< 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,
Abimeleku mũrũ wa Jerubu-Baali nĩathiire kũrĩ aa mamawe na andũ othe a mbarĩ ya kũrĩa nyina oimĩte kũu Shekemu, akĩmeera atĩrĩ,
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.”
“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 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”;
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 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;
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 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.
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 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;
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 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:
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 have diligently gone to anoint a king over them, and they say to the olive, Reign over us.
Mũthenya ũmwe mĩtĩ nĩyoimagarire ĩgaitĩrĩrie ũmwe wayo maguta atuĩke mũthamaki wayo. Nayo ĩkĩĩra mũtamaiyũ atĩrĩ, ‘Ũka ũtuĩke mũthamaki witũ.’
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?
“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 say to the fig, Come, reign over us.
“Thuutha ũcio mĩtĩ ĩyo ĩkĩĩra mũkũyũ atĩrĩ, ‘Ũka ũtuĩke mũthamaki witũ.’
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?
“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 say to the vine, Come, reign over us.
“Ningĩ mĩtĩ ĩkĩĩra mũthabibũ atĩrĩ, ‘Ũka ũtuĩke mũthamaki witũ.’
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?
“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 And all the trees say to the bramble, Come, reign over us.
“Kũrĩkĩrĩria mĩtĩ yothe ĩkĩĩra mũtare wa gĩthaka-inĩ atĩrĩ, ‘Ũka ũtuĩke mũthamaki witũ.’
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.
“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 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—
“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 because my father has fought for you, and casts his life away from [him], and delivers you from the hand of Midian;
tondũ baba nĩwe wamũrũĩrĩire, agĩtwarĩrĩria muoyo wake ũgwati-inĩ nĩgeetha amũhonokie moko-inĩ ma Amidiani,
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—
(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 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;
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 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.”
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 hurries, and flees, and goes to Beer, and dwells there, from the face of his brother Abimelech.
Hĩndĩ ĩyo Jothamu agĩĩthara, akĩũrĩra kũu Biri, nake agĩtũũra kuo nĩ ũndũ nĩetigagĩra mũrũ wa ithe, Abimeleku.
22 And Abimelech is prince over Israel [for] three years,
Thuutha wa Abimeleku gwathana Isiraeli mĩaka ĩtatũ-rĩ,
23 and God sends an evil spirit between Abimelech and the masters of Shechem, and the masters of Shechem deal treacherously with Abimelech,
Ngai agĩtũma roho mũũru gatagatĩ ka Abimeleku na atũũri a Shekemu, arĩa meekire maũndũ mooru ma ũhinga kũrĩ Abimeleku.
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.
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 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.
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 son of Ebed comes—also his brothers—and they pass over into Shechem, and the masters of Shechem trust in him,
Nake Gaali mũrũ wa Ebedi hamwe na ariũ a ithe magĩthaamĩra kũu Shekemu, nao atũũri akuo makĩmwĩhoka.
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.
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 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?
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 oh that this people were in my hand—then I turn Abimelech aside”; and he says to Abimelech, “Increase your host, 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 Zebul, prince of the city, hears the words of Gaal son of Ebed, and his anger burns,
Rĩrĩa Zebuli ũcio mwathi wa itũũra aiguire ũrĩa Gaali mũrũ wa Ebedi oigĩte-rĩ, akĩrakario nĩ ũhoro ũcio mũno.
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;
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 and now, rise by night, you and the people who [are] with you, and lay wait in the field,
Nĩ ũndũ wa ũguo-rĩ, ũtukũ wakinya wee na andũ aku mũũke mũmoohie mĩgũnda-inĩ.
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.”
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 rises, and all the people who [are] with him, by night, and they lay wait against Shechem—four detachments;
Nĩ ũndũ ũcio Abimeleku marĩ hamwe na mbũtũ ciake ciothe cia ita makiumagara ũtukũ, makĩĩhitha gũkuhĩ na Shekemu marĩ ikundi inya.
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,
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 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.”
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 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.”
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 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.”
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 goes out before the masters of Shechem, and fights against Abimelech,
Nĩ ũndũ ũcio Gaali agĩtongoria atũũri a Shekemu makĩhũũrana na Abimeleku.
40 and Abimelech pursues him, and he flees from his presence, and many fall wounded—to the opening of the gate.
Abimeleku akĩmũtengʼeria, nao andũ aingĩ makĩgũa magurarĩtio makĩũra kũu guothe o nginya itoonyero-inĩ rĩa kĩhingo.
41 And Abimelech abides in Arumah, and Zebul casts out Gaal and his brothers from dwelling in Shechem.
Abimeleku agĩtũũra Aruma, nake Zebuli akĩrutũrũra Gaali hamwe na ariũ a ithe kuuma Shekemu.
42 And it comes to pass, on the next day, that the people go out to the field, and they declare [it] to Abimelech,
Mũthenya ũyũ ũngĩ andũ a Shekemu magĩthiĩ mĩgũnda-inĩ, nake Abimeleku akĩmenyithio ũhoro ũcio.
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.
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 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,
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 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.
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 all the masters of the Tower of Shechem hear, and go into the high place of the house of the god 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 is declared to Abimelech that all the masters of the Tower of Shechem have gathered themselves together,
Rĩrĩa Abimeleku aiguire atĩ nĩmacookanĩrĩire kuo-rĩ,
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].”
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 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.
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 And Abimelech goes to Thebez, and encamps against Thebez, and captures it,
Abimeleku agĩthiĩ itũũra rĩa Thebezu, akĩrĩrigiicĩria na akĩrĩtunyana.
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.
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 comes to the tower, and fights against it, and draws near to the opening 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 casts a piece of a millstone on the head of Abimelech, and breaks his skull,
mũtumia ũmwe akĩmũgũithĩria ihiga rĩa gĩthĩi mũtwe, rĩkĩmũhehenja mũtwe.
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.
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 the men of Israel see that Abimelech [is] dead, and each one goes to his place;
Hĩndĩ ĩrĩa andũ a Isiraeli moonire atĩ Abimeleku nĩakuĩte-rĩ, makĩĩinũkĩra.
56 and God turns back the evil of Abimelech which he did to his father to slay his seventy brothers;
Ũguo nĩguo Ngai aarĩhirie Abimeleku nĩ ũndũ wa waganu ũrĩa ekĩte ithe, wa kũũraga ariũ-a-ithe mĩrongo mũgwanja.
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.
Ningĩ Ngai akĩrĩhia andũ a Shekemu nĩ ũndũ wa waganu wao wothe. Kĩrumi kĩa Jothamu mũrũ wa Jerubu-Baali gĩkĩmacookerera.