< 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 son of Jerubba‘al goes to Shechem, to his mother’s brothers, and speaks to them, and to 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.”
“Now speak in the ears of all the masters of Shechem, Which [is] good for you—seventy men ruling over you (all the sons of Jerubba‘al), or one man ruling over you? And you have remembered 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 speak concerning him, in the ears of all the masters of Shechem, all these words, and their heart inclines after 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 give seventy [pieces] of silver out of the house of Ba‘al-Berith to him, and Abimelech hires vain and unstable men with them, and they go after 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 goes into the house of his father at Ophrah, and slays his brothers, sons of Jerubba‘al, seventy men, on one stone; and Jotham, youngest son of Jerubba‘al, is left, for he was hidden.
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 masters of Shechem are gathered together, and all the house of Millo, and come and cause Abimelech to reign for king at the oak of the camp which [is] 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 they declare [it] to Jotham, and he goes and stands on the top of Mount Gerizim, and lifts up his voice, and calls, and says to them, “Listen to me, O masters of Shechem, and God listens to you:
8 Emiti gy’agenda okulonda kabaka, ne gigamba omuzeyituuni nti, ‘Ba kabaka waffe.’
The trees have diligently gone to anoint a king over them, and they say to the olive, Reign over us.
9 Naye omuzeyituuni ne gubaddamu nti, ‘Ndekeyo okuvaamu amafuta ag’omuzeeyituuni agampeesa balubaale n’abantu ekitiibwa, ŋŋende okuyuuguumya emiti?’
And the olive says to them, Have I ceased from my fatness, by which they honor gods and men, that I have gone to stagger over the trees?
10 Awo ne giraga eri omutiini ne gigugamba nti, ‘Ggwe jjangu obeere kabaka waffe.’
And the trees say to the fig, Come, reign over us.
11 Naye nagwo ne guddamu nti, ‘Ndekeyo okuvaamu obuwoomi n’ekibala ekirungi, ŋŋende okuyuuguumya emiti?’
And the fig says to them, Have I ceased from my sweetness, and my good increase, that I have gone to stagger over the trees?
12 Awo ne giraga eri omuzabbibu ne gigugamba nti, ‘Ggwe jjangu obeere kabaka waffe.’
And the trees say to the vine, Come, reign over us.
13 Naye omuzabbibu ne gubaddamu nti, ‘Ndekeyo okuvaamu wayini asanyusa balubaale n’abantu, ŋŋende okuyuuguumya emiti?’
And the vine says to them, Have I ceased from my new wine, which is making gods and men glad, that I have gone to stagger over the trees?
14 Awo emiti gyonna ne gigamba omweramannyo nti, ‘Jjangu obeere kabaka waffe.’
And all the trees say to the bramble, Come, 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 says to the trees, If in truth you are anointing me for king over you, come, take refuge in my shadow; and if not—fire comes out from the bramble, and devours 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,
And now, if you have acted in truth and in sincerity when you make Abimelech king; and if you have done good with Jerubba‘al, and with his house; and if you 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,
because my father has fought for you, and casts his life away from [him], and delivers you from 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 you have risen against the house of my father today, and slay his sons, seventy men, on one stone, and cause Abimelech son of his handmaid to reign over the masters 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.
indeed, if in truth and in sincerity you have acted with Jerubba‘al and with his house this day, rejoice in Abimelech, and he rejoices—even he—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.”
and if not—fire comes out from Abimelech and devours the masters of Shechem and the house of Millo, and fire comes out from the masters of Shechem and from the house of Millo, and devours Abimelech.”
21 Oluvannyuma lw’ebyo, Yosamu n’adduka n’alaga e Beeri, n’abeera eyo olw’okutya muganda we Abimereki.
And Jotham hurries, and flees, and goes to Beer, and dwells there, from the face of his brother Abimelech.
22 Awo Abimereki n’afuga Isirayiri okumala emyaka esatu.
And Abimelech is prince over Israel [for] three years,
23 Katonda n’akyawaganya Abimereki n’abatuuze b’omu Sekemu, ne balya mu Abimereki olukwe,
and God sends an evil spirit between Abimelech and the masters of Shechem, and the masters of Shechem deal 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.
for [the] coming in of [the] violence [against] seventy sons of Jerubba‘al, and to place their blood on their brother Abimelech, who slew them, and on the masters of Shechem, who strengthened his hands to slay his brothers.
25 Abatuuze b’omu Sekemu ne bassaawo abasajja ku nsozi babbenga era banyagululenga buli eyayitanga mu kkubo. Abimereki n’ategeezebwa.
And the masters of Shechem set ambushes for him on the top of the hills, and rob everyone who passes over by them in the way, and it is declared to Abimelech.
26 Awo Gaali mutabani wa Ebedi n’ajja ne baganda be mu Sekemu, abatuuze b’omu Sekemu, ne batanula okumwesiga.
And Gaal son of Ebed comes—also his brothers—and they pass over into Shechem, and the masters of Shechem 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 go out into the field, and gather their vineyards, and tread, and make praises, and go into the house of their god, and eat and drink, and revile 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 son of Ebed says, “Who [is] Abimelech, and who [is] Shechem, that we serve him? Is [he] not son of Jerubba‘al? And his commander Zebul? The men of Hamor father of Shechem serve you, and why do we serve him—we?
29 Ani ayinza okumpa obuyinza okukulembera abantu bano, olwo ndyoke nziggyewo Abimereki? Era nzija kumusoomooza nga mugamba nti, ‘Kuŋŋaanya eggye lyo, otulumbe.’”
And oh that this people were in my hand—then I turn Abimelech aside”; and he says to Abimelech, “Increase your host, and come out.”
30 Awo Zebbuli omukulu w’ekibuga bwe yawulira ebigambo bya Gaali mutabani wa Ebedi, n’asunguwala nnyo.
And Zebul, prince of the city, hears the words of Gaal son of Ebed, and his anger burns,
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 sends messengers to Abimelech deceitfully, saying, “Behold, Gaal son of Ebed and his brothers are coming into Shechem, and behold, they are fortifying the city against you;
32 Kaakano, ggwe jjangu mu kiro n’abasajja bo muteegere mu nnimiro.
and now, rise by night, you and the people who [are] with you, and lay 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 has been, in the morning, about the rising of the sun, you rise early, and have pushed against the city; and behold, he and the people who [are] with him are going out to you—and you have done to him as your hand finds.”
34 Awo Abimereki n’abasajja be ne bagolokoka mu kiro ne bagenda ne beekweka mu bibanja bina okumpi n’e Sekemu.
And Abimelech rises, and all the people who [are] with him, by night, and they lay wait against Shechem—four detachments;
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 son of Ebed goes out, and stands at the opening of the gate of the city, and Abimelech rises—also the people who [are] with him—from the ambush,
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 Gaal sees the people and says to Zebul, “Behold, people are coming down from the top of the hills”; and Zebul says to him, “You are seeing the shadow of the hills like 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 adds yet to speak and says, “Behold, people are coming down from the high part of the land, and another detachment is coming 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.”
And Zebul says to him, “Where [is] your mouth now, in that you say, Who [is] Abimelech that we serve him? Is this not the people against which you have kicked? Please go out now and fight against it.”
39 Awo Gaali n’akulembera abatuuze b’omu Sekemu okulwanyisa Abimereki.
And Gaal goes out before the masters of Shechem, and fights against Abimelech,
40 Abimereki n’amugoba, ne Gaali n’amudduka, era bangi ne batuusibwako ebiwundu, era ne bagwa ku mulyango gwa wankaaki.
and Abimelech pursues him, and he flees from his presence, and many fall wounded—to the opening of the gate.
41 Abimereki n’abeera mu Aluma. Zebbuli n’agoba Gaali ne baganda be mu Sekemu baleme kubeerangamu.
And Abimelech abides in Arumah, and Zebul casts out Gaal and his brothers from dwelling in Shechem.
42 Ku lunaku olwaddirira, Abimereki n’ategeezebwa ng’abantu bwe bagenda okulima.
And it comes to pass, on the next day, that the people go out to the field, and they declare [it] to 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 takes the people, and divides them into three detachments, and lays wait in a field, and looks, and behold, the people are coming out from the city, and he rises against them, and strikes 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 detachments who [are] with him have pushed on, and stand at the opening of the gate of the city, and the two detachments have pushed against all who are in the field, and strike 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 has fought against the city all that day, and captures the city, and has slain the people who [are] in it, and he breaks down the city, and sows it [with] salt.
46 Olwawulira ebyo, abatuuze abaali mu kigo kya Sekemu, ne baddukira mu ssabo lya Eruberisi.
And all the masters of the Tower of Shechem hear, and go into the high place of the house of the god Berith,
47 Awo bwe baategeeza Abimereki nti abatuuze b’omu Sekemu baali bakuŋŋaanidde mu kigo kya Sekemu,
and it is declared to Abimelech that all the masters of the Tower of Shechem have gathered themselves 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 goes up to Mount Zalmon, he and all the people who [are] with him, and Abimelech takes the great axe in his hand, and cuts off a bough of the trees, and lifts it up, and sets [it] on his shoulder, and says to the people who [are] with him, “What you have seen me do—hurry, 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 every one of the people cuts down his bough and goes after Abimelech, and sets [them] at the high place, and burns the high place with fire by these, and also all the men of the Tower of Shechem die—about one thousand men and women.
50 Awo Abimereki n’agenda e Sebezi, n’asiisira okwetooloola ekibuga ekyo era n’akiwamba.
And Abimelech goes to Thebez, and encamps against Thebez, and captures 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.
and a strong tower has been in the midst of the city, and all the men and the women flee there, and all the masters of the city, and they shut [it] behind them, and go up on the roof of the tower.
52 Abimereki n’alumba ekigo, naye bwe yali ng’akisemberedde, akume omuliro ku mulyango gwakyo,
And Abimelech comes to the tower, and fights against it, and draws near to the opening 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 casts a piece of a millstone on the head of Abimelech, and breaks 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.
and he calls quickly to the young man carrying his weapons and says to him, “Draw your sword, and you have put me to death, lest they say of me—A woman slew him”; and his young man pierced him through, and he dies.
55 Awo abantu ba Isirayiri bwe baalaba nga Abimereki afudde, buli omu n’addayo ewuwe.
And the men of Israel see that Abimelech [is] dead, and each one goes to his place;
56 Katonda bw’atyo n’awalana eggwanga olw’obutali butuukirivu bwa Abimereki, olwa Abimereki okutta abaana ba kitaawe, abooluganda nsanvu.
and God turns back the evil of Abimelech which he did to his father to slay 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 has returned all the evil of the men of Shechem on their [own] head, and the cursing of Jotham son of Jerubba‘al comes to them.