< Judges 6 >
1 Again the Israelites did evil in the sight of the LORD; so He delivered them into the hand of Midian for seven years,
Ọzọkwa, ụmụ Izrel mere ihe ọjọọ nʼanya Onyenwe anyị, nʼihi ya, Onyenwe anyị nyefere ha nʼaka ndị Midia afọ asaa.
2 and the hand of Midian prevailed against Israel. Because of the Midianites, the Israelites prepared shelters for themselves in the mountains, caves, and strongholds.
Nʼihi na ndị Midia mekpara ha ahụ nke ukwuu, ụmụ Izrel meere onwe ha ebe obibi nʼugwu, nʼime ọgba nkume, na nʼebe e wusiri ike dị iche iche.
3 Whenever the Israelites would plant their crops, the Midianites, Amalekites, and other people of the east would come up and invade them,
Mgbe ọbụla ndị Izrel ghasịrị mkpụrụ nʼubi ha, ndị Midia, ndị Amalek na ụfọdụ ndị ọzọ si nʼọwụwa anyanwụ na-abịa buso ha agha.
4 encamping against them as far as Gaza and destroying the produce of the land. They left Israel with no sustenance, neither sheep nor oxen nor donkeys.
Ha na-ebichi ala ahụ, bibie ihe niile a kụrụ nʼubi nʼala ahụ niile ruo na Gaza. O nweghị ihe ọbụla dị ndụ ndị Izrel nwere, ma atụrụ, ma ehi, ma ịnyịnya ibu, ha na-ahapụ.
5 For the Midianites came with their livestock and their tents like a great swarm of locusts. They and their camels were innumerable, and they entered the land to ravage it.
Dịka usuu igurube ka ha na-abịa, ha na anụ ụlọ ha niile, na ụlọ ikwu ha niile. Ọnụọgụgụ ha dị ukwuu ruo na-apụghị ịgụta ole ha dị, maọbụ ịnyịnya kamel ha. Ha na-abata nʼala ahụ nʼihi ibibicha ya.
6 Israel was greatly impoverished by Midian, and the Israelites cried out to the LORD.
Site nʼomume ọjọọ ndị a, e mere ka ụmụ Izrel bụrụ ndị dara ụbịam nke ukwuu nʼihi ọchịchị ndị Midia. Nʼikpeazụ, ụmụ Izrel tikuru Onyenwe anyị ka o nyere ha aka.
7 Now when the Israelites cried out to the LORD because of Midian,
Mgbe ụmụ Izrel tikuru Onyenwe anyị nʼihi mkpagbu ndị Midia na-akpagbu ha,
8 He sent them a prophet, who told them, “This is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says: I brought you up out of Egypt, out of the house of slavery.
Onyenwe anyị zitere onye amụma, onye gwara ha okwu sị, “Ihe a bụ ihe Onyenwe anyị Chineke nke Izrel kwuru, Esi m nʼala Ijipt, ala ahụ unu bụ ndị ohu nʼime ya, kpọpụta unu.
9 I delivered you out of the hands of Egypt and all your oppressors. I drove them out before you and gave you their land.
Anapụtara m unu site nʼaka ike ndị Ijipt na site nʼaka ndị niile kpagburu unu, chụpụ ha site nʼihu unu, ma nye unu ala ha.
10 And I said to you: ‘I am the LORD your God. You must not fear the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you dwell.’ But you did not obey Me.”
Agwara m unu sị, ‘Mụ onwe m bụ Onyenwe anyị Chineke unu. Unu efela chi niile nke ndị Amọrait, ndị unu bi nʼala ha.’ Ma unu jụrụ ige m ntị.”
11 Then the angel of the LORD came and sat down under the oak in Ophrah that belonged to Joash the Abiezrite, where his son Gideon was threshing wheat in a winepress to hide it from the Midianites.
Mmụọ ozi Onyenwe anyị bịara nọdụ ọdụ nʼokpuru osisi ukwu ook dị nʼOfra, nʼala ubi Joash, onye obodo Abieza, ebe nwa ya a na-akpọ Gidiọn nọ na-azọcha mkpụrụ ọka wiiti nʼime ebe ịzọcha mkpụrụ vaịnị nʼihi na ọ na-ezo onwe ya ka ndị Midia hapụ ịhụ ya anya.
12 And the angel of the LORD appeared to Gideon and said, “The LORD is with you, O mighty man of valor.”
Mmụọ ozi Onyenwe anyị pụtara ihe nʼebe ahụ gwa ya okwu sị, “Gị dike na dimkpa nʼagha, Onyenwe anyị nọnyeere gị.”
13 “Please, my Lord,” Gideon replied, “if the LORD is with us, why has all this happened to us? And where are all His wonders of which our fathers told us, saying, ‘Has not the LORD brought us up out of Egypt?’ But now the LORD has forsaken us and delivered us into the hand of Midian.”
Gidiọn zara sị, “Biko onyenwe m, ma ọ bụrụ na Onyenwe anyị nọnyeere anyị, gịnị mere ihe ndị a niile ji na-adakwasị anyị? Ebeekwanụ ka ihe ịrịbama ahụ niile dị nke nna anyị ha gwara anyị sị, ‘Ọ bụghị site nʼIjipt ka Onyenwe anyị siri gbapụta anyị?’ Ma ugbu a, Onyenwe anyị ajụla anyị, hapụ anyị nʼaka ndị Midia ka ha laa anyị nʼiyi.”
14 The LORD turned to him and said, “Go in the strength you have and save Israel from the hand of Midian. Am I not sending you?”
Mgbe ahụ, Onyenwe anyị nyere ya iwu sị ya, “Ngwa, jiri ike gị dị ukwuu pụọ, gaa ka ị gbapụta ụmụ Izrel site nʼaka ndị Midia. Mụ onwe m na-ezigakwa gị.”
15 “Please, my Lord,” Gideon replied, “how can I save Israel? Indeed, my clan is the weakest in Manasseh, and I am the youngest in my father’s house.”
Ma Gidiọn sịrị ya, “Biko, Onyenwe m, olee otu m ga-esi zọpụta Izrel? Lee, esi m nʼikwu dịkarịsịrị nta nʼime Manase pụta. Mụ onwe m bụkwa onye dịkarịsịrị ala nʼezinaụlọ m.”
16 “Surely I will be with you,” the LORD replied, “and you will strike down all the Midianites as one man.”
Ma Onyenwe anyị zara sị ya, “Mụ onwe m ga-anọnyere gị. Ị ga-ebibikwa ndị Midia niile.”
17 Gideon answered, “If I have found favor in Your sight, give me a sign that it is You speaking with me.
Gidiọn zaghachiri sị, “Ọ bụrụ na m achọtala ihuọma nʼanya gị, nye m ihe ịrịbama nke ga-egosi na ọ bụ gị nʼezie na-agwa m okwu.
18 Please do not depart from this place until I return to You. Let me bring my offering and set it before You.” And the LORD said, “I will stay until you return.”
Biko esikwala ebe a pụọ ruo mgbe m lọghachiri weta onyinye m ga-eche nʼihu gị.” Onyenwe anyị zara sị ya, “Aga m eche ruo mgbe ị lọghachiri.”
19 So Gideon went in and prepared a young goat and unleavened bread and an ephah of flour. He placed the meat in a basket and the broth in a pot and brought them out to present to Him under the oak.
Gidiọn mere ngwangwa laa nʼụlọ ya, gbuo otu nwa ewu, sie ya. O jikwa ụtụ ọka mee achịcha, nke ihe na-eko achịcha na-adịghị nʼime ya. Emesịa, o tinyere anụ ahụ nʼime nkata, wụnyekwa ofe nʼime ite, buru ha jekwuru Mmụọ ozi ahụ, ebe ọ nọ na-eche ya nʼokpuru osisi ook ahụ.
20 And the angel of God said to him, “Take the meat and the unleavened bread, lay them on this rock, and pour out the broth.” And Gideon did so.
Mmụọ ozi nke Chineke sịrị ya, “Were anụ a na ogbe achịcha ahụ na-ekoghị eko, tụkwasị ha nʼelu nkume a, wụpụkwa ofe ahụ.” Gidiọn mere otu a.
21 Then the angel of the LORD extended the tip of the staff that was in his hand and touched the meat and the unleavened bread. And fire flared from the rock and consumed the meat and the unleavened bread. Then the angel of the LORD vanished from his sight.
Mgbe Mmụọ ozi Onyenwe anyị ahụ metụrụ ọnụ mkpanaka ahụ nke dị nʼaka ya nʼelu anụ na achịcha ahụ na-ekoghị eko. Ọkụ sitere nʼoke nkume ahụ nwuru, rechapụ anụ ahụ na achịcha nʼekoghị eko ahụ. Mmụọ ozi nke Onyenwe anyị ahụ gbara barịị site nʼihu ya.
22 When Gideon realized that it was the angel of the LORD, he said, “Oh no, Lord GOD! I have seen the angel of the LORD face to face!”
Mgbe Gidiọn ghọtara na ọ bụ Mmụọ ozi nke Onyenwe anyị, o tiri mkpu akwa sị, “Ewoo! Onyenwe m Onyenwe anyị! Ahụla m Mmụọ ozi Onyenwe anyị ihu na ihu!”
23 But the LORD said to him, “Peace be with you. Do not be afraid, for you will not die.”
Ma Onyenwe anyị sịrị ya, “Udo dịrị gị, atụla egwu! Ị gaghị anwụ.”
24 So Gideon built an altar to the LORD there and called it The LORD Is Peace. To this day it stands in Ophrah of the Abiezrites.
Ya mere, Gidiọn wuuru Onyenwe anyị ebe ịchụ aja nʼebe ahụ, kpọọ ya, Onyenwe anyị bụ Onye Udo. Ụlọ nchụaja ahụ dịkwa nʼime obodo Ofra nʼala ndị Abieza ruo taa.
25 On that very night the LORD said to Gideon, “Take your father’s young bull and a second bull seven years old, tear down your father’s altar to Baal, and cut down the Asherah pole beside it.
Nʼabalị ụbọchị ahụ, Onyenwe anyị gwara Gidiọn okwu sị ya, “Were oke ehi nna gị, bụ oke ehi nke abụọ, nke gbara afọ asaa. Dọtuo ebe ịchụ aja nna gị wuru maka Baal, gbutukwaa ogidi osisi Ashera dị nʼakụkụ ya.
26 Then build a proper altar to the LORD your God on the top of this stronghold. And with the wood of the Asherah pole you cut down, take the second bull and offer it as a burnt offering.”
Mgbe ahụ, wuoro Onyenwe anyị bụ Chineke gị ebe ịchụ aja, nʼelu ebe a dị oke elu. Jiri osisi Ashera ahụ nke ị gbuturu kwanye ọkụ, chụọ oke ehi nke abụọ ahụ dịka aja nsure ọkụ.”
27 So Gideon took ten of his servants and did as the LORD had told him. But because he was too afraid of his father’s household and the men of the city, he did it by night rather than in the daytime.
Ya mere, Gidiọn duuru mmadụ iri site na ndị na-ejere ya ozi, ndị nyeere ya aka imezu ihe niile dịka Onyenwe anyị nyere ya nʼiwu. Kama, site nʼegwu maka ndị ikwu nna ya, na ndị bi nʼobodo ahụ, o mere ihe ndị a niile nʼime abalị.
28 When the men of the city got up in the morning, there was Baal’s altar torn down, with the Asherah pole cut down beside it and the second bull offered up on the newly built altar.
Mgbe chi bọrọ, mgbe ndị obodo ahụ malitere ijegharị, ha hụrụ na a kwatuola ebe ịchụ aja Baal, hụkwa na e gbutuola ogidi osisi Ashera dị nʼakụkụ ya, ma werekwa oke ehi nke abụọ chụọ aja nʼelu ebe ịchụ aja ọhụrụ ahụ!
29 “Who did this?” they said to one another. And after they had investigated thoroughly, they were told, “Gideon son of Joash did it.”
Ha jụrịtara onwe ha ajụjụ sị, “Onye mere ihe dị otu a?” Mgbe ha ji nwayọọ jụgharịa ajụjụ, a gwara ha sị, “Ọ bụ Gidiọn nwa Joash mere ya.”
30 Then the men of the city said to Joash, “Bring out your son. He must die, because he has torn down Baal’s altar and cut down the Asherah pole beside it.”
Ndị obodo ahụ sịrị Joash, “Kpụpụta nwa gị. Ọ ga-anwụrịrị, nʼihi na ọ kwadala ebe ịchụ aja Baal, gbutuo ogidi osisi Ashera, nke dị nʼakụkụ ya.”
31 But Joash said to all who stood against him, “Are you contending for Baal? Are you trying to save him? Whoever pleads his case will be put to death by morning! If Baal is a god, let him contend for himself with the one who has torn down his altar.”
Ma Joash tinyere ọnụ jụọ ha ajụjụ sị ha, “Baal, ọ gwara unu na ọ chọrọ ka unu nyere ya aka? Unu na-achọ ịzọpụta ya? Onye ọbụla wepụtara onwe ya maka ịlụrụ Baal ọgụ ga-anwụ tupu chi echi abọọ. Ọ bụrụ nʼezie na Baal bụ chi, hapụnụ ya ka o tigbuo onye ahụ mebiri ebe ịchụ aja ya.”
32 So on that day Gideon was called Jerubbaal, that is to say, “Let Baal contend with him,” because he had torn down Baal’s altar.
Ya mere, nʼụbọchị ahụ, ha malitere ịkpọ Gidiọn “Jerub-Baal.” Ha kwuru sị, “Ka Baal lụọrọ onwe ya ọgụ,” nʼihi na ọ kwadara ebe ịchụ aja Baal.
33 Then all the Midianites, Amalekites, and other people of the east gathered together, crossed over the Jordan, and camped in the Valley of Jezreel.
Mgbe na-adịghị anya, usuu ndị agha Midia, na ndị Amalek, na obodo niile gbara ha gburugburu jikọtara onwe ha nʼotu, bịa ibu agha megide ụmụ Izrel. Ha niile gafere osimiri Jọdan, bịaruo na Ndagwurugwu Jezril ebe ha mara ụlọ ikwu.
34 So the Spirit of the LORD came upon Gideon, who blew the ram’s horn and rallied the Abiezrites behind him.
Mgbe ahụ, Mmụọ Nsọ Onyenwe anyị bịakwasịrị Gidiọn. Ọ fụrụ opi ike nke o ji kpọkọta ndị agha ka ha zukọọ. Ndị agha niile si nʼikwu Abieza pụkwutere ya.
35 Calling them to arms, Gideon sent messengers throughout Manasseh, as well as Asher, Zebulun, and Naphtali, so that they came up to meet him.
Otu aka ahụ, o zipụrụ ndị ozi ka ha jekwuru ndị agha ndị Manase, na nke ndị Asha, na nke ndị Zebụlọn, na nke ndị Naftalị, ịkpọ ha ka ha bịa soro ya gaa ibu agha. Ha niile kwenyere pụkwute ya maka agha ahụ.
36 Then Gideon said to God, “If You are going to save Israel by my hand, as You have said,
Gidiọn sịrị Chineke, “Ọ bụrụ nʼezie na ị ga-azọpụta Izrel site nʼaka m dịka i kwere na nkwa,
37 then behold, I will place a fleece of wool on the threshing floor. If there is dew only on the fleece and all the ground is dry, then I will know that You are going to save Israel by my hand, as You have said.”
lee, aga m edebe ajị anụ nʼebe ịzọcha ọka. Ọ bụrụ na igirigi adakwasị naanị nʼelu ajị anụ ahụ ma ala ebe ọ tọgbọ gbakọọ agbakọ, mgbe ahụ aga m amata na ị ga-anapụta Izrel site nʼaka m, dịka ị kwuru.”
38 And that is what happened. When Gideon arose the next morning, he squeezed the fleece and wrung out the dew—a bowlful of water.
Ihe a mezukwara dịka Gidiọn si rịọọ ya. Mgbe chi bọrọ, ọ gara welite ajị anụ ahụ chọpụta na o jupụtara na mmiri. Mmiri o si na ya pịpụta juru otu efere miri emi.
39 Then Gideon said to God, “Do not be angry with me; let me speak one more time. Please allow me one more test with the fleece. This time let it be dry, and the ground covered with dew.”
Mgbe ahụ, Gidiọn sịrị Chineke, “Ka iwe gị ghara ịdị ọkụ megide m. Ka m rịọkwuo naanị otu ihe ọzọ. Kwere ka m jiri ajị anụ a nwalee otu ugboro ọzọ, kama nʼoge a, mee ka mmiri ghara ịdị nʼajị anụ ahụ, ma ka igirigi jupụta nʼala ebe ọ tọgbọ.”
40 And that night God did so. Only the fleece was dry, and dew covered the ground.
Nʼabalị ahụ, Chineke mere otu a. Ala niile gbaa gburugburu dere mmiri site nʼigirigi, ma mmiri ọbụla adịghị nʼajị anụ ahụ.