti pamoja na kusema, “Liondoeni Sanduku la Mungu wa Israeli na lirudishwe mahali pake, la sivyo litatuua sisi na watu wetu.” Kwa kuwa kifo kilikuwa kimeujaza mji hofu; kwani mkono wa Mungu ulikuwa mzito sana juu yake.

12 Those who did not die were afflicted with tumors, and the outcry of the city went up to heaven.

12 Wale ambao hawakufa walipatwa na majipu, na kilio cha mji kilikwenda juu hadi mbinguni.