Judges 9
1 Then went Abimelech son of Jerubbaal, to Shechem, unto the brethren of his mother, —and spake unto them, and unto all the family of the house of his mother’s father, saying;
Da koro bi, Yerub-Baal babarima Abimelek kɔɔ Sekem kɔsraa ne wɔfanom a wɔyɛ ne na nuabarimanom. Ɔka kyerɛɛ wɔn ne ne na fifo nkae no se,
2 Speak, I pray you, in the ears of all the owners of Shechem—Which is better for you, that there should rule over you, seventy men, all sons of Jerubbaal, or that there should rule over you, one man? And remember that, your bone and your flesh, am I.
“Mummisa ɔmanfo a wɔwɔ Sekem no se, wɔpɛ sɛ Yerub-Baal mmabarima aduɔson no nyinaa di wɔn so anaasɛ wɔpɛ sɛ ɔbarima baako di wɔn so? Na monkae sɛ meyɛ mo bogya!”
3 So the brethren of his mother spake for him, in the ears of all the owners of Shechem, all these words, —and their heart inclined after Abimelech, for they said—Our own brother, is he.
Enti Abimelek wɔfanom gyinaa nʼanan mu kasa kyerɛɛ nnipa a wɔwɔ Sekem nyinaa. Na wotiee wɔn adwenkyerɛ no, wɔpenee so faa Abimelek, efisɛ ɔyɛ wɔn busuani.
4 So they gave him seventy pieces of silver, out of the house of Baal-berith, —and Abimelech hired therewith, loose and unstable men, and they followed him.
Wɔfaa dwetɛ sika nnwetɛbona aduɔson fi Baal-Berit nsɔre so de maa Abimelek, na ɔde faa asraafo a wɔpenee so sɛ wubedi nʼakyi.
5 And he entered the house of his father, at Ophrah, and slew his brethren, sons of Jerubbaal, seventy men, upon one stone, —but there remained Jotham, the youngest son of Jerubbaal, for he had hidden himself.
Ɔde asraafo no kɔɔ nʼagya kurom wɔ Ofra. Na ɛhɔ, ɔbo bi so, na okunkum nʼagya mmabarima aduɔson no nyinaa. Nanso ne nuanom mu akumaa koraa a wɔfrɛ no Yotam no guan kɔtɛwee baabi.
6 Then were gathered together all the owners of Shechem, and all the house of Millo, and they went and made Abimelech king, —by the oak of the pillar, that was in Shechem.
Enti Sekemfo ne Bet-Milofo yɛɛ nhyiamu wɔ odupɔn a ɛbɛn nkaedum a ɛwɔ Sekem no ase. Wosii Abimelek wɔn so hene.
7 And, when it was told Jotham, he went and stood on the top of Mount Gerizim, and lifted up his voice, and cried aloud, —and said unto them—Hearken unto me, ye owners of Shechem, and may God, hearken unto you.
Yotam tee asɛm yi no, ɔforo kɔɔ Gerisim bepɔw no atifi na ɔteɛɛ mu ka kyerɛɛ wɔn se, “Sekemfo muntie me! Sɛ mopɛ sɛ Onyankopɔn tie mo de a, muntie me!
8 The trees, went their way, to anoint over them, a king, —and they said unto the olive tree—Reign thou over us.
Bere bi, nnua nyinaa pɛɛ sɛ wosi wɔn so hene. Nea edi kan no, wɔka kyerɛɛ ngodua se, ‘Bedi yɛn so hene!’
9 But the olive tree said unto them, Should I leave my fatness, which, in me, gods and men do honour, —and go to wave to and fro, over the trees?
“Nanso, wampene so kae se, ‘Adɛn? Minnyae me ngo a wɔde hyɛ Onyankopɔn ne nnipa anuonyam no, na minkokyinkyin nnua a aka so ana?’
10 Then said the trees unto the fig-tree, —Come! thou reign over us.
“Afei, wɔka kyerɛɛ borɔdɔma se ‘Bedi yɛn so hene!’
11 But the fig-tree said unto them, Should I leave my sweetness, and mine excellent increase, —and go to wave to and fro, over the trees?
“Borɔdɔma nso buae se, ‘Na minnyae aba sow na minkyin nnua afoforo so?’
12 Then said the trees unto the vine, —Come! thou, reign over us.
“Afei wɔka kyerɛɛ bobe se, ‘Bedi yɛn so hene.’
13 But the vine said unto them, Should I leave my new wine, that rejoiceth gods and men, —and go to wave to and fro, over the trees?
“Na bobe no buae se, ‘Sɛ migyae me nsa pa a ɛma anyame ne nnipa anigye no ma a, na afei na merebekyin nnua bi so ana?’
14 Then said all the trees, unto the bramble, —Come, thou, to reign over us.
“Ne korakora ne sɛ, nnua no nyinaa ka kyerɛɛ nsɔe se, ‘Bedi yɛn so hene.’
15 And the bramble said unto the trees, If, in truth, ye are about to anoint me to be king over you, come, take refuge in my shade, —but, if not, there shall come forth fire out of the bramble, and devour the cedars of Lebanon.
“Na nsɔe buae se, ‘Sɛ ɛyɛ mo adwene kann sɛ mode me besi mo so hene a, mommra mmɛhyɛ me nwini yi ase. Sɛ ɛnte saa a, momma ogya mfi nsɔe mu mmɛhyew Lebanon sida nyinaa.’
16 Now, therefore, if, in truth and sincerity, ye have acted, in making Abimelech king, —and if ye have dealt, well, with Jerubbaal and with his house, and if, according to the deserving of his hands, ye have done unto him;
“Afei mugye di sɛ moayɛ nea ɛho wɔ nyam, na ɛnam ne kwan mu sɛ mode Abimelek asi mo so hene, na moayɛ Yerub-Baal ne nʼasefo nyinaa apɛde. Moayɛ nea ɛfata ama mʼagya ana?
17 in that my father fought for you, and cast his soul away from before him, and rescued you out of the hand of Midian; —
Na ɔko maa mo de ne ho bɔɔ afɔre bere a ogyee mo fii Midianfo nsam no.
18 yet have, ye, risen up against the house of my father, to-day, and slain his sons—seventy men, upon one stone, —and made Abimelech, son of his maidservant, king over the owners of Shechem, because he is, your brother;
Na nnɛ, moasɔre atia mʼagya ne nʼasefo, akunkum ne mmabarima aduɔson wɔ ɔbo baako so. Mode Abimelek a ɔyɛ ne somfobea babarima asi Sekem manfo so hene, sɛ ɔyɛ mo busuani nti.
19 if then, in truth and in sincerity, ye have dealt with Jerubbaal and with his house, this day, rejoice ye in Abimelech, and let, him also, rejoice in you;
Sɛ moayɛ nea ɛho wɔ nyam na ɛnam ne kwan mu ama Yerub-Baal ne nʼasefo a, ɛno de mubenya ahosɛpɛw wɔ Abimelek mu na ɔno nso anya ahosɛpɛw wɔ mo mu.
20 but, if not, let fire come out from Abimelech, and devour the owners of Shechem, and the house of Millo, —and let fire come out from the owners of Shechem, and from the house of Millo, and devour Abimelech!
Sɛ nea moayɛ no mfa ne kwan mu de a, ɛno de, ogya mfi Abimelek nkyɛn mmɛhyew mo, Sekemfo ne Bet-Milofo. Na ogya nso mfi Sekemfo ne Bet-Milofo nkyɛn mmɛhyew Abimelek!”
21 And Jotham hasted away, and fled, and went to Beer, —and dwelt there, away from the face of Abimelech his brother.
Na esiane Abimelek ho suro nti, ne nuabarima Yotam guan kɔtenaa Beer.
22 And Abimelech ruled over Israel three years.
Abimelek dii Israel so mfe abiɛsa akyi no,
23 Then God let go a spirit of mischief between Abimelech and the owners of Shechem, —and the owners of Shechem dealt treacherously with Abimelech:
Onyankopɔn somaa honhom fi bi ma ɔde ɔhaw baa Abimelek ne Sekem mpanyimfo ntam na wɔtew atua.
24 that the cruel wrong to the seventy sons of Jerubbaal might [come upon them], —and that their blood might be laid upon Abimelech their brother, who slew them, and upon the owners of Shechem who strengthened his hands, to slay his brethren.
Nsɛm a esisii akyi yi mu no, Onyankopɔn twee Abimelek ne Sekemfo aso sɛ wokunkum Yerub-Baal mmabarima aduɔson no.
25 So the owners of Shechem set for him liers in wait, upon the tops of the mountains, and they robbed all who crossed over them by the road, —and it was told Abimelech.
Sekem mmarima bi kɔtɛwee Abimelek wɔ mmepɔw atifi, na wɔbɔɔ obiara a otwaa mu wɔ hɔ no apoo. Nnipa bi kɔɔ Abimelek nkyɛn kotii nʼase.
26 And Gaal son of Ebed came, with his brethren, and they passed through to Shechem, —and the owners of Shechem put their trust in him.
Saa bere no, Ebed babarima Gaal ne ne nuabarimanom kɔɔ Sekem. Na Sekemfo no nyaa wɔn mu awerehyɛmu.
27 Then went they out into the fields, and gathered the fruit of their vineyards and trode [the grapes], and held a vintage festival, —and entered the house of their god, and did eat and drink, and poured contempt on Abimelech.
Bere a wɔredi Otwabere Afahyɛ wɔ Sekem wɔ ɛhɔ nyame bi nsɔree so no, bobesa buu so wɔ hɔ maa obiara fitii ase domee Abimelek.
28 And Gaal son of Ebed said: Who is Abimelech—and who is the son of Shechem, that we should serve him? Is he not the son of Jerubbaal? and Zebul his officer? Serve ye the men of Hamor, Shechem’s father, but why should, we, serve him?
Gaal teɛɛ mu se, “Hena ne Abimelek? Ɔnyɛ Sekem aseni kann, na adɛn nti na ɛsɛ sɛ yɛyɛ nʼasomfo? Ɔyɛ Yerub-Baal babarima kɛkɛ na Sebul na ɔtoto ne man ho nhyehyɛe ma no. Monsom nnipa a wofi Hamor, wɔn na wɔyɛ Sekem asefo kann. Adɛn nti na ɛsɛ sɛ yɛsom Abimelek?
29 Would, then, this people were in my hand! that I might set aside Abimelech, —and say to Abimelech, Increase thine army, and come out!
Sɛ mewɔ tumi a, anka meyi Abimelek afi hɔ. Anka mɛka akyerɛ no se, ‘Pɛ asraafo bebree bra bɛko!’”
30 And, when Zubul, governor of the city, heard the words of Gaal the son of Ebed, then was kindled his anger.
Na Sebul a otua kurow no ano tee nea Gaal rekeka no, ne bo fuwii.
31 And he sent messengers unto Abimelech, by deceit, saying, —Lo! Gaal son of Ebed, and his brethren, are coming into Shechem; and lo! are fortifying the city against thee.
Ɔsomaa abɔfo kɔɔ Abimelek nkyɛn wɔ Aruma, kɔka kyerɛɛ no se, “Ebed babarima Gaal ne ne nuabarimanom abɛtena Sekem na wɔretu ɔmanfo no aso sɛ wɔnsɔre ntia wo.
32 Now, therefore, up by night, thou and the people that are with thee, and lie in wait in the field;
Fa asraafo bra anadwo bɛtɛw mfuw yi mu.
33 and it shall be, in the morning, about sunrise, thou shalt get up early, and spread thyself out against the city, —when lo! he and the people that are with him coming out against thee, so shalt thou do unto him as thy hand shall find opportunity.
Ade kyee ara pɛ, tow hyɛ kuropɔn yi so. Na sɛ Gaal ne nʼapamfo ba betia wo a, nea wopɛ biara wutumi yɛ wɔn.”
34 So Abimelech rose up, and all the people that were with him, by night, —and they lay in wait above Shechem, in four companies.
Na Abimelek ne ne mmarima kɔɔ anadwo no, na wɔkyɛɛ wɔn mu akuw anan de twaa Sekem ho hyiae.
35 Then came forth Gaal son of Ebed, and took his stand at the opening of the gate of the city, —so Abimelech rose up, and the people that were with him, from the place of ambush.
Bere a Abimelek ne nʼakofo pue fii ahintawee mu no, na Gaal gyina kurow no pon ano.
36 And, when Gaal saw the people, he said unto Zebul, Lo! people coming down from the tops of the mountains. And Zebul said unto him, The shadow of the mountains, thou seest, like men.
Bere a Gaal huu wɔn no, ɔka kyerɛɛ Sebul se, “Hwɛ, nnipa bi fi bepɔw no so reba!” Sebul buae se, “Ɛyɛ mmepɔw no sunsuma na ayɛ sɛ nnipa no.”
37 Then did Gaal yet further speak, and say—Lo! people coming down from the highest part of the land, —and one company, coming in by way of the Conjurers’ Terebinth.
Nanso Gaal san kae se, “Dabi, nnipa bi resian mmepɔw no. Na kuw foforo nso nam ɔkwan a ɛfa Akɔmfo Dupɔn ho no reba.”
38 So then Zebul said unto him—Where, then, is thy mouth that kept on saying, Who is Abimelech, that we should serve him? Is not, this, the people which thou didst despise? Go forth, I pray thee, now, and fight with them!
Afei, Sebul dan guu ne so se, “Anosɛm a na woyɛ no ase ne dɛn? Ɛnyɛ wo ara na wokae se ‘Hena ne Abimelek, na adɛn nti na ɛsɛ sɛ yɛyɛ ne nkoa’ no? Ɛnyɛ nnipa yi na wudii wɔn ho fɛw no? Kɔ na wo ne wɔn nkɔko!”
39 And Gaal went forth before the owners of Shechem, —and fought against Abimelech.
Enti Gaal dii Sekem mmarima anim sɛ wɔrekɔko atia Abimelek,
40 And Abimelech chased him, and he fled before him, —and there fell a multitude of slain as far as the entering of the gate.
nanso odii nkogu na oguanee. Wokunkum Sekem akofo bebree sɛw wɔn afunu kɛtɛ wɔ ɔkwan a ɛkɔ kuropɔn no pon ano no so.
41 Then dwelt Abimelech in Arumah, —and Zebul thrust out Gaal and his brethren, that they should not dwell in Shechem.
Abimelek tenaa Aruma na Sebul pam Gaal ne ne nuanom mmarima fii Sekem.
42 And it came to pass, on the morrow, that the people went forth into the field, —and they told Abimelech.
Ade kyee no, Sekemfo no kɔɔ wura mu sɛ wɔrekɔko. Abimelek tee no,
43 So he took the people and divided them into three companies, and lay in wait in the field, —and he looked, and lo! the people coming forth out of the city, so he rose up against them, and smote them.
ɔkyɛɛ ne mmarima mu akuwakuw abiɛsa ma wɔkɔtetɛw wura mu. Bere a Abimelek huu sɛ nnipa no fi kuropɔn no mu reba no, ɔne ne mmarima no fii wɔn ahintawee mu tow hyɛɛ wɔn so.
44 And, Abimelech, and the companies that were with him, spread themselves out, and [one of the companies] took their stand at the opening of the gate of the city, —while, the two companies, spread themselves out against all that were in the field, and smote them.
Abimelek ne ne kuw no kogyee kuropɔn no pon ano hɔ fae sɛnea ɛbɛyɛ a Sekemfo rentumi nsan wɔn akyi. Afei, akuw abien tow hyɛɛ Sekemfo a wɔwɔ wuram hɔ no so kunkum wɔn.
45 And, Abimelech, fought against the city, all that day, and captured the city, the people also that were therein, he slew, —and brake down the city, and sowed it with salt.
Ɔko no kɔɔ so da mu no nyinaa ansa na Abimelek redi kuropɔn no so koraa. Okunkum nnipa no, sɛee kuropɔn no, na ɔpetee nkyene wɔ hɔ nyinaa.
46 And, when all the owners of the tower of Shechem heard, they entered into the basement of the house of El-berith.
Nnipa a wɔte Sekem abantenten mu tee asɛm a asi no, wokohintaw Baal-Berit nsɔree so.
47 And it was told Abimelech, that all the owners of the tower of Shechem had gathered themselves together.
Obi kɔbɔɔ Abimelek amanneɛ sɛ nnipa no bi aboa wɔn ho ano wɔ nsɔree so hɔ,
48 So Abimelech went up 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 lifted it, and laid it on his shoulder, —and said unto the people that were with him—What ye have seen me do, haste! do likewise.
enti odii nʼakofo anim kɔɔ Salmon Bepɔw so. Ɔfaa abonnua twaa mman bi fii dua bi so na ɔde guu ne mmati so. Ɔka kyerɛɛ ne dɔm no se, “Ntɛm, nea mayɛ yi, monyɛ bi!”
49 So, even all the people cut down every man his bough, and followed Abimelech, and laid them over the basement, and set it on fire over them who were therein, —even all the men of the tower of Shechem died about a thousand men and women.
Enti wɔn mu biara twitwaa dua mman no bi, sɛnea Abimelek yɛe no. Wɔboaa mman no ano wɔ nsɔree so no afasu ho de ogya too mu. Enti nnipa a na wɔte Sekem abantenten mu a wɔn dodow bɛyɛ mmarima ne mmea apem no nyinaa wuwui.
50 Then went Abimelech unto Thebez, —and encamped against Thebez, and captured it.
Afei Abimelek tow hyɛɛ kuropɔn Tebes so dii so.
51 Now, a strong tower, was in the midst of the city, and there fled thither all the men and the women, and all the owners of the city, and shut themselves in, —and went up on the roof of the tower.
Nanso na abandennen bi wɔ kuropɔn no mu. Ɛno nti, kuropɔn no mu nnipa nyinaa guan kɔhyɛɛ mu. Wɔtoo wɔn ho pon mu, foforo kɔɔ abandennen no atifi pɛɛ.
52 And Abimelech came in as far as the tower, and fought against it, —and so came near, as far as the entrance of the tower, to burn it with fire.
Abimelek toaa wɔn sɛ ɔrekɔtow ahyɛ abandennen no so. Ɔyɛɛ nʼadwene sɛ ɔreto mu gya pɛ,
53 And a certain woman cast an upper millstone upon the head of Abimelech, —and brake in pieces his skull.
ɔbea bi a ɔwɔ abandennen no atifi gyaa awiyammo mu ma ɛbɛbɔɔ Abimelek moma so na ɛpɛtɛw ne ti koraa.
54 Then called he hastily unto the young man bearing his armour, and said unto him—Draw thy sword, and put me to death, lest they say of me, A woman, slew him! So his young man thrust him through, and he died.
Abimelek ka kyerɛɛ aberante a okura nʼakode no se, “Twe wʼafoa na kum me! Na nnipa anka sɛ ɔbeabasia na okum Abimelek!” Enti aberante no de nʼafoa wɔɔ no maa owui.
55 And, when the men of Israel saw that Abimelech was, dead, they went their way every man to his own place.
Bere a Abimelek nkurɔfo huu sɛ wawu no, wɔde wɔn akode guu hɔ san kɔɔ wɔn afi mu.
56 Thus did God requite the wickedness of Abimelech, which he had done to his father, in slaying his seventy brethren;
Saa na Onyankopɔn twee Abimelek aso wɔ bɔne a ɔyɛ de tiaa nʼagya sɛ okum ne nuabarimanom aduɔson no.
57 all the wickedness also, of the men of Shechem, did God requite upon their own head, —and so brought in upon, them the curse of Jotham, son of Jerubbaal.
Saa ara na Onyankopɔn twee mmarima a wɔwɔ Sekem aso wɔ wɔn bɔne ahorow a wɔyɛɛ no ho. Ɛno nti, Yerub-Baal babarima Yotam nnome no baa mu.
