1
Na hao watu wa Kiriath-yearimu wakaja, wakalichukua sanduku la Bwana, wakalileta ndani ya nyumba ya Abinadabu huko kilimani, nao wakamtenga Eleazari, mwanawe, ili alilinde sanduku la Bwana.
Then the men of Kiriath-jearim came for the ark of the LORD and took it into Abinadab’s house on the hill. And they consecrated his son Eleazar to guard the ark of the LORD.
2
Ikawa, tangu siku hiyo ambayo sanduku lilikaa Kiriath-yearimu wakati ulikuwa mwingi; kwa maana ulikuwa miaka ishirini; na nyumba yote ya Israeli wakamwombolezea Bwana.
And from that day a long time passed, twenty years in all, as the ark remained at Kiriath-jearim. And all the house of Israel mournfully sought the LORD.
3
Basi Samweli akawaambia nyumba yote ya Israeli, akasema, Ikiwa mnamrudia Bwana kwa mioyo yenu yote, basi, iondoleeni mbali miungu migeni, nayo Maashtorethi yatoke kwenu, mkamtengenezee Bwana mioyo yenu, mkamtumikie yeye peke yake; naye atawaokoa katika mikono ya Wafilisti.
Then Samuel said to all the house of Israel, “If you are returning to the LORD with all your hearts, then put away the foreign gods and Ashtoreths among you, prepare your hearts for the LORD, and serve Him only. And He will deliver you from the hand of the Philistines.”
4
Ndipo wana wa Israeli wakayaondoa Mabaali na Maashtorethi, wakamtumikia Bwana peke yake.
So the Israelites put away the Baals and Ashtoreths and served only the LORD.
5
Samweli akasema, Wakusanyeni Israeli wote Mispa, nami nitawaombea ninyi kwa Bwana.
Then Samuel said, “Gather all Israel to Mizpah, and I will pray to the LORD on your behalf.”
6
Wakakusanyika huko Mispa, wakateka maji na kuyamimina mbele za Bwana; wakafunga siku ile, wakasema huko, Tumemfanyia Bwana dhambi. Samweli akawaamua wana wa Israeli huko Mispa.
When they had gathered at Mizpah, they drew water and poured it out before the LORD. On that day they fasted, and there they confessed, “We have sinned against the LORD.” And Samuel judged the Israelites at Mizpah.
7
Hata Wafilisti waliposikia ya kuwa wana wa Israeli wamekusanyika huko Mispa, mashehe wa Wafilisti walipanda juu ili kupigana na Israeli. Nao wana wa Israeli waliposikia, wakawaogopa Wafilisti.
When the Philistines heard that the Israelites had gathered at Mizpah, their rulers marched up toward Israel. And when the Israelites learned of this, they feared the Philistines
8
Wana wa Israeli wakamwambia Samweli, Usiache kumlilia Bwana, Mungu wetu, kwa ajili yetu, kwamba atuokoe na mikono ya Wafilisti.
and said to Samuel, “Do not stop crying out to the LORD our God for us, that He may save us from the hand of the Philistines.”
9
Ndipo Samweli akatwaa mwana-kondoo mchanga, akamtolea Bwana sadaka ya kuteketezwa nzima; Samweli akamlilia Bwana kwa ajili ya Israeli; Bwana akamwitikia.
Then Samuel took a suckling lamb and offered it as a whole burnt offering to the LORD. He cried out to the LORD on behalf of Israel, and the LORD answered him.
10
Hata Samweli alipokuwa akiitoa hiyo sadaka ya kuteketezwa, Wafilisti wakakaribia ili kupigana na Israeli; walakini Bwana akapiga ngurumo, mshindo mkubwa sana, juu ya Wafilisti siku ile, akawafadhaisha; nao wakaangamizwa mbele ya Israeli.
As the Philistines drew near to fight against Israel, Samuel was offering up the burnt offering. But that day the LORD thundered loudly against the Philistines and threw them into such confusion that they fled before Israel.
11
Nao watu wa Israeli wakatoka Mispa, wakawafuatia Wafilisti, wakawapiga, hata walipofika chini ya Beth-kari.
Then the men of Israel charged out of Mizpah and pursued the Philistines, striking them down all the way to an area below Beth-car.
12
Ndipo Samweli akatwaa jiwe, na kulisimamisha kati ya Mispa na Sheni, akaliita jina lake Eben-ezeri, akisema, Hata sasa Bwana ametusaidia.
Afterward, Samuel took a stone and set it up between Mizpah and Shen. He named it Ebenezer, saying, “Thus far the LORD has helped us.”
13
Hivyo Wafilisti walishindwa, wasiingie tena ndani ya mipaka ya Israeli; na mkono wa Bwana ulikuwa juu ya Wafilisti siku zote za Samweli.
So the Philistines were subdued, and they stopped invading the territory of Israel. And the hand of the LORD was against the Philistines all the days of Samuel.
14
Nayo miji ile Wafilisti waliyokuwa wamewapokonya Waisraeli ilirudishwa tena kwa Israeli, tokea Ekroni mpaka Gathi; na Waisraeli wakauokoa mpaka wake mikononi mwa Wafilisti. Tena kulikuwa na amani kati ya Israeli na Waamori.
The cities from Ekron to Gath, which the Philistines had taken, were restored to Israel, who also delivered the surrounding territory from the hand of the Philistines. And there was peace between the Israelites and the Amorites.
15
Naye huyo Samweli akawaamua Israeli siku zote za maisha yake.
So Samuel judged Israel all the days of his life.
16
Naye huenda mwaka kwa mwaka kuzunguka mpaka Betheli, na Gilgali, na Mispa; akawaamua Israeli mahali hapo pote.
Every year he would go on a circuit from Bethel to Gilgal to Mizpah, judging Israel in all these places.
17
Na kurudi kwake kulikuwa mpaka Rama; maana ndipo ilipokuwa nyumba yake; nako ndiko alikowaamua Israeli; na huko akamjengea Bwana madhabahu.
Then he would return to Ramah because his home was there, and there he judged Israel and built an altar to the LORD.