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:
U-Abhimelekhi indodana kaJerubhi-Bhali waya kubomalumakhe eShekhemu lakubo bonke abosendo lukanina wathi kubo,
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.'
“Buzani bonke abantu baseShekhemu ukuthi, ‘Yikuphi okungcono kini: ukubuswa yiwo wonke amadodana kaJerubhi-Bhali angamatshumi ayisikhombisa kumbe indoda eyodwa?’ Likhumbule ukuthi mina ngingumzimba legazi lenu.”
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.'
Kwathi abanewabo bakanina sebekutshilo konke lokhu ebantwini baseShekhemu, bafuna ukumlandela u-Abhimelekhi, ngoba bathi, “Ungumfowethu.”
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.
Bamnika amashekeli esiliva angamatshumi ayisikhombisa, athathwa ethempelini likaBhali-Bherithi, u-Abhimelekhi aqhatsha ngawo izigebenga ezingakhathaliyo, ezaba ngabalandeli bakhe.
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.
Waya emzini kayise e-Ofira kwathi abafowabo abangamatshumi ayisikhombisa, amadodana kaJerubhi-Bhali, wababulalela phezu kwedwala linye. Kodwa uJothamu, indodana encane kaJerubhi-Bhali waphepha ngokucatsha.
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.
Emva kwalokho bonke abantu baseShekhemu labeBhethi Milo babuthana ngaphansi kwesihlahla somʼOkhi ensikeni eShekhemu ukuba u-Abhimelekhi bamfake abe yinkosi.
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.
Kwathi uJothamu esetshelwe lokhu wakhwela waya esiqongweni seNtaba iGerizimu wanqolonga esithi kubo, “Ngilalelani, bantu baseShekhemu, ukuze uNkulunkulu alilalele.
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.
Ngelinye ilanga izihlahla zasuka zayazigcobela inkosi yazo. Zathi esihlahleni se-oliva, ‘Woba yinkosi yethu.’
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?
Kodwa isihlahla se-oliva saphendula sathi, ‘Kambe ngingadela amafutha ami, okudunyiswa ngawo onkulunkulu labantu, ukuba ngibuse izihlahla na?’
10 And the trees said to the fig-tree: Come thou, and reign over us.
Izihlahla zasezisithi esihlahleni somkhiwa, ‘Woza ube yinkosi yethu.’
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?
Kodwa isihlahla somkhiwa saphendula sathi, ‘Kambe ngingadela izithelo zami ezinhle kangaka njalo zimnandi, ukuba ngibuse izihlahla na?’
12 And the trees said unto the vine: Come thou, and reign over us.
Lapho-ke izihlahla zathi esihlahleni sevini, ‘Woza ube yinkosi yethu.’
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?
Kodwa isihlahla sevini saphendula sathi, ‘Kambe ngingadela iwayini lami elithokozisa onkulunkulu labantu, ukuba ngibuse izihlahla na?’
14 Then said all the trees unto the bramble: Come thou, and reign over us.
Ekucineni zonke izihlahla zathi esihlahleni sameva, ‘Woza ube yinkosi yethu.’
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.
Isihlahla sameva sathi ezihlahleni, ‘Nxa lifuna ngempela ukuthi lingigcobe ukuba ngibe yinkosi yenu, wozani lizecatsha emthunzini wami, kodwa nxa kungenjalo, akuphume umlilo esihlahleni sameva uqothule imsedari yaseLebhanoni!’
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 —
Nxa lenze okubongekayo njalo ngobuqotho ekubekeni kwenu u-Abhimelekhi ukuba abe yinkosi, njalo nxa lenze okulungileyo kuJerubhi-Bhali labendlu yakhe, njalo nxa limphathe ngendlela emfaneleyo,
17 for my father fought for you, and adventured his life, and delivered you out of the hand of Midian;
ngoba ubaba walilwela, wabeka impilo yakhe engozini ukuba alihlenge ezandleni zamaMidiyani
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 —
kodwa lamuhla selivukele abendlu kababa, kwathi amadodana akhe angamatshumi ayisikhombisa lawabulalela phezu kwedwala linye, kwathi u-Abhimelekhi, indodana yesigqilikazi sakhe, lamenza waba yinkosi yabantu baseShekhemu ngoba engumfowenu,
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.
ngakho nxa lenzenjalo ngobuqotho kuJerubhi-Bhali labendlu yakhe lamuhla, thokozani ngo-Abhimelekhi, kube njalo laye ngani futhi!
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.'
Kodwa nxa lingenzanga njalo, akuphume umlilo ku-Abhimelekhi uliqothule, bantu baseShekhemu labaseBhethi Milo, njalo kuphume umlilo kini bantu baseShekhemu labaseBhethi Milo, uqothule u-Abhimelekhi!”
21 And Jotham ran away, and fled, and went to Beer, and dwelt there, for fear of Abimelech his brother.
Emva kwalokhu uJothamu wabaleka, waya eBheri, wahlala khona ngoba wayesesaba umfowabo u-Abhimelekhi.
22 And Abimelech was prince over Israel three years.
Kwathi u-Abhimelekhi esebuse abako-Israyeli iminyaka emithathu
23 And God sent an evil spirit between Abimelech and the men of Shechem; and the men of Shechem dealt treacherously with Abimelech;
uNkulunkulu wathumela umoya omubi phakathi kuka-Abhimelekhi labantu baseShekhemu bamhlamukela u-Abhimelekhi.
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.
UNkulunkulu wenza lokhu ukuze ububi obenziwa emadodaneni kaJerubhi-Bhali angamatshumi ayisikhombisa, ukuchithwa kwegazi lawo, buphindiselwe kumfowabo u-Abhimelekhi lasebantwini baseShekhemu, ababemsizile ekubulaleni kwakhe abafowabo.
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.
Ekumelaneni kwabo laye abantu baseShekhemu laba babeka abantu ezingqongeni zezintaba ukuba bacathamele bonke abadlula lapho babaphange, njalo lokhu kwabikwa ku-Abhimelekhi.
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.
UGali indodana ka-Ebhedi wathuthela eShekhemu labafowabo, njalo abantu bakhona bamethemba.
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.
Kwathi sebeye emasimini babutha amagrebisi bawagxoba, baba ledili ethempelini likankulunkulu wabo. Kwathi besidla njalo benatha, bamthuka u-Abhimelekhi.
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?
Lapho-ke uGali indodana ka-Ebhedi, wathi, “Ungubani u-Abhimelekhi, loShekhemu ungubani, ukuba asibuse na? Akasindodana kaJerubhi-Bhali yini, njalo uZebhuli kasimsekeli wakhe na? Khonzani abantu baseHamori, yise kaShekhemu! Kungani kumele sikhonze u-Abhimelekhi na?
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.'
Sengathi ngabe abantu laba balawulwa yimi! Kade ngizamsusa. Kade ngizakuthi ku-Abhimelekhi, ‘Libize lonke ibutho lakho.’”
30 And when Zebul the ruler of the city heard the words of Gaal the son of Ebed, his anger was kindled.
Kwathi uZebhuli umbusi wedolobho esizwa okwatshiwo nguGali indodana ka-Ebhedi, wathukuthela kakhulu.
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.
Wathuma izithunywa ngasese ku-Abhimelekhi, esithi, “UGali indodana ka-Ebhedi kanye labafowabo sebeze eShekhemu njalo badunga idolobho ukuba likuvukele.
32 Now therefore, up by night, thou and the people that are with thee, and lie in wait in the field.
Ngakho wena labantu bakho kumele lize phakathi kobusuku limcathamele egangeni.
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.'
Ekuseni ekuphumeni kwelanga, lisondele ukuba lilihlasele idolobho. Lapho uGali labantu bakhe bephuma ukuba balihlasele, lenze loba yini isandla senu esanelisa ukukwenza.”
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.
Ngakho-ke u-Abhimelekhi lamabutho akhe wonke basuka ebusuku bacathama ezindaweni ezifihlakeleyo eduze leShekhemu bengamaviyo amane.
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.
UGali indodana ka-Ebhedi wayephumile emi ekungeneni kwesango ledolobho kwathi u-Abhimelekhi lamabutho akhe baphuma lapho ababecatshe khona.
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.'
Kwathi uGali ebabona wathi kuZebhuli, “Khangela nampayana abantu bayehla besuka ezingqongeni zezintaba!” UZebhuli waphendula wathi, “Ubona amathunzi ezintaba kube angathi ngabantu.”
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.'
Kodwa uGali wakhuluma futhi wathi, “Khangela, nampayana abantu bayehla besuka phakathi kwelizwe, njalo leviyo lamabutho liyeza livelela ngokuya esihlahleni sezangoma.”
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.'
UZebhuli wasesithi kuye, “Kungaphi ukukloloda kwakho manje, wena owathi, ‘Ungubani u-Abhimelekhi ukuba asibuse na?’ Laba kabasibo yini abantu owawubahleka? Phuma uyekulwa labo!”
39 And Gaal went out before the men of Shechem, and fought with Abimelech.
Ngakho uGali waphuma labantu baseShekhemu walwa lo-Abhimelekhi.
40 And Abimelech chased him, and he fled before him, and there fell many wounded, even unto the entrance of the gate.
U-Abhimelekhi wamxotsha, kwathi abanengi bafa belimele ekubalekeni, ibanga lonke kusiya ekungeneni kwesango.
41 And Abimelech dwelt at Arumah; and Zebul drove out Gaal and his brethren, that they should not dwell in Shechem.
U-Abhimelekhi wahlala e-Aruma, kwathi uZebhuli wamdudula uGali labafowabo eShekhemu.
42 And it came to pass on the morrow, that the people went out into the field; and it was told Abimelech.
Ngelanga elalandelayo abantu baseShekhemu basuka baya egangeni, njalo lokhu kwabikwa ku-Abhimelekhi.
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.
Ngakho wathatha abantu bakhe, wabehlukanisa baba ngamaviyo amathathu wathi kabacathanyelwe egangeni. Kwathi ebona abantu bephuma edolobheni wavuka ukuba abahlasele.
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.
U-Abhimelekhi lamaviyo ayelaye bagijimela phambili endaweni esekungeneni kwesango ledolobho. Amaviyo amabili agijimela kulabo ababesegangeni ababulala.
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.
Ngalo lonke lolosuku u-Abhimelekhi waqinisa ukulihlasela kwakhe idolobho lelo waze walithumba wabulala labantu balo. Idolobho walidiliza wasehaza itswayi phezu kwalo.
46 And when all the men of the tower of Shechem heard thereof, they entered into the hold of the house of El-berith.
Besizwa lokhu, abantu abasemphotshongweni weShekhemu bayangena enqabeni yethempeli lase-Eli-Bherithi.
47 And it was told Abimelech that all the men of the tower of Shechem were gathered together.
Kwathi u-Abhimelekhi esizwa ukuthi basebebuthene lapho,
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.'
yena labantu bakhe bakhwela intaba iZalimoni. Wathatha ihloka wagamula amahlahla, wawetshata emahlombe akhe. Walaya abantu ababelaye wathi, “Phangisani! Yenzani lokhu elibone ngikwenza!”
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.
Ngakho abantu bagamula amahlahla bamlandela u-Abhimelekhi. Bawabuthelela enqabeni leyo bayithungela ngomlilo abantu bephakathi. Ngakho bonke abantu ababephakathi komphotshongo waseShekhemu, amadoda labesifazane ababengaba yinkulungwane bafa.
50 Then went Abimelech to Thebez, and encamped against Thebez, and took it.
Emva kwalokho u-Abhimelekhi waya eThebhezi wayivimbezela wayithumba.
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.
Kodwa phakathi kwedolobho lelo kwakulomphotshongo oqinileyo lapho wonke amadoda labesifazane, abantu bakulelodolobho ababebalekele khona. Bazikhiyela phakathi bakhwela phezu kophahla lomphotshongo.
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.
U-Abhimelekhi waya emphotshongweni lowo wawuhlasela. Kodwa wathi esebanga emnyango womphotshongo ukuba awuthungele ngomlilo,
53 And a certain woman cast an upper millstone upon Abimelech's head, and broke his skull.
owesifazane othile wawisela imbokodo phezu kwekhanda lakhe yadabula ukhakhayi lwakhe.
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.
Waphanga wabiza umthwali wezikhali zakhe wathi, “Hwatsha inkemba yakho ungibulale, ukuze bangathi, ‘Wabulawa ngowesifazane.’” Ngakho inceku yakhe yamgwaza, wafa.
55 And when the men of Israel saw that Abimelech was dead, they departed every man unto his place.
Kwathi abako-Israyeli bebona ukuthi u-Abhimelekhi wayesefile, babuyela ekhaya.
56 Thus God requited the wickedness of Abimelech, which he did unto his father, in slaying his seventy brethren;
UNkulunkulu wabuphindisela kanje ububi u-Abhimelekhi ayebenze kuyise ngokubulala abafowabo abangamatshumi ayisikhombisa.
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.
UNkulunkulu wenza ukuthi labantu baseShekhemu babuhlawulele ububi babo. Isiqalekiso sikaJothamu indodana kaJerubhi-Bhali sehlela phezu kwabo.
