< Balam 6 >

1 Abayisirayiri ne bakola ebibi mu maaso ga Mukama Katonda. N’abawaayo mu mikono gy’Abamidiyaani okumala emyaka musanvu.
And the children of Israel did evil in the sight of Yhwh: And Yhwh delivered them into the hand of Midian seven years.
2 Abayisirayiri ne batulugunyizibwa nnyo Abamidiyaani. Kyebaava beesimira empuku ne beetoolooza ebibuga byabwe agasenge.
And the hand of Midian prevailed against Israel: and because of the Midianites the children of Israel made them the dens which are in the mountains, and caves, and strong holds.
3 Buli Abayisirayiri lwe baasiganga ensigo, Abamidiyaani, Abamaleki n’abantu ab’ebuvanjuba ne babalumbanga.
And so it was, when Israel had sown, that the Midianites came up, and the Amalekites, and the children of the east, even they came up against them;
4 Ne basiisira mu nsi eyo, ne bazikiriza ebirime byonna okutuusiza ddala e Gaaza. Ne bawemmenta endiga, ente, endogoyi era tebaalekera Bayisirayiri kantu konna.
And they encamped against them, and destroyed the increase of the earth, till thou come unto Gaza, and left no sustenance for Israel, neither sheep, nor ox, nor donkey.
5 Kubanga baayiikanga ng’enzige mu bungi nga tebabalika. Nga bajja n’eweema, ente, n’eŋŋamira zaabwe. Bwe batyo ne bazikiriza ensi.
For they came up with their cattle and their tents, and they came as grasshoppers for multitude; for both they and their camels were without number: and they entered into the land to destroy it.
6 Abayisirayiri baajeezebwa nnyo Abamidiyaani, Abayisirayiri kyebaava balaajaanira Mukama Katonda.
And Israel was greatly impoverished because of the Midianites; and the children of Israel cried unto Yhwh.
7 Awo Abayisirayiri bwe baalaajanira Mukama olw’Abamidiyaani,
And it came to pass, when the children of Israel cried unto Yhwh because of the Midianites,
8 Mukama, n’atumira Abayisirayiri Nnabbi, n’abagamba nti, “Mukama Katonda w’Abayisirayiri agamba bw’ati: nabakulembera okuva mu Misiri, ne mbaggya mu nnyumba ey’obuddu,
That Yhwh sent a prophet unto the children of Israel, which said unto them, Thus saith Yhwh God of Israel, I brought you up from Egypt, and brought you forth out of the house of bondage;
9 ne mbanunula okuva mu mikono gy’Abamisiri, ne mu mikono gy’abo bonna abababonnyabonnyanga ne mbafuumuula ku lwammwe era ne mbawa mmwe ensi yaabwe;
And I delivered you out of the hand of the Egyptians, and out of the hand of all that oppressed you, and drave them out from before you, and gave you their land;
10 ne mbagamba nti, ‘Nze Mukama Katonda wammwe, temussanga kitiibwa mu bakatonda b’Abamoli, bannannyini nsi gye mubeeramu.’ Naye mmwe temugondedde ddoboozi lyange.”
And I said unto you, I am Yhwh your God; fear not the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but ye have not obeyed my voice.
11 Malayika wa Mukama Katonda n’ajja mu Ofula, n’atuula wansi w’omuti omwera ogwali ogwa Yowaasi ow’omu ssiga lya Abiezeri: ne mutabani we Gidyoni yali akubira eŋŋaano mu ssogolero alyoke agikweke Abamidiyaani.
And there came an angel of Yhwh, and sat under an oak which was in Ophrah, that pertained unto Joash the Abi–ezrite: and his son Gideon threshed wheat by the winepress, to hide it from the Midianites.
12 Malayika wa Mukama Katonda n’amulabikira, n’amugamba nti, “Ggwe omusajja omulwanyi namige. Mukama ali wamu naawe.”
And the angel of Yhwh appeared unto him, and said unto him, Yhwh is with thee, thou mighty man of valour.
13 Gidyoni n’abuuza nti, “Ayi Mukama wange, obanga Mukama ali wamu naffe, kale lwaki bino byonna bitutuuseeko? Eby’amagero eby’ekitalo bajjajjaffe bye baatubuulirako nti, ‘Mukama yatuggya mu Misiri, byo biruwa?’ Naye Kaakano Mukama Katonda atwabulidde era atuwaddeyo mu mikono gy’Abamidiyaani.”
And Gideon said unto him, Oh my Lord, if Yhwh be with us, why then is all this befallen us? and where be all his miracles which our fathers told us of, saying, Did not Yhwh bring us up from Egypt? but now Yhwh hath forsaken us, and delivered us into the hands of the Midianites.
14 Mukama Katonda n’amukyukira n’agamba nti, “Ggenda n’amaanyigo g’olina, onunule Abayisirayiri mu mikono gy’Abamidiyaani: si nze nkutumye?”
And Yhwh looked upon him, and said, Go in this thy might, and thou shalt save Israel from the hand of the Midianites: have not I sent thee?
15 N’amuddamu nti, “Ayi Mukama wange, nnyinza ntya okununula Abayisirayiri? Kubanga essiga mwe nva lye lisinga okunyoomebwa mu kika kya Manase ate nze nsembayo obuto mu maka ga kitaffe.”
And he said unto him, Oh my Lord, wherewith shall I save Israel? behold, my family is poor in Manasseh, and I am the least in my father’s house.
16 Mukama n’amugamba nti, “Ndibeera wamu naawe, era olifufuggaza Abamidiyaani ng’olinga akuba omuntu omu.”
And Yhwh said unto him, Surely I will be with thee, and thou shalt smite the Midianites as one man.
17 Gidyoni n’amuddamu nti, “Obanga nsiimiddwa mu maaso go mpa obukakafu nga ddala ggwe wuuyo ayogera nange.
And he said unto him, If now I have found grace in thy sight, then shew me a sign that thou talkest with me.
18 Nkwegayiridde, tova wano, ka ŋŋende nkuleetere ekirabo kyange nkiteeke mu maaso go.” Mukama n’agamba nti, “Kale kambeere wano okutuusa lw’onookomawo.”
Depart not hence, I pray thee, until I come unto thee, and bring forth my present, and set it before thee. And he said, I will tarry until thou come again.
19 Gidyoni n’ayingira mu nju ye, n’atta omwana gw’embuzi n’ateekateeka n’emigaati egitazimbulukuswa ng’akozesa kilo abiri ez’obuwunga bw’eŋŋaano. Ennyama n’agiteeka mu kibbo; ne guleevi waayo ne bamussa mu kibya, n’abimuleetera wansi w’omwera n’abimuwa.
And Gideon went in, and made ready a kid, and unleavened cakes of an ephah of flour: the flesh he put in a basket, and he put the broth in a pot, and brought it out unto him under the oak, and presented it.
20 Naye malayika wa Katonda n’amulagira nti, “Ddira ennyama n’emigaati egitazimbulukuswa obiteeke ku jjinja lino obifukeko guleevi.” Gidyoni n’akola bw’atyo.
And the angel of God said unto him, Take the flesh and the unleavened cakes, and lay them upon this rock, and pour out the broth. And he did so.
21 Awo malayika wa Mukama Katonda n’akoma ku nnyama ne ku migaati egitazimbulukuswa nga yeeyambisa omuggo gwe yalina. Omuliro ne guva mu jjinja ne gububuuka ne gwokya ennyama n’emigaati egitazimbulukuswa byonna ne bisaanawo. Amangwago malayika wa Mukama n’abulawo.
Then the angel of Yhwh put forth the end of the staff that was in his hand, and touched the flesh and the unleavened cakes; and there rose up fire out of the rock, and consumed the flesh and the unleavened cakes. Then the angel of Yhwh departed out of his sight.
22 Gidyoni n’ategeera ng’oyo abadde malayika wa Mukama; Gidyoni n’agamba nti, “Zinsanze, Ayi Mukama Katonda, kubanga tulabaganye ne malayika wa Mukama maaso ku maaso.”
And when Gideon perceived that he was an angel of Yhwh, Gideon said, Alas, O Lord Yhwh! for because I have seen an angel of Yhwh face to face.
23 Naye Mukama Katonda n’amugamba nti, “Emirembe gibe ku ggwe tootya tojja kufa.”
And Yhwh said unto him, Peace be unto thee; fear not: thou shalt not die.
24 Gidyoni n’azimbira Mukama Katonda ekyoto mu kifo ekyo; n’akituuma erinnya Yakuwasalumu (Mukama gy’emirembe); n’okutuusa kaakano kikyaliyo mu Ofula eky’ab’omu ssiga lya Abiezeri.
Then Gideon built an altar there unto Yhwh, and called it Jehovah–shalom, Yhwh Is Peace: unto this day it is yet in Ophrah of the Abi–ezrites.
25 Ekiro ekyo Mukama Katonda n’agamba Gidyoni nti, “Mmennya ekyoto kwe basinziza Baali, ofuneyo ente eya sseddume ensava eddirira esinga obulungi okuva mu kiraalo kya kitaawo; otemeeteme ekifaananyi ekibajje ekya Asera ekiriraanye ekyoto kya Baali:
And it came to pass the same night, that Yhwh said unto him, Take thy father’s young bullock, even the second bullock of seven years old, and throw down the altar of Baal that thy father hath, and cut down the grove that is by it:
26 mu kifo ekyo kungulu ozimbireko Mukama Katonda wo ekyoto mu nzimba entuufu eyalagirwa, oddire ente eyo eya sseddume gy’oggye mu kiraalo kya kitaawo ogiweeyo ng’ekiweebwayo ekyokebwa ng’ogyokya n’ebibajjo by’ekifaanannyi kya Asera.”
And build an altar unto Yhwh thy God upon the top of this rock, in the ordered place, and take the second bullock, and offer a burnt sacrifice with the wood of the grove which thou shalt cut down.
27 Awo Gidyoni n’atwala kkumi ku baddu be, n’akola nga Mukama bwe yamulagira, naye kino yakikola kiro olw’okutya ab’omu nju ya kitaawe n’abantu abalala ab’omu kibuga.
Then Gideon took ten men of his servants, and did as Yhwh had said unto him: and so it was, because he feared his father’s household, and the men of the city, that he could not do it by day, that he did it by night.
28 Abantu b’omu kibuga baagenda okugolokoka ku nkya mu makya, nga ekyoto kwe baasinzizanga Baali kimenyeddwamenyeddwa, n’ekifaananyi kya Asera ekyakiri okumpi nga nakyo kitemeddwatemeddwa, n’ente eya ssava ng’eweereddwayo ku kyoto ekiggya.
And when the men of the city arose early in the morning, behold, the altar of Baal was cast down, and the grove was cut down that was by it, and the second bullock was offered upon the altar that was built.
29 Ne beebuuza nti, “Ani akoze kino?” Awo bwe babuuliriza, ne bategeezebwa nti, “Gidyoni mutabani wa Yowaasi y’akikoze”.
And they said one to another, Who hath done this thing? And when they enquired and asked, they said, Gideon the son of Joash hath done this thing.
30 Abantu b’omu kibuga ne bagamba Yowaasi nti, “Ffulumya mutabani wo tumutte, kubanga amenyeemenye ekyoto kwetusinziza Baali; ate era n’atemaatema n’ekifaananyi kya Asera ekibadde kikiriraanye.”
Then the men of the city said unto Joash, Bring out thy son, that he may die: because he hath cast down the altar of Baal, and because he hath cut down the grove that was by it.
31 Yowaasi n’addamu ekibinja ky’abantu abaali bamulumbye nti, “Mwagala kulwanirira Baali? Mwagala kuwagira bigendererwa bye? Omuntu yenna ayagala okumulwanirira wa kuttibwa nga obudde tebunakya; obanga ddala Baali ye Katonda, yerwanirire yekka, kubanga ekyoto kye kyamenyeddwamenyeddwa.”
And Joash said unto all that stood against him, Will ye plead for Baal? will ye save him? he that will plead for him, let him be put to death whilst it is yet morning: if he be a god, let him plead for himself, because one hath cast down his altar.
32 Okuva ku olwo Gidyoni ne bamukazaako erya Yerubbaali ekitegeeza nti, “Baali amulwanyise.” Kubanga yamenyaamenya ekyoto kya Baali.
Therefore on that day he called him Jerubbaal, saying, Let Baal plead against him, because he hath thrown down his altar.
33 Awo Abamidiyaani, Abamaleki n’abantu b’ebuvanjuba ne beegatta bonna ne basomoka omugga Yoludaani ne basiisira mu kiwonvu ky’e Yezuleeri.
Then all the Midianites and the Amalekites and the children of the east were gathered together, and went over, and pitched in the valley of Jezreel.
34 Omwoyo wa Mukama Katonda n’akka ku Gidyoni; n’afuuwa ekkondeere ng’ayita ab’essiga lya Abiyezeeri bamugoberere.
But the Spirit of Yhwh came upon Gideon, and he blew a trumpet; and Abi–ezer was gathered after him.
35 N’atuma ababaka eri ab’ekika kya Manase nabo bamugoberere. N’atuma n’ababaka abalala eri ab’ekika kya Aseri, n’ekya Zebbulooni n’ekya Nafutaali bamusisinkane.
And he sent messengers throughout all Manasseh; who also was gathered after him: and he sent messengers unto Asher, and unto Zebulun, and unto Naphtali; and they came up to meet them.
36 Awo Gidyoni n’agamba Katonda nti, “Obanga olinunula Abayisirayiri ng’oyita mu nze nga bwe wasuubiza,
And Gideon said unto God, If thou wilt save Israel by mine hand, as thou hast said,
37 ka nteeke ebyoya by’endiga mu kifo awakubirwa eŋŋaano; bwe binaatoba omusulo naye ng’ettaka eribyetoolodde lyo kkalu, ne ndyoka nkakasa ddala ng’olinunula Abayisirayiri ng’oyita mu nze nga bwe wasuubiza.”
Behold, I will put a fleece of wool in the floor; and if the dew be on the fleece only, and it be dry upon all the earth beside, then shall I know that thou wilt save Israel by mine hand, as thou hast said.
38 Ddala bwe kityo bwe kyali; kubanga Gidyoni bwe yagolokoka enkeera mu makya ebyoya by’endiga n’abikamulamu omusulo ne muvaamu ekibya kiramba eky’amazzi.
And it was so: for he rose up early on the morrow, and thrust the fleece together, and wringed the dew out of the fleece, a bowl full of water.
39 Gidyoni n’agamba Katonda nti, “Nkwegayiridde tonsunguwalira, kankusabe obukakafu omulundi omulala gumu gwokka. Ku luno njagala ebyoya by’endiga bye biba bibeera ebikalu, ettaka eribyetoolodde litobe omusulo.”
And Gideon said unto God, Let not thine anger be hot against me, and I will speak but this once: let me prove, I pray thee, but this once with the fleece; let it now be dry only upon the fleece, and upon all the ground let there be dew.
40 Ekiro ekyo Katonda n’akola nga Gidyoni bwe yamusaba, ebyoya by’endiga ne biba bikalu, lyo ettaka eribyetoolodde ne litoba omusulo.
And God did so that night: for it was dry upon the fleece only, and there was dew on all the ground.

< Balam 6 >