Judges 9
1 Now Abimelech son of Jerubbaal went to his mother’s brothers at Shechem and said to them and to all the clan of his mother,
Jerub-Baal capa Abimelek loe Shekem ah kaom amno ih thangqoinawk hoi amno ih acaengnawk khaeah caeh moe,
2 “Please ask all the leaders of Shechem, ‘Is it better for you that seventy men, all the sons of Jerubbaal, rule over you, or just one man?’ Remember that I am your own flesh and blood.”
Shekem ih kaminawk boih khaeah, Nangcae to Jerub-Baal ih capa quisarihtonawk mah ukhaih maw hoih kue, to ai boeh loe kami maeto mah ukhaih? kai loe nangcae ih ahuh hoi angan ah ni ka oh, tiah panoek oh, tiah thuih pae hanah tahmenhaih a hnik.
3 And when his mother’s brothers spoke all these words about him in the presence of all the leaders of Shechem, their hearts were inclined to follow Abimelech, for they said, “He is our brother.”
To tiah a thuih pae ih loknawk to amno ih tangqoinawk mah Shekem vangpui ah kaom kaminawk boih khaeah thuih pae o naah, Abimelek loe kaicae ih amnawk ni, tiah a thuih o pongah, anih to abomh han koeh o.
4 So they gave him seventy shekels of silver from the temple of Baal-berith, with which Abimelech hired some worthless and reckless men to follow him.
To pongah nihcae mah Baal-Berith tempul ih phoisa shekel quisarihto anih hanah paek o; Abimelek mah to ih phoisa hoiah zithaih tawn ai misahoih kaminawk to tlai moe, angmah hnukah bangsak.
5 He went to his father’s house in Ophrah, and on one stone murdered his seventy brothers, the sons of Jerubbaal. But Jotham, the youngest son of Jerubbaal, survived, because he hid himself.
Anih loe Ophrah ah kaom ampa im ah caeh moe, angmah ih nawkamyanawk Jerub-Baal capa quisarihtonawk to lungsong maeto nuiah hum boih; toe Jerub-Baal capa asoi koek, Jotham loe anghawk ving pongah a loih.
6 Then all the leaders of Shechem and Beth-millo gathered beside the oak at the pillar in Shechem and proceeded to make Abimelech their king.
To naah Shekem ah kaom kaminawk hoi Millo imthung takohnawk loe, Shekem ih thing ohhaih ahmuen ah nawnto amkhueng o moe, Abimelek to siangpahrang ah suek o.
7 When this was reported to Jotham, he climbed to the top of Mount Gerizim, raised his voice, and cried out: “Listen to me, O leaders of Shechem, and may God listen to you.
To lok to Jotham khae thuih pae o naah, Gerizim mae nuiah dawh moe, nihcae khaeah, hae tiah a hang thuih; Shekem acaengnawk, Sithaw mah nangcae ih lok tahngai hanah, ka lok hae tahngai oh.
8 One day the trees set out to anoint a king for themselves. They said to the olive tree, ‘Reign over us.’
Nito naah thingnawk loe angmacae ukkung siangpahrang to suek moe, situi bawh hanah a caeh o; nihcae mah olive thing khaeah, Kaicae hae na uk ah, tiah a naa o.
9 But the olive tree replied, ‘Should I stop giving my oil that honors both God and man, to hold sway over the trees?’
Toe olive thing mah, nihcae khaeah, Sithaw hoi kami mah pakoeh ih ka thawkhaih to caehtaak moe, thing nuiah kam zam han maw? tiah a naa.
10 Then the trees said to the fig tree, ‘Come and reign over us.’
To pacoengah thingnawk mah thaiduet thing khaeah, Angzoh loe kaicae hae na uk ah, tiah a naa o.
11 But the fig tree replied, ‘Should I stop giving my sweetness and my good fruit, to hold sway over the trees?’
Toe thaiduet thing mah nihcae khaeah, Ka luephaih hoi kahoih kaimah ih thingthai hae ka caehtaak moe, thingnawk to ka khuk han maw? tiah naa let bae.
12 Then the trees said to the grapevine, ‘Come and reign over us.’
Thingnawk mah misurkung khaeah, Angzoh loe, kaicae hae na uk ah, tiah a naa o.
13 But the grapevine replied, ‘Should I stop giving my wine that cheers both God and man, to hold sway over the trees?’
Toe misurkung mah nihcae khaeah, Sithaw hoi kami nawmsakhaih kaimah ih misurtui hae ka caehtaak moe, thingnawk to ka khuk han maw? tiah a naa.
14 Finally all the trees said to the thornbush, ‘Come and reign over us.’
Thingnawk boih mah soekhringkung khaeah, Angzoh loe, kaicae hae na uk ah, tiah a naa o.
15 But the thornbush replied, ‘If you really are anointing me as king over you, come and find refuge in my shade. But if not, may fire come out of the thornbush and consume the cedars of Lebanon.’
To naah soekhringkung mah thingnawk khaeah, Kai hae nangcae nuiah siangpahrang ah nang suek o moe, situi bawh han na koeh o tangtang nahaeloe, angzo oh loe, kai ih tahlip ah abuep oh; to tih ai nahaeloe soekhringkung thung hoiah hmai to tacawt ueloe, Lebanon ih sidar thingnawk to kangh tih, tiah a naa.
16 Now if you have acted faithfully and honestly in making Abimelech king, if you have done well by Jerubbaal and his family, and if you have done to him as he deserves—
To pongah vaihi nangcae mah, Palungthin tang hoiah Abimelek to siangpahrang ah na suek o moe, Jerub-Baal hoi a imthung takoh nuiah kahoih hmuen to na sak o boeh maw, a hnuk han koi hmuen to a nuiah na sak pae o maw?
17 for my father fought for you and risked his life to deliver you from the hand of Midian,
(Kam pa mah nangcae han misatuk pae, a hinghaih paek moe, nangcae to Midian kaminawk ban thung hoiah ang pahlong o boeh.
18 but you have risen up against my father’s house this day and killed his seventy sons on a single stone, and you have made Abimelech, the son of his maidservant, king over the leaders of Shechem because he is your brother—
Toe vaihniah kam pa ih imthung takoh ah misa nang thawk o moe, lungsong maeto nuiah a capa quisarihto na hum pae o boih; a tamna nongpata ih capa Abimelek loe, nangmacae ih amnawk ah oh pongah, Shekem acaengnawk boih ukkung siangpahrang ah na suek o; )
19 if you have acted faithfully and honestly toward Jerubbaal and his house this day, then may you rejoice in Abimelech, and he in you.
vaihniah palungthin tang hoiah Jerub-Baal hoi a imthung takoh nuiah kahoih hmuen to na sak o nahaeloe, Abimelek to nangcae anghoehaih ah om nasoe, nangcae doeh a nuiah anghoe o toeng ah:
20 But if not, may fire come from Abimelech and consume the leaders of Shechem and Beth-millo, and may fire come from the leaders of Shechem and Beth-millo and consume Abimelech.”
toe nang hoe o ai nahaeloe, Abimelek khae hoi hmai to tacawt nasoe loe, nangcae Shekem vangpui ah kaom kaminawk hoi Millo imthung takohnawk boih to paduek nasoe; Shekem ih kaminawk hoi Millo imthung takoh khae hoiah hmai to tacawt nasoe loe, Abimelek to kangh nasoe, tiah a naa.
21 Then Jotham ran away, escaping to Beer, and he lived there for fear of his brother Abimelech.
To pacoengah Jotham loe amya Abimelek to zit pongah, cawnh moe, Beer vangpui ah oh.
22 After Abimelech had reigned over Israel for three years,
Abimelek mah Israel kaminawk to saning thumto uk,
23 God sent a spirit of animosity between Abimelech and the leaders of Shechem and caused them to treat Abimelech deceitfully,
Sithaw mah Abimelek hoi Shekem kaminawk khaeah kasae muithla to patoeh pae; to naah Shekem ih kaminawk mah Abimelek nuiah oep om ai ah khosak pae o.
24 in order that the crime against the seventy sons of Jerubbaal might come to justice and their blood be avenged on their brother Abimelech and on the leaders of Shechem, who had helped him murder his brothers.
Jerub-Baal ih capa quisarihtonawk nuiah sak ih sethaih to nihcae humkung angmacae ih amnawk Abimelek nuiah krah tih; angmah ih nawkamyanawk hum hanah bomkung Shekem vangpui kaminawk nuiah doeh krah tih.
25 The leaders of Shechem set up an ambush against Abimelech on the hilltops, and they robbed all who passed by them on the road. So this was reported to Abimelech.
Shekem vangpui ih kaminawk loe Abimelek angang hanah mae nuiah caeh o; to ah caeh kaminawk boih ih hmuenmaenawk to lomh pae o; to lok to Abimelek khaeah thuih pae o.
26 Meanwhile, Gaal son of Ebed came with his brothers and crossed into Shechem, and the leaders of Shechem put their confidence in him.
Ebed capa Gaal loe angmah ih nawkamyanawk hoi nawnto Shekem ah khosak han angpoeng o; anih loe to vangpui kaminawk mah oep ih kami ah oh.
27 And after they had gone out into the fields, gathered grapes from their vineyards, and trodden them, they held a festival and went into the house of their god; and as they ate and drank, they cursed Abimelech.
Nihcae loe lawk ah caeh o, misurthaih to pakhrik o moe, khok hoiah atit o; tempul thungah caeh o moe, kanawm ah poih to sak o; a caak a naek o moe, Abimelek to tangoeng o.
28 Then Gaal son of Ebed said, “Who is Abimelech, and who is Shechem, that we should serve him? Is he not the son of Jerubbaal, and is not Zebul his officer? You are to serve the men of Hamor, the father of Shechem. Why should we serve Abimelech?
To naah Ebed capa Gaal mah, Abimelek loe mi aa, Shekem loe mi aa, Tipongah aicae mah anih ih toksak pae han angaih loe? Anih loe Jerub-Baal capa na ai maw? Zebul loe anih ih toksah kami ah na ai maw oh? Shekem ampa, Hamor ih tok to sah pae oh; tih hanah Abimelek ih tok a sak o han loe?
29 If only this people were under my authority, I would remove Abimelech; I would say to him, ‘Muster your army and come out!’”
Sithaw rang hoiah hae kaminawk hae ka ban thungah om o na haeloe, Abimelek to ka takhoe ving han; Abimelek khaeah, Nang mah ih misatuh kaminawk boih na kawk cadoeh, kaicae mah kang pazawk o han vop, tiah ka naa han, tiah a thuih.
30 When Zebul the governor of the city heard the words of Gaal son of Ebed, he burned with anger.
Ebed capa Gaal ih lok to, vangpui ukkung Zebul mah thaih naah, paroeai palungphui.
31 So he covertly sent messengers to Abimelech to say, “Look, Gaal son of Ebed and his brothers have come to Shechem and are stirring up the city against you.
To naah anih mah tamqumta hoi Abimelek khaeah laicaehnawk to patoeh, Ebed capa Gaal hoi anih ih nawkamyanawk loe Shekem vangpui ah khosak han angpoeng o tih; khenah, nihcae loe nang to tuk hanah vangpui thungah toksak o.
32 Now then, tonight you and the people with you are to come and lie in wait in the fields.
To pongah aqum ah nangmah ih kaminawk hoi nawnto angzoh loe, nihcae to lawk ah angang oh;
33 And in the morning at sunrise, get up and advance against the city. When Gaal and his men come out against you, do to them whatever you are able.”
akhawn bang khawnthaw ni tacawt naah, vangpui to tuh oh; Gaal hoi anih ih kaminawk nang tuk hanah angzoh o naah, na ban mah sak koeh ih baktih toengah sah oh, tiah a naa.
34 So Abimelech and all his troops set out by night and lay in wait against Shechem in four companies.
To pongah Abimelek hoi anih ih misatuh kaminawk boih angthawk o, khoving ah caeh o moe, abu palito ampraek o pacoengah, Shekem vangpui to a toep o.
35 Now Gaal son of Ebed went out and stood at the entrance of the city gate just as Abimelech and his men came out from their hiding places.
Abimelek hoi anih ih misatuh kaminawk loe anghawkhaih ahmuen hoiah angzoh o naah, Ebed capa Gaal loe tasa bangah caeh moe, khongkha taengah angdoet.
36 When Gaal saw the people, he said to Zebul, “Look, people are coming down from the mountains!” But Zebul replied, “The shadows of the mountains look like men to you.”
Gaal mah nihcae to hnuk naah, Zebul khaeah, Khenah, mae nui hoiah kaminawk angzoh o, tiah a naa. Zebul mah anih khaeah, Mae ih tahlip to kami baktiah na hnuk moeng kalang mue, tiah a naa.
37 Then Gaal spoke up again, “Look, people are coming down from the center of the land, and one company is coming by way of the Diviners’ Oak.”
Toe Gaal mah, khenah, lawk aum hoiah kaminawk to angzoh o tathuk, kalah kami abu loe Meonenim thing ohhaih ahmuen bang hoiah angzoh o, tiah a naa.
38 “Where is your gloating now?” Zebul replied. “You said, ‘Who is Abimelech that we should serve him?’ Are these not the people you ridiculed? Go out now and fight them!”
To naah Zebul mah anih khaeah, Abimelek loe kawbaktih kami ah maw oh moe, anih ih tok ka sak pae o han loe? tiah na thuih ih pakha loe vaihi naah maw oh? Nihcae loe na khet patoek ih kaminawk na ai maw? Caeh loe nihcae to tuh ah, tiah a naa.
39 So Gaal went out before the leaders of Shechem and fought against Abimelech,
To pongah Gaal mah vangpui thung ih kaminawk to kok moe, Abimelek to tuk.
40 but Abimelech pursued him, and Gaal fled before him. And many Shechemites fell wounded all the way to the entrance of the gate.
Abimelek mah Gaal to patom naah, anih loe cawnh ving; vangpui thungah akunhaih khongkha khoek to, kami paroeai ahmaa caak o moe, duek o.
41 Abimelech stayed in Arumah, and Zebul drove Gaal and his brothers out of Shechem.
Abimelek loe Arumah ah khosak; Zebul mah Gaal hoi anih ih nawkamyanawk to Shekem vangpui hoiah haek boih.
42 The next day the people of Shechem went out into the fields, and this was reported to Abimelech.
Khawnbangah Shekem vangpui ih kaminawk loe lawk ah caeh o, to lok to Abimelek khaeah thuih pae o.
43 So he took his men, divided them into three companies, and lay in wait in the fields. When he saw the people coming out of the city, he rose up against them and attacked them.
To pongah anih mah angmah ih kaminawk to kawk moe, abu thumto ah tapraek pacoengah, lawk ah kami to angangsak; khenah, vangpui thung hoiah kami angzoh o naah, anih loe nihcae tuk hanah angthawk moe, a tuk.
44 Then Abimelech and the companies with him rushed forward and took their stand at the entrance of the city gate. The other two companies rushed against all who were in the fields and struck them down.
Abimelek hoi a taengah kaom misatuh kaminawk loe, vangpui khongkha thungah cawnh o moe, angang o; kalah misatuh abu hnetto loe lawk ah caeh o moe, kaminawk to patom o pacoengah, hum o.
45 And all that day Abimelech fought against the city until he had captured it and killed its people. Then he demolished the city and sowed it with salt.
To na ni athun qui Abimelek mah vangpui to tuk moe, a lak; athung ah kaom kaminawk to hum moe, vangpui to paro pacoengah, a nuiah paloi to a phuih.
46 On hearing of this, all the leaders in the tower of Shechem entered the inner chamber of the temple of El-berith.
To lok to Shekem imsang ah kaom kaminawk mah thaih o naah, sithaw Berith tempul thungah akun o.
47 And when Abimelech was told that all the leaders in the tower of Shechem were gathered there,
Shekem vangpui ih kaom kaminawk boih loe to ahmuen ah amkhueng o, tiah Abimelek khaeah thuih pae o.
48 he and all his men went up to Mount Zalmon. Abimelech took his axe in his hand and cut a branch from the trees, which he lifted to his shoulder, saying to his men, “Hurry and do what you have seen me do.”
Abimelek mah angmah hoi angmah ih kaminawk boih to Zalmon mae ah dawh haih; anih mah caka to lak moe, thing tanghang to pakhruk pacoengah, palaeng ah aput; a taengah kaom kaminawk khaeah, Nang hnuk o ih ka sak ih hmuen baktih toengah, karangah sah oh, tiah a naa.
49 So each man also cut his own branch and followed Abimelech. Then they piled the branches against the inner chamber and set it on fire above them, killing everyone in the tower of Shechem, about a thousand men and women.
To pongah kaminawk boih mah thing tanghang to pakruk o moe, Abimelek hnukah bang o; thingnawk to akhaw thungah hnawt o moe, akhaw to hmai hoiah thlaek o; to naah Shekem imsang thungah kaom kaminawk, nongpa nongpata kami sangto duek o.
50 Then Abimelech went to Thebez, encamped against it, and captured it.
To pacoengah Abimelek to Thebez vangpui ah caeh, to vangpui to tuk moe, a lak.
51 But there was a strong tower inside the city, and all the men, women, and leaders of the city fled there. They locked themselves in and went up to the roof of the tower.
Toe vangpui thungah kacak parai imsang maeto oh; vangpui thungah kaom kaminawk hoi nongpa nongpatanawk loe to imsang ah cawnh o boih; thok to khah o moe, imsang imphu ah a dawh o.
52 When Abimelech came to attack the tower, he approached its entrance to set it on fire.
Abimelek loe to imsang ah caeh moe, a tuk; toe imsang to hmai hoi qoeng hanah tha pathok moe, akunhaih khongkha khoek to a phak.
53 But a woman dropped an upper millstone on Abimelech’s head, crushing his skull.
To naah nongpata maeto mah imphu hoiah Abimelek ih lu nuiah thlung pakhrak thuih moe, a lu to koih phaeng.
54 He quickly called his armor-bearer, saying, “Draw your sword and kill me, lest they say of me, ‘A woman killed him.’” So Abimelech’s armor-bearer ran his sword through him, and he died.
To naah angmah ih hmuenmae phawkung to karangah kawk moe, anih khaeah, Nongpata maeto mah hum, tiah minawk mah thuih o han ai ah, na sumsen to aphongh loe, na hum ah, tiah a naa. To pongah a tamna mah anih to thunh moe, duek.
55 And when the Israelites saw that Abimelech was dead, they all went home.
Abimelek duek boeh, tiah Israel kaminawk mah hnuk o naah, kami boih angmacae im ah amlaem o.
56 In this way God repaid the wickedness that Abimelech had done to his father in murdering his seventy brothers.
Abimelek mah angmah ih nawkamya quisarihto hum moe, ampa nuiah sak ih zaehaih to Sithaw mah pathok let.
57 And God also brought all the wickedness of the men of Shechem back upon their own heads. So the curse of Jotham son of Jerubbaal came upon them.
Shekem vangpui ih kaminawk boih mah sak o ih kasae hmuennawk to angmacae lu nuiah Sithaw mah kraksak let; Jerub-Baal capa Jotham ih tangoenghaih to nihcae nuiah phak.
