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 teh Shekhem kho vah a manu e a thangroi koe a cei teh, a manu a na pa imthungkhunaw hah a kâhmo teh,
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 kho e taminaw pueng be ka thai lah a dei e lawk teh, Jerubbaal capa abuemlah 70 touh ni na uk awh e maw ka hawihnawn han, tami buet touh ni na uk e maw kahawi han, dei haw kai hai nangmae thitak hoi kâkuen e doeh tie hah pahnim awh hanh.
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.”
A manu e thangroinaw ni Shekhem kho e taminaw pueng be ka thai lah a dei pouh. Hahoi teh Abimelek hnukkâbang hane a lung koung a tho awh, bangkongtetpawiteh, ama teh maimae hmaunawngha doeh ati awh.
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.
Hahoi Baalberith bawkim hoi tangka 70 touh a poe. Hote tangka hoi Abimelek ni lunglenpansa lah kaawmnaw a coun teh, ahnimouh ni ama hnuk a kâbang awh.
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 kho a na pa im vah a cei teh, Jerubbaal capa a hmaunawnghanaw 70 touh talung buet touh van koung a thei. Hateiteh, Jerubbaal capa a cahnoung Jotham teh a kâhro teh a hring.
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.
Hahoi Shekhemnaw pueng hoiyah, Bethmillo taminaw pueng a kamkhueng awh teh, Abimelek teh Shekhem kho talung a ungnae kung koe kathen kung koevah siangpahrang lah a sak awh.
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!
Hote kong Jotham ni a thai torei teh, Gerizim mon a cei teh, monsom a kangdue teh a lawk hoi tha hoi a hramkhai e teh, Oe Shekhemnaw voi Cathut ni nangmae lawk a tarawi thai nahan kaie ka lawk hah thai awh haw.
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!’
Thingkungnaw ni siangpahrang lah satui awi hanelah a cei awh teh olive thing hanelah, nang ni kaimouh na uk loe atipouh awh.
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!’
Hatei, olive thing ni ahnimouh koe, Cathut hoi tami barinae ka satui heh poutsak vaiteh, thingkung nangmouh koe maw kai ka kap han toung telah atipouh.
10 “Then the trees said to the fig tree, ‘You come and be our king!’
Hahoi thingkungnaw ni thaibunglung koevah, nang ni kaimouh na uk leih, atipouh.
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!’
Hatei, thaibunglung ni ahnimouh koevah, ka radipnae hoi a pâw ka thawnnae poutsak vaiteh, thingkungnaw koe maw ka kap han toung, telah atipouh
12 “Then the trees said to the grapevine, ‘Come and be our king!’
Hahoi thingkungnaw ni Misurkung koevah, nang ni na uk awh hottelah atipouh.
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]
Misurkung ni ahnimouh koe Cathut hoi tami a lungkahawi sak e ka tui ka hang heh poutsak vaiteh, thingkungnaw koe maw ka kap han toung telah atipouh.
14 “Then all the trees said to the thornbush, ‘Come and be our king!’
Hahoi thingnaw pueng ni pâkhing nang kaimouh na uk leih atipouh.
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]!’”
Pâkhing ni thing koevah, na siangpahrang hanlah satui na awi katang pawiteh, tho awh haw ka tâhlip dawkvah kângue awh. Hatei, satui koe na awi awh hoehpawiteh pâkhing dawk hoi hmai tâcawt vaiteh, Lebanon mon dawk kaawm e Sidar thing koung kang naseh atipouh.
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!
Atuteh nangmouh ni Abimelek teh siangpahrang lah na sak awh dawkvah, a lawkkamnae kalancalah a caksak teh Jerubbaal hoi ahnie miphunnaw hah kahawicalah a khet teh, coe hane kamcu e ahni dawk na sak awh toung maw. Lungma hane kâkilah na sak pouh boum teh,
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.
kaie apa ni ahnimouh hanlah ransa a thaw teh a hringnae a kâhmoun khai hoi nangmanaw teh Midiannaw e kut dawk hoi na rungngang awh.
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!
Nangmanaw ni apa imthungkhu dawk ransa na thaw awh teh, a capa 70 touh talung buet touh van koung na thei awh teh, na hmaunawngha lah kaawm e a sannu capa Abimelek hah Shekhemnaw hane siangpahrang lah na sak awh.
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.
Atuteh nangmanaw ni Jerubbaal hoi a miphunnaw koe Atangcalah lawk na kam awh boum teh Abimelek koevah na lunghawi awh. Ama hai nangmouh koevah a lunghawi naseh.
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!”
Telah hoehpawiteh, Abimelek koehoi hmaisaan tâcawt naseh. Shekhemnaw hoi Bethmillo taminaw hah koung kang naseh. Hahoi Shekhem hoi Bethmillo koehoi hmai tâcawt naseh, Abimelek hah kang naseh telah a ti.
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].
Jotham teh karanglah a yawng, a hmau Abimelek a taki kecu dawkvah, Beer kho a cei teh hawvah ao.
22 Abimelech [became the leader of all the people of Israel. He] ruled them for three years.
Abimelek ni Isarelnaw kum thum touh a uk hnukkhu hoi,
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.
Cathut ni Abimelek hoi Shekhemnaw e rahak vah ka mathout e muitha hah a tha pouh teh, Shekhem kho e taminaw ni Abimelek e lawkkam e a raphoe awh.
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.
Hot teh Jerubbaal capa 70 touh tak dawk kahawihoeh lahoi a sak kecu dawkvah, amamae tak dawk moipathung hane a pha thai nahan hoi, kathetkung Abimelek tak dawk hai a hmaunawnghanaw thei sak hanlah kampangkhaie Shekhem a lungkahanaw koevah a thi phu a um nahanelah doeh.
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].
Shekhemnaw niyah Abimelek teh lawp han a ngai awh dawkvah, taminaw monsom a pawp sak awh. Ahnimanaw ni kahlawng ka cet e naw pueng hnopainaw a lawp awh teh a la pouh awh. Hote kamthang hah Abimelek ni a thai.
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.
Ebed capa Gaal ni amae hmaunaw hoi cungtalah Shekhem kho a kâen awh teh, Shekhemnaw ni a kângue awh.
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.
Takha dawk e misurpaw naw a khi awh teh a phunep sak awh. Hahoi amamae cathut im dawk a cei awh teh, Abimelek teh thoe a bo awh.
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]!
Hahoi Ebed e capa Gaal ni Abimelek teh apimaw, Shekhem teh apimaw, a thaw khuet tawk pouh han vaw. Jerubbaal capa nahoehmaw. Zebul heh a bawi nahoehmaw. Shekhem na pa Hamornaw e thaw hah tawk pouh naseh. Bangkongmaw ahnimae thaw khuet tawk pouh han vaw.
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]!’”
Kâtawnnae rahim vah hete taminaw ni ao to duengvah, Abimelek teh ka takhoe han telah ati. Hahoi Abimelek koevah na ransanaw kârakueng nateh kamthaw awh atipouh.
30 When someone told Zebul what Gaal said, he was very angry.
Ebed e capa Gaal ni a dei e lawk khobawi Zebul ni a thai toteh, a lung thouk a khuek.
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.
Hat torei teh, arulahoi Abimelek koevah patounenaw a patoun awh teh khenhaw! Ebed capa Gaal hoi a hmaunaw Shekhem vah a tho awh teh, khenhaw! nang nama na taran hanelah hoiyah khocanaw a tacuek awh.
32 You and your men should get up during the night and go and hide in the fields outside the city.
Hatdawkvah, atu na taminaw hoi karum lah kamthaw nateh, law hoi nangmouh ni pawm awh lawih.
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.”
Hahoi teh hettelah han. Amom kanîtho tahma kho hah tuk awh lawih. Khenhaw! ama hoi a taminaw ni na tuk awh torei teh, nangmouh ni atueng kahawi na hmu awh e lahoi yah tuk awh lawih atipouh.
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.
Hot patetlah, Abimelek hoi a taminaw teh, karum vah a thaw awh teh, phu pali touh lah a kâkapek awh teh, Shekhem kho king a kalup awh.
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].
Ebed e capa Gaal teh a tâco teh, kho thung kâennae longkha koe a kangdue. Hahoi Abimelek ni a taminaw hoi pawpnae hmuen koehoi a tâco awh
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.”
Gaal ni taminaw a hmu toteh, Zebul koevah khenhaw! mon dawk hoiyah taminaw a tho awh telah atipouh. Zebul ni teh mon a tâhlip vaiyaw tamihu patetlah na hmu payon awh atipouh.
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!”
Gaal ni khenhaw, mon lahoi a kumcathuk e tami tangawn teh Meonenim kathen kung koe lahoi ka tho e naw doeh telah bout atipouh.
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!”
Zebul ni ahni koevah, Abimelek teh apimaw, a thaw khuet tawk pouh han vaw telah ati e na lawk hah nâmaw yo na thak. Hetnaw heh hroung na hnephnap e naw nahoehmaw. Tâcawt sin nateh tuk kanouk khe atipouh.
39 So Gaal led the men of Shechem outside [the city] to fight Abimelech [and his men].
Hahoi teh Gaal ni Shekhemnaw hah a hrawi teh, Abimelek hah a tuk awh.
40 Abimelech and his men pursued them, and they killed many of Gaal’s men before they could return [safely] inside the city gate.
Abimelek ni a pâlei awh teh Gaal teh a yawng. Kho thung kâennae longkha koe totouh tami moikapap hmâtan hoi a kamlei awh teh a due awh.
41 Abimelech then stayed at Arumah, [about five miles away from Shechem], and Zebul’s men forced Gaal and his brothers to leave Shechem.
Hathnukkhu hoi Abimelek teh Arumah khopui dawk ao teh, Zebul ni Gaal hoi a hmaunawnghanaw hah Shekhem kho o thai hoeh nahanlah hoi a pâlei awh.
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,
Atangtho e hnin dawkvah, taminaw pueng teh kho alawilah a tâco han tie hah, Abimelek ni a thai toteh,
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.
a taminaw phu thum touh lah a kapek teh, kahrawng lahoi a pawp sak awh. Hahoi bout a khet torei teh, taminaw pueng kho thung hoi a tâco awh teh, ahnimanaw hah a tuk awh.
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.
Abimelek ni amae a tami phu touh hoi kho longkha koe a yawng sin teh, rek a ngang awh. Alouke phu hni touh ni teh kahrawng lae kaawmnaw hah a yawng sin teh a thei awh.
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 ni hote hnin dawk teh, hote khopui hah kanîruirui a tuk. Khopui hah a lawp awh teh, khocanaw teh he a thei awh. Khopui hai he a raphoe awh hnukkhu palawi mak a phuen awh.
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.
Shekhem imrasang dawk kaawmnaw ni hote kamthang a thai awh toteh, Elberith im doeh ka cak ati awh teh, haw e rapanim thung a yawng awh.
47 But someone told Abimelech that all the leaders had gathered there.
Hahoi Shekhem e imrasang thung kaawm e naw pueng teh king a kamkhueng awh toe tie Abimelek ni a thai navah,
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!”
Abimelek hai ama koe kaawm e naw pueng hoi Zalmon mon dawk a luen awh teh Abimelek ni cakâ a sin. Thingkang a bouk teh a sin teh a taminaw koevah, ka sak e hah na hmu awh e patetlah nangmouh ni hai karanglah sak awh, atipouh.
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.
Hahoi teh, taminaw pueng ni thingkang bouk e a sin awh teh Abimelek hnuk a kâbang awh. Shekhem kalupnae rapanim hmai tuet a sawi pouh awh. Hottelah, Shekhem imrasang thung kaawm e napui tongpa 1,000 touh hmeng a due awh.
50 Then Abimelech and his men went to Thebes [city]. They surrounded it and captured it.
Hahoi Abimelek teh Thebez vah a cei. Thebez a tuk teh a tâ.
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.
Hahoi teh khopui dawk kacakpounge imrasang buet touh ao. Kho thung e napui tongpa pueng hote rapan thung koung a yawng awh. Tho king a taren awh teh, hote imrasang van a luen awh.
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.
Abimelek ni imrasang tuk hanelah rek a hnai teh, takhang koe rek a hnai teh hmai ka sawi han toe ati navah,
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.
Napui buet touh ni cakang phawmnae sum avan e talung hoi Abimelek e lû dawk a dei pouh teh a lû rak a kâbawng.
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.
Ama e senehmaica ka sin e tami hah karanglah a kaw teh, napui ni Abimelek a thei tie lah ao hoeh nahan, nama e tahloi lat nateh kai hah na thun leih atipouh. A san ni a thut teh a due.
55 When the Israeli soldiers saw that Abimelech was dead, they all returned to their homes.
Abimelek a due toe tie Isarelnaw ni a thai awh toteh, taminaw pueng amamouh onae hmuen koe lengkaleng a ban awh.
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.
Hot patetlah Abimelek ni hmaunawngha 70 touh a thei e hoi a na pa koe a sak e kathoute hah Cathut ni ama koe moi a pathung.
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 khonaw ni a sak e kathout hno pueng teh Cathut ni amamae lû dawk koung a pha sak. Jerubbaal capa Jotham ni thoebonae hai amamouh koe a pha.
