Vatongi 9
1 Abhimereki mwanakomana waJerubhi-Bhaari akaenda kuhanzvadzi dzamai vake vaiva muShekemu akati kwavari uye nokuna vose veimba yamai vake,
Now Abimelech, the son of Jerubbaal, went to Shechem to his mother's family, and said to them and to all the family of his mother's father,
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.”
Say now in the ears of all the townsmen of Shechem, Is it better for you to be ruled by all the seventy sons of Jerubbaal or by one man only? And keep in mind that I am your bone and your flesh.
3 Hanzvadzi dzamai vake dzakarondedzerazve zvose izvi kuvagari veShekemu, vakada kutevera Abhimereki, nokuti vakati, “Ihama yedu.”
So his mother's family said all this about him in the ears of all the townsmen of Shechem: and their hearts were turned to 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.
And they gave him seventy shekels of silver from the house of Baal-berith, with which Abimelech got the support of a number of uncontrolled and good-for-nothing persons.
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.
Then he went to his father's house at Ophrah, and put his brothers, the seventy sons of Jerubbaal, to death on the same stone; however, Jotham, the youngest, kept himself safe by going away to a secret place.
6 Ipapo vagari vose vomuShekemu nokuBheti Miro vakaungana parutivi pomuti mukuru pambiru iri muShekemu kuti vagadze Abhimereki samambo.
And all the townsmen of Shechem and all Beth-millo came together and went and made Abimelech their king, by the oak of the pillar in Shechem.
7 Jotamu akati azvinzwa, akakwira pamusoro peGomo reGerizimu akadanidzira kwavari akati, “Nditeererei imi vagari veShekemu, kuti Mwari agoteerera kwamuri.
Now Jotham, on hearing of it, went to the top of Mount Gerizim, and crying out with a loud voice said to them, Give ear to me, you townsmen of Shechem, so that God may give ear to you.
8 Rimwe zuva miti yakabuda kundozodza mambo wayo. Vakati kumuti womuOrivhi, ‘Iva mambo wedu.’
One day the trees went out to make a king for themselves; and they said to the olive-tree, Be king 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 said to them, Am I to give up my wealth of oil, by which men give honour to God, and go waving over the trees?
10 “Shure kwaizvozvo, miti yakati kumuonde, ‘Uya uzova mambo wedu.’
Then the trees said to the fig-tree, You come and be king 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 said to them, Am I to give up my sweet taste and my good fruit and go waving over the trees?
12 “Ipapo miti ikati kumuzambiringa, ‘Uya uzova mambo wedu.’
Then the trees said to the vine, You come and be king over us.
13 “Asi muzambiringa wakapindura ukati, ‘Ndingada hangu kusiya waini yangu inofadza vose vamwari navanhu, kuti ndinozengaira pamusoro pemiti here?’
But the vine said to them, Am I to give up my wine, which makes glad God and men, to go waving over the trees?
14 “Pakupedzisira, miti yose yakati kurukato, ‘Uya uve mambo wedu.’
Then all the trees said to the thorn, You come and be king 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!’
And the thorn said to the trees, If it is truly your desire to make me your king, then come and put your faith in my shade; and if not, may fire come out of the thorn, burning up 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,
So now, if you have done truly and uprightly in making Abimelech king, and if you have done well to Jerubbaal and his house in reward for the work of his hands;
17 uye nokufunga kuti baba vangu vakakurwirai, vakaisa upenyu hwavo panjodzi kuti vakununurei kubva muruoko rweMidhiani
(For my father made war for you, and put his life in danger, and made you free from the hands 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),
And you have gone against my father's family this day, and have put to death his sons, even seventy men on one stone, and have made Abimelech, the son of his servant-wife, king over the townsmen 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 then you have done what is true and upright to Jerubbaal and his family this day, may you have joy in Abimelech, and may he have joy 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 out from Abimelech, burning up the townsmen of Shechem and Beth-millo; and may fire come out from the townsmen of Shechem and Beth-millo, for the destruction of Abimelech.
21 Ipapo Jotamu akatiza, akapunyukira kuBheeri, uye akagara ikoko nokuti akanga achitya mukoma wake Abhimereki.
Then Jotham straight away went in flight to Beer, and was living there for fear of his brother Abimelech.
22 Shure kwamakore matatu aAbhimereki achitonga Israeri,
So Abimelech was chief over Israel for three years.
23 Mwari akatuma mweya wakaipa pakati paAbhimereki navagari vomuShekemu, ukanyengera Abhimereki.
And God sent an evil spirit between Abimelech and the townsmen of Shechem; and the townsmen of Shechem were false to Abimelech;
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.
So that punishment for the violent attack made on the seventy sons of Jerubbaal, and for their blood, might come on Abimelech, their brother, who put them to death, and on the townsmen of Shechem who gave him their help in putting his brothers to death.
25 Mukumurwisa kwavo, vagari ava veShekemu vakaisa varume pamusoro pezvikomo kuti vavandire nokupamba mumwe nomumwe aipfuura, uye izvi zvakaziviswa kuna Abhimereki.
And the townsmen of Shechem put secret watchers on the tops of the mountains, and they made attacks on all who went by on the road and took their goods; and word of this came to Abimelech.
26 Zvino Gaari mwanakomana waEbhedhi akaenda navanunʼuna vake kundogara muShekemu, uye vagari vomo vakavimba naye.
Then Gaal, the son of Ebed, came with his brothers, and went over to Shechem; and the men of Shechem put their faith in him.
27 Vakaenda kuminda vakandounganidza mazambiringa vakaasvina uye vakaita mutambo. Vakapinda mutemberi yamwari wavo, vakadya vakanwa uye vakatuka Abhimereki.
And they went out into their fields and got in the fruit of their vines, and when the grapes had been crushed, they made a holy feast and went into the house of their god, and over their food and drink they were cursing 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?
And Gaal, the son of Ebed, said, Who is Abimelech and who is Shechem, that we are to be his servants? Is it not right for the son of Jerubbaal and Zebul his captain to be servants to the men of Hamor, the father of Shechem? But why are we to be his servants?
29 Dai chete vanhu ava vanga vari pasi pangu! Ipapo ndaimubvisa. Ndaizoti kuna Abhimereki, ‘Dana hondo yako yose!’”
If only I had authority over this people! I would put Abimelech out of the way, and I would say to Abimelech, Make your army strong, and come out.
30 Zebhuri mubati weguta akati anzwa zvakataurwa naGaari mwanakomana waEbhedhi, akatsamwa zvikuru.
Now Zebul, the ruler of the town, hearing what Gaal, the son of Ebed, had said, was moved to wrath.
31 Akatuma nhume kuna Abhimereki muchivande achiti, “Gaari mwanakomana waEbhedhi uye navanunʼuna vake vakasvika kuShekemu uye vari kukuchidzira guta kuti rikurwisei.
And he sent to Abimelech at Arumah, saying, See, Gaal, the son of Ebed, and his brothers have come to Shechem, and they are working up the town against you.
32 Saka zvino, usiku, imi navanhu venyu munofanira kuzovandira muri muminda.
So now, get up by night, you and your people, and keep watch in the field secretly;
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, when the sun is up, get up early and make a rush on the town; and when he and his people come out against you, do to them whatever you have a chance to do.
34 Saka Abhimereki namauto ake akasimuka usiku akaenda kunzvimbo dzakavanda pedyo neShekemu mumapoka mana.
So Abimelech and the people with him got up by night, in four bands, to make a surprise attack on Shechem.
35 Zvino Gaari mwanakomana waEbhedhi akanga abuda uye akanga amire pamukova wamasuo eguta apo Abhimereki navarwi vake vakasimuka pavakanga vakavanda.
And Gaal, the son of Ebed, went out, and took his place at the doorway into the town; then Abimelech and his people got up from the place where they had been waiting.
36 Gaari akati achivaona, akati kuna Zebhuri, “Tarira, vanhu vari kuburuka kubva pamusoro pamakomo!” Zebhuri akapindura akati, “Uri kuona mimvuri yamakomo savanhu iwe.”
And when Gaal saw the people, he said to Zebul, See! people are coming down from the tops of the mountains. And Zebul said to him, You see the shade of the mountains like men.
37 Asi Gaari akadanidzirazve akati, “Tarira vanhu vari kuburuka kubva pakati penyika, rimwe boka riri kubva nenzira yomuti wavavuki.”
And Gaal said again, See! people are coming down from the middle of the land, and one band is coming by way of the oak-tree of the Seers.
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!”
Then Zebul said to him, Now where is your loud talk when you said, Who is Abimelech that we are to be his servants? Is this not the people whom you were rating so low? Go out now, and make war on them.
39 Saka Gaari akabuda akatungamirira vanhu veShekemu akarwa naAbhimereki.
So Gaal went out at the head of the townsmen of Shechem and made war on Abimelech.
40 Abhimereki akamudzinganisa uye vazhinji vakafa vakuvadzwa mukutiza uku nzira yose kusvikira pamukova wokupinda pasuo reguta.
And Abimelech went after him and he went in flight before him; and a great number were falling by the sword all the way up to the town.
41 Abhimereki akagara muAruma, uye Zebhuri akadzinga Gaari navanunʼuna vake muShekemu.
Then Abimelech went back to Arumah; and Zebul sent Gaal and his brothers away and would not let them go on living in Shechem.
42 Fume mangwana vanhu veShekemu vakabuda vakaenda kuminda, uye izvi zvakaziviswa kuna Abhimereki.
Now the day after, the people went out into the fields; and news of it came to Abimelech.
43 Saka akatora vanhu vake, akavakamura akavaisa mumapoka matatu akavandira musango. Akati achiona vanhu vachibuda muguta, akasimuka kuti avarwise.
And he took his people, separating them into three bands, and was waiting secretly in the field; and when he saw the people coming out of the town, he went up and made an attack on them.
44 Abhimereki namapoka aakanga anawo vakamhanyira pamukova wokupinda pasuo reguta. Ipapo mapoka maviri akamhanyira vaya vakanga vari kuminda vakavauraya.
And Abimelech with his band made a rush, and took up their position at the doorway into the town; and the other two bands made a rush on all those who were in the fields, and overcame them.
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 was fighting against the town; and he took it, and put to death the people who were in it, and had the town pulled down and covered with salt.
46 Vachinzwa izvi vagari vomushongwe yeShekemu, vakapinda munhare dzetemberi yaEri-Bheriti.
Then all the townsmen of the tower of Shechem, hearing of it, went into the inner room of the house of El-berith.
47 Abhimereki akati anzwa kuti vakanga vakaungana ipapo,
And word was given to Abimelech that all the men of the tower of Shechem were there together.
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!”
Then Abimelech went up to Mount Zalmon, with all his people; and Abimelech took an axe in his hand and, cutting down branches of trees, took them and put them on his back. And he said to the people who were with him, Be quick and do as 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 all the people got branches, every man cutting down a branch, and they went with Abimelech at their head and, massing the branches against the inner room, put fire to the room over them; so all those who were in the tower of Shechem, about a thousand men and women, were burned to death with it.
50 Shure kwaizvozvo Abhimereki akaenda kuTebhezi akarikomba uye akaritapa.
Then Abimelech went to Thebez, and put his army in position against Thebez and took 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 in the middle of the town there was a strong tower, to which all the men and women of the town went in flight and, shutting themselves in, went up to the roof of the tower.
52 Abhimereki akaenda kushongwe iyo uye akairwisa. Asi akati achiswedera pamukova weshongwe kuti aipise nomoto,
And Abimelech came to the tower and made an attack on it, and got near to the door of the tower for the purpose of firing it.
53 mukadzi akakanda guyo pamusoro pake rikatsemura dehenya rake.
But a certain woman sent a great stone, such as is used for crushing grain, on to the head of Abimelech, cracking the bone.
54 Pakarepo akadana mutakuri wenhumbi dzake dzokurwa akati, “Vhomora munondo wako undiuraye, kuti vasazoti, ‘Akaurayiwa nomukadzi.’” Saka muranda wake akamubaya akafa.
Then quickly crying out to his body-servant, he said to him, Take out your sword and put an end to me straight away, so that men may not say of me, His death was the work of a woman. So the young man put his sword through him, causing his death.
55 VaIsraeri vakati vaona kuti Abhimereki afa, vakaenda kumusha.
And when the men of Israel saw that Abimelech was dead, they went away, every man to his place.
56 Naizvozvo Jehovha akatsiva kuipa kwaAbhimereki kwaakaita kuna baba vake nokuponda vanakomana vababa vake makumi manomwe.
In this way Abimelech was rewarded by God for the evil he had done to his father in putting his seventy brothers to death;
57 Mwari akaitawo kuti varume veShekemu varipe zvakaipa zvavo zvose. Kutuka kwaJotamu, mwanakomana waJerubhi-Bhaari kwakauya pamusoro pavo.
And God sent back on to the heads of the men of Shechem all the evil they had done, and the curse of Jotham, the son of Jerubbaal, came on them.
