Ndị Ikpe 9
1 Otu ụbọchị, Abimelek nwa Jerub-Baal jekwuuru ụmụnne nne ya ndị ikom bi na Shekem, na ndị ikwu nne ya niile sị ha,
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,
2 “Jekwurunụ ndị Shekem jụọ ha, ‘Kedụ nke kara unu mma: ọ bụ ka ụmụ iri ndị ikom asaa Jerub-Baal mụrụ chịa unu, ka ọ bụ ka otu onye chịa unu?’ Chetakwanụ na mụ na unu bụ otu anụ ahụ na ọbara.”
"Please speak in the ears of all the lords 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.'"
3 Mgbe ụmụnne nne ya ndị ikom gwara ndị Shekem ihe Abimelek kwuru, ha kwekọrịtara iso ya nʼihi na ha kwuru sị, “Nwanne anyị ka ọ bụ.”
And his mother's brothers spoke of him in the ears of all the lords of Shechem all these words: and their hearts inclined to follow Abimelech; for they said, "He is our brother."
4 Ha sitere nʼụlọ arụsị Baal-Berit nye ya iri shekel ọlaedo asaa. Abimelek ji ego ndị a goo ndị efulefu jọgburu onwe ha, ndị na-akpọghị ndụ ha ihe ọbụla, ndị kwenyere ma gbasoro ya.
They gave him seventy pieces of silver out of the house of Baal Berith, with which Abimelech hired vain and light fellows, who followed him.
5 Ọ gara nʼụlọ nna ya nʼobodo Ofra. Nʼebe ahụ, o gburu iri ndị ikom asaa ahụ bụ ụmụnna ya nʼelu otu nkume. Kama Jotam, bụ ọdụdụ nwa Jerub-Baal, zoro onwe ya gbapụ.
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.
6 Mgbe ahụ, ndị Shekem na ndị Bet Milo kpọrọ nzukọ nʼokpuru osisi ukwu dị nʼobodo ahụ nʼakụkụ ogidi e guzobere ọtọ na Shekem. Nʼebe ahụ ka ha nọ mee Abimelek eze Izrel.
And all the lords of Shechem assembled themselves together, and all Beth Millo, and went and made Abimelech king by the oak which is found at the pillar in Shechem.
7 Mgbe Jotam nụrụ ya, o rigooro nʼugwu Gerizim guzo nʼebe ahụ tikuo ndị Shekem niile mkpu si ha, “Geenụ m ntị ka Chineke nwe ike gee unu ntị.
And when they told it to Jotham, he went and stood on the top of Mount Gerizim, and lifted up his voice, and cried, and said to them, "Listen to me, you lords of Shechem, that God may listen to you.
8 Otu mgbe, osisi niile pụrụ ije ịga tee otu onye mmanụ ka ọ bụrụ eze ga-achị ha. Ha sịrị osisi oliv, ‘Bụrụ eze anyị.’
The trees went forth on a time to anoint a king over them; and they said to the olive tree, 'Reign you over us.'
9 “Ma osisi oliv jụrụ ha ajụjụ sị, ‘O kwesiri ka m hapụ iwepụta mmanụ m a nke a na-esite na ya sọpụrụ Chineke na ụmụ mmadụ, nọọ ọnọdụ ifegharị alaka m nʼelu osisi ndị ọzọ?’
"But the olive tree said to them, 'Should I leave my fatness, with which by me they honor God and man, and go to wave back and forth over the trees?'
10 “Ọzọkwa, ha rịọrọ osisi fiig ka ọ bụrụ eze ha.
"The trees said to the fig tree, 'Come, and reign over us.'
11 “Ma osisi fiig sịrị, ‘Ọ bụrụ na m ekwere na m ga-abụ eze unu, ọ pụtara na m ga-akwụsị ịmịpụta mkpụrụ osisi na-atọ ụtọ, nọọ ọnọdụ ifegharị alaka m nʼelu osisi ndị ọzọ?’
"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?'
12 “Ọzọkwa, ha rịọrọ osisi vaịnị ma ọ ga-ekwenye ịbụ eze ha.
"The trees said to the vine, 'Come, and reign over us.'
13 “Ma osisi vaịnị ahụ zara sị ha, ‘Ọ bụrụ na m ekwere ịbụ eze unu, ọ pụtara na m ga-akwụsị ịmịpụta mkpụrụ osisi e ji eme mmanya nke na-enye Chineke na ụmụ mmadụ obi ụtọ, nọọ ọnọdụ ifegharị alaka m nʼelu osisi ndị ọzọ?’
"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?'
14 “Nʼikpeazụ, osisi niile jekwuuru ogwu ọhịa, ‘Bịa ka ị bụrụ eze anyị.’
"Then all the trees said to the bramble, 'Come, and reign over us.'
15 “Ogwu ọhịa sịrị osisi niile, ‘Ọ bụrụ nʼezie na unu chọrọ ite m mmanụ ka m bụrụ eze unu, bịanụ zere ndụ nʼokpuru ndo m kpọkwanụ isiala nye m. Ọ bụrụ na unu ajụ ime nke a, ka ọkụ si nʼogwu ọhịa pụta rechapụ sida niile dị na Lebanọn!’
"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.'
16 “Ugbu a, omume unu o ziri ezi ma sitekwa nʼezi obi na unu mere Abimelek eze? Mmeso unu mesoro Jerub-Baal na ezinaụlọ ya o ziri ezi? Unu omesoro ya dịka o kwesiri ya?
"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
17 Chetakwanụ na nna m lụrụ ọgụ maka unu, kpọọ ndụ ya ihe efu, nʼihi ịnapụta unu site nʼaka ndị Midia.
(for my father fought for you, and risked his life, and delivered you out of the hand of Midian:
18 Ma taa, unu enupula isi megide nna m na ezinaụlọ ya, gbuo iri ụmụ ndị ikom asaa ya nʼelu otu nkume, meekwa Abimelek nwa ya nwoke nke ohu nwanyị ya mụtara eze ga-achị ndị Shekem niile, nʼihi na ọ bụ onye nke unu.
and you are risen up against my father's house this day, and have slain his sons, seventy persons, on one stone, and have made Abimelech, the son of his female servant, king over the lords of Shechem, because he is your brother).
19 Nke a o gosiri na omume unu ziri ezi, sitekwa nʼobi ọcha nʼebe Jerub-Baal na ezinaụlọ ya nọ taa? Ọ bụrụ na unu mere otu a, ka Abimelek bụrụ onye ga-ewetara unu ọṅụ ka unu bụkwara ndị ga-ewetara ya ọṅụ.
If you then have dealt truly and righteously with Jerubbaal and with his house this day, then rejoice in Abimelech, and let him also rejoice in you:
20 Ma ọ bụrụ na omume unu ezighị ezi, ka ọkụ si nʼAbimelek pụta repịa unu, ndị Shekem na Bet Milo, ka ọkụ sitekwa nʼebe unu bụ ndị Shekem na Bet Milo, pụta repịa Abimelek.”
but if not, let fire come out from Abimelech, and devour the lords of Shechem, and Beth Millo; and let fire come out from the lords of Shechem, and from Beth Millo, and devour Abimelech."
21 Emesịa, Jotam gbapụrụ, gbaga Bịa, biri nʼebe ahụ nʼihi egwu Abimelek bụ nwanna ya.
And Jotham escaped and fled and went to Beer and lived there, for fear of Abimelech his brother.
22 Mgbe ọ gasịrị afọ atọ Abimelek bidoro ịchị Izrel,
Abimelech was prince over Israel three years.
23 Chineke kpaliri iro dị ukwuu nʼetiti Abimelek na ndị nwe obodo Shekem, nke bụ na ha mere omume ihu abụọ megide Abimelek.
And God sent a spirit of hostility between Abimelech and the lords of Shechem; and the lords of Shechem dealt treacherously with Abimelech:
24 Chineke mere nke a nʼihi na ọ chọrọ ịbọta ọbọ ọbara iri ụmụ Jerub-Baal asaa ahụ nʼisi Abimelek, na ndị Shekem ahụ bụ ndị nyeere ya aka gbuo ụmụnne ya.
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.
25 Nʼọnọdụ imegide ya, ndị Shekem doro ndị ikom ụfọdụ nʼelu ugwu niile, ndị zoro nʼebe ahụ na-apụnara ndị ọbụla na-esite nʼebe ahụ agafe ihe ha nwere. E mere ka Abimelek mata na ihe dị otu a na-eme.
And the lords 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 it was told to Abimelech.
26 Nʼoge ahụ, Gaal, nwa Ebed, chịkọtara ụmụnne ya ndị ikom gaa biri na Shekem, ndị Shekem nwere ntụkwasị obi nʼebe ọ nọ.
And Gaal the son of Ebed came with his brothers, and went over to Shechem; and the lords of Shechem put their trust in him.
27 Mgbe ha pụrụ baa nʼubi, chịkọta mkpụrụ vaịnị, zọchaa ha, ha mere mmemme nʼụlọ chi ha. Mgbe ha nọ na-eri na-aṅụ, ha kọchara Abimelek.
They went out into the field, and gathered their vineyards, and trod the grapes, and held festival, and went into the house of their god, and did eat and drink, and cursed Abimelech.
28 Mgbe ahụ, Gaal nwa Ebed sịrị, “Onye bụ Abimelek? Gịnị mere na anyị bụ ndị Shekem ga-eji nọrọ nʼokpuru ya? Ọ bụghị nwa Jerub-Baal? Ọ bụkwaghị Zebul bụ onye na-esote ya? Ọ bụ ka anyị fee ezinaụlọ Hamọ, nna Shekem ofufe. Ọ bụ maka gịnị ka anyị ga-eji fee Abimelek ofufe?
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, and Zebul his officer? Serve the men of Hamor the father of Shechem. But why should we serve him?
29 A sịkwarị na ndị a nọ nʼokpuru ọchịchị m, mgbe ahụ, m ga-ewezuga Abimelek. Aga m asị ya, ‘Kpọpụta ndị agha gị niile.’”
Would that this people were under my hand. Then I would remove Abimelech. I would say to Abimelech, "Increase your army, and come out."
30 Mgbe Zebul onye na-achị obodo ahụ nụrụ ihe Gaal nwa Ebed kwuru, o were nnọọ oke iwe.
When Zebul the ruler of the city heard the words of Gaal the son of Ebed, his anger was kindled.
31 O zigara Abimelek ndị ozi na nzuzo ka ha sị ya, “Gaal nwa Ebed na ndị ikwu ya abịala obodo Shekem. Ha akpaliela obi ndị obodo a niile ka ha megide gị.
He sent messengers to Abimelech in Arumah, saying, "Look, Gaal the son of Ebed and his brothers have come to Shechem; and look, they constrain the city to take part against you.
32 Ugbu a, gị na ndị agha gị, bịanụ nʼabalị zoo onwe unu nʼọhịa.
Now therefore, rise up by night, you and the people who are with you, and lie in wait in the field.
33 Nʼụtụtụ, mgbe anwụ wara, busonụ obodo a agha. Mgbe Gaal na ndị ya pụtara ịlụso gị agha, mee ha ihe dị gị mma.”
And it shall be that in the morning, as soon as the sun is up, you shall rise early, and rush on the city. And look, when he and the people who are with him come out against you, then do whatever you can to them."
34 Ya mere, Abimelek na ndị agha ya dị nʼotu anọ, jiri abalị bilie jeruo Shekem zoo onwe ha na nso obodo ahụ.
Abimelech rose up, and all the people who were with him, by night, and they lay in wait against Shechem in four companies.
35 Gaal nwa Ebed pụrụ guzo nʼọnụ ama obodo ahụ mgbe Abimelek na ndị ya sitere nʼebe ha zoro onwe ha pụta.
And it happened early in the morning that Gaal the son of Ebed went out, and stood in the entrance of the gate of the city. And Abimelech rose up, and the people who were with him, from the ambush.
36 Mgbe Gaal hụrụ ha, ọ kpọrọ Zebul si ya, “Lee ndị mmadụ sị nʼelu ugwu ndị a na-arịdata.” Zebul zara si ya, “Ọ bụghị mmadụ ka ị na-ahụ, kama ọ bụ onyinyo ugwu ka ị na-akpọ mmadụ.”
When Gaal saw the people, he said to Zebul, "Look, there are people coming down from the tops of the mountains." Zebul said to him, "You see the shadow of the mountains as if they were men."
37 Gaal kwukwara okwu sị, “Lee ndị mmadụ si nʼetiti ala ahụ na-arịdata, ndị ọzọ sikwa nʼakụkụ ụzọ ebe osisi iju ase dị.”
Gaal spoke again and said, "Look, there are people coming down by the central part of the land, and one company comes by the way of the Diviners' Oak."
38 Mgbe ahụ, Zebul sịrị ya, “Olee uru ọ bara na ị turu ọnụ, gị onye na-asị, ‘Onye bụ Abimelek na anyị ga-efe ya ofufe?’ Ọ bụ ndị a abụghị ndị ahụ ị kọchara? Pụkwuru ha gaa lụso ha ọgụ.”
Then Zebul said to him, "Where is now your mouth, that you said, 'Who is Abimelech, that we should serve him?' Is not this the people that you have despised? Please go out now and fight with them."
39 Ya mere, Gaal duuru ndị nwe Shekem pụọ ịlụso Abimelek ọgụ.
And Gaal went out before the lords of Shechem, and fought with Abimelech.
40 Ma Abimelek chụụrụ ya ọsọ ruo mbata ọnụ ụzọ ama, ọtụtụ bụkwa ndị egburu ka ha na-agba ọsọ.
Abimelech chased him, and he fled before him, and there fell many wounded, even to the entrance of the gate of the city.
41 Abimelek nọgidere nʼAruma nʼoge ahụ. Ma Zebul chụpụrụ Gaal na ndị ikwu ya site na Shekem.
And Abimelech returned to Arumah; and Zebul drove out Gaal and his brothers, so that they could not dwell in Shechem.
42 Nʼechi ya, ndị Shekem pụtara baa nʼọhịa. E mere ka Abimelek mara nke a.
It happened on the next day, that the people went out into the field; and they told Abimelech.
43 Nʼihi ya, Abimelek kere ndị agha ya ụzọ atọ. Ha niile zokwara onwe ha nʼọhịa. Mgbe ọ hụrụ ka ndị mmadụ si nʼime obodo ahụ na-apụta, o biliri buso ha agha.
He took the people, and divided them into three companies, and waited in ambush in the field; and he looked, and look, the people came forth out of the city. He rose up against them, and struck them.
44 Abimelek na usuu ndị agha so ya mapụtara, gbara ọsọ were ọnọdụ nʼọnụ ụzọ ama obodo ahụ. Emesịa, ụzọ abụọ nʼime ụzọ atọ nke ndị agha na-eso ya chere ihu nʼọhịa gbuo ndị ahụ niile nọ nʼebe ahụ.
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 against all who were in the field, and struck them.
45 Ụbọchị ahụ niile, Abimelek busoro obodo ahụ agha tutu ruo mgbe o meriri ya, gbuo ndị niile bi nʼime ya. Emesịa, ọ lara obodo ahụ niile nʼiyi, fesaa nnu nʼala ya niile.
Abimelech fought against the city all that day; and he took the city, and killed the people who were in it. And he destroyed the city, and sowed it with salt.
46 Mgbe ndị nwe ala nọ nʼụlọ elu Shekem nụrụ ihe mere, ha gbabanyere nʼebe e wusiri ike nke ụlọ arụsị El Berit.
And when all the lords of the Tower of Shechem heard of it, they entered into the stronghold of the house of El Berith.
47 Mgbe Abimelek nụrụ na ha ezukọtala nʼebe ahụ,
And it was told Abimelech that all the lords of the Tower of Shechem were gathered together.
48 ya na ndị agha ya rigoro ugwu Zalmon. O ji anyụike gbutuo ụfọdụ ngalaba osisi nke ọ tụkwasịrị nʼubu ya. O nyere ndị agha ya iwu si, “Ngwa, meenụ ihe unu hụrụ na m mere.”
So Abimelech went up to Mount Zalmon, he and all the people who were with him; and Abimelech took an axe in his hand, and cut down a branch from the trees, and took it up, and laid it on his shoulder. And he said to the people who were with him, "What you have seen me do, do quickly, and do as I have done."
49 Ya mere, ndị agha ya niile gbuturu alaka osisi buru ha soro Abimelek. Ha tụkọtara alaka osisi ndị a niile nʼakụkụ ebe ahụ e wusiri ike mụnye ha ọkụ ka o regbuo ndị mmadụ nọ nʼime ya. Ya mere, ndị mmadụ niile nọ nʼụlọ elu Shekem, nwoke na nwanyị, ndị ọnụọgụgụ ha ruru otu puku nwụrụ.
All the people likewise cut down his branch and followed Abimelech, and put them on the stronghold, and set the stronghold on fire on them; so that all the men of the Tower of Shechem died also, about a thousand men and women.
50 Ọzọ, Abimelek gara obodo Tebez lụso ya agha, merie ya.
Then Abimelech went to Thebez, and camped against Thebez, and took it.
51 Ma e nwere nʼime obodo ahụ, otu ụlọ elu e wusiri ike, ebe ndị obodo ahụ niile, nwoke na nwanyị, gbabanyere. Ha kpọchidoro onwe ha ụzọ, rigoro nʼelu ụlọ ahụ.
But there was a strong tower within the city, and all the men and women fled, and all the lords of the city, and shut themselves in, and got them up to the roof of the tower.
52 Abimelek gara nʼụlọ elu ahụ ibuso ya agha. Ma mgbe ọ na-abịaru ọnụ ụzọ ama ụlọ elu ahụ isunye ya ọkụ,
Abimelech came to the tower, and fought against it, and drew near to the door of the tower to burn it with fire.
53 otu nwanyị tụdara nkume igwe nri nʼisi ya, nke tiwara okpokoro isi ya.
A certain woman threw down an upper millstone on Abimelech's head, and broke his skull.
54 Ngwangwa, Abimelek kpọrọ onye na-ebu ihe agha ya sị ya, “Sepụta mma agha gị jiri ya gbuo m, ka ndị mmadụ ghara ị sị banyere m, ‘Ọ bụ nwanyị gburu ya.’” Ya mere nwokorobịa ahụ were mma agha ya dụgbuo ya, ọ nwụkwara.
Then he called quickly 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.'" So the young man thrust him through, and he died.
55 Mgbe ndị Izrel hụrụ na Abimelek anwụọla, ha niile lara nʼụlọ ha.
When the men of Israel saw that Abimelech was dead, they departed every man to his place.
56 Otu a ka Chineke si kwụghachi Abimelek ihe ọjọọ o mere megide nna ya site nʼigbu iri ụmụnna ya asaa.
Thus God requited the wickedness of Abimelech, which he did to his father, in killing his seventy brothers;
57 Chineke mekwara ka ndị Shekem nata ụgwọ ọrụ ihe ọjọọ ha. Ọbụbụ ọnụ Jotam nwa Jerub-Baal mezukwara nʼisi ha.
and all the wickedness of the men of Shechem did God return on their heads, and on them came the curse of Jotham the son of Jerubbaal.
