< Judges 9 >

1 Abimelech the son of Jerubbaal went to Shechem to his mother’s brothers, and spoke with them and with all the family of the house of his mother’s father, saying,
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 speak in the ears of all the men of Shechem, ‘Is it better for you that all the sons of Jerubbaal, who are seventy persons, rule over you, or that one rule over you?’ Remember also 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 brothers spoke of him in the ears of all the men of Shechem all these words. Their hearts inclined 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, with which Abimelech hired vain and reckless fellows 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 He went to his father’s house at Ophrah, and killed his brothers the sons of Jerubbaal, being seventy persons, on one stone; but Jotham the youngest son of Jerubbaal was left, 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 men of Shechem assembled themselves together with all the house of Millo, and went and made Abimelech king by the oak of the pillar that was 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 they told it to Jotham, he went and stood on the top of Mount Gerizim and lifted up his voice, cried out, and said to them, “Listen to me, you men of Shechem, 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 set out to anoint a king over themselves. 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 stop producing my oil, with which they honor God and man by me, and go to wave back and forth over the 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 leave my sweetness, and my good fruit, and go to wave back and forth over the 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 leave my new wine, which cheers God and man, and go to wave back and forth over the trees?’
Naye omuzabbibu ne gubaddamu nti, ‘Ndekeyo okuvaamu wayini asanyusa balubaale n’abantu, ŋŋende okuyuuguumya emiti?’
14 “Then all the trees said to the bramble, ‘Come and reign over us.’
Awo emiti gyonna ne gigamba omweramannyo nti, ‘Jjangu obeere kabaka waffe.’
15 “The bramble said to the trees, ‘If in truth you anoint me king over you, then come and take refuge in my shade; and if not, let fire come out of the bramble, and devour 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 dealt truly and righteously, in that you have made Abimelech king, and if you have dealt well with Jerubbaal and his house, and have done to him according to the deserving of his hands
“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 (for my father fought for you, risked his life, and delivered you out of the hand of Midian;
kubanga kitange yabalwanirira, n’awaayo obulamu bwe, n’abawonya mu mukono gwa Midiyaani,
18 and you have risen up against my father’s house today and have slain his sons, seventy persons, on one stone, and have made Abimelech, the son of his female servant, king over the men of Shechem, because he is your brother);
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 then have dealt truly and righteously with Jerubbaal and with his house today, then 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 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.”
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 ran away and fled, and went to Beer and lived there, for fear of Abimelech his brother.
Oluvannyuma lw’ebyo, Yosamu n’adduka n’alaga e Beeri, n’abeera eyo olw’okutya muganda we Abimereki.
22 Abimelech was prince over Israel three years.
Awo Abimereki n’afuga Isirayiri okumala emyaka esatu.
23 Then God sent an evil spirit between Abimelech and the men of Shechem; and the men of Shechem dealt treacherously with Abimelech,
Katonda n’akyawaganya Abimereki n’abatuuze b’omu Sekemu, ne balya mu Abimereki olukwe,
24 that the violence done to the seventy sons of Jerubbaal might come, and that their blood might be laid on Abimelech their brother who killed them, and on the men of Shechem who strengthened his hands to kill 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 The men of Shechem set an ambush for him on the tops of the mountains, and they robbed all who came along that way by them; and Abimelech was told about it.
Abatuuze b’omu Sekemu ne bassaawo abasajja ku nsozi babbenga era banyagululenga buli eyayitanga mu kkubo. Abimereki n’ategeezebwa.
26 Gaal the son of Ebed came with his brothers and went over to Shechem; and the men of Shechem put their trust 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, harvested their vineyards, trod the grapes, celebrated, and went into the house of their god and ate and drank, and 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 the son of Ebed said, “Who is Abimelech, and who is Shechem, that we should serve him? Isn’t he the son of Jerubbaal? Isn’t Zebul his officer? Serve the men of Hamor the father of Shechem, but why should we serve him?
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 hand! Then I would remove Abimelech.” He said to Abimelech, “Increase your army and come out!”
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 ruler of the city heard the words of Gaal the son of Ebed, his anger burned.
Awo Zebbuli omukulu w’ekibuga bwe yawulira ebigambo bya Gaali mutabani wa Ebedi, n’asunguwala nnyo.
31 He sent messengers to Abimelech craftily, saying, “Behold, Gaal the son of Ebed and his brothers have come to Shechem; and behold, they incite 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 therefore, go up by night, you and the people who are with you, and lie in wait in the field.
Kaakano, ggwe jjangu mu kiro n’abasajja bo muteegere mu nnimiro.
33 It shall be that in the morning, as soon as the sun is up, you shall rise early and rush on the city. Behold, when he and the people who are with him come out against you, then may you do to them as you shall find occasion.”
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 Abimelech rose up, and all the people who were with him, by night, and they laid wait against Shechem in four companies.
Awo Abimereki n’abasajja be ne bagolokoka mu kiro ne bagenda ne beekweka mu bibanja bina okumpi n’e Sekemu.
35 Gaal the son of Ebed went out, and stood in the entrance of the gate of the city. Abimelech rose up, and the people who were with him, from the ambush.
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 people, he said to Zebul, “Behold, people are coming down from the tops of the mountains.” Zebul said to him, “You see the shadows of the mountains as if they were 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, “Behold, people are coming down by the middle of the land, and one company comes by the way of the oak of Meonenim.”
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, “Now where is your mouth, that you said, ‘Who is Abimelech, that we should serve him?’ Isn’t this the people that you have despised? Please go out now and fight with 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 before the men of Shechem, and fought with Abimelech.
Awo Gaali n’akulembera abatuuze b’omu Sekemu okulwanyisa Abimereki.
40 Abimelech chased him, and he fled before him, and many fell wounded, even to the entrance of the gate.
Abimereki n’amugoba, ne Gaali n’amudduka, era bangi ne batuusibwako ebiwundu, era ne bagwa ku mulyango gwa wankaaki.
41 Abimelech lived at Arumah; and Zebul drove out Gaal and his brothers, that they should not dwell in Shechem.
Abimereki n’abeera mu Aluma. Zebbuli n’agoba Gaali ne baganda be mu Sekemu baleme kubeerangamu.
42 On the next day, the people went out into the field; and they told Abimelech.
Ku lunaku olwaddirira, Abimereki n’ategeezebwa ng’abantu bwe bagenda okulima.
43 He took the people and divided them into three companies, and laid wait in the field; and he looked, and behold, the people came out of the city. So, he rose up against them and struck 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 companies that were with him rushed forward and stood in the entrance of the gate of the city; and the two companies rushed on all who were in the field and struck 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; and he took the city and killed the people in it. He beat down the city and sowed it with salt.
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 men of the tower of Shechem heard of it, they entered into the stronghold of the house of Elberith.
Olwawulira ebyo, abatuuze abaali mu kigo kya Sekemu, ne baddukira mu ssabo lya Eruberisi.
47 Abimelech was told that all the men of the tower of Shechem were gathered together.
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 people who were with him; and Abimelech took an ax in his hand, and cut down a bough from the trees, and took it up, and laid it on his shoulder. Then he said to the people who were with him, “What you have seen me do, make haste, 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 All the people likewise each cut down his bough, followed Abimelech, and put them at the base of the stronghold, and set the stronghold on fire over them, so that all the people of the tower of Shechem died also, 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 encamped against Thebez, and took it.
Awo Abimereki n’agenda e Sebezi, n’asiisira okwetooloola ekibuga ekyo era n’akiwamba.
51 But there was a strong tower within the city, and all the men and women of the city fled there, and shut themselves in, and 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 came near to the door of the tower to burn it with fire.
Abimereki n’alumba ekigo, naye bwe yali ng’akisemberedde, akume omuliro ku mulyango gwakyo,
53 A certain woman cast an upper millstone on Abimelech’s head, and broke his skull.
ne wabaawo omukazi omu eyakasuka olubengo ku mutwe gwa Abimereki, n’amwasa omutwe.
54 Then he called hastily to the young man, his armor bearer, and said to him, “Draw your sword and kill me, that men not say of me, ‘A woman killed him.’ His young man thrust 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 each departed to his place.
Awo abantu ba Isirayiri bwe baalaba nga Abimereki afudde, buli omu n’addayo ewuwe.
56 Thus God repaid the wickedness of Abimelech, which he did to his father in killing his seventy brothers;
Katonda bw’atyo n’awalana eggwanga olw’obutali butuukirivu bwa Abimereki, olwa Abimereki okutta abaana ba kitaawe, abooluganda nsanvu.
57 and God repaid all the wickedness of the men of Shechem on their heads; and the curse of Jotham the son of Jerubbaal came on them.
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 >