< Bilombe 9 >

1 Abimeleki, mwana mobali ya Yerubali, akendeki na Sishemi epai ya banoko na ye mpe na ndako mobimba ya tata ya mama na ye. Alobaki:
Gideon’s son Abimelech went to [talk with] his mother’s brothers in Shechem [city]. He said to them and to all his mother’s relatives,
2 « Botuna nanu motuna oyo epai ya bakambi nyonso ya engumba Sishemi: ‹ Eloko nini eleki malamu mpo na bino? Bakamba bino na bana mibali tuku sambo ya Yerubali to na mwana mobali moko? › Boyeba ete ngai mpe bino tozali makila moko mpe nzoto moko. »
“Ask all the leaders of your city: ‘Do you [think it would be] good for all 70 of Gideon’s sons to rule over you? Or would it be better to have only one of his sons, [me], to rule over you?’ And do not forget that I am your relative! [MTY]”
3 Tango banoko na ye balobaki maloba nyonso ya Abimeleki epai ya bakambi nyonso ya Sishemi, mitema na bango nyonso ekendeki epai ya Abimeleki, pamba te balobaki ete azali ndeko na bango ya mobali.
So Abimelech’s mother’s brothers spoke to all the leaders of Shechem about what Abimelech had said. They said to each other, “We should allow Abimelech to rule over us, because he is our relative.”
4 Bapesaki ye mbongo ya bibende ya palata, tuku sambo oyo bazwaki na tempelo ya Bala-Beriti. Na mbongo yango, Abimeleki afutaki bato ya mobulu mpo na kolanda ye.
So the leaders of Shechem took from the temple of [their god] Baal-Berith (almost 2 pounds/0.8 kg.) of silver and gave it to Abimelech. With that silver he paid some worthless troublemakers to help him, and they went with Abimelech wherever he went.
5 Akendeki na Ofira, na ndako ya tata na ye, mpe abomaki bandeko na ye ya mibali tuku sambo, bana ya Yerubali na likolo ya libanga moko ya monene. Kasi Yotami, mwana mobali ya suka ya Yerubali, abikaki mpo ete amibombaki.
They went to Ophrah, his father’s town, and murdered 69 of his 70 brothers, the sons of his father Gideon. They killed all those men on one huge rock. But Gideon’s youngest son Jotham hid [from Abimelech and his men], and he escaped.
6 Bakambi nyonso ya Sishemi mpe ndako nyonso ya Milo basanganaki mpo na kokende kokomisa Abimeleki mokonzi, pembeni ya terebente, na likonzi ya mabanga kati na Sishemi.
Then all the leaders of Shechem and Beth-Millo gathered under the big sacred tree in Shechem. There they appointed Abimelech to be their leader.
7 Tango bayebisaki makambo yango epai ya Yotami, amataki likolo ya ngomba Garizimi mpe agangaki makasi: « Bino bakambi ya Sishemi, boyoka ngai, mpo ete Nzambe ayoka bino.
When Jotham heard about that, he climbed up Gerizim Mountain. He stood at the top of the mountain and shouted to the people [down below], “You leaders of Shechem, listen to me, in order that God will listen to you!
8 Mokolo moko, banzete ebimaki mpo na kokomisa moko kati na yango mokonzi. Elobaki na nzete ya Olive: ‹ Zala mokonzi na biso. ›
One day the trees decided to appoint a king to rule over all of them. So they said to the olive tree, ‘You be our king!’
9 Nzete ya Olive ezongiselaki yango: ‹ Natika penza mafuta na ngai, oyo bapesaka na yango Nzambe mpe bato lokumu, mpo ete nakende koningana-ningana na likolo ya banzete mosusu? ›
“But the olive tree said, ‘No! [I will not be your king] Men and gods enjoy the oil from my fruit. I will not [RHQ] stop producing [olives from which we make] that oil, in order to rule over you other trees!’
10 Banzete elobaki na nzete ya figi: ‹ Yaka mpe zala mokonzi na biso. ›
“Then the trees said to the fig tree, ‘You come and be our king!’
11 Nzete ya figi ezongiselaki yango: ‹ Natika penza elengi na ngai mpe mbuma na ngai ya kitoko mpo ete nakende koningana-ningana na likolo ya banzete mosusu? ›
“But the fig tree replied, ‘No! I do not want to [RHQ] stop producing my good sweet fruit, and rule over you other trees!’
12 Banzete elobaki na nzete ya vino: ‹ Yaka mpe zala mokonzi na biso. ›
“Then the trees said to the grapevine, ‘Come and be our king!’
13 Kasi nzete ya vino ezongiselaki yango: ‹ Natika penza vino na ngai, oyo esepelisaka banzambe mpe bato mpo ete nakende koningana-ningana na likolo ya banzete mosusu? ›
“But the grapevine replied, ‘No! [I will not be your king] The new wine [that is made from my grapes] causes people and gods [who drink it] to become very happy. I do not want to stop producing grapes and rule over you other trees!’ [RHQ]
14 Sima, banzete nyonso elobaki na nzete ya nzube: ‹ Yaka mpe zala mokonzi na biso. ›
“Then all the trees said to the thornbush, ‘Come and be our king!’
15 Nzete ya nzube ezongiselaki yango: ‹ Soki bolingi penza kopakola ngai mafuta mpo ete nazala mokonzi na bino, boya kobombama na se ya pio na ngai. Soki bongo te, tika ete moto ebima na nzete ya nzube mpe ezikisa banzete ya sedele ya Libani! ›
“The thornbush replied, ‘If you truly want to appoint me to be your king, come into the shade of my [tiny branches]. But if you do not want to do that, I hope/desire that fire will come out from me and burn up all the huge cedar trees in Lebanon [country]!’”
16 Soki penza bosaleli na bosembo mpe na bosolo, wana bokomisi Abimeleki mokonzi; soki bozalaki na motema malamu liboso ya Yerubali mpe libota na ye, soki bosalelaki ye kolanda misala malamu oyo ye asalelaki bino,
“[After] Jotham [finished telling them this parable, he] said, “So now [I ask you], were you being completely honest and sincere when you appointed Abimelech to be your king [RHQ]? And have you treated Gideon and his family [RHQ] fairly? Have you rewarded Gideon by honoring him as he deserved [because of all the good things he did for you]? No!
17 bobosana te ete tata na ngai abundelaki bino, andimaki ata kokufa mpo na kokangola bino wuta na loboko ya Madiani.
“[Do not forget that] my father fought a battle for you, and he was willing to die for you [if that had been necessary], to save you from the Midian people-group.
18 Kasi na mokolo ya lelo, botombokeli libota ya tata na ngai, bobomi bana na ye ya mibali tuku sambo, na libanga moko, mpe botie Abimeleki, mwana mobali ya mwasi mowumbu na ye, mokonzi ya bato ya Sishemi, pamba te azali ndeko na bino ya mobali.
But now you have rebelled against my father’s family, and you have killed 69 of his sons on one huge rock. And you have appointed Abimelech—who is the son of my father’s slave girl, [not the son of his wife]—to be the king who will rule you people of Shechem. You have done that only because he is one of your relatives!
19 Soki bosaleli na bosembo mpe bosolo liboso ya Yerubali mpe libota na ye, na mokolo ya lelo, tika ete Abimeleki asepela na bino, mpe bino bosepela na ye!
So, if today you have truly acted fairly and sincerely toward Gideon and his family, I hope/desire that he will cause you to be happy and that you will cause him to be happy.
20 Kasi soki ezali bongo te, tika ete moto ebima wuta na Abimeleki mpe etumba bino bavandi ya Sishemi mpe ya Beti-Milo; mpe tika ete moto ebima wuta na bino bavandi ya Sishemi mpe ya Beti-Milo, mpe etumba Abimeleki! »
But if what you did was not right, I wish/desire that Abimelech will burn up all of you leaders of Shechem and Beth-Millo with fire! And I also hope/desire that the leaders of Shechem and Beth-Millo will cause fire to burn up Abimelech!”
21 Yotami abimaki, akendeki na Beri mpe avandaki kuna, pamba te azalaki kobanga Abimeleki, ndeko na ye ya mobali.
[After] Jotham [finished saying that, he] escaped from them and ran away to Beer [town]. He stayed there because he was afraid that his brother Abimelech [would try to kill him].
22 Sima, Abimeleki akambaki Isalaele mibu misato.
Abimelech [became the leader of all the people of Israel. He] ruled them for three years.
23 Nzambe atindaki molimo mabe kati na Abimeleki mpe bavandi ya Sishemi, mpe bavandi ya Sishemi basalelaki Abimeleki likita.
Then God sent an evil spirit [to cause trouble] between Abimelech and the leaders of Shechem, with the result that the leaders of Shechem rebelled against Abimelech.
24 Nzambe asalaki bongo mpo na kozongisa mabe na mabe na oyo basalaki tango babomaki bana mibali tuku sambo ya Yerubali, mpo ete makila na bango etangama na moto ya ndeko na bango ya mobali, Abimeleki, mpe na mito ya bato ya Sishemi oyo basungaki ye mpo na koboma bandeko na ye ya mibali.
The leaders of Shechem had previously helped Abimelech to kill 69 of Gideon’s sons, who were his brothers. So now God sent the evil spirit to punish all of them.
25 Bavandi ya Sishemi batielaki Abimeleki motambo na likolo ya bangomba: batiaki bato na esika ya kobombama mpo na kobotola biloko epai ya baleki nzela nyonso oyo bazalaki koleka pene na bango. Mpe bamemelaki Abimeleki sango yango.
The leaders of Shechem (set an ambush/sent men to hide) on the hilltops to ambush Abimelech. Those men robbed everyone who passed by. But someone told Abimelech about it, [so he did not go near them].
26 Nzokande Gali, mwana mobali ya Ebedi, akendeki na Sishemi, elongo na bandeko na ye ya mibali; mpe bato ya Sishemi batielaki ye motema.
There was a man named Gaal, the son of Ebed, who moved into Shechem [city], along with his brothers. Soon the leaders of Shechem started to trust him.
27 Na tango ya kobuka bambuma ya vino, bato ya Sishemi bakendeki na bilanga, bakamolaki vino mpe basalaki feti monene kati na tempelo ya nzambe na bango. Wana bazalaki kolia mpe komela, balakelaki Abimeleki mabe.
They went out [of the city] to their vineyards and picked some grapes. They pressed the grapes [to make juice, and then they made wine]. Then they had a feast in the temple of their god, and they ate [a lot of food] and drank [a lot of wine]. Then they cursed Abimelech.
28 Bongo Gali, mwana mobali ya Ebedi, alobaki: « Abimeleki nde nani liboso ya Sishemi mpo ete biso bato ya Sishemi tosalela ye? Boni, azali mwana mobali ya Yerubali te? Zebuli azali molobeli na ye te? Bosalela bato ya Amori, tata ya Sishemi! Kasi mpo na nini tosalela Abimeleki?
Gaal said, “(Why should [we allow] Abimelech to rule over us?/We should not allow Abimelech to rule over us!) [RHQ] He is only one of Gideon’s sons [so he really does not belong to us] [RHQ]! And he appointed Zebul, the governor of our city, to be his deputy! We should (serve/be loyal to) [one of the descendants of] Hamor, [the founder of our city], and let him be our leader, not Abimelech [RHQ]!
29 Oh soki kaka nazalaki kokamba bato oyo, mbele nalingaki kobengana Abimeleki, mpe nalingaki koloba na ye: ‹ Bakisa lisusu makasi ya mampinga na yo, mpe yaka tobunda. › »
If you would appoint me to be your leader, I would get rid of Abimelech. I would say to him, ‘Get your army ready, [and then come to fight us]!’”
30 Tango Zebuli, moyangeli ya engumba, ayokaki makambo oyo Gali, mwana mobali ya Ebedi, alobaki, asilikaki makasi.
When someone told Zebul what Gaal said, he was very angry.
31 Atindaki bantoma na nkuku epai ya Abimeleki mpo na koloba na ye: « Gali, mwana mobali ya Ebedi, mpe bandeko na ye ya mibali bayaki na Sishemi, mpe bazali kotindika bato ya engumba mpo ete batombokela yo.
He secretly sent some messengers to Abimelech. They told him, “Gaal and his brothers have come here to Shechem, and they are causing [the people of] the city to rebel against you.
32 Sik’oyo telema, na butu, yo elongo na bato na yo; bokende kovanda kati na elanga, na esika ya kobombama.
You and your men should get up during the night and go and hide in the fields outside the city.
33 Bongo, na tongo-tongo, wana moyi ezali kobima, okokende mpe okobundisa engumba. Tango Gali elongo na bato na ye nyonso bakobima mpo na kokutana na yo, sala nyonso oyo loboko na yo ekoki kosala. »
As soon as the sun rises in the morning, get up and attack the city. When Gaal and his men come out to fight against you, you can do to them whatever you want to.”
34 Na butu, Abimeleki elongo na mampinga na ye nyonso batelemaki, bakabwanaki na biteni minei mpe bakendeki kovanda kati na esika ya kobombama, pene ya Sishemi.
So Abimelech and all the men who were with him got up during the night. They [divided into] four groups, [and] hid [in the fields] near Shechem.
35 Tango Gali, mwana mobali ya Ebedi, abimaki mpe atelemaki na ekuke ya engumba, Abimeleki elongo na basoda na ye babimaki na esika oyo babombamaki.
[The next morning], Gaal went out and stood at the entrance to the city gate. While he was standing there, Abimelech and his soldiers came out of their hiding places [and started walking toward the city].
36 Tango Gali amonaki bato, alobaki na Zebuli: — Tala, bato bazali kokita wuta na likolo na bangomba. Kasi Zebuli alobaki na ye: — Oyo ozali komona lokola bato, ezali nde bililingi ya bangomba.
When Gaal saw the soldiers, he said to Zebul, “Look! There are people coming down from the hills!” But Zebul said, “You are seeing only the shadows [of trees] on the hills. They [are not people; they] only resemble people.”
37 Kasi Gali alobaki lisusu: — Tala, bato bazali kokita elongo na basoda wuta na likolo ya ngomba ya kati-kati ya engumba, mpe bamosusu bazali koya na nzela ya terebente ya bamoni makambo.
But Gaal [looked] again [and] said, “Look! There are people coming down from the top of the sacred mountain! There is a group of them coming down from where the tree is where people talk with the spirits of dead people!”
38 Zebuli alobaki na Gali: — Sik’oyo, tia lisusu monoko! Mpe loba lisusu: « Abimeleki nde nani mpo ete tosalela ye? » Ezali te bato oyo yo otiolaki? Kende sik’oyo kobunda!
Zebul said to Gaal, “Now (what good is your bragging?/your bragging is worthless!) [MTY, RHQ] You said, ‘(Why should we serve Abimelech/We should not allow Abimelech to rule over us)?’ You made fun of these men. So now go out and fight them!”
39 Boye, Gali amemaki bavandi ya Sishemi mpe abundisaki Abimeleki.
So Gaal led the men of Shechem outside [the city] to fight Abimelech [and his men].
40 Abimeleki alandaki Gali, mpe Gali akimaki liboso ya Abimeleki, mpe bato ebele penza bakufaki kino na ekotelo ya ekuke.
Abimelech and his men pursued them, and they killed many of Gaal’s men before they could return [safely] inside the city gate.
41 Abimeleki avandaki na Aruma, mpe Zebuli abenganaki Gali elongo na bandeko na ye ya mibali mpo ete bavanda lisusu te na Sishemi.
Abimelech then stayed at Arumah, [about five miles away from Shechem], and Zebul’s men forced Gaal and his brothers to leave Shechem.
42 Mokolo oyo elandaki, bato ya Sishemi babimaki mpe bakendeki na bilanga. Bato bamemaki sango epai ya Abimeleki.
The next day, the people of Shechem [got ready to leave the city and work] in their fields. When someone told Abimelech about that,
43 Abimeleki azwaki bato na ye mpe akabolaki bango na biteni misato ya basoda, mpe atiaki bango kati na bilanga, na esika ya kobombama. Tango amonaki bato kobima longwa na engumba, atelemaki mpo na kobundisa bango.
he divided his men into three groups, and told them to hide in the fields. So they did that. And when they saw the people coming out of the city, they jumped up and attacked them.
44 Nzokande, tango Abimeleki mpe masanga ya mampinga oyo bazalaki elongo na ye bakendeki na lombangu mpe batelemaki na ekuke ya engumba, masanga mibale mosusu ya mampinga balandaki bato kino na bilanga mpe babomaki bango nyonso.
Abimelech and the men who were with him ran to the city gate. The other two groups ran out to the people in the fields and attacked them.
45 Abimeleki abundisaki engumba mokolo mobimba, abotolaki engumba yango mpe abomaki bato oyo bazalaki kuna. Bongo abebisaki engumba mpe asopelaki yango mungwa.
Abimelech and his men fought all day. They captured the city and killed all the people. They tore down all the buildings, and then they threw salt over the ruins [in order that nothing would grow there again].
46 Tango bavandi nyonso ya ndako molayi ya Sishemi bayokaki makambo yango, bakendeki kobombama kati na libulu ya mabanga ya tempelo ya Beriti, nzambe na bango.
When the leaders who lived in the tower/fortress outside of Shechem heard what had happened, they ran and hid inside the [fortress, which was also a] temple of [their god] El-Berith.
47 Bamemelaki Abimeleki sango ete bavandi ya ndako molayi ya Sishemi basangani wana.
But someone told Abimelech that all the leaders had gathered there.
48 Abimeleki elongo na bato na ye nyonso bamataki na ngomba Tsalimoni. Abimeleki azwaki epasola mpe akataki mwa bitape ya nzete, amemaki yango na mapeka na ye mpe alobaki na bato nyonso oyo bazalaki elongo na ye: « Oyo bomoni ngai kosala, bino mpe bosala bongo na lombangu. »
So he and all the men who were with him went up Zalmon Mountain [which is near Shechem]. Abimelech cut some branches of trees with an axe, and put them on his shoulders. Then he said to all the men who were with him, “Quickly, do what I have just done!”
49 Boye bato nyonso bakataki, moto na moto etape na ye ya nzete. Balandaki Abimeleki, batiaki bitape ya nzete na libulu ya mabanga mpe batumbaki libulu yango ya mabanga elongo na bato nyonso oyo bazalaki kati na yango. Boye bato nyonso ya ndako molayi ya Sishemi bakufaki: bato pene nkoto moko, mibali mpe basi.
So his men all cut branches [then carried them down the mountain], following Abimelech. They went to the fortress and piled the branches against its walls. Then they kindled a fire, and the fire burned down the fortress and killed all the people who were inside. So all the people who were inside the fortress—about 1,000 men and women—died.
50 Sima na yango, Abimeleki akendeki na Tebesi, azingelaki mpe abotolaki yango.
Then Abimelech and his men went to Thebes [city]. They surrounded it and captured it.
51 Nzokande, ezalaki na ndako moko ya molayi mpe ya makasi kati na engumba. Bavandi nyonso, mibali mpe basi, bakimelaki kuna; bakangaki ekuke sima na bango mpe bamataki na likolo ya ndako yango.
But there was a strong tower inside the city. So all the men, women, and leaders of the city ran to the tower. When they were all inside, they locked the door. Then they climbed up to the roof of the tower.
52 Abimeleki ayaki kino na ndako molayi mpo na kobundisa yango, mpe apusanaki kino na ekuke ya ndako yango mpo na kotumba yango.
Abimelech and his men came to the tower and tried to get in the door, [but they could not]. Then Abimelech prepared to light a fire to burn down the door.
53 Na tango yango, mwasi moko abwakaki libanga oyo banikelaka ble na moto ya Abimeleki mpe epanzaki ye moto.
But when Abimelech came near the doorway, a woman [who was on the roof] dropped a big grinding stone on his head, and crushed his skull.
54 Abimeleki abengaki na lombangu elenge mobali oyo azalaki komema bibundeli na ye mpe alobaki na ye: « Bimisa mopanga na yo mpe boma ngai mpo baloba te na tina na ngai: ‹ Mwasi moko abomaki ye. › » Boye, elenge mobali atobolaki ye mopanga mpe akufaki.
Abimelech quickly called to the young man who carried Abimelech’s weapons, and said, “Pull out your sword and kill me with it! I do not want people to say ‘It was a woman who killed Abimelech.’” So the young man thrust his sword into Abimelech, and Abimelech died.
55 Tango bana ya Isalaele bamonaki ete Abimeleki akufi, bazongaki moto na moto epai na ye.
When the Israeli soldiers saw that Abimelech was dead, they all returned to their homes.
56 Boye, Nzambe azongiselaki Abimeleki mabe oyo asalaki tata na ye tango abomaki bandeko na ye ya mibali tuku sambo.
In that way God punished Abimelech for the evil things that he had done to his father and especially for killing all 69 of his brothers.
57 Nzambe azongiselaki bato ya Sishemi mabe nyonso oyo basalaki. Ezali ndenge wana nde elakeli mabe oyo Yotami, mwana mobali ya Yerubali, asakolaki ekokisamaki.
God also punished the men of Shechem for the evil things that they had done. And when those things happened, it fulfilled what Gideon’s son Jotham said when he cursed [Abimelech and the leaders of Shechem].

< Bilombe 9 >