1
Basi Wafilisti walikuwa wamelichukua sanduku la Mungu, wakaenda nalo kutoka Eben-ezeri hata Ashdodi.
After the Philistines had captured the ark of God, they took it from Ebenezer to Ashdod,
2
Wafilisti wakalichukua sanduku la Mungu, wakalitia katika nyumba ya Dagoni, wakaliweka karibu na Dagoni.
carried it into the temple of Dagon, and set it beside his statue.
3
Na watu wa Ashdodi, walipoamka alfajiri siku ya pili, kumbe! Dagoni imeanguka chini kifudifudi, mbele ya sanduku la Bwana. Wakaitwaa Dagoni, wakaisimamisha mahali pake tena.
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.
4
Hata walipoamka kesho yake asubuhi, kumbe! Dagoni ilikuwa imeanguka chini kifudifudi, mbele ya sanduku la Bwana; na kichwa chake Dagoni na vitanga vya mikono yake vyote viwili vimekatika, vipo vimelala kizingitini; Dagoni ikasalia kiwiliwili chake tu.
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.
5
Kwa hiyo makuhani wa Dagoni, na mtu awaye yote aingiaye nyumbani mwa Dagoni, hawakanyagi kizingiti cha nyumba ya Dagoni huko Ashdodi, hata leo.
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.
6
Lakini mkono wa Bwana ulikuwa mzito juu ya watu wa Ashdodi, akawaharibu, akawapiga kwa majipu, huko Ashdodi na mipakani mwake.
Now the hand of the LORD was heavy on the people of Ashdod and its vicinity, ravaging them and afflicting them with tumors.
7
Kisha hao watu wa Ashdodi, walipoona ilivyokuwa, walisema, Hilo sanduku la Mungu wa Israeli halitakaa kwetu; kwa maana mkono wake ni mzito juu yetu, na juu ya Dagoni, mungu wetu.
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.”
8
Basi wakatuma watu waende kuwakusanya kwao mashehe wote wa Wafilisti, wakasema, Tulifanyieje sanduku la Mungu wa Israeli? Nao wakajibu, Sanduku la Mungu wa Israeli na lihamishwe liende Gathi. Wakalihamisha sanduku la Mungu wa Israeli.
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.
9
Ikawa, walipokwisha lihamisha, mkono wa Bwana ulikuwa juu ya mji huo, kwa kuwafadhaisha sana; akawapiga watu wa mjini, wadogo kwa wakubwa, wakapatwa na majipu.
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.
10
Basi, wakalipeleka sanduku la Mungu mpaka Ekroni. Ikawa, sanduku la Mungu lilipofika Ekroni, watu wa Ekroni walifanya kelele, wakasema, Wamelileta hilo sanduku la Mungu wa Israeli kwetu, hata kutuua sisi na watu wetu.
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!”
11
Kwa hiyo wakatuma watu waende kuwakusanya mashehe wote wa Wafilisti, wakasema, Liondoeni hilo sanduku la Mungu wa Israeli, liende tena mahali pake, ili lisituue sisi, wala watu wetu; kwa sababu kulikuwa na fadhaa kubwa sana mjini mwote; mkono wa Mungu ulikuwa mzito mno huko.
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.
12
Na wale wasiokufa walipigwa kwa yale majipu; na kilio cha mji kikafika mbinguni.
Those who did not die were afflicted with tumors, and the outcry of the city went up to heaven.