< Abahluleli 6 >
1 Abako-Israyeli benza okubi futhi emehlweni kaThixo, wabanikela ezandleni zamaMidiyani iminyaka eyisikhombisa.
Israelfo no yɛɛ nea ɛyɛ Awurade ani so bɔne bio. Ɛno nti, Awurade de wɔn hyɛɛ Midianfo nsa mfe ason.
2 Ngenxa yokuthi umbuso wamaMidiyani wawuncindezela kakhulu, abako-Israyeli bazakhela amadumba ezingoxweni zezintaba, lasezimbalwini kanye lasezinqabeni.
Esiane sɛ na Midianfo no yɛ atirimɔdenfo nti, Israelfo no guan kɔɔ mmepɔw so kɔpɛɛ hintabea wɔ abodan ne atu mu.
3 Kwakusithi abako-Israyeli bangalima izilimo zabo, amaMidiyani lama-Amaleki kanye labanye abantu basempumalanga bahlasele ilizwe labo.
Bere biara a Israelfo duaa wɔn nnɔbae no, Midianfo, Amalekfo ne nnipa a wɔte apuei fam no kɔtow hyɛ wɔn so.
4 Bahlala elizweni bachitha izilimo umango wonke kusiya eGaza kabaze bamtshiyela lutho oluphilayo u-Israyeli, loba izimvu kumbe inkomo loba obabhemi.
Wɔbɛyɛɛ atenae wɔ wɔn asase no so sɛe nnɔbae no fi Gasa a wɔannyaw Israelfo aduan biara. Wɔfaa nguan, anantwi ne mfurum.
5 Beza lezifuyo zabo lamathente abo benjengemitshitshi yezintethe ngobunengi. Ubunengi babantu lamakamela abo kwakungabaleki; bahlasela ilizwe balichithiza.
Na atamfo dɔm yi de wɔn nyɛmmoa ne wɔn ntamadan foro ba te sɛ mmoadabi. Wɔtete yoma a wontumi nkan wɔn dodow so na wɔba. Na wɔtena asase no so kosi sɛ so nneɛma nyinaa bɛsa.
6 AmaMidiyani abaphundla abako-Israyeli baze bakhala kuThixo ukuba abasize.
Enti Midianfo no maa ɔkɔm baa Israel. Afei Israelfo no su frɛɛ Awurade pɛɛ mmoa.
7 Kwathi abako-Israyeli sebekhalile kuThixo ngenxa yamaMidiyani,
Bere a Midianfo no nti, Israelfo su frɛɛ Awurade no,
8 wabathumela umphrofethi, owathi, “Nanku okutshiwo nguThixo, uNkulunkulu ka-Israyeli: Ngalikhupha eGibhithe, ngalikhupha elizweni lobugqili.
Awurade somaa odiyifo kɔɔ wɔn nkyɛn. Ɔkae se, “Asɛm a Awurade, Israel Nyankopɔn, ka ni: Miyii mo fii Misraim nkoasom mu.
9 Ngalihluthuna emandleni eGibhithe lasezandleni zabancindezeli benu bonke. Ngabaxotsha phambi kwenu ngalipha ilizwe labo.
Miyii mo fii Misraim tumi ne wɔn a wɔhyɛ mo so nyinaa ase. Mepam mo atamfo de wɔn asase maa mo.
10 Ngathi kini, ‘Mina nginguThixo uNkulunkulu wenu, lingabakhonzi onkulunkulu bama-Amori, elihlala elizweni lawo.’ Kodwa kalingilalelanga.”
Meka kyerɛɛ mo se, ‘Mene Awurade, mo Nyankopɔn. Monnsom Amorifo a mote wɔn asase so no anyame.’ Nanso moantie me.”
11 Ingilosi kaThixo yafika yahlala ngaphansi kwesihlahla somʼOkhi e-Ofira esasingesikaJowashi umʼAbhiyezeri lapho indodana yakhe uGidiyoni eyayibhula khona amabele esikhamelweni sewayini ukuze iwafihlele amaMidiyani.
Na Awurade bɔfo bɛtenaa odupɔn a esi Ofra a ɛyɛ Yoas a ofi Abieser abusua mu de no ase. Na Yoas babarima Gideon reporow awi wɔ nsakyiamoa ase sɛ ɔde resie Midianfo no.
12 Ingilosi kaThixo isibonakele kuGidiyoni yathi kuye, “UThixo ulawe, butho elilamandla.”
Awurade bɔfo yii ne ho adi kyerɛɛ Gideon, kae se, “Dɔmmarima, Awurade ka wo ho.”
13 UGidiyoni waphendula wathi, “Kodwa nkosi, nxa uThixo elathi, pho kungani konke lokhu kwenzakele kithi? Zingaphi izimanga zakhe zonke obaba abasitshela ngazo besithi, ‘UThixo kasikhuphanga eGibhithe na?’ Kodwa khathesi uThixo usesidelile wasinikela ezandleni zamaMidiyani.”
Gideon buae se, “Owura, sɛ Awurade ka yɛn ho a, adɛn nti na saa nsɛm yi nyinaa aba yɛn so? Na anwonwade a yɛn agyanom kaa ho asɛm kyerɛɛ yɛn no nso wɔ he? Wɔanka se, ‘Awurade yii yɛn fii Misraim ana?’ Nanso mprempren de, Awurade agyaa yɛn de yɛn ahyɛ Midianfo nsam.”
14 UThixo waphendukela kuye wathi, “Hamba ngamandla olawo uhlenge u-Israyeli ezandleni zamaMidiyani. Kanti kangikuthumi na?”
Na Awurade dan ne ho ka kyerɛɛ no se, “Fa ahoɔden a wowɔ no kɔ na kogye Israelfo fi Midianfo no nsam. Me na meresoma wo.”
15 UGidiyoni wabuza wathi, “Kodwa nkosi yami, u-Israyeli ngingamhlenga kanjani na? Usendo lwakwethu koManase kalulamandla, njalo mina ngingomncinyane emulini yakwethu.”
Gideon buae se, “Na Awurade, mɛyɛ dɛn agye Israelfo? Mʼabusua na ɛyɛ mmerɛw koraa wɔ Manase abusuakuw mu na me na misua koraa wɔ me fifo nyinaa mu.”
16 UThixo waphendula wathi, “Ngizakuba lawe, njalo uzawacakazela phansi wonke amaMidiyani, ungatshiyi lamunye wabo.”
Awurade ka kyerɛɛ no se, “Mɛka wo ho. Wobɛsɛe Midianfo no sɛnea woresɛe onipa baako.”
17 UGidiyoni waphendula wathi, “Nxa khathesi sengithole umusa emehlweni akho, nginika isibonakaliso sokuthi impela nguwe sibili okhuluma lami.
Gideon buae se, “Sɛ wobɛboa me ampa ara de a, yɛ nsɛnkyerɛnne bi ma minhu sɛ, nokware, ɛyɛ wo Awurade na worekasa kyerɛ me yi.
18 Ngiyakucela ukuba ungahambi ngize ngiphenduke ngilethe umnikelo wami ngiwubeke phambi kwakho.” UThixo wathi, “Ngizahlala uze uphenduke.”
Nkɔ, kosi sɛ mɛsan mʼakyi aba de mʼafɔrebɔde abrɛ wo.” Awurade buae se, “Mɛtena ha atwɛn kosi sɛ wobɛba.”
19 UGidiyoni wangena phakathi wahlaba izinyane lembuzi, wasesenza isinkwa esingelamvubelo ngehefa yefulawa. Esebeke inyama esitsheni lomhluzi wayo embizeni, waphuma lakho wayakunikela kuye ngaphansi komʼOkhi.
Gideon yɛɛ ntɛm kɔɔ fie. Okosiesie abirekyi ba, too brodo asikresiam lita aduonu mmienu a mmɔkaw nni mu. Afei, ɔsoaa nam no wɔ kɛntɛn mu a nkwan no nso wɔ ɛsɛn bi mu de bae. Ɔde brɛɛ ɔbɔfo no wɔ odupɔn no ase.
20 Ingilosi kaNkulunkulu yathi kuye, “Thatha inyama lesinkwa esingelamvubelo ukubeke phezu kwedwala leli, uthele umhluzi.” UGidiyoni wenza njalo.
Awurade bɔfo no ka kyerɛɛ no se, “Fa nam no ne brodo a ɛnkae no gu ɔbotan yi so na hwie nkwan no gu so.” Na Gideon yɛɛ nea ɔbɔfo no kyerɛɛ no sɛ ɔnyɛ no.
21 Ngesihloko somqwayi eyayiwuphethe ingilosi kaThixo yathinta inyama lesinkwa esingelamvubelo. Umlilo walavuka edwaleni watshisa inyama lesinkwa. Ingilosi kaThixo yasinyamalala.
Afei, Awurade bɔfo no de pema a okura no kaa nam ne brodo no, na ogya pue fii ɔbotan no mu hyew nea ɔde bae no nyinaa. Na ɔbɔfo no yerae.
22 Kwathi uGidiyoni esenanzelele ukuthi kwakuyingilosi kaThixo, wamemeza wathi, “Awu, Thixo Wobukhosi! Ngibone ingilosi kaThixo ubuso ngobuso!”
Bere a Gideon huu sɛ ɛyɛ Awurade bɔfo no, ɔteɛɛ mu se, “Asafo Awurade, mahu Awurade bɔfo anim ne anim.”
23 Kodwa uThixo wathi kuye, “Ukuthula! Ungesabi. Kawuyikufa.”
Awurade buae se, “Nsuro na worenwu.”
24 Ngakho uGidiyoni wakhela uThixo i-alithari khonapho walibiza ngokuthi uThixo uyiKuthula. Kuze kube lamhla likhona e-Ofira lama-Abhiyezeri.
Na Gideon sii afɔremuka wɔ hɔ maa Awurade na ɔtoo no din “Awurade Yɛ Asomdwoe.” Afɔremuka no da so wɔ Ofra a ɛyɛ Abieserfo abusua asase so de besi nnɛ.
25 Ngalobobusuku uThixo wathi kuye, “Thatha inkunzi yesibili emhlambini kayihlo, eleminyaka eyisikhombisa ubudala. Udilize i-alithari likayihlo alakhela uBhali, ugamule lezinsika zika-Ashera eziphansi kwalo.
Anadwo no, Awurade ka kyerɛɛ Gideon se, “Kyere nantwinini a odi mu, ɔto so abien na wadi mfe ason fi wʼagya anantwi mu. Dwiriw wʼagya afɔremuka a osi maa Baal no, na twa Asera dua a esi nkyɛn no.
26 Emva kwalokho wakhele uThixo uNkulunkulu wakho umhlobo we-alithari oluyilo engqongeni yalinqaba. Unikele inkunzi yesibili njengomnikelo wokutshiswa usebenzisa inkuni zensika zika-Ashera ozigamuleyo.”
Afei, si afɔremuka wɔ bepɔw yi so ma Awurade, wo Nyankopɔn. Hyehyɛ afɔremuka abo no yiye. Fa nantwinini bɔ ɔhyew afɔre wɔ afɔremuka no so. Fa Asera dua a wutwae no nnyansin yɛ ogya.”
27 Ngakho uGidiyoni wathatha izinceku zakhe ezilitshumi wenza njengokutshelwa kwakhe nguThixo. Kodwa ngenxa yokuthi wayesesaba abemuli yakwabo labantu basedolobheni, wakwenza ebusuku kulokuba kube semini.
Enti Gideon faa nʼasomfo du de wɔn yɛɛ sɛnea Awurade hyɛɛ no no. Nanso ɔyɛɛ no anadwo, efisɛ na osuro nʼagya fifo ne kurow mma no. Na onim nea ebesi, sɛ wohu onipa a ɔyɛɛ saa ade no a.
28 Ekuseni kwathi abantu bedolobho lelo bevuka babona i-alithari likaBhali lidiliziwe, lezinsika zika-Ashera emaceleni alo ziganyulwe lenkunzi yesibili inikelwe phezu kwe-alithari elalisanda kwakhiwa!
Ade kyee anɔpahema a kurow no mu nnipa fitii ase nyanyanee no, obi huu sɛ wɔadwiriw Baal afɔremuka no agu, na Asera dua a esi ho no nso, wɔatwa akyene na wɔasi afɔremuka foforo asi anan mu. Na wohuu afɔrebɔde bi nkae wɔ so.
29 Babuzana besithi, “Ngubani owenze lokhu?” Kwathi sebebuzisise kakuhle babatshela ukuthi, “Kwenziwe nguGidiyoni indodana kaJowashi.”
Ɔmanfo no bisabisaa wɔn ho wɔn ho se, “Hena na ɔyɛɛ eyi?” Wobisabisae, too wɔn bo ase hwehwɛɛ mu no, wohuu sɛ Yoas babarima Gideon na ɔyɛɛ saa.
30 Abantu bakulelodolobho bathonisa uJowashi bathi, “Ikhuphe indodana yakho. Kumele ife, ngoba idilize i-alithari likaBhali yagamula lezinsika zika-Ashera emaceleni alo.”
Ɔmanfo no teɛɛ mu guu Yoas so se, “Fa wo babarima no bra. Sɛe a ɔsɛee Baal afɔremuka ne twa a otwaa Asera dua no nti, ɛsɛ sɛ owu.”
31 Kodwa uJowashi waphendula ixuku lelo elalifuthelene limhanqile wathi, “Lizakhulumela uBhali na? Lizama ukumhlenga na? Loba ngubani omlwelayo uzabulawa ekuseni! Nxa uBhali engunkulunkulu sibili, angazivikela nxa umuntu ediliza i-alithari lakhe.”
Nanso Yoas teɛɛ mu guu nnipakuw no so se, “Adɛn nti na mugye Baal ti? Mubetumi aka nʼasɛm ama no ana? Obiara a obegye ne ti no, wobekum no ansa na ade akye. Sɛ Baal yɛ onyame bi ampa ara a ɔno ara nni mma ne ho na onkum nea odwiriwii nʼafɔremuka no!”
32 Ngakho ngalelolanga uGidiyoni bambiza ngokuthi “Jerubhi-Bhali,” besithi, “UBhali kalwe laye,” ngoba wadiliza i-alithari likaBhali.
Efi saa bere no rekɔ no, wɔfrɛɛ Gideon Yerub-Baal a nkyerɛase ne “Baal nni mma ne ho,” efisɛ ɔno ara na odwiriwii Baal afɔremuka no gui.
33 Ngalesosikhathi wonke amaMidiyani, lama-Amaleki kanye labanye abantu basempumalanga bamanyana bachapha iJodani, bamisa eSigodini saseJezerili.
Afei, Midianfo nyinaa, Amalekfo nyinaa ne nnipa a wofifi apuei fam no kaa wɔn ho bɔɔ mu tia Israel. Wotwaa Yordan, kɔbɔɔ atenae wɔ Yesreel bon mu.
34 Umoya kaThixo wafika kuGidiyoni, wasetshaya icilongo emema ama-Abhiyezeri ukuba amlandele.
Awurade honhom baa Gideon so na ɔbɔɔ torobɛnto de frɛɛ dɔm. Mmarima a wofi Abieser abusua mu no baa ne nkyɛn.
35 Wathuma izithunywa kulolonke elakoManase, ebatshela ukuba bahlome, lako-Asheri, koZebhuluni kanye lakoNafithali, ukuze labo bayebahlangabeza.
Ɔsomaa abɔfo kɔɔ Manase, Aser, Sebulon ne Naftali nyinaa mu kɔfrɛɛ wɔn asraafo, na wɔn nyinaa penee so.
36 UGidiyoni wathi kuNkulunkulu, “Nxa uzasindisa u-Israyeli ngesandla sami njengoba uthembisile,
Gideon ka kyerɛɛ Onyankopɔn se, “Sɛ wonam me nsa so begye Israel sɛnea woahyɛ bɔ no a,
37 khangela ngizabeka uboya bewulu esizeni. Kungaba lamazolo eboyeni bewulu kuphela iphansi lomile, ngizakwazi ukuthi uzamsindisa u-Israyeli ngesandla sami njengoba utshilo.”
fa saa kwan yi so kyerɛ me, mede oguan nwi bɛkata awiporowbea hɔ anadwo yi. Sɛ obosu fɔw oguan nwi no, na sɛ ɛho amfɔw a, na mahu sɛ ampa ara, wonam me nsa so begye Israel sɛnea woahyɛ ho bɔ no.”
38 Lokho yikho okwenzakalayo. Kusisa uGidiyoni wavuka ekuseni wakhama uboya wahluza amazolo, umganu wagcwala amanzi.
Na saa na ɛbae. Gideon sɔree adekyee kyii oguan nwi no, onyaa nsu ade ma.
39 UGidiyoni wasesithi kuNkulunkulu, “Ungangithukutheleli. Ngivumela ngenze esinye isicelo esisodwa. Ngivumela ukuhlola kanye futhi ngoboya. Khathesi yomisa uboya kuthi iphansi ligcwale amazolo.”
Afei, Gideon ka kyerɛɛ Onyankopɔn se, “Mma wo bo mfuw me. Ma mimmisa ade baako. Ma memfa oguan nwi no nsɔ biribi nhwɛ. Saa bere yi de, ma oguan nwi no nyɛ wosee na baabi a ɛda hɔ no nyinaa mfɔw.”
40 Ngalobobusuku uNkulunkulu wenza njalo. Uboya kuphela yibo obabomile; iphansi lonke ligcwele amazolo.
Anadwo no, Onyankopɔn yɛɛ sɛnea Gideon bisae no. Anɔpa no oguan nwi no yɛɛ wosee a na obosu afɔw fam hɔ nyinaa.