Judges 9
1 Abimelech son of Jerub Baal went to his mother's relatives at Shechem and he said to them and to the whole clan of his mother's family,
Gbe ɖeka la Abimelek, Yerubaal ƒe vi, ɖi tsa yi ɖasra nyruiawo kpɔ le Sekem
2 “Please say this, so that all the leaders in Shechem may hear, 'Which is better for you, that all seventy sons of Jerub Baal rule over you, or that just one rule over you?' Remember that I am your bone and your flesh.”
eye wòdo susu sia ɖe wo gbɔ be: Alekee, anyo na mi be Yerubaal ƒe vi blaadre sɔŋ naɖu fia ɖe mia dzi loo, alo be nye Abimelek, ame si nye mia vi ŋutɔŋutɔ la naɖu fia ɖe mia dzia, miyi ɖabia dumemetsitsiawo se.
3 His mother's relatives spoke for him to the leaders of Shechem, and they agreed to follow Abimelech, for they said, “He is our brother.”
Ale Abimelek nyruiawo yi dumemetsitsiwo gbɔ hetsɔ Abimelek ƒe nya la ɖo woƒe ŋkume. Woɖo be, esi Abimelek dada tso yewoƒe dua me ta la, yewoxɔ Abimelek ƒe nya la.
4 They gave him seventy pieces of silver out of the house of Baal-Berith, and Abimelech used it to hire men of lawless and reckless character, who followed him.
Ale wona gae tso esi wodzɔ le trɔ̃ Baal Berit subɔƒe la me eye fia Abimelek tsɔ ga sia ƒo gbevu aɖewo nu ƒu ɖe eɖokui ŋu.
5 Abimelech went to his father's house at Ophrah, and upon one stone he murdered his seventy brothers, the sons of Jerub Baal. Only Jotham was left, the youngest son of Jerub Baal, for he hid himself.
Ekplɔ wo yi fofoa ƒe aƒe me le Ofra eye wòna wowu Yerubaal ƒe vi blaadreawo ɖe kpe ɖeka dzi, ke Yerubaal ƒe vi ɖeka, Yotam, koe si ɖaɣla eɖokui.
6 All the leaders of Shechem and Beth Millo came together and they went and made Abimelech king, beside the oak near the pillar which is in Shechem.
Esia megbe la, Sekemtɔwo kple Betmilɔtɔwo wɔ takpekpe gã aɖe le oɖumti la te le Sekem eye woɖo Abimelek fiae.
7 When Jotham was told about this, he went and stood on the top of Mount Gerizim. He shouted and said to them, “Listen to me, you leaders of Shechem, so that God may listen to you.
Esi wogblɔ nya sia na Yotam la, eyi Gerizim to la tame eye wòdo ɣli gblɔ na wo be, “Miɖo tom, mi Sekemtɔwo, ale be Mawu naɖo to mi.
8 The trees once went out to anoint a king over them. For they said to the olive tree, 'Reign over us.'
Gbe ɖeka la, atiwo kpe ta be woaɖo fia na wo ɖokui. Wogblɔ na amiti be, ‘Ɖu fia ɖe mía dzi.’
9 But the olive tree said to them, 'Should I give up my oil, which is used to honor gods and mankind, so I may go return, just to sway over the other trees?'
“Gake amiti ɖo eŋu na wo be, ‘Ɖe madzudzɔ amidzidzi, ami si wotsɔna dea bubu mawuwo kple amegbetɔwo ŋu be mava ɖu fia ɖe atiwo dzia?’
10 The trees said to the fig tree, 'Come and reign over us.'
“Emegbe la wogblɔ na gboti be, ‘Va ɖu fia ɖe mía dzi.’
11 But the fig tree said to them, 'Should I give up my sweetness and my good fruit, just so I could return and sway over the other trees?'
“Ke gboti ɖo eŋu na wo be, ‘Ɖe madzudzɔ nye ku vivi ŋanɛwo tsetse be maɖu fia ɖe atiwo dzia?’
12 The trees said to the vine, 'Come and reign over us.'
“Wogblɔ na wainka be, ‘Va ɖu fia ɖe mía dzi.’
13 The vine said to them, 'Should I give up my new wine, which cheers gods and mankind, and return and sway over the other trees?'
“Ke wainka ɖo eŋu na wo be, ‘Ɖe madzudzɔ wain si doa dzidzɔ na mawuwo kple amewo siaa la tsetse ale be maɖu fia ɖe atiwo dzia.’
14 Then said all the trees to the thornbush, 'Come and reign over us.'
“Mlɔeba la, atiawo katã gblɔ na ŋuti be, ‘Va, nàɖu fia ɖe mía dzi.’
15 The thornbush said to the trees, 'If you truly want to anoint me as king over you, then come and find safety under my shade. If not, then let fire come out of the thornbush and let it burn up the cedars of Lebanon.'
“Ŋuti gblɔ na atiawo be, ‘Ne miaɖom fiae ɖe mia nu vavã la, ekema miva be ɖe nye vɔvɔli te, ke ne menye nenema o la, mina dzo nado tso ŋuti la me ava bi Lebanon ƒe sedatiwo.’”
16 Now therefore, if you have acted in truth and honesty, when you made Abimelech king, and if you have done well concerning Jerub Baal and his house, and if you have punished him as he deserves—
Yotam yi edzi be, “Ɖe miewɔ nu dzɔdzɔe ɖe Yerubaal kple eƒe dzidzimeviwo ŋu be mietsɔ Abimelek ɖo fia mahã?
17 —and to think that my father fought for you, risked his life, and rescued you out of the hand of Midian—
Fofonye wɔ aʋa na mi, tsɔ eƒe agbe ke eye wòɖe mi tso Midiantɔwo ƒe asi me,
18 but today you have risen up against my father's house and have killed his sons, seventy persons, upon one stone. Then you have made Abimelech, the son of his female servant, king over the leaders of Shechem, because he is your relative.
ke mietso ɖe eŋu eye miewu via blaadre le kpe ɖeka dzi. Azɔ la, mietsɔ via Abimelek, ame si nye fofonye ƒe kosi vi la ɖo fiae elabena miaƒe ƒometɔ wònye.
19 If you acted with honesty and integrity with Jerub Baal and his house, then you should rejoice in Abimelech, and let him also rejoice in you.
Ne mieka ɖe edzi be yewowɔ nu dzɔdzɔe ɖe Yerubaal kple eƒe dzidzimeviwo ŋu la, ekema agbe nadidi na mi eye eme nafa na miawo kple Abimelek siaa.
20 But if not, let fire come out from Abimelech and burn up the men of Shechem and Beth Millo. Let fire come out from the men of Shechem and Beth Millo, to burn up Abimelech.”
Ke ne miewɔ nu dzɔdzɔe ɖe Gideon ŋu o la, ekema Abimelek natsrɔ̃ Sekemtɔwo kple Betmilɔt ƒe amewo eye woawo hã natsrɔ̃ Abimelek!”
21 Jotham fled and ran away, and he went to Beer. He lived there because it was far away from Abimelech, his brother.
Azɔ vɔvɔ̃ na nɔvia Abimelek ta la, Yotam si yi ɖanɔ Beer.
22 Abimelech ruled over Israel for three years.
Le Abimelek ƒe fiaɖuɖu le Israel ƒe etɔ̃ megbe la,
23 God sent an evil spirit between Abimelech and the leaders of Shechem. The leaders of Shechem betrayed the trust they had with Abimelech.
Mawu na dzre va dzɔ ɖe Fia Abimelek kple Sekemtɔwo dome, ale Sekemtɔwo tso ɖe fia la ŋu.
24 God did this so the violence done to the seventy sons of Jerub Baal might be avenged, and Abimelech their brother would be held responsible for murdering them, and the men of Shechem would be held responsible because they helped him murder his brothers.
Le nya siwo va dzɔ me la, wohe to na Abimelek kple Sekemtɔ siwo kpe ɖe eŋu le Yerubaal ƒe vi blaadreawo wuwu me.
25 So the leaders of Shechem positioned men to lie in wait on the hilltops that they might ambush him, and they robbed all who passed by them along that road. This was reported to Abimelech.
Sekemtɔwo be ɖe mɔ si yi to la dzi la dzi na Abimelek. Esi wonɔ elalam be wòava yi la, woda adzo ame siwo va to mɔ la dzi yina. Ke ame aɖe fi tofi na Abimelek le nugbe si woɖo ɖe eŋu la ŋuti.
26 Gaal son of Ebed came with his relatives and they went over to Shechem. The leaders of Shechem had confidence in him.
Ɣe ma ɣi la, Gaal, Ebed ƒe vi, ʋu kple nɔviawo yi Sekem eye wòzu ame ŋkutawo dometɔ ɖeka le dua me.
27 They went out into the field and gathered grapes from the vineyards, and they trampled on them. They held a festival in the house of their god, where they ate and drank, and they cursed Abimelech.
Le esime wonɔ nuŋeŋeŋkekenyui ɖum le Sekem le ƒe ma me le woƒe mawu ƒe gbedoxɔ me la, amewo no wain nyuie eye wode asi fiƒoƒo de Abimelek me.
28 Gaal son of Ebed, said, “Who is Abimelech, and who is Shechem, that we should serve him? Is he not the son of Jerub Baal? Is Zebul not his officer? Serve the men of Hamor, Shechem's father! Why should we serve Abimelech?
Gaal do ɣli be, “Ame kae nye Abimelek eye nu ka ta wòanye míaƒe fia? Nu ka ta míanye eƒe subɔlawo? Eya kple xɔlɔ̃a, Zebul, boŋue anye míawo ƒe subɔlawo. Miɖe kɔ ɖa le Abimelek ŋu!
29 I wish that this people were under my command! Then would I remove Abimelech. I would say to Abimelech, 'Call out all your army.'”
Mitsɔm ɖo fiae eye enumake miakpɔ nu si adzɔ ɖe Abimelek dzi! Magblɔ na Abimelek be, ‘Ƒo aʋawɔlawo nu ƒu eye nàho aʋa!’”
30 When Zebul, the official of the city, heard the words of Gaal son of Ebed his anger was kindled.
Ke esi dumegã Zebul se nya si Gaal gblɔ la, edo dɔmedzoe.
31 He sent messengers to Abimelech in order to deceive, saying, “See, Gaal son of Ebed and his relatives are coming to Shechem, and they are stirring up the city against you.
Enumake eɖo du ɖe Abimelek le Aruma be, “Gaal, Ebed ƒe vi kple eƒe ƒometɔwo ʋu va le Sekem eye wole aɖaŋu vɔ̃ ɖom na amewo be woatso ɖe ŋuwò.
32 Now, get up during the night, you and the soldiers with you, and prepare an ambush in the fields.
Wò kple wò aʋakɔ miva be ɖe gbedzi le zã me
33 Then in the morning, as soon as the sun is up, rise early and make a raid on the city. When he and the people with him come out against you, do whatever you can to them.”
eye ne ŋu ke ko la, mige ɖe dua me. Ne Gaal kple eƒe amewo do va kpe mi la, ekema miate ŋu awɔ nu sia nu si dze mia ŋu la kpli wo!”
34 So Abimelech got up during the night, he and all the men who were with him, and they set an ambush against Shechem—dividing into four units.
Abimelek kple eƒe amewo zɔ mɔ le zã me, woma ɖe akpa ene me eye wode xa ɖe teƒe vovovowo ƒo xlã dua.
35 Gaal son of Ebed went out and stood in the entrance of the city gate. Abimelech and the men who were with him came out of their hiding place.
Esi ŋu ke, le ŋdi me la, esime Gaal nɔ anyi ɖe dua ƒe agbo nu henɔ aɖaŋu dem kple dumemetsitsiawo la, Abimelek kple eƒe amewo lũ ɖe dua dzi.
36 When Gaal saw the men, he said to Zebul, “See, men are coming down from the hilltops!” Zebul said to him, “You are seeing the shadows on the hills like they are men.”
Esi Gaal kpɔ wo la, edo ɣli gblɔ na Zebul be, “Kpɔ to ma dzi ɖa! Medze abe amewoe le ɖiɖim tso afi ma gbɔna ene oa?” Zebul ɖo eŋu be, “Ao! Vɔvɔliwo ko kpɔm nèle abe amewo ene!”
37 Gaal spoke again and said, “Look, men are coming down in the middle of the land, and one unit is coming by way of the oak of the diviners.”
Gaal yi edzi be, “Kpɔ afi ma nyuie, meka ɖe edzi be mekpɔ amewo le lulũm ɖe mía dzi gbɔna. Kpɔ afi sia hã ɖa, ame bubuwo hã gbɔna; wodze le Meomenim ƒe oɖumti la ŋu!”
38 Then Zebul said to him, “Where are your proud words now, you who said, 'Who is Abimelech that we should serve him?' Are these not the men you despised? Go out now and fight against them.”
Tete Zebul biae be, “Afi ka wò numeɖiɖi gbogboawo le azɔ? Ame kae gblɔ be, ‘Ame ka gɔ̃e nye Abimelek eye nu ka ta wòaɖu fia ɖe mía dzi?’ Ame siwo ŋu nèɖu fewu le eye nèƒo fi de wo la le dua godo fifi laa! Do go nàkpe aʋa kpli wo!”
39 Gaal went out and he was leading the men of Shechem, and he fought Abimelech.
Enumake Gaal kplɔ Sekemtɔwo eye wowɔ aʋa kple Abimelek.
40 Abimelech chased him, and Gaal fled before him. Many fell with deadly wounds before the entrance to the city gate.
Ke Abimelek ƒe amewo ɖu Gaal dzi. Sekemtɔ geɖewo xɔ abi eye womlɔ aʋagbe la dzi va se ɖe keke dua ƒe agbo nu ke.
41 Abimelech stayed in Arumah. Zebul forced Gaal and his relatives out of Shechem.
Abimelek nɔ Aruma ɣe ma ɣi. Zebul nya Gaal kple eƒe ƒometɔwo le Sekem eye meɖe mɔ be woaganɔ afi ma o.
42 On the next day the people of Shechem went out into the field, and this was reported to Abimelech.
Le ŋufɔke la, Sekemtɔwo gayi aʋa, ke ame aɖe fi tofi na Abimelek tso woƒe ɖoɖowo ŋu.
43 He took his people, divided them into three units, and they set an ambush in the fields. He looked and saw the people coming out from the city and he attacked and killed them.
Ale wòma eƒe aʋawɔlawo ɖe akpa etɔ̃ eye wòɣla wo ɖe gbedzi. Esi Sekemtɔwo do ta ɖa la, Abimelek ƒe amewo dze wo dzi eye wode asi wo wuwu me.
44 Abimelech and the units that were with him attacked and blocked the entrance to the city gate. The other two units attacked all who were in the field and killed them.
Abimelek da aʋalɔgo ɖeka ɖe dua ƒe agbo nu ale be Sekemtɔwo ƒe aʋawɔlawo mate ŋu atrɔ, asi yi dua me o, le esime aʋalɔgo eve bubuawo nɔ wo wum le gbedzi.
45 Abimelech fought against the city all that day. He captured the city, and killed the people who were in it. He tore down the city walls and spread salt over it.
Wowɔ aʋa ŋkeke blibo la hafi Abimelek te ŋu xɔ du la. Ewu amewo eye wògbã du la.
46 When all the leaders of the tower of Shechem heard of it, they entered the stronghold of the house of El-Berith.
Esi Migdaltɔwo kpɔ nu si dzɔ la, wosi yi mɔ si te ɖe Baal Berit, ƒe subɔƒe la me.
47 Abimelech was told that all the leaders had gathered together at the tower of Shechem.
Esi Abimelek se be ameawo si yi mɔ la me la,
48 Abimelech went up to Mount Zalmon, he and all the men who were with him. Abimelech took an ax and cut off branches. He put it on his shoulder and ordered the men with him, “What you have seen me do, hurry and do as I have done.”
Abimelek yi Zalmɔn to dzi. Efɔ nake lé ɖe abɔta eye wòɖe gbe na eƒe ameawo bena woawɔ nu si tututu yewɔ.
49 So every one cut off branches and followed Abimelech. They piled them against the wall of the tower, and they set it on fire, so that all the people of the tower of Shechem also died, about a thousand men and women.
Ale ameawo dometɔ ɖe sia ɖe fɔ nake yi dua me. Abimelek tsɔ eƒe nake tu mɔ la ƒe gli ŋu eya ta ameawo hã wɔ nenema ke. Woli kɔ woƒe nakewo ɖe glia ŋu eye wode dzo nakekɔ la me. Ale ame abe akpe ɖeka ene, ŋutsuwo kple nyɔnuwo siaa, ame siwo nɔ mɔ la me la katã ku.
50 Then Abimelech went to Thebez, and he encamped against Thebez and captured it.
Abimelek ho aʋa ɖe Tebez du la ŋu azɔ eye wòxɔe.
51 But there was a strong tower in the city, and all the men and women and all the leaders of the city fled to it and shut themselves in. Then they went up to the roof of the tower.
Mɔ sesẽ aɖe nɔ dua me eya ta dua me tɔwo katã si yi eme. Wotu agbo la heyi mɔ la tame ke henɔ ŋku lém ɖe Abimelek kple eƒe amewo ŋu.
52 Abimelech came to the tower and fought against it, and he came up near to the door of the tower to burn it.
Esi Abimelek va mɔ la te eye wònɔ dzadzram ɖo be yeatɔ dzoe la,
53 But a woman dropped an upper millstone on Abimelech's head and it cracked his skull.
nyɔnu aɖe ɖe asi le nutukpe gã aɖe ŋu tso mɔ la tame ɖo ɖe anyigba eye kpea ge dze Abimelek dzi eye wogbã ta nɛ.
54 Then he called urgently to the young man who was his armor-bearer, and said to him, “Draw your sword and kill me, so no one will say about me, 'A woman killed him.'” So his young man pierced him through, and he died.
Abimelek gblɔ na eƒe adekplɔvi be, “Wum! Elabena menyo be woase be nyɔnue wu Abimelek o!” Ale adekplɔvi la tɔ hɛe wòku.
55 When the men of Israel saw that Abimelech was dead, they went home.
Esi Israelviwo kpɔ be Abimelek ku la, wokaka yi wo de.
56 So God avenged the evil of Abimelech that he did to his father by murdering his seventy brothers.
Ale Mawu he to na Abimelek le nu vɔ̃ si wòwɔ ɖe fofoa ŋu, to fofoa ƒe vi blaadreawo wuwu me la ta.
57 God made all the evil of the men of Shechem turn back on their own heads and on them came the curse of Jotham son of Jerub Baal.
Mawu na Sekemtɔwo hã kpe fu ɖe woƒe ŋutasesẽ ta, abe ale si Yotam, Yerubaal ƒe vi gblɔe do ŋgɔ, esi wòƒo fi de wo la ene.
