Vatongi 9
1 Abhimereki mwanakomana waJerubhi-Bhaari akaenda kuhanzvadzi dzamai vake vaiva muShekemu akati kwavari uye nokuna vose veimba yamai vake,
Abimelech, son of Jerub-baal, went to his mother's brothers at Shechem and told them and all his mother's relatives,
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, ‘What's best for you? That seventy men, all of them Jerub-baal's sons, rule over you—or just one man?’ Remember I'm your own flesh and blood!”
3 Hanzvadzi dzamai vake dzakarondedzerazve zvose izvi kuvagari veShekemu, vakada kutevera Abhimereki, nokuti vakati, “Ihama yedu.”
His mother's brothers shared his proposal with all the leaders of Shechem, and they decided to follow Abimelech, because they said, “He is our relative.”
4 Vakamupa mashekeri esirivha makumi manomwe aibva mutemberi yaBhaari-Bheriti, uye Abhimereki akaishandisa kutenga varume vakanga vakaipa uye vasina tsitsi, vakava vateveri vake.
They gave him seventy shekels of silver from the temple of Baal-berith. Abimelech used the money to hire some arrogant troublemakers as his gang.
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 killed his seventy half-brothers, the sons of Jerub-baal. But Jotham, Jerub-baal's youngest son, escaped by going into hiding.
6 Ipapo vagari vose vomuShekemu nokuBheti Miro vakaungana parutivi pomuti mukuru pambiru iri muShekemu kuti vagadze Abhimereki samambo.
Then the leaders of Shechem and Beth-millo all assembled by the oak at the pillar in Shechem and made Abimelech their king.
7 Jotamu akati azvinzwa, akakwira pamusoro peGomo reGerizimu akadanidzira kwavari akati, “Nditeererei imi vagari veShekemu, kuti Mwari agoteerera kwamuri.
When Jotham got to hear this, he went up to the top of Mount Gerizim, and shouted in a loud voice: “Listen to me, leaders of Shechem, and God may to listen to you!
8 Rimwe zuva miti yakabuda kundozodza mambo wayo. Vakati kumuti womuOrivhi, ‘Iva mambo wedu.’
Once upon a time the trees were determined to anoint a king to rule over them. They said to the olive tree, ‘You shall be our king.’
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 rich oil that benefits both gods and men just to go and sway to and fro over the trees?’
10 “Shure kwaizvozvo, miti yakati kumuonde, ‘Uya uzova mambo wedu.’
Then the trees asked the fig tree, ‘You come and be our king.’
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 good sweet fruit just to go and sway to and fro over the trees?’
12 “Ipapo miti ikati kumuzambiringa, ‘Uya uzova mambo wedu.’
Then the trees asked the grape vine, ‘You come and be our king.’
13 “Asi muzambiringa wakapindura ukati, ‘Ndingada hangu kusiya waini yangu inofadza vose vamwari navanhu, kuti ndinozengaira pamusoro pemiti here?’
But the grape vine replied, ‘Should I stop giving my wine that makes both gods and men happy just to go and sway to and fro over the trees?’
14 “Pakupedzisira, miti yose yakati kurukato, ‘Uya uve mambo wedu.’
Then all the trees asked the thorn bush, ‘You come and be our king.’
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!’
The thorn bush replied to the trees, ‘If you're really sincere about anointing me as your king, come and find shelter in my shade. But if not, may fire flame out of the thorn bush and burn 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,
Have you acted sincerely and honestly by making Abimelech your king? Have you been acted honorably to Jerub-baal and his family? Have you respected him for all that he accomplished?
17 uye nokufunga kuti baba vangu vakakurwirai, vakaisa upenyu hwavo panjodzi kuti vakununurei kubva muruoko rweMidhiani
Don't forget how my father fought for you and risked his own life to save you from the Midianites!
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 rebelled against my father's family today. You have killed his seventy sons on one stone and have made Abimelech, the son of his slave woman, king over the leaders of Shechem simply because he's related to you.
19 kana zvino makaita norukudzo uye nokutenda kwakanaka kuna Jerubhi-Bhaari nemhuri yake, nhasi Abhimereki ngaave mufaro wenyu, nemiwo muve wakewo!
Have you acted sincerely and honestly toward Jerub-baal and his family today? If so, may you be happy with Abimelech, and may he be happy with too!
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 you haven't, then may fire flame out from Abimelech, and may it burn up the leaders of Shechem and Beth-millo, and may fire flame out from the leaders of Shechem and Beth-millo and burn up Abimelech!”
21 Ipapo Jotamu akatiza, akapunyukira kuBheeri, uye akagara ikoko nokuti akanga achitya mukoma wake Abhimereki.
Then Jotham escaped and ran away. He went to Beer and stayed there because of the threat of Abimelech his brother.
22 Shure kwamakore matatu aAbhimereki achitonga Israeri,
Abimelech ruled over Israel for three years.
23 Mwari akatuma mweya wakaipa pakati paAbhimereki navagari vomuShekemu, ukanyengera Abhimereki.
Then God sent an evil spirit to cause trouble between Abimelech and the leaders of Shechem. The leaders of Shechem betrayed 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.
This happened because of the murder of the seventy sons of Jerub-baal and that responsibility for their blood be placed on Abimelech their brother, who killed them, and on the leaders of Shechem, who provided the means to kill 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 sent men to the hill passes to lie in wait and attack Abimelech, and, in the meantime, they robbed everyone who passed by on the road. Abimelech found out what was happening.
26 Zvino Gaari mwanakomana waEbhedhi akaenda navanunʼuna vake kundogara muShekemu, uye vagari vomo vakavimba naye.
Gaal, son of Ebed, had moved to Shechem with his relatives, and he gained the loyalty of the leaders of Shechem.
27 Vakaenda kuminda vakandounganidza mazambiringa vakaasvina uye vakaita mutambo. Vakapinda mutemberi yamwari wavo, vakadya vakanwa uye vakatuka Abhimereki.
At harvest time they went out into the countryside and gathered the grapes from their vineyards and trod them. They celebrated by having a festival in the temple of their god, where they ate and drank, and 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?
“Who is this Abimelech?” asked Gaal, son of Ebed. “And who is Shechem, that we should have to serve him? Isn't he the son of Jerub-baal, while Zebul is actually the one in charge? You should serve the family of Hamor, the father of Shechem. Why should we have to serve Abimelech?
29 Dai chete vanhu ava vanga vari pasi pangu! Ipapo ndaimubvisa. Ndaizoti kuna Abhimereki, ‘Dana hondo yako yose!’”
If I was the one in charge of you people, I would dispose of Abimelech! I would tell him, ‘Get your army together, and come and fight!’”
30 Zebhuri mubati weguta akati anzwa zvakataurwa naGaari mwanakomana waEbhedhi, akatsamwa zvikuru.
When Zebul, the governor of the city, got to hear what Gaal was saying, he became very angry.
31 Akatuma nhume kuna Abhimereki muchivande achiti, “Gaari mwanakomana waEbhedhi uye navanunʼuna vake vakasvika kuShekemu uye vari kukuchidzira guta kuti rikurwisei.
He secretly sent messengers to Abimelech to tell him, “Look, Gaal, son of Ebed, and his relatives have arrived in Shechem, and they are stirring up the town to rebel against you.
32 Saka zvino, usiku, imi navanhu venyu munofanira kuzovandira muri muminda.
So come at night with your army and hide in the countryside.
33 Panguva dzamangwanani, zuva robuda, mupinde murwise guta. Panouya Gaari navanhu vake kuti vabude kuzorwa nemi, muite zvose zvamunogona noruoko rwenyu.”
In the morning as soon as the sun comes up, go and attack the town. When Gaal and his men come out to fight you, you can do whatever you want to them.”
34 Saka Abhimereki namauto ake akasimuka usiku akaenda kunzvimbo dzakavanda pedyo neShekemu mumapoka mana.
Abimelech left at night along with his army, and they separated into four companies that lay in wait near Shechem.
35 Zvino Gaari mwanakomana waEbhedhi akanga abuda uye akanga amire pamukova wamasuo eguta apo Abhimereki navarwi vake vakasimuka pavakanga vakavanda.
When Gaal, son of Ebed, went out and stood at the town's entrance gate, Abimelech and his army came out from where they had been hiding.
36 Gaari akati achivaona, akati kuna Zebhuri, “Tarira, vanhu vari kuburuka kubva pamusoro pamakomo!” Zebhuri akapindura akati, “Uri kuona mimvuri yamakomo savanhu iwe.”
Gaal saw the army approaching and said to Zebul, “Look! Some people are coming down from the hilltops!” “That's just shadows made by the hills that look like men,” Zebul replied.
37 Asi Gaari akadanidzirazve akati, “Tarira vanhu vari kuburuka kubva pakati penyika, rimwe boka riri kubva nenzira yomuti wavavuki.”
“No really, people are coming down from the high ground,” Gaal repeated. “Plus, there's another company coming down the road that passes the diviners' oak tree.”
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's your big mouth now? You're the one who said, ‘Who is this Abimelech, that we should have to serve him?’” Zebul told him. “Aren't these the people you detested? Go on then—go and fight with them!”
39 Saka Gaari akabuda akatungamirira vanhu veShekemu akarwa naAbhimereki.
So Gaal led the leaders of Shechem out of the town and fought with Abimelech.
40 Abhimereki akamudzinganisa uye vazhinji vakafa vakuvadzwa mukutiza uku nzira yose kusvikira pamukova wokupinda pasuo reguta.
Abimelech attacked, and chased him and his men as they ran away, killing many of them as they tried to get back to the town gate.
41 Abhimereki akagara muAruma, uye Zebhuri akadzinga Gaari navanunʼuna vake muShekemu.
Abimelech went back to Arumah while Zebul expelled Gaal and his relatives from Shechem.
42 Fume mangwana vanhu veShekemu vakabuda vakaenda kuminda, uye izvi zvakaziviswa kuna Abhimereki.
The following day the people of Shechem went out to the fields, and Abimelech was informed about it.
43 Saka akatora vanhu vake, akavakamura akavaisa mumapoka matatu akavandira musango. Akati achiona vanhu vachibuda muguta, akasimuka kuti avarwise.
He divided his army into three companies and had them lay in ambush in the fields. When he saw the people coming out of the city, he attacked and killed them.
44 Abhimereki namapoka aakanga anawo vakamhanyira pamukova wokupinda pasuo reguta. Ipapo mapoka maviri akamhanyira vaya vakanga vari kuminda vakavauraya.
Abimelech and his company raced to occupy the town's entrance gate, while the two companies raced to attack everyone in the fields and kill them.
45 Zuva rose iroro, Abhimereki akarwisa kwazvo guta kusvikira aritapa uye auraya vanhu varo. Ipapo akaparadza guta uye akakusha munyu pamusoro paro.
The battle for the town lasted all day but eventually Abimelech captured it. He killed the people, demolished the town, and scattered salt over the ground.
46 Vachinzwa izvi vagari vomushongwe yeShekemu, vakapinda munhare dzetemberi yaEri-Bheriti.
When all the leaders of the tower of Shechem realized what had happened, they took refuge in the strongroom of the temple of El-berith.
47 Abhimereki akati anzwa kuti vakanga vakaungana ipapo,
When Abimelech found out that all the leaders in the tower of Shechem had 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 the men with him went up Mount Zalmon. Abimelech grabbed hold of an ax and cut a branch from the trees. He lifted it onto his shoulder, and told his men, “Quick! You saw what I did. Do the same!”
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.
Each of them cut down a branch and followed Abimelech. They placed the branches against the strongroom and set it on fire. So all the people who lived in the tower of Shechem died, around one thousand men and women.
50 Shure kwaizvozvo Abhimereki akaenda kuTebhezi akarikomba uye akaritapa.
Then Abimelech went to attack Thebez 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. All the men and women and the town leaders ran there and barricaded themselves in, and then went up to the roof of the tower.
52 Abhimereki akaenda kushongwe iyo uye akairwisa. Asi akati achiswedera pamukova weshongwe kuti aipise nomoto,
Abimelech went up to the tower to attack it. But as he came close to the tower's entrance to set it on fire,
53 mukadzi akakanda guyo pamusoro pake rikatsemura dehenya rake.
a woman dropped millstone down on Abimelech's head and cracked his skull open.
54 Pakarepo akadana mutakuri wenhumbi dzake dzokurwa akati, “Vhomora munondo wako undiuraye, kuti vasazoti, ‘Akaurayiwa nomukadzi.’” Saka muranda wake akamubaya akafa.
He quickly called the young man who carried his weapons, and ordered him, “Draw your sword and kill me, so they won't say about me that a woman killed him.” So the young man drove his sword through him, and he died.
55 VaIsraeri vakati vaona kuti Abhimereki afa, vakaenda kumusha.
When the Israelites saw that Abimelech was dead, they all left and went home.
56 Naizvozvo Jehovha akatsiva kuipa kwaAbhimereki kwaakaita kuna baba vake nokuponda vanakomana vababa vake makumi manomwe.
This is how God paid back Abimelech's crime against his father of murdering his seventy brothers.
57 Mwari akaitawo kuti varume veShekemu varipe zvakaipa zvavo zvose. Kutuka kwaJotamu, mwanakomana waJerubhi-Bhaari kwakauya pamusoro pavo.
He also repaid the people of Shechem for their evil, and the curse of Jotham, son of Jerub-baal, came down upon them.
