1 A nd the Philistines took the ark of God, and brought it from Ebenezer unto Ashdod.

The Philistines brought the ark of God from Ebenezer to Ashdod.

2 W hen the Philistines took the ark of God, they brought it into the house of Dagon, and set it by Dagon.

They took the ark of God into the house of Dagon and set it beside Dagon.

3 A nd when they of Ashdod arose early on the morrow, behold, Dagon was fallen upon his face to the earth before the ark of the Lord. And they took Dagon, and set him in his place again.

When they of Ashdod arose early on the morrow, behold, Dagon had fallen upon his face on the ground before the ark of the Lord. So they took Dagon and set him in his place again.

4 A nd when they arose early on the morrow morning, behold, Dagon was fallen upon his face to the ground before the ark of the Lord; and the head of Dagon and both the palms of his hands were cut off upon the threshold; only the stump of Dagon was left to him.

But when they arose early the next morning, behold, Dagon had again fallen on his face on the ground before the ark of the Lord, and head and both the palms of his hands were lying cut off on the threshold; only the trunk of Dagon was left him.

5 T herefore neither the priests of Dagon, nor any that come into Dagon's house, tread on the threshold of Dagon in Ashdod unto this day.

This is the reason neither the priests of Dagon nor any who come into Dagon’s house tread on the threshold of Dagon in Ashdod to this day.

6 B ut the hand of the Lord was heavy upon them of Ashdod, and he destroyed them, and smote them with emerods, even Ashdod and the coasts thereof.

But the hand of the Lord was heavy upon the people of Ashdod, and He caused very deadly destruction and He smote the people with tumors or boils, both Ashdod and its territory.

7 A nd when the men of Ashdod saw that it was so, they said, The ark of the God of Israel shall not abide with us: for his hand is sore upon us, and upon Dagon our god.

When the men of Ashdod saw that it was so, they said, The ark of the God of Israel must not remain with us, for His hand is heavy on us and on Dagon our god.

8 T hey sent therefore and gathered all the lords of the Philistines unto them, and said, What shall we do with the ark of the God of Israel? And they answered, Let the ark of the God of Israel be carried about unto Gath. And they carried the ark of the God of Israel about thither.

So they sent and gathered all the lords of the Philistines to them and said, What shall we do with the ark of the God of Israel? They answered, Let be carried around to Gath. So they carried the ark of the God of Israel there.

9 A nd it was so, that, after they had carried it about, the hand of the Lord was against the city with a very great destruction: and he smote the men of the city, both small and great, and they had emerods in their secret parts.

But after they had carried it to Gath, the hand of the Lord was against the city, causing an exceedingly great panic, for He afflicted the people of the city, both small and great, and tumors or boils broke out on them.

10 T herefore they sent the ark of God to Ekron. And it came to pass, as the ark of God came to Ekron, that the Ekronites cried out, saying, They have brought about the ark of the God of Israel to us, to slay us and our people.

So they sent the ark of God to Ekron. And as came, the people of Ekron cried out, They have brought the ark of the God of Israel to us to slay us and our people!

11 S o they sent and gathered together all the lords of the Philistines, and said, Send away the ark of the God of Israel, and let it go again to his own place, that it slay us not, and our people: for there was a deadly destruction throughout all the city; the hand of God was very heavy there.

So they sent and assembled all the lords of the Philistines and said, Send away the ark of the God of Israel; let it return to its own place, that it may not slay us and our people. For there was a deadly panic throughout all the city; the hand of God was very heavy there.

12 A nd the men that died not were smitten with the emerods: and the cry of the city went up to heaven.

The men who had not died were stricken with very painful tumors or boils, and the cry of the city went up to heaven.