< 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,
Abimereki mutabani wa Yerubbaali n’agenda e Sekemu eri baganda ba nnyina n’eri ab’ekika bonna, ab’ennyumba ya kitaawe, n’ennyumba ya nnyina n’abagamba nti,
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.”
“Mubuuze kaakano ng’abatuuze b’e Sekemu bonna bawulira nti, ‘Kiki ekisingako obulungi? Batabani ba Yerubbaali bonna ensanvu okubafuganga oba omuntu omu y’aba abafuganga?’ Mujjukire nti ndi wa musaayi gwammwe.”
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.”
Awo baganda ba nnyina ne bategeeza abatuuze b’e Sekemu ebintu ebyo byonna. Ab’e Sekemu ne basalawo okugoberera Abimereki nga bwe bagamba nti, “Muganda waffe.”
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.
Ne bamuwa ebitundu bya ffeeza ebya sekeri nsanvu okuva mu ssabo lya Baaluberisi. Abimereki n’apangisa abayaaye n’abantu abataalina bya buvunaanyizibwa ne bamugoberera.
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.
N’alaga mu nnyumba ya kitaawe mu Ofula n’addira baganda be, batabani ba Yerubbaali nsanvu n’abattira ku jjinja. Naye omu ku baana abo omuto ayitibwa Yosamu mutabani wa Yerubbaali, n’adduka ne yeekweka.
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.
Awo abatuuze bonna ab’e Sekemu n’e Besimiiro ne bakuŋŋaana ne batikkira Abimereki ng’ayimiridde okuliraana omuti omunene, ne bamufuula kabaka mu Sekemu.
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.
Awo Yosamu bwe baamugamba ebigambo ebyo, n’alinnya ku ntikko y’olusozi Gerizimu n’ayogera mu ddoboozi ery’omwanguka ng’agamba nti, “Mumpulirize abatuuze b’e Sekemu, Katonda alyoke abawulirize.
8 The trees once went out to anoint a king over them. For they said to the olive tree, 'Reign over us.'
Emiti gy’agenda okulonda kabaka, ne gigamba omuzeyituuni nti, ‘Ba kabaka waffe.’
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?'
Naye omuzeyituuni ne gubaddamu nti, ‘Ndekeyo okuvaamu amafuta ag’omuzeeyituuni agampeesa balubaale n’abantu ekitiibwa, ŋŋende okuyuuguumya emiti?’
10 The trees said to the fig tree, 'Come and reign over us.'
Awo ne giraga eri omutiini ne gigugamba nti, ‘Ggwe jjangu obeere kabaka waffe.’
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?'
Naye nagwo ne guddamu nti, ‘Ndekeyo okuvaamu obuwoomi n’ekibala ekirungi, ŋŋende okuyuuguumya emiti?’
12 The trees said to the vine, 'Come and reign over us.'
Awo ne giraga eri omuzabbibu ne gigugamba nti, ‘Ggwe jjangu obeere kabaka waffe.’
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?'
Naye omuzabbibu ne gubaddamu nti, ‘Ndekeyo okuvaamu wayini asanyusa balubaale n’abantu, ŋŋende okuyuuguumya emiti?’
14 Then said all the trees to the thornbush, 'Come and reign over us.'
Awo emiti gyonna ne gigamba omweramannyo nti, ‘Jjangu obeere kabaka waffe.’
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.'
Awo omweramannyo ne gugamba emiti nti, ‘Bwe muba nga ddala munnonda okuba kabaka wammwe, mujje mwewogome mu kisiikirize kyange. Naye bwe kitaba kityo, omuliro guve mu mweramannyo gusaanyeewo emivule gy’omu Lebanooni.’
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—
“Kale nno obanga mwakola kya kitiibwa era mu mutima omulungi ne mufuula Abimereki kabaka, era bwe muba nga mwalaga obwenkanya eri Yerubbaali n’ennyumba ye, ne mumukola nga bwe kyamusaanira,
17 —and to think that my father fought for you, risked his life, and rescued you out of the hand of Midian—
kubanga kitange yabalwanirira, n’awaayo obulamu bwe, n’abawonya mu mukono gwa Midiyaani,
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.
naye mmwe ne mujeemera ennyumba ya kitange ne muttira batabani be nsanvu ku jjinja limu, ne mufuula Abimereki omwana w’omuddu omukazi, kabaka w’abatuuze ab’omu Sekemu, kubanga ye muganda wammwe,
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.
era bwe muba nga mwakola kya kitiibwa era nga mwakikola mu mutima omulungi ne muyisa Yerubbaali n’ennyumba ye bwe mutyo, kale Abimereki asanyuke, era nammwe abasanyuse.
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.”
Naye bwe kitaba bwe kityo, omuliro guve mu Abimereki, gusaanyeewo abatuuze b’omu Sekemu n’ab’e Besimiiro, ate era omuliro guve mu batuuze ab’omu Sekemu ne mu Besimiiro gusaanyeewo Abimereki.”
21 Jotham fled and ran away, and he went to Beer. He lived there because it was far away from Abimelech, his brother.
Oluvannyuma lw’ebyo, Yosamu n’adduka n’alaga e Beeri, n’abeera eyo olw’okutya muganda we Abimereki.
22 Abimelech ruled over Israel for three years.
Awo Abimereki n’afuga Isirayiri okumala emyaka esatu.
23 God sent an evil spirit between Abimelech and the leaders of Shechem. The leaders of Shechem betrayed the trust they had with Abimelech.
Katonda n’akyawaganya Abimereki n’abatuuze b’omu Sekemu, ne balya mu Abimereki olukwe,
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.
Katonda ng’awoolera eggwanga olw’ekikolwa eky’okutta batabani ba Yerubbaali ensanvu, n’omusaayi gwabwe ng’aguteeka ku Abimereki muganda waabwe eyabatta ng’ayambibwako abatuuze b’omu Sekemu.
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.
Abatuuze b’omu Sekemu ne bassaawo abasajja ku nsozi babbenga era banyagululenga buli eyayitanga mu kkubo. Abimereki n’ategeezebwa.
26 Gaal son of Ebed came with his relatives and they went over to Shechem. The leaders of Shechem had confidence in him.
Awo Gaali mutabani wa Ebedi n’ajja ne baganda be mu Sekemu, abatuuze b’omu Sekemu, ne batanula okumwesiga.
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.
Ne balaga mu nnimiro ne bakungula ezzabbibu zaabwe, ne basogola omubisi, n’oluvannyuma ne bakola embaga mu ssabo lya katonda waabwe, ne balya ne banywa ne bakolimira Abimereki.
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?
Awo Gaali mutabani wa Ebedi n’ayogera nti, “Abimereki ye ani? Ab’omu Sekemu be baani okumuweereza? Si ye mutabani wa Yerubbaali, era Zebbuli si ye mumyuka we? Muweereze abantu ba Kamoli, kitaawe wa Sekemu. Lwaki tuweereza Abimereki?
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.'”
Ani ayinza okumpa obuyinza okukulembera abantu bano, olwo ndyoke nziggyewo Abimereki? Era nzija kumusoomooza nga mugamba nti, ‘Kuŋŋaanya eggye lyo, otulumbe.’”
30 When Zebul, the official of the city, heard the words of Gaal son of Ebed his anger was kindled.
Awo Zebbuli omukulu w’ekibuga bwe yawulira ebigambo bya Gaali mutabani wa Ebedi, n’asunguwala nnyo.
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.
N’aweereza ababaka eri Abimereki mu kyama okumugamba nti, “Laba Gaali mutabani wa Ebedi, ne baganda be bazze mu Sekemu. Basekeeterera ekibuga okukulwanyisa.
32 Now, get up during the night, you and the soldiers with you, and prepare an ambush in the fields.
Kaakano, ggwe jjangu mu kiro n’abasajja bo muteegere mu nnimiro.
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.”
Mu makya enjuba ng’evaayo, onoogolokoka n’olumba ekibuga. Onoomulumba ye n’abantu abali naye abajja okukulumba, ggwe olyoke obakole ekyo omukono gwo kye guteekeddwa okukola.”
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.
Awo Abimereki n’abasajja be ne bagolokoka mu kiro ne bagenda ne beekweka mu bibanja bina okumpi n’e Sekemu.
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.
Gaali mutabani wa Ebedi n’afuluma n’ayimirira mu mulyango gwa wankaaki w’ekibuga, ne Abimereki n’abasajja be nabo ne bavaayo gye baali beekwese.
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.”
Awo Gaali bwe yabalaba, n’agamba Zebbuli nti, “Laba abantu nga bava ku nsozi waggulu!” Zebbuli n’amuddamu nti, “Ebisiikirize eby’ensozi by’olaba ng’abantu.”
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.”
Naye Gaali n’ayogera nate nti, “Laba, abantu bajja nga bayitira mu muwaatwa gw’ensi, n’ekibinja ekimu kifuluma mu kkubo ery’omwera ogw’abafumu.”
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.”
Awo Zebbuli n’alyoka amugamba nti, “Biki bye wali oyogera bwe wagamba nti, ‘Abimereki ye ani ffe okumuweereza?’ Abo si be bantu be wanyooma? Kaakano genda obalwanyise.”
39 Gaal went out and he was leading the men of Shechem, and he fought Abimelech.
Awo Gaali n’akulembera abatuuze b’omu Sekemu okulwanyisa Abimereki.
40 Abimelech chased him, and Gaal fled before him. Many fell with deadly wounds before the entrance to the city gate.
Abimereki n’amugoba, ne Gaali n’amudduka, era bangi ne batuusibwako ebiwundu, era ne bagwa ku mulyango gwa wankaaki.
41 Abimelech stayed in Arumah. Zebul forced Gaal and his relatives out of Shechem.
Abimereki n’abeera mu Aluma. Zebbuli n’agoba Gaali ne baganda be mu Sekemu baleme kubeerangamu.
42 On the next day the people of Shechem went out into the field, and this was reported to Abimelech.
Ku lunaku olwaddirira, Abimereki n’ategeezebwa ng’abantu bwe bagenda okulima.
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.
Awo n’addira abasajja be n’abaawulamu ebibinja bisatu, n’ateegera abantu mu nnimiro. Bwe yalaba ng’abantu bafuluma ekibuga balage mu nnimiro, n’abalumba.
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.
Abimereki n’ekibinja kye yali nakyo ne banguwa okuwamba omulyango gwa wankaaki w’ekibuga, ate ebibinja ebibiri byo ne byanguwa okulaga mu nnimiro ne batta abaaliyo.
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.
Abimereki n’azibya olunaku olwo ng’alwanyisa ab’omu kibuga, n’akiwamba, n’abaalimu n’abatta, n’ekibuga n’akizikiriza, n’akiyiwamu n’omunnyo.
46 When all the leaders of the tower of Shechem heard of it, they entered the stronghold of the house of El-Berith.
Olwawulira ebyo, abatuuze abaali mu kigo kya Sekemu, ne baddukira mu ssabo lya Eruberisi.
47 Abimelech was told that all the leaders had gathered together at the tower of Shechem.
Awo bwe baategeeza Abimereki nti abatuuze b’omu Sekemu baali bakuŋŋaanidde mu kigo kya Sekemu,
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.”
ye n’abasajja be ne balinnya ku lusozi Zalumoni, n’akwata embazi n’atema ettabi n’alyetikka ku kibegabega. N’alagira n’abasajja be yali nabo ng’abagamba nti, “Mwanguwe, mukole nga bwe nkoze.”
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.
Buli omu ku bo n’atema ettabi n’alyetikka, ne bagoberera Abimereki. Ne bagatuuma ku kigo, ne bakikumako omuliro. Abantu bonna abaali mu kigo kya Sekemu, be basajja n’abakazi nga lukumi ne bafiiramu.
50 Then Abimelech went to Thebez, and he encamped against Thebez and captured it.
Awo Abimereki n’agenda e Sebezi, n’asiisira okwetooloola ekibuga ekyo era n’akiwamba.
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.
Mu kibuga ekyo mwalimu ekigo eky’amaanyi, era abantu bonna abasajja n’abakazi ab’omu kibuga ne baddukira omwo ne beggaliramu. Ne balinnya ku kasolya k’ekigo.
52 Abimelech came to the tower and fought against it, and he came up near to the door of the tower to burn it.
Abimereki n’alumba ekigo, naye bwe yali ng’akisemberedde, akume omuliro ku mulyango gwakyo,
53 But a woman dropped an upper millstone on Abimelech's head and it cracked his skull.
ne wabaawo omukazi omu eyakasuka olubengo ku mutwe gwa Abimereki, n’amwasa omutwe.
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.
Amangwago Abimereki n’agamba eyasitulanga ebyokulwanyisa bye nti, “Sowola ekitala kyo onzite, si kulwa nga kinjogerwako nti nattibwa mukazi.” Omuddu we n’amufumita ekitala n’afa.
55 When the men of Israel saw that Abimelech was dead, they went home.
Awo abantu ba Isirayiri bwe baalaba nga Abimereki afudde, buli omu n’addayo ewuwe.
56 So God avenged the evil of Abimelech that he did to his father by murdering his seventy brothers.
Katonda bw’atyo n’awalana eggwanga olw’obutali butuukirivu bwa Abimereki, olwa Abimereki okutta abaana ba kitaawe, abooluganda nsanvu.
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.
Katonda n’abonereza n’abantu b’omu Sekemu olw’obutali butuukirivu bwabwe bwonna, n’atuukiriza n’ekikolimo Yosamu mutabani wa Yerubbaali kye yabakolimira.

< Judges 9 >