< 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:
Abimeleku mũrũ wa Jerubu-Baali nĩathiire kũrĩ aa mamawe na andũ othe a mbarĩ ya kũrĩa nyina oimĩte kũu Shekemu, akĩmeera atĩrĩ,
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.'
“Ũriai atũũri othe a Shekemu atĩrĩ, ‘Nĩ ũndũ ũrĩkũ mwega na inyuĩ. Nĩ mwathwo nĩ ariũ mĩrongo mũgwanja a Jerubu-Baali, kana mũthamakĩrwo nĩ mũndũ ũmwe?’ Ririkanai ndĩ wanyu, tuumĩte mũthiimo ũmwe.”
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.'
Rĩrĩa aa mamawe meerire atũũri a Shekemu ũhoro ũcio wothe, andũ a Shekemu makĩenda kũrũmĩrĩra Abimeleku nĩ ũndũ nĩmoigire atĩrĩ, “Ũcio nĩ mũrũ wa ithe witũ.”
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.
Nao makĩmũhe cekeri mĩrongo mũgwanja cia betha irutĩtwo hekarũ-inĩ ya Baali-Berithu, nake Abimeleku agĩcihũthĩra kwandĩka andũ matarĩ kĩene na a mbũkĩrĩra, arĩa maatuĩkire arũmĩrĩri ake.
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.
Agĩthiĩ gwa ithe mũciĩ o kũu Ofira na akĩũragithĩria ariũ a ithe mĩrongo mũgwanja ihiga-inĩ rĩmwe, nĩo ariũ a Jerubu-Baali. No Jothamu, mũrũ wa Jerubu-Baali ũrĩa warĩ kĩhinga-nda, nĩahonokire nĩ ũndũ nĩehithire.
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.
Nao atũũri othe a Shekemu na a Bethi-Milo makĩũngana mũtĩ-inĩ ũrĩa mũnene o hau gĩtugĩ-inĩ kĩrĩa kĩrĩ Shekemu, magĩtua Abimeleku mũthamaki.
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.
Hĩndĩ ĩrĩa Jothamu aaheirwo ũhoro ũcio-rĩ, akĩhaica Kĩrĩma-igũrũ kĩa Gerizimu na akĩanĩrĩra, akĩmeera atĩrĩ, “Ta thikĩrĩriai inyuĩ atũũri a Shekemu, nĩgeetha o nake Ngai amũthikĩrĩrie.
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.
Mũthenya ũmwe mĩtĩ nĩyoimagarire ĩgaitĩrĩrie ũmwe wayo maguta atuĩke mũthamaki wayo. Nayo ĩkĩĩra mũtamaiyũ atĩrĩ, ‘Ũka ũtuĩke mũthamaki witũ.’
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?
“No mũtamaiyũ ũcio ũgĩcookia atĩrĩ, ‘No ndigane na maguta makwa marĩa matũmaga ngai o na andũ matĩĩo, ngariũnge ũũ na ũũ igũrũ rĩa mĩtĩ ĩrĩa ĩngĩ?’
10 And the trees said to the fig-tree: Come thou, and reign over us.
“Thuutha ũcio mĩtĩ ĩyo ĩkĩĩra mũkũyũ atĩrĩ, ‘Ũka ũtuĩke mũthamaki witũ.’
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?
“No mũkũyũ ũcio ũgĩcookia atĩrĩ, ‘No ndigane na ngũyũ ciakwa njega ũguo na irĩ mũrĩo, ngariũnge ũũ na ũũ igũrũ rĩa mĩtĩ ĩrĩa ĩngĩ?’
12 And the trees said unto the vine: Come thou, and reign over us.
“Ningĩ mĩtĩ ĩkĩĩra mũthabibũ atĩrĩ, ‘Ũka ũtuĩke mũthamaki witũ.’
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?
“No mũthabibũ ũcio ũgĩcookia atĩrĩ, ‘No ndigane na ndibei yakwa ĩrĩa ĩkenagia ngai o na andũ, ngariũnge ũũ na ũũ igũrũ rĩa mĩtĩ ĩrĩa ĩngĩ?’
14 Then said all the trees unto the bramble: Come thou, and reign over us.
“Kũrĩkĩrĩria mĩtĩ yothe ĩkĩĩra mũtare wa gĩthaka-inĩ atĩrĩ, ‘Ũka ũtuĩke mũthamaki witũ.’
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.
“Naguo mũtare ũcio wa gĩthaka ũkĩĩra mĩtĩ ĩyo atĩrĩ, ‘Kũngĩkorwo ti-itherũ nĩ mũkwenda kũnjitĩrĩria maguta nduĩke mũthamaki wanyu-rĩ, gĩũkei mwĩhithe kĩĩruru-inĩ gĩakwa; no kũngĩkorwo ti ũguo-rĩ, mwaki ũrokiuma mũtare-inĩ wa gĩthaka ũcine mĩtarakwa ya 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 —
“No rĩrĩ, angĩkorwo mwekire ũndũ ũcio na kĩhooto, na mũrĩ na ngoro njega rĩrĩa mwatuire Abimeleku mũthamaki, na angĩkorwo nĩmwĩkĩte Jerubu-Baali na nyũmba yake maũndũ mega, mũkamwĩka ũrĩa agĩrĩirwo nĩ gwĩkwo-rĩ,
17 for my father fought for you, and adventured his life, and delivered you out of the hand of Midian;
tondũ baba nĩwe wamũrũĩrĩire, agĩtwarĩrĩria muoyo wake ũgwati-inĩ nĩgeetha amũhonokie moko-inĩ ma Amidiani,
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 —
(no ũmũthĩ nĩmũũkĩrĩire nyũmba ya baba, mũkooragĩra ariũ ake mĩrongo mũgwanja ihiga-inĩ rĩmwe, na mũgatua Abimeleku, mũrũ wa ngombo yake ya mũirĩtu, mũthamaki wa atũũri a Shekemu tondũ nĩ mũrũ wa ithe wanyu),
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.
mũngĩkorwo mwĩkĩte ũndũ ũcio na kĩhooto, na mũrĩ na ngoro njega kũrĩ Jerubu-Baali na nyũmba yake ũmũthĩ-rĩ, Abimeleku arotuĩka gĩkeno kĩanyu, o na inyuĩ mũgĩtuĩke gĩkeno gĩake!
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.'
No kũngĩkorwo ti ũguo-rĩ, mwaki ũrokiuma harĩ Abimeleku ũmũcine, ũmũniine biũ, atũũri aya a Shekemu na Bethi-Milo, o na mwaki ũrokiuma harĩ inyuĩ atũũri a Shekemu na Bethi-Milo, ũcine Abimeleku, ũmũniine biũ.”
21 And Jotham ran away, and fled, and went to Beer, and dwelt there, for fear of Abimelech his brother.
Hĩndĩ ĩyo Jothamu agĩĩthara, akĩũrĩra kũu Biri, nake agĩtũũra kuo nĩ ũndũ nĩetigagĩra mũrũ wa ithe, Abimeleku.
22 And Abimelech was prince over Israel three years.
Thuutha wa Abimeleku gwathana Isiraeli mĩaka ĩtatũ-rĩ,
23 And God sent an evil spirit between Abimelech and the men of Shechem; and the men of Shechem dealt treacherously with Abimelech;
Ngai agĩtũma roho mũũru gatagatĩ ka Abimeleku na atũũri a Shekemu, arĩa meekire maũndũ mooru ma ũhinga kũrĩ Abimeleku.
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.
Ngai eekire ũndũ ũyũ nĩgeetha ngero ĩrĩa yagerirwo ariũ mĩrongo mũgwanja a Jerubu-Baali, ya gũitwo thakame yao, ĩrĩhio mũrũ wa ithe wao, Abimeleku, na ĩrĩhio atũũri a Shekemu arĩa maamũteithirie kũũraga ariũ a ithe.
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.
Nĩ ũndũ wa kũregana nake-rĩ, atũũri acio a Shekemu nĩmaigire andũ irĩma-inĩ nĩguo mohie na matunye o mũndũ ũrĩa wahĩtũkaga indo ciake, naguo ũhoro ũcio ũkĩmenyithio Abimeleku.
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.
Nake Gaali mũrũ wa Ebedi hamwe na ariũ a ithe magĩthaamĩra kũu Shekemu, nao atũũri akuo makĩmwĩhoka.
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.
Thuutha wa gũthiĩ mĩgũnda-inĩ na gũcookereria thabibũ na gũcihiha, makĩgĩa na iruga hekarũ-inĩ ya ngai yao. Rĩrĩa maarĩĩaga na makĩnyuuaga, makĩruma Abimeleku.
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?
Nake Gaali mũrũ wa Ebedi akiuga atĩrĩ, “Abimeleku nũũ, na Shekemu nũũ, nĩguo tũtuĩke ndungata ciake? Githĩ ti mũrũ wa Jerubu-Baali, nake Zebuli githĩ tiwe mũnini wake? Tungatĩrai andũ a Hamoru, ithe wa Shekemu! Tũgũgĩtungatĩra Abimeleku nĩkĩ?
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.'
Naarĩ korwo andũ aya me rungu rwa wathani wakwa! Hĩndĩ ĩyo niĩ no ndĩmweherie. No njĩĩre Abimeleku atĩrĩ, ‘Ĩta ita rĩaku rĩothe!’”
30 And when Zebul the ruler of the city heard the words of Gaal the son of Ebed, his anger was kindled.
Rĩrĩa Zebuli ũcio mwathi wa itũũra aiguire ũrĩa Gaali mũrũ wa Ebedi oigĩte-rĩ, akĩrakario nĩ ũhoro ũcio mũno.
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.
Agĩtũmĩra Abimeleku andũ na hitho, akĩmwĩra atĩrĩ, “Gaali mũrũ wa Ebedi na ariũ a ithe nĩmokĩte gũkũ Shekemu, na nĩmararahũra andũ a itũũra magũũkĩrĩre.
32 Now therefore, up by night, thou and the people that are with thee, and lie in wait in the field.
Nĩ ũndũ wa ũguo-rĩ, ũtukũ wakinya wee na andũ aku mũũke mũmoohie mĩgũnda-inĩ.
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.'
Rũciinĩ tene riũa rĩkĩratha-rĩ, ũthiĩ ũtharĩkĩre itũũra inene. Na rĩrĩa Gaali na andũ ake mariumĩra magũtharĩkĩre-rĩ, ĩka ũrĩa wothe guoko gwaku kũngĩhota gwĩka.”
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.
Nĩ ũndũ ũcio Abimeleku marĩ hamwe na mbũtũ ciake ciothe cia ita makiumagara ũtukũ, makĩĩhitha gũkuhĩ na Shekemu marĩ ikundi inya.
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.
Nake Gaali mũrũ wa Ebedi nĩoimagarĩte akarũgama itoonyero-inĩ rĩa kĩhingo gĩa itũũra inene, o hĩndĩ ĩyo Abimeleku na thigari ciake moimagĩra kũrĩa meehithĩte.
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.'
Rĩrĩa Gaali aamoonire-rĩ, akĩĩra Zebuli atĩrĩ, “Ta rora, harĩ na andũ maroka maikũrũkĩte kuuma irĩma igũrũ!” Nake Zebuli agĩcookia atĩrĩ, “Wee ũroona ciĩruru cia irĩma taarĩ andũ.”
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.'
No Gaali akĩaria rĩngĩ, akiuga atĩrĩ: “Ta rora wone andũ maroka maikũrũkĩte moimĩte gatagatĩ ka bũrũri, na mbũtũ ĩrĩa ĩngĩ yũkĩte yumĩte na mwena wa mũtĩ wa mũragũri.”
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.'
Ningĩ Zebuli akĩmwĩra atĩrĩ, “Mwĩgaatho waku ũkĩrĩ ha rĩu, wee woigire atĩrĩ, ‘Abimeleku nũũ atĩ nĩguo atwathe?’ Githĩ andũ aya ti o wanyũrũririe. Umagara ũkarũe nao!”
39 And Gaal went out before the men of Shechem, and fought with Abimelech.
Nĩ ũndũ ũcio Gaali agĩtongoria atũũri a Shekemu makĩhũũrana na Abimeleku.
40 And Abimelech chased him, and he fled before him, and there fell many wounded, even unto the entrance of the gate.
Abimeleku akĩmũtengʼeria, nao andũ aingĩ makĩgũa magurarĩtio makĩũra kũu guothe o nginya itoonyero-inĩ rĩa kĩhingo.
41 And Abimelech dwelt at Arumah; and Zebul drove out Gaal and his brethren, that they should not dwell in Shechem.
Abimeleku agĩtũũra Aruma, nake Zebuli akĩrutũrũra Gaali hamwe na ariũ a ithe kuuma Shekemu.
42 And it came to pass on the morrow, that the people went out into the field; and it was told Abimelech.
Mũthenya ũyũ ũngĩ andũ a Shekemu magĩthiĩ mĩgũnda-inĩ, nake Abimeleku akĩmenyithio ũhoro ũcio.
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.
Nĩ ũndũ ũcio akĩoya andũ ake, akĩmagayania ikundi ithatũ, akĩmaiga moherie andũ mĩgũnda-inĩ. Hĩndĩ ĩrĩa onire andũ acio magĩũka moimĩte itũũra-inĩ rĩrĩa inene, agĩũkĩra amatharĩkĩre.
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.
Abimeleku na ikundi iria aarĩ nacio makĩguthũka mbere nginya hau itoonyero-inĩ rĩa kĩhingo gĩa itũũra inene, nacio ikundi icio ingĩ igĩrĩ ikĩguthũkĩra arĩa maarĩ mĩgũnda-inĩ, ikĩmooraga.
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.
Abimeleku akĩhũũrana na itũũra rĩu inene mũthenya wothe nginya akĩrĩtaha na akĩũraga andũ a rĩo othe. Ningĩ akĩananga itũũra rĩu inene, na akĩrĩitĩrĩria cumbĩ.
46 And when all the men of the tower of Shechem heard thereof, they entered into the hold of the house of El-berith.
Rĩrĩa maiguire ũhoro ũcio, andũ arĩa maatũũraga mũthiringo-inĩ wa Shekemu magĩtoonya kĩĩhitho-inĩ kĩa hinya kĩa hekarũ ya Eli-Berithu.
47 And it was told Abimelech that all the men of the tower of Shechem were gathered together.
Rĩrĩa Abimeleku aiguire atĩ nĩmacookanĩrĩire kuo-rĩ,
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.'
we na andũ ake othe makĩambata Kĩrĩma-inĩ gĩa Zalimuna. Akĩoya ithanwa, agĩtema honge, na agĩciigĩrĩra ciande. Agĩatha andũ arĩa maarĩ nake, akĩmeera atĩrĩ, “Narua! Ĩkai ũguo muona ndeka!”
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.
Nĩ ũndũ ũcio andũ acio othe magĩtema honge, na makĩrũmĩrĩra Abimeleku. Magĩciũmba hĩba kũnyiitana na kĩĩhitho kĩu kĩa hinya magĩcigwatia mwaki andũ marĩ thĩinĩ. Nĩ ũndũ ũcio andũ acio othe maarĩ thĩinĩ wa mũthiringo ũcio wa Shekemu, ta andũ 1,000, arũme na andũ-a-nja, o nao magĩkua.
50 Then went Abimelech to Thebez, and encamped against Thebez, and took it.
Abimeleku agĩthiĩ itũũra rĩa Thebezu, akĩrĩrigiicĩria na akĩrĩtunyana.
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.
No rĩrĩ, thĩinĩ wa itũũra rĩu inene nĩ kwarĩ na mũthiringo mũrũmu kũrĩa arũme othe na andũ-a-nja, na andũ othe a itũũra rĩu inene, moorĩire. Makĩĩhingĩra thĩinĩ, na makĩhaica mũthiringo igũrũ.
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.
Abimeleku agĩthiĩ mũthiringo-inĩ ũcio, akĩũhithũkĩra. No rĩrĩa akuhĩrĩirie itoonyero rĩa mũthiringo nĩguo aũgwatie mwaki-rĩ,
53 And a certain woman cast an upper millstone upon Abimelech's head, and broke his skull.
mũtumia ũmwe akĩmũgũithĩria ihiga rĩa gĩthĩi mũtwe, rĩkĩmũhehenja mũtwe.
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.
Nake agĩĩta mũkuui wake wa indo cia mbaara na ihenya, akĩmwĩra atĩrĩ, “Comora rũhiũ rwaku rwa njora ũnjũrage, nĩgeetha matikoigage atĩrĩ, ‘Ooragirwo nĩ mũndũ-wa-nja.’” Nĩ ũndũ ũcio ndungata yake ĩkĩmũtheeca, agĩkua.
55 And when the men of Israel saw that Abimelech was dead, they departed every man unto his place.
Hĩndĩ ĩrĩa andũ a Isiraeli moonire atĩ Abimeleku nĩakuĩte-rĩ, makĩĩinũkĩra.
56 Thus God requited the wickedness of Abimelech, which he did unto his father, in slaying his seventy brethren;
Ũguo nĩguo Ngai aarĩhirie Abimeleku nĩ ũndũ wa waganu ũrĩa ekĩte ithe, wa kũũraga ariũ-a-ithe mĩrongo mũgwanja.
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.
Ningĩ Ngai akĩrĩhia andũ a Shekemu nĩ ũndũ wa waganu wao wothe. Kĩrumi kĩa Jothamu mũrũ wa Jerubu-Baali gĩkĩmacookerera.