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:
Siku moja Abimeleki mwana wa Yerub-Baali akaenda kwa ndugu ya mama yake huko Shekemu na kuwaambia yeye na ukoo wote wa mama yake,
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.'
“Waulizeni watu wote wa Shekemu, ‘Lipi lililo bora kwenu: Kutawaliwa na wana wote sabini wa Yerub-Baali, au mtu mmoja peke yake?’ Kumbukeni kwamba, mimi ni mfupa wenu nyama yenu hasa.”
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.'
Ndugu za mama yake walipowaeleza watu wote wa Shekemu, wakaelekea kumkubali Abimeleki, kwa kuwa walisema, “Yeye ni ndugu yetu.”
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.
Wakampa shekeli sabini za fedha kutoka hekalu la Baal-Berithi, naye Abimeleki akaitumia kuajiri watu ovyo wasiojali, wakawa ndio wafuasi wake.
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.
Akaenda nyumbani kwa baba yake huko Ofra, na juu ya jiwe moja wakawaua ndugu zake sabini, ambao ni wana wa Yerub-Baali. Lakini Yothamu, mwana mdogo wa wote wa Yerub-Baali, akaokoka kwa kujificha.
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.
Ndipo watu wote wa Shekemu na Beth-Milo wakakusanyika pamoja chini ya mti mkubwa wa mwaloni penye nguzo iliyoko Shekemu wakamvika Abimeleki taji kuwa mfalme.
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.
Yothamu alipoambiwa hayo, akapanda juu ya kilele cha mlima Gerizimu, akawapazia sauti yake akawaambia, “Nisikilizeni enyi watu wa Shekemu, ili Mungu naye apate kuwasikiliza ninyi.
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.
Siku moja miti ilitoka ili kwenda kujitawazia mfalme. Ikauambia mzeituni, ‘Wewe uwe mfalme wetu.’
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?
“Lakini mzeituni ukaijibu, ‘Je, niache kutoa mafuta yangu ambayo kwake miungu na wanadamu huheshimiwa, ili nikawe juu ya miti?’
10 And the trees said to the fig-tree: Come thou, and reign over us.
“Kisha miti ikauambia mtini, ‘Njoo na uwe mfalme wetu!’
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?
“Lakini mtini ukaijibu, ‘Je, niache kutoa matunda yangu mazuri na matamu, ili niende nikawe juu ya miti?’
12 And the trees said unto the vine: Come thou, and reign over us.
“Ndipo miti ikauambia mzabibu, ‘Njoo na uwe mfalme wetu.’
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?
“Lakini mzabibu ukaijibu, ‘Je, niache kutoa divai yangu inayofurahisha miungu na wanadamu ili nikawe juu ya miti?’
14 Then said all the trees unto the bramble: Come thou, and reign over us.
“Mwishoni miti yote ikauambia mti wa miiba, ‘Njoo na uwe mfalme wetu.’
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.
“Nao mti wa miiba ukaijibu, ‘Kama kweli mnataka niwe mfalme wenu, basi njooni mpate kupumzika chini ya kivuli changu. Lakini kama sivyo, moto na utoke kwenye mti wa miiba ukateketeze mierezi 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 —
“Basi ikiwa mmetenda kwa uaminifu na heshima kumfanya Abimeleki kuwa mfalme, na kama mmetendea vyema Yerub-Baali na jamaa yake kama ilivyostahili:
17 for my father fought for you, and adventured his life, and delivered you out of the hand of Midian;
kwa kuwa baba yangu aliwapigania ninyi na kuhatarisha nafsi yake na kuwaokoa ninyi kutoka mikononi mwa Wamidiani
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 —
(lakini leo mmeasi dhidi ya jamaa ya baba yangu, na kuwaua wanawe sabini juu ya jiwe moja, nanyi mkamfanya Abimeleki mwana wa mwanamke mtumwa kuwa mfalme juu ya Shekemu, kwa kuwa yeye ni ndugu yenu),
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.
nanyi kama basi mmemtendea Yerub-Baali na jamaa yake kwa heshima na uaminifu, basi Abimeleki na awe furaha yenu, nanyi mwe furaha yake pia!
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.'
Lakini kama sivyo, moto na utoke kwa Abimeleki na uwateketeze, ninyi watu wa Shekemu na Beth-Milo, nao moto utoke kwenu, watu wa Shekemu na Beth-Milo umteketeze Abimeleki!”
21 And Jotham ran away, and fled, and went to Beer, and dwelt there, for fear of Abimelech his brother.
Ndipo Yothamu akakimbia, akatoroka akaenda Beeri, akaishi huko, kwa sababu alimwogopa ndugu yake Abimeleki.
22 And Abimelech was prince over Israel three years.
Baada ya Abimeleki kutawala Israeli kwa muda wa miaka mitatu,
23 And God sent an evil spirit between Abimelech and the men of Shechem; and the men of Shechem dealt treacherously with Abimelech;
Mungu akaruhusu roho mbaya kati ya Abimeleki na watu wa Shekemu, nao watu wa Shekemu wakamtendea Abimeleki kwa hila.
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.
Hili lilitokea ili ule ukatili waliotendewa hao wana sabini wa Yerub-Baali upatilizwe, na damu yao iwe juu ya Abimeleki ndugu yao aliyewaua, na pia iwe juu ya watu wa Shekemu, ambao walimsaidia kuua ndugu zake.
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.
Hivyo, kutokana na uadui juu yake watu wa Shekemu wakaweka watu wa kumvizia katika vilele vya milima. Wakawanyangʼanya watu wote waliopita karibu nao, nayo haya yakaarifiwa kwa Abimeleki.
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.
Basi Gaali mwana wa Ebedi akaenda pamoja na ndugu zake wakaingia Shekemu, nao watu wa huko wakamtumainia yeye.
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.
Wakaenda mashambani mwao kuvuna zabibu na kuzisindika hizo zabibu, wakafanya sikukuu katika hekalu la mungu wao. Wakati wakila na kunywa, wakamlaani 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?
Gaali mwana wa Ebedi akasema, “Abimeleki ni nani, na Shekemu ni nani, hata tumtumikie? Je, yeye si mwana wa Yerub-Baali? Naye Zebuli si ndiye msaidizi wake? Basi watumikieni watu wa Hamori, babaye Shekemu. Kwa nini tumtumikie 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.'
Laiti watu hawa wangekuwa chini ya amri yangu! Basi mimi ningemwondoa huyo Abimeleki. Ningemwambia Abimeleki, ‘Ondoa jeshi lako lote.’”
30 And when Zebul the ruler of the city heard the words of Gaal the son of Ebed, his anger was kindled.
Zebuli aliyekuwa mtawala wa mji aliposikia aliyosema Gaali mwana wa Ebedi, akakasirika sana.
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.
Akatuma ujumbe uende kwa Abimeleki kwa siri na kusema, “Gaali mwana wa Ebedi na ndugu zake wamekuja Shekemu, na wanauchochea mji huu kinyume chako.
32 Now therefore, up by night, thou and the people that are with thee, and lie in wait in the field.
Sasa, basi, usiku huu wewe uondoke na watu wako ili mje kuwavizia mashambani.
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.'
Kisha asubuhi wakati wa kuchomoza jua, amka mapema na ujipange dhidi ya huo mji. Wakati yeye na jeshi lililo pamoja naye watakapotoka kukabiliana nanyi, mwaweza kuwatendea kwa kadiri mnavyoweza.”
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.
Kwa hiyo Abimeleki pamoja na jeshi lake lote wakaondoka usiku na kujificha karibu na Shekemu wakiwa vikosi vinne.
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.
Basi Gaali mwana wa Ebedi alikuwa ametoka nje akawa amesimama katika ingilio la mji wakati ule ule ambao Abimeleki na watu wake walipokuwa wanatoka sehemu zao za maficho.
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.'
Gaali alipowaona, akamwambia Zebuli, “Tazama, watu wanashuka kutoka kwenye vilele vya milima!” Zebuli akajibu, “Wewe unaona vivuli vya milima kana kwamba ni watu.”
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.'
Lakini Gaali akasema tena, “Tazama, watu wanashuka kutoka katikati ya nchi na kikosi kimoja kinakuja kutoka Tabur-Ezeri na kikosi kingine kutoka upande wa Elon-Meonenimu.”
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 akamwambia, “Kuko wapi kujivuna kwako sasa, wewe uliyesema, ‘Huyo Abimeleki ni nani hata tumtumikie?’ Hawa si wale watu uliowadharau? Toka nje sasa ukapigane nao!”
39 And Gaal went out before the men of Shechem, and fought with Abimelech.
Basi Gaali akatoka akawaongoza watu wa Shekemu kupigana na Abimeleki.
40 And Abimelech chased him, and he fled before him, and there fell many wounded, even unto the entrance of the gate.
Abimeleki akamfukuza, watu wengi wakajeruhiwa katika kukimbia huko, njia nzima hadi kwenye ingilio la lango.
41 And Abimelech dwelt at Arumah; and Zebul drove out Gaal and his brethren, that they should not dwell in Shechem.
Abimeleki akakaa Aruma, naye Zebuli akawafukuza Gaali na ndugu zake watoke Shekemu.
42 And it came to pass on the morrow, that the people went out into the field; and it was told Abimelech.
Kesho yake watu wa Shekemu wakatoka wakaenda mashambani, Abimeleki akaambiwa juu ya jambo hili.
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.
Hivyo akawachukua watu wake, akawagawanya katika vikosi vitatu na kuwaweka waviziao huko mashambani. Alipowaona watu wanatoka kwenda nje ya mji, akainuka dhidi yao na kuwashambulia.
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 pamoja na vile vikosi wakaharakisha kwenda mbele kwenye nafasi, mahali pa ingilio la lango la mji. Vile vikosi viwili vikawawahi wale waliokuwa mashambani na kuwaua.
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.
Siku hiyo nzima Abimeleki akazidisha mashambulizi yake dhidi ya mji hadi akawa ameuteka na kuwaua watu wa huo mji. Kisha akauangamiza mji na kusambaza chumvi juu yake.
46 And when all the men of the tower of Shechem heard thereof, they entered into the hold of the house of El-berith.
Kwa kusikia jambo hili watu wote katika mnara wa Shekemu, wakaingia kwenye ngome ya hekalu la El-Berithi.
47 And it was told Abimelech that all the men of the tower of Shechem were gathered together.
Abimeleki aliposikia kuwa wamekusanyika huko,
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.'
yeye na watu wake wote wakakwea kwenye Mlima Salmoni. Abimeleki akachukua shoka, akakata baadhi ya matawi, ambayo aliyachukua mabegani. Akawaagiza wale watu waliokuwa pamoja naye kuwa, “Fanyeni kile mlichoona mimi nikifanya!”
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.
Basi watu wote wakakata matawi na kumfuata Abimeleki. Wakayakusanya hayo matawi juu ya ngome na kuitia moto ili kuwachoma wale watu wote waliokuwa ndani yake. Hivyo watu wote katika mnara wa Shekemu, karibia watu 1,000 waume kwa wake, pia wakafa.
50 Then went Abimelech to Thebez, and encamped against Thebez, and took it.
Baadaye Abimeleki akaenda Thebesi na kuuzingira kwa jeshi na kuuteka.
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.
Hata hivyo, ndani ya huo mji kulikuwa na mnara imara, ambako watu wote wa mji wanaume na wanawake, watu wote wa mji, walikimbilia ndani yake. Wakajifungia ndani yake na kupanda juu ya paa la mnara.
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 akaja kwenye ule mnara na kuushambulia, lakini alipokaribia kwenye ingilio la mnara ili kuuchoma kwa moto,
53 And a certain woman cast an upper millstone upon Abimelech's head, and broke his skull.
mwanamke mmoja akaangusha sehemu ya juu ya jiwe la kusagia juu ya kichwa cha Abimeleki, likapasua fuvu la kichwa chake.
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.
Akamwita kwa haraka kijana yule aliyechukua silaha zake, na kumwambia, “Chukua upanga wako na uniue, watu wasije wakasema kwamba, ‘Mwanamke amemuua.’” Basi yule kijana akamchoma upanga, naye akafa.
55 And when the men of Israel saw that Abimelech was dead, they departed every man unto his place.
Waisraeli walipoona kuwa Abimeleki amekufa, kila mtu akaenda nyumbani kwake.
56 Thus God requited the wickedness of Abimelech, which he did unto his father, in slaying his seventy brethren;
Hivyo ndivyo Mungu alivyolipiza uovu ule ambao Abimeleki alikuwa ameutenda kwa baba yake kwa kuwaua ndugu zake sabini.
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.
Mungu akawapatiliza watu wa Shekemu uovu wao juu ya vichwa vyao, na juu yao ikaja laana ya Yothamu mwana wa Yerub-Baali.
