Judges 9
1 And Abimelech the son of Jerobaal went to Sichem to his mother’s brethren and spoke to them, and to all the kindred of his mother’s father, 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 Sichem: whether is better for you that seventy men all the sons of Jerobaal should rule over you, or that one man should rule over you? And withal consider 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 mother’s brethren spoke of him to all the men of Sichem, 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 him seventy weight of silver out of the temple of Baalberith: wherewith he hired to himself men that were needy, and vagabonds, 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 came to his father’s house in Ephra, and slew his brethren the sons of Jerobaal, seventy men, upon one stone: and there remained only Joatham the youngest son of Jerobaal, who was hidden.
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 And all the men of Sichem were gathered together, and all the families of the city of Mello: and they went and made Abimelech king, by the oak that stood in Sichem.
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 This being told to Joatham, he went and stood on the top of mount Garizim: and lifting up his voice, he cried, and said: Hear me, ye men of Sichem, so may God hear 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 them: and they said to the olive tree: Reign thou over us.
Tsiku lina mitengo inapita kukadzoza mfumu yawo. Tsono mitengoyo inati kwa mtengo wa olivi, ‘Iwe ukhale mfumu yathu.’”
9 And it answered: Can I leave my fatness, which both gods and men make use of, to come 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 thou and reign over us.
Apo mitengo inawuza mtengo wa mkuyu kuti, “Bwera ndiwe ukhale mfumu yathu.”
11 And it answered them: Can I leave my sweetness, and my delicious fruits, and go 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 thou and reign over us.
Kenaka mitengo ija inawuza mtengo wamphesa kuti, “Bwera ndiwe kuti ukhale mfumu yathu.”
13 And it answered them: Can I forsake my wine, that cheereth 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 thou and reign over us.
Pomaliza mitengo yonse inawuza mkandankhuku kuti, “Bwera ndipo ukhale mfumu yathu.”
15 And it answered them: If indeed you mean to make me king, come ye and rest under my shadow: but if you mean it not, let fire come out from the bramble, and devour the cedars of Libanus.
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 Now therefore if you have done well, and without sin in appointing Abimelech king over you, and have dealt well with Jerobaal, and with his house, and have made a suitable return for the benefits of him, who fought for you,
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 exposed his life to dangers, to deliver you from the hands of Madian,
Kodi suja abambo anga anakumenyerani nkhondo ndi kuyika moyo wawo pa chiswe kuti akupulumutseni mʼmanja mwa Amidiyani?
18 And you are now risen up against my father’s house, and have killed his sons seventy men upon one stone, and have made Abimelech the son of his handmaid king over the inhabitants of Sichem, because 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 have dealt well, and without fault with Jerobaal, and his house, rejoice ye this day in Abimelech, and may he 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 unjustly: let fire come out from him, and consume the inhabitants of Sichem, and the town of Mello: and let fire come out from the men of Sichem, and from the town of Mello, 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 thus he fled, and went into Bera: and dwelt there for fear of Abimelech his brother.
Kenaka Yotamu anathawira ku Beeri nakakhala komweko chifukwa ankaopa Abimeleki mʼbale wake.
22 So Abimelech reigned over Israel for three years.
Abimeleki atalamulira Israeli zaka zitatu,
23 And the Lord sent a very evil spirit between Abimelech and the inhabitants of Sichem: 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 leave the crime of the murder of the seventy sons of Jerobaal, and the shedding of their blood upon Abimelech their brother, and upon the rest of the princes of the Sichemites, who aided 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 set an ambush against him on the top of the mountains: and while they waited for his coming, they committed robberies, taking spoils of all that passed by: and it was told 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 And Gaal the son of Obed came with his brethren, and went over to Sichem. And the inhabitants of Sichem taking courage at his coming,
Gaali mwana wa Ebedi anasamukira ku Sekemu ndi abale ake, ndipo anthu a ku Sekemuko anamukhulupirira iye.
27 Went out into the fields, wasting the vineyards, and treading down the grapes: and singing and dancing they went into the temple of their god, and in their banquets and cups 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 Obed cried: Who is Abimelech, and what is Sichem, that we should serve him? Is he not the son of Jerobaal, and hath made Zebul his servant ruler over the men of Emor the father of Sichem? Why then shall 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 Would to God that some man would put this people under my hand, that I might remove Abimelech out of the way. And it was said to Abimelech: Gather together the multitude of an army, and come.
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, hearing the words of Gaal, the son of Obed, was very angry,
Zebuli amene ankalamulira mzindawo atamva zimene Gaali mwana wa Ebadi ananena, anakwiya kwambiri.
31 And sent messengers privately to Abimelech, saying: Behold Gaal the son of Obed is come into Sichem with his brethren, and endeavoureth to set the city against thee.
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 Arise therefore in the night with the people that is with thee and he hid in the field:
Nʼchifukwa chake usiku womwe uno inu ndi anthu anu mupite, mukabisale mʼminda.
33 And betimes in the morning at sun rising set upon the city. And when he shall come out against thee with his people, do to him what thou shalt be able.
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 Abimelech therefore arose with all his army by night, and laid ambushes near Sichem in four places.
Choncho Abimeleki ndi ankhondo ake onse anadzuka usiku nakabisalira mzinda wa Sekemu mʼmagulu anayi.
35 And Gaal the son of Obed went out, and stood in the entrance of the gate of the city. And Abimelech rose up, and all his 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 saw the people, he said to Zebul: Behold a multitude cometh down from the mountains. And he answered him: Thou seest the shadows of the mountains as if they were the heads of men, and this is thy mistake.
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 there cometh people down from the middle of the land, and one troop cometh by the way that looketh 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 now thy mouth wherewith thou saidst? Who is Abimelech that we should serve him? Is not this the people which thou didst despise? 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 So Gaal went out in the sight of the people of Sichem, and fought against Abimelech,
Choncho Gaaliyo anatuluka akutsogolera anthu a ku Sekemu kukamenyana ndi Abimeleki.
40 Who chased and put him to flight, and drove him to the city: and many were slain of his people, 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 sat down in Ruma: but Zebul drove Gaal, and his companions out of the city, and would not suffer them to abide in it.
Abimeleki anakhala ku Aruma, ndipo Zebuli anathamangitsa Gaali pamodzi ndi abale ake, kuwatulutsa mu Sekemu.
42 So the day following the people went out into the field. And it was told Abimelech.
Mmawa mwake anthu a ku Sekemu anapangana zopita ku minda, ndipo Abimeleki anamva zimenezi.
43 And he took his army, and divided it into three companies, and laid ambushes in the fields. And seeing that the people came out of the city, he arose and set 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 With his own company, assaulting and besieging the city: whilst the two other companies chased the enemies that were scattered about 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 And Abimelech assaulted the city all that day: and took it, and killed the inhabitants thereof, and demolished it, so that he sowed 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 they who dwelt in the tower of Sichem had heard this, they went into the temple of their god Berith where they had made a covenant with him, and from thence the place had taken its name, and it was exceeding strong.
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 Sichem were gathered together,
Abimeleki anamva kuti anthu ena asonkhana kumeneko.
48 Went up into mount Selmon he and all his people with him: and taking an axe, he cut down the bough of a tree, and laying it on his shoulder and carrying it, he said to his companions: What you see me do, do you out of hand.
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 So they cut down boughs from the trees, every man as fast as he could, and followed their leader. And surrounding the fort they set it on fire: and so it came to pass that with the smoke and with the fire a thousand persons were killed, men and women together, of the inhabitants of the tower of Sichem.
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 departing from thence came to the town of Thebes, which he surrounded and besieged with his army.
Kenaka Abimeleki anapita ku Tebezi. Anakawuzungulira mzindawo ndi kuwulanda.
51 And there was in the midst of the city a high tower, to which both the men and the women were fled together, and all the princes of the city, and having shut and strongly barred the gate, they stood upon the battlements 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 coming near the tower, fought stoutly: and approaching to the gate, endeavoured to set fire to it:
Abimeleki anapita ku nsanjayo nathira nkhondo. Anafika pafupi ndi chitseko cha nsanja ija kuti ayitenthe.
53 And behold a certain woman casting a piece of a millstone from above, dashed it against 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 called hastily to his armourbearer, and said to him: Draw thy sword, and kill me: lest it should be said that I was slain by a woman. He did as he was commanded, and slew 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 the men of Israel that were with him, returned to their homes.
Aisraeli ataona kuti Abimeleki wafa, anapita kwawo.
56 And God repaid the evil, that Abimelech had done against his father, killing his seventy brethren.
Mmenemu ndi mmene Mulungu analipsirira tchimo la Abimeleki limene anachitira abambo ake pakupha abale ake 70 aja.
57 The Sichemites also were rewarded for what they had done, and the curse of Joatham the son of Jerobaal came upon them.
Mulungu anawalanganso anthu a ku Sekemu chifukwa cha kuyipa kwawo konse. Ndipo matemberero a Yotamu mwana wa Yeru-Baala anawagweradi.
