Balam 6
1 Abayisirayiri ne bakola ebibi mu maaso ga Mukama Katonda. N’abawaayo mu mikono gy’Abamidiyaani okumala emyaka musanvu.
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 Abayisirayiri ne batulugunyizibwa nnyo Abamidiyaani. Kyebaava beesimira empuku ne beetoolooza ebibuga byabwe agasenge.
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 Buli Abayisirayiri lwe baasiganga ensigo, Abamidiyaani, Abamaleki n’abantu ab’ebuvanjuba ne babalumbanga.
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 Ne basiisira mu nsi eyo, ne bazikiriza ebirime byonna okutuusiza ddala e Gaaza. Ne bawemmenta endiga, ente, endogoyi era tebaalekera Bayisirayiri kantu konna.
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 Kubanga baayiikanga ng’enzige mu bungi nga tebabalika. Nga bajja n’eweema, ente, n’eŋŋamira zaabwe. Bwe batyo ne bazikiriza ensi.
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 Abayisirayiri baajeezebwa nnyo Abamidiyaani, Abayisirayiri kyebaava balaajaanira Mukama Katonda.
Midian weakened the Israelites so severely that the people of Israel called out to Yahweh.
7 Awo Abayisirayiri bwe baalaajanira Mukama olw’Abamidiyaani,
When the people of Israel called out to Yahweh because of Midian,
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,
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 ne mbanunula okuva mu mikono gy’Abamisiri, ne mu mikono gy’abo bonna abababonnyabonnyanga ne mbafuumuula ku lwammwe era ne mbawa mmwe ensi yaabwe;
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 ne mbagamba nti, ‘Nze Mukama Katonda wammwe, temussanga kitiibwa mu bakatonda b’Abamoli, bannannyini nsi gye mubeeramu.’ Naye mmwe temugondedde ddoboozi lyange.”
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 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.
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 Malayika wa Mukama Katonda n’amulabikira, n’amugamba nti, “Ggwe omusajja omulwanyi namige. Mukama ali wamu naawe.”
The angel of Yahweh appeared to him and said to him, “Yahweh is with you, you strong warrior!”
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.”
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 Mukama Katonda n’amukyukira n’agamba nti, “Ggenda n’amaanyigo g’olina, onunule Abayisirayiri mu mikono gy’Abamidiyaani: si nze nkutumye?”
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 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.”
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 Mukama n’amugamba nti, “Ndibeera wamu naawe, era olifufuggaza Abamidiyaani ng’olinga akuba omuntu omu.”
Yahweh said to him, “I will be with you, and you will defeat the entire Midianite army as one man.”
17 Gidyoni n’amuddamu nti, “Obanga nsiimiddwa mu maaso go mpa obukakafu nga ddala ggwe wuuyo ayogera nange.
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 Nkwegayiridde, tova wano, ka ŋŋende nkuleetere ekirabo kyange nkiteeke mu maaso go.” Mukama n’agamba nti, “Kale kambeere wano okutuusa lw’onookomawo.”
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 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.
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 Naye malayika wa Katonda n’amulagira nti, “Ddira ennyama n’emigaati egitazimbulukuswa obiteeke ku jjinja lino obifukeko guleevi.” Gidyoni n’akola bw’atyo.
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 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 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 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.”
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 Naye Mukama Katonda n’amugamba nti, “Emirembe gibe ku ggwe tootya tojja kufa.”
Yahweh said to him, “Peace to you! Do not be afraid, you will 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.
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 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:
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 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.”
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 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.
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 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.
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 Ne beebuuza nti, “Ani akoze kino?” Awo bwe babuuliriza, ne bategeezebwa nti, “Gidyoni mutabani wa Yowaasi y’akikoze”.
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 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 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 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.”
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 Okuva ku olwo Gidyoni ne bamukazaako erya Yerubbaali ekitegeeza nti, “Baali amulwanyise.” Kubanga yamenyaamenya ekyoto kya Baali.
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 Awo Abamidiyaani, Abamaleki n’abantu b’ebuvanjuba ne beegatta bonna ne basomoka omugga Yoludaani ne basiisira mu kiwonvu ky’e Yezuleeri.
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 Omwoyo wa Mukama Katonda n’akka ku Gidyoni; n’afuuwa ekkondeere ng’ayita ab’essiga lya Abiyezeeri bamugoberere.
But the Spirit of Yahweh came over Gideon. Gideon blew a trumpet, calling out the clan of Abiezer, so they might follow 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.
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 Awo Gidyoni n’agamba Katonda nti, “Obanga olinunula Abayisirayiri ng’oyita mu nze nga bwe wasuubiza,
Gideon said to God, “If you intend to use me to save Israel, as you have 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.”
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 Ddala bwe kityo bwe kyali; kubanga Gidyoni bwe yagolokoka enkeera mu makya ebyoya by’endiga n’abikamulamu omusulo ne muvaamu ekibya kiramba eky’amazzi.
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 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.”
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 Ekiro ekyo Katonda n’akola nga Gidyoni bwe yamusaba, ebyoya by’endiga ne biba bikalu, lyo ettaka eribyetoolodde ne litoba omusulo.
God did what he asked for that night. The fleece was dry, and there was dew on all the ground around it.
