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,
Otu ụbọchị, Abimelek nwa Jerub-Baal jekwuuru ụmụnne nne ya ndị ikom bi na Shekem, na ndị ikwu nne ya niile sị ha,
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.”
“Jekwurunụ ndị Shekem jụọ ha, ‘Kedụ nke kara unu mma: ọ bụ ka ụmụ iri ndị ikom asaa Jerub-Baal mụrụ chịa unu, ka ọ bụ ka otu onye chịa unu?’ Chetakwanụ na mụ na unu bụ otu anụ ahụ na ọbara.”
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.”
Mgbe ụmụnne nne ya ndị ikom gwara ndị Shekem ihe Abimelek kwuru, ha kwekọrịtara iso ya nʼihi na ha kwuru sị, “Nwanne anyị ka ọ bụ.”
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.
Ha sitere nʼụlọ arụsị Baal-Berit nye ya iri shekel ọlaedo asaa. Abimelek ji ego ndị a goo ndị efulefu jọgburu onwe ha, ndị na-akpọghị ndụ ha ihe ọbụla, ndị kwenyere ma gbasoro ya.
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.
Ọ gara nʼụlọ nna ya nʼobodo Ofra. Nʼebe ahụ, o gburu iri ndị ikom asaa ahụ bụ ụmụnna ya nʼelu otu nkume. Kama Jotam, bụ ọdụdụ nwa Jerub-Baal, zoro onwe ya gbapụ.
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.
Mgbe ahụ, ndị Shekem na ndị Bet Milo kpọrọ nzukọ nʼokpuru osisi ukwu dị nʼobodo ahụ nʼakụkụ ogidi e guzobere ọtọ na Shekem. Nʼebe ahụ ka ha nọ mee Abimelek eze Izrel.
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.
Mgbe Jotam nụrụ ya, o rigooro nʼugwu Gerizim guzo nʼebe ahụ tikuo ndị Shekem niile mkpu si ha, “Geenụ m ntị ka Chineke nwe ike gee unu ntị.
8 One day the trees set out to anoint a king for themselves. They said to the olive tree, ‘Reign over us.’
Otu mgbe, osisi niile pụrụ ije ịga tee otu onye mmanụ ka ọ bụrụ eze ga-achị ha. Ha sịrị osisi oliv, ‘Bụrụ eze anyị.’
9 But the olive tree replied, ‘Should I stop giving my oil that honors both God and man, to hold sway over the trees?’
“Ma osisi oliv jụrụ ha ajụjụ sị, ‘O kwesiri ka m hapụ iwepụta mmanụ m a nke a na-esite na ya sọpụrụ Chineke na ụmụ mmadụ, nọọ ọnọdụ ifegharị alaka m nʼelu osisi ndị ọzọ?’
10 Then the trees said to the fig tree, ‘Come and reign over us.’
“Ọzọkwa, ha rịọrọ osisi fiig ka ọ bụrụ eze ha.
11 But the fig tree replied, ‘Should I stop giving my sweetness and my good fruit, to hold sway over the trees?’
“Ma osisi fiig sịrị, ‘Ọ bụrụ na m ekwere na m ga-abụ eze unu, ọ pụtara na m ga-akwụsị ịmịpụta mkpụrụ osisi na-atọ ụtọ, nọọ ọnọdụ ifegharị alaka m nʼelu osisi ndị ọzọ?’
12 Then the trees said to the grapevine, ‘Come and reign over us.’
“Ọzọkwa, ha rịọrọ osisi vaịnị ma ọ ga-ekwenye ịbụ eze ha.
13 But the grapevine replied, ‘Should I stop giving my wine that cheers both God and man, to hold sway over the trees?’
“Ma osisi vaịnị ahụ zara sị ha, ‘Ọ bụrụ na m ekwere ịbụ eze unu, ọ pụtara na m ga-akwụsị ịmịpụta mkpụrụ osisi e ji eme mmanya nke na-enye Chineke na ụmụ mmadụ obi ụtọ, nọọ ọnọdụ ifegharị alaka m nʼelu osisi ndị ọzọ?’
14 Finally all the trees said to the thornbush, ‘Come and reign over us.’
“Nʼikpeazụ, osisi niile jekwuuru ogwu ọhịa, ‘Bịa ka ị bụrụ eze anyị.’
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.’
“Ogwu ọhịa sịrị osisi niile, ‘Ọ bụrụ nʼezie na unu chọrọ ite m mmanụ ka m bụrụ eze unu, bịanụ zere ndụ nʼokpuru ndo m kpọkwanụ isiala nye m. Ọ bụrụ na unu ajụ ime nke a, ka ọkụ si nʼogwu ọhịa pụta rechapụ sida niile dị na Lebanọn!’
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—
“Ugbu a, omume unu o ziri ezi ma sitekwa nʼezi obi na unu mere Abimelek eze? Mmeso unu mesoro Jerub-Baal na ezinaụlọ ya o ziri ezi? Unu omesoro ya dịka o kwesiri ya?
17 for my father fought for you and risked his life to deliver you from the hand of Midian,
Chetakwanụ na nna m lụrụ ọgụ maka unu, kpọọ ndụ ya ihe efu, nʼihi ịnapụta unu site nʼaka ndị Midia.
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—
Ma taa, unu enupula isi megide nna m na ezinaụlọ ya, gbuo iri ụmụ ndị ikom asaa ya nʼelu otu nkume, meekwa Abimelek nwa ya nwoke nke ohu nwanyị ya mụtara eze ga-achị ndị Shekem niile, nʼihi na ọ bụ onye nke unu.
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.
Nke a o gosiri na omume unu ziri ezi, sitekwa nʼobi ọcha nʼebe Jerub-Baal na ezinaụlọ ya nọ taa? Ọ bụrụ na unu mere otu a, ka Abimelek bụrụ onye ga-ewetara unu ọṅụ ka unu bụkwara ndị ga-ewetara ya ọṅụ.
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.”
Ma ọ bụrụ na omume unu ezighị ezi, ka ọkụ si nʼAbimelek pụta repịa unu, ndị Shekem na Bet Milo, ka ọkụ sitekwa nʼebe unu bụ ndị Shekem na Bet Milo, pụta repịa Abimelek.”
21 Then Jotham ran away, escaping to Beer, and he lived there for fear of his brother Abimelech.
Emesịa, Jotam gbapụrụ, gbaga Bịa, biri nʼebe ahụ nʼihi egwu Abimelek bụ nwanna ya.
22 After Abimelech had reigned over Israel for three years,
Mgbe ọ gasịrị afọ atọ Abimelek bidoro ịchị Izrel,
23 God sent a spirit of animosity between Abimelech and the leaders of Shechem and caused them to treat Abimelech deceitfully,
Chineke kpaliri iro dị ukwuu nʼetiti Abimelek na ndị nwe obodo Shekem, nke bụ na ha mere omume ihu abụọ megide Abimelek.
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.
Chineke mere nke a nʼihi na ọ chọrọ ịbọta ọbọ ọbara iri ụmụ Jerub-Baal asaa ahụ nʼisi Abimelek, na ndị Shekem ahụ bụ ndị nyeere ya aka gbuo ụmụnne ya.
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.
Nʼọnọdụ imegide ya, ndị Shekem doro ndị ikom ụfọdụ nʼelu ugwu niile, ndị zoro nʼebe ahụ na-apụnara ndị ọbụla na-esite nʼebe ahụ agafe ihe ha nwere. E mere ka Abimelek mata na ihe dị otu a na-eme.
26 Meanwhile, Gaal son of Ebed came with his brothers and crossed into Shechem, and the leaders of Shechem put their confidence in him.
Nʼoge ahụ, Gaal, nwa Ebed, chịkọtara ụmụnne ya ndị ikom gaa biri na Shekem, ndị Shekem nwere ntụkwasị obi nʼebe ọ nọ.
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.
Mgbe ha pụrụ baa nʼubi, chịkọta mkpụrụ vaịnị, zọchaa ha, ha mere mmemme nʼụlọ chi ha. Mgbe ha nọ na-eri na-aṅụ, ha kọchara Abimelek.
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?
Mgbe ahụ, Gaal nwa Ebed sịrị, “Onye bụ Abimelek? Gịnị mere na anyị bụ ndị Shekem ga-eji nọrọ nʼokpuru ya? Ọ bụghị nwa Jerub-Baal? Ọ bụkwaghị Zebul bụ onye na-esote ya? Ọ bụ ka anyị fee ezinaụlọ Hamọ, nna Shekem ofufe. Ọ bụ maka gịnị ka anyị ga-eji fee Abimelek ofufe?
29 If only this people were under my authority, I would remove Abimelech; I would say to him, ‘Muster your army and come out!’”
A sịkwarị na ndị a nọ nʼokpuru ọchịchị m, mgbe ahụ, m ga-ewezuga Abimelek. Aga m asị ya, ‘Kpọpụta ndị agha gị niile.’”
30 When Zebul the governor of the city heard the words of Gaal son of Ebed, he burned with anger.
Mgbe Zebul onye na-achị obodo ahụ nụrụ ihe Gaal nwa Ebed kwuru, o were nnọọ oke iwe.
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.
O zigara Abimelek ndị ozi na nzuzo ka ha sị ya, “Gaal nwa Ebed na ndị ikwu ya abịala obodo Shekem. Ha akpaliela obi ndị obodo a niile ka ha megide gị.
32 Now then, tonight you and the people with you are to come and lie in wait in the fields.
Ugbu a, gị na ndị agha gị, bịanụ nʼabalị zoo onwe unu nʼọhịa.
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.”
Nʼụtụtụ, mgbe anwụ wara, busonụ obodo a agha. Mgbe Gaal na ndị ya pụtara ịlụso gị agha, mee ha ihe dị gị mma.”
34 So Abimelech and all his troops set out by night and lay in wait against Shechem in four companies.
Ya mere, Abimelek na ndị agha ya dị nʼotu anọ, jiri abalị bilie jeruo Shekem zoo onwe ha na nso obodo ahụ.
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.
Gaal nwa Ebed pụrụ guzo nʼọnụ ama obodo ahụ mgbe Abimelek na ndị ya sitere nʼebe ha zoro onwe ha pụta.
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.”
Mgbe Gaal hụrụ ha, ọ kpọrọ Zebul si ya, “Lee ndị mmadụ sị nʼelu ugwu ndị a na-arịdata.” Zebul zara si ya, “Ọ bụghị mmadụ ka ị na-ahụ, kama ọ bụ onyinyo ugwu ka ị na-akpọ mmadụ.”
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.”
Gaal kwukwara okwu sị, “Lee ndị mmadụ si nʼetiti ala ahụ na-arịdata, ndị ọzọ sikwa nʼakụkụ ụzọ ebe osisi iju ase dị.”
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!”
Mgbe ahụ, Zebul sịrị ya, “Olee uru ọ bara na ị turu ọnụ, gị onye na-asị, ‘Onye bụ Abimelek na anyị ga-efe ya ofufe?’ Ọ bụ ndị a abụghị ndị ahụ ị kọchara? Pụkwuru ha gaa lụso ha ọgụ.”
39 So Gaal went out before the leaders of Shechem and fought against Abimelech,
Ya mere, Gaal duuru ndị nwe Shekem pụọ ịlụso Abimelek ọgụ.
40 but Abimelech pursued him, and Gaal fled before him. And many Shechemites fell wounded all the way to the entrance of the gate.
Ma Abimelek chụụrụ ya ọsọ ruo mbata ọnụ ụzọ ama, ọtụtụ bụkwa ndị egburu ka ha na-agba ọsọ.
41 Abimelech stayed in Arumah, and Zebul drove Gaal and his brothers out of Shechem.
Abimelek nọgidere nʼAruma nʼoge ahụ. Ma Zebul chụpụrụ Gaal na ndị ikwu ya site na Shekem.
42 The next day the people of Shechem went out into the fields, and this was reported to Abimelech.
Nʼechi ya, ndị Shekem pụtara baa nʼọhịa. E mere ka Abimelek mara nke a.
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.
Nʼihi ya, Abimelek kere ndị agha ya ụzọ atọ. Ha niile zokwara onwe ha nʼọhịa. Mgbe ọ hụrụ ka ndị mmadụ si nʼime obodo ahụ na-apụta, o biliri buso ha agha.
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 na usuu ndị agha so ya mapụtara, gbara ọsọ were ọnọdụ nʼọnụ ụzọ ama obodo ahụ. Emesịa, ụzọ abụọ nʼime ụzọ atọ nke ndị agha na-eso ya chere ihu nʼọhịa gbuo ndị ahụ niile nọ nʼebe ahụ.
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.
Ụbọchị ahụ niile, Abimelek busoro obodo ahụ agha tutu ruo mgbe o meriri ya, gbuo ndị niile bi nʼime ya. Emesịa, ọ lara obodo ahụ niile nʼiyi, fesaa nnu nʼala ya niile.
46 On hearing of this, all the leaders in the tower of Shechem entered the inner chamber of the temple of El-berith.
Mgbe ndị nwe ala nọ nʼụlọ elu Shekem nụrụ ihe mere, ha gbabanyere nʼebe e wusiri ike nke ụlọ arụsị El Berit.
47 And when Abimelech was told that all the leaders in the tower of Shechem were gathered there,
Mgbe Abimelek nụrụ na ha ezukọtala nʼebe ahụ,
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.”
ya na ndị agha ya rigoro ugwu Zalmon. O ji anyụike gbutuo ụfọdụ ngalaba osisi nke ọ tụkwasịrị nʼubu ya. O nyere ndị agha ya iwu si, “Ngwa, meenụ ihe unu hụrụ na m mere.”
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.
Ya mere, ndị agha ya niile gbuturu alaka osisi buru ha soro Abimelek. Ha tụkọtara alaka osisi ndị a niile nʼakụkụ ebe ahụ e wusiri ike mụnye ha ọkụ ka o regbuo ndị mmadụ nọ nʼime ya. Ya mere, ndị mmadụ niile nọ nʼụlọ elu Shekem, nwoke na nwanyị, ndị ọnụọgụgụ ha ruru otu puku nwụrụ.
50 Then Abimelech went to Thebez, encamped against it, and captured it.
Ọzọ, Abimelek gara obodo Tebez lụso ya agha, merie ya.
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.
Ma e nwere nʼime obodo ahụ, otu ụlọ elu e wusiri ike, ebe ndị obodo ahụ niile, nwoke na nwanyị, gbabanyere. Ha kpọchidoro onwe ha ụzọ, rigoro nʼelu ụlọ ahụ.
52 When Abimelech came to attack the tower, he approached its entrance to set it on fire.
Abimelek gara nʼụlọ elu ahụ ibuso ya agha. Ma mgbe ọ na-abịaru ọnụ ụzọ ama ụlọ elu ahụ isunye ya ọkụ,
53 But a woman dropped an upper millstone on Abimelech’s head, crushing his skull.
otu nwanyị tụdara nkume igwe nri nʼisi ya, nke tiwara okpokoro isi ya.
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.
Ngwangwa, Abimelek kpọrọ onye na-ebu ihe agha ya sị ya, “Sepụta mma agha gị jiri ya gbuo m, ka ndị mmadụ ghara ị sị banyere m, ‘Ọ bụ nwanyị gburu ya.’” Ya mere nwokorobịa ahụ were mma agha ya dụgbuo ya, ọ nwụkwara.
55 And when the Israelites saw that Abimelech was dead, they all went home.
Mgbe ndị Izrel hụrụ na Abimelek anwụọla, ha niile lara nʼụlọ ha.
56 In this way God repaid the wickedness that Abimelech had done to his father in murdering his seventy brothers.
Otu a ka Chineke si kwụghachi Abimelek ihe ọjọọ o mere megide nna ya site nʼigbu iri ụmụnna ya asaa.
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.
Chineke mekwara ka ndị Shekem nata ụgwọ ọrụ ihe ọjọọ ha. Ọbụbụ ọnụ Jotam nwa Jerub-Baal mezukwara nʼisi ha.
