< Judges 9 >

1 And Abimelech the son of Jerubbaal went to Shechem unto his mother's brethren, and spoke with them, and with all the family of the house 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, I pray you, in the ears of all the men of Shechem: Which is better for you, that all the sons of Jerubbaal, who are threescore and ten persons, rule over you, or that one rule over you? remember 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 mother's brethren spoke of him in the ears of all the men of Shechem all these words; and their hearts inclined to follow Abimelech; for they said: '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 threescore and ten pieces of silver out of the house of Baal-berith, wherewith Abimelech hired vain and light fellows, who 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 unto his father's house at Ophrah, and slew his brethren the sons of Jerubbaal, being threescore and ten persons, upon one stone; but Jotham the youngest son of Jerubbaal was left; for he hid himself.
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 Shechem assembled themselves together, and all Beth-millo, and went and made Abimelech king, by the terebinth of the pillar that was in 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 And when they told it to Jotham, he went and stood in the top of mount Gerizim, and lifted up his voice, and cried, and said unto them: 'Hearken unto me, ye men of Shechem, that God may hearken unto 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 forth on a time to anoint a king over them; and they said unto 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 But the olive-tree said unto them: Should I leave my fatness, seeing that by me they honour God and man, and go to hold sway over 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 But the fig-tree said unto them: Should I leave my sweetness, and my good fruitage, and go to hold sway over the trees?
Koma mtengo wa mkuyu unayankha kuti, “Kodi ndisiye chipatso changa chokoma ndi chozunachi kuti ndizikalamulira mitengo?”
12 And the trees said unto the vine: Come thou, and reign over us.
Kenaka mitengo ija inawuza mtengo wamphesa kuti, “Bwera ndiwe kuti ukhale mfumu yathu.”
13 And the vine said unto them: Should I leave my wine, which cheereth God and man, and go to hold sway over the trees?
Koma mtengo wamphesa unayankha kuti, “Kodi ine ndisiye vinyo wangayu, amene amasangalatsa milungu ndi anthu omwe kuti ndizikalamulira mitengo?”
14 Then said all the trees unto the bramble: Come thou, and reign over us.
Pomaliza mitengo yonse inawuza mkandankhuku kuti, “Bwera ndipo ukhale mfumu yathu.”
15 And the bramble said unto the trees: If in truth ye anoint me king over you, then come and take refuge in my shadow; and if not, let fire come out of the bramble, and 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 Now therefore, if ye have dealt truly and uprightly, in that ye have made Abimelech king, and if ye have dealt well with Jerubbaal and his house, and have done unto him according to the deserving of his hands —
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 for my father fought for you, and adventured his life, and delivered you out of the hand of Midian;
Kodi suja abambo anga anakumenyerani nkhondo ndi kuyika moyo wawo pa chiswe kuti akupulumutseni mʼmanja mwa Amidiyani?
18 and ye are risen up against my father's house this day, and have slain his sons, threescore and ten persons, upon one stone, and have made Abimelech, the son of his maid-servant, king over the men of Shechem, 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 ye then have dealt truly and uprightly with Jerubbaal and with his house this day, then rejoice ye in Abimelech, and let him also 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 not, let fire come out from Abimelech, and devour the men of Shechem, and Beth-millo; and let fire come out from the men of Shechem, and from Beth-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 Jotham ran away, and fled, and went to Beer, and dwelt there, for fear of Abimelech his brother.
Kenaka Yotamu anathawira ku Beeri nakakhala komweko chifukwa ankaopa Abimeleki mʼbale wake.
22 And Abimelech was prince over Israel three years.
Abimeleki atalamulira Israeli zaka zitatu,
23 And God sent an evil spirit between Abimelech and the men of Shechem; and the men of Shechem dealt treacherously with Abimelech;
Mulungu anayika chidani pakati pa Abimelekiyo ndi anthu a ku Sekemu, motero kuti anthu a ku Sekemu anawukira Abimeleki.
24 that the violence done to the threescore and ten sons of Jerubbaal might come, and that their blood might be laid upon Abimelech their brother, who slew them, and upon the men of Shechem, who strengthened his hands to slay his brethren.
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 the men of Shechem set liers-in-wait for him on the tops of the mountains, and they robbed all that came along that way by them; 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 Ebed came with his brethren, and went on to Shechem; and the men of Shechem put their trust in him.
Gaali mwana wa Ebedi anasamukira ku Sekemu ndi abale ake, ndipo anthu a ku Sekemuko anamukhulupirira iye.
27 And they went out into the field, and gathered their vineyards, and trod the grapes, and held festival, and went into the house of their god, and did eat and drink, and 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 said: 'Who is Abimelech, and who is Shechem, that we should serve him? is not he the son of Jerubbaal? and Zebul his officer? serve ye the men of Hamor the father of Shechem; but why 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 And would that this people were under my hand! then would I remove Abimelech.' And he said to Abimelech: 'Increase thine army, and come out.'
Anthu a mu mzindawo akanakhala pansi pa ulamuliro wanga, ndikanamuchotsa Abimelekiyu. Ndikanamuwuza Abimeleki kuti, ‘Wonjeza ankhondo ako ndipo ubwere tidzamenyane!’”
30 And when Zebul the ruler of the city heard the words of Gaal the son of Ebed, his anger was kindled.
Zebuli amene ankalamulira mzindawo atamva zimene Gaali mwana wa Ebadi ananena, anakwiya kwambiri.
31 And he sent messengers unto Abimelech in Tormah, saying: 'Behold, Gaal the son of Ebed and his brethren are come to Shechem; and, behold, they will incite 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 Now therefore, up by night, thou and the people that are with thee, and lie in wait in the field.
Nʼchifukwa chake usiku womwe uno inu ndi anthu anu mupite, mukabisale mʼminda.
33 And it shall be, that in the morning, as soon as the sun is up, thou shalt rise early, and set upon the city; and, behold, when he and the people that are with him come out against thee, then mayest thou do to them as 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 And Abimelech rose up, and all the people that were with him, by night, and they lay in wait against Shechem in four companies.
Choncho Abimeleki ndi ankhondo ake onse anadzuka usiku nakabisalira mzinda wa Sekemu mʼmagulu anayi.
35 And Gaal the son of Ebed went out, and stood in the entrance of the gate of the city; and Abimelech rose up, and the people that were with him, from the ambushment.
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, there come people down from the tops of the mountains.' And Zebul said unto him: 'Thou seest the shadow of the mountains as if they were men.'
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 And Gaal spoke again and said: 'See, there come people down by the middle of the land, and one company cometh by the way of Elon-meonenim.'
Koma Gaaliyo anayankhulanso kuti, “Taona anthu akutsika kuchokera pakati pa phiri, ndipo gulu lina likubwera kuchokera ku mtengo wa thundu wa owombeza mawula.”
38 Then said Zebul unto him: 'Where is now thy mouth, that thou saidst: Who is Abimelech, that we should serve him? is not this the people that thou hast despised? go out now, I pray, and fight with them.'
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 And Gaal went out before the men of Shechem, and fought with Abimelech.
Choncho Gaaliyo anatuluka akutsogolera anthu a ku Sekemu kukamenyana ndi Abimeleki.
40 And Abimelech chased him, and he fled before him, and there fell many wounded, even unto the entrance of the gate.
Koma Abimeleki anamuthamangitsa ndipo Gaala anathawa. Ambiri a ankhondo ake anagwa napwetekeka njira yonse mpaka ku chipata cha mzinda.
41 And Abimelech dwelt at Arumah; and Zebul drove out Gaal and his brethren, that they should not dwell in Shechem.
Abimeleki anakhala ku Aruma, ndipo Zebuli anathamangitsa Gaali pamodzi ndi abale ake, kuwatulutsa mu Sekemu.
42 And it came to pass on the morrow, that 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 the people, and divided them into three companies, and lay in wait in the field; and he looked, and, behold, the people were coming forth out of the city; and he rose up against them, and smote 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 And Abimelech, and the companies that were with him, rushed forward, and stood in the entrance of the gate of the city; and the two companies rushed upon all that were in the field, and smote them.
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 fought against the city all that day; and he took the city, and slew the people that were therein; and he beat down the city, and sowed it with salt.
Abimeleki anawuthira nkhondo mzindawo tsiku lonse. Kenaka anawulanda ndi kupha nzika zonse za mu mzindamo. Anawuwonongeratu mzindawo nawuwaza mchere.
46 And when all the men of the tower of Shechem heard thereof, they entered into the hold of the house of El-berith.
Anthu a mu nsanja ya Sekemu atamva zimenezi, anakalowa mu linga la nyumba yopembedzeramo Baala-Beriti.
47 And it was told Abimelech that all the men of the tower of Shechem were gathered together.
Abimeleki anamva kuti anthu ena asonkhana kumeneko.
48 And Abimelech got him up to mount Zalmon, he and all the people that were with him; and Abimelech took an axe in his hand, and cut down a bough from the trees, and took it up, and laid it on his shoulder; and he said unto the people that were with him: 'What ye have seen me do, make haste, and do as I have done.'
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 all the people likewise cut down every man his bough, and followed Abimelech, and put them to the hold, and set the hold on fire upon them; so that all the men of the tower of Shechem died also, about a thousand men and women.
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 went Abimelech to Thebez, and encamped against Thebez, and took it.
Kenaka Abimeleki anapita ku Tebezi. Anakawuzungulira mzindawo ndi kuwulanda.
51 But there was a strong tower within the city, and thither fled all the men and women, even all they of the city, and shut themselves in, and got them up to the roof of the tower.
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 came unto the tower, and fought against it, and went close unto the door of the tower to burn it with fire.
Abimeleki anapita ku nsanjayo nathira nkhondo. Anafika pafupi ndi chitseko cha nsanja ija kuti ayitenthe.
53 And a certain woman cast an upper millstone upon Abimelech's head, and broke his skull.
Koma mkazi wina anaponya mwala wa mphero pa mutu wa Abimeleki ndi kuswa chibade cha mutuwo.
54 Then he called hastily unto the young man his armour-bearer, and said unto him: 'Draw thy sword, and kill me, that men say not of me: A woman slew him.' And his young man thrust him through, and he died.
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 the men of Israel saw that Abimelech was dead, they departed every man unto his place.
Aisraeli ataona kuti Abimeleki wafa, anapita kwawo.
56 Thus God requited the wickedness of Abimelech, which he did unto his father, in slaying his seventy brethren;
Mmenemu ndi mmene Mulungu analipsirira tchimo la Abimeleki limene anachitira abambo ake pakupha abale ake 70 aja.
57 and all the wickedness of the men of Shechem did God requite upon their heads; and upon them came the curse of Jotham the son of Jerubbaal.
Mulungu anawalanganso anthu a ku Sekemu chifukwa cha kuyipa kwawo konse. Ndipo matemberero a Yotamu mwana wa Yeru-Baala anawagweradi.

< Judges 9 >