< 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,
Da koro bi, Yerub-Baal babarima Abimelek kɔɔ Sekem kɔsraa ne wɔfanom a wɔyɛ ne na nuabarimanom. Ɔka kyerɛɛ wɔn ne ne na fifo nkae no se,
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.”
“Mummisa ɔmanfo a wɔwɔ Sekem no se, wɔpɛ sɛ Yerub-Baal mmabarima aduɔson no nyinaa di wɔn so anaasɛ wɔpɛ sɛ ɔbarima baako di wɔn so? Na monkae sɛ meyɛ mo bogya!”
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.”
Enti Abimelek wɔfanom gyinaa nʼanan mu kasa kyerɛɛ nnipa a wɔwɔ Sekem nyinaa. Na wotiee wɔn adwenkyerɛ no, wɔpenee so faa Abimelek, efisɛ ɔyɛ wɔn busuani.
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.
Wɔfaa dwetɛ sika nnwetɛbona aduɔson fi Baal-Berit nsɔre so de maa Abimelek, na ɔde faa asraafo a wɔpenee so sɛ wubedi nʼakyi.
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.
Ɔde asraafo no kɔɔ nʼagya kurom wɔ Ofra. Na ɛhɔ, ɔbo bi so, na okunkum nʼagya mmabarima aduɔson no nyinaa. Nanso ne nuanom mu akumaa koraa a wɔfrɛ no Yotam no guan kɔtɛwee baabi.
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.
Enti Sekemfo ne Bet-Milofo yɛɛ nhyiamu wɔ odupɔn a ɛbɛn nkaedum a ɛwɔ Sekem no ase. Wosii Abimelek wɔn so hene.
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.
Yotam tee asɛm yi no, ɔforo kɔɔ Gerisim bepɔw no atifi na ɔteɛɛ mu ka kyerɛɛ wɔn se, “Sekemfo muntie me! Sɛ mopɛ sɛ Onyankopɔn tie mo de a, muntie me!
8 The trees once went out to anoint a king over them. For they said to the olive tree, 'Reign over us.'
Bere bi, nnua nyinaa pɛɛ sɛ wosi wɔn so hene. Nea edi kan no, wɔka kyerɛɛ ngodua se, ‘Bedi yɛn so hene!’
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?'
“Nanso, wampene so kae se, ‘Adɛn? Minnyae me ngo a wɔde hyɛ Onyankopɔn ne nnipa anuonyam no, na minkokyinkyin nnua a aka so ana?’
10 The trees said to the fig tree, 'Come and reign over us.'
“Afei, wɔka kyerɛɛ borɔdɔma se ‘Bedi yɛn so hene!’
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?'
“Borɔdɔma nso buae se, ‘Na minnyae aba sow na minkyin nnua afoforo so?’
12 The trees said to the vine, 'Come and reign over us.'
“Afei wɔka kyerɛɛ bobe se, ‘Bedi yɛn so hene.’
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?'
“Na bobe no buae se, ‘Sɛ migyae me nsa pa a ɛma anyame ne nnipa anigye no ma a, na afei na merebekyin nnua bi so ana?’
14 Then said all the trees to the thornbush, 'Come and reign over us.'
“Ne korakora ne sɛ, nnua no nyinaa ka kyerɛɛ nsɔe se, ‘Bedi yɛn so hene.’
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.'
“Na nsɔe buae se, ‘Sɛ ɛyɛ mo adwene kann sɛ mode me besi mo so hene a, mommra mmɛhyɛ me nwini yi ase. Sɛ ɛnte saa a, momma ogya mfi nsɔe mu mmɛhyew Lebanon sida nyinaa.’
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—
“Afei mugye di sɛ moayɛ nea ɛho wɔ nyam, na ɛnam ne kwan mu sɛ mode Abimelek asi mo so hene, na moayɛ Yerub-Baal ne nʼasefo nyinaa apɛde. Moayɛ nea ɛfata ama mʼagya ana?
17 —and to think that my father fought for you, risked his life, and rescued you out of the hand of Midian—
Na ɔko maa mo de ne ho bɔɔ afɔre bere a ogyee mo fii Midianfo nsam no.
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.
Na nnɛ, moasɔre atia mʼagya ne nʼasefo, akunkum ne mmabarima aduɔson wɔ ɔbo baako so. Mode Abimelek a ɔyɛ ne somfobea babarima asi Sekem manfo so hene, sɛ ɔyɛ mo busuani nti.
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.
Sɛ moayɛ nea ɛho wɔ nyam na ɛnam ne kwan mu ama Yerub-Baal ne nʼasefo a, ɛno de mubenya ahosɛpɛw wɔ Abimelek mu na ɔno nso anya ahosɛpɛw wɔ mo mu.
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.”
Sɛ nea moayɛ no mfa ne kwan mu de a, ɛno de, ogya mfi Abimelek nkyɛn mmɛhyew mo, Sekemfo ne Bet-Milofo. Na ogya nso mfi Sekemfo ne Bet-Milofo nkyɛn mmɛhyew Abimelek!”
21 Jotham fled and ran away, and he went to Beer. He lived there because it was far away from Abimelech, his brother.
Na esiane Abimelek ho suro nti, ne nuabarima Yotam guan kɔtenaa Beer.
22 Abimelech ruled over Israel for three years.
Abimelek dii Israel so mfe abiɛsa akyi no,
23 God sent an evil spirit between Abimelech and the leaders of Shechem. The leaders of Shechem betrayed the trust they had with Abimelech.
Onyankopɔn somaa honhom fi bi ma ɔde ɔhaw baa Abimelek ne Sekem mpanyimfo ntam na wɔtew atua.
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.
Nsɛm a esisii akyi yi mu no, Onyankopɔn twee Abimelek ne Sekemfo aso sɛ wokunkum Yerub-Baal mmabarima aduɔson no.
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.
Sekem mmarima bi kɔtɛwee Abimelek wɔ mmepɔw atifi, na wɔbɔɔ obiara a otwaa mu wɔ hɔ no apoo. Nnipa bi kɔɔ Abimelek nkyɛn kotii nʼase.
26 Gaal son of Ebed came with his relatives and they went over to Shechem. The leaders of Shechem had confidence in him.
Saa bere no, Ebed babarima Gaal ne ne nuabarimanom kɔɔ Sekem. Na Sekemfo no nyaa wɔn mu awerehyɛmu.
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.
Bere a wɔredi Otwabere Afahyɛ wɔ Sekem wɔ ɛhɔ nyame bi nsɔree so no, bobesa buu so wɔ hɔ maa obiara fitii ase domee Abimelek.
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 teɛɛ mu se, “Hena ne Abimelek? Ɔnyɛ Sekem aseni kann, na adɛn nti na ɛsɛ sɛ yɛyɛ nʼasomfo? Ɔyɛ Yerub-Baal babarima kɛkɛ na Sebul na ɔtoto ne man ho nhyehyɛe ma no. Monsom nnipa a wofi Hamor, wɔn na wɔyɛ Sekem asefo kann. Adɛn nti na ɛsɛ sɛ yɛsom Abimelek?
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.'”
Sɛ mewɔ tumi a, anka meyi Abimelek afi hɔ. Anka mɛka akyerɛ no se, ‘Pɛ asraafo bebree bra bɛko!’”
30 When Zebul, the official of the city, heard the words of Gaal son of Ebed his anger was kindled.
Na Sebul a otua kurow no ano tee nea Gaal rekeka no, ne bo fuwii.
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.
Ɔsomaa abɔfo kɔɔ Abimelek nkyɛn wɔ Aruma, kɔka kyerɛɛ no se, “Ebed babarima Gaal ne ne nuabarimanom abɛtena Sekem na wɔretu ɔmanfo no aso sɛ wɔnsɔre ntia wo.
32 Now, get up during the night, you and the soldiers with you, and prepare an ambush in the fields.
Fa asraafo bra anadwo bɛtɛw mfuw yi mu.
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.”
Ade kyee ara pɛ, tow hyɛ kuropɔn yi so. Na sɛ Gaal ne nʼapamfo ba betia wo a, nea wopɛ biara wutumi yɛ wɔn.”
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.
Na Abimelek ne ne mmarima kɔɔ anadwo no, na wɔkyɛɛ wɔn mu akuw anan de twaa Sekem ho hyiae.
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.
Bere a Abimelek ne nʼakofo pue fii ahintawee mu no, na Gaal gyina kurow no pon ano.
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.”
Bere a Gaal huu wɔn no, ɔka kyerɛɛ Sebul se, “Hwɛ, nnipa bi fi bepɔw no so reba!” Sebul buae se, “Ɛyɛ mmepɔw no sunsuma na ayɛ sɛ nnipa no.”
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.”
Nanso Gaal san kae se, “Dabi, nnipa bi resian mmepɔw no. Na kuw foforo nso nam ɔkwan a ɛfa Akɔmfo Dupɔn ho no reba.”
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.”
Afei, Sebul dan guu ne so se, “Anosɛm a na woyɛ no ase ne dɛn? Ɛnyɛ wo ara na wokae se ‘Hena ne Abimelek, na adɛn nti na ɛsɛ sɛ yɛyɛ ne nkoa’ no? Ɛnyɛ nnipa yi na wudii wɔn ho fɛw no? Kɔ na wo ne wɔn nkɔko!”
39 Gaal went out and he was leading the men of Shechem, and he fought Abimelech.
Enti Gaal dii Sekem mmarima anim sɛ wɔrekɔko atia Abimelek,
40 Abimelech chased him, and Gaal fled before him. Many fell with deadly wounds before the entrance to the city gate.
nanso odii nkogu na oguanee. Wokunkum Sekem akofo bebree sɛw wɔn afunu kɛtɛ wɔ ɔkwan a ɛkɔ kuropɔn no pon ano no so.
41 Abimelech stayed in Arumah. Zebul forced Gaal and his relatives out of Shechem.
Abimelek tenaa Aruma na Sebul pam Gaal ne ne nuanom mmarima fii Sekem.
42 On the next day the people of Shechem went out into the field, and this was reported to Abimelech.
Ade kyee no, Sekemfo no kɔɔ wura mu sɛ wɔrekɔko. Abimelek tee no,
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.
ɔkyɛɛ ne mmarima mu akuwakuw abiɛsa ma wɔkɔtetɛw wura mu. Bere a Abimelek huu sɛ nnipa no fi kuropɔn no mu reba no, ɔne ne mmarima no fii wɔn ahintawee mu tow hyɛɛ wɔn so.
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 ne ne kuw no kogyee kuropɔn no pon ano hɔ fae sɛnea ɛbɛyɛ a Sekemfo rentumi nsan wɔn akyi. Afei, akuw abien tow hyɛɛ Sekemfo a wɔwɔ wuram hɔ no so kunkum wɔn.
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.
Ɔko no kɔɔ so da mu no nyinaa ansa na Abimelek redi kuropɔn no so koraa. Okunkum nnipa no, sɛee kuropɔn no, na ɔpetee nkyene wɔ hɔ nyinaa.
46 When all the leaders of the tower of Shechem heard of it, they entered the stronghold of the house of El-Berith.
Nnipa a wɔte Sekem abantenten mu tee asɛm a asi no, wokohintaw Baal-Berit nsɔree so.
47 Abimelech was told that all the leaders had gathered together at the tower of Shechem.
Obi kɔbɔɔ Abimelek amanneɛ sɛ nnipa no bi aboa wɔn ho ano wɔ nsɔree so hɔ,
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.”
enti odii nʼakofo anim kɔɔ Salmon Bepɔw so. Ɔfaa abonnua twaa mman bi fii dua bi so na ɔde guu ne mmati so. Ɔka kyerɛɛ ne dɔm no se, “Ntɛm, nea mayɛ yi, monyɛ bi!”
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.
Enti wɔn mu biara twitwaa dua mman no bi, sɛnea Abimelek yɛe no. Wɔboaa mman no ano wɔ nsɔree so no afasu ho de ogya too mu. Enti nnipa a na wɔte Sekem abantenten mu a wɔn dodow bɛyɛ mmarima ne mmea apem no nyinaa wuwui.
50 Then Abimelech went to Thebez, and he encamped against Thebez and captured it.
Afei Abimelek tow hyɛɛ kuropɔn Tebes so dii so.
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.
Nanso na abandennen bi wɔ kuropɔn no mu. Ɛno nti, kuropɔn no mu nnipa nyinaa guan kɔhyɛɛ mu. Wɔtoo wɔn ho pon mu, foforo kɔɔ abandennen no atifi pɛɛ.
52 Abimelech came to the tower and fought against it, and he came up near to the door of the tower to burn it.
Abimelek toaa wɔn sɛ ɔrekɔtow ahyɛ abandennen no so. Ɔyɛɛ nʼadwene sɛ ɔreto mu gya pɛ,
53 But a woman dropped an upper millstone on Abimelech's head and it cracked his skull.
ɔbea bi a ɔwɔ abandennen no atifi gyaa awiyammo mu ma ɛbɛbɔɔ Abimelek moma so na ɛpɛtɛw ne ti koraa.
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 ka kyerɛɛ aberante a okura nʼakode no se, “Twe wʼafoa na kum me! Na nnipa anka sɛ ɔbeabasia na okum Abimelek!” Enti aberante no de nʼafoa wɔɔ no maa owui.
55 When the men of Israel saw that Abimelech was dead, they went home.
Bere a Abimelek nkurɔfo huu sɛ wawu no, wɔde wɔn akode guu hɔ san kɔɔ wɔn afi mu.
56 So God avenged the evil of Abimelech that he did to his father by murdering his seventy brothers.
Saa na Onyankopɔn twee Abimelek aso wɔ bɔne a ɔyɛ de tiaa nʼagya sɛ okum ne nuabarimanom aduɔson no.
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.
Saa ara na Onyankopɔn twee mmarima a wɔwɔ Sekem aso wɔ wɔn bɔne ahorow a wɔyɛɛ no ho. Ɛno nti, Yerub-Baal babarima Yotam nnome no baa mu.

< Judges 9 >