Judges 9
1 Abimelech, son of Jerub-baal, went to his mother's brothers at Shechem and told them and all his mother's relatives,
Jerubbaal capa Abimelek te a nupu rhoek taengah Shekhem la cet tih amih te khaw, a manu kah a napa imkhui cako boeih te a voek.
2 “Please ask all the leaders of Shechem, ‘What's best for you? That seventy men, all of them Jerub-baal's sons, rule over you—or just one man?’ Remember I'm your own flesh and blood!”
Shekhem boei boeih kah a hna dongah khaw, “Jerubbaal ca rhoek hlang sawmrhih boeih loh nangmih soah a ngol ham neh hlang pakhat bueng loh nangmih soah a ngol ham te nangmih ham melae aka then bet eh? Te dongah kai khaw na rhuh na saa van ni tite poek uh,” a ti nah.
3 His mother's brothers shared his proposal with all the leaders of Shechem, and they decided to follow Abimelech, because they said, “He is our relative.”
Te olka boeih te Shekhem boei rhoek boeih kah hna dongah tah, “Anih kah a nupu pai ni,” a ti uh tih, “Anih te mah manuca ni,” a ti uh dongah Abimelek taengla a lungbuei boeih hooi uh.
4 They gave him seventy shekels of silver from the temple of Baal-berith. Abimelech used the money to hire some arrogant troublemakers as his gang.
Te dongah Baalberith im lamkah tangka sawmrhih te anih a paek uh. Te nen te Abimelek loh hlang hoeng rhoek neh aka soetae rhoek te a paang tih a hnukah bang uh.
5 He went to his father's house in Ophrah, and on one stone killed his seventy half-brothers, the sons of Jerub-baal. But Jotham, Jerub-baal's youngest son, escaped by going into hiding.
Ophrah kah a napa im la a pawk vaengah a manuca rhoek, Jerubbaal ca rhoek hlang sawmrhih te lungto pakhat dongah rhenten a ngawn. Tedae Jerubbaal capa a poeih Jotham tah thuh uh tih sueng.
6 Then the leaders of Shechem and Beth-millo all assembled by the oak at the pillar in Shechem and made Abimelech their king.
Shekhem boei rhoek boeih neh Bethmillo boeih loh a tingtun uh phoeiah cet uh tih Abimelek te Shekhem kah aka pai thingnu kaepah manghai la a manghai sak uh.
7 When Jotham got to hear this, he went up to the top of Mount Gerizim, and shouted in a loud voice: “Listen to me, leaders of Shechem, and God may to listen to you!
Tedae Jotham taengla a puen pa uh vaengah tah Gerizim tlang som la luei tih pai. Te phoeiah a ol a huel tih a pang doela, “Shekhem boei rhoek ka ol he hnatun uh lah. Te daengah ni Pathen loh nangmih ol te a hnatun eh.
8 Once upon a time the trees were determined to anoint a king to rule over them. They said to the olive tree, ‘You shall be our king.’
Thing rhoek loh a manghai situi koelh ham cet cet uh tih olive taengah, ‘Kaimih soah manghai khaw manghai mai laeh he,’ a ti na uh.
9 But the olive tree replied, ‘Should I stop giving my rich oil that benefits both gods and men just to go and sway to and fro over the trees?’
Tedae amih te olive loh, ‘Pathen neh hlang aka thangpom ka maehhloi he ka toeng mai vetih thing rhoek soah vikvuek ham ka cet aya?’ a ti nah.
10 Then the trees asked the fig tree, ‘You come and be our king.’
Thing rhoek loh thaibu taengah khaw, ‘Namah halo lamtah kaimih soah manghai mai laeh,’ a ti na uh.
11 But the fig tree replied, ‘Should I stop giving my good sweet fruit just to go and sway to and fro over the trees?’
Tedae amih te thaibu loh, ‘Ka didip neh ka thaih then he ka toeng mai vetih thing rhoek soah vikvuek ham ka cet aya?’ a ti nah.
12 Then the trees asked the grape vine, ‘You come and be our king.’
Misur taengah khaw thing rhoek loh, ‘Nang halo lamtah kaimih soah manghai khaw manghai mai laeh,’ a ti na uh.
13 But the grape vine replied, ‘Should I stop giving my wine that makes both gods and men happy just to go and sway to and fro over the trees?’
Tedae amih te misur loh, ‘Pathen neh hlang ko aka hoe sak ka misur thai te ka toeng mai vetih thing rhoek soah vikvuek ham ka cet aya?’ a ti nah.
14 Then all the trees asked the thorn bush, ‘You come and be our king.’
Thing rhoek boeih long te tangkul taengla, ‘Nang halo lamtah kaimih soah manghai mai saw,’ a ti na uh.
15 The thorn bush replied to the trees, ‘If you're really sincere about anointing me as your king, come and find shelter in my shade. But if not, may fire flame out of the thorn bush and burn up the cedars of Lebanon!’
Tangkul long tah thing rhoek taengah, ‘Na oltak nen ni nangmih sokah manghai la kai n'koelh uh van atah, halo uh lamtah ka hlipkhup ah ying uh. Te pawt koinih tangkul puep lamkah hmai puek vetih Lebanon lamphai khaw a hlawp ni,’ a ti nah.
16 Have you acted sincerely and honestly by making Abimelech your king? Have you been acted honorably to Jerub-baal and his family? Have you respected him for all that he accomplished?
“Tahae ah oltak neh a khangmai la na saii uh tih Abimelek te na manghai sak uh coeng atah Jerubbaal ham neh a imkhui ham hnothen nim na saii uh tih a taengah a kut neh aka tiing lam nim na saii uh.
17 Don't forget how my father fought for you and risked his own life to save you from the Midianites!
A pa loh nangmih ham a vathoh tih a hmai ah a hinglu a voeih dongah nangmih te Midian kut lamloh n'huul.
18 But you have rebelled against my father's family today. You have killed his seventy sons on one stone and have made Abimelech, the son of his slave woman, king over the leaders of Shechem simply because he's related to you.
Tedae nangmih loh tihnin ah a pa cako te na thoh thil uh tih a ca rhoek hlang sawmrhih te lungto pakhat dongah na ngawn uh. A salnu kah a ca Abimelek vik te na manuca na ti uh tih Shekhem boei rhoek soah na manghai sak uh.
19 Have you acted sincerely and honestly toward Jerub-baal and his family today? If so, may you be happy with Abimelech, and may he be happy with too!
Tihnin Jerubbaal taeng neh a cako taengah oltak neh a khangmai la na saii uh coeng atah Abimelek dongah kohoe uh lamtah anih khaw nangmih dongah a kohoe saeh.
20 But if you haven't, then may fire flame out from Abimelech, and may it burn up the leaders of Shechem and Beth-millo, and may fire flame out from the leaders of Shechem and Beth-millo and burn up Abimelech!”
Abimelek lamloh hmai puek tih Shekhem boei rhoek neh Bethmillo te a hlawp pawt atah Shekhem boei rhoek neh Bethmillo lamkah hmai aka puek loh Abimelek te hlawp saeh,” a ti nah.
21 Then Jotham escaped and ran away. He went to Beer and stayed there because of the threat of Abimelech his brother.
Te ah kho a sak te a maya Abimelek kah mikhmuh la a om dongah Jotham loh rhaelrham tih aka yong te Beer la pawk.
22 Abimelech ruled over Israel for three years.
Abimelek te Israel soah kum thum boei.
23 Then God sent an evil spirit to cause trouble between Abimelech and the leaders of Shechem. The leaders of Shechem betrayed Abimelech.
Tedae Pathen loh Abimelek laklo neh Shekhem boei rhoek kah laklo ah mueihla thae a tueih pah dongah Shekhem boei rhoek loh Abimelek te a hnukpoh thil uh.
24 This happened because of the murder of the seventy sons of Jerub-baal and that responsibility for their blood be placed on Abimelech their brother, who killed them, and on the leaders of Shechem, who provided the means to kill his brothers.
Te tah Jerubbaal ca rhoek hlang sawmrhih te kuthlahnah a khuen thil tih a aka ngawn a manuca Abimelek so neh a manuca rhoek ngawn sak ham a kut aka thoh Shekhem boei rhoek soah a thii phu a suk ham dongah ni.
25 The leaders of Shechem sent men to the hill passes to lie in wait and attack Abimelech, and, in the meantime, they robbed everyone who passed by on the road. Abimelech found out what was happening.
Abimelek te a moeh uh tih tlang som ah aka rhongngol Shekhem boei rhoek loh longpuei ah aka pongpa boeih te a rheth uh te Abimelek taengla a puen pah.
26 Gaal, son of Ebed, had moved to Shechem with his relatives, and he gained the loyalty of the leaders of Shechem.
Te vaengah Ebed capa Gaal neh a manuca rhoek tah ha pawk tih Shekhem la a kat uh hatah Shekhem boei rhoek loh anih dongah pangtung uh.
27 At harvest time they went out into the countryside and gathered the grapes from their vineyards and trod them. They celebrated by having a festival in the temple of their god, where they ate and drank, and cursed Abimelech.
Lo a pha uh vaengah misur a hoel uh tih a hoem uh dongah cangkoeinah a saii uh. Te phoeiah a pathen im la kun uh tih a caak a ok uh phoeiah Abimelek te a tap uh.
28 “Who is this Abimelech?” asked Gaal, son of Ebed. “And who is Shechem, that we should have to serve him? Isn't he the son of Jerub-baal, while Zebul is actually the one in charge? You should serve the family of Hamor, the father of Shechem. Why should we have to serve Abimelech?
Te vaengah Ebed capa Gaal loh, “Abimelek te unim, anih taengah thohtat ham khaw Shekhem te unim? Jerubbaal capa, a hlangtawt khaw Zebul moenih a? Shekhem napa Hamor hlang rhoek taengah thotat uh. Balae tih mamih loh anih taengah n'thotat uh eh?
29 If I was the one in charge of you people, I would dispose of Abimelech! I would tell him, ‘Get your army together, and come and fight!’”
Unim mah, pilnam he ka kut dongah han tloeng atah Abimelek ngawn tah ka rhoe vetih Abimelek te, ‘Na caempuei khaw kuk lamtah ha mop lah,’ ka ti bitni,” a ti nah.
30 When Zebul, the governor of the city, got to hear what Gaal was saying, he became very angry.
Ebed capa Gaal ol te khopuei mangpa Zebul loh a yaak vaengah a thintoek a sai pah.
31 He secretly sent messengers to Abimelech to tell him, “Look, Gaal, son of Ebed, and his relatives have arrived in Shechem, and they are stirring up the town to rebel against you.
Te dongah puencawn rhoek te Abimelek taengah a huep la a tueih tih, “Ebed capa Gaal neh a manuca rhoek loh Shekhem la ha pawk uh te, khopuei ah nang aka dum ham ni ke.
32 So come at night with your army and hide in the countryside.
Te dongah namah neh namah taengkah pilnam loh khoyin ah thoo uh lamtah lohma ah ana rhongngol uh laeh.
33 In the morning as soon as the sun comes up, go and attack the town. When Gaal and his men come out to fight you, you can do whatever you want to them.”
Mincang a pha tih khomik a cuk vaengah thoo uh lamtah khopuei te cuuk thil uh. Amah khaw, amah taengkah pilnam khaw nang taengla ha pawk vaengah na kut loh a tong sarhui bangla anih te saii uh,” a ti nah.
34 Abimelech left at night along with his army, and they separated into four companies that lay in wait near Shechem.
Te dongah Abimelek neh a taengkah pilnam pum te khoyin ah a thoh tih Shekhem ah than li la a rhongngol uh.
35 When Gaal, son of Ebed, went out and stood at the town's entrance gate, Abimelech and his army came out from where they had been hiding.
Te dongah Ebed capa Gaal te moe phai tih khopuei vongka kah thohka ah pai. Te vaengah Abimelek neh a pilnam te rhong lamkah ha thoo.
36 Gaal saw the army approaching and said to Zebul, “Look! Some people are coming down from the hilltops!” “That's just shadows made by the hills that look like men,” Zebul replied.
Pilnam te a hmuh vaengah Zebul te Gaal loh, “Pilnam loh tlang som lamkah ha suntla ke,” a ti nah. Tedae Zebul loh, “Nang khaw mah, tlang kah mueihlip maco hlang bangla na hmuh,” a ti nah.
37 “No really, people are coming down from the high ground,” Gaal repeated. “Plus, there's another company coming down the road that passes the diviners' oak tree.”
Tedae Gaal loh a thui te koep a khoep tih, “Khohmuen laklung khui lamloh pilnam suntla tih kutyaek thingnu longpuei lamloh rhoi at ha thoeng ke,” a ti nah.
38 “Where's your big mouth now? You're the one who said, ‘Who is this Abimelech, that we should have to serve him?’” Zebul told him. “Aren't these the people you detested? Go on then—go and fight with them!”
Te vaengah Zebul loh, “‘Anih taengah thohtat ham khaw Abimelek te unim,’ na ti vaengkah na ka te tahae atah melam a om, anih he a pilnam neh na sawtsit thil moenih a? Tahae ah paan to lamtah amah ke hnuei kanoek saw,” a ti nah.
39 So Gaal led the leaders of Shechem out of the town and fought with Abimelech.
Te dongah Gaal tah Shekhem boei rhoek kah mikhmuh la moe phai tih Abimelek te a hnueih.
40 Abimelech attacked, and chased him and his men as they ran away, killing many of them as they tried to get back to the town gate.
Tedae anih te Abimelek loh a hloem tanglai atah a mikhmuh lamloh rhaelrham tih vongka thohka due, hmalaem la muep cungku uh.
41 Abimelech went back to Arumah while Zebul expelled Gaal and his relatives from Shechem.
Abimelek te Arumah ah kho a sak ngawn dae Shekhem ah kho aka sa khui lamkah Gaal neh a manuca rhoek te Zebul loh vik a haek.
42 The following day the people of Shechem went out to the fields, and Abimelech was informed about it.
A vuen ah om tih pilnam te pong la a caeh ham vaeng daengah Abimelek taengla a puen pa uh.
43 He divided his army into three companies and had them lay in ambush in the fields. When he saw the people coming out of the city, he attacked and killed them.
Te dongah pilnam te a loh tih hlop thum la a boel phoeiah lohma ah a rhongngol sak. Te vaengah khopuei lamkah pilnam ha pawk te lawt a hmuh dongah amih te a pai thil tih a tloek.
44 Abimelech and his company raced to occupy the town's entrance gate, while the two companies raced to attack everyone in the fields and kill them.
Te vaengah Abimelek neh a rhoi rhoek te capit uh tih khopuei vongka kah thohka te a pai thil uh. Tedae rhoi nit long te lohma kah rhoek te boeih a capit thil uh tih a tloek uh.
45 The battle for the town lasted all day but eventually Abimelech captured it. He killed the people, demolished the town, and scattered salt over the ground.
Abimelek loh khohnin yung ah khopuei te a vathoh thil tih khopuei te a loh. A khuikah pilnam te khaw a ngawn tih khopuei te a palet phoeiah lungkaeh a phul thil.
46 When all the leaders of the tower of Shechem realized what had happened, they took refuge in the strongroom of the temple of El-berith.
Boei kuirhang boeih loh a yaak uh vaengah Elberith im kah hmuensang la ael uh.
47 When Abimelech found out that all the leaders in the tower of Shechem had gathered there,
Tedae boei kuirhang rhoek loh boeih a coi uh thae te Abimelek taengla a puen pa uh.
48 he and all the men with him went up Mount Zalmon. Abimelech grabbed hold of an ax and cut a branch from the trees. He lifted it onto his shoulder, and told his men, “Quick! You saw what I did. Do the same!”
Te dongah Abimelek loh a taengkah pilnam boeih te Zalmon tlang la a caeh puei. Te vaengah Abimelek loh a kut dongkah hai te a loh tih thing hlaeng a saih. Thing hlaeng te a thueng tih a laengpang dongah a khueh. Te phoeiah a taengkah pilnam te, “Ka saii he so uh lamtah kai bangla koe saii uh,” a ti nah.
49 Each of them cut down a branch and followed Abimelech. They placed the branches against the strongroom and set it on fire. So all the people who lived in the tower of Shechem died, around one thousand men and women.
Te dongah pilnam boeih long khaw thing hlaeng rhip a saih uh tih Abimelek hnuk a vai uh. Te phoeiah hmuensang te a hong thil uh tih hmuensang te hmai a hlup uh vaengah tah kuirhang huta tongpa hlang thawngkhat tluk boeih duek uh.
50 Then Abimelech went to attack Thebez and captured it.
Abimelek te Thebez la cet tih a rhaeh thil phoeiah Thebez te a loh.
51 But there was a strong tower inside the city. All the men and women and the town leaders ran there and barricaded themselves in, and then went up to the roof of the tower.
Tedae khopuei khui ah sarhi rhaltoengim pakhat om tih huta tongpa boeih neh khopuei kah boei boeih loh te lam te rhaelrham uh tih a hnuk te malh a buk phoeiah rhaltoengim kah imphu la luei uh.
52 Abimelech went up to the tower to attack it. But as he came close to the tower's entrance to set it on fire,
Te phoeiah rhaltoengim te Abimelek loh a paan tih a vathoh thil. Te dongah hmai neh hoeh hamla rhaltoengim kah thohka la thoeih.
53 a woman dropped millstone down on Abimelech's head and cracked his skull open.
Tedae Abimelek kah a lu te huta pakhat loh sumngol phaklung neh a dae pah tih a luhih a po pah.
54 He quickly called the young man who carried his weapons, and ordered him, “Draw your sword and kill me, so they won't say about me that a woman killed him.” So the young man drove his sword through him, and he died.
Te dongah a hnopai aka phuei camoe te koe a khue tih, “Na cunghang te bong lamtah kai he ng'ngawn to laeh, kai he, ‘Huta loh a ngawn,’ ti uh ve,” a ti nah. Te dongah a camoe long te a thun tih duek.
55 When the Israelites saw that Abimelech was dead, they all left and went home.
Israel hlang loh Abimelek a duek te a hmuh uh. Te phoeiah tah hlang loh amah hmuen la cet uh.
56 This is how God paid back Abimelech's crime against his father of murdering his seventy brothers.
Abimelek loh a napa taengah boethae a saii tih a manuca hlang sawmrhih a ngawn te Pathen loh a thuung pah.
57 He also repaid the people of Shechem for their evil, and the curse of Jotham, son of Jerub-baal, came down upon them.
Shekhem hlang kah boethae boeih te khaw amamih lu dongah Pathen loh a thuung pah tih Jerubbaal capa Jotham kah rhunkhuennah te khaw amih soah tla.
