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,
Abimeleku mũrũ wa Jerubu-Baali nĩathiire kũrĩ aa mamawe na andũ othe a mbarĩ ya kũrĩa nyina oimĩte kũu Shekemu, akĩmeera atĩrĩ,
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.”
“Ũriai atũũri othe a Shekemu atĩrĩ, ‘Nĩ ũndũ ũrĩkũ mwega na inyuĩ. Nĩ mwathwo nĩ ariũ mĩrongo mũgwanja a Jerubu-Baali, kana mũthamakĩrwo nĩ mũndũ ũmwe?’ Ririkanai ndĩ wanyu, tuumĩte mũthiimo ũmwe.”
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.”
Rĩrĩa aa mamawe meerire atũũri a Shekemu ũhoro ũcio wothe, andũ a Shekemu makĩenda kũrũmĩrĩra Abimeleku nĩ ũndũ nĩmoigire atĩrĩ, “Ũcio nĩ mũrũ wa ithe witũ.”
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.
Nao makĩmũhe cekeri mĩrongo mũgwanja cia betha irutĩtwo hekarũ-inĩ ya Baali-Berithu, nake Abimeleku agĩcihũthĩra kwandĩka andũ matarĩ kĩene na a mbũkĩrĩra, arĩa maatuĩkire arũmĩrĩri ake.
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.
Agĩthiĩ gwa ithe mũciĩ o kũu Ofira na akĩũragithĩria ariũ a ithe mĩrongo mũgwanja ihiga-inĩ rĩmwe, nĩo ariũ a Jerubu-Baali. No Jothamu, mũrũ wa Jerubu-Baali ũrĩa warĩ kĩhinga-nda, nĩahonokire nĩ ũndũ nĩehithire.
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.
Nao atũũri othe a Shekemu na a Bethi-Milo makĩũngana mũtĩ-inĩ ũrĩa mũnene o hau gĩtugĩ-inĩ kĩrĩa kĩrĩ Shekemu, magĩtua Abimeleku mũthamaki.
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.
Hĩndĩ ĩrĩa Jothamu aaheirwo ũhoro ũcio-rĩ, akĩhaica Kĩrĩma-igũrũ kĩa Gerizimu na akĩanĩrĩra, akĩmeera atĩrĩ, “Ta thikĩrĩriai inyuĩ atũũri a Shekemu, nĩgeetha o nake Ngai amũthikĩrĩrie.
8 The trees once went out to anoint a king over them. For they said to the olive tree, 'Reign over us.'
Mũthenya ũmwe mĩtĩ nĩyoimagarire ĩgaitĩrĩrie ũmwe wayo maguta atuĩke mũthamaki wayo. Nayo ĩkĩĩra mũtamaiyũ atĩrĩ, ‘Ũka ũtuĩke mũthamaki witũ.’
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?'
“No mũtamaiyũ ũcio ũgĩcookia atĩrĩ, ‘No ndigane na maguta makwa marĩa matũmaga ngai o na andũ matĩĩo, ngariũnge ũũ na ũũ igũrũ rĩa mĩtĩ ĩrĩa ĩngĩ?’
10 The trees said to the fig tree, 'Come and reign over us.'
“Thuutha ũcio mĩtĩ ĩyo ĩkĩĩra mũkũyũ atĩrĩ, ‘Ũka ũtuĩke mũthamaki witũ.’
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?'
“No mũkũyũ ũcio ũgĩcookia atĩrĩ, ‘No ndigane na ngũyũ ciakwa njega ũguo na irĩ mũrĩo, ngariũnge ũũ na ũũ igũrũ rĩa mĩtĩ ĩrĩa ĩngĩ?’
12 The trees said to the vine, 'Come and reign over us.'
“Ningĩ mĩtĩ ĩkĩĩra mũthabibũ atĩrĩ, ‘Ũka ũtuĩke mũthamaki witũ.’
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?'
“No mũthabibũ ũcio ũgĩcookia atĩrĩ, ‘No ndigane na ndibei yakwa ĩrĩa ĩkenagia ngai o na andũ, ngariũnge ũũ na ũũ igũrũ rĩa mĩtĩ ĩrĩa ĩngĩ?’
14 Then said all the trees to the thornbush, 'Come and reign over us.'
“Kũrĩkĩrĩria mĩtĩ yothe ĩkĩĩra mũtare wa gĩthaka-inĩ atĩrĩ, ‘Ũka ũtuĩke mũthamaki witũ.’
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.'
“Naguo mũtare ũcio wa gĩthaka ũkĩĩra mĩtĩ ĩyo atĩrĩ, ‘Kũngĩkorwo ti-itherũ nĩ mũkwenda kũnjitĩrĩria maguta nduĩke mũthamaki wanyu-rĩ, gĩũkei mwĩhithe kĩĩruru-inĩ gĩakwa; no kũngĩkorwo ti ũguo-rĩ, mwaki ũrokiuma mũtare-inĩ wa gĩthaka ũcine mĩtarakwa ya Lebanoni!’
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—
“No rĩrĩ, angĩkorwo mwekire ũndũ ũcio na kĩhooto, na mũrĩ na ngoro njega rĩrĩa mwatuire Abimeleku mũthamaki, na angĩkorwo nĩmwĩkĩte Jerubu-Baali na nyũmba yake maũndũ mega, mũkamwĩka ũrĩa agĩrĩirwo nĩ gwĩkwo-rĩ,
17 —and to think that my father fought for you, risked his life, and rescued you out of the hand of Midian—
tondũ baba nĩwe wamũrũĩrĩire, agĩtwarĩrĩria muoyo wake ũgwati-inĩ nĩgeetha amũhonokie moko-inĩ ma Amidiani,
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.
(no ũmũthĩ nĩmũũkĩrĩire nyũmba ya baba, mũkooragĩra ariũ ake mĩrongo mũgwanja ihiga-inĩ rĩmwe, na mũgatua Abimeleku, mũrũ wa ngombo yake ya mũirĩtu, mũthamaki wa atũũri a Shekemu tondũ nĩ mũrũ wa ithe wanyu),
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.
mũngĩkorwo mwĩkĩte ũndũ ũcio na kĩhooto, na mũrĩ na ngoro njega kũrĩ Jerubu-Baali na nyũmba yake ũmũthĩ-rĩ, Abimeleku arotuĩka gĩkeno kĩanyu, o na inyuĩ mũgĩtuĩke gĩkeno gĩake!
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.”
No kũngĩkorwo ti ũguo-rĩ, mwaki ũrokiuma harĩ Abimeleku ũmũcine, ũmũniine biũ, atũũri aya a Shekemu na Bethi-Milo, o na mwaki ũrokiuma harĩ inyuĩ atũũri a Shekemu na Bethi-Milo, ũcine Abimeleku, ũmũniine biũ.”
21 Jotham fled and ran away, and he went to Beer. He lived there because it was far away from Abimelech, his brother.
Hĩndĩ ĩyo Jothamu agĩĩthara, akĩũrĩra kũu Biri, nake agĩtũũra kuo nĩ ũndũ nĩetigagĩra mũrũ wa ithe, Abimeleku.
22 Abimelech ruled over Israel for three years.
Thuutha wa Abimeleku gwathana Isiraeli mĩaka ĩtatũ-rĩ,
23 God sent an evil spirit between Abimelech and the leaders of Shechem. The leaders of Shechem betrayed the trust they had with Abimelech.
Ngai agĩtũma roho mũũru gatagatĩ ka Abimeleku na atũũri a Shekemu, arĩa meekire maũndũ mooru ma ũhinga kũrĩ Abimeleku.
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.
Ngai eekire ũndũ ũyũ nĩgeetha ngero ĩrĩa yagerirwo ariũ mĩrongo mũgwanja a Jerubu-Baali, ya gũitwo thakame yao, ĩrĩhio mũrũ wa ithe wao, Abimeleku, na ĩrĩhio atũũri a Shekemu arĩa maamũteithirie kũũraga ariũ a ithe.
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.
Nĩ ũndũ wa kũregana nake-rĩ, atũũri acio a Shekemu nĩmaigire andũ irĩma-inĩ nĩguo mohie na matunye o mũndũ ũrĩa wahĩtũkaga indo ciake, naguo ũhoro ũcio ũkĩmenyithio Abimeleku.
26 Gaal son of Ebed came with his relatives and they went over to Shechem. The leaders of Shechem had confidence in him.
Nake Gaali mũrũ wa Ebedi hamwe na ariũ a ithe magĩthaamĩra kũu Shekemu, nao atũũri akuo makĩmwĩhoka.
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.
Thuutha wa gũthiĩ mĩgũnda-inĩ na gũcookereria thabibũ na gũcihiha, makĩgĩa na iruga hekarũ-inĩ ya ngai yao. Rĩrĩa maarĩĩaga na makĩnyuuaga, makĩruma Abimeleku.
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?
Nake Gaali mũrũ wa Ebedi akiuga atĩrĩ, “Abimeleku nũũ, na Shekemu nũũ, nĩguo tũtuĩke ndungata ciake? Githĩ ti mũrũ wa Jerubu-Baali, nake Zebuli githĩ tiwe mũnini wake? Tungatĩrai andũ a Hamoru, ithe wa Shekemu! Tũgũgĩtungatĩra Abimeleku nĩkĩ?
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.'”
Naarĩ korwo andũ aya me rungu rwa wathani wakwa! Hĩndĩ ĩyo niĩ no ndĩmweherie. No njĩĩre Abimeleku atĩrĩ, ‘Ĩta ita rĩaku rĩothe!’”
30 When Zebul, the official of the city, heard the words of Gaal son of Ebed his anger was kindled.
Rĩrĩa Zebuli ũcio mwathi wa itũũra aiguire ũrĩa Gaali mũrũ wa Ebedi oigĩte-rĩ, akĩrakario nĩ ũhoro ũcio mũno.
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.
Agĩtũmĩra Abimeleku andũ na hitho, akĩmwĩra atĩrĩ, “Gaali mũrũ wa Ebedi na ariũ a ithe nĩmokĩte gũkũ Shekemu, na nĩmararahũra andũ a itũũra magũũkĩrĩre.
32 Now, get up during the night, you and the soldiers with you, and prepare an ambush in the fields.
Nĩ ũndũ wa ũguo-rĩ, ũtukũ wakinya wee na andũ aku mũũke mũmoohie mĩgũnda-inĩ.
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.”
Rũciinĩ tene riũa rĩkĩratha-rĩ, ũthiĩ ũtharĩkĩre itũũra inene. Na rĩrĩa Gaali na andũ ake mariumĩra magũtharĩkĩre-rĩ, ĩka ũrĩa wothe guoko gwaku kũngĩhota gwĩka.”
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.
Nĩ ũndũ ũcio Abimeleku marĩ hamwe na mbũtũ ciake ciothe cia ita makiumagara ũtukũ, makĩĩhitha gũkuhĩ na Shekemu marĩ ikundi inya.
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.
Nake Gaali mũrũ wa Ebedi nĩoimagarĩte akarũgama itoonyero-inĩ rĩa kĩhingo gĩa itũũra inene, o hĩndĩ ĩyo Abimeleku na thigari ciake moimagĩra kũrĩa meehithĩte.
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.”
Rĩrĩa Gaali aamoonire-rĩ, akĩĩra Zebuli atĩrĩ, “Ta rora, harĩ na andũ maroka maikũrũkĩte kuuma irĩma igũrũ!” Nake Zebuli agĩcookia atĩrĩ, “Wee ũroona ciĩruru cia irĩma taarĩ andũ.”
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.”
No Gaali akĩaria rĩngĩ, akiuga atĩrĩ: “Ta rora wone andũ maroka maikũrũkĩte moimĩte gatagatĩ ka bũrũri, na mbũtũ ĩrĩa ĩngĩ yũkĩte yumĩte na mwena wa mũtĩ wa mũragũri.”
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.”
Ningĩ Zebuli akĩmwĩra atĩrĩ, “Mwĩgaatho waku ũkĩrĩ ha rĩu, wee woigire atĩrĩ, ‘Abimeleku nũũ atĩ nĩguo atwathe?’ Githĩ andũ aya ti o wanyũrũririe. Umagara ũkarũe nao!”
39 Gaal went out and he was leading the men of Shechem, and he fought Abimelech.
Nĩ ũndũ ũcio Gaali agĩtongoria atũũri a Shekemu makĩhũũrana na Abimeleku.
40 Abimelech chased him, and Gaal fled before him. Many fell with deadly wounds before the entrance to the city gate.
Abimeleku akĩmũtengʼeria, nao andũ aingĩ makĩgũa magurarĩtio makĩũra kũu guothe o nginya itoonyero-inĩ rĩa kĩhingo.
41 Abimelech stayed in Arumah. Zebul forced Gaal and his relatives out of Shechem.
Abimeleku agĩtũũra Aruma, nake Zebuli akĩrutũrũra Gaali hamwe na ariũ a ithe kuuma Shekemu.
42 On the next day the people of Shechem went out into the field, and this was reported to Abimelech.
Mũthenya ũyũ ũngĩ andũ a Shekemu magĩthiĩ mĩgũnda-inĩ, nake Abimeleku akĩmenyithio ũhoro ũcio.
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.
Nĩ ũndũ ũcio akĩoya andũ ake, akĩmagayania ikundi ithatũ, akĩmaiga moherie andũ mĩgũnda-inĩ. Hĩndĩ ĩrĩa onire andũ acio magĩũka moimĩte itũũra-inĩ rĩrĩa inene, agĩũkĩra amatharĩkĩre.
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.
Abimeleku na ikundi iria aarĩ nacio makĩguthũka mbere nginya hau itoonyero-inĩ rĩa kĩhingo gĩa itũũra inene, nacio ikundi icio ingĩ igĩrĩ ikĩguthũkĩra arĩa maarĩ mĩgũnda-inĩ, ikĩmooraga.
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.
Abimeleku akĩhũũrana na itũũra rĩu inene mũthenya wothe nginya akĩrĩtaha na akĩũraga andũ a rĩo othe. Ningĩ akĩananga itũũra rĩu inene, na akĩrĩitĩrĩria cumbĩ.
46 When all the leaders of the tower of Shechem heard of it, they entered the stronghold of the house of El-Berith.
Rĩrĩa maiguire ũhoro ũcio, andũ arĩa maatũũraga mũthiringo-inĩ wa Shekemu magĩtoonya kĩĩhitho-inĩ kĩa hinya kĩa hekarũ ya Eli-Berithu.
47 Abimelech was told that all the leaders had gathered together at the tower of Shechem.
Rĩrĩa Abimeleku aiguire atĩ nĩmacookanĩrĩire kuo-rĩ,
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.”
we na andũ ake othe makĩambata Kĩrĩma-inĩ gĩa Zalimuna. Akĩoya ithanwa, agĩtema honge, na agĩciigĩrĩra ciande. Agĩatha andũ arĩa maarĩ nake, akĩmeera atĩrĩ, “Narua! Ĩkai ũguo muona ndeka!”
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.
Nĩ ũndũ ũcio andũ acio othe magĩtema honge, na makĩrũmĩrĩra Abimeleku. Magĩciũmba hĩba kũnyiitana na kĩĩhitho kĩu kĩa hinya magĩcigwatia mwaki andũ marĩ thĩinĩ. Nĩ ũndũ ũcio andũ acio othe maarĩ thĩinĩ wa mũthiringo ũcio wa Shekemu, ta andũ 1,000, arũme na andũ-a-nja, o nao magĩkua.
50 Then Abimelech went to Thebez, and he encamped against Thebez and captured it.
Abimeleku agĩthiĩ itũũra rĩa Thebezu, akĩrĩrigiicĩria na akĩrĩtunyana.
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.
No rĩrĩ, thĩinĩ wa itũũra rĩu inene nĩ kwarĩ na mũthiringo mũrũmu kũrĩa arũme othe na andũ-a-nja, na andũ othe a itũũra rĩu inene, moorĩire. Makĩĩhingĩra thĩinĩ, na makĩhaica mũthiringo igũrũ.
52 Abimelech came to the tower and fought against it, and he came up near to the door of the tower to burn it.
Abimeleku agĩthiĩ mũthiringo-inĩ ũcio, akĩũhithũkĩra. No rĩrĩa akuhĩrĩirie itoonyero rĩa mũthiringo nĩguo aũgwatie mwaki-rĩ,
53 But a woman dropped an upper millstone on Abimelech's head and it cracked his skull.
mũtumia ũmwe akĩmũgũithĩria ihiga rĩa gĩthĩi mũtwe, rĩkĩmũhehenja mũtwe.
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.
Nake agĩĩta mũkuui wake wa indo cia mbaara na ihenya, akĩmwĩra atĩrĩ, “Comora rũhiũ rwaku rwa njora ũnjũrage, nĩgeetha matikoigage atĩrĩ, ‘Ooragirwo nĩ mũndũ-wa-nja.’” Nĩ ũndũ ũcio ndungata yake ĩkĩmũtheeca, agĩkua.
55 When the men of Israel saw that Abimelech was dead, they went home.
Hĩndĩ ĩrĩa andũ a Isiraeli moonire atĩ Abimeleku nĩakuĩte-rĩ, makĩĩinũkĩra.
56 So God avenged the evil of Abimelech that he did to his father by murdering his seventy brothers.
Ũguo nĩguo Ngai aarĩhirie Abimeleku nĩ ũndũ wa waganu ũrĩa ekĩte ithe, wa kũũraga ariũ-a-ithe mĩrongo mũgwanja.
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.
Ningĩ Ngai akĩrĩhia andũ a Shekemu nĩ ũndũ wa waganu wao wothe. Kĩrumi kĩa Jothamu mũrũ wa Jerubu-Baali gĩkĩmacookerera.
