< Judges 9 >

1 And Abimelech the son of Jerubbaal went to Shechem to his mother's brethren, and communed with them, and with all the family of the house of his mother's father, saying,
Abimeleku mũrũ wa Jerubu-Baali nĩathiire kũrĩ aa mamawe na andũ othe a mbarĩ ya kũrĩa nyina oimĩte kũu Shekemu, akĩmeera atĩrĩ,
2 Speak, I pray you, in the ears of all the men of Shechem, Which [is] better for you, either that all the sons of Jerubbaal, [which are] seventy persons, should reign over you, or that one should reign over you? remember also 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 And his mother's brethren spoke of him in the ears of all the men of Shechem all these words: and their hearts inclined 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 And they gave him seventy [pieces] of silver out of the house of Baal-berith, with which Abimelech hired vain and light persons, 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 And he went to his father's house at Ophrah, and slew his brethren the sons of Jerubbaal, [being] seventy persons, upon one stone; notwithstanding, yet Jotham the youngest son of Jerubbaal was left; 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 And all the men of Shechem assembled, and all the house of Millo, and went and made Abimelech king, by the plain of the pillar that [was] 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 And when they told [it] to Jotham, he went and stood in the top of mount Gerizim, and lifted up his voice and cried, and said to them, Hearken to me, ye men of Shechem, that God may hearken 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 went forth [on a time] to anoint a king over them; and they said to the olive-tree, Reign thou 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 leave my fatness, with which by me they honor God and man, and go to be promoted over the 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 And the trees said to the fig-tree, Come thou, [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 forsake my sweetness, and my good fruit, and go to be promoted over the 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 Then said the trees to the vine, Come thou, [and] reign over us.
“Ningĩ mĩtĩ ĩkĩĩra mũthabibũ atĩrĩ, ‘Ũka ũtuĩke mũthamaki witũ.’
13 And the vine said to them, Should I leave my wine, which cheereth God and man, and go to be promoted over the 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 bramble, Come thou, [and] reign over us.
“Kũrĩkĩrĩria mĩtĩ yothe ĩkĩĩra mũtare wa gĩthaka-inĩ atĩrĩ, ‘Ũka ũtuĩke mũthamaki witũ.’
15 And the bramble said to the trees, If in truth ye anoint me king over you, [then] come [and] put your trust in my shadow: and if not, let fire come out of the bramble, and devour 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 ye have done truly and sincerely, in that ye have made Abimelech king, and if ye have dealt well with Jerubbaal and his house, and have done to him according to the deserving of his hands:
“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 (For my father fought for you, and adventured his life far, and delivered you from the hand of Midian:
tondũ baba nĩwe wamũrũĩrĩire, agĩtwarĩrĩria muoyo wake ũgwati-inĩ nĩgeetha amũhonokie moko-inĩ ma Amidiani,
18 And ye have risen up against my father's house this day, and have slain his sons, seventy persons, upon one stone, and have made Abimelech, the son of his maid-servant, king over the men of Shechem, because he [is] your brother: )
(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 ye then have dealt truly and sincerely with Jerubbaal and with his house this day, [then] rejoice ye 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 devour the men of Shechem, and the house of Millo; and let fire come out from the men of Shechem, and from the house of Millo, and devour 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 And Jotham ran away, and fled, and went to Beer, and dwelt there, for fear of Abimelech his brother.
Hĩndĩ ĩyo Jothamu agĩĩthara, akĩũrĩra kũu Biri, nake agĩtũũra kuo nĩ ũndũ nĩetigagĩra mũrũ wa ithe, Abimeleku.
22 When Abimelech had reigned three years over Israel,
Thuutha wa Abimeleku gwathana Isiraeli mĩaka ĩtatũ-rĩ,
23 Then God sent an evil spirit between Abimelech and the men of Shechem; and the men of Shechem dealt treacherously with Abimelech:
Ngai agĩtũma roho mũũru gatagatĩ ka Abimeleku na atũũri a Shekemu, arĩa meekire maũndũ mooru ma ũhinga kũrĩ Abimeleku.
24 That the cruelty [done] to the seventy sons of Jerubbaal might come, and their blood be laid upon Abimelech their brother who slew them, and upon the men of Shechem who aided him in the killing of his brethren.
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 And the men of Shechem set liers in wait for him on the top of the mountains, and they robbed all that came along that way by them: and it was told 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 And Gaal the son of Ebed came with his brethren, and went over to Shechem: and the men of Shechem put their confidence in him.
Nake Gaali mũrũ wa Ebedi hamwe na ariũ a ithe magĩthaamĩra kũu Shekemu, nao atũũri akuo makĩmwĩhoka.
27 And they went out into the fields, and gathered their vineyards, and trod [the grapes], and made merry, and went into the house of their god, and ate and drank, and 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 And Gaal the son of Ebed said, Who [is] Abimelech, and who [is] Shechem, that we should serve him; [is] not [he] the son of Jerubbaal? and Zebul his officer? Serve the men of Hamor the father of Shechem: for why should we serve him?
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 And would that this people were under my hand! then would I remove Abimelech. And he said to Abimelech, Increase thy army, and come out.
Naarĩ korwo andũ aya me rungu rwa wathani wakwa! Hĩndĩ ĩyo niĩ no ndĩmweherie. No njĩĩre Abimeleku atĩrĩ, ‘Ĩta ita rĩaku rĩothe!’”
30 And when Zebul the ruler of the city heard the words of Gaal the 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 And he sent messengers to Abimelech privately, saying, Behold, Gaal the son of Ebed, and his brethren, are come to Shechem; and behold, they fortify the city against thee.
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 therefore rise by night, thou, and the people that [are] with thee, and lie in wait in the field:
Nĩ ũndũ wa ũguo-rĩ, ũtukũ wakinya wee na andũ aku mũũke mũmoohie mĩgũnda-inĩ.
33 And it shall be, [that] in the morning, as soon as the sun hath risen, thou shalt rise early, and attack the city: and behold, [when] he and the people that [are] with him come out against thee, then mayest thou do to them as thou shalt find occasion.
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 And Abimelech rose, and all the people that [were] with him, by night, and they laid wait against Shechem in four companies.
Nĩ ũndũ ũcio Abimeleku marĩ hamwe na mbũtũ ciake ciothe cia ita makiumagara ũtukũ, makĩĩhitha gũkuhĩ na Shekemu marĩ ikundi inya.
35 And Gaal the son of Ebed went out, and stood in the entrance of the gate of the city: and Abimelech rose, and the people that [were] with him, from lying in wait.
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 And when Gaal saw the people, he said to Zebul, Behold, there come people down from the top of the mountains. And Zebul said to him, Thou seest the shadow of the mountains as [if they were] 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 And Gaal spoke again, and said, See, there come people down by the middle of the land, and another company come along by the plain of Meonenim.
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 said Zebul to him, Where [is] now thy mouth, with which thou saidst, Who [is] Abimelech, that we should serve him? [are] not these the people that thou hast despised? go out, I pray now, and fight with 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 And Gaal went out before the men of Shechem, and fought with Abimelech.
Nĩ ũndũ ũcio Gaali agĩtongoria atũũri a Shekemu makĩhũũrana na Abimeleku.
40 And Abimelech chased him, and he fled before him, and many were overthrown [and] wounded, [even] to the entrance of the gate.
Abimeleku akĩmũtengʼeria, nao andũ aingĩ makĩgũa magurarĩtio makĩũra kũu guothe o nginya itoonyero-inĩ rĩa kĩhingo.
41 And Abimelech dwelt at Arumah: and Zebul thrust out Gaal and his brethren, that they should not dwell in Shechem.
Abimeleku agĩtũũra Aruma, nake Zebuli akĩrutũrũra Gaali hamwe na ariũ a ithe kuuma Shekemu.
42 And it came to pass on the morrow, that the people went out into the field; and they told Abimelech.
Mũthenya ũyũ ũngĩ andũ a Shekemu magĩthiĩ mĩgũnda-inĩ, nake Abimeleku akĩmenyithio ũhoro ũcio.
43 And he took the people, and divided them into three companies, and laid wait in the field, and looked, and behold, the people [had] come out of the city; and he rose up against them, and smote 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 And Abimelech, and the company that [was] with him, rushed forward, and stood in the entrance of the gate of the city: and the two [other] companies ran upon all [the people] that [were] in the fields, and slew 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 And Abimelech fought against the city all that day; and he took the city, and slew the people that [were] in it, and beat down the city, and sowed it with salt.
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 And when all the men of the tower of Shechem heard [that], they entered into a hold of the house of the god Berith.
Rĩrĩa maiguire ũhoro ũcio, andũ arĩa maatũũraga mũthiringo-inĩ wa Shekemu magĩtoonya kĩĩhitho-inĩ kĩa hinya kĩa hekarũ ya Eli-Berithu.
47 And it was told to Abimelech, that all the men of the tower of Shechem were assembled.
Rĩrĩa Abimeleku aiguire atĩ nĩmacookanĩrĩire kuo-rĩ,
48 And Abimelech ascended mount Zalmon, he and all the people that [were] with him; and Abimelech took an ax in his hand, and cut down a bough from the trees, and took it, and laid [it] on his shoulder, and said to the people that [were] with him, What ye have seen me do, make haste, [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 And all the people likewise cut down every man his bough, and followed Abimelech, and put [them] to the hold, and set the hold on fire upon them: so that all the men of the tower of Shechem died also, 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 went Abimelech to Thebez, and encamped against Thebez, and took it.
Abimeleku agĩthiĩ itũũra rĩa Thebezu, akĩrĩrigiicĩria na akĩrĩtunyana.
51 But there was a strong tower within the city, and thither fled all the men and women, and all they of the city, and shut [it] after them, and ascended to the top 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 And Abimelech came to the tower, and fought against it, and came near to the door of the tower to burn it with fire.
Abimeleku agĩthiĩ mũthiringo-inĩ ũcio, akĩũhithũkĩra. No rĩrĩa akuhĩrĩirie itoonyero rĩa mũthiringo nĩguo aũgwatie mwaki-rĩ,
53 And a certain woman cast a piece of of a millstone upon Abimelech's head, and broke his skull.
mũtumia ũmwe akĩmũgũithĩria ihiga rĩa gĩthĩi mũtwe, rĩkĩmũhehenja mũtwe.
54 Then he called hastily to the young man his armor-bearer, and said to him, Draw thy sword, and slay me, that men say not of me, A woman slew him. And his young man thrust 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 And when the men of Israel saw that Abimelech was dead, they departed every man to his place.
Hĩndĩ ĩrĩa andũ a Isiraeli moonire atĩ Abimeleku nĩakuĩte-rĩ, makĩĩinũkĩra.
56 Thus God rendered the wickedness of Abimelech, which he did to his father, in slaying his seventy brethren:
Ũguo nĩguo Ngai aarĩhirie Abimeleku nĩ ũndũ wa waganu ũrĩa ekĩte ithe, wa kũũraga ariũ-a-ithe mĩrongo mũgwanja.
57 And all the evil of the men of Shechem did God render upon their heads: and upon them came the curse of Jotham the son of Jerubbaal.
Ningĩ Ngai akĩrĩhia andũ a Shekemu nĩ ũndũ wa waganu wao wothe. Kĩrumi kĩa Jothamu mũrũ wa Jerubu-Baali gĩkĩmacookerera.

< Judges 9 >