Balam 9
1 Abimereki mutabani wa Yerubbaali n’agenda e Sekemu eri baganda ba nnyina n’eri ab’ekika bonna, ab’ennyumba ya kitaawe, n’ennyumba ya nnyina n’abagamba nti,
And Abimelech the son of Jerubbaal went to Shechem to his mother's brothers, and spoke with them, and with all the family of the house of his mother's father, saying,
2 “Mubuuze kaakano ng’abatuuze b’e Sekemu bonna bawulira nti, ‘Kiki ekisingako obulungi? Batabani ba Yerubbaali bonna ensanvu okubafuganga oba omuntu omu y’aba abafuganga?’ Mujjukire nti ndi wa musaayi gwammwe.”
Speak, I pray you, in the ears of all the men of Shechem, Which is better for you, that all the sons of Jerubbaal, who are seventy men, rule over you, or that one rule over you? Remember also that I am your bone and your flesh.
3 Awo baganda ba nnyina ne bategeeza abatuuze b’e Sekemu ebintu ebyo byonna. Ab’e Sekemu ne basalawo okugoberera Abimereki nga bwe bagamba nti, “Muganda waffe.”
And his mother's brothers spoke of him in the ears of all the men of Shechem all these words. And their hearts inclined to follow Abimelech, for they said, He is our brother.
4 Ne bamuwa ebitundu bya ffeeza ebya sekeri nsanvu okuva mu ssabo lya Baaluberisi. Abimereki n’apangisa abayaaye n’abantu abataalina bya buvunaanyizibwa ne bamugoberera.
And they gave him seventy pieces of silver out of the house of Baal-berith, with which Abimelech hired vain and unstable fellows who followed him.
5 N’alaga mu nnyumba ya kitaawe mu Ofula n’addira baganda be, batabani ba Yerubbaali nsanvu n’abattira ku jjinja. Naye omu ku baana abo omuto ayitibwa Yosamu mutabani wa Yerubbaali, n’adduka ne yeekweka.
And he went to his father's house at Ophrah, and killed his brothers the sons of Jerubbaal, being seventy men, upon one stone, but Jotham the youngest son of Jerubbaal was left, for he hid himself.
6 Awo abatuuze bonna ab’e Sekemu n’e Besimiiro ne bakuŋŋaana ne batikkira Abimereki ng’ayimiridde okuliraana omuti omunene, ne bamufuula kabaka mu Sekemu.
And all the men of Shechem assembled themselves together, and all the house of Millo, and went and made Abimelech king by the oak of the pillar that was in Shechem.
7 Awo Yosamu bwe baamugamba ebigambo ebyo, n’alinnya ku ntikko y’olusozi Gerizimu n’ayogera mu ddoboozi ery’omwanguka ng’agamba nti, “Mumpulirize abatuuze b’e Sekemu, Katonda alyoke abawulirize.
And when they told it to Jotham, he went and stood on the top of mount Gerizim, and lifted up his voice, and cried out, and said to them, Hearken to me, ye men of Shechem, that God may hearken to you.
8 Emiti gy’agenda okulonda kabaka, ne gigamba omuzeyituuni nti, ‘Ba kabaka waffe.’
The trees went forth a time to anoint a king over them. And they said to the olive tree, Reign thou over us.
9 Naye omuzeyituuni ne gubaddamu nti, ‘Ndekeyo okuvaamu amafuta ag’omuzeeyituuni agampeesa balubaale n’abantu ekitiibwa, ŋŋende okuyuuguumya emiti?’
But the olive tree said to them, Should I leave my fatness with which by me they honor God and man, and go to wave to and fro over the trees?
10 Awo ne giraga eri omutiini ne gigugamba nti, ‘Ggwe jjangu obeere kabaka waffe.’
And the trees said to the fig tree, Come thou, and reign over us.
11 Naye nagwo ne guddamu nti, ‘Ndekeyo okuvaamu obuwoomi n’ekibala ekirungi, ŋŋende okuyuuguumya emiti?’
But the fig tree said to them, Should I leave my sweetness, and my good fruit, and go to wave to and fro over the trees?
12 Awo ne giraga eri omuzabbibu ne gigugamba nti, ‘Ggwe jjangu obeere kabaka waffe.’
And the trees said to the vine, Come thou, and reign over us.
13 Naye omuzabbibu ne gubaddamu nti, ‘Ndekeyo okuvaamu wayini asanyusa balubaale n’abantu, ŋŋende okuyuuguumya emiti?’
And the vine said to them, Should I leave my new wine, which cheers God and man, and go to wave to and fro over the trees?
14 Awo emiti gyonna ne gigamba omweramannyo nti, ‘Jjangu obeere kabaka waffe.’
Then all the trees said to the bramble, Come thou, and reign over us.
15 Awo omweramannyo ne gugamba emiti nti, ‘Bwe muba nga ddala munnonda okuba kabaka wammwe, mujje mwewogome mu kisiikirize kyange. Naye bwe kitaba kityo, omuliro guve mu mweramannyo gusaanyeewo emivule gy’omu Lebanooni.’
And the bramble said to the trees, If in truth ye anoint me king over you, then come and take refuge in my shade, and if not, let fire come out of the bramble, and devour the cedars of Lebanon.
16 “Kale nno obanga mwakola kya kitiibwa era mu mutima omulungi ne mufuula Abimereki kabaka, era bwe muba nga mwalaga obwenkanya eri Yerubbaali n’ennyumba ye, ne mumukola nga bwe kyamusaanira,
Now therefore, if ye have dealt truly and uprightly, in that ye have made Abimelech king, and if ye have dealt well with Jerubbaal and his house, and have done to him according to the deed of his hands
17 kubanga kitange yabalwanirira, n’awaayo obulamu bwe, n’abawonya mu mukono gwa Midiyaani,
(for my father fought for you, and ventured his life, and delivered you out of the hand of Midian,
18 naye mmwe ne mujeemera ennyumba ya kitange ne muttira batabani be nsanvu ku jjinja limu, ne mufuula Abimereki omwana w’omuddu omukazi, kabaka w’abatuuze ab’omu Sekemu, kubanga ye muganda wammwe,
and ye have risen up against my father's house this day, and have slain his sons, seventy men, upon one stone, and have made Abimelech, the son of his maid-servant, king over the men of Shechem because he is your brother),
19 era bwe muba nga mwakola kya kitiibwa era nga mwakikola mu mutima omulungi ne muyisa Yerubbaali n’ennyumba ye bwe mutyo, kale Abimereki asanyuke, era nammwe abasanyuse.
if ye then have dealt truly and uprightly with Jerubbaal and with his house this day, then rejoice ye in Abimelech, and let him also rejoice in you.
20 Naye bwe kitaba bwe kityo, omuliro guve mu Abimereki, gusaanyeewo abatuuze b’omu Sekemu n’ab’e Besimiiro, ate era omuliro guve mu batuuze ab’omu Sekemu ne mu Besimiiro gusaanyeewo Abimereki.”
But if not, let fire come out from Abimelech, and devour the men of Shechem, and the house of Millo, and let fire come out from the men of Shechem, and from the house of Millo, and devour Abimelech.
21 Oluvannyuma lw’ebyo, Yosamu n’adduka n’alaga e Beeri, n’abeera eyo olw’okutya muganda we Abimereki.
And Jotham ran away, and fled, and went to Beer, and dwelt there, for fear of Abimelech his brother.
22 Awo Abimereki n’afuga Isirayiri okumala emyaka esatu.
And Abimelech was ruler over Israel three years.
23 Katonda n’akyawaganya Abimereki n’abatuuze b’omu Sekemu, ne balya mu Abimereki olukwe,
And God sent an evil spirit between Abimelech and the men of Shechem, and the men of Shechem dealt treacherously with Abimelech,
24 Katonda ng’awoolera eggwanga olw’ekikolwa eky’okutta batabani ba Yerubbaali ensanvu, n’omusaayi gwabwe ng’aguteeka ku Abimereki muganda waabwe eyabatta ng’ayambibwako abatuuze b’omu Sekemu.
that the violence done to the seventy sons of Jerubbaal might come, and that their blood might be laid upon Abimelech their brother who killed them, and upon the men of Shechem who strengthened his hands to kill his brothers.
25 Abatuuze b’omu Sekemu ne bassaawo abasajja ku nsozi babbenga era banyagululenga buli eyayitanga mu kkubo. Abimereki n’ategeezebwa.
And the men of Shechem set ambushes for him on the tops of the mountains, and they robbed all who came along that way by them, and it was told Abimelech.
26 Awo Gaali mutabani wa Ebedi n’ajja ne baganda be mu Sekemu, abatuuze b’omu Sekemu, ne batanula okumwesiga.
And Gaal the son of Ebed came with his brothers, and went over to Shechem, and the men of Shechem put their trust in him.
27 Ne balaga mu nnimiro ne bakungula ezzabbibu zaabwe, ne basogola omubisi, n’oluvannyuma ne bakola embaga mu ssabo lya katonda waabwe, ne balya ne banywa ne bakolimira Abimereki.
And they went out into the field, and gathered their vineyards, and trod the grapes, and held festival, and went into the house of their god, and ate and drank, and cursed Abimelech.
28 Awo Gaali mutabani wa Ebedi n’ayogera nti, “Abimereki ye ani? Ab’omu Sekemu be baani okumuweereza? Si ye mutabani wa Yerubbaali, era Zebbuli si ye mumyuka we? Muweereze abantu ba Kamoli, kitaawe wa Sekemu. Lwaki tuweereza Abimereki?
And Gaal the son of Ebed said, Who is Abimelech, and who is Shechem, that we should serve him? Is not he the son of Jerubbaal, and Zebul his officer? Serve ye the men of Hamor the father of Shechem, but why should we serve him?
29 Ani ayinza okumpa obuyinza okukulembera abantu bano, olwo ndyoke nziggyewo Abimereki? Era nzija kumusoomooza nga mugamba nti, ‘Kuŋŋaanya eggye lyo, otulumbe.’”
And would that this people were under my hand! Then I would remove Abimelech. And he said to Abimelech, Increase thine army, and come out.
30 Awo Zebbuli omukulu w’ekibuga bwe yawulira ebigambo bya Gaali mutabani wa Ebedi, n’asunguwala nnyo.
And when Zebul the ruler of the city heard the words of Gaal the son of Ebed, his anger was kindled.
31 N’aweereza ababaka eri Abimereki mu kyama okumugamba nti, “Laba Gaali mutabani wa Ebedi, ne baganda be bazze mu Sekemu. Basekeeterera ekibuga okukulwanyisa.
And he sent messengers to Abimelech privately, saying, Behold, Gaal the son of Ebed and his brothers have come to Shechem, and, behold, they are fortifying the city against thee.
32 Kaakano, ggwe jjangu mu kiro n’abasajja bo muteegere mu nnimiro.
Now therefore, up by night, thou and the people who are with thee, and lie in wait in the field.
33 Mu makya enjuba ng’evaayo, onoogolokoka n’olumba ekibuga. Onoomulumba ye n’abantu abali naye abajja okukulumba, ggwe olyoke obakole ekyo omukono gwo kye guteekeddwa okukola.”
And it shall be, that in the morning, as soon as the sun is up, thou shall rise early, and rush upon the city, and, behold, when he and the people who are with him come out against thee, then thou may do to them as thou shall find occasion.
34 Awo Abimereki n’abasajja be ne bagolokoka mu kiro ne bagenda ne beekweka mu bibanja bina okumpi n’e Sekemu.
And Abimelech rose up, and all the people who were with him, by night, and they laid wait against Shechem in four companies.
35 Gaali mutabani wa Ebedi n’afuluma n’ayimirira mu mulyango gwa wankaaki w’ekibuga, ne Abimereki n’abasajja be nabo ne bavaayo gye baali beekwese.
And Gaal the son of Ebed went out, and stood in the entrance of the gate of the city. And Abimelech rose up, and the people who were with him, from the ambushment.
36 Awo Gaali bwe yabalaba, n’agamba Zebbuli nti, “Laba abantu nga bava ku nsozi waggulu!” Zebbuli n’amuddamu nti, “Ebisiikirize eby’ensozi by’olaba ng’abantu.”
And when Gaal saw the people, he said to Zebul, Behold, there comes a people down from the tops of the mountains. And Zebul said to him, Thou see the shadow of the mountains as if they were men.
37 Naye Gaali n’ayogera nate nti, “Laba, abantu bajja nga bayitira mu muwaatwa gw’ensi, n’ekibinja ekimu kifuluma mu kkubo ery’omwera ogw’abafumu.”
And Gaal spoke again and said, See, there comes a people down by the middle of the land, and one company comes by the way of the oak of Meonenim.
38 Awo Zebbuli n’alyoka amugamba nti, “Biki bye wali oyogera bwe wagamba nti, ‘Abimereki ye ani ffe okumuweereza?’ Abo si be bantu be wanyooma? Kaakano genda obalwanyise.”
Then Zebul said to him, Where is now thy mouth, that thou said, Who is Abimelech, that we should serve him? Is not this the people that thou have despised? Go out now, I pray, and fight with them.
39 Awo Gaali n’akulembera abatuuze b’omu Sekemu okulwanyisa Abimereki.
And Gaal went out before the men of Shechem, and fought with Abimelech.
40 Abimereki n’amugoba, ne Gaali n’amudduka, era bangi ne batuusibwako ebiwundu, era ne bagwa ku mulyango gwa wankaaki.
And Abimelech chased him, and he fled before him, and there fell many wounded, even to the entrance of the gate.
41 Abimereki n’abeera mu Aluma. Zebbuli n’agoba Gaali ne baganda be mu Sekemu baleme kubeerangamu.
And Abimelech dwelt at Arumah, and Zebul drove out Gaal and his brothers, that they should not dwell in Shechem.
42 Ku lunaku olwaddirira, Abimereki n’ategeezebwa ng’abantu bwe bagenda okulima.
And it came to pass on the morrow, that the people went out into the field, and they told Abimelech.
43 Awo n’addira abasajja be n’abaawulamu ebibinja bisatu, n’ateegera abantu mu nnimiro. Bwe yalaba ng’abantu bafuluma ekibuga balage mu nnimiro, n’abalumba.
And he took the people, and divided them into three companies, and laid wait in the field. And he looked, and, behold, the people came forth out of the city. And he rose up against them, and smote them.
44 Abimereki n’ekibinja kye yali nakyo ne banguwa okuwamba omulyango gwa wankaaki w’ekibuga, ate ebibinja ebibiri byo ne byanguwa okulaga mu nnimiro ne batta abaaliyo.
And Abimelech, and the companies who were with him, rushed forward, and stood in the entrance of the gate of the city, and the two companies rushed upon all who were in the field, and smote them.
45 Abimereki n’azibya olunaku olwo ng’alwanyisa ab’omu kibuga, n’akiwamba, n’abaalimu n’abatta, n’ekibuga n’akizikiriza, n’akiyiwamu n’omunnyo.
And Abimelech fought against the city all that day. And he took the city, and killed the people that were in it, and he beat down the city, and sowed it with salt.
46 Olwawulira ebyo, abatuuze abaali mu kigo kya Sekemu, ne baddukira mu ssabo lya Eruberisi.
And when all the men of the tower of Shechem heard of it, they entered into the stronghold of the house of El-berith.
47 Awo bwe baategeeza Abimereki nti abatuuze b’omu Sekemu baali bakuŋŋaanidde mu kigo kya Sekemu,
And it was told Abimelech that all the men of the tower of Shechem were gathered together.
48 ye n’abasajja be ne balinnya ku lusozi Zalumoni, n’akwata embazi n’atema ettabi n’alyetikka ku kibegabega. N’alagira n’abasajja be yali nabo ng’abagamba nti, “Mwanguwe, mukole nga bwe nkoze.”
And Abimelech got up to mount Zalmon, he and all the people who were with him. And Abimelech took an axe in his hand, and cut down a bough from the trees, and took it up, and laid it on his shoulder. And he said to the people who were with him, What ye have seen me do, make haste, and do as I have done.
49 Buli omu ku bo n’atema ettabi n’alyetikka, ne bagoberera Abimereki. Ne bagatuuma ku kigo, ne bakikumako omuliro. Abantu bonna abaali mu kigo kya Sekemu, be basajja n’abakazi nga lukumi ne bafiiramu.
And all the people likewise cut down every man his bough, and followed Abimelech, and put them to the stronghold, and set the stronghold on fire upon them, so that all the men of the tower of Shechem died also, about a thousand men and women.
50 Awo Abimereki n’agenda e Sebezi, n’asiisira okwetooloola ekibuga ekyo era n’akiwamba.
Then Abimelech went to Thebez, and encamped against Thebez, and took it.
51 Mu kibuga ekyo mwalimu ekigo eky’amaanyi, era abantu bonna abasajja n’abakazi ab’omu kibuga ne baddukira omwo ne beggaliramu. Ne balinnya ku kasolya k’ekigo.
But there was a strong tower inside the city. And all the men and women fled, and all those of the city, and shut themselves in, and got up to the roof of the tower.
52 Abimereki n’alumba ekigo, naye bwe yali ng’akisemberedde, akume omuliro ku mulyango gwakyo,
And Abimelech came to the tower, and fought against it, and drew near to the door of the tower to burn it with fire.
53 ne wabaawo omukazi omu eyakasuka olubengo ku mutwe gwa Abimereki, n’amwasa omutwe.
And a certain woman cast an upper millstone upon Abimelech's head, and broke his skull.
54 Amangwago Abimereki n’agamba eyasitulanga ebyokulwanyisa bye nti, “Sowola ekitala kyo onzite, si kulwa nga kinjogerwako nti nattibwa mukazi.” Omuddu we n’amufumita ekitala n’afa.
Then he called hastily to the young man his armor bearer, and said to him, Draw thy sword, and kill me, that men not say of me, A woman killed him. And his young man thrust him through, and he died.
55 Awo abantu ba Isirayiri bwe baalaba nga Abimereki afudde, buli omu n’addayo ewuwe.
And when the men of Israel saw that Abimelech was dead, they departed every man to his place.
56 Katonda bw’atyo n’awalana eggwanga olw’obutali butuukirivu bwa Abimereki, olwa Abimereki okutta abaana ba kitaawe, abooluganda nsanvu.
Thus God requited the wickedness of Abimelech, which he did to his father, in slaying his seventy brothers.
57 Katonda n’abonereza n’abantu b’omu Sekemu olw’obutali butuukirivu bwabwe bwonna, n’atuukiriza n’ekikolimo Yosamu mutabani wa Yerubbaali kye yabakolimira.
And God requited all the wickedness of the men of Shechem upon their heads. And the curse of Jotham the son of Jerubbaal came upon them.
