Judges 9
1 And Abimelech son of Jerubba‘al goes to Shechem, to his mother’s brothers, and speaks to them, and to all the family of the house of his mother’s father, saying,
Gbe ɖeka la Abimelek, Yerubaal ƒe vi, ɖi tsa yi ɖasra nyruiawo kpɔ le Sekem
2 “Now speak in the ears of all the masters of Shechem, Which [is] good for you—seventy men ruling over you (all the sons of Jerubba‘al), or one man ruling over you? And you have remembered that I [am] your bone and your flesh.”
eye wòdo susu sia ɖe wo gbɔ be: Alekee, anyo na mi be Yerubaal ƒe vi blaadre sɔŋ naɖu fia ɖe mia dzi loo, alo be nye Abimelek, ame si nye mia vi ŋutɔŋutɔ la naɖu fia ɖe mia dzia, miyi ɖabia dumemetsitsiawo se.
3 And his mother’s brothers speak concerning him, in the ears of all the masters of Shechem, all these words, and their heart inclines after Abimelech, for they said, “He [is] our brother”;
Ale Abimelek nyruiawo yi dumemetsitsiwo gbɔ hetsɔ Abimelek ƒe nya la ɖo woƒe ŋkume. Woɖo be, esi Abimelek dada tso yewoƒe dua me ta la, yewoxɔ Abimelek ƒe nya la.
4 and they give seventy [pieces] of silver out of the house of Ba‘al-Berith to him, and Abimelech hires vain and unstable men with them, and they go after him;
Ale wona gae tso esi wodzɔ le trɔ̃ Baal Berit subɔƒe la me eye fia Abimelek tsɔ ga sia ƒo gbevu aɖewo nu ƒu ɖe eɖokui ŋu.
5 and he goes into the house of his father at Ophrah, and slays his brothers, sons of Jerubba‘al, seventy men, on one stone; and Jotham, youngest son of Jerubba‘al, is left, for he was hidden.
Ekplɔ wo yi fofoa ƒe aƒe me le Ofra eye wòna wowu Yerubaal ƒe vi blaadreawo ɖe kpe ɖeka dzi, ke Yerubaal ƒe vi ɖeka, Yotam, koe si ɖaɣla eɖokui.
6 And all the masters of Shechem are gathered together, and all the house of Millo, and come and cause Abimelech to reign for king at the oak of the camp which [is] in Shechem;
Esia megbe la, Sekemtɔwo kple Betmilɔtɔwo wɔ takpekpe gã aɖe le oɖumti la te le Sekem eye woɖo Abimelek fiae.
7 and they declare [it] to Jotham, and he goes and stands on the top of Mount Gerizim, and lifts up his voice, and calls, and says to them, “Listen to me, O masters of Shechem, and God listens to you:
Esi wogblɔ nya sia na Yotam la, eyi Gerizim to la tame eye wòdo ɣli gblɔ na wo be, “Miɖo tom, mi Sekemtɔwo, ale be Mawu naɖo to mi.
8 The trees have diligently gone to anoint a king over them, and they say to the olive, Reign over us.
Gbe ɖeka la, atiwo kpe ta be woaɖo fia na wo ɖokui. Wogblɔ na amiti be, ‘Ɖu fia ɖe mía dzi.’
9 And the olive says to them, Have I ceased from my fatness, by which they honor gods and men, that I have gone to stagger over the trees?
“Gake amiti ɖo eŋu na wo be, ‘Ɖe madzudzɔ amidzidzi, ami si wotsɔna dea bubu mawuwo kple amegbetɔwo ŋu be mava ɖu fia ɖe atiwo dzia?’
10 And the trees say to the fig, Come, reign over us.
“Emegbe la wogblɔ na gboti be, ‘Va ɖu fia ɖe mía dzi.’
11 And the fig says to them, Have I ceased from my sweetness, and my good increase, that I have gone to stagger over the trees?
“Ke gboti ɖo eŋu na wo be, ‘Ɖe madzudzɔ nye ku vivi ŋanɛwo tsetse be maɖu fia ɖe atiwo dzia?’
12 And the trees say to the vine, Come, reign over us.
“Wogblɔ na wainka be, ‘Va ɖu fia ɖe mía dzi.’
13 And the vine says to them, Have I ceased from my new wine, which is making gods and men glad, that I have gone to stagger over the trees?
“Ke wainka ɖo eŋu na wo be, ‘Ɖe madzudzɔ wain si doa dzidzɔ na mawuwo kple amewo siaa la tsetse ale be maɖu fia ɖe atiwo dzia.’
14 And all the trees say to the bramble, Come, reign over us.
“Mlɔeba la, atiawo katã gblɔ na ŋuti be, ‘Va, nàɖu fia ɖe mía dzi.’
15 And the bramble says to the trees, If in truth you are anointing me for king over you, come, take refuge in my shadow; and if not—fire comes out from the bramble, and devours the cedars of Lebanon.
“Ŋuti gblɔ na atiawo be, ‘Ne miaɖom fiae ɖe mia nu vavã la, ekema miva be ɖe nye vɔvɔli te, ke ne menye nenema o la, mina dzo nado tso ŋuti la me ava bi Lebanon ƒe sedatiwo.’”
16 And now, if you have acted in truth and in sincerity when you make Abimelech king; and if you have done good with Jerubba‘al, and with his house; and if you have done to him according to the deed of his hands—
Yotam yi edzi be, “Ɖe miewɔ nu dzɔdzɔe ɖe Yerubaal kple eƒe dzidzimeviwo ŋu be mietsɔ Abimelek ɖo fia mahã?
17 because my father has fought for you, and casts his life away from [him], and delivers you from the hand of Midian;
Fofonye wɔ aʋa na mi, tsɔ eƒe agbe ke eye wòɖe mi tso Midiantɔwo ƒe asi me,
18 and you have risen against the house of my father today, and slay his sons, seventy men, on one stone, and cause Abimelech son of his handmaid to reign over the masters of Shechem, because he [is] your brother—
ke mietso ɖe eŋu eye miewu via blaadre le kpe ɖeka dzi. Azɔ la, mietsɔ via Abimelek, ame si nye fofonye ƒe kosi vi la ɖo fiae elabena miaƒe ƒometɔ wònye.
19 indeed, if in truth and in sincerity you have acted with Jerubba‘al and with his house this day, rejoice in Abimelech, and he rejoices—even he—in you;
Ne mieka ɖe edzi be yewowɔ nu dzɔdzɔe ɖe Yerubaal kple eƒe dzidzimeviwo ŋu la, ekema agbe nadidi na mi eye eme nafa na miawo kple Abimelek siaa.
20 and if not—fire comes out from Abimelech and devours the masters of Shechem and the house of Millo, and fire comes out from the masters of Shechem and from the house of Millo, and devours Abimelech.”
Ke ne miewɔ nu dzɔdzɔe ɖe Gideon ŋu o la, ekema Abimelek natsrɔ̃ Sekemtɔwo kple Betmilɔt ƒe amewo eye woawo hã natsrɔ̃ Abimelek!”
21 And Jotham hurries, and flees, and goes to Beer, and dwells there, from the face of his brother Abimelech.
Azɔ vɔvɔ̃ na nɔvia Abimelek ta la, Yotam si yi ɖanɔ Beer.
22 And Abimelech is prince over Israel [for] three years,
Le Abimelek ƒe fiaɖuɖu le Israel ƒe etɔ̃ megbe la,
23 and God sends an evil spirit between Abimelech and the masters of Shechem, and the masters of Shechem deal treacherously with Abimelech,
Mawu na dzre va dzɔ ɖe Fia Abimelek kple Sekemtɔwo dome, ale Sekemtɔwo tso ɖe fia la ŋu.
24 for [the] coming in of [the] violence [against] seventy sons of Jerubba‘al, and to place their blood on their brother Abimelech, who slew them, and on the masters of Shechem, who strengthened his hands to slay his brothers.
Le nya siwo va dzɔ me la, wohe to na Abimelek kple Sekemtɔ siwo kpe ɖe eŋu le Yerubaal ƒe vi blaadreawo wuwu me.
25 And the masters of Shechem set ambushes for him on the top of the hills, and rob everyone who passes over by them in the way, and it is declared to Abimelech.
Sekemtɔwo be ɖe mɔ si yi to la dzi la dzi na Abimelek. Esi wonɔ elalam be wòava yi la, woda adzo ame siwo va to mɔ la dzi yina. Ke ame aɖe fi tofi na Abimelek le nugbe si woɖo ɖe eŋu la ŋuti.
26 And Gaal son of Ebed comes—also his brothers—and they pass over into Shechem, and the masters of Shechem trust in him,
Ɣe ma ɣi la, Gaal, Ebed ƒe vi, ʋu kple nɔviawo yi Sekem eye wòzu ame ŋkutawo dometɔ ɖeka le dua me.
27 and go out into the field, and gather their vineyards, and tread, and make praises, and go into the house of their god, and eat and drink, and revile Abimelech.
Le esime wonɔ nuŋeŋeŋkekenyui ɖum le Sekem le ƒe ma me le woƒe mawu ƒe gbedoxɔ me la, amewo no wain nyuie eye wode asi fiƒoƒo de Abimelek me.
28 And Gaal son of Ebed says, “Who [is] Abimelech, and who [is] Shechem, that we serve him? Is [he] not son of Jerubba‘al? And his commander Zebul? The men of Hamor father of Shechem serve you, and why do we serve him—we?
Gaal do ɣli be, “Ame kae nye Abimelek eye nu ka ta wòanye míaƒe fia? Nu ka ta míanye eƒe subɔlawo? Eya kple xɔlɔ̃a, Zebul, boŋue anye míawo ƒe subɔlawo. Miɖe kɔ ɖa le Abimelek ŋu!
29 And oh that this people were in my hand—then I turn Abimelech aside”; and he says to Abimelech, “Increase your host, and come out.”
Mitsɔm ɖo fiae eye enumake miakpɔ nu si adzɔ ɖe Abimelek dzi! Magblɔ na Abimelek be, ‘Ƒo aʋawɔlawo nu ƒu eye nàho aʋa!’”
30 And Zebul, prince of the city, hears the words of Gaal son of Ebed, and his anger burns,
Ke esi dumegã Zebul se nya si Gaal gblɔ la, edo dɔmedzoe.
31 and he sends messengers to Abimelech deceitfully, saying, “Behold, Gaal son of Ebed and his brothers are coming into Shechem, and behold, they are fortifying the city against you;
Enumake eɖo du ɖe Abimelek le Aruma be, “Gaal, Ebed ƒe vi kple eƒe ƒometɔwo ʋu va le Sekem eye wole aɖaŋu vɔ̃ ɖom na amewo be woatso ɖe ŋuwò.
32 and now, rise by night, you and the people who [are] with you, and lay wait in the field,
Wò kple wò aʋakɔ miva be ɖe gbedzi le zã me
33 and it has been, in the morning, about the rising of the sun, you rise early, and have pushed against the city; and behold, he and the people who [are] with him are going out to you—and you have done to him as your hand finds.”
eye ne ŋu ke ko la, mige ɖe dua me. Ne Gaal kple eƒe amewo do va kpe mi la, ekema miate ŋu awɔ nu sia nu si dze mia ŋu la kpli wo!”
34 And Abimelech rises, and all the people who [are] with him, by night, and they lay wait against Shechem—four detachments;
Abimelek kple eƒe amewo zɔ mɔ le zã me, woma ɖe akpa ene me eye wode xa ɖe teƒe vovovowo ƒo xlã dua.
35 and Gaal son of Ebed goes out, and stands at the opening of the gate of the city, and Abimelech rises—also the people who [are] with him—from the ambush,
Esi ŋu ke, le ŋdi me la, esime Gaal nɔ anyi ɖe dua ƒe agbo nu henɔ aɖaŋu dem kple dumemetsitsiawo la, Abimelek kple eƒe amewo lũ ɖe dua dzi.
36 and Gaal sees the people and says to Zebul, “Behold, people are coming down from the top of the hills”; and Zebul says to him, “You are seeing the shadow of the hills like men.”
Esi Gaal kpɔ wo la, edo ɣli gblɔ na Zebul be, “Kpɔ to ma dzi ɖa! Medze abe amewoe le ɖiɖim tso afi ma gbɔna ene oa?” Zebul ɖo eŋu be, “Ao! Vɔvɔliwo ko kpɔm nèle abe amewo ene!”
37 And Gaal adds yet to speak and says, “Behold, people are coming down from the high part of the land, and another detachment is coming by the way of the oak of Meonenim.”
Gaal yi edzi be, “Kpɔ afi ma nyuie, meka ɖe edzi be mekpɔ amewo le lulũm ɖe mía dzi gbɔna. Kpɔ afi sia hã ɖa, ame bubuwo hã gbɔna; wodze le Meomenim ƒe oɖumti la ŋu!”
38 And Zebul says to him, “Where [is] your mouth now, in that you say, Who [is] Abimelech that we serve him? Is this not the people against which you have kicked? Please go out now and fight against it.”
Tete Zebul biae be, “Afi ka wò numeɖiɖi gbogboawo le azɔ? Ame kae gblɔ be, ‘Ame ka gɔ̃e nye Abimelek eye nu ka ta wòaɖu fia ɖe mía dzi?’ Ame siwo ŋu nèɖu fewu le eye nèƒo fi de wo la le dua godo fifi laa! Do go nàkpe aʋa kpli wo!”
39 And Gaal goes out before the masters of Shechem, and fights against Abimelech,
Enumake Gaal kplɔ Sekemtɔwo eye wowɔ aʋa kple Abimelek.
40 and Abimelech pursues him, and he flees from his presence, and many fall wounded—to the opening of the gate.
Ke Abimelek ƒe amewo ɖu Gaal dzi. Sekemtɔ geɖewo xɔ abi eye womlɔ aʋagbe la dzi va se ɖe keke dua ƒe agbo nu ke.
41 And Abimelech abides in Arumah, and Zebul casts out Gaal and his brothers from dwelling in Shechem.
Abimelek nɔ Aruma ɣe ma ɣi. Zebul nya Gaal kple eƒe ƒometɔwo le Sekem eye meɖe mɔ be woaganɔ afi ma o.
42 And it comes to pass, on the next day, that the people go out to the field, and they declare [it] to Abimelech,
Le ŋufɔke la, Sekemtɔwo gayi aʋa, ke ame aɖe fi tofi na Abimelek tso woƒe ɖoɖowo ŋu.
43 and he takes the people, and divides them into three detachments, and lays wait in a field, and looks, and behold, the people are coming out from the city, and he rises against them, and strikes them.
Ale wòma eƒe aʋawɔlawo ɖe akpa etɔ̃ eye wòɣla wo ɖe gbedzi. Esi Sekemtɔwo do ta ɖa la, Abimelek ƒe amewo dze wo dzi eye wode asi wo wuwu me.
44 And Abimelech and the detachments who [are] with him have pushed on, and stand at the opening of the gate of the city, and the two detachments have pushed against all who are in the field, and strike them,
Abimelek da aʋalɔgo ɖeka ɖe dua ƒe agbo nu ale be Sekemtɔwo ƒe aʋawɔlawo mate ŋu atrɔ, asi yi dua me o, le esime aʋalɔgo eve bubuawo nɔ wo wum le gbedzi.
45 and Abimelech has fought against the city all that day, and captures the city, and has slain the people who [are] in it, and he breaks down the city, and sows it [with] salt.
Wowɔ aʋa ŋkeke blibo la hafi Abimelek te ŋu xɔ du la. Ewu amewo eye wògbã du la.
46 And all the masters of the Tower of Shechem hear, and go into the high place of the house of the god Berith,
Esi Migdaltɔwo kpɔ nu si dzɔ la, wosi yi mɔ si te ɖe Baal Berit, ƒe subɔƒe la me.
47 and it is declared to Abimelech that all the masters of the Tower of Shechem have gathered themselves together,
Esi Abimelek se be ameawo si yi mɔ la me la,
48 and Abimelech goes up to Mount Zalmon, he and all the people who [are] with him, and Abimelech takes the great axe in his hand, and cuts off a bough of the trees, and lifts it up, and sets [it] on his shoulder, and says to the people who [are] with him, “What you have seen me do—hurry, do as I [have done].”
Abimelek yi Zalmɔn to dzi. Efɔ nake lé ɖe abɔta eye wòɖe gbe na eƒe ameawo bena woawɔ nu si tututu yewɔ.
49 And every one of the people cuts down his bough and goes after Abimelech, and sets [them] at the high place, and burns the high place with fire by these, and also all the men of the Tower of Shechem die—about one thousand men and women.
Ale ameawo dometɔ ɖe sia ɖe fɔ nake yi dua me. Abimelek tsɔ eƒe nake tu mɔ la ƒe gli ŋu eya ta ameawo hã wɔ nenema ke. Woli kɔ woƒe nakewo ɖe glia ŋu eye wode dzo nakekɔ la me. Ale ame abe akpe ɖeka ene, ŋutsuwo kple nyɔnuwo siaa, ame siwo nɔ mɔ la me la katã ku.
50 And Abimelech goes to Thebez, and encamps against Thebez, and captures it,
Abimelek ho aʋa ɖe Tebez du la ŋu azɔ eye wòxɔe.
51 and a strong tower has been in the midst of the city, and all the men and the women flee there, and all the masters of the city, and they shut [it] behind them, and go up on the roof of the tower.
Mɔ sesẽ aɖe nɔ dua me eya ta dua me tɔwo katã si yi eme. Wotu agbo la heyi mɔ la tame ke henɔ ŋku lém ɖe Abimelek kple eƒe amewo ŋu.
52 And Abimelech comes to the tower, and fights against it, and draws near to the opening of the tower to burn it with fire,
Esi Abimelek va mɔ la te eye wònɔ dzadzram ɖo be yeatɔ dzoe la,
53 and a certain woman casts a piece of a millstone on the head of Abimelech, and breaks his skull,
nyɔnu aɖe ɖe asi le nutukpe gã aɖe ŋu tso mɔ la tame ɖo ɖe anyigba eye kpea ge dze Abimelek dzi eye wogbã ta nɛ.
54 and he calls quickly to the young man carrying his weapons and says to him, “Draw your sword, and you have put me to death, lest they say of me—A woman slew him”; and his young man pierced him through, and he dies.
Abimelek gblɔ na eƒe adekplɔvi be, “Wum! Elabena menyo be woase be nyɔnue wu Abimelek o!” Ale adekplɔvi la tɔ hɛe wòku.
55 And the men of Israel see that Abimelech [is] dead, and each one goes to his place;
Esi Israelviwo kpɔ be Abimelek ku la, wokaka yi wo de.
56 and God turns back the evil of Abimelech which he did to his father to slay his seventy brothers;
Ale Mawu he to na Abimelek le nu vɔ̃ si wòwɔ ɖe fofoa ŋu, to fofoa ƒe vi blaadreawo wuwu me la ta.
57 and God has returned all the evil of the men of Shechem on their [own] head, and the cursing of Jotham son of Jerubba‘al comes to them.
Mawu na Sekemtɔwo hã kpe fu ɖe woƒe ŋutasesẽ ta, abe ale si Yotam, Yerubaal ƒe vi gblɔe do ŋgɔ, esi wòƒo fi de wo la ene.
