Vatongi 9
1 Abhimereki mwanakomana waJerubhi-Bhaari akaenda kuhanzvadzi dzamai vake vaiva muShekemu akati kwavari uye nokuna vose veimba yamai vake,
Now Abimelech son of Jerubbaal went to his mother’s brothers at Shechem and said to them and to all the clan of his mother,
2 “Bvunzai vose vanogara muShekemu kuti, ‘Zviri nani kwamuri ndezvipi: Kuti mutongwe navanakomana vose vaJerubhi-Bhaari vari makumi manomwe kana kungotongwa nomunhu mumwe chete?’ Murangarire kuti ini ndiri nyama neropa renyu.”
“Please ask all the leaders of Shechem, ‘Is it better for you that seventy men, all the sons of Jerubbaal, rule over you, or just one man?’ Remember that I am your own flesh and blood.”
3 Hanzvadzi dzamai vake dzakarondedzerazve zvose izvi kuvagari veShekemu, vakada kutevera Abhimereki, nokuti vakati, “Ihama yedu.”
And when his mother’s brothers spoke all these words about him in the presence of all the leaders of Shechem, their hearts were inclined to follow Abimelech, for they said, “He is our brother.”
4 Vakamupa mashekeri esirivha makumi manomwe aibva mutemberi yaBhaari-Bheriti, uye Abhimereki akaishandisa kutenga varume vakanga vakaipa uye vasina tsitsi, vakava vateveri vake.
So they gave him seventy shekels of silver from the temple of Baal-berith, with which Abimelech hired some worthless and reckless men to follow him.
5 Akaenda kuimba yababa vake muOfira uye akaponda paruware rumwe chete vanakomana vababa vake makumi manomwe, ivo vanakomana vaJerubhi-Bhaari. Asi Jotamu, muduku pane vose kuvanakomana vaJerubhi-Bhaari, akapunyuka nokuti akavanda.
He went to his father’s house in Ophrah, and on one stone murdered his seventy brothers, the sons of Jerubbaal. But Jotham, the youngest son of Jerubbaal, survived, because he hid himself.
6 Ipapo vagari vose vomuShekemu nokuBheti Miro vakaungana parutivi pomuti mukuru pambiru iri muShekemu kuti vagadze Abhimereki samambo.
Then all the leaders of Shechem and Beth-millo gathered beside the oak at the pillar in Shechem and proceeded to make Abimelech their king.
7 Jotamu akati azvinzwa, akakwira pamusoro peGomo reGerizimu akadanidzira kwavari akati, “Nditeererei imi vagari veShekemu, kuti Mwari agoteerera kwamuri.
When this was reported to Jotham, he climbed to the top of Mount Gerizim, raised his voice, and cried out: “Listen to me, O leaders of Shechem, and may God listen to you.
8 Rimwe zuva miti yakabuda kundozodza mambo wayo. Vakati kumuti womuOrivhi, ‘Iva mambo wedu.’
One day the trees set out to anoint a king for themselves. They said to the olive tree, ‘Reign over us.’
9 “Asi muti womuOrivhi wakapindura ukati, ‘Ko, ndingada kusiya mafuta angu, anoremekedzwa nezvose, vamwari navanhu, kuti ndinozengaira hangu pamusoro pemiti here?’
But the olive tree replied, ‘Should I stop giving my oil that honors both God and man, to hold sway over the trees?’
10 “Shure kwaizvozvo, miti yakati kumuonde, ‘Uya uzova mambo wedu.’
Then the trees said to the fig tree, ‘Come and reign over us.’
11 “Asi muonde wakapindura ukati, ‘Ndingada hangu kusiya muchero wangu, wakanaka kudai uye unotapira, kuti ndinozengaira pamusoro pemiti here?’
But the fig tree replied, ‘Should I stop giving my sweetness and my good fruit, to hold sway over the trees?’
12 “Ipapo miti ikati kumuzambiringa, ‘Uya uzova mambo wedu.’
Then the trees said to the grapevine, ‘Come and reign over us.’
13 “Asi muzambiringa wakapindura ukati, ‘Ndingada hangu kusiya waini yangu inofadza vose vamwari navanhu, kuti ndinozengaira pamusoro pemiti here?’
But the grapevine replied, ‘Should I stop giving my wine that cheers both God and man, to hold sway over the trees?’
14 “Pakupedzisira, miti yose yakati kurukato, ‘Uya uve mambo wedu.’
Finally all the trees said to the thornbush, ‘Come and reign over us.’
15 “Rukato rukati kumiti, ‘Kana muchida kundizodza kuti ndive mambo wenyu zvirokwazvo, uyai muvande pamumvuri wangu; asi kana zvisizvo, moto ngaubude murukato ugopisa misidhari yeRebhanoni!’
But the thornbush replied, ‘If you really are anointing me as king over you, come and find refuge in my shade. But if not, may fire come out of the thornbush and consume the cedars of Lebanon.’
16 “Zvino kana imi makaita zvinokudzwa uye zvakatendeka pamakaita Abhimereki mambo, uye kana makaita zvakanaka kuna Jerubhi-Bhaari nokumhuri yake, uye kana makamubata sezvaanofanira,
Now if you have acted faithfully and honestly in making Abimelech king, if you have done well by Jerubbaal and his family, and if you have done to him as he deserves—
17 uye nokufunga kuti baba vangu vakakurwirai, vakaisa upenyu hwavo panjodzi kuti vakununurei kubva muruoko rweMidhiani
for my father fought for you and risked his life to deliver you from the hand of Midian,
18 (asi nhasi mapandukira mhuri yababa vangu, mukaponda vanakomana vavo makumi manomwe padombo rimwe chete, uye mukaisa Abhimereki, mwanakomana womurandakadzi wavo kuti ave mambo pamusoro pavagere muShekemu nokuda kwokuti ihama yenyu),
but you have risen up against my father’s house this day and killed his seventy sons on a single stone, and you have made Abimelech, the son of his maidservant, king over the leaders of Shechem because he is your brother—
19 kana zvino makaita norukudzo uye nokutenda kwakanaka kuna Jerubhi-Bhaari nemhuri yake, nhasi Abhimereki ngaave mufaro wenyu, nemiwo muve wakewo!
if you have acted faithfully and honestly toward Jerubbaal and his house this day, then may you rejoice in Abimelech, and he in you.
20 Asi kana musina kudaro, moto ngaubude kubva kuna Abhimereki, uye uparadze imi, vagari veShekemu neBheti Miro, uye moto ngaubude kwamuri, vagari veShekemu neBheti Miro, ugoparadza Abhimereki!”
But if not, may fire come from Abimelech and consume the leaders of Shechem and Beth-millo, and may fire come from the leaders of Shechem and Beth-millo and consume Abimelech.”
21 Ipapo Jotamu akatiza, akapunyukira kuBheeri, uye akagara ikoko nokuti akanga achitya mukoma wake Abhimereki.
Then Jotham ran away, escaping to Beer, and he lived there for fear of his brother Abimelech.
22 Shure kwamakore matatu aAbhimereki achitonga Israeri,
After Abimelech had reigned over Israel for three years,
23 Mwari akatuma mweya wakaipa pakati paAbhimereki navagari vomuShekemu, ukanyengera Abhimereki.
God sent a spirit of animosity between Abimelech and the leaders of Shechem and caused them to treat Abimelech deceitfully,
24 Mwari akaita izvi kuitira kuti zvakaipa zvakaitirwa vanakomana makumi manomwe vaJerubhi-Bhaari, kuteurwa kweropa ravo, kutsiviwe pamusoro pomununʼuna wavo Abhimereki uye napamusoro pavagari veShekemu, avo vakanga vamubatsira kuponda vanakomana vababa vake.
in order that the crime against the seventy sons of Jerubbaal might come to justice and their blood be avenged on their brother Abimelech and on the leaders of Shechem, who had helped him murder his brothers.
25 Mukumurwisa kwavo, vagari ava veShekemu vakaisa varume pamusoro pezvikomo kuti vavandire nokupamba mumwe nomumwe aipfuura, uye izvi zvakaziviswa kuna Abhimereki.
The leaders of Shechem set up an ambush against Abimelech on the hilltops, and they robbed all who passed by them on the road. So this was reported to Abimelech.
26 Zvino Gaari mwanakomana waEbhedhi akaenda navanunʼuna vake kundogara muShekemu, uye vagari vomo vakavimba naye.
Meanwhile, Gaal son of Ebed came with his brothers and crossed into Shechem, and the leaders of Shechem put their confidence in him.
27 Vakaenda kuminda vakandounganidza mazambiringa vakaasvina uye vakaita mutambo. Vakapinda mutemberi yamwari wavo, vakadya vakanwa uye vakatuka Abhimereki.
And after they had gone out into the fields, gathered grapes from their vineyards, and trodden them, they held a festival and went into the house of their god; and as they ate and drank, they cursed Abimelech.
28 Ipapo Gaari mwanakomana waEbhedhi akati, “Abhimereki ndianiko uye Shekemu ndianiko, kuti tive varanda vake? Ko, haazi mwanakomana waJerubhi-Bhaari, uye Zebhuri haazi mutevedzeri wake here? Shandirai vanhu vaHamori, baba vaShekemu! Seiko tichishandira Abhimereki?
Then Gaal son of Ebed said, “Who is Abimelech, and who is Shechem, that we should serve him? Is he not the son of Jerubbaal, and is not Zebul his officer? You are to serve the men of Hamor, the father of Shechem. Why should we serve Abimelech?
29 Dai chete vanhu ava vanga vari pasi pangu! Ipapo ndaimubvisa. Ndaizoti kuna Abhimereki, ‘Dana hondo yako yose!’”
If only this people were under my authority, I would remove Abimelech; I would say to him, ‘Muster your army and come out!’”
30 Zebhuri mubati weguta akati anzwa zvakataurwa naGaari mwanakomana waEbhedhi, akatsamwa zvikuru.
When Zebul the governor of the city heard the words of Gaal son of Ebed, he burned with anger.
31 Akatuma nhume kuna Abhimereki muchivande achiti, “Gaari mwanakomana waEbhedhi uye navanunʼuna vake vakasvika kuShekemu uye vari kukuchidzira guta kuti rikurwisei.
So he covertly sent messengers to Abimelech to say, “Look, Gaal son of Ebed and his brothers have come to Shechem and are stirring up the city against you.
32 Saka zvino, usiku, imi navanhu venyu munofanira kuzovandira muri muminda.
Now then, tonight you and the people with you are to come and lie in wait in the fields.
33 Panguva dzamangwanani, zuva robuda, mupinde murwise guta. Panouya Gaari navanhu vake kuti vabude kuzorwa nemi, muite zvose zvamunogona noruoko rwenyu.”
And in the morning at sunrise, get up and advance against the city. When Gaal and his men come out against you, do to them whatever you are able.”
34 Saka Abhimereki namauto ake akasimuka usiku akaenda kunzvimbo dzakavanda pedyo neShekemu mumapoka mana.
So Abimelech and all his troops set out by night and lay in wait against Shechem in four companies.
35 Zvino Gaari mwanakomana waEbhedhi akanga abuda uye akanga amire pamukova wamasuo eguta apo Abhimereki navarwi vake vakasimuka pavakanga vakavanda.
Now Gaal son of Ebed went out and stood at the entrance of the city gate just as Abimelech and his men came out from their hiding places.
36 Gaari akati achivaona, akati kuna Zebhuri, “Tarira, vanhu vari kuburuka kubva pamusoro pamakomo!” Zebhuri akapindura akati, “Uri kuona mimvuri yamakomo savanhu iwe.”
When Gaal saw the people, he said to Zebul, “Look, people are coming down from the mountains!” But Zebul replied, “The shadows of the mountains look like men to you.”
37 Asi Gaari akadanidzirazve akati, “Tarira vanhu vari kuburuka kubva pakati penyika, rimwe boka riri kubva nenzira yomuti wavavuki.”
Then Gaal spoke up again, “Look, people are coming down from the center of the land, and one company is coming by way of the Diviners’ Oak.”
38 Ipapo Zebhuri akati kwaari, “Kutaura kwako kukuru kuripiko zvino, iyewe waiti, ‘Abhimereki ndianiko kuti isu tive varanda kwaari?’ Handiti ava ndivo vanhu vawaizvidza here? Chibuda undorwa navo!”
“Where is your gloating now?” Zebul replied. “You said, ‘Who is Abimelech that we should serve him?’ Are these not the people you ridiculed? Go out now and fight them!”
39 Saka Gaari akabuda akatungamirira vanhu veShekemu akarwa naAbhimereki.
So Gaal went out before the leaders of Shechem and fought against Abimelech,
40 Abhimereki akamudzinganisa uye vazhinji vakafa vakuvadzwa mukutiza uku nzira yose kusvikira pamukova wokupinda pasuo reguta.
but Abimelech pursued him, and Gaal fled before him. And many Shechemites fell wounded all the way to the entrance of the gate.
41 Abhimereki akagara muAruma, uye Zebhuri akadzinga Gaari navanunʼuna vake muShekemu.
Abimelech stayed in Arumah, and Zebul drove Gaal and his brothers out of Shechem.
42 Fume mangwana vanhu veShekemu vakabuda vakaenda kuminda, uye izvi zvakaziviswa kuna Abhimereki.
The next day the people of Shechem went out into the fields, and this was reported to Abimelech.
43 Saka akatora vanhu vake, akavakamura akavaisa mumapoka matatu akavandira musango. Akati achiona vanhu vachibuda muguta, akasimuka kuti avarwise.
So he took his men, divided them into three companies, and lay in wait in the fields. When he saw the people coming out of the city, he rose up against them and attacked them.
44 Abhimereki namapoka aakanga anawo vakamhanyira pamukova wokupinda pasuo reguta. Ipapo mapoka maviri akamhanyira vaya vakanga vari kuminda vakavauraya.
Then Abimelech and the companies with him rushed forward and took their stand at the entrance of the city gate. The other two companies rushed against all who were in the fields and struck them down.
45 Zuva rose iroro, Abhimereki akarwisa kwazvo guta kusvikira aritapa uye auraya vanhu varo. Ipapo akaparadza guta uye akakusha munyu pamusoro paro.
And all that day Abimelech fought against the city until he had captured it and killed its people. Then he demolished the city and sowed it with salt.
46 Vachinzwa izvi vagari vomushongwe yeShekemu, vakapinda munhare dzetemberi yaEri-Bheriti.
On hearing of this, all the leaders in the tower of Shechem entered the inner chamber of the temple of El-berith.
47 Abhimereki akati anzwa kuti vakanga vakaungana ipapo,
And when Abimelech was told that all the leaders in the tower of Shechem were gathered there,
48 Iye navanhu vake vose vakakwira muGomo reZarimoni. Akatora demo akagura matavi, akaasimudza akaaisa pamapfudzi ake. Akarayira varume vaaiva navo akati, “Kurumidzai! Itai zvamandiona ndichiita!”
he and all his men went up to Mount Zalmon. Abimelech took his axe in his hand and cut a branch from the trees, which he lifted to his shoulder, saying to his men, “Hurry and do what you have seen me do.”
49 Saka varume vose vakagura matavi vakatevera Abhimereki. Vakaatutira pamusoro penhare ndokuitungidza nomoto vanhu vari mukati. Saka vanhu vose vaiva mushongwe yeShekemu, varume navakadzi vanenge chiuru chimwe chete vakafawo.
So each man also cut his own branch and followed Abimelech. Then they piled the branches against the inner chamber and set it on fire above them, killing everyone in the tower of Shechem, about a thousand men and women.
50 Shure kwaizvozvo Abhimereki akaenda kuTebhezi akarikomba uye akaritapa.
Then Abimelech went to Thebez, encamped against it, and captured it.
51 Kunyange zvakadaro, mukati meguta makanga mune shongwe yakasimba, munova ndimo makatizira varume vose navakadzi, navanhu vose veguta. Vakazvikiyira mukati vakakwira padenga reshongwe.
But there was a strong tower inside the city, and all the men, women, and leaders of the city fled there. They locked themselves in and went up to the roof of the tower.
52 Abhimereki akaenda kushongwe iyo uye akairwisa. Asi akati achiswedera pamukova weshongwe kuti aipise nomoto,
When Abimelech came to attack the tower, he approached its entrance to set it on fire.
53 mukadzi akakanda guyo pamusoro pake rikatsemura dehenya rake.
But a woman dropped an upper millstone on Abimelech’s head, crushing his skull.
54 Pakarepo akadana mutakuri wenhumbi dzake dzokurwa akati, “Vhomora munondo wako undiuraye, kuti vasazoti, ‘Akaurayiwa nomukadzi.’” Saka muranda wake akamubaya akafa.
He quickly called his armor-bearer, saying, “Draw your sword and kill me, lest they say of me, ‘A woman killed him.’” So Abimelech’s armor-bearer ran his sword through him, and he died.
55 VaIsraeri vakati vaona kuti Abhimereki afa, vakaenda kumusha.
And when the Israelites saw that Abimelech was dead, they all went home.
56 Naizvozvo Jehovha akatsiva kuipa kwaAbhimereki kwaakaita kuna baba vake nokuponda vanakomana vababa vake makumi manomwe.
In this way God repaid the wickedness that Abimelech had done to his father in murdering his seventy brothers.
57 Mwari akaitawo kuti varume veShekemu varipe zvakaipa zvavo zvose. Kutuka kwaJotamu, mwanakomana waJerubhi-Bhaari kwakauya pamusoro pavo.
And God also brought all the wickedness of the men of Shechem back upon their own heads. So the curse of Jotham son of Jerubbaal came upon them.
