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:
Abimelek wuod Jerub-Baal nodhi ir owete gi min-gi man Shekem mowuoyo gi owete gi min-gi kod jo-dhood gi min mare duto, kowachonegi niya,
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.”
“Penj jo-Shekem duto ni, ‘Ere gima ber: bedo gi yawuot Jerub-Baal piero abiriyo kaka jotendu, koso bedo e bwo loch ngʼato achiel?’ Ngʼeuru malongʼo ni an rembu.”
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.”
Kane owetene owachone jo-Shekem wechegi duto, to negiramo ni koro nyaka gilu Abimelek, nimar negiwacho niya, “En owadwa.”
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.
Negimiye shekel piero abiriyo mag fedha koa e hekalu mar Baal-Berith, mi Abimelek ongʼiewogo jomoko macheje kod jo-mahundu mane oluwe.
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.
Nodhi e dala wuon mare man Ofra kendo nonego owetene piero abiriyo, ma gin yawuot Jerub-Baal ewi lwanda achiel. To Jotham, ma wuod Jerub-Baal ma chogo, nopondo motony.
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.
Bangʼe jo-Shekem kod Beth Milo nochokore e bath yien maduongʼ mantie ewi Shekem mondo oket Abimelek kaka ruoth.
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.
Kane onyis Jotham wachni, nodhi ewi Got Gerizim kendo nokok kowachonegi niya, “Winjauru, un jo-Shekem, mondo omi Nyasaye owinju.
8 The trees went to anoint a king over themselves. And they said to the olive tree, ‘Reign over us.’
Chiengʼ moro achiel yiende nowuok mondo oyier ruodhgi. Negiwachone yadh zeituni ni, ‘Bed ruodhwa.’
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?’
“To yadh zeituni nodwoko niya, ‘Ere kaka dawe mo miyudo kuom olembena kendo mitiyogo kuom miyo nyiseche kod ji duongʼ mondo abed ruodhu?’
10 And the trees said to the fig tree, ‘Come and accept royal power over us.’
“Bangʼ mano, yiende nowachone ngʼowu ni, ‘Bi mondo ibed ruodhwa.’
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?’
“To ngʼowu nodwoko ni, ‘Ere kaka dawe olembena mabeyo kendo mamit mondo abed ruodh yiende?’
12 And the trees said to the vine, ‘Come and reign over us.’
“Eka yiende nowachone mzabibu ni, ‘Bi mondo ibed ruodhwa.’
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?’
“To mzabibu nodwoko ni, ‘Ere kaka dawe divai mara mamiyo nyiseche kod ji mor mondo abed ruodh yiende?’
14 And all the trees said to the bramble, ‘Come and reign over us.’
“Mogik yiende duto nowachone kudho ni, ‘Bi mondo ibed ruodhwa.’
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.’”
“Kudho nowachone yiende ni, ‘Ka adiera udwaro keta ruoth, to biuru kendo upond e tipona; ka ok kamano, to we mach owuog oa e kudho kendo owangʼ sida mag Lebanon!’
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,
“Ka uparo ni usetimo gima kare kendo mowinjore kuom keto Abimelek ruoth, bende ni usetimo maber ne Jerub-Baal kod joode, kendo usetimone gima romre gi timne,
17 and who gave his life to dangers, so that he might rescue you from the hand of Midian,
ka uparo kaka wuonwa nokedonu, kochiwo ngimane mondo oresu e lwet jo-Midian;
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,
to kawuononi osengʼanyo ni jood wuora, munego yawuote piero abiriyo ewi lwanda achiel, kendo uketo Abimelek, mane wuod jatichne ma nyako mobedo ruoth ewi jo-Shekem nikech en owadu.
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.
Ka uparo ni kawuononi usetimo gima kare kendo mowinjore ni Jerub-Baal kod joode, to mad Abimelek bed mamor kodu kendo un bende ubed mamor kode!
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.”
To ka ok utimo kamano, to mad mach wuog kuom Abimelek mi wangʼu duto, un jo-Shekem kod Beth Milo, kendo mach mondo owuog kuomu mi owangʼ Abimelek!”
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.
Eka Jotham noringo odhi Beer, kendo nodak kanyo nikech noluoro Abimelek owadgi.
22 And so Abimelech reigned over Israel for three years.
Kane Abimelek osebedo ruodh Israel kuom higni adek,
23 And the Lord put a very grievous spirit between Abimelech and the inhabitants of Shechem, who began to detest him,
Nyasaye noketo chuny marach e kind Abimelek kod jo-Shekem mi gidhawo kode kendo gingʼanyone.
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.
Nyasaye notimo ma mondo mahundu mane otimne yawuot Jerub-Baal piero abiriyo, kichwero rembgi, mondo ochul ewi Abimelek owadgi kendo ewi jo-Shekem, mane okonye nego owetene.
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.
Kuom mano, jo-Shekem noketo ji ewi gode mondo omonje kendo omaa ngʼato angʼata mane okalo machiegni, kendo wachni noterne Abimelek.
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,
Koro noyudo ka Gaal wuod Ebed nodar gi owetene odhi Shekem, kendo jopinyno noketo yie margi kuome.
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.
Bangʼ kane gisedhi e puothe kendo gipono mzabibu mi gikelogi kuonde bicho, negitimo nyasi e hekalu mar nyasachgi. E sa mane gichiemo kendo metho, ne gikwongʼo Abimelek.
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?
Eka Gaal wuod Ebed nowacho niya, “Abimelek to en ngʼa, kendo Shekem bende en ngʼa, manyaka wabed e bwo lochne? Donge en wuod Jerub-Baal, to jalupne donge en Zebul? Tiuru ne jo-Hamor, ma wuon Shekem! Koro ere gima omiyo dwatine Abimelek?
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.”
Ka dine gibed e bwo lochna, to dine atieke, kendo dine awachone Abimelek ni, ‘Kel jolwenji duto mondo akedgo!’”
30 For Zebul, the ruler of the city, upon hearing the words of Gaal, the son of Ebed, became very angry.
Kane Zebul ma jatend dala maduongʼno nowinjo gima Gaal wuod Ebed owacho, iye nowangʼ ahinya.
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.
Nooro joote ir Abimelek, mowacho niya, “Gaal wuod Ebed kod owetena osebiro Shekem kendo gidwaro mondo dala maduongʼ omonji.
32 And so, rise up in the night, with the people who are with you, and lie hidden in the field.
Omiyo koro kaw jogi gotieno mondo upond e bungu kuritogi.
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.”
Ka chiengʼ wuok gokinyi, to suduru machiegni gi dala maduongʼ, mondo ka Gaal gi joge wuok e dala maduongʼ mondo omonju, to timnegiuru gimoro amora ma unyalo timo.”
34 And so Abimelech rose up, with all his army, by night, and he set ambushes near Shechem in four places.
Omiyo Abimelek kod jolweny mage duto nowuok gotieno, ne gipogore e migepe angʼwen mi gibuto mondo gimonj Shekem.
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.
Koro Gaal wuod Ebed nowuok oko kendo negichungʼ e dhoranga dala maduongʼ mana sa ma Abimelek gi jolweny mage nowuok e kuondegi mane giponde.
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.”
Kane Gaal onenogi, nowachone Zebul niya, “Ne joma biro koa ewi gode!” Zebul nodwoko niya, “Tipo mag gode ema bwogi ni ji.”
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.”
To Gaal nowachone kendo niya, “Ne joma biro koa e dier piny, kendo oganda maduongʼ biro koa yo koma opidhie yadh ajwoga.”
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.”
Eka Zebul nowachone niya, “Ere thoro wach maru koro, un mane uwacho ni, ‘Abimelek en ngʼa manyaka wabed mana e bwo lochne?’ Donge magi e joma ne ichayo? Koro wuoguru mondo uked kodgi!”
39 Therefore, Gaal went out, with the people of Shechem watching, and he fought against Abimelech,
Omiyo Gaal notelo ne jo-Shekem kendo mi gikedo gi Abimelek.
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.
Abimelek nolawe, kendo ji mane ohinyore kanyo ne ngʼeny mochopo nyaka e dhorangach.
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.
Abimelek nodongʼ Aruma, kendo Zebul noriembo Gaal kod owetene oko mar Shekem.
42 Therefore, on the following day, the people departed into the field. And when this had been reported to Abimelech,
Kinyne jo-Shekem nowuok oko kama oyangore kendo ne gikone Abimelek wachni.
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,
Omiyo nogolo joge, mi opogogi e migepe adek kendo nochako kedo kodgi. Kane oneno ji ka wuok e dala maduongʼ, ne owuok mondo oked kodgi.
44 along with his own company, assaulting and besieging the city. But the two other companies pursued the enemies scattered in the field.
Abimelek kod kanyakla mane ni kode noreto kochiko kamoro e dhoranga dala maduongʼ. Eka migepe ariyo noreto odhi ir ji duto mane ni e pewe mine ginegogi duto.
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.
Odiechiengno duto Abimelek nokedo matek gi dala maduongʼ manyaka okawe kendo onego joma nodak e iye. Eka noketho dalano kendo nokworo chumbi kuome duto.
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.
Kane ji owinjo wachno, joma nodak kama oger motingʼore gi malo mar Shekem nodhi kama oger motegno mar hekalu mar El-Berith.
47 Abimelech, also hearing that the men of the tower of Shechem had joined together,
Kane Abimelek owinjo nine gisechokore kanyo,
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.”
en kaachiel gi joge duto negidhi e Got Zalmon. Abimelek nokawo le mi otongʼogo bad yath moro, mi notingʼe e goke. Nochiwo chik ne joma nenikode niya, “Uneno gima atimoni! Timuru kamano piyo!”
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.
Omiyo jogo duto notongʼo bede yath mi giluwo bangʼ Abimelek. Negichano yiendego e kor ot mar hekaluno gi oko eka ne gimoko mach kuom ji ei dalano. Omiyo ji duto mane nitiere kama oger motingʼore gi malo mar Shekem notho, chwo kod mon madirom ji alufu achiel.
50 Then Abimelech, setting out from there, arrived at the town of Thebez, which he surrounded and besieged with his army.
Bangʼ mano, Abimelek nodhi Thebez mine olwore kendo omonje.
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.
Kata kamano, ei dala maduongʼno, ne nitie kama oger motegno motingʼore gi malo, kendo ji duto, chwo gi mon nodhi mopondo kanyo. Ne gilorore e iye mi giidho ewi kama oger motegnono.
52 And Abimelech, drawing near the tower, fought valiantly. And approaching the gate, he strove to set it on fire.
Abimelek nodhi e kama oger motegnono mondo omi omonje. To kane ochopo machiegni gi dhoranga kama oger motegnono mondo omokie mach,
53 And behold, one woman, throwing a fragment of a millstone from above, struck the head of Abimelech, and broke his skull.
to dhako moro nolwaro kidi maduongʼ mar nyapongʼ ewi Abimelek mi obarore.
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.
Noluongo jatingʼne gik lweny mapiyo mowachone niya, “Wuodh liganglani kendo inega, mondo kik giwach ni, ‘Dhako ema nonege.’” Omiyo jatichne nowuodho ligangla mochwowego kendo otho.
55 And when he was dead, all those of Israel who were with him returned to their homes.
Kane jo-Israel oneno ka Abimelek otho, ne giwuok mi gidok e miechgi.
56 And so did God repay the evil that Abimelech had done against his father by killing his seventy brothers.
Omiyo Nyasaye nokumo Abimelek kuom timbe mamono mane otimo ne wuon mare kuom nego owetene piero abiriyo.
57 The Shechemites also were given retribution for what they had done, and the curse of Jotham, the son of Jerubbaal, fell upon them.
Nyasaye nokumo bende jo-Shekem kuom timbegi mamono. Kwongʼ mane Jotham wuod Jerub-Baal okwongʼogigo nochopo kare.
