< 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:
Otu ụbọchị, Abimelek nwa Jerub-Baal jekwuuru ụmụnne nne ya ndị ikom bi na Shekem, na ndị ikwu nne ya niile sị ha,
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.'
“Jekwurunụ ndị Shekem jụọ ha, ‘Kedụ nke kara unu mma: ọ bụ ka ụmụ iri ndị ikom asaa Jerub-Baal mụrụ chịa unu, ka ọ bụ ka otu onye chịa unu?’ Chetakwanụ na mụ na unu bụ otu anụ ahụ na ọbara.”
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.'
Mgbe ụmụnne nne ya ndị ikom gwara ndị Shekem ihe Abimelek kwuru, ha kwekọrịtara iso ya nʼihi na ha kwuru sị, “Nwanne anyị ka ọ bụ.”
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.
Ha sitere nʼụlọ arụsị Baal-Berit nye ya iri shekel ọlaedo asaa. Abimelek ji ego ndị a goo ndị efulefu jọgburu onwe ha, ndị na-akpọghị ndụ ha ihe ọbụla, ndị kwenyere ma gbasoro ya.
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.
Ọ gara nʼụlọ nna ya nʼobodo Ofra. Nʼebe ahụ, o gburu iri ndị ikom asaa ahụ bụ ụmụnna ya nʼelu otu nkume. Kama Jotam, bụ ọdụdụ nwa Jerub-Baal, zoro onwe ya gbapụ.
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.
Mgbe ahụ, ndị Shekem na ndị Bet Milo kpọrọ nzukọ nʼokpuru osisi ukwu dị nʼobodo ahụ nʼakụkụ ogidi e guzobere ọtọ na Shekem. Nʼebe ahụ ka ha nọ mee Abimelek eze Izrel.
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.
Mgbe Jotam nụrụ ya, o rigooro nʼugwu Gerizim guzo nʼebe ahụ tikuo ndị Shekem niile mkpu si ha, “Geenụ m ntị ka Chineke nwe ike gee unu ntị.
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.
Otu mgbe, osisi niile pụrụ ije ịga tee otu onye mmanụ ka ọ bụrụ eze ga-achị ha. Ha sịrị osisi oliv, ‘Bụrụ eze anyị.’
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?
“Ma osisi oliv jụrụ ha ajụjụ sị, ‘O kwesiri ka m hapụ iwepụta mmanụ m a nke a na-esite na ya sọpụrụ Chineke na ụmụ mmadụ, nọọ ọnọdụ ifegharị alaka m nʼelu osisi ndị ọzọ?’
10 And the trees said to the fig-tree: Come thou, and reign over us.
“Ọzọkwa, ha rịọrọ osisi fiig ka ọ bụrụ eze ha.
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?
“Ma osisi fiig sịrị, ‘Ọ bụrụ na m ekwere na m ga-abụ eze unu, ọ pụtara na m ga-akwụsị ịmịpụta mkpụrụ osisi na-atọ ụtọ, nọọ ọnọdụ ifegharị alaka m nʼelu osisi ndị ọzọ?’
12 And the trees said unto the vine: Come thou, and reign over us.
“Ọzọkwa, ha rịọrọ osisi vaịnị ma ọ ga-ekwenye ịbụ eze ha.
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?
“Ma osisi vaịnị ahụ zara sị ha, ‘Ọ bụrụ na m ekwere ịbụ eze unu, ọ pụtara na m ga-akwụsị ịmịpụta mkpụrụ osisi e ji eme mmanya nke na-enye Chineke na ụmụ mmadụ obi ụtọ, nọọ ọnọdụ ifegharị alaka m nʼelu osisi ndị ọzọ?’
14 Then said all the trees unto the bramble: Come thou, and reign over us.
“Nʼikpeazụ, osisi niile jekwuuru ogwu ọhịa, ‘Bịa ka ị bụrụ eze anyị.’
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.
“Ogwu ọhịa sịrị osisi niile, ‘Ọ bụrụ nʼezie na unu chọrọ ite m mmanụ ka m bụrụ eze unu, bịanụ zere ndụ nʼokpuru ndo m kpọkwanụ isiala nye m. Ọ bụrụ na unu ajụ ime nke a, ka ọkụ si nʼogwu ọhịa pụta rechapụ sida niile dị na Lebanọn!’
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 —
“Ugbu a, omume unu o ziri ezi ma sitekwa nʼezi obi na unu mere Abimelek eze? Mmeso unu mesoro Jerub-Baal na ezinaụlọ ya o ziri ezi? Unu omesoro ya dịka o kwesiri ya?
17 for my father fought for you, and adventured his life, and delivered you out of the hand of Midian;
Chetakwanụ na nna m lụrụ ọgụ maka unu, kpọọ ndụ ya ihe efu, nʼihi ịnapụta unu site nʼaka ndị Midia.
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 —
Ma taa, unu enupula isi megide nna m na ezinaụlọ ya, gbuo iri ụmụ ndị ikom asaa ya nʼelu otu nkume, meekwa Abimelek nwa ya nwoke nke ohu nwanyị ya mụtara eze ga-achị ndị Shekem niile, nʼihi na ọ bụ onye nke unu.
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.
Nke a o gosiri na omume unu ziri ezi, sitekwa nʼobi ọcha nʼebe Jerub-Baal na ezinaụlọ ya nọ taa? Ọ bụrụ na unu mere otu a, ka Abimelek bụrụ onye ga-ewetara unu ọṅụ ka unu bụkwara ndị ga-ewetara ya ọṅụ.
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.'
Ma ọ bụrụ na omume unu ezighị ezi, ka ọkụ si nʼAbimelek pụta repịa unu, ndị Shekem na Bet Milo, ka ọkụ sitekwa nʼebe unu bụ ndị Shekem na Bet Milo, pụta repịa Abimelek.”
21 And Jotham ran away, and fled, and went to Beer, and dwelt there, for fear of Abimelech his brother.
Emesịa, Jotam gbapụrụ, gbaga Bịa, biri nʼebe ahụ nʼihi egwu Abimelek bụ nwanna ya.
22 And Abimelech was prince over Israel three years.
Mgbe ọ gasịrị afọ atọ Abimelek bidoro ịchị Izrel,
23 And God sent an evil spirit between Abimelech and the men of Shechem; and the men of Shechem dealt treacherously with Abimelech;
Chineke kpaliri iro dị ukwuu nʼetiti Abimelek na ndị nwe obodo Shekem, nke bụ na ha mere omume ihu abụọ megide Abimelek.
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.
Chineke mere nke a nʼihi na ọ chọrọ ịbọta ọbọ ọbara iri ụmụ Jerub-Baal asaa ahụ nʼisi Abimelek, na ndị Shekem ahụ bụ ndị nyeere ya aka gbuo ụmụnne ya.
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.
Nʼọnọdụ imegide ya, ndị Shekem doro ndị ikom ụfọdụ nʼelu ugwu niile, ndị zoro nʼebe ahụ na-apụnara ndị ọbụla na-esite nʼebe ahụ agafe ihe ha nwere. E mere ka Abimelek mata na ihe dị otu a na-eme.
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.
Nʼoge ahụ, Gaal, nwa Ebed, chịkọtara ụmụnne ya ndị ikom gaa biri na Shekem, ndị Shekem nwere ntụkwasị obi nʼebe ọ nọ.
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.
Mgbe ha pụrụ baa nʼubi, chịkọta mkpụrụ vaịnị, zọchaa ha, ha mere mmemme nʼụlọ chi ha. Mgbe ha nọ na-eri na-aṅụ, ha kọchara Abimelek.
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?
Mgbe ahụ, Gaal nwa Ebed sịrị, “Onye bụ Abimelek? Gịnị mere na anyị bụ ndị Shekem ga-eji nọrọ nʼokpuru ya? Ọ bụghị nwa Jerub-Baal? Ọ bụkwaghị Zebul bụ onye na-esote ya? Ọ bụ ka anyị fee ezinaụlọ Hamọ, nna Shekem ofufe. Ọ bụ maka gịnị ka anyị ga-eji fee Abimelek ofufe?
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.'
A sịkwarị na ndị a nọ nʼokpuru ọchịchị m, mgbe ahụ, m ga-ewezuga Abimelek. Aga m asị ya, ‘Kpọpụta ndị agha gị niile.’”
30 And when Zebul the ruler of the city heard the words of Gaal the son of Ebed, his anger was kindled.
Mgbe Zebul onye na-achị obodo ahụ nụrụ ihe Gaal nwa Ebed kwuru, o were nnọọ oke iwe.
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.
O zigara Abimelek ndị ozi na nzuzo ka ha sị ya, “Gaal nwa Ebed na ndị ikwu ya abịala obodo Shekem. Ha akpaliela obi ndị obodo a niile ka ha megide gị.
32 Now therefore, up by night, thou and the people that are with thee, and lie in wait in the field.
Ugbu a, gị na ndị agha gị, bịanụ nʼabalị zoo onwe unu nʼọhịa.
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.'
Nʼụtụtụ, mgbe anwụ wara, busonụ obodo a agha. Mgbe Gaal na ndị ya pụtara ịlụso gị agha, mee ha ihe dị gị mma.”
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.
Ya mere, Abimelek na ndị agha ya dị nʼotu anọ, jiri abalị bilie jeruo Shekem zoo onwe ha na nso obodo ahụ.
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.
Gaal nwa Ebed pụrụ guzo nʼọnụ ama obodo ahụ mgbe Abimelek na ndị ya sitere nʼebe ha zoro onwe ha pụta.
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.'
Mgbe Gaal hụrụ ha, ọ kpọrọ Zebul si ya, “Lee ndị mmadụ sị nʼelu ugwu ndị a na-arịdata.” Zebul zara si ya, “Ọ bụghị mmadụ ka ị na-ahụ, kama ọ bụ onyinyo ugwu ka ị na-akpọ mmadụ.”
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.'
Gaal kwukwara okwu sị, “Lee ndị mmadụ si nʼetiti ala ahụ na-arịdata, ndị ọzọ sikwa nʼakụkụ ụzọ ebe osisi iju ase dị.”
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.'
Mgbe ahụ, Zebul sịrị ya, “Olee uru ọ bara na ị turu ọnụ, gị onye na-asị, ‘Onye bụ Abimelek na anyị ga-efe ya ofufe?’ Ọ bụ ndị a abụghị ndị ahụ ị kọchara? Pụkwuru ha gaa lụso ha ọgụ.”
39 And Gaal went out before the men of Shechem, and fought with Abimelech.
Ya mere, Gaal duuru ndị nwe Shekem pụọ ịlụso Abimelek ọgụ.
40 And Abimelech chased him, and he fled before him, and there fell many wounded, even unto the entrance of the gate.
Ma Abimelek chụụrụ ya ọsọ ruo mbata ọnụ ụzọ ama, ọtụtụ bụkwa ndị egburu ka ha na-agba ọsọ.
41 And Abimelech dwelt at Arumah; and Zebul drove out Gaal and his brethren, that they should not dwell in Shechem.
Abimelek nọgidere nʼAruma nʼoge ahụ. Ma Zebul chụpụrụ Gaal na ndị ikwu ya site na Shekem.
42 And it came to pass on the morrow, that the people went out into the field; and it was told Abimelech.
Nʼechi ya, ndị Shekem pụtara baa nʼọhịa. E mere ka Abimelek mara nke a.
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.
Nʼihi ya, Abimelek kere ndị agha ya ụzọ atọ. Ha niile zokwara onwe ha nʼọhịa. Mgbe ọ hụrụ ka ndị mmadụ si nʼime obodo ahụ na-apụta, o biliri buso ha agha.
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.
Abimelek na usuu ndị agha so ya mapụtara, gbara ọsọ were ọnọdụ nʼọnụ ụzọ ama obodo ahụ. Emesịa, ụzọ abụọ nʼime ụzọ atọ nke ndị agha na-eso ya chere ihu nʼọhịa gbuo ndị ahụ niile nọ nʼebe ahụ.
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.
Ụbọchị ahụ niile, Abimelek busoro obodo ahụ agha tutu ruo mgbe o meriri ya, gbuo ndị niile bi nʼime ya. Emesịa, ọ lara obodo ahụ niile nʼiyi, fesaa nnu nʼala ya niile.
46 And when all the men of the tower of Shechem heard thereof, they entered into the hold of the house of El-berith.
Mgbe ndị nwe ala nọ nʼụlọ elu Shekem nụrụ ihe mere, ha gbabanyere nʼebe e wusiri ike nke ụlọ arụsị El Berit.
47 And it was told Abimelech that all the men of the tower of Shechem were gathered together.
Mgbe Abimelek nụrụ na ha ezukọtala nʼebe ahụ,
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.'
ya na ndị agha ya rigoro ugwu Zalmon. O ji anyụike gbutuo ụfọdụ ngalaba osisi nke ọ tụkwasịrị nʼubu ya. O nyere ndị agha ya iwu si, “Ngwa, meenụ ihe unu hụrụ na m mere.”
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.
Ya mere, ndị agha ya niile gbuturu alaka osisi buru ha soro Abimelek. Ha tụkọtara alaka osisi ndị a niile nʼakụkụ ebe ahụ e wusiri ike mụnye ha ọkụ ka o regbuo ndị mmadụ nọ nʼime ya. Ya mere, ndị mmadụ niile nọ nʼụlọ elu Shekem, nwoke na nwanyị, ndị ọnụọgụgụ ha ruru otu puku nwụrụ.
50 Then went Abimelech to Thebez, and encamped against Thebez, and took it.
Ọzọ, Abimelek gara obodo Tebez lụso ya agha, merie ya.
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.
Ma e nwere nʼime obodo ahụ, otu ụlọ elu e wusiri ike, ebe ndị obodo ahụ niile, nwoke na nwanyị, gbabanyere. Ha kpọchidoro onwe ha ụzọ, rigoro nʼelu ụlọ ahụ.
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.
Abimelek gara nʼụlọ elu ahụ ibuso ya agha. Ma mgbe ọ na-abịaru ọnụ ụzọ ama ụlọ elu ahụ isunye ya ọkụ,
53 And a certain woman cast an upper millstone upon Abimelech's head, and broke his skull.
otu nwanyị tụdara nkume igwe nri nʼisi ya, nke tiwara okpokoro isi ya.
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.
Ngwangwa, Abimelek kpọrọ onye na-ebu ihe agha ya sị ya, “Sepụta mma agha gị jiri ya gbuo m, ka ndị mmadụ ghara ị sị banyere m, ‘Ọ bụ nwanyị gburu ya.’” Ya mere nwokorobịa ahụ were mma agha ya dụgbuo ya, ọ nwụkwara.
55 And when the men of Israel saw that Abimelech was dead, they departed every man unto his place.
Mgbe ndị Izrel hụrụ na Abimelek anwụọla, ha niile lara nʼụlọ ha.
56 Thus God requited the wickedness of Abimelech, which he did unto his father, in slaying his seventy brethren;
Otu a ka Chineke si kwụghachi Abimelek ihe ọjọọ o mere megide nna ya site nʼigbu iri ụmụnna ya asaa.
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.
Chineke mekwara ka ndị Shekem nata ụgwọ ọrụ ihe ọjọọ ha. Ọbụbụ ọnụ Jotam nwa Jerub-Baal mezukwara nʼisi ha.

< Judges 9 >