Judges 9
1 Now Abimelech, the son of Jerubbaal, went to Shechem, to his maternal brothers, and he spoke to them, and to all the relatives of the house of his maternal grandfather, saying:
Abimeleki mwana wa Yeru-Baala anapita ku Sekemu kwa abale a amayi ake ndi kukawawuza iwowo ndi fuko lonse la banja la abambo a amayi ake kuti,
2 “Speak to all the men of Shechem: Which is better for you: that seventy men, all the sons of Jerubbaal, should rule over you, or that one man should rule over you? And consider also that I am your bone and your flesh.”
“Funsani nzika zonse za ku Sekemu kuno, ‘Chabwino ndi chiyani kwa inu kuti ana onse makumi asanu ndi awiri a Yeru-Baala azikulamulirani, kapena kuti azikulamulirani ndi munthu mmodzi basi?’ Kumbukirani kuti ine ndine mʼbale wanu weniweni.”
3 And his maternal brothers spoke about him to all the men of Shechem, all these words, and they inclined their hearts after Abimelech, saying, “He is our brother.”
Abale a amayi akewo anamuyankhulira mawu amenewa kwa nzika zonse za ku Sekemu, ndipo mitima ya anthu onse inali pa Abimeleki chifukwa anati, “Uyu ndi mʼbale wathu,”
4 And they gave to him the weight of seventy silver coins from the shrine of Baal-berith. With this, he hired for himself indigent and wandering men, and they followed him.
Tsono anamupatsa ndalama zasiliva 70 za mʼnyumba ya chipembedzo ya Baala Beriti. Ndi ndalama zimenezi Abimeleki analemba anthu achabechabe ndi osasamala kuti azimutsatira.
5 And he went to his father’s house in Ophrah, and he killed his brothers, the sons of Jerubbaal, seventy men, upon one stone. And there remained only Joatham, the youngest son of Jerubbaal, and he was in hiding.
Anapita ku Ofiri ku mudzi kwa abambo ake ndipo anapha abale ake makumi asanu ndi awiri, ana a Yeru-Baala pa mwala umodzi. Koma Yotamu yemwe anali wamngʼono mwa onsewo anapulumuka chifukwa anabisala.
6 Then all the men of Shechem gathered together, and all the families of the city of Millo, and they went and appointed Abimelech as king, beside the oak that stood at Shechem.
Tsono nzika za ku Sekemu ndi za ku Beti-Milo zinapita kukasonkhana ku mtengo wa thundu pafupi ndi chipilala cha ku Sekemu kuti akalonge Abimeleki ufumu.
7 When this had been reported to Jotham, he went and stood at the top of Mount Gerizim. And lifting up his voice, he cried out and said: “Listen to me, men of Shechem, so that God may listen to you.
Yotamu atamva izi anapita kukayima pamwamba pa phiri la Gerizimu ndipo anafuwula nati, “Tandimverani inu anthu a ku Sekemu, kuti Mulungu akumvereninso.
8 The trees went to anoint a king over themselves. And they said to the olive tree, ‘Reign over us.’
Tsiku lina mitengo inapita kukadzoza mfumu yawo. Tsono mitengoyo inati kwa mtengo wa olivi, ‘Iwe ukhale mfumu yathu.’”
9 And it responded, ‘How could I abandon my fatness, which both gods and men make use of, and depart to be promoted among the trees?’
“Koma mtengo wa olivi uja unayankha kuti, ‘Kodi ndisiye mafuta angawa amene amalemekezera nawo milungu ndi anthu omwe, kuti ndizikalamulira mitengo?’”
10 And the trees said to the fig tree, ‘Come and accept royal power over us.’
Apo mitengo inawuza mtengo wa mkuyu kuti, “Bwera ndiwe ukhale mfumu yathu.”
11 And it responded to them, ‘How could I abandon my sweetness, and my very sweet fruits, and depart to be promoted among the other trees?’
Koma mtengo wa mkuyu unayankha kuti, “Kodi ndisiye chipatso changa chokoma ndi chozunachi kuti ndizikalamulira mitengo?”
12 And the trees said to the vine, ‘Come and reign over us.’
Kenaka mitengo ija inawuza mtengo wamphesa kuti, “Bwera ndiwe kuti ukhale mfumu yathu.”
13 And it responded to them, ‘How could I abandon my wine, which gives joy to God and men, and be promoted among the other trees?’
Koma mtengo wamphesa unayankha kuti, “Kodi ine ndisiye vinyo wangayu, amene amasangalatsa milungu ndi anthu omwe kuti ndizikalamulira mitengo?”
14 And all the trees said to the bramble, ‘Come and reign over us.’
Pomaliza mitengo yonse inawuza mkandankhuku kuti, “Bwera ndipo ukhale mfumu yathu.”
15 And it responded to them: ‘If truly you would appoint me as king, come and rest under my shadow. But if you are not willing, let fire go forth from the bramble, and let it devour the cedars of Lebanon.’”
Mkandankhuku uja unayankha kuti, “Ngati mukufunadi kuti mudzoze ine kuti ndikhale mfumu yanu, bwerani mudzabisale mu mthunzi mwangamu, koma ngati simutero, moto utuluka kwa ine ndi kupsereza mikungudza ya ku Lebanoni.”
16 So now, if you are upright and without sin in appointing Abimelech as a king over you, and if you have acted well with Jerubbaal, and with his house, and if you have repaid, in turn, the benefits of him who fought on your behalf,
Yotamu anatinso, “Kodi mukuti munaonetsadi kuona mtima ndi kukhulupirika podzoza Abimeleki kukhala mfumu? Kodi mukuti munachitira ulemu Yeru-Baala ndi banja lake poganizira ntchito zimene anachita?
17 and who gave his life to dangers, so that he might rescue you from the hand of Midian,
Kodi suja abambo anga anakumenyerani nkhondo ndi kuyika moyo wawo pa chiswe kuti akupulumutseni mʼmanja mwa Amidiyani?
18 though you now have risen up against my father’s house, and have killed his sons, seventy men, upon one stone, and have appointed Abimelech, the son of his handmaid, as a king over the inhabitants of Shechem, since he is your brother,
Koma lero inu mwawukira banja la abambo anga. Mwapha ana ake 70 pa mwala umodzi, ndiponso mwalonga ufumu Abimeleki, mwana wa mdzakazi wake kuti akhale wolamulira anthu a ku Sekemu chifukwa ndi mʼbale wanu.
19 if therefore you are upright and have acted without fault with Jerubbaal and his house, then you should rejoice on this day in Abimelech, and he should rejoice in you.
Tsono ngati mukuti zimene mwachitira Yeru-Baala ndi banja lake mwazichita moona mtima ndiponso mokhulupirika, ndiye mukondwere ndi Abimeleki, nayenso akondwere nanu!
20 But if you have acted perversely, may fire go forth from him and consume the inhabitants of Shechem and the town of Millo. And may fire go forth from the men of Shechem and from the town of Millo, and devour Abimelech.”
Koma ngati sichoncho moto utuluke mwa Abimeleki ndi kupsereza anthu a ku Sekemu ndi Beti-Milo, ndipo moto utulukenso mwa anthu a ku Sekemu ndi Beti-Milo, ndi kupsereza Abimeleki!”
21 And when he had said these things, he fled and went away to Beer. And he lived in that place, out of fear of Abimelech, his brother.
Kenaka Yotamu anathawira ku Beeri nakakhala komweko chifukwa ankaopa Abimeleki mʼbale wake.
22 And so Abimelech reigned over Israel for three years.
Abimeleki atalamulira Israeli zaka zitatu,
23 And the Lord put a very grievous spirit between Abimelech and the inhabitants of Shechem, who began to detest him,
Mulungu anayika chidani pakati pa Abimelekiyo ndi anthu a ku Sekemu, motero kuti anthu a ku Sekemu anawukira Abimeleki.
24 and to place blame for the crime of the killing of the seventy sons of Jerubbaal, and for the shedding of their blood, upon Abimelech, their brother, and upon the rest of the leaders of the Shechemites, who assisted him.
Mulungu anachita zimenezi kuti zoyipa zimene anachitira ana aamuna 70 a Yeru-Baala aja zimubwerere, ndi kuti magazi awo akhale pa Abimeleki mʼbale wawo ndi pa anthu a ku Sekemu amene anamulimbikitsa mtima kuti aphe abale akewo.
25 And they stationed an ambush against him at the summit of the mountains. And while they were waiting for his arrival, they committed robberies, taking spoils from those passing by. And this was reported to Abimelech.
Choncho anthu a ku Sekemu anayika anthu omubisalira pamwamba pa mapiri. Tsono iwo ankalanda anthu odutsa mʼnjira imeneyo zinthu zawo ndipo Abimeleki anamva zimenezi.
26 Now Gaal, the son of Ebed, went with his brothers, and crossed over to Shechem. And the inhabitants of Shechem, uplifted by his arrival,
Gaali mwana wa Ebedi anasamukira ku Sekemu ndi abale ake, ndipo anthu a ku Sekemuko anamukhulupirira iye.
27 departed into the fields, laying waste to the vineyards, and trampling the grapes. And while singing and dancing, they entered into the shrine of their god. And while feasting and drinking, they cursed Abimelech.
Anthuwo anapita ku munda kukathyola mphesa ndi kuzifinya, ndipo anachita chikondwerero mʼnyumba ya milungu yawo. Anthuwo akudya ndi kumwa, ankatemberera Abimeleki.
28 And Gaal, the son of Ebed, cried out: “Who is Abimelech, and what is Shechem, that we should serve him? Is he not the son of Jerubbaal, who has appointed Zebul, his servant, as ruler over the men of Hamor, the father of Shechem? Why then should we serve him?
Ndipo Gaali mwana wa Ebedi anati “Kodi Abimeleki ndi ndani, ndipo nʼchifukwa chiyani akutilamulira ife Asekemu? Kodi iyeyu si mwana wa Yeru-Baala ndipo womuthandiza wake si Zebuli? Tiyeni titumikire anthu a ku Hamori, kholo la fuko la Sekemu! Nanga nʼchifukwa chiyani tikutumikira Abimeleki?
29 I wish that someone would set this people under my hand, so that I might take away Abimelech from their midst.” And it was told to Abimelech, “Gather the multitude of an army, and approach.”
Anthu a mu mzindawo akanakhala pansi pa ulamuliro wanga, ndikanamuchotsa Abimelekiyu. Ndikanamuwuza Abimeleki kuti, ‘Wonjeza ankhondo ako ndipo ubwere tidzamenyane!’”
30 For Zebul, the ruler of the city, upon hearing the words of Gaal, the son of Ebed, became very angry.
Zebuli amene ankalamulira mzindawo atamva zimene Gaali mwana wa Ebadi ananena, anakwiya kwambiri.
31 And he sent messengers secretly to Abimelech, saying: “Behold, Gaal, the son of Ebed, has arrived at Shechem with his brothers, and he has set the city against you.
Anatumiza amithenga kwa Abimeleki, kukanena kuti, “Gaali mwana wa Ebedi ndi abale ake abwera ku Sekemu ndipo akuwutsa mitima ya anthu a mu mzindawo kuti akuwukireni inu.
32 And so, rise up in the night, with the people who are with you, and lie hidden in the field.
Nʼchifukwa chake usiku womwe uno inu ndi anthu anu mupite, mukabisale mʼminda.
33 And at first light in the morning, as the sun is rising, rush upon the city. And when he goes out against you, with his people, do to him what you are able to do.”
Mmawa dzuwa likutuluka, mudzuke ndi kukathira nkhondo mzindawo. Gaali ndi anthu amene ali naye akamadzabwera kuti alimbane ndi inu, inu mudzathane nawo monga mmene mungachitire.”
34 And so Abimelech rose up, with all his army, by night, and he set ambushes near Shechem in four places.
Choncho Abimeleki ndi ankhondo ake onse anadzuka usiku nakabisalira mzinda wa Sekemu mʼmagulu anayi.
35 And Gaal, the son of Ebed, went out, and he stood at the entrance to the gate of the city. Then Abimelech rose up, and all the army with him, from the places of the ambushes.
Gaali mwana wa Ebedi anatuluka nakayima pa khomo pa chipata cha mzinda pamene Abimeleki ndi ankhondo ake anatuluka ku malo kumene anabisala kuja.
36 And when Gaal had seen the people, he said to Zebul, “Behold, a multitude is descending from the mountains.” And he responded to him, “You are seeing the shadows of the mountains, as if they were the heads of men, and so you are being deceived by this error.”
Gaaliyo atawaona, anawuza Zebuli kuti, “Taona anthu akutsika kuchoka pamwamba pa mapiri.” Koma Zebuli anayankha kuti, “Zimene mukuonazo ndi zithunzi za mapiri chabe osati anthu.”
37 Again, Gaal said, “Behold, a people is descending from the middle of the land, and one company is arriving by the way that looks towards the oak.”
Koma Gaaliyo anayankhulanso kuti, “Taona anthu akutsika kuchokera pakati pa phiri, ndipo gulu lina likubwera kuchokera ku mtengo wa thundu wa owombeza mawula.”
38 And Zebul said to him: “Where is your mouth now, with which you said, ‘Who is Abimelech that we should serve him?’ Is this not the people that you were despising? Go out and fight against him.”
Ndipo Zebuli anamufunsa iye kuti, “Pakamwa pako paja pali kuti tsopano, iwe amene umanena kuti, Abimeleki ndaninso kuti ife timutumikire? Kodi amenewa si anthu aja umawanyozawa? Tsopano tuluka ukamenyane nawo.”
39 Therefore, Gaal went out, with the people of Shechem watching, and he fought against Abimelech,
Choncho Gaaliyo anatuluka akutsogolera anthu a ku Sekemu kukamenyana ndi Abimeleki.
40 who pursued him, fleeing, and drove him into the city. And many were cut down on his side, even to the gate of the city.
Koma Abimeleki anamuthamangitsa ndipo Gaala anathawa. Ambiri a ankhondo ake anagwa napwetekeka njira yonse mpaka ku chipata cha mzinda.
41 And Abimelech made camp at Arumah. But Zebul expelled Gaal and his companions from the city, and he would not permit them to remain in it.
Abimeleki anakhala ku Aruma, ndipo Zebuli anathamangitsa Gaali pamodzi ndi abale ake, kuwatulutsa mu Sekemu.
42 Therefore, on the following day, the people departed into the field. And when this had been reported to Abimelech,
Mmawa mwake anthu a ku Sekemu anapangana zopita ku minda, ndipo Abimeleki anamva zimenezi.
43 he took his army, and divided it into three companies, and he placed ambushes in the fields. And seeing that the people had departed from the city, he rose up and rushed upon them,
Tsono Abimeleki anatenga anthu ake, nawagawa magulu atatu ndi kukabisala mʼminda. Ataona anthu akutuluka mu mzindawo, iye anapita kukalimbana nawo ndipo onsewo anawapha.
44 along with his own company, assaulting and besieging the city. But the two other companies pursued the enemies scattered in the field.
Abimeleki pamodzi ndi magulu ake anathamangira kutsogolo nakawakhalira pa chipata cha mzinda. Ndipo magulu awiri ena aja anathamangira anthu amene anali mʼminda ndi kuwapha onse.
45 Now Abimelech assaulted the city all that day. And he seized it, and he killed its inhabitants, and he destroyed it, so much so that he scattered salt in it.
Abimeleki anawuthira nkhondo mzindawo tsiku lonse. Kenaka anawulanda ndi kupha nzika zonse za mu mzindamo. Anawuwonongeratu mzindawo nawuwaza mchere.
46 And when those living in the tower of Shechem had heard about this, they entered the temple of their god, Berith, where they had formed a covenant with him. And it was because of this, that the place had taken its name. And it was greatly fortified.
Anthu a mu nsanja ya Sekemu atamva zimenezi, anakalowa mu linga la nyumba yopembedzeramo Baala-Beriti.
47 Abimelech, also hearing that the men of the tower of Shechem had joined together,
Abimeleki anamva kuti anthu ena asonkhana kumeneko.
48 ascended to mount Zalmon, with all his people. And taking an axe, he cut down the branch of a tree. And laying it on his shoulder, and carrying it, he said to his companions, “What you see me do, you must do quickly.”
Choncho Abimeleki pamodzi ndi anthu ake onse anapita ku phiri la Zalimoni. Kumeneko anatenga nkhwangwa nadula nthambi za mitengo. Ananyamula nthambi zija pa phewa pake. Tsono anawuza anthu aja kuti, “Zimene mwaona ine ndikuchita, inunso mufulumire kuchita monga ndachitiramu.”
49 And so, eagerly cutting down branches from the trees, they followed their leader. And surrounding the fortified place, they set it on fire. And so it happened that, by smoke and fire, one thousand persons died, men and women together, the occupants of the tower of Shechem.
Tsono aliyense anadula nthambi zake, natsatira Abimeleki. Anakawunjika nthambi zija pa linga paja, kenaka ndi kuliyatsa moto. Choncho anthu onse a ku nsanja ya Sekemu anafa. Analipo anthu pafupifupi 1,000, amuna ndi akazi.
50 Then Abimelech, setting out from there, arrived at the town of Thebez, which he surrounded and besieged with his army.
Kenaka Abimeleki anapita ku Tebezi. Anakawuzungulira mzindawo ndi kuwulanda.
51 Now there was, in the midst of the city, a high tower, to which men and women were fleeing together, with all the leaders of the city. And, having very strongly sealed the gate, they were standing on the roof of the tower to defend themselves.
Koma mu mzindamo munali nsanja yolimba. Anthu onse a mu mzindamo amuna ndi akazi anathawira mu nsanjayo, nadzitsekera mʼkati. Ndipo anakwera ku denga la nsanjayo.
52 And Abimelech, drawing near the tower, fought valiantly. And approaching the gate, he strove to set it on fire.
Abimeleki anapita ku nsanjayo nathira nkhondo. Anafika pafupi ndi chitseko cha nsanja ija kuti ayitenthe.
53 And behold, one woman, throwing a fragment of a millstone from above, struck the head of Abimelech, and broke his skull.
Koma mkazi wina anaponya mwala wa mphero pa mutu wa Abimeleki ndi kuswa chibade cha mutuwo.
54 And he quickly called to his armor bearer, and said to him, “Draw your sword and strike me, otherwise it may be said that I was slain by a woman.” And, doing as he was ordered, he killed him.
Mwamsanga Abimeleki anayitana mnyamata womunyamulira zida za nkhondo namuwuza kuti, “Solola lupanga lako undiphe kuti anthu asadzanene kuti, ‘Mkazi ndiye anamupha.’” Choncho wantchito wake anamubayadi mpaka kutulukira kunja lupangalo ndipo anafa.
55 And when he was dead, all those of Israel who were with him returned to their homes.
Aisraeli ataona kuti Abimeleki wafa, anapita kwawo.
56 And so did God repay the evil that Abimelech had done against his father by killing his seventy brothers.
Mmenemu ndi mmene Mulungu analipsirira tchimo la Abimeleki limene anachitira abambo ake pakupha abale ake 70 aja.
57 The Shechemites also were given retribution for what they had done, and the curse of Jotham, the son of Jerubbaal, fell upon them.
Mulungu anawalanganso anthu a ku Sekemu chifukwa cha kuyipa kwawo konse. Ndipo matemberero a Yotamu mwana wa Yeru-Baala anawagweradi.
