Judges 9
1 Gideon’s son Abimelech went to [talk with] his mother’s brothers in Shechem [city]. He said to them and to all his mother’s relatives,
Jerubbaal capa Abimelek a nupu rhoek taengah Shekhem la cet tih amih te khaw, a manu kah a napa imkhui cako boeih te a voek.
2 “Ask all the leaders of your city: ‘Do you [think it would be] good for all 70 of Gideon’s sons to rule over you? Or would it be better to have only one of his sons, [me], to rule over you?’ And do not forget that I am your relative! [MTY]”
Shekhem boei boeih kah a hna dongah khaw, “Jerubbaal ca rhoek hlang sawmrhih boeih loh nangmih soah a ngol ham neh hlang pakhat bueng loh nangmih soah a ngol ham te nangmih ham melae aka then bet eh? Te dongah kai khaw na rhuh na saa van ni tite poek uh,” a ti nah.
3 So Abimelech’s mother’s brothers spoke to all the leaders of Shechem about what Abimelech had said. They said to each other, “We should allow Abimelech to rule over us, because he is our relative.”
Te olka boeih te Shekhem boei rhoek boeih kah hna dongah tah, “Anih kah a nupu pai ni,” a ti uh tih, “Anih te mah manuca ni,” a ti uh dongah Abimelek taengla a lungbuei boeih hooi uh.
4 So the leaders of Shechem took from the temple of [their god] Baal-Berith (almost 2 pounds/0.8 kg.) of silver and gave it to Abimelech. With that silver he paid some worthless troublemakers to help him, and they went with Abimelech wherever he went.
Te dongah Baalberith im lamkah tangka sawmrhih te anih a paek uh. Te nen te Abimelek loh hlang hoeng rhoek neh aka soetae rhoek te a paang tih a hnukah bang uh.
5 They went to Ophrah, his father’s town, and murdered 69 of his 70 brothers, the sons of his father Gideon. They killed all those men on one huge rock. But Gideon’s youngest son Jotham hid [from Abimelech and his men], and he escaped.
Ophrah kah a napa im la a pawk vaengah a manuca rhoek, Jerubbaal ca rhoek hlang sawmrhih te lungto pakhat dongah rhenten a ngawn. Tedae Jerubbaal capa a poeih Jotham tah thuh uh tih sueng.
6 Then all the leaders of Shechem and Beth-Millo gathered under the big sacred tree in Shechem. There they appointed Abimelech to be their leader.
Shekhem boei rhoek boeih neh Bethmillo boeih loh a tingtun uh phoeiah cet uh tih Abimelek te Shekhem kah aka pai thingnu kaepah manghai la a manghai sakuh.
7 When Jotham heard about that, he climbed up Gerizim Mountain. He stood at the top of the mountain and shouted to the people [down below], “You leaders of Shechem, listen to me, in order that God will listen to you!
Tedae Jotham taengla a puen pa uh vaengah tah Gerizim tlang som la luei tih pai. Te phoeiah a ol a huel tih a pang doela, “Shekhem boei rhoek ka ol he hnatun uh lah te daengah ni Pathen loh nangmih ol te a hnatun eh.
8 One day the trees decided to appoint a king to rule over all of them. So they said to the olive tree, ‘You be our king!’
Thing rhoek loh a manghai situi koelh ham cet cet uh tih olive taengah, 'Kaimih soah manghai khaw manghai mai laeh he,’ a ti nauh.
9 “But the olive tree said, ‘No! [I will not be your king] Men and gods enjoy the oil from my fruit. I will not [RHQ] stop producing [olives from which we make] that oil, in order to rule over you other trees!’
Tedae amih te olive loh, “Pathen neh hlang aka thangpom ka maehhloi he ka toeng mai vetih thing rhoek soah vikvuek ham ka cet aya?' a ti nah.
10 “Then the trees said to the fig tree, ‘You come and be our king!’
Thing rhoek loh thaibu taengah khaw, “Namah halo lamtah kaimih soah manghai mai laeh,” a ti nauh.
11 “But the fig tree replied, ‘No! I do not want to [RHQ] stop producing my good sweet fruit, and rule over you other trees!’
Tedae amih te thaibu loh, “Ka didip neh ka thaih then he ka toeng mai vetih thing rhoek soah vikvuek ham ka cet aya? ' a ti nah.
12 “Then the trees said to the grapevine, ‘Come and be our king!’
Misur taengah khaw thing rhoek loh, “Nang halo lamtah kaimih soah manghai khaw manghai mai laeh,’ a ti nauh.
13 “But the grapevine replied, ‘No! [I will not be your king] The new wine [that is made from my grapes] causes people and gods [who drink it] to become very happy. I do not want to stop producing grapes and rule over you other trees!’ [RHQ]
Tedae amih te misur loh, 'Pathen neh hlang ko aka hoe sak ka misur thai te ka toeng mai vetih thing rhoek soah vikvuek ham ka cet aya?,’ a ti nah.
14 “Then all the trees said to the thornbush, ‘Come and be our king!’
Thing rhoek boeih long te tangkul taengla, 'Nang halo lamtah kaimih soah manghai mai saw,’ a ti nauh.
15 “The thornbush replied, ‘If you truly want to appoint me to be your king, come into the shade of my [tiny branches]. But if you do not want to do that, I hope/desire that fire will come out from me and burn up all the huge cedar trees in Lebanon [country]!’”
Tangkul long tah thing rhoek taengah, 'Na oltak nen ni nangmih sokah manghai la kai n'koelh uh van atah, halo uh lamtah ka hlipkhup ah ying uh. Te pawt koinih tangkul puep lamkah hmai puek vetih Lebanon lamphai khaw a hlawp ni,” a ti nah.
16 “[After] Jotham [finished telling them this parable, he] said, “So now [I ask you], were you being completely honest and sincere when you appointed Abimelech to be your king [RHQ]? And have you treated Gideon and his family [RHQ] fairly? Have you rewarded Gideon by honoring him as he deserved [because of all the good things he did for you]? No!
Tahae ah oltak neh a khangmai la na saii uh tih Abimelek te na manghai sak uh coeng atah Jerubbaal ham neh a imkhui ham hnothen nim na saii uh tih a taengah a kut neh aka tiing lam nim na saii uh.
17 “[Do not forget that] my father fought a battle for you, and he was willing to die for you [if that had been necessary], to save you from the Midian people-group.
A pa loh nangmih ham a vathoh tih a hmai ah a hinglu a voeih dongah nangmih te Midian kut lamloh n'huul.
18 But now you have rebelled against my father’s family, and you have killed 69 of his sons on one huge rock. And you have appointed Abimelech—who is the son of my father’s slave girl, [not the son of his wife]—to be the king who will rule you people of Shechem. You have done that only because he is one of your relatives!
Tedae nangmih loh tihnin ah a pa cako te na thoh thil uh tih a ca rhoek hlang sawmrhih te lungto pakhat dongah na ngawn uh. A salnu kah a ca Abimelek vik te na manuca na ti uh tih Shekhem boei rhoek soah na manghai sakuh.
19 So, if today you have truly acted fairly and sincerely toward Gideon and his family, I hope/desire that he will cause you to be happy and that you will cause him to be happy.
Tihnin Jerubbaal taeng neh a cako taengah oltak neh a khangmai la na saii uh coeng atah Abimelek dongah kohoe uh lamtah anih khaw nangmih dongah a kohoe saeh.
20 But if what you did was not right, I wish/desire that Abimelech will burn up all of you leaders of Shechem and Beth-Millo with fire! And I also hope/desire that the leaders of Shechem and Beth-Millo will cause fire to burn up Abimelech!”
Abimelek lamloh hmai puek tih Shekhem boei rhoek neh Bethmillo te a hlawp pawt atah Shekhem boei rhoek neh Bethmillo lamkah hmai aka puek loh Abimelek te hlawp saeh,” a ti nah.
21 [After] Jotham [finished saying that, he] escaped from them and ran away to Beer [town]. He stayed there because he was afraid that his brother Abimelech [would try to kill him].
Te ah kho a sak te a maya Abimelek kah mikhmuh la a om dongah Jotham loh rhaelrham tih aka yong te Beer la pawk.
22 Abimelech [became the leader of all the people of Israel. He] ruled them for three years.
Abimelek te Israel soah kum thum boei.
23 Then God sent an evil spirit [to cause trouble] between Abimelech and the leaders of Shechem, with the result that the leaders of Shechem rebelled against Abimelech.
Tedae Pathen loh Abimelek laklo neh Shekhem boei rhoek kah laklo ah mueihla thae a tueih pah dongah Shekhem boei rhoek loh Abimelek te a hnukpoh thil uh.
24 The leaders of Shechem had previously helped Abimelech to kill 69 of Gideon’s sons, who were his brothers. So now God sent the evil spirit to punish all of them.
Te tah Jerubbaal ca rhoek hlang sawmrhih te kuthlahnah a khuen thil tih a aka ngawn a manuca Abimelek so neh a manuca rhoek ngawn sak ham a kut aka thoh Shekhem boei rhoek soah a thii phu a suk ham dongah ni.
25 The leaders of Shechem (set an ambush/sent men to hide) on the hilltops to ambush Abimelech. Those men robbed everyone who passed by. But someone told Abimelech about it, [so he did not go near them].
Abimelek te a moeh uh tih tlang som ah aka rhongngol Shekhem boei rhoek loh longuei ah aka pongpa boeih te a rheth uh te Abimelek taengla a puen pah.
26 There was a man named Gaal, the son of Ebed, who moved into Shechem [city], along with his brothers. Soon the leaders of Shechem started to trust him.
Te vaengah Ebed capa Gaal neh a manuca rhoek tah ha pawk tih Shekhem la a kat uh hatah Shekhem boei rhoek loh anih dongah pangtung uh.
27 They went out [of the city] to their vineyards and picked some grapes. They pressed the grapes [to make juice, and then they made wine]. Then they had a feast in the temple of their god, and they ate [a lot of food] and drank [a lot of wine]. Then they cursed Abimelech.
Lo a pha uh vaengah misur a hoel uh tih a hoem uh dongah cangkoeinah a saii uh. Te phoeiah a pathen im la kun uh tih a caak a ok uh phoeiah Abimelek te a tap uh.
28 Gaal said, “(Why should [we allow] Abimelech to rule over us?/We should not allow Abimelech to rule over us!) [RHQ] He is only one of Gideon’s sons [so he really does not belong to us] [RHQ]! And he appointed Zebul, the governor of our city, to be his deputy! We should (serve/be loyal to) [one of the descendants of] Hamor, [the founder of our city], and let him be our leader, not Abimelech [RHQ]!
Te vaengah Ebed capa Gaal loh, “Abimelek te unim, anih taengah thohtat ham khaw Shekhem te unim?, Jerubbaal capa, a hlangtawt khaw Zebul moenih a? Shekhem napa Hamor hlang rhoek taengah thotat uh. Balae tih mamih loh anih taengah n'thotat uh eh?
29 If you would appoint me to be your leader, I would get rid of Abimelech. I would say to him, ‘Get your army ready, [and then come to fight us]!’”
Unim mah, pilnam he ka kut dongah han tloeng atah Abimelek ngawn tah ka rhoe vetih Abimelek te, “Na caempuei khaw kuk lamtah ha mop lah,’ ka ti bitni,” a ti nah.
30 When someone told Zebul what Gaal said, he was very angry.
Ebed capa Gaal ol te khopuei mangpa Zebul loh a yaak vaengah a thintoek a sai pah.
31 He secretly sent some messengers to Abimelech. They told him, “Gaal and his brothers have come here to Shechem, and they are causing [the people of] the city to rebel against you.
Te dongah puencawn rhoek te Abimelek taengah a huep la a tueih tih, 'Ebed capa Gaal neh a manuca rhoek loh Shekhem la ha pawk uh te, khopuei ah nang aka dum ham ni ke.
32 You and your men should get up during the night and go and hide in the fields outside the city.
Te dongah namah neh namah taengkah pilnam loh khoyin ah thoo uh lamtah lohma ah ana rhongngol uh laeh.
33 As soon as the sun rises in the morning, get up and attack the city. When Gaal and his men come out to fight against you, you can do to them whatever you want to.”
Mincang a pha tih khomik a cuk vaengah thoo uh lamtah khopuei te cuuk thil uh. Amah khaw, amah taengkah pilnam khaw nang taengla ha pawk vaengah na kut loh a tong sarhui bangla anih te saii uh,” a ti nah.
34 So Abimelech and all the men who were with him got up during the night. They [divided into] four groups, [and] hid [in the fields] near Shechem.
Te dongah Abimelek neh a taengkah pilnam pum te khoyin ah a thoh tih Shekhem ah than li la a rhongngol uh.
35 [The next morning], Gaal went out and stood at the entrance to the city gate. While he was standing there, Abimelech and his soldiers came out of their hiding places [and started walking toward the city].
Te dongah Ebed capa Gaal te moe phai tih khopuei vongka kah thohka ah pai. Te vaengah Abimelek neh a pilnam te rhong lamkah ha thoo.
36 When Gaal saw the soldiers, he said to Zebul, “Look! There are people coming down from the hills!” But Zebul said, “You are seeing only the shadows [of trees] on the hills. They [are not people; they] only resemble people.”
Pilnam te a hmuh vaengah Zebul te Gaal loh, “Pilnam loh tlang som lamkah ha suntla ke,” a ti nah. Tedae Zebul loh, “Nang khaw mah, tlang kah mueihlip maco hlang bangla na hmuh,” a ti nah.
37 But Gaal [looked] again [and] said, “Look! There are people coming down from the top of the sacred mountain! There is a group of them coming down from where the tree is where people talk with the spirits of dead people!”
Tedae Gaal loh a thui te koep a khoep tih, “Khohmuen laklung khui lamloh pilnam suntla tih kutyaek thingnu longpuei lamloh rhoi at ha thoeng ke,” a ti nah.
38 Zebul said to Gaal, “Now (what good is your bragging?/your bragging is worthless!) [MTY, RHQ] You said, ‘(Why should we serve Abimelech/We should not allow Abimelech to rule over us)?’ You made fun of these men. So now go out and fight them!”
Te vaengah Zebul loh, “'Anih taengah thohtat ham khaw Abimelek te unim,’ na ti vaengkah na ka te tahae atah melam a om, anih he a pilnam neh na sawtsit thil moenih a? Tahae ah paan to lamtah amah ke hnuei kanoek saw,” a ti nah.
39 So Gaal led the men of Shechem outside [the city] to fight Abimelech [and his men].
Te dongah Gaal tah Shekhem boei rhoek kah mikhmuh la moe phai tih Abimelek te a hnueih.
40 Abimelech and his men pursued them, and they killed many of Gaal’s men before they could return [safely] inside the city gate.
Tedae anih te Abimelek loh a hloem tanglai atah a mikhmuh lamloh rhaelrham tih vongka thohka due, hmalaem la muep cungku uh.
41 Abimelech then stayed at Arumah, [about five miles away from Shechem], and Zebul’s men forced Gaal and his brothers to leave Shechem.
Abimelek te Arumah ah kho a sak ngawn dae Shekhem ah kho aka sa khui lamkah Gaal neh a manuca rhoek te Zebul loh vik a haek.
42 The next day, the people of Shechem [got ready to leave the city and work] in their fields. When someone told Abimelech about that,
A vuen ah om tih pilnam te pong la a caeh ham vaeng daengah Abimelek taengla a puen pauh.
43 he divided his men into three groups, and told them to hide in the fields. So they did that. And when they saw the people coming out of the city, they jumped up and attacked them.
Te dongah pilnam te a loh tih hlop thum la a boel phoeiah lohma ah a rhongngol sak. Te vaengah khopuei lamkah pilnam ha pawk te lawt a hmuh dongah amih te a pai thil tih a tloek.
44 Abimelech and the men who were with him ran to the city gate. The other two groups ran out to the people in the fields and attacked them.
Te vaengah Abimelek neh a rhoi rhoek te capit uh tih khopuei vongka kah thohka te a pai thiluh. Tedae rhoi nit long te lohma kah rhoek te boeih a capit thil uh tih a tloek uh.
45 Abimelech and his men fought all day. They captured the city and killed all the people. They tore down all the buildings, and then they threw salt over the ruins [in order that nothing would grow there again].
Abimelek loh khohnin yung ah khopuei te a vathoh thil tih khopuei te a loh. A khuikah pilnam te khaw a ngawn tih khopuei te a palet phoeiah lungkaeh a phul thil.
46 When the leaders who lived in the tower/fortress outside of Shechem heard what had happened, they ran and hid inside the [fortress, which was also a] temple of [their god] El-Berith.
Boei kuirhang boeih loh a yaak uh vaengah Berith im kah hmuensang la ael uh.
47 But someone told Abimelech that all the leaders had gathered there.
Tedae boei kuirhang rhoek loh boeih a coi uh thae te Abimelek taengla a puen pauh.
48 So he and all the men who were with him went up Zalmon Mountain [which is near Shechem]. Abimelech cut some branches of trees with an axe, and put them on his shoulders. Then he said to all the men who were with him, “Quickly, do what I have just done!”
Te dongah Abimelek loh a taengkah pilnam boeih te Zalmon tlang la a caeh puei. Te vaengah Abimelek loh a kut dongkah hai te a loh tih thing hlaeng a saih. Thing hlaeng te a thueng tih a laengpang dongah a khueh. Te phoeiah a taengkah pilnam te, “Ka saii he so uh lamtah kai bangla koe saii uh,” a ti nah.
49 So his men all cut branches [then carried them down the mountain], following Abimelech. They went to the fortress and piled the branches against its walls. Then they kindled a fire, and the fire burned down the fortress and killed all the people who were inside. So all the people who were inside the fortress—about 1,000 men and women—died.
Te dongah pilnam boeih long khaw thing hlaeng rhip a saih uh tih Abimelek hnuk a vai uh. Te phoeiah hmuensang te a hong thil uh tih hmuensang te hmai a hlup uh vaengah tah kuirhang huta tongpa hlang thawngkhat tluk boeih duek uh.
50 Then Abimelech and his men went to Thebes [city]. They surrounded it and captured it.
Abimelek te Thebez la cet tih a rhaeh thil phoeiah Thebez te a loh.
51 But there was a strong tower inside the city. So all the men, women, and leaders of the city ran to the tower. When they were all inside, they locked the door. Then they climbed up to the roof of the tower.
Tedae khopuei khui ah sarhi rhaltoengim pakhat om tih huta tongpa boeih neh khopuei kah boei boeih loh te lam te rhaelrham uh tih a hnuk te malh a buk phoeiah rhaltoengim kah imphu la luei uh.
52 Abimelech and his men came to the tower and tried to get in the door, [but they could not]. Then Abimelech prepared to light a fire to burn down the door.
Te phoeiah rhaltoengim te Abimelek loh a paan tih a vathoh thil. Te dongah hmai neh hoeh hamla rhaltoengim kah thohka la thoeih.
53 But when Abimelech came near the doorway, a woman [who was on the roof] dropped a big grinding stone on his head, and crushed his skull.
Tedae Abimelek kah a lu te huta pakhat loh sumngol phaklung neh a dae pah tih a luhih a po pah.
54 Abimelech quickly called to the young man who carried Abimelech’s weapons, and said, “Pull out your sword and kill me with it! I do not want people to say ‘It was a woman who killed Abimelech.’” So the young man thrust his sword into Abimelech, and Abimelech died.
Te dongah a hnopai aka phuei camoe te koe a khue tih, “Na cunghang te bong lamtah kai he ng'ngawn to laeh, kai he, 'Huta loh a ngawn,’ ti uh ve,” a ti nah. Te dongah a camoe long te a thun tih duek.
55 When the Israeli soldiers saw that Abimelech was dead, they all returned to their homes.
Israel hlang loh Abimelek a duek te a hmuh uh. Te phoeiah tah hlang loh amah hmuen la cet uh.
56 In that way God punished Abimelech for the evil things that he had done to his father and especially for killing all 69 of his brothers.
Abimelek loh a napa taengah boethae a saii tih a manuca hlang sawmrhih a ngawn te Pathen loh a thuung pah.
57 God also punished the men of Shechem for the evil things that they had done. And when those things happened, it fulfilled what Gideon’s son Jotham said when he cursed [Abimelech and the leaders of Shechem].
Shekhem hlang kah boethae boeih te khaw amamih lu dongah Pathen loh a thuung pah tih Jerubbaal capa Jotham kah rhunkhuennah te khaw amih soah tla.
