< Judges 9 >

1 And Abimelech the son of Jerubbaal went to Shechem unto his mother’s brethren, and spake with them, and with all the family of the house of his mother’s father, saying,
Ɛda koro bi, Yerub-Baal babarima Abimelek kɔɔ Sekem kɔsraa ne wɔfanom a wɔyɛ ne maame nuanom mmarima. Ɔka kyerɛɛ wɔn ne ne ne maame fiefoɔ nkaeɛfoɔ sɛ,
2 Speak, I pray you, in the ears of all the men of Shechem, Whether is better for you, that all the sons of Jerubbaal, who are threescore and ten persons, rule over you, or that one rule over you? remember also that I am your bone and your flesh.
“Mommisa ɔmanfoɔ a wɔwɔ Sekem no sɛ, wɔpɛ sɛ Yerub-Baal mmammarima aduɔson no nyinaa di wɔn so anaasɛ wɔpɛ sɛ ɔbarima baako di wɔn so? Na monkae sɛ meyɛ mo bogyani!”
3 And his mother’s brethren spake of him in the ears of all the men of Shechem all these words: and their hearts inclined to follow Abimelech; for they said, He is our brother.
Enti, Abimelek wɔfanom gyinaa nʼanan mu kasa kyerɛɛ nnipa a wɔwɔ Sekem nyinaa. Na wɔtiee wɔn adwenkyerɛ no, wɔpenee so faa Abimelek, ɛfiri sɛ, ɔyɛ wɔn busuani.
4 And they gave him threescore and ten [pieces] of silver out of the house of Baal-berith, wherewith Abimelech hired vain and light fellows, who followed him.
Wɔfaa dwetɛ sika pranpran aduɔson firi Baal-Berit asɔreeɛ so de maa Abimelek, na ɔde faa asraafoɔ a wɔpenee so sɛ wobɛdi nʼakyi.
5 And he went unto his father’s house at Ophrah, and slew his brethren the sons of Jerubbaal, being threescore and ten persons, upon one stone: but Jotham the youngest son of Jerubbaal was left; for he hid himself.
Ɔde asraafoɔ no kɔɔ nʼagya kurom wɔ Ofra. Na ɛhɔ, ɛboɔ bi so, na ɔkunkumm nʼagya mmammarima aduɔson no nyinaa. Nanso ne nuanom mu akumaa koraa a wɔfrɛ no Yotam no dwane kɔtɛɛ baabi.
6 And all the men of Shechem assembled themselves together, and all the house of Millo, and went and made Abimelech king, by the oak of the pillar that was in Shechem.
Enti, Sekemfoɔ ne Bet-Milofoɔ yɛɛ nhyiamu wɔ odupɔn a ɛbɛn nkaeɛdum a ɛwɔ Sekem no ase. Wɔsii Abimelek wɔn so ɔhene.
7 And when they told it to Jotham, he went and stood on the top of mount Gerizim, and lifted up his voice, and cried, and said unto them, Hearken unto me, ye men of Shechem, that God may hearken unto you.
Yotam tee asɛm yi no, ɔforo kɔɔ Gerisim bepɔ no atifi na ɔteaam ka kyerɛɛ wɔn sɛ, “Sekemfoɔ montie me! Sɛ mopɛ sɛ Onyankopɔn tie mo deɛ a, montie me!
8 The trees went forth on a time to anoint a king over them; and they said unto the olive-tree, Reign thou over us.
Ɛberɛ bi, nnua nyinaa pɛɛ sɛ wɔsi wɔn so ɔhene. Deɛ ɛdi ɛkan no, wɔka kyerɛɛ ngo dua sɛ, ‘Bɛdi yɛn so ɔhene!’
9 But the olive-tree said unto them, Should I leave my fatness, wherewith by me they honor God and man, and go to wave to and fro over the trees?
“Nanso, wampene so kaa sɛ, ‘Adɛn? Mennyae me ngo a wɔde hyɛ Onyankopɔn ne nnipa animuonyam no, na menkɔkyinkyin nnua a aka so anaa?’
10 And the trees said to the fig-tree, Come thou, and reign over us.
“Afei, wɔka kyerɛɛ borɔdɔma sɛ, ‘Bɛdi yɛn so ɔhene!’
11 But the fig-tree said unto them, Should I leave my sweetness, and my good fruit, and go to wave to and fro over the trees?
“Borɔdɔma nso buaa sɛ, ‘Na mennyae aba so na menkyini nnua foforɔ so?’
12 And the trees said unto the vine, Come thou, and reign over us.
“Afei wɔka kyerɛɛ bobe sɛ, ‘Bɛdi yɛn so ɔhene.’
13 And the vine said unto them, Should I leave my new wine, which cheereth God and man, and go to wave to and fro over the trees?
“Na bobe no buaa sɛ, ‘Sɛ megyae me nsa pa a ɛma anyame ne nnipa anigyeɛ no ma a, na afei na merebɛkyini nnua bi so?’
14 Then said all the trees unto the bramble, Come thou, and reign over us.
“Ne korakora ne sɛ, nnua no nyinaa ka kyerɛɛ nkasɛɛ sɛ, ‘Bɛdi yɛn so ɔhene.’
15 And the bramble said unto the trees, If in truth ye anoint me king over you, then come and take refuge in my shade; and if not, let fire come out of the bramble, and devour the cedars of Lebanon.
“Na nkasɛɛ buaa sɛ, ‘Sɛ ɛyɛ mo adwene kann sɛ mode me bɛsi mo so ɔhene a, mommra mmɛhyɛ me nwunu yi ase. Sɛ ɛnte saa a, momma ogya mfiri nkasɛɛ mu mmɛhye Lebanon ntweneduro nyinaa.’
16 Now therefore, if ye have dealt truly and uprightly, in that ye have made Abimelech king, and if ye have dealt well with Jerubbaal and his house, and have done unto him according to the deserving of his hands
“Afei mogye di sɛ moayɛ deɛ ɛho wɔ nyam, na ɛnam ne kwan mu sɛ mode Abimelek asi mo so ɔhene, na moayɛ Yerub-Baal ne nʼasefoɔ nyinaa apɛdeɛ. Moayɛ deɛ ɛfata ama mʼagya anaa?
17 (for my father fought for you, and adventured his life, and delivered you out of the hand of Midian:
Na ɔko maa mo de ne ho bɔɔ afɔdeɛ ɛberɛ a ɔgyee mo firii Midianfoɔ nsam no.
18 and ye are risen up against my father’s house this day, and have slain his sons, threescore and ten persons, upon one stone, and have made Abimelech, the son of his maid-servant, king over the men of Shechem, because he is your brother);
Na ɛnnɛ moasɔre atia mʼagya ne nʼasefoɔ, akunkum ne mmammarima aduɔson wɔ ɛboɔ baako so. Mode Abimelek a ɔyɛ ne ɔsomfoɔ baa babarima asi Sekem manfoɔ so ɔhene, sɛ ɔyɛ mo busuani enti.
19 if ye then have dealt truly and uprightly with Jerubbaal and with his house this day, then rejoice ye in Abimelech, and let him also rejoice in you:
Sɛ moayɛ deɛ ɛho wɔ nyam na ɛnam ne kwan mu ama Yerub-Baal ne nʼasefoɔ a, ɛnneɛ mobɛnya ahosɛpɛ wɔ Abimelek mu na ɔno nso anya ahosɛpɛ wɔ mo mu.
20 but if not, let fire come out from Abimelech, and devour the men of Shechem, and the house of Millo; and let fire come out from the men of Shechem, and from the house of Millo, and devour Abimelech.
Sɛ deɛ moayɛ no mfa ne kwan mu deɛ a, ɛnneɛ ogya mfiri Abimelek nkyɛn mmɛhye mo, Sekemfoɔ ne Bet-Milofoɔ. Na ogya nso mfiri Sekemfoɔ ne Bet-Milofoɔ nkyɛn mmɛhye Abimelek!”
21 And Jotham ran away, and fled, and went to Beer, and dwelt there, for fear of Abimelech his brother.
Na ɛsiane Abimelek ho suro enti, ne nuabarima Yotam dwane kɔtenaa Beer.
22 And Abimelech was prince over Israel three years.
Abimelek dii Israel so mfeɛ mmiɛnsa akyi no,
23 And God sent an evil spirit between Abimelech and the men of Shechem; and the men of Shechem dealt treacherously with Abimelech:
Onyankopɔn somaa honhom fi bi maa ɔde ɔhaw baa Abimelek ne Sekem mpanimfoɔ ntam na wɔtee atua.
24 that the violence done to the threescore and ten sons of Jerubbaal might come, and that their blood might be laid upon Abimelech their brother, who slew them, and upon the men of Shechem, who strengthened his hands to slay his brethren.
Nsɛm a ɛsisii akyire no mu no, Onyankopɔn twee Abimelek ne Sekemfoɔ aso sɛ wɔkunkumm Yerub-Baal mmammarima aduɔson no.
25 And the men of Shechem set liers-in-wait for him on the tops of the mountains, and they robbed all that came along that way by them: and it was told Abimelech.
Sekem mmarima bi kɔtɛɛ Abimelek wɔ mmepɔ atifi, na wɔbɔɔ obiara a ɔtwaam wɔ hɔ no apoo. Nnipa bi kɔɔ Abimelek nkyɛn kɔtii nʼase.
26 And Gaal the son of Ebed came with his brethren, and went over to Shechem; and the men of Shechem put their trust in him.
Saa ɛberɛ no, Ebed babarima Gaal ne ne nuammarima kɔɔ Sekem. Na Sekemfoɔ no nyaa wɔn mu awerɛhyɛmu.
27 And they went out into the field, and gathered their vineyards, and trod [the grapes], and held festival, and went into the house of their god, and did eat and drink, and cursed Abimelech.
Ɛberɛ a wɔredi otwa afahyɛ wɔ Sekem wɔ ɛhɔ nyame bi asɔreeɛ so no, bobesa buu so hɔ maa obiara hyɛɛ aseɛ domee Abimelek.
28 And Gaal the son of Ebed said, Who is Abimelech, and who is Shechem, that we should serve him? is not he the son of Jerubbaal? and Zebul his officer? serve ye the men of Hamor the father of Shechem: but why should we serve him?
Ebed babarima Gaal teaam sɛ, “Hwan ne Abimelek? Ɔnyɛ Sekem aseni kann, na adɛn enti na ɛsɛ sɛ yɛyɛ nʼasomfoɔ? Ɔyɛ Yerub-Baal babarima kɛkɛ na Sebul na ɔtoto ne ɔman ho nhyehyɛeɛ ma no. Monsom nnipa a wɔfiri Hamor, wɔn na wɔyɛ Sekem asefoɔ kann. Adɛn enti na ɛsɛ sɛ yɛsom Abimelek?
29 And would that this people were under my hand! then would I remove Abimelech. And he said to Abimelech, Increase thine army, and come out.
Sɛ mewɔ tumi a, anka mɛyi Abimelek afiri hɔ. Anka mɛka akyerɛ no sɛ, ‘Pɛ asraafoɔ bebree bra bɛko!’”
30 And when Zebul the ruler of the city heard the words of Gaal the son of Ebed, his anger was kindled.
Na Sebul a ɔtua kuro no ano tee deɛ Ebed babarima Gaal rekeka no, ne bo fuiɛ.
31 And he sent messengers unto Abimelech craftily, saying, Behold, Gaal the son of Ebed and his brethren are come to Shechem; and, behold, they constrain the city [to take part] against thee.
Ɔsomaa abɔfoɔ kɔɔ Abimelek nkyɛn wɔ Aruma, kɔka kyerɛɛ no sɛ, “Ebed babarima Gaal ne ne nuammarima abɛtena Sekem na wɔretu ɔmanfoɔ no aso sɛ wɔnsɔre ntia wo.
32 Now therefore, up by night, thou and the people that are with thee, and lie in wait in the field:
Fa akodɔm bra anadwo bɛtɛ mfuo yi mu.
33 and it shall be, that in the morning, as soon as the sun is up, thou shalt rise early, and rush upon the city; and, behold, when he and the people that are with him come out against thee, then mayest thou do to them as thou shalt find occasion.
Adeɛ kyeeɛ ara pɛ, to hyɛ kuropɔn yi so. Na sɛ Gaal ne nʼapamfoɔ ba bɛtia wo a, deɛ wopɛ biara wotumi yɛ wɔn.”
34 And Abimelech rose up, and all the people that were with him, by night, and they laid wait against Shechem in four companies.
Na Abimelek ne ne mmarima kɔɔ anadwo no, na wɔkyɛɛ wɔn mu akuo ɛnan de twaa Sekem ho hyiaeɛ.
35 And Gaal the son of Ebed went out, and stood in the entrance of the gate of the city: and Abimelech rose up, and the people that were with him, from the ambushment.
Ɛberɛ a Abimelek ne nʼakodɔm pue firii atɛeɛ mu no, na Ebed babarima Gaal gyina kuro no ɛpono ano.
36 And when Gaal saw the people, he said to Zebul, Behold, there come people down from the tops of the mountains. And Zebul said unto him, Thou seest the shadow of the mountains as if they were men.
Ɛberɛ a Gaal hunuu wɔn no, ɔka kyerɛɛ Sebul sɛ, “Hwɛ, nnipa bi firi bepɔ no so reba!” Sebul buaa sɛ, “Ɛyɛ mmepɔ no sunsum na ayɛ sɛ nnipa no.”
37 And Gaal spake again and said, See, there come people down by the middle of the land, and one company cometh by the way of the oak of Meonenim.
Nanso Gaal sane kaa sɛ, “Dabi, nnipa bi resiane mmepɔ no. Na ekuo foforɔ nso nam ɛkwan a ɛfa Akɔmfoɔ Dupɔn ho no reba.”
38 Then said Zebul unto him, Where is now thy mouth, that thou saidst, Who is Abimelech, that we should serve him? is not this the people that thou hast despised? go out now, I pray, and fight with them.
Afei, Sebul dane guu ne so sɛ, “Anosɛm a na woyeyɛ no aseɛ ne sɛn? Ɛnyɛ wo ara na wokaa sɛ ‘Hwan ne Abimelek, na adɛn enti na ɛsɛ sɛ yɛyɛ ne nkoa’ no? Nnipa a wodii wɔn ho fɛ no, wɔaduru yɛn mfikyire ha yi ara! Kɔ na wo ne wɔn nkɔko!”
39 And Gaal went out before the men of Shechem, and fought with Abimelech.
Enti Gaal dii Sekem mmarima anim sɛ wɔrekɔko atia Abimelek,
40 And Abimelech chased him, and he fled before him, and there fell many wounded, even unto the entrance of the gate.
nanso, ɔdii nkoguo na ɔdwaneeɛ. Wɔkunkumm Sekem akofoɔ bebree sɛɛ wɔn afunu kɛtɛ wɔ ɛkwan a ɛkɔ kuropɔn no ɛpono ano no so.
41 And Abimelech dwelt at Arumah: and Zebul drove out Gaal and his brethren, that they should not dwell in Shechem.
Abimelek tenaa Aruma ɛnna Sebul pamoo Gaal ne ne nuanom mmarima firii Sekem.
42 And it came to pass on the morrow, that the people went out into the field; and they told Abimelech.
Adeɛ kyeeɛ no, Sekemfoɔ no kɔɔ wira mu sɛ wɔrekɔko. Abimelek teeɛ no,
43 And he took the people, and divided them into three companies, and laid wait in the field; and he looked, and, behold, the people came forth out of the city; and he rose up against them, and smote them.
ɔkyɛɛ ne mmarima mu akuakuo mmiɛnsa ma wɔkɔtetɛɛ wira mu. Ɛberɛ a Abimelek hunuu sɛ nnipa no firi kuropɔn no mu reba no, ɔne ne mmarima no firii wɔn atɛeɛ mu to hyɛɛ wɔn so.
44 And Abimelech, and the companies that were with him, rushed forward, and stood in the entrance of the gate of the city: and the two companies rushed upon all that were in the field, and smote them.
Abimelek ne ne kuo no kɔgyee kuropɔn no ɛpono ano hɔ faeɛ sɛdeɛ ɛbɛyɛ a Sekemfoɔ rentumi nsane wɔn akyi. Afei, akuo mmienu to hyɛɛ Sekemfoɔ a wɔwɔ wiram hɔ no so kunkumm wɔn.
45 And Abimelech fought against the city all that day; and he took the city, and slew the people that were therein: and he beat down the city, and sowed it with salt.
Ɔko no kɔɔ so ɛda mu no nyinaa ansa na Abimelek redi kuropɔn no so koraa. Ɔkunkumm nnipa no, sɛee kuropɔn no, na ɔpetee nkyene wɔ hɔ nyinaa.
46 And when all the men of the tower of Shechem heard thereof, they entered into the stronghold of the house of Elberith.
Nnipa a wɔte Sekem abantenten mu tee asɛm a asi no, wɔkɔhintaa Baal-Berit asɔreeɛ so.
47 And it was told Abimelech that all the men of the tower of Shechem were gathered together.
Obi kɔbɔɔ Abimelek amaneɛ sɛ nnipa no bi aboa wɔn ho ano wɔ asɔreeɛ so hɔ,
48 And Abimelech gat him up to mount Zalmon, he and all the people that were with him; and Abimelech took an axe in his hand, and cut down a bough from the trees, and took it up, and laid it on his shoulder: and he said unto the people that were with him, What ye have seen me do, make haste, and do as I have done.
enti ɔdii nʼakodɔm anim kɔɔ Salmon Bepɔ so. Ɔfaa akuma twaa mman bi firii dua bi so na ɔde guu ne mmati so. Ɔka kyerɛɛ ne dɔm no sɛ, “Ntɛm, deɛ mayɛ yi, monyɛ bi!”
49 And all the people likewise cut down every man his bough, and followed Abimelech, and put them to the stronghold, and set the stronghold on fire upon them; so that all the men of the tower of Shechem died also, about a thousand men and women.
Enti, wɔn mu biara twitwaa dua mman no bi, sɛdeɛ Abimelek yɛeɛ no. Wɔboaa mman no ano wɔ asɔreeɛ no afasuo ho de ogya too mu. Enti, nnipa a na wɔte Sekem abantenten mu a wɔn dodoɔ bɛyɛ mmarima ne mmaa apem no nyinaa wuwuiɛ.
50 Then went Abimelech to Thebez, and encamped against Thebez, and took it.
Afei Abimelek to hyɛɛ kuropɔn Tebes so dii so.
51 But there was a strong tower within the city, and thither fled all the men and women, and all they of the city, and shut themselves in, and gat them up to the roof of the tower.
Nanso, na abandenden bi wɔ kuropɔn no mu. Ɛno enti, kuropɔn no mu nnipa nyinaa dwane kɔhyɛɛ mu. Wɔtoo wɔn ho ɛpono mu, foforo kɔɔ abandenden no atifi pɛɛ.
52 And Abimelech came unto the tower, and fought against it, and drew near unto the door of the tower to burn it with fire.
Abimelek toaa wɔn sɛ ɔrekɔto ahyɛ abandenden no so. Ɔyɛɛ nʼadwene sɛ ɔreto mu ogya pɛ,
53 And a certain woman cast an upper millstone upon Abimelech’s head, and brake his skull.
ɔbaa bi a ɔwɔ abandenden no atifi gyaa ayuyammoɔ mu ma ɛbɛbɔɔ Abimelek moma so na ɛpɛkyɛɛ ne ti kwankoraa.
54 Then he called hastily unto the young man his armorbearer, and said unto him, Draw thy sword, and kill me, that men say not of me, A woman slew him. And his young man thrust him through, and he died.
Abimelek ka kyerɛɛ aberanteɛ a ɔkura nʼakodeɛ sɛ, “Twe wʼakofena na kum me! Na nnipa anka sɛ ɔbaabasia na ɔkumm Abimelek!” Enti, aberanteɛ no de nʼakofena wɔɔ no ma ɔwuiɛ.
55 And when the men of Israel saw that Abimelech was dead, they departed every man unto his place.
Ɛberɛ a Abimelek nkurɔfoɔ hunuu sɛ wawuo no, wɔde wɔn akodeɛ guu hɔ sane kɔɔ wɔn afie mu.
56 Thus God requited the wickedness of Abimelech, which he did unto his father, in slaying his seventy brethren;
Saa na Onyankopɔn twee Abimelek aso wɔ bɔne a ɔyɛ de tiaa nʼagya sɛ ɔkumm ne nuammarima aduɔson no.
57 and all the wickedness of the men of Shechem did God requite upon their heads: and upon them came the curse of Jotham the son of Jerubbaal.
Saa ara na Onyankopɔn twee mmarima a wɔwɔ Sekem aso wɔ wɔn bɔne ahodoɔ a wɔyɛeɛ no ho. Ɛno enti, Yerub-Baal babarima Yotam nnome no baa mu.

< Judges 9 >