Balam 10
1 Awo oluvannyuma lwa Abimereki, ne wabaawo Toola mutabani wa Puwa, era muzzukulu wa Dodo, omusajja wa Isakaali eyajja okulokola Isirayiri, eyabeeranga mu Samiri mu nsi ya Efulayimu ey’ensozi.
After Abimelech died, Tola the son of Puah and grandson of Dodo became the leader to rescue the Israeli people [from their enemies]. He belonged to the tribe of Issachar, but he lived in Shamir [city] in the hilly area where the descendants of Ephraim live.
2 N’akulembera Isirayiri okumala emyaka amakumi abiri mu esatu, n’aziikibwa mu Samiri.
He ruled the Israeli people for 23 years. Then he died and was buried in Shamir.
3 Oluvannyuma lw’oyo ne wabaawo Yayiri Omugireyaadi, eyakulembera Isirayiri okumala emyaka amakumi abiri mu ebiri.
After Tola died, Jair, from [the] Gilead [region], became the Israelis’ leader, and he ruled them for 22 years.
4 Yalina abaana aboobulenzi amakumi asatu abeebagalanga endogoyi amakumi asatu, era baafuganga ebibuga amakumi asatu, mu nsi ya Gireyaadi ebiyitibwa Kavosu Yayiri n’okutuusa leero.
He had thirty sons, and each of them had his own donkey to ride on. They each controlled a different town in [the] Gilead [region]. That region is still named ‘The Towns of Jair’.
5 Yayiri n’afa n’aziikibwa mu Kamoni.
When Jair died, he was buried in Kamon [city].
6 Abayisirayiri ne beeyongera okukola ebibi mu maaso ga Mukama, nga baweereza Babaali ne Asutoleesi ne bakatonda ab’e Busuuli, ne bakatonda ab’e Sidoni, ne bakatonda ab’e Mowaabu, ne bakatonda ab’abaana ba Amoni, ne bakatonda b’Abafirisuuti, ne bava ku Mukama ne batamuweereza.
Again the Israelis did things that Yahweh said were wrong/evil. They worshiped [the idols of their god] Baal and [their goddess] Astarte. They also worshiped the gods of the Aram, Sidon, Moab, and Ammon people-groups, and the gods of the Philistia people-group. They abandoned Yahweh and stopped worshiping him.
7 Mukama n’anyiigira Isirayiri, n’abagabula mu mukono gw’Abafirisuuti ne mu mukono gw’abaana ba Amoni,
So Yahweh was very angry with them, and he allowed the Philistia and Ammon people-groups to defeat [IDM] the Israelis.
8 abaanyigiriza abaana ba Isirayiri, era ne babajooga okumala emyaka kkumi na munaana. Baanyigiriza abaana ba Isirayiri bonna abaali emitala wa Yoludaani ku luuyi olw’ebuvanjuba mu nsi y’Abamoli eri mu Gireyaadi.
In that same year, those people started to oppress the Israelis who lived in [the] Gilead [region] on the east side of the Jordan [River]. That was where the Amor people-group also lived. were They caused the Israelis who lived in that region to suffer for 18 years.
9 Abaana ba Amoni nabo ne basomoka Yoludaani okulwanyisa Yuda ne Benyamini, n’ennyumba ya Efulayimu. Isirayiri ne yeeraliikirira nnyo.
Then the people of the Ammon people-group crossed the Jordan [River] to fight against the people of the tribes of Judah, Benjamin, and Ephraim. They caused the Israelis’ lives to be very miserable.
10 Awo abaana ba Isirayiri ne bakaabira Mukama nga bagamba nti, “Ddala ddala twasobya, ne tuva ku Katonda waffe, ne tuweereza Babaali.”
So the Israelis cried out to Yahweh, saying “We have sinned against you. We have abandoned you, and we have been worshiping [the idols of their god] Baal.”
11 Mukama Katonda n’addamu abaana ba Isirayiri nti, “Abamisiri n’Abamoli, n’abaana ba Amoni, n’Abafirisuuti,
Yahweh answered them, saying, “When the people of Egypt, and the Amor and Ammon and Philistia people-groups
12 n’Abasidoni, n’Abamaleki, n’Abamawoni, bwe baabanyigiriza ne munkowoola, sabalokola okuva mu mukono gwabwe?
and the Sidon and Amalek and Maon people-groups were cruel to you, you cried out to me, and then I rescued you.
13 Naye mwanvaako ne muweereza bakatonda abalala, noolwekyo sigenda kubalokola nate.
But now you have abandoned me again, and you have been worshiping other gods. So I will not rescue you again.
14 Mugende mukaabire bakatonda abo be mwasalawo okuweereza, babalokole mu nnaku yammwe.”
You have chosen those gods [to be the ones that you worship]. So call to them to help you. Allow them to rescue you when you have a lot of trouble!”
15 Naye abaana ba Isirayiri ne bagamba Mukama Katonda nti, “Twayonoona. Tukole kyonna ky’onoolaba nga kye kitusaanira. Kyokka tulokole kaakano.
But the Israeli people said to Yahweh, “Truly we have sinned. Punish us in whatever way you wish to, but please rescue us now!”
16 Ne baggya wakati mu bo bakatonda abalala, ne baweereza Mukama Katonda. Mukama n’alumwa olw’ennaku ya Isirayiri.”
Then the Israelis threw away the [idols of the] gods that belonged to other people-groups, and they worshiped Yahweh again. He saw that they were suffering very much, and he felt sorry [IDM] for them.
17 Awo abaana ba Amoni ne basiisira mu Gireyaadi, n’abaana ba Isirayiri nabo ne basiisira mu Mizupa.
The Ammon people-group gathered to fight [against the Israelis], and they set up their tents in [the] Gilead [region]. The Israeli men also gathered and set up their tents at Mizpah, [which was a city in Gilead].
18 Abakulembeze b’abantu mu Gireyaadi ne bagambagana nti, “Omusajja anaasooka okulumba abaana ba Amoni, ye anaabeera omukulembeze w’abatuuze b’omu Gireyaadi.”
The Israeli leaders said, “Who will lead our soldiers to attack the Ammon people-group? The one who will lead us will become the leader of all us who live in this Gilead [region].”
