Mwet Nununku 9
1 Abimelech, wen natul Gideon, el som nu Shechem, yen sou lun nina kial ah muta we, ac fahk nu selos
Now Abimelech, the son of Jerubbaal, went to Shechem, to his maternal brothers, and he spoke to them, and to all the relatives of the house of his maternal grandfather, saying:
2 elos in siyuk sin mwet Shechem, “Pia kac ma wo suwos: wen itngoul kewa natul Gideon in mwet kol lowos, ku siena selos in leum fowos? Esam lah Abimelech el sou na pwaye lowos.”
“Speak to all the men of Shechem: Which is better for you: that seventy men, all the sons of Jerubbaal, should rule over you, or that one man should rule over you? And consider also that I am your bone and your flesh.”
3 Sou lun nina kial Abimelech elos aolul in sramsramkin ma inge yurin mwet Shechem, na mwet Shechem elos wotela mu elos ac eisal Abimelech tuh elan mwet kol lalos, mweyen el sou na pwaye lalos.
And his maternal brothers spoke about him to all the men of Shechem, all these words, and they inclined their hearts after Abimelech, saying, “He is our brother.”
4 Elos sang ipin silver itngoul liki tempul lal Baal-lun-Wuleang nu sel Abimelech, na el sang moli kutu mwet lusrongten in acn we tuh elos in welul.
And they gave to him the weight of seventy silver coins from the shrine of Baal-berith. With this, he hired for himself indigent and wandering men, and they followed him.
5 Ac el som nu in acn sin papa tumal ah in acn Ophrah, ac uniya tamulel itngoul wial fin sie eot lulap. Tusruktu Jotham, su srik emeet natul Gideon, el mukena tia anwuki, ke sripen el wikla.
And he went to his father’s house in Ophrah, and he killed his brothers, the sons of Jerubbaal, seventy men, upon one stone. And there remained only Joatham, the youngest son of Jerubbaal, and he was in hiding.
6 Na mwet nukewa in Shechem ac Bethmillo elos toeni ac som nu sisken sak oak mutal in acn Shechem, ac oru tuh Abimelech elan tokosra lalos.
Then all the men of Shechem gathered together, and all the families of the city of Millo, and they went and appointed Abimelech as king, beside the oak that stood at Shechem.
7 Ac ke Jotham el lohng ma inge el som fanyak nu fin mangon Eol Gerizim ac wowoyak ac fahk nu selos, “Porongeyu, kowos mwet in Shechem, ac sahp God El ac fah porongekowos!
When this had been reported to Jotham, he went and stood at the top of Mount Gerizim. And lifting up his voice, he cried out and said: “Listen to me, men of Shechem, so that God may listen to you.
8 Sie pacl ah, sak nukewa som ac suk soko sak in tuh tokosra lalos. Elos fahk nu sin sak olive, ‘Kom fah tokosra lasr.’
The trees went to anoint a king over themselves. And they said to the olive tree, ‘Reign over us.’
9 Sak olive el topuk ac fahk, ‘Nga fin leum fowos, na enenu ngan tila orek oil, su mwe akfulatye god uh ac mwet uh.’
And it responded, ‘How could I abandon my fatness, which both gods and men make use of, and depart to be promoted among the trees?’
10 Na sak inge elos sifil som ac fahk nu sin sak fig, ‘Fahsru tuh kom in tokosra lasr.’
And the trees said to the fig tree, ‘Come and accept royal power over us.’
11 Ac sak fig el topuk ac fahk, ‘Nga fin leum fowos, na enenu ngan tia sifil isus fahko emwem ac wo.’
And it responded to them, ‘How could I abandon my sweetness, and my very sweet fruits, and depart to be promoted among the other trees?’
12 Na sak inge elos sifil som ac fahk nu sin oa in grape soko, ‘Fahsru tokosrala lasr.’
And the trees said to the vine, ‘Come and reign over us.’
13 Na oa soko ah topuk ac fahk, ‘Nga fin leum fowos, na enenu ngan tila orek wain, su mwe akpwarye god uh ac mwet uh.’
And it responded to them, ‘How could I abandon my wine, which gives joy to God and men, and be promoted among the other trees?’
14 Na sak inge sifil som ac fahk nu sin kokul, ‘Fahsru tokosrala lasr.’
And all the trees said to the bramble, ‘Come and reign over us.’
15 Na kokul el topuk ac fahk, ‘Fin pwaye kowos lungse tuh nga in tokosra lowos, fahsru ac muta ye lulik. Kowos fin tia, na e ac fah sikyak ke ma fakfuk keik uh ac esukak sak cedar nukewa in acn Lebanon.’”
And it responded to them: ‘If truly you would appoint me as king, come and rest under my shadow. But if you are not willing, let fire go forth from the bramble, and let it devour the cedars of Lebanon.’”
16 Na Jotham el sifilpa fahk, “Inge, ke kowos sulella Abimelech tuh elan tokosra lowos, ya kowos oru ke nunak na pwaye lowos? Ya kowos akfulatye orekma wo ma Gideon el oru nu suwos, ac oru wo nu sin sou lal?
So now, if you are upright and without sin in appointing Abimelech as a king over you, and if you have acted well with Jerubbaal, and with his house, and if you have repaid, in turn, the benefits of him who fought on your behalf,
17 Esam lah papa tumuk el tuh mweun keiwos. El pilesrala moul lal sifacna in molikowosla liki poun mwet Midian.
and who gave his life to dangers, so that he might rescue you from the hand of Midian,
18 Na misenge kowos forla lain sou lun papa tumuk. Kowos uniya wen itngoul natul fin eot sefanna. Na ke na sripen Abimelech el ac ma wiowos, mweyen el wen natul Gideon ac mutan kulansap se kial, na kowos oral tuh elan tokosra lun acn Shechem.
though you now have risen up against my father’s house, and have killed his sons, seventy men, upon one stone, and have appointed Abimelech, the son of his handmaid, as a king over the inhabitants of Shechem, since he is your brother,
19 Inge, fin ma kowos oru misenge nu sel Gideon ac sou lal an kowos oru ke inse pwaye ac wo, na lela kowos in engan kacl Abimelech, ac lela tuh elan engan pac keiwos.
if therefore you are upright and have acted without fault with Jerubbaal and his house, then you should rejoice on this day in Abimelech, and he should rejoice in you.
20 A fin tia pwaye, lela e in sikyak kacl Abimelech ac esukak mwet Shechem ac mwet Bethmillo. Oayapa lela e in sikyak yurin mwet Shechem ac mwet Bethmillo ac esukulak Abimelech.”
But if you have acted perversely, may fire go forth from him and consume the inhabitants of Shechem and the town of Millo. And may fire go forth from the men of Shechem and from the town of Millo, and devour Abimelech.”
21 Na Jotham el kaingla nu Beer ac muta we, mweyen el sangeng sel Abimelech, tamulel lal ah.
And when he had said these things, he fled and went away to Beer. And he lived in that place, out of fear of Abimelech, his brother.
22 Abimelech el kol acn Israel ke yac tolu.
And so Abimelech reigned over Israel for three years.
23 Na God El oru tuh mwet Shechem ac Abimelech in asrungai, na mwet Shechem elos tuyak lainul Abimelech.
And the Lord put a very grievous spirit between Abimelech and the inhabitants of Shechem, who began to detest him,
24 Ma inge sikyak in akfalye ma koluk ma Abimelech ac mwet Shechem elos tuh oru nu sin wen itngoul natul Gideon ma elos uniya ah.
and to place blame for the crime of the killing of the seventy sons of Jerubbaal, and for the shedding of their blood, upon Abimelech, their brother, and upon the rest of the leaders of the Shechemites, who assisted him.
25 Mwet Shechem elos sap kutu mwet lalos in som wikla fin mangon eol uh tuh elos in sruokilya Abimelech, ac mwet inge elos pisre ma lun mwet nukewa su forfor in acn sac. Pweng ke ma inge sonol pac Abimelech.
And they stationed an ambush against him at the summit of the mountains. And while they were waiting for his arrival, they committed robberies, taking spoils from those passing by. And this was reported to Abimelech.
26 Inge, Gaal wen natul Ebed, ac mwet lel elos tuku nu Shechem, ac mwet Shechem elos filiya lulalfongi lalos facl.
Now Gaal, the son of Ebed, went with his brothers, and crossed over to Shechem. And the inhabitants of Shechem, uplifted by his arrival,
27 Elos nukewa illa nu in ima uh ac eisani grape, elos orala nu ke wain, ac orek engan. Na elos utyak nu in tempul lun god lalos, ac mongo ac nimnim we ac aksruksrukel Abimelech.
departed into the fields, laying waste to the vineyards, and trampling the grapes. And while singing and dancing, they entered into the shrine of their god. And while feasting and drinking, they cursed Abimelech.
28 Ac Gaal el fahk, “Ku kut mwet fuka in acn Shechem inge? Efu ku kut in orekma nu sel Abimelech? Ku su win el uh? Ya tia ma natul Gideon? Zebul el orekma nu sel, tusruktu efu ku kut in kulansupwal? Kowos in orekma na nu sel Hamor, mwet matu lowos su el pa sifen ota lowos uh!
And Gaal, the son of Ebed, cried out: “Who is Abimelech, and what is Shechem, that we should serve him? Is he not the son of Jerubbaal, who has appointed Zebul, his servant, as ruler over the men of Hamor, the father of Shechem? Why then should we serve him?
29 Nga ke in nga pa kol mwet inge! Nga lukun lusulla Abimelech! Nga lukun sap elan akola mwet mweun lal ac ilme kut in mweun.”
I wish that someone would set this people under my hand, so that I might take away Abimelech from their midst.” And it was told to Abimelech, “Gather the multitude of an army, and approach.”
30 Ke Zebul, mwet kol lun siti sac, el lohng kas lal Gaal inge, el arulana kasrkusrak kac.
For Zebul, the ruler of the city, upon hearing the words of Gaal, the son of Ebed, became very angry.
31 El supwala mwet utuk kas nu yorol Abimelech nu in Arumah ac fahk, “Gaal, wen natul Ebed, ac tamulel lal elos tuku nu Shechem ac oru eltal in tia lela kom in utyak nu in siti uh.
And he sent messengers secretly to Abimelech, saying: “Behold, Gaal, the son of Ebed, has arrived at Shechem with his brothers, and he has set the city against you.
32 Inge kom ac mwet lom an tuku ke fong ac wikwik in imae soano.
And so, rise up in the night, with the people who are with you, and lie hidden in the field.
33 Ke lututang, ke faht uh tufahna takak, kom tuyak ac lain siti uh. Ac Gaal ac mwet lal fin illa in mweun, kom fah oneltalla nufon!”
And at first light in the morning, as the sun is rising, rush upon the city. And when he goes out against you, with his people, do to him what you are able to do.”
34 Na Abimelech ac mwet lal nukewa elos tuku ac wikwik sisken acn Shechem in fong ah — elos kitakatelik nu ke u akosr.
And so Abimelech rose up, with all his army, by night, and he set ambushes near Shechem in four places.
35 Na ke Abimelech ac mwet lal elos liye ke Gaal el illa tu ke nien utyak nu in siti uh, Abimelech ac mwet lal elos tuyak liki acn elos wikwik we uh.
And Gaal, the son of Ebed, went out, and he stood at the entrance to the gate of the city. Then Abimelech rose up, and all the army with him, from the places of the ambushes.
36 Ke Gaal el liye mwet inge, el fahk nu sel Zebul, “Ngetla liye! Mwet pa tufoki fineol an me!” Zebul el fahk, “Mo, tia mwet. Lullul in eol uh pa kowos liye an.”
And when Gaal had seen the people, he said to Zebul, “Behold, a multitude is descending from the mountains.” And he responded to him, “You are seeing the shadows of the mountains, as if they were the heads of men, and so you are being deceived by this error.”
37 Na Gaal el sifilpa fahk, “Liye, mwet pa tuku fineol an me ingan, ac sie u ah tuku ke innek soko sisken sak oak ma mwet susfa muta we ah!”
Again, Gaal said, “Behold, a people is descending from the middle of the land, and one company is arriving by the way that looks towards the oak.”
38 Na Zebul el fahk nu sel, “Pia kusen tungak lom ah inge? Kom pa tuh fahk mu, ‘Su win Abimelech uh ku kut in orekma nu sel?’ Pa ingan mwet ma kom tuh aksruksruki ah. Fahla mweunelos.”
And Zebul said to him: “Where is your mouth now, with which you said, ‘Who is Abimelech that we should serve him?’ Is this not the people that you were despising? Go out and fight against him.”
39 Na Gaal el us mwet Shechem ac som mweunel Abimelech.
Therefore, Gaal went out, with the people of Shechem watching, and he fought against Abimelech,
40 Abimelech el mutawauk ukwal Gaal, ac el kaing. Pukanten mwet kinet ke inkanek ah, som na nwe sun mutunpot in siti ah.
who pursued him, fleeing, and drove him into the city. And many were cut down on his side, even to the gate of the city.
41 Abimelech el muta in acn Arumah, ac Zebul el lusulla Gaal ac tamulel lal ah liki acn Shechem, tuh elos in tia muta we.
And Abimelech made camp at Arumah. But Zebul expelled Gaal and his companions from the city, and he would not permit them to remain in it.
42 In len tok ah Abimelech el lohngak lah mwet Shechem inge elos pwapa in som nu in ima ah.
Therefore, on the following day, the people departed into the field. And when this had been reported to Abimelech,
43 Na el eis mwet lal ac kitalik nu ke u tolu, na elos wikwik in imae soano mwet ah. Ke Abimelech el liye ke mwet inge ilme liki siti uh, el tuyak liki nien wikwik uh ac onelosla.
he took his army, and divided it into three companies, and he placed ambushes in the fields. And seeing that the people had departed from the city, he rose up and rushed upon them,
44 Ke Abimelech ac u se lal ah yuyak in taran mutunpot in siti uh, u luo ngia elos mweuni mwet su muta in ima ah, ac onelosla nufon.
along with his own company, assaulting and besieging the city. But the two other companies pursued the enemies scattered in the field.
45 Mweun uh orek ke len nufon sac. Abimelech el sruokya siti sac ac onela mwet we. El kunausya siti sac ac afinya fin fohk uh ke sohl.
Now Abimelech assaulted the city all that day. And he seized it, and he killed its inhabitants, and he destroyed it, so much so that he scattered salt in it.
46 Ke mwet kol lun acn Shechem su muta ke tower lun mwet mweun ah elos lohng ke ma inge, elos suk nien wikla ku lalos ke tempul lal Baal-lun-Wuleang.
And when those living in the tower of Shechem had heard about this, they entered the temple of their god, Berith, where they had formed a covenant with him. And it was because of this, that the place had taken its name. And it was greatly fortified.
47 Ke Abimelech el lohng lah mwet inge elos wikwik in acn sac,
Abimelech, also hearing that the men of the tower of Shechem had joined together,
48 na el ac mwet lal elos fanyak nu Fineol Zalmon. El eis tula soko ac pakela lesak se ac filiya finpisal, ac fahk nu sin mwet lal elos in oru oana.
ascended to mount Zalmon, with all his people. And taking an axe, he cut down the branch of a tree. And laying it on his shoulder, and carrying it, he said to his companions, “What you see me do, you must do quickly.”
49 Ouinge mwet nukewa elos pakela kais sie lesak lalos ac fahsr tokol Abimelech. Elos yolsani lesak uh ke acn in wikla ku sac, ac esukak. Mwet uh mutana loac, ac elos nukewa misa — sahp oasr sie tausin mukul ac mutan we.
And so, eagerly cutting down branches from the trees, they followed their leader. And surrounding the fortified place, they set it on fire. And so it happened that, by smoke and fire, one thousand persons died, men and women together, the occupants of the tower of Shechem.
50 Na Abimelech el som nu Thebez, kuhlusya acn we ac sruokya.
Then Abimelech, setting out from there, arrived at the town of Thebez, which he surrounded and besieged with his army.
51 Oasr sie tower na ku in acn se inge, ac mwet nukewa in acn sac, mukul ac mutan ac mwet kol lalos, elos kaing nu we. Elos sifacna lakelosi ac fanyak nu fin mangon tower sac.
Now there was, in the midst of the city, a high tower, to which men and women were fleeing together, with all the leaders of the city. And, having very strongly sealed the gate, they were standing on the roof of the tower to defend themselves.
52 Ke Abimelech el tuku nu ke tower sac tuh elan sruokya, el kalukyang nwe ke srungul uh tuh elan esukak.
And Abimelech, drawing near the tower, fought valiantly. And approaching the gate, he strove to set it on fire.
53 Na sie mutan el sisya eot in ilil na lulap se nu fin sifal twe foklalik ahlunsifal.
And behold, one woman, throwing a fragment of a millstone from above, struck the head of Abimelech, and broke his skull.
54 Na Abimelech el sulaklak pangonma mwet fusr se su us mwe mweun natul ah, ac fahk, “Faisak cutlass nutum an ac uniyuwi, tuh nga tia lungse mwet in fahk mu mutan se pa uniyuwi uh.” Na mukul fusr sac faksilya ke cutlass natul ah, na el misa.
And he quickly called to his armor bearer, and said to him, “Draw your sword and strike me, otherwise it may be said that I was slain by a woman.” And, doing as he was ordered, he killed him.
55 Ke mwet Israel elos liye lah Abimelech el misa, elos folokelik nu acn selos.
And when he was dead, all those of Israel who were with him returned to their homes.
56 Ouinge God El folokin nu sel Abimelech ma koluk se el tuh oru nu sin papa tumal ke el tuh uniya tamulel itngoul wial ah.
And so did God repay the evil that Abimelech had done against his father by killing his seventy brothers.
57 Ac God El oayapa folokin ma koluk lun mwet Shechem nu faclos sifacna, fal nu ke ma Jotham, wen natul Gideon, el fahk ke el selngawelos ah.
The Shechemites also were given retribution for what they had done, and the curse of Jotham, the son of Jerubbaal, fell upon them.
