< Bilombe 6 >

1 Bana ya Isalaele basalaki lisusu mabe liboso ya Yawe, mpe Yawe akabaki bango mibu sambo na maboko ya bato ya Madiani.
The people of Israel did what was evil in the sight of Yahweh, and he gave them into the hand of Midian for seven years.
2 Lokola loboko ya bato ya Madiani ezalaki na nguya makasi likolo ya Isalaele, bana ya Isalaele babongisaki mabulu ya kokimela mpe bibombelo kati na mabanga, kuna na likolo ya bangomba.
The power of Midian oppressed Israel. Because of Midian, the people of Israel made shelters for themselves from the dens in the hills, the caves, and the strongholds.
3 Tango nyonso oyo bana ya Isalaele bazalaki kolona bilanga na bango, bato ya Madiani, bato ya Amaleki mpe bato ya bikolo mosusu ya ngambo ya este, bazalaki koya kobundisa Isalaele.
It happened that any time the Israelites planted their crops, the Midianites and the Amalekites and the people from the east would attack the Israelites.
4 Bazalaki kotonga milako na bango pene ya bana ya Isalaele, mpe bazalaki kobebisa bilanga na bango, kino pene ya Gaza. Bazalaki kotikela bana ya Isalaele ata eloko moko te ya kolia, ata meme to ntaba te, ata ngombe te, ata mpe ane te.
They would set up their army on the land and destroy the crops, all the way to Gaza. They would leave no food in Israel, and no sheep, nor cattle or donkeys.
5 Bazalaki komata ebele lokola mabanki elongo na bibwele na bango mpe bandako na bango ya kapo. Ezalaki pasi mpo na kotanga motango ya bato mpe ya bashamo na bango; bazalaki kokota na mokili ya Isalaele mpo na kobebisa yango nyonso.
Whenever they and their livestock and tents came up, they would come as a swarm of locusts, and it was impossible to count either the people or their camels. They invaded the land in order to destroy it.
6 Bato ya Madiani bakomisaki bana ya Isalaele babola makasi. Boye, bana ya Isalaele bagangaki epai na Yawe mpo ete asunga bango.
Midian weakened the Israelites so severely that the people of Israel called out to Yahweh.
7 Tango bana ya Isalaele babelelaki Yawe mpo ete akangola bango wuta na maboko ya bato ya Madiani,
When the people of Israel called out to Yahweh because of Midian,
8 Yawe atindelaki bango mosakoli oyo alobaki na bango: « Tala makambo oyo Yawe, Nzambe ya Isalaele, alobi: ‹ Ngai nde nabimisaki bino na Ejipito, ndako ya bowumbu.
Yahweh sent a prophet to the people of Israel. The prophet said to them, “This is what Yahweh, the God of Israel, says: 'I brought you up from Egypt; I brought you out of the house of slavery.
9 Nakangolaki bino wuta na maboko ya bato ya Ejipito mpe na maboko ya bato nyonso oyo banyokolaki bino; nabenganaki bango liboso na bino mpe napesaki bino mokili na bango.
I rescued you from the hand of the Egyptians, and from the hand of all who were oppressing you. I drove them out before you, and I gave you their land.
10 Nalobaki na bino: Nazali Yawe, Nzambe na bino; bogumbamela nzambe ya bato ya Amori te, kati na mokili oyo bozali kovanda. Kasi boyokelaki Ngai te. › »
I said to you, “I am Yahweh your God; I commanded you not to worship the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living.” But you have not obeyed my voice.'”
11 Anjelu ya Yawe ayaki mpe avandaki na se ya terebente oyo ezalaki na Ofira, kati na mabele ya Joasi, moto ya libota ya Abiezeri. Jedeon, mwana mobali ya Joasi, azalaki kosangisa bambuma ya ble esika moko, na esika oyo basalaka masanga ya vino, mpo na kobomba yango liboso ya bato ya Madiani.
Now the angel of Yahweh came and sat under the oak in Ophrah, which belonged to Joash (the Abiezrite), while Gideon, Joash's son, was separating out the wheat by beating it on the floor, in the winepress—to hide it from the Midianites.
12 Anjelu ya Yawe abimelaki Jedeon mpe alobaki na ye: — Yawe azali elongo na yo, elombe ya bitumba.
The angel of Yahweh appeared to him and said to him, “Yahweh is with you, you strong warrior!”
13 Jedeon azongisaki: — Ah nkolo, soki Yawe azali elongo na biso, mpo na nini makambo nyonso oyo ezali kokomela biso? Wapi makambo nyonso ya kokamwa oyo bakoko na biso bazalaki koyebisa biso tango bazalaki koloba ete Yawe abimisaki biso na Ejipito? Sik’oyo, Yawe atiki biso mpe asundoli biso na maboko ya bato ya Madiani.
Gideon said to him, “Oh, my master, if Yahweh is with us, why then has all this happened to us? Where are all his wonderful deeds that our fathers told us about, when they said, 'Did not Yahweh bring us up from Egypt?' But now Yahweh has abandoned us and gave us into the hand of Midian.”
14 Yawe abalukaki epai na ye mpe alobaki: — Kende, salela makasi oyo ozali na yango mpe bikisa bana ya Isalaele na maboko ya bato ya Madiani. Boni, ezali Ngai te nde natindi yo?
Yahweh looked at him and said, “Go in the strength you already have. Deliver Israel from the hand of Midian. Have I not sent you?”
15 Jedeon azongisaki: — Ah nkolo na ngai, ndenge nini ngai nakoki kobikisa bana ya Isalaele? Kati na Manase, libota na ngai nde ezangi makasi koleka, mpe ngai nazali mwana ya suka kati na ndako ya tata na ngai.
Gideon said to him, “Please, Lord, how can I deliver Israel? See, my family is the weakest in Manasseh, and I am the least important in my father's house.”
16 Yawe alobaki na ye: — Nakozala elongo na yo, mpe okoboma bato ya Madiani lokola moto moko.
Yahweh said to him, “I will be with you, and you will defeat the entire Midianite army as one man.”
17 Jedeon alobaki: — Solo, soki nazwi ngolu na miso na Yo, pesa ngai elembo oyo ekolakisa solo ete Yo Yawe nde ozali kosolola na ngai.
Gideon said to him, “If you are pleased with me, then give me a sign that it is you who is speaking to me.
18 Nabondeli Yo, kolongwa na esika oyo te kino nakozonga awa na likabo na ngai mpo ete nabonza yango liboso na Yo. Yawe alobaki: — Nakozela kino okozonga.
Please, do not leave here, until I come to you and bring out my gift and set it before you.” Yahweh said, “I will wait until you return.”
19 Jedeon azongaki epai na ye, abongisaki mwana ntaba, azwaki kilo tuku misato ya farine, asalaki na yango mapa oyo ezanga levire, atiaki mapa yango na kitunga, mpe atiaki elubu na nzungu. Amemaki yango mpe apesaki nyonso epai na Anjelu na Nzambe, oyo azalaki na se ya terebente.
Gideon went and prepared a young goat and from an ephah of flour he made unleavened bread. He put the meat in a basket, and he put the broth in a pot and brought them to him under the oak tree, and presented them.
20 Anjelu na Nzambe alobaki na ye: — Kamata nyama mpe mapa oyo ezanga levire, tia yango na likolo ya libanga oyo mpe sopela yango elubu. Jedeon asalaki yango.
The angel of God said to him, “Take the meat and the unleavened bread and put them on this rock, and pour out the broth over them.” That is what Gideon did.
21 Bongo Anjelu ya Yawe asembolaki nzete oyo asimbaki na loboko na Ye, mpe songe na yango etutaki nyama mpe mapa oyo ezanga levire. Moto ebimaki wuta na libanga mpe ezikisaki nyama mpe mapa. Anjelu ya Yawe alimwaki na miso na ye.
Then the angel of Yahweh reached out with the end of the staff in his hand. With it he touched the flesh and the unleavened bread; a fire went up out of the rock and consumed the meat and the unleavened bread. Then the angel of Yahweh went away and Gideon could no longer see him.
22 Tango Jedeon asosolaki ete Ye oyo azalaki elongo na ye azali Anjelu ya Yawe, agangaki: « Nkolo Yawe, mawa na ngai! Pamba te namoni Anjelu ya Yawe, miso na miso. »
Gideon understood that this was the angel of Yahweh. Gideon said, “Ah, Lord Yahweh! For I have seen the angel of Yahweh face to face!”
23 Kasi Yawe alobaki na ye: — Zala na kimia! Kobanga te.
Yahweh said to him, “Peace to you! Do not be afraid, you will not die.”
24 Bongo Jedeon atongaki etumbelo mpo na Yawe mpe abengaki yango « Yawe apesaka kimia. » Etumbelo yango ezali kino na mokolo ya lelo kati na Ofira, mboka ya libota ya Abiezeri.
So Gideon built an altar there to Yahweh. He called it, “Yahweh is Peace.” To this day it still stands at Ophrah of the clan of Abiezer.
25 Na butu wana, Yawe alobaki na Jedeon: — Kamata ngombe ya mobali ya mibu sambo, na etonga ya bibwele ya tata na yo. Buka etumbelo ya nzambe Bala, oyo ezali ya tata na yo, mpe kata ekeko ya Ashera, oyo ezali pembeni na yango.
That night Yahweh said to him, “Take your father's bull, and a second bull that is seven years old, and pull apart the altar of Baal that belongs to your father, and cut down the Asherah that is beside it.
26 Tonga etumbelo ya malamu mpo na Yawe, Nzambe na yo, na songe ya ngomba oyo. Na sima, kamata ngombe ya mobali mpe bonza yango nyonso lokola mbeka ya kotumba, na moto ya koni ya ekeko ya Ashera, oyo okataki.
Build an altar to Yahweh your God on the top of this place of refuge, and construct it the correct way. Offer the second bull as a burnt offering, using the wood from the Asherah that you cut down.”
27 Jedeon akamataki basali na ye zomi mpe asalaki ndenge Yawe alobaki na ye. Lokola azalaki kobanga libota na ye mpe bato ya engumba na ye, asalaki yango na butu, kasi na moyi te.
So Gideon took ten of his servants and did as Yahweh had told him. But because he was too afraid of his father's household and the men of the town to do it during the day, he did it at night.
28 Na tongo-tongo, tango bato ya engumba balamukaki, bamonaki ete etumbelo ya nzambe Bala epanzani, ekeko ya Ashera oyo ezalaki pembeni na yango ekatami; mpe bamonaki lisusu ete babonzi ngombe ya mobali na likolo ya etumbelo oyo batongi sika.
In the morning when the men of the town got up, the altar of Baal was broken down, and the Asherah that was beside it was cut down, and the second bull had been offered on the altar that had been built.
29 Balobanaki: « Nani asali makambo ya boye? » Wana bazalaki kotuna mpo na koluka koyeba, bayebisaki bango ete ezali Jedeon, mwana mobali ya Joasi, moto asalaki bongo.
The men of the city said to one another, “Who has done this?” When they talked with others and searched for answers, they said, “Gideon son of Joash has done this thing.”
30 Bato ya engumba balobaki na Joasi: — Bimisa mwana na yo ya mobali. Asengeli kokufa. Pamba te ye moto apanzi etumbelo ya nzambe Bala mpe akati ekeko ya Ashera oyo ezalaki pembeni na yango.
Then the men of the town said to Joash, “Bring out your son so that he may be put to death, because he pulled apart the altar of Baal, and because he cut down the Asherah beside it.”
31 Kasi Joasi azongiselaki bango nyonso oyo batelemelaki ye: — Boni, bino nde bokolobela Bala? Bino nde bokobundela ye? Moto nyonso oyo akobundela ye akokufa liboso ete tongo etana. Soki ye Bala azali nzambe, tika ete amibundela ye moko mpo ete babuki etumbelo na ye.
Joash said to all who opposed him, “Will you plead the case for Baal? Will you save him? Whoever pleads the case for him, let him be put to death while it is still morning. If Baal is a god, let him defend himself when someone pulls his altar apart.”
32 Kobanda mokolo wana, mpo ete Jedeon apanzaki etumbelo ya Bala, bakomaki kobenga ye « Yerubali » oyo elingi koloba: Tika ete Bala amibundela ye moko.
Therefore on that day they called Gideon “Jerub Baal,” because he said, “Let Baal defend himself against him,” because Gideon broke down Baal's altar.
33 Na tango wana, bato ya Madiani, ya Amaleki mpe bato ya ngambo ya este basanganaki elongo, bakatisaki ngambo ya Yordani mpe batongaki molako na bango na lubwaku ya Jizireyeli.
Now all the Midianites, the Amalekites, and the people of the east gathered together. They crossed over the Jordan and camped in the Valley of Jezreel.
34 Kasi Molimo na Yawe alataki Jedeon, mpe abetaki kelelo mpo na kobengisa bato ya libota ya Abiezeri na tina ete balanda ye.
But the Spirit of Yahweh came over Gideon. Gideon blew a trumpet, calling out the clan of Abiezer, so they might follow him.
35 Jedeon atindaki bantoma na etuka nyonso ya Manase; mpe bato ya Manase basanganaki mpo na kozala sima na ye. Atindaki lisusu bantoma na libota ya Aseri, ya Zabuloni mpe ya Nefitali mpo ete bamata mpe bakutana na ye.
He sent messengers all throughout Manasseh, and they too, were called out to follow him. He also sent messengers to Asher, Zebulun, and Naphtali, and they went up to meet him.
36 Jedeon alobaki na Nzambe: « Soki okobikisa Isalaele na nzela ya maboko na ngai lokola olakaki ngai,
Gideon said to God, “If you intend to use me to save Israel, as you have said—
37 nakotanda bapwale ya meme na esika oyo batutaka bambuma ya ble. Soki mamwe emonani kaka na likolo ya bapwale kasi mabele etikali ya kokawuka, wana nakoyeba ete okobikisa Isalaele na nzela ya loboko na ngai ndenge olobaki. »
Look, I am putting a woolen fleece on the threshing floor. If there is dew only on the fleece, and it is dry on all the ground, then I will know that you will use me to save Israel, as you said.”
38 Mpe esalemaki bongo. Mokolo oyo elandaki, Jedeon alamukaki na tongo-tongo, akamolaki bapwale, ebimisaki mayi mpe etondisaki sani mobimba.
This is what happened—Gideon rose early the next morning, he pressed the fleece together, and wrung out the dew from the fleece, enough to fill a bowl with water.
39 Boye, Jedeon ayebisaki Nzambe: « Kosilikela ngai te, pesa ngai nzela ete nasenga lisusu elembo moko. Ya mbala oyo, sala ete bapwale ezala ya kokawuka, kasi mabele epola na mamwe. »
Then Gideon said to God, “Do not be angry with me, I will speak one more time. Please allow me one more test using the fleece. This time make the fleece dry, and let there be dew on all the ground around it.”
40 Nzambe asalelaki ye bongo, na butu yango: bapwale etikalaki ya kokawuka, kasi mabele ya pembeni epolaki na mamwe.
God did what he asked for that night. The fleece was dry, and there was dew on all the ground around it.

< Bilombe 6 >