Judges 6
1 Again the Israelis did things that Yahweh said were very evil. So he allowed the people of Midian to conquer them and rule them for seven years.
Bana ya Isalaele basalaki lisusu mabe liboso ya Yawe, mpe Yawe akabaki bango mibu sambo na maboko ya bato ya Madiani.
2 The people of Midian treated the Israelis so cruelly that the Israelis fled to the mountains. There they made places to live in caves and animal dens.
Lokola loboko ya bato ya Madiani ezalaki na nguya makasi likolo ya Isalaele, bana ya Isalaele babongisaki mabulu ya kokimela mpe bibombelo kati na mabanga, kuna na likolo ya bangomba.
3 Whenever the Israelis planted things in their fields, the people of Midian and Amalek and other groups from the east invaded Israel.
Tango nyonso oyo bana ya Isalaele bazalaki kolona bilanga na bango, bato ya Madiani, bato ya Amaleki mpe bato ya bikolo mosusu ya ngambo ya este, bazalaki koya kobundisa Isalaele.
4 They set up tents in the area, and then destroyed the crops as far south as Gaza. They did not leave anything for the Israelis’ sheep or cattle or donkeys to eat.
Bazalaki kotonga milako na bango pene ya bana ya Isalaele, mpe bazalaki kobebisa bilanga na bango, kino pene ya Gaza. Bazalaki kotikela bana ya Isalaele ata eloko moko te ya kolia, ata meme to ntaba te, ata ngombe te, ata mpe ane te.
5 They came into Israel with their tents and their livestock like a swarm of locusts. There were [so many of them that] arrived riding on their camels that no one could count them. They stayed and ruined the Israelis’ crops.
Bazalaki komata ebele lokola mabanki elongo na bibwele na bango mpe bandako na bango ya kapo. Ezalaki pasi mpo na kotanga motango ya bato mpe ya bashamo na bango; bazalaki kokota na mokili ya Isalaele mpo na kobebisa yango nyonso.
6 The people of Midian took almost everything the Israelis owned. So finally the Israelis pleaded for Yahweh to help them.
Bato ya Madiani bakomisaki bana ya Isalaele babola makasi. Boye, bana ya Isalaele bagangaki epai na Yawe mpo ete asunga bango.
7 When the Israelis pleaded with Yahweh to help them because of [what] the people from Midian [were doing to them],
Tango bana ya Isalaele babelelaki Yawe mpo ete akangola bango wuta na maboko ya bato ya Madiani,
8 he sent to them a prophet, who said, “Yahweh, the God we Israelis worship, says this: ‘Your ancestors were slaves in Egypt.
Yawe atindelaki bango mosakoli oyo alobaki na bango: « Tala makambo oyo Yawe, Nzambe ya Isalaele, alobi: ‹ Ngai nde nabimisaki bino na Ejipito, ndako ya bowumbu.
9 But I rescued them from the leaders of Egypt and from all the others who oppressed them. I expelled their enemies from this land, and gave it to your ancestors.
Nakangolaki bino wuta na maboko ya bato ya Ejipito mpe na maboko ya bato nyonso oyo banyokolaki bino; nabenganaki bango liboso na bino mpe napesaki bino mokili na bango.
10 I told you all, “I am Yahweh, your God. You are now in the land where the descendants of Amor live, but you must not worship the gods whom they worship.” But you did not pay attention to me.’”
Nalobaki na bino: Nazali Yawe, Nzambe na bino; bogumbamela nzambe ya bato ya Amori te, kati na mokili oyo bozali kovanda. Kasi boyokelaki Ngai te. › »
11 One day Yahweh appeared [in the form of] an angel and sat underneath a big oak tree at Ophrah [town]. That tree belonged to Joash, who was from the clan of Abiezer. Joash’s son Gideon was threshing wheat in the pit where they pressed [grapes to make] wine. He was threshing the grain there in order to hide it from the people of Midian.
Anjelu ya Yawe ayaki mpe avandaki na se ya terebente oyo ezalaki na Ofira, kati na mabele ya Joasi, moto ya libota ya Abiezeri. Jedeon, mwana mobali ya Joasi, azalaki kosangisa bambuma ya ble esika moko, na esika oyo basalaka masanga ya vino, mpo na kobomba yango liboso ya bato ya Madiani.
12 Yahweh [went over] to Gideon and said to him, “You mighty warrior, Yahweh is helping you!”
Anjelu ya Yawe abimelaki Jedeon mpe alobaki na ye: — Yawe azali elongo na yo, elombe ya bitumba.
13 Gideon replied, “Sir, if Yahweh is helping us, why have all these [bad things] happened to us? We heard about [RHQ] all the miracles that Yahweh performed for our ancestors. We heard people tell us about how he rescued them from [being slaves in] Egypt. But now Yahweh has abandoned us, and we are ruled by the people from Midian.”
Jedeon azongisaki: — Ah nkolo, soki Yawe azali elongo na biso, mpo na nini makambo nyonso oyo ezali kokomela biso? Wapi makambo nyonso ya kokamwa oyo bakoko na biso bazalaki koyebisa biso tango bazalaki koloba ete Yawe abimisaki biso na Ejipito? Sik’oyo, Yawe atiki biso mpe asundoli biso na maboko ya bato ya Madiani.
14 Then Yahweh turned toward him and said, “I will give you strength to enable you to rescue the Israelis from the people of Midian. I am sending you [to do that]!”
Yawe abalukaki epai na ye mpe alobaki: — Kende, salela makasi oyo ozali na yango mpe bikisa bana ya Isalaele na maboko ya bato ya Madiani. Boni, ezali Ngai te nde natindi yo?
15 Gideon replied, “But Yahweh, how can I rescue the Israelis? My clan is the least significant in the whole tribe descended from Manasseh, and I am the least significant person in my whole family!”
Jedeon azongisaki: — Ah nkolo na ngai, ndenge nini ngai nakoki kobikisa bana ya Isalaele? Kati na Manase, libota na ngai nde ezangi makasi koleka, mpe ngai nazali mwana ya suka kati na ndako ya tata na ngai.
16 Yahweh said to him, “I will help you. So you will defeat the army of Midian [as easily] as if you were fighting only one man!”
Yawe alobaki na ye: — Nakozala elongo na yo, mpe okoboma bato ya Madiani lokola moto moko.
17 Gideon replied, “If you are truly pleased with me, do something which will prove that you who are speaking to me are really Yahweh.
Jedeon alobaki: — Solo, soki nazwi ngolu na miso na Yo, pesa ngai elembo oyo ekolakisa solo ete Yo Yawe nde ozali kosolola na ngai.
18 But do not go away until I go and bring back an offering to you.” Yahweh answered, “Okay, I will stay here until you return.”
Nabondeli Yo, kolongwa na esika oyo te kino nakozonga awa na likabo na ngai mpo ete nabonza yango liboso na Yo. Yawe alobaki: — Nakozela kino okozonga.
19 Gideon hurried to his home. He [killed] a young goat [and] cooked [it]. Then he took (a half a bushel/18 liters) of flour and baked some bread without yeast. Then he put the cooked meat in a basket, and put the broth [from the meat] in a pot, and took it to Yahweh, who was sitting under the tree.
Jedeon azongaki epai na ye, abongisaki mwana ntaba, azwaki kilo tuku misato ya farine, asalaki na yango mapa oyo ezanga levire, atiaki mapa yango na kitunga, mpe atiaki elubu na nzungu. Amemaki yango mpe apesaki nyonso epai na Anjelu na Nzambe, oyo azalaki na se ya terebente.
20 Then Yahweh said to him, “Put the meat and the bread on this rock. Then pour the broth on top of it.” So Gideon did that.
Anjelu na Nzambe alobaki na ye: — Kamata nyama mpe mapa oyo ezanga levire, tia yango na likolo ya libanga oyo mpe sopela yango elubu. Jedeon asalaki yango.
21 Then Yahweh touched the meat and bread with the walking stick that was in his hand. A fire flamed up from the rock and burned up everything that Gideon had brought! And then Yahweh disappeared.
Bongo Anjelu ya Yawe asembolaki nzete oyo asimbaki na loboko na Ye, mpe songe na yango etutaki nyama mpe mapa oyo ezanga levire. Moto ebimaki wuta na libanga mpe ezikisaki nyama mpe mapa. Anjelu ya Yawe alimwaki na miso na ye.
22 When Gideon realized that it was really Yahweh [who had appeared in the form of an angel and talked with him], he exclaimed, “O, Yahweh, I have seen you face-to-face [when you had the form of] an angel! [So I will surely die]!”
Tango Jedeon asosolaki ete Ye oyo azalaki elongo na ye azali Anjelu ya Yawe, agangaki: « Nkolo Yawe, mawa na ngai! Pamba te namoni Anjelu ya Yawe, miso na miso. »
23 But Yahweh called to him and said, “Do not be afraid! You will not die [because of seeing me]!”
Kasi Yawe alobaki na ye: — Zala na kimia! Kobanga te.
24 Then Gideon built an altar to [worship] Yahweh there. He named it ‘Yahweh gives us peace’. That altar is still there in Ophrah [town], in the land that belongs to the descendants of Abiezer.
Bongo Jedeon atongaki etumbelo mpo na Yawe mpe abengaki yango « Yawe apesaka kimia. » Etumbelo yango ezali kino na mokolo ya lelo kati na Ofira, mboka ya libota ya Abiezeri.
25 That night Yahweh said to Gideon, “Take the second-best/oldest bull from your father’s herd, the bull that is seven years old. [Kill it]. Then tear down the altar that your father built to [worship] the god Baal. Also cut down the pole for worshipping [the goddess] Astarte that is there beside it.
Na butu wana, Yawe alobaki na Jedeon: — Kamata ngombe ya mobali ya mibu sambo, na etonga ya bibwele ya tata na yo. Buka etumbelo ya nzambe Bala, oyo ezali ya tata na yo, mpe kata ekeko ya Ashera, oyo ezali pembeni na yango.
26 Then build a [stone] altar to worship me, your God Yahweh, here on this hill. Take the wood from the pole you cut down and make a fire [to cook the meat of the bull] as a burnt offering to me.”
Tonga etumbelo ya malamu mpo na Yawe, Nzambe na yo, na songe ya ngomba oyo. Na sima, kamata ngombe ya mobali mpe bonza yango nyonso lokola mbeka ya kotumba, na moto ya koni ya ekeko ya Ashera, oyo okataki.
27 So Gideon and his servants did what Yahweh commanded. But they did it at night, because he was afraid what the other members of his family and the other men in town would do to him if they found out that he had done that.
Jedeon akamataki basali na ye zomi mpe asalaki ndenge Yawe alobaki na ye. Lokola azalaki kobanga libota na ye mpe bato ya engumba na ye, asalaki yango na butu, kasi na moyi te.
28 Early the next morning, as soon as the men got up, they saw that the altar to Baal had been torn down, and the pole for worshiping Astarte was gone. They saw that there was a new altar there, and on it was what remained from the bull they had sacrificed.
Na tongo-tongo, tango bato ya engumba balamukaki, bamonaki ete etumbelo ya nzambe Bala epanzani, ekeko ya Ashera oyo ezalaki pembeni na yango ekatami; mpe bamonaki lisusu ete babonzi ngombe ya mobali na likolo ya etumbelo oyo batongi sika.
29 The people asked each other, “Who did this?” After they investigated, someone told them that it was Gideon, the son of Joash, [who had done it].
Balobanaki: « Nani asali makambo ya boye? » Wana bazalaki kotuna mpo na koluka koyeba, bayebisaki bango ete ezali Jedeon, mwana mobali ya Joasi, moto asalaki bongo.
30 They went to Joash and said to him, “Bring your son out here! (He must be executed/We must kill him), because he destroyed our god Baal’s altar and cut down the pole for our goddess Astarte!”
Bato ya engumba balobaki na Joasi: — Bimisa mwana na yo ya mobali. Asengeli kokufa. Pamba te ye moto apanzi etumbelo ya nzambe Bala mpe akati ekeko ya Ashera oyo ezalaki pembeni na yango.
31 But Joash replied, “Are you trying to defend Baal? Are you trying to argue his case? Anyone who tries to defend Baal should be executed by tomorrow morning! If Baal is truly a god, he ought to be able to defend himself, and to get rid of the person who tore down his altar!”
Kasi Joasi azongiselaki bango nyonso oyo batelemelaki ye: — Boni, bino nde bokolobela Bala? Bino nde bokobundela ye? Moto nyonso oyo akobundela ye akokufa liboso ete tongo etana. Soki ye Bala azali nzambe, tika ete amibundela ye moko mpo ete babuki etumbelo na ye.
32 From that time, people called Gideon Jerub-Baal, which means ‘Baal should defend himself’, because he tore down Baal’s altar.
Kobanda mokolo wana, mpo ete Jedeon apanzaki etumbelo ya Bala, bakomaki kobenga ye « Yerubali » oyo elingi koloba: Tika ete Bala amibundela ye moko.
33 Soon after that, the armies of the people of Midian and of Amalek and the people from the east gathered together. They crossed the Jordan River [to attack the Israelis]. They set up their tents in Jezreel Valley.
Na tango wana, bato ya Madiani, ya Amaleki mpe bato ya ngambo ya este basanganaki elongo, bakatisaki ngambo ya Yordani mpe batongaki molako na bango na lubwaku ya Jizireyeli.
34 Then Yahweh’s Spirit took control of Gideon. He blew a ram’s horn to summon the men to prepare to fight. So the men of the clan of Abiezer came to him.
Kasi Molimo na Yawe alataki Jedeon, mpe abetaki kelelo mpo na kobengisa bato ya libota ya Abiezeri na tina ete balanda ye.
35 He also sent messengers throughout the tribes descended from [the four tribes of] Manasseh, Asher, Zebulun, and Naphtali [to tell their soldiers to come], and all of them came.
Jedeon atindaki bantoma na etuka nyonso ya Manase; mpe bato ya Manase basanganaki mpo na kozala sima na ye. Atindaki lisusu bantoma na libota ya Aseri, ya Zabuloni mpe ya Nefitali mpo ete bamata mpe bakutana na ye.
36 Then Gideon said to God, “If you are truly going to enable me to rescue the Israeli people as you promised,
Jedeon alobaki na Nzambe: « Soki okobikisa Isalaele na nzela ya maboko na ngai lokola olakaki ngai,
37 confirm it by doing this: Tonight I will put a dry wool fleece on the ground where I thresh the grain. Tomorrow morning, if the fleece is wet with dew but the ground is dry, then I will know that I am the one you will enable to rescue the people of Israel as you promised.”
nakotanda bapwale ya meme na esika oyo batutaka bambuma ya ble. Soki mamwe emonani kaka na likolo ya bapwale kasi mabele etikali ya kokawuka, wana nakoyeba ete okobikisa Isalaele na nzela ya loboko na ngai ndenge olobaki. »
38 And that is what happened. When Gideon got up the next morning, he picked up the fleece, and squeezed out a whole bowlful of water!
Mpe esalemaki bongo. Mokolo oyo elandaki, Jedeon alamukaki na tongo-tongo, akamolaki bapwale, ebimisaki mayi mpe etondisaki sani mobimba.
39 Then Gideon said to God, “Do not be angry with me, but let me ask you to do one more thing. Tonight I will put the fleece out again. This time, let the fleece remain dry, while the ground is wet with the dew.”
Boye, Jedeon ayebisaki Nzambe: « Kosilikela ngai te, pesa ngai nzela ete nasenga lisusu elembo moko. Ya mbala oyo, sala ete bapwale ezala ya kokawuka, kasi mabele epola na mamwe. »
40 So that night, God did what Gideon asked him to do. The next morning the fleece was dry, but the ground was covered with dew.
Nzambe asalelaki ye bongo, na butu yango: bapwale etikalaki ya kokawuka, kasi mabele ya pembeni epolaki na mamwe.
