Atiirĩrĩri 9
1 Abimeleku mũrũ wa Jerubu-Baali nĩathiire kũrĩ aa mamawe na andũ othe a mbarĩ ya kũrĩa nyina oimĩte kũu Shekemu, akĩmeera atĩrĩ,
Abimelech, son of Jerub-baal, went to his mother's brothers at Shechem and told them and all his mother's relatives,
2 “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.”
“Please ask all the leaders of Shechem, ‘What's best for you? That seventy men, all of them Jerub-baal's sons, rule over you—or just one man?’ Remember I'm your own flesh and blood!”
3 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.”
His mother's brothers shared his proposal with all the leaders of Shechem, and they decided to follow Abimelech, because they said, “He is our relative.”
4 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.
They gave him seventy shekels of silver from the temple of Baal-berith. Abimelech used the money to hire some arrogant troublemakers as his gang.
5 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.
He went to his father's house in Ophrah, and on one stone killed his seventy half-brothers, the sons of Jerub-baal. But Jotham, Jerub-baal's youngest son, escaped by going into hiding.
6 Nao atũũri othe a Shekemu na a Bethi-Milo makĩũngana mũtĩ-inĩ ũrĩa mũnene o hau gĩtugĩ-inĩ kĩrĩa kĩrĩ Shekemu, magĩtua Abimeleku mũthamaki.
Then the leaders of Shechem and Beth-millo all assembled by the oak at the pillar in Shechem and made Abimelech their king.
7 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.
When Jotham got to hear this, he went up to the top of Mount Gerizim, and shouted in a loud voice: “Listen to me, leaders of Shechem, and God may to listen to you!
8 Mũthenya ũmwe mĩtĩ nĩyoimagarire ĩgaitĩrĩrie ũmwe wayo maguta atuĩke mũthamaki wayo. Nayo ĩkĩĩra mũtamaiyũ atĩrĩ, ‘Ũka ũtuĩke mũthamaki witũ.’
Once upon a time the trees were determined to anoint a king to rule over them. They said to the olive tree, ‘You shall be our king.’
9 “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?’
But the olive tree replied, ‘Should I stop giving my rich oil that benefits both gods and men just to go and sway to and fro over the trees?’
10 “Thuutha ũcio mĩtĩ ĩyo ĩkĩĩra mũkũyũ atĩrĩ, ‘Ũka ũtuĩke mũthamaki witũ.’
Then the trees asked the fig tree, ‘You come and be our king.’
11 “No mũkũyũ ũcio ũgĩcookia atĩrĩ, ‘No ndigane na ngũyũ ciakwa njega ũguo na irĩ mũrĩo, ngariũnge ũũ na ũũ igũrũ rĩa mĩtĩ ĩrĩa ĩngĩ?’
But the fig tree replied, ‘Should I stop giving my good sweet fruit just to go and sway to and fro over the trees?’
12 “Ningĩ mĩtĩ ĩkĩĩra mũthabibũ atĩrĩ, ‘Ũka ũtuĩke mũthamaki witũ.’
Then the trees asked the grape vine, ‘You come and be our king.’
13 “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?’
But the grape vine replied, ‘Should I stop giving my wine that makes both gods and men happy just to go and sway to and fro over the trees?’
14 “Kũrĩkĩrĩria mĩtĩ yothe ĩkĩĩra mũtare wa gĩthaka-inĩ atĩrĩ, ‘Ũka ũtuĩke mũthamaki witũ.’
Then all the trees asked the thorn bush, ‘You come and be our king.’
15 “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!’
The thorn bush replied to the trees, ‘If you're really sincere about anointing me as your king, come and find shelter in my shade. But if not, may fire flame out of the thorn bush and burn up the cedars of Lebanon!’
16 “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,
Have you acted sincerely and honestly by making Abimelech your king? Have you been acted honorably to Jerub-baal and his family? Have you respected him for all that he accomplished?
17 tondũ baba nĩwe wamũrũĩrĩire, agĩtwarĩrĩria muoyo wake ũgwati-inĩ nĩgeetha amũhonokie moko-inĩ ma Amidiani,
Don't forget how my father fought for you and risked his own life to save you from the Midianites!
18 (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),
But you have rebelled against my father's family today. You have killed his seventy sons on one stone and have made Abimelech, the son of his slave woman, king over the leaders of Shechem simply because he's related to you.
19 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!
Have you acted sincerely and honestly toward Jerub-baal and his family today? If so, may you be happy with Abimelech, and may he be happy with too!
20 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.”
But if you haven't, then may fire flame out from Abimelech, and may it burn up the leaders of Shechem and Beth-millo, and may fire flame out from the leaders of Shechem and Beth-millo and burn up Abimelech!”
21 Hĩndĩ ĩyo Jothamu agĩĩthara, akĩũrĩra kũu Biri, nake agĩtũũra kuo nĩ ũndũ nĩetigagĩra mũrũ wa ithe, Abimeleku.
Then Jotham escaped and ran away. He went to Beer and stayed there because of the threat of Abimelech his brother.
22 Thuutha wa Abimeleku gwathana Isiraeli mĩaka ĩtatũ-rĩ,
Abimelech ruled over Israel for three years.
23 Ngai agĩtũma roho mũũru gatagatĩ ka Abimeleku na atũũri a Shekemu, arĩa meekire maũndũ mooru ma ũhinga kũrĩ Abimeleku.
Then God sent an evil spirit to cause trouble between Abimelech and the leaders of Shechem. The leaders of Shechem betrayed Abimelech.
24 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.
This happened because of the murder of the seventy sons of Jerub-baal and that responsibility for their blood be placed on Abimelech their brother, who killed them, and on the leaders of Shechem, who provided the means to kill his brothers.
25 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.
The leaders of Shechem sent men to the hill passes to lie in wait and attack Abimelech, and, in the meantime, they robbed everyone who passed by on the road. Abimelech found out what was happening.
26 Nake Gaali mũrũ wa Ebedi hamwe na ariũ a ithe magĩthaamĩra kũu Shekemu, nao atũũri akuo makĩmwĩhoka.
Gaal, son of Ebed, had moved to Shechem with his relatives, and he gained the loyalty of the leaders of Shechem.
27 Thuutha wa gũthiĩ mĩgũnda-inĩ na gũcookereria thabibũ na gũcihiha, makĩgĩa na iruga hekarũ-inĩ ya ngai yao. Rĩrĩa maarĩĩaga na makĩnyuuaga, makĩruma Abimeleku.
At harvest time they went out into the countryside and gathered the grapes from their vineyards and trod them. They celebrated by having a festival in the temple of their god, where they ate and drank, and cursed Abimelech.
28 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?
“Who is this Abimelech?” asked Gaal, son of Ebed. “And who is Shechem, that we should have to serve him? Isn't he the son of Jerub-baal, while Zebul is actually the one in charge? You should serve the family of Hamor, the father of Shechem. Why should we have to serve Abimelech?
29 Naarĩ korwo andũ aya me rungu rwa wathani wakwa! Hĩndĩ ĩyo niĩ no ndĩmweherie. No njĩĩre Abimeleku atĩrĩ, ‘Ĩta ita rĩaku rĩothe!’”
If I was the one in charge of you people, I would dispose of Abimelech! I would tell him, ‘Get your army together, and come and fight!’”
30 Rĩrĩa Zebuli ũcio mwathi wa itũũra aiguire ũrĩa Gaali mũrũ wa Ebedi oigĩte-rĩ, akĩrakario nĩ ũhoro ũcio mũno.
When Zebul, the governor of the city, got to hear what Gaal was saying, he became very angry.
31 Agĩtũmĩra Abimeleku andũ na hitho, akĩmwĩra atĩrĩ, “Gaali mũrũ wa Ebedi na ariũ a ithe nĩmokĩte gũkũ Shekemu, na nĩmararahũra andũ a itũũra magũũkĩrĩre.
He secretly sent messengers to Abimelech to tell him, “Look, Gaal, son of Ebed, and his relatives have arrived in Shechem, and they are stirring up the town to rebel against you.
32 Nĩ ũndũ wa ũguo-rĩ, ũtukũ wakinya wee na andũ aku mũũke mũmoohie mĩgũnda-inĩ.
So come at night with your army and hide in the countryside.
33 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.”
In the morning as soon as the sun comes up, go and attack the town. When Gaal and his men come out to fight you, you can do whatever you want to them.”
34 Nĩ ũndũ ũcio Abimeleku marĩ hamwe na mbũtũ ciake ciothe cia ita makiumagara ũtukũ, makĩĩhitha gũkuhĩ na Shekemu marĩ ikundi inya.
Abimelech left at night along with his army, and they separated into four companies that lay in wait near Shechem.
35 Nake Gaali mũrũ wa Ebedi nĩoimagarĩte akarũgama itoonyero-inĩ rĩa kĩhingo gĩa itũũra inene, o hĩndĩ ĩyo Abimeleku na thigari ciake moimagĩra kũrĩa meehithĩte.
When Gaal, son of Ebed, went out and stood at the town's entrance gate, Abimelech and his army came out from where they had been hiding.
36 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.”
Gaal saw the army approaching and said to Zebul, “Look! Some people are coming down from the hilltops!” “That's just shadows made by the hills that look like men,” Zebul replied.
37 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.”
“No really, people are coming down from the high ground,” Gaal repeated. “Plus, there's another company coming down the road that passes the diviners' oak tree.”
38 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!”
“Where's your big mouth now? You're the one who said, ‘Who is this Abimelech, that we should have to serve him?’” Zebul told him. “Aren't these the people you detested? Go on then—go and fight with them!”
39 Nĩ ũndũ ũcio Gaali agĩtongoria atũũri a Shekemu makĩhũũrana na Abimeleku.
So Gaal led the leaders of Shechem out of the town and fought with Abimelech.
40 Abimeleku akĩmũtengʼeria, nao andũ aingĩ makĩgũa magurarĩtio makĩũra kũu guothe o nginya itoonyero-inĩ rĩa kĩhingo.
Abimelech attacked, and chased him and his men as they ran away, killing many of them as they tried to get back to the town gate.
41 Abimeleku agĩtũũra Aruma, nake Zebuli akĩrutũrũra Gaali hamwe na ariũ a ithe kuuma Shekemu.
Abimelech went back to Arumah while Zebul expelled Gaal and his relatives from Shechem.
42 Mũthenya ũyũ ũngĩ andũ a Shekemu magĩthiĩ mĩgũnda-inĩ, nake Abimeleku akĩmenyithio ũhoro ũcio.
The following day the people of Shechem went out to the fields, and Abimelech was informed about it.
43 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.
He divided his army into three companies and had them lay in ambush in the fields. When he saw the people coming out of the city, he attacked and killed them.
44 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.
Abimelech and his company raced to occupy the town's entrance gate, while the two companies raced to attack everyone in the fields and kill them.
45 Abimeleku akĩhũũrana na itũũra rĩu inene mũthenya wothe nginya akĩrĩtaha na akĩũraga andũ a rĩo othe. Ningĩ akĩananga itũũra rĩu inene, na akĩrĩitĩrĩria cumbĩ.
The battle for the town lasted all day but eventually Abimelech captured it. He killed the people, demolished the town, and scattered salt over the ground.
46 Rĩrĩa maiguire ũhoro ũcio, andũ arĩa maatũũraga mũthiringo-inĩ wa Shekemu magĩtoonya kĩĩhitho-inĩ kĩa hinya kĩa hekarũ ya Eli-Berithu.
When all the leaders of the tower of Shechem realized what had happened, they took refuge in the strongroom of the temple of El-berith.
47 Rĩrĩa Abimeleku aiguire atĩ nĩmacookanĩrĩire kuo-rĩ,
When Abimelech found out that all the leaders in the tower of Shechem had gathered there,
48 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!”
he and all the men with him went up Mount Zalmon. Abimelech grabbed hold of an ax and cut a branch from the trees. He lifted it onto his shoulder, and told his men, “Quick! You saw what I did. Do the same!”
49 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.
Each of them cut down a branch and followed Abimelech. They placed the branches against the strongroom and set it on fire. So all the people who lived in the tower of Shechem died, around one thousand men and women.
50 Abimeleku agĩthiĩ itũũra rĩa Thebezu, akĩrĩrigiicĩria na akĩrĩtunyana.
Then Abimelech went to attack Thebez and captured it.
51 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.
But there was a strong tower inside the city. All the men and women and the town leaders ran there and barricaded themselves in, and then went up to the roof of the tower.
52 Abimeleku agĩthiĩ mũthiringo-inĩ ũcio, akĩũhithũkĩra. No rĩrĩa akuhĩrĩirie itoonyero rĩa mũthiringo nĩguo aũgwatie mwaki-rĩ,
Abimelech went up to the tower to attack it. But as he came close to the tower's entrance to set it on fire,
53 mũtumia ũmwe akĩmũgũithĩria ihiga rĩa gĩthĩi mũtwe, rĩkĩmũhehenja mũtwe.
a woman dropped millstone down on Abimelech's head and cracked his skull open.
54 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.
He quickly called the young man who carried his weapons, and ordered him, “Draw your sword and kill me, so they won't say about me that a woman killed him.” So the young man drove his sword through him, and he died.
55 Hĩndĩ ĩrĩa andũ a Isiraeli moonire atĩ Abimeleku nĩakuĩte-rĩ, makĩĩinũkĩra.
When the Israelites saw that Abimelech was dead, they all left and went home.
56 Ũguo nĩguo Ngai aarĩhirie Abimeleku nĩ ũndũ wa waganu ũrĩa ekĩte ithe, wa kũũraga ariũ-a-ithe mĩrongo mũgwanja.
This is how God paid back Abimelech's crime against his father of murdering his seventy brothers.
57 Ningĩ Ngai akĩrĩhia andũ a Shekemu nĩ ũndũ wa waganu wao wothe. Kĩrumi kĩa Jothamu mũrũ wa Jerubu-Baali gĩkĩmacookerera.
He also repaid the people of Shechem for their evil, and the curse of Jotham, son of Jerub-baal, came down upon them.
