< Judges 6 >

1 The children of Israel did that which was evil in Yahweh’s sight, so Yahweh delivered them into the hand of Midian seven years.
Israelviwo gawɔ nu si nye vɔ̃ le Yehowa ŋkume eye ƒe adre sɔŋ wòtsɔ wo de asi na Midiantɔwo.
2 The hand of Midian prevailed against Israel; and because of Midian the children of Israel made themselves the dens which are in the mountains, the caves, and the strongholds.
Midiantɔwo ƒe asi sẽ ɖe Israelviwo dzi ale gbegbe be Israelviwo wɔ bebeƒewo na wo ɖokuiwo ɖe towo tome, agadowo me kple sitsoƒewo.
3 So it was, when Israel had sown, that the Midianites, the Amalekites, and the children of the east came up against them.
Ne Israelviwo ƒã nukuwo la, Midiantɔwo, Amalekitɔwo kple ɣedzeƒetɔ bubuwo vana dzea Israelviwo dzi.
4 They encamped against them, and destroyed the increase of the earth, until you come to Gaza. They left no sustenance in Israel, and no sheep, ox, or donkey.
Woƒua asaɖa anyi ɖe anyigba la dzi, gblẽa nukuawo yi keke Gaza ke eye womegblẽa nu gbagbe aɖeke ɖi na Israelviwo o, alẽwo loo, nyiwo loo alo tedziwo o.
5 For they came up with their livestock and their tents. They came in as locusts for multitude. Both they and their camels were without number; and they came into the land to destroy it.
Wovana kple woƒe lãhawo kple woƒe agbadɔwo abe ʋetsuviwo ene. Mele bɔbɔe be woaxlẽ ŋutsuawo kple woƒe kposɔwo o. Wovana dzea anyigba la dzi be woagblẽe keŋkeŋ.
6 Israel was brought very low because of Midian; and the children of Israel cried to Yahweh.
Midiantɔwo na Israelviwo da ahe ale gbegbe be wodo ɣli na Yehowa be wòaxɔ na yewo.
7 When the children of Israel cried to Yahweh because of Midian,
Esi Israelviwo do ɣli na Yehowa le Midiantɔwo ta la,
8 Yahweh sent a prophet to the children of Israel; and he said to them, “Yahweh, the God of Israel, says, ‘I brought you up from Egypt, and brought you out of the house of bondage.
edɔ Nyagblɔɖila aɖe ɖa, ame si gblɔ be, “Ale Yehowa, Israel ƒe Mawu la gblɔe nye si, ‘Mekplɔ mi do goe tso Egipte le kluvinyenyenyigba dzi.
9 I delivered you out of the hand of the Egyptians and out of the hand of all who oppressed you, and drove them out from before you, and gave you their land.
Meɖe mi le Egipte ƒe ŋusẽ te kple ame siwo katã te mi ɖe anyi la ƒe asi me. Menya wo ɖa le mia ŋgɔ eye metsɔ woƒe anyigba na mi.
10 I said to you, “I am Yahweh your God. You shall not fear the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you dwell.” But you have not listened to my voice.’”
Megblɔ na mi be nyee nye Yehowa, miaƒe Mawu, migasubɔ Amoritɔwo ƒe mawuwo, ame siwo ƒe anyigba dzi miele la o, gake mieɖo tom o.’”
11 Yahweh’s angel came and sat under the oak which was in Ophrah, that belonged to Joash the Abiezrite. His son Gideon was beating out wheat in the wine press, to hide it from the Midianites.
Gbe ɖeka la, Yehowa ƒe dɔla aɖe va nɔ anyi ɖe oɖumti la te le Ofra, le Yoas, Abiezritɔ la ƒe agble me. Yoaz ƒe vi, Gideon, ɣla eɖokui ɖe wainfiaƒe aɖe le vɔvɔ̃ na Midiantɔwo ta eye wònɔ lu klẽm kple asi.
12 Yahweh’s angel appeared to him, and said to him, “Yahweh is with you, you mighty man of valor!”
Yehowa ƒe dɔla la ɖe eɖokui fiae eye wògblɔ nɛ be, “Yehowa li kpli wò, wò ŋutsu kalẽtɔ!”
13 Gideon said to him, “Oh, my lord, if Yahweh is with us, why then has all this happened to us? Where are all his wondrous works which our fathers told us of, saying, ‘Didn’t Yahweh bring us up from Egypt?’ But now Yahweh has cast us off, and delivered us into the hand of Midian.”
Gideon ɖo eŋu be, “Nye aƒetɔ, ne Yehowa la li kplim la, ekema nu ka ta nu siawo katã dzɔ ɖe mía dzi? Gawu la, afi ka eƒe nukunu siwo katã ŋu mía fofowo ƒo nu na mí tsoe esi wogblɔ be, ‘Ɖe Yehowa mekplɔ mí do goe tso Egipte oa?’ la le? Ke azɔ la Yehowa gblẽ mí ɖi.”
14 Yahweh looked at him, and said, “Go in this your might, and save Israel from the hand of Midian. Haven’t I sent you?”
Yehowa trɔ ɖe eŋu gblɔ nɛ be, “Yi le wò ŋusẽ me eye nàɖe Israel tso Midiantɔwo ƒe asi me. Ɖe nyemele dɔwòm oa?”
15 He said to him, “O Lord, how shall I save Israel? Behold, my family is the poorest in Manasseh, and I am the least in my father’s house.”
Ke Gideon ɖo eŋu be, “Aƒetɔ, aleke nye ame gblɔe sia mate ŋu aɖe Israel? Nye hlɔ̃e nye hlɔ̃ gblɔetɔ le Manase ƒe to blibo la me eye nyee nye ame gblɔetɔ kekeake le nye ƒome blibo la me!”
16 Yahweh said to him, “Surely I will be with you, and you shall strike the Midianites as one man.”
Yehowa ɖo eŋu nɛ be, “Manɔ kpli wò eye nàtsrɔ̃ Midiantɔwo katã abe ame ɖekae wonye ene!”
17 He said to him, “If now I have found favor in your sight, then show me a sign that it is you who talk with me.
Gideon ɖo eŋu be, “Ke azɔ la, ne mekpɔ amenuveve le wò ŋkume la, na dzesim ne manyae be wòe le nu ƒom nam vavã.
18 Please don’t go away until I come to you, and bring out my present, and lay it before you.” He said, “I will wait until you come back.”
Taflatse, mègadzo o va se ɖe esime maɖatsɔ nye nuɖuɖu ava ɖo wò ŋkume.” Eye Yehowa ɖo eŋu be, “Malala wò va se ɖe esime nàtrɔ agbɔ.”
19 Gideon went in and prepared a young goat and unleavened cakes of an ephah of meal. He put the meat in a basket and he put the broth in a pot, and brought it out to him under the oak, and presented it.
Gideon ɖe abla yi aƒe me, wu gbɔ̃vi aɖe, mee eye wòtsɔ wɔ lita blaeve-vɔ-eve ƒo abolo maʋamaʋãe; etsɔ lã la ɖe kusi me eye wòtsɔ detsia ɖe ze me heyi na Mawudɔla la le oɖumti la te.
20 The angel of God said to him, “Take the meat and the unleavened cakes, and lay them on this rock, and pour out the broth.” He did so.
Mawudɔla la gblɔ nɛ be, “Tsɔ lã la kple abolo maʋamaʋã la da ɖe agakpe ma dzi eye nàtrɔ detsi la kɔ ɖe edzi.” Esi Gideon wɔ alea la,
21 Then Yahweh’s angel stretched out the end of the staff that was in his hand, and touched the meat and the unleavened cakes; and fire went up out of the rock and consumed the meat and the unleavened cakes. Then Yahweh’s angel departed out of his sight.
Mawudɔla la tsɔ eƒe atikplɔ ƒe nugbɔ ka lã la kple abolo maʋamaʋã la ŋu. Kasia dzo bi tso agakpe la me eye wòfia lã la kple abolo la! Tete Yehowa ƒe dɔla la bu vĩi.
22 Gideon saw that he was Yahweh’s angel; and Gideon said, “Alas, Lord Yahweh! Because I have seen Yahweh’s angel face to face!”
Esi Gideon dze sii be Yehowa ƒe dɔlae yekpɔ la, edo ɣli be, “Oo, Aƒetɔ Yehowa! Mekpɔ Yehowa ƒe dɔla ŋkume kple ŋkume!”
23 Yahweh said to him, “Peace be to you! Don’t be afraid. You shall not die.”
Ke Yehowa gblɔ nɛ be, “Ŋutifafa na wò! Mègavɔ̃ o. Mèle kuku ge o.”
24 Then Gideon built an altar there to Yahweh, and called it “Yahweh is Peace.” To this day it is still in Ophrah of the Abiezrites.
Ale Gideon ɖi vɔsamlekpui aɖe na Yehowa ɖe afi ma eye wòna ŋkɔe be, “Yehowae nye Ŋutifafa” Vɔsamlekpui sia gale afi ma, le Ofra, le Abiezritɔwo ƒe anyigba dzi.
25 That same night, Yahweh said to him, “Take your father’s bull, even the second bull seven years old, and throw down the altar of Baal that your father has, and cut down the Asherah that is by it.
Le gbe ma gbe ƒe zã me la, Yehowa gblɔ na Gideon be, “Lé fofowò ƒe nyitsu gã ɖeka kple nyitsu bubu si xɔ ƒe adre. Gbã fofowò ƒe vɔsamlekpui si wòɖi na Baal eye nàho aƒeli si le exa la ƒu anyi
26 Then build an altar to Yahweh your God on the top of this stronghold, in an orderly way, and take the second bull, and offer a burnt offering with the wood of the Asherah which you shall cut down.”
Azɔ la ɖi vɔsamlekpui bubu na Yehowa, wò Mawu la ɖe togbɛ sia dzi. Tsɔ nyitsu evelia wɔ numevɔsae eye nàtsɔ aƒeli si nèho la wɔ nakee na vɔsa la.”
27 Then Gideon took ten men of his servants, and did as Yahweh had spoken to him. Because he feared his father’s household and the men of the city, he could not do it by day, but he did it by night.
Gideon kplɔ eƒe subɔla ewo ɖe asi eye wòwɔ nu si Yehowa ɖo nɛ. Ewɔ nu siawo le zã me elabena enɔ fofoa ƒe aƒemetɔwo kple dua me tɔwo siaa vɔ̃m elabena enya nu si woawɔ ne wonya ame si wɔ nu siawo.
28 When the men of the city arose early in the morning, behold, the altar of Baal was broken down, and the Asherah was cut down that was by it, and the second bull was offered on the altar that was built.
Le ŋdi esime dua me ŋutsuwo fɔ la, wokpɔ be wogbã Baal ƒe vɔsamlekpui, heho aƒeli si le exa la ƒu anyi eye wokpɔ be wotsɔ nyitsu bubu sa vɔe le vɔsamlekpui yeye la dzi!
29 They said to one another, “Who has done this thing?” When they inquired and asked, they said, “Gideon the son of Joash has done this thing.”
Amewo de asi biabia me be, “Ame kae wɔ nu sia?” Esi woku nya la gɔme nyuie la, wogblɔ na wo be, “Yoas ƒe viŋutsu, Gideon ye wɔe.”
30 Then the men of the city said to Joash, “Bring out your son, that he may die, because he has broken down the altar of Baal, and because he has cut down the Asherah that was by it.”
Dua me ŋutsuwo bia tso Yoas si be, “Kplɔ viwò ŋutsu la do goe; edze na ku elabena egbã Baal ƒe vɔsamlekpui eye wòho aƒeli si le exa la ƒu anyi.”
31 Joash said to all who stood against him, “Will you contend for Baal? Or will you save him? He who will contend for him, let him be put to death by morning! If he is a god, let him contend for himself, because someone has broken down his altar!”
Yoas ɖo eŋu na ameha si ƒo xlãe le adã fiam la be, “Miawoe awɔ aʋa ɖe Baal nua? Ɖe miele agbagba dzem be miaxɔ nɛa? Woawu ame si awɔ avu ɖe enu le ŋdi! Ne Baal nye mawu tututu la, aʋli eɖokui ta ne ame aɖe gbã eƒe vɔsamlekpui.”
32 Therefore on that day he named him Jerub-Baal, saying, “Let Baal contend against him, because he has broken down his altar.”
Tso gbe ma gbe dzi la, wona ŋkɔ Gideon be, “Yerubaal” si gɔmee nye “Baal newɔ avu kplii.” Elabena egbã Baal ƒe vɔsamlekpui.
33 Then all the Midianites and the Amalekites and the children of the east assembled themselves together; and they passed over, and encamped in the valley of Jezreel.
Azɔ la, Midiantɔwo katã, Amalekitɔwo kple ɣedzeƒe dukɔ bubuwo wɔ ɖeka eye wotso Yɔdan tɔsisi la va ƒu asaɖa anyi ɖe Yezreel balime.
34 But Yahweh’s Spirit came on Gideon, and he blew a trumpet; and Abiezer was gathered together to follow him.
Tete Yehowa ƒe Gbɔgbɔ ɖiɖi ɖe Gideon dzi. Eku kpẽ yɔ Abiezeritɔwo be woadze ye yome.
35 He sent messengers throughout all Manasseh, and they also were gathered together to follow him. He sent messengers to Asher, to Zebulun, and to Naphtali; and they came up to meet them.
Edɔ dɔlawo wotsa le Manase, yɔ ameawo be woabla akpa eye wòɖe Aser, Zebulon kple Naftali hã be woawo hã nayi aɖado go wo.
36 Gideon said to God, “If you will save Israel by my hand, as you have spoken,
Gideon gblɔ na Mawu be, “Ne àto nye asi dzi aɖe Israel abe ale si nèdo ŋugbe ene la
37 behold, I will put a fleece of wool on the threshing floor. If there is dew on the fleece only, and it is dry on all the ground, then I’ll know that you will save Israel by my hand, as you have spoken.”
kpɔ ɖa, matsɔ alẽgbalẽ sia ada ɖe lugbɔƒe la; nenye be zãmu dza ɖe alẽgbalẽ la ko dzi le esime anyigba la le ƒuƒui la, ekema manyae be àɖe Israel to nye asi dzi abe ale si nègblɔ ene.”
38 It was so; for he rose up early on the next day, and pressed the fleece together, and wrung the dew out of the fleece, a bowl full of water.
Eva eme nenema tututu! Esi Gideon fɔ ŋdi la, etsɔ alẽgbalẽ la, fiae eye zãmu si dza ɖe edzi la yɔ gagbɛ ɖeka.
39 Gideon said to God, “Don’t let your anger be kindled against me, and I will speak but this once. Please let me make a trial just this once with the fleece. Let it now be dry only on the fleece, and on all the ground let there be dew.”
Gideon gagblɔ na Mawu be, “Mègado dɔmedzoe ɖe ŋunye o, ke boŋ ɖe mɔ nam magabia nu bubu ɖeka ko. Ɖe mɔ nam be magatsɔ alẽgbalẽ la awɔ dodokpɔ ɖekae. Fifia la, na alẽgbalẽ la nanɔ ƒuƒuie eye zãmu nadza ɖe anyigba dzi aƒo xlãe.”
40 God did so that night; for it was dry on the fleece only, and there was dew on all the ground.
Le zã ma me la, Mawu wɔ nenema tututu. Alẽgbalẽ la ɖeɖe nɔ ƒuƒuie, ke zãmu dza ɖe anyigba si ƒo xlãe la ya dzi.

< Judges 6 >