Ndị Ikpe 6
1 Ọzọkwa, ụmụ Izrel mere ihe ọjọọ nʼanya Onyenwe anyị, nʼihi ya, Onyenwe anyị nyefere ha nʼaka ndị Midia afọ asaa.
Then the sons of Israel did evil in the sight of the Lord, who delivered them into the hand of Midian for seven years.
2 Nʼihi na ndị Midia mekpara ha ahụ nke ukwuu, ụmụ Izrel meere onwe ha ebe obibi nʼugwu, nʼime ọgba nkume, na nʼebe e wusiri ike dị iche iche.
And they were greatly oppressed by them. And they made for themselves hollows and caves in the mountains, and very fortified places for defense.
3 Mgbe ọbụla ndị Izrel ghasịrị mkpụrụ nʼubi ha, ndị Midia, ndị Amalek na ụfọdụ ndị ọzọ si nʼọwụwa anyanwụ na-abịa buso ha agha.
And when Israel had planted, Midian and Amalek, and the rest of the eastern nations ascended,
4 Ha na-ebichi ala ahụ, bibie ihe niile a kụrụ nʼubi nʼala ahụ niile ruo na Gaza. O nweghị ihe ọbụla dị ndụ ndị Izrel nwere, ma atụrụ, ma ehi, ma ịnyịnya ibu, ha na-ahapụ.
and pitching their tents among them, they laid waste to all that was planted, as far as the entrance to Gaza. And they left behind nothing at all to sustain life in Israel, neither sheep, nor oxen, nor donkeys.
5 Dịka usuu igurube ka ha na-abịa, ha na anụ ụlọ ha niile, na ụlọ ikwu ha niile. Ọnụọgụgụ ha dị ukwuu ruo na-apụghị ịgụta ole ha dị, maọbụ ịnyịnya kamel ha. Ha na-abata nʼala ahụ nʼihi ibibicha ya.
For they and all their flocks arrived with their tents, and they filled all places like locusts, an innumerable multitude of men and camels, devastating whatever they touched.
6 Site nʼomume ọjọọ ndị a, e mere ka ụmụ Izrel bụrụ ndị dara ụbịam nke ukwuu nʼihi ọchịchị ndị Midia. Nʼikpeazụ, ụmụ Izrel tikuru Onyenwe anyị ka o nyere ha aka.
And Israel was humbled greatly in the sight of Midian.
7 Mgbe ụmụ Izrel tikuru Onyenwe anyị nʼihi mkpagbu ndị Midia na-akpagbu ha,
And he cried out to the Lord, requesting assistance against the Midianites.
8 Onyenwe anyị zitere onye amụma, onye gwara ha okwu sị, “Ihe a bụ ihe Onyenwe anyị Chineke nke Izrel kwuru, Esi m nʼala Ijipt, ala ahụ unu bụ ndị ohu nʼime ya, kpọpụta unu.
And he sent to them a man who was a prophet, and he said: “Thus says the Lord, the God of Israel: ‘I caused you to ascend from Egypt, and I led you away from the house of servitude.
9 Anapụtara m unu site nʼaka ike ndị Ijipt na site nʼaka ndị niile kpagburu unu, chụpụ ha site nʼihu unu, ma nye unu ala ha.
And I freed you from the hand of the Egyptians and from all of the enemies who were afflicting you. And I cast them out at your arrival, and I delivered their land to you.
10 Agwara m unu sị, ‘Mụ onwe m bụ Onyenwe anyị Chineke unu. Unu efela chi niile nke ndị Amọrait, ndị unu bi nʼala ha.’ Ma unu jụrụ ige m ntị.”
And I said: I am the Lord your God. You shall not fear the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you live. But you were not willing to listen to my voice.’”
11 Mmụọ ozi Onyenwe anyị bịara nọdụ ọdụ nʼokpuru osisi ukwu ook dị nʼOfra, nʼala ubi Joash, onye obodo Abieza, ebe nwa ya a na-akpọ Gidiọn nọ na-azọcha mkpụrụ ọka wiiti nʼime ebe ịzọcha mkpụrụ vaịnị nʼihi na ọ na-ezo onwe ya ka ndị Midia hapụ ịhụ ya anya.
Then an Angel of the Lord arrived, and he sat under an oak tree, which was at Ophrah, and which belonged to Joash, the father of the family of Ezri. And while his son Gideon was threshing and cleaning the grain at the winepress, so that he might flee from Midian,
12 Mmụọ ozi Onyenwe anyị pụtara ihe nʼebe ahụ gwa ya okwu sị, “Gị dike na dimkpa nʼagha, Onyenwe anyị nọnyeere gị.”
the Angel of the Lord appeared to him, and he said: “The Lord is with you, most valiant of men.”
13 Gidiọn zara sị, “Biko onyenwe m, ma ọ bụrụ na Onyenwe anyị nọnyeere anyị, gịnị mere ihe ndị a niile ji na-adakwasị anyị? Ebeekwanụ ka ihe ịrịbama ahụ niile dị nke nna anyị ha gwara anyị sị, ‘Ọ bụghị site nʼIjipt ka Onyenwe anyị siri gbapụta anyị?’ Ma ugbu a, Onyenwe anyị ajụla anyị, hapụ anyị nʼaka ndị Midia ka ha laa anyị nʼiyi.”
And Gideon said to him: “I beg you, my lord, if the Lord is with us, why have these things happened to us? Where are his miracles, which our fathers described when they said, ‘The Lord led us away from Egypt.’ But now the Lord has forsaken us, and he has delivered us into the hand of Midian.”
14 Mgbe ahụ, Onyenwe anyị nyere ya iwu sị ya, “Ngwa, jiri ike gị dị ukwuu pụọ, gaa ka ị gbapụta ụmụ Izrel site nʼaka ndị Midia. Mụ onwe m na-ezigakwa gị.”
And the Lord looked down upon him, and he said: “Go forth with this, your strength, and you shall free Israel from the hand of Midian. Know that I have sent you.”
15 Ma Gidiọn sịrị ya, “Biko, Onyenwe m, olee otu m ga-esi zọpụta Izrel? Lee, esi m nʼikwu dịkarịsịrị nta nʼime Manase pụta. Mụ onwe m bụkwa onye dịkarịsịrị ala nʼezinaụlọ m.”
And responding, he said: “I beg you, my lord, with what shall I free Israel? Behold, my family is the weakest in Manasseh, and I am the least in the house of my father.”
16 Ma Onyenwe anyị zara sị ya, “Mụ onwe m ga-anọnyere gị. Ị ga-ebibikwa ndị Midia niile.”
And the Lord said to him: “I will be with you. And so, you shall cut down Midian as if one man.”
17 Gidiọn zaghachiri sị, “Ọ bụrụ na m achọtala ihuọma nʼanya gị, nye m ihe ịrịbama nke ga-egosi na ọ bụ gị nʼezie na-agwa m okwu.
And he said: “If I have found grace before you, give me a sign that it is you who is speaking to me.
18 Biko esikwala ebe a pụọ ruo mgbe m lọghachiri weta onyinye m ga-eche nʼihu gị.” Onyenwe anyị zara sị ya, “Aga m eche ruo mgbe ị lọghachiri.”
And may you not withdraw from here, until I return to you, carrying a sacrifice and offering it to you.” And he responded, “I will wait for your return.”
19 Gidiọn mere ngwangwa laa nʼụlọ ya, gbuo otu nwa ewu, sie ya. O jikwa ụtụ ọka mee achịcha, nke ihe na-eko achịcha na-adịghị nʼime ya. Emesịa, o tinyere anụ ahụ nʼime nkata, wụnyekwa ofe nʼime ite, buru ha jekwuru Mmụọ ozi ahụ, ebe ọ nọ na-eche ya nʼokpuru osisi ook ahụ.
And so Gideon entered, and he boiled a goat, and he made unleavened bread from a measure of flour. And setting the flesh in a basket, and putting the broth of the flesh in a pot, he took it all under the oak tree, and he offered it to him.
20 Mmụọ ozi nke Chineke sịrị ya, “Were anụ a na ogbe achịcha ahụ na-ekoghị eko, tụkwasị ha nʼelu nkume a, wụpụkwa ofe ahụ.” Gidiọn mere otu a.
And the Angel of the Lord said to him, “Take the flesh and the unleavened bread, and place them on that rock, and pour out the broth upon it.” And when he had done so,
21 Mgbe Mmụọ ozi Onyenwe anyị ahụ metụrụ ọnụ mkpanaka ahụ nke dị nʼaka ya nʼelu anụ na achịcha ahụ na-ekoghị eko. Ọkụ sitere nʼoke nkume ahụ nwuru, rechapụ anụ ahụ na achịcha nʼekoghị eko ahụ. Mmụọ ozi nke Onyenwe anyị ahụ gbara barịị site nʼihu ya.
the Angel of the Lord extended the end of a staff, which he was holding in his hand, and he touched the flesh and the unleavened loaves. And a fire ascended from the rock, and it consumed the flesh and the unleavened loaves. Then the Angel of the Lord vanished from his sight.
22 Mgbe Gidiọn ghọtara na ọ bụ Mmụọ ozi nke Onyenwe anyị, o tiri mkpu akwa sị, “Ewoo! Onyenwe m Onyenwe anyị! Ahụla m Mmụọ ozi Onyenwe anyị ihu na ihu!”
And Gideon, realizing that it had been the Angel of the Lord, said: “Alas, my Lord God! For I have seen the Angel of the Lord face to face.”
23 Ma Onyenwe anyị sịrị ya, “Udo dịrị gị, atụla egwu! Ị gaghị anwụ.”
And the Lord said to him: “Peace be with you. Do not be afraid; you shall not die.”
24 Ya mere, Gidiọn wuuru Onyenwe anyị ebe ịchụ aja nʼebe ahụ, kpọọ ya, Onyenwe anyị bụ Onye Udo. Ụlọ nchụaja ahụ dịkwa nʼime obodo Ofra nʼala ndị Abieza ruo taa.
Therefore, Gideon built an altar to the Lord there, and he called it, the Peace of the Lord, even to the present day. And while he was still at Ophrah, which is of the family of Ezri,
25 Nʼabalị ụbọchị ahụ, Onyenwe anyị gwara Gidiọn okwu sị ya, “Were oke ehi nna gị, bụ oke ehi nke abụọ, nke gbara afọ asaa. Dọtuo ebe ịchụ aja nna gị wuru maka Baal, gbutukwaa ogidi osisi Ashera dị nʼakụkụ ya.
that night, the Lord said to him: “Take a bull of your father’s, and another bull of seven years, and you shall destroy the altar of Baal, which is your father’s. And you shall cut down the sacred grove which is around the altar.
26 Mgbe ahụ, wuoro Onyenwe anyị bụ Chineke gị ebe ịchụ aja, nʼelu ebe a dị oke elu. Jiri osisi Ashera ahụ nke ị gbuturu kwanye ọkụ, chụọ oke ehi nke abụọ ahụ dịka aja nsure ọkụ.”
And you shall build an altar to the Lord your God, at the summit of this rock, on which you placed the sacrifice before. And you shall take the second bull, and you shall offer a holocaust upon a pile of the wood, which you shall cut down from the grove.”
27 Ya mere, Gidiọn duuru mmadụ iri site na ndị na-ejere ya ozi, ndị nyeere ya aka imezu ihe niile dịka Onyenwe anyị nyere ya nʼiwu. Kama, site nʼegwu maka ndị ikwu nna ya, na ndị bi nʼobodo ahụ, o mere ihe ndị a niile nʼime abalị.
Therefore, Gideon, taking ten men from his servants, did just as the Lord had instructed him. But fearing his father’s household, and the men of that city, he was not willing to do it by day. Instead, he completed everything by night.
28 Mgbe chi bọrọ, mgbe ndị obodo ahụ malitere ijegharị, ha hụrụ na a kwatuola ebe ịchụ aja Baal, hụkwa na e gbutuola ogidi osisi Ashera dị nʼakụkụ ya, ma werekwa oke ehi nke abụọ chụọ aja nʼelu ebe ịchụ aja ọhụrụ ahụ!
And when the men of that town had risen up in the morning, they saw the altar of Baal destroyed, and the sacred grove cut down, and the second bull set upon the altar, which then had been built.
29 Ha jụrịtara onwe ha ajụjụ sị, “Onye mere ihe dị otu a?” Mgbe ha ji nwayọọ jụgharịa ajụjụ, a gwara ha sị, “Ọ bụ Gidiọn nwa Joash mere ya.”
And they said one to another, “Who has done this?” And when they inquired everywhere as to the author of the deed, it was said, “Gideon, the son of Joash, did all these things.”
30 Ndị obodo ahụ sịrị Joash, “Kpụpụta nwa gị. Ọ ga-anwụrịrị, nʼihi na ọ kwadala ebe ịchụ aja Baal, gbutuo ogidi osisi Ashera, nke dị nʼakụkụ ya.”
And they said to Joash: “Bring forward your son here, so that he may die. For he has destroyed the altar of Baal, and he has cut down the sacred grove.”
31 Ma Joash tinyere ọnụ jụọ ha ajụjụ sị ha, “Baal, ọ gwara unu na ọ chọrọ ka unu nyere ya aka? Unu na-achọ ịzọpụta ya? Onye ọbụla wepụtara onwe ya maka ịlụrụ Baal ọgụ ga-anwụ tupu chi echi abọọ. Ọ bụrụ nʼezie na Baal bụ chi, hapụnụ ya ka o tigbuo onye ahụ mebiri ebe ịchụ aja ya.”
But he responded to them: “Could you be the avengers of Baal, so that you fight on his behalf? Whoever is his adversary, let him die before the light arrives tomorrow; if he is a god, let him vindicate himself against him who has overturned his altar.”
32 Ya mere, nʼụbọchị ahụ, ha malitere ịkpọ Gidiọn “Jerub-Baal.” Ha kwuru sị, “Ka Baal lụọrọ onwe ya ọgụ,” nʼihi na ọ kwadara ebe ịchụ aja Baal.
From that day, Gideon was called Jerubbaal, because Joash had said, “Let Baal avenge himself against him who has overturned his altar.”
33 Mgbe na-adịghị anya, usuu ndị agha Midia, na ndị Amalek, na obodo niile gbara ha gburugburu jikọtara onwe ha nʼotu, bịa ibu agha megide ụmụ Izrel. Ha niile gafere osimiri Jọdan, bịaruo na Ndagwurugwu Jezril ebe ha mara ụlọ ikwu.
And so, all of Midian, and Amalek, and the eastern peoples were gathered together. And crossing the Jordan, they encamped in the valley of Jezreel.
34 Mgbe ahụ, Mmụọ Nsọ Onyenwe anyị bịakwasịrị Gidiọn. Ọ fụrụ opi ike nke o ji kpọkọta ndị agha ka ha zukọọ. Ndị agha niile si nʼikwu Abieza pụkwutere ya.
But the Spirit of the Lord entered Gideon, who, sounding the trumpet, summoned the house of Abiezer so that he might follow him.
35 Otu aka ahụ, o zipụrụ ndị ozi ka ha jekwuru ndị agha ndị Manase, na nke ndị Asha, na nke ndị Zebụlọn, na nke ndị Naftalị, ịkpọ ha ka ha bịa soro ya gaa ibu agha. Ha niile kwenyere pụkwute ya maka agha ahụ.
And he sent messengers into all of Manasseh, who also followed him, and other messengers into Asher, and Zebulun, and Naphtali, who went to meet him.
36 Gidiọn sịrị Chineke, “Ọ bụrụ nʼezie na ị ga-azọpụta Izrel site nʼaka m dịka i kwere na nkwa,
And Gideon said to God: “If you will save Israel by my hand, just as you have said:
37 lee, aga m edebe ajị anụ nʼebe ịzọcha ọka. Ọ bụrụ na igirigi adakwasị naanị nʼelu ajị anụ ahụ ma ala ebe ọ tọgbọ gbakọọ agbakọ, mgbe ahụ aga m amata na ị ga-anapụta Izrel site nʼaka m, dịka ị kwuru.”
I will set this wool fleece on the threshing floor. If there will be dew only on the fleece, and all the ground is dry, I will know that by my hand, as you have said, you will free Israel.”
38 Ihe a mezukwara dịka Gidiọn si rịọọ ya. Mgbe chi bọrọ, ọ gara welite ajị anụ ahụ chọpụta na o jupụtara na mmiri. Mmiri o si na ya pịpụta juru otu efere miri emi.
And so it was done. And rising in the night, wringing out the fleece, he filled a vessel with the dew.
39 Mgbe ahụ, Gidiọn sịrị Chineke, “Ka iwe gị ghara ịdị ọkụ megide m. Ka m rịọkwuo naanị otu ihe ọzọ. Kwere ka m jiri ajị anụ a nwalee otu ugboro ọzọ, kama nʼoge a, mee ka mmiri ghara ịdị nʼajị anụ ahụ, ma ka igirigi jupụta nʼala ebe ọ tọgbọ.”
And again he said to God: “Let not your fury be enkindled against me, if I test once more, seeking a sign in the fleece. I pray that only the fleece may be dry, and all the ground may be wet with dew.”
40 Nʼabalị ahụ, Chineke mere otu a. Ala niile gbaa gburugburu dere mmiri site nʼigirigi, ma mmiri ọbụla adịghị nʼajị anụ ahụ.
And that night, God did as he had requested. And it was dry only on the fleece, and there was dew on all the ground.
