Waamuzi 9
1 Abimeleki, mwana wa Yerubaali, akaenda kwa jamaa za mama yake huko Shekemu, akawaambia, na jamaa yote ya mama yake,
And Abimelech the son of Jerubbaal went to Shechem to his mother's brethren, and communed with them, and with all the family of the house of his mother's father, saying,
2 Tafadhali sema haya, ili wakuu wote wa Shekemu wasikie, Ni kipi bora kwako Je, wana sabini wote wa Yerubali kutawala juu yenu, au kwamba moja tu atawale juu yenu? Kumbuka kwamba mimi ni mfupa na nyama yenu.
Speak, I pray you, in the ears of all the men of Shechem, Which [is] better for you, either that all the sons of Jerubbaal, [which are] seventy persons, should reign over you, or that one should reign over you? remember also that I [am] your bone and your flesh.
3 Ndugu za mama yake waliongea kwa niaba yake kwa viongozi wa Shekemu, nao wakakubali kumfuata Abimeleki, wakasema, Yeye ndiye ndugu yetu.
And his mother's brethren spoke of him in the ears of all the men of Shechem all these words: and their hearts inclined to follow Abimelech; for they said, He [is] our brother.
4 Wakampa vipande sabini vya fedha katika nyumba ya Baali Berith; Abimeleki akazitumia kwa kuajiri watu wasio na sheria na wasiokuwa wajinga, waliomfuata.
And they gave him seventy [pieces] of silver out of the house of Baal-berith, with which Abimelech hired vain and light persons, who followed him.
5 Abimeleki akaenda nyumbani kwa baba yake huko Ofra; na juu ya jiwe moja akawaua ndugu zake sabini, wana wa Yerubaali. Yotamu ndiye aliyebaki, mwana mdogo kabisa wa Yerubaali, kwa kuwa alijificha.
And he went to his father's house at Ophrah, and slew his brethren the sons of Jerubbaal, [being] seventy persons, upon one stone; notwithstanding, yet Jotham the youngest son of Jerubbaal was left; for he hid himself.
6 Wakuu wote wa Shekemu na Beth Milo wakaungana, wakaenda kumfanya Abimeleki mfalme, karibu na mwaloni karibu na nguzo iliyoko Shekemu.
And all the men of Shechem assembled, and all the house of Millo, and went and made Abimelech king, by the plain of the pillar that [was] in Shechem.
7 Yotamu alipoambiwa juu ya jambo hilo, akaenda, akasimama juu ya Mlima Gerizimu. Alipiga kelele akawaambia, 'Sikilizeni, enyi viongozi wa Shekemu, ili Mungu awasikilize.
And when they told [it] to Jotham, he went and stood in the top of mount Gerizim, and lifted up his voice and cried, and said to them, Hearken to me, ye men of Shechem, that God may hearken to you.
8 Siku moja miti ilikwenda kumtia mafuta mfalme juu yao. Wakauambia mzeituni, tawala juu yetu.
The trees went forth [on a time] to anoint a king over them; and they said to the olive-tree, Reign thou over us.
9 Lakini mti wa mizeituni ukawaambia, Je! Nitaacha mafuta yangu, ambayo hutumiwa kuheshimu miungu na wanadamu, ili nipate kurudi na kuvuka juu ya miti mingine?
But the olive-tree said to them, Should I leave my fatness, with which by me they honor God and man, and go to be promoted over the trees?
10 Miti hiyo ikamwambia mtini, 'Njoo utawale juu yetu.'
And the trees said to the fig-tree, Come thou, [and] reign over us.
11 Lakini mtini ukawaambia, Je, nitaacha utamu wangu na matunda yangu mazuri, ili nipate kurudi na kuvuka juu ya miti mingine?
But the fig-tree said to them, Should I forsake my sweetness, and my good fruit, and go to be promoted over the trees?
12 Miti hiyo ikamwambia mzabibu, 'Njoo utawale juu yetu.'
Then said the trees to the vine, Come thou, [and] reign over us.
13 Mzabibu ukawaambia, Je, nitaacha divai yangu mpya, ambayo hufurahisha miungu na wanadamu, na kurudi na kuvuka juu ya miti mingine?
And the vine said to them, Should I leave my wine, which cheereth God and man, and go to be promoted over the trees?
14 Kisha miti yote ikawaambia mchanga, 'Njoo utawale juu yetu.'
Then said all the trees to the bramble, Come thou, [and] reign over us.
15 Miti ya miiba ikaiambia miti, 'Ikiwa unataka kunipaka mafuta niwe mfalme juu yako, njoo na upate usalama chini ya kivuli changu. Ikiwa sivyo, basi moto lazima uondoke kwenye mchanga na uiteketeze mierezi ya Lebanoni. '
And the bramble said to the trees, If in truth ye anoint me king over you, [then] come [and] put your trust in my shadow: and if not, let fire come out of the bramble, and devour the cedars of Lebanon.
16 Basi, ikiwa umefanya kweli na uaminifu, ulimfanya Abimeleki mfalme, na ikiwa umefanya vizuri juu ya Yerubaali na nyumba yake, na ikiwa umemuadhibu kama anavyostahili,
Now therefore, if ye have done truly and sincerely, in that ye have made Abimelech king, and if ye have dealt well with Jerubbaal and his house, and have done to him according to the deserving of his hands:
17 - na kufikiri kwamba baba yangu alipigana kwa ajili yenu, akahatarisha maisha yake, na akawaokoa kutoka kwenye mkono wa Midiani -
(For my father fought for you, and adventured his life far, and delivered you from the hand of Midian:
18 lakini leo umeamka juu ya nyumba ya baba yangu na kuwaua watoto wake, watu sabini, juu ya jiwe moja. Na umemfanya Abimeleki, mwana wa mtumishi wake, awe mfalme juu ya wakuu wa Shekemu, kwa sababu yeye ni ndugu yenu.
And ye have risen up against my father's house this day, and have slain his sons, seventy persons, upon one stone, and have made Abimelech, the son of his maid-servant, king over the men of Shechem, because he [is] your brother: )
19 Ikiwa mlifanya kwa uaminifu na uelekevu pamoja na Jerubalai na nyumba yake, basi mnapaswa kufurahi katika Abimeleki, naye apate kufurahi ndani yenu.
If ye then have dealt truly and sincerely with Jerubbaal and with his house this day, [then] rejoice ye in Abimelech, and let him also rejoice in you:
20 Lakini ikiwa sio, moto utoke kwa Abimeleki, ukawaangamize watu wa Shekemu na Beth Milo. Basi moto utoke kwa watu wa Shekemu na Beth Milo, ili kumteketeza Abimeleki.
But if not, let fire come out from Abimelech, and devour the men of Shechem, and the house of Millo; and let fire come out from the men of Shechem, and from the house of Millo, and devour Abimelech.
21 Yothamu akakimbia, naye akaenda Beeri. Aliishi huko kwa sababu ilikuwa mbali na Abimeleki, kaka yake.
And Jotham ran away, and fled, and went to Beer, and dwelt there, for fear of Abimelech his brother.
22 Abimeleki akatawala juu ya Israeli kwa miaka mitatu.
When Abimelech had reigned three years over Israel,
23 Mungu alituma roho mbaya kati ya Abimeleki na viongozi wa Shekemu. Viongozi wa Shekemu walisaliti uaminifu waliokuwa nao kwa Abimeleki.
Then God sent an evil spirit between Abimelech and the men of Shechem; and the men of Shechem dealt treacherously with Abimelech:
24 Mungu alifanya hivyo ili uhalifu uliofanywa kwa wana sabini wa Yerubaali uweze kulipizwa kisasi, na Abimeleki ndugu yao atawajibishwa kwa kuwaua, na watu wa Shekemu watawajibishwa kwa sababu walimsaidia kuua ndugu zake.
That the cruelty [done] to the seventy sons of Jerubbaal might come, and their blood be laid upon Abimelech their brother who slew them, and upon the men of Shechem who aided him in the killing of his brethren.
25 Basi wakuu wa Shekemu wakawaweka wanaume wamkisubiri juu ya vilima ili wamwangamize, nao wakawaibia wote waliokuwa wamepita katika barabara hiyo. Hii iliripotiwa kwa Abimeleki.
And the men of Shechem set liers in wait for him on the top of the mountains, and they robbed all that came along that way by them: and it was told Abimelech.
26 Gaali mwana wa Ebedi akenda pamoja na ndugu zake, wakavuka Shekemu. Viongozi wa Shekemu walimwamini.
And Gaal the son of Ebed came with his brethren, and went over to Shechem: and the men of Shechem put their confidence in him.
27 Wakaenda shambani wakakusanya zabibu kutoka kwa mizabibu, nao wakazikanyaga. Walifanya sherehe katika nyumba ya mungu wao, walikula na kunywa, kumlaani Abimeleki.
And they went out into the fields, and gathered their vineyards, and trod [the grapes], and made merry, and went into the house of their god, and ate and drank, and cursed Abimelech.
28 Gaali mwana wa Ebedi, akasema, Abimeleki ni nani, na Shekemu ni nani, hata tumtumikie? Je, si mwana wa Yerubaali? Na Zebuli si afisa wake? Watumikieni watu wa Hamori, baba yake Shekemu! Kwa nini tunapaswa kumtumikia?
And Gaal the son of Ebed said, Who [is] Abimelech, and who [is] Shechem, that we should serve him; [is] not [he] the son of Jerubbaal? and Zebul his officer? Serve the men of Hamor the father of Shechem: for why should we serve him?
29 Laiti watu hawa wangekukuwa chini ya amri yangu! Kisha ningemuondoa Abimeleki. Ningemwambia Abimeleki, 'liondoe nje jeshi lako lote.'
And would that this people were under my hand! then would I remove Abimelech. And he said to Abimelech, Increase thy army, and come out.
30 Zebul, mkuu wa mji, aliposikia maneno ya Gaali, mwana wa Ebedi, hasira yake ikawaka.
And when Zebul the ruler of the city heard the words of Gaal the son of Ebed, his anger was kindled.
31 Akatuma wajumbe kwa Abimeleki ili wapate kudanganya, akisema, Tazama, Gaali mwana wa Ebedi na ndugu zake wanafika Shekemu; nao wanauchochea mji dhidi yako.
And he sent messengers to Abimelech privately, saying, Behold, Gaal the son of Ebed, and his brethren, are come to Shechem; and behold, they fortify the city against thee.
32 Sasa, amka wakati wa usiku, wewe na askari pamoja nawe, na uandae uvamizi katika mashamba.
Now therefore rise by night, thou, and the people that [are] with thee, and lie in wait in the field:
33 Kisha asubuhi, jua litakapokwisha, inuka mapema na uangamize mji. Na yeye na watu waliokuwa pamoja naye watakapokuja juu yenu, fanyeni chochote mnachoweza.
And it shall be, [that] in the morning, as soon as the sun hath risen, thou shalt rise early, and attack the city: and behold, [when] he and the people that [are] with him come out against thee, then mayest thou do to them as thou shalt find occasion.
34 Basi Abimeleki akainuka usiku, yeye na watu wote waliokuwa pamoja naye, wakaandaa uvamizi dhidi ya Shekemu, wakagawanyika vitengo vinne.
And Abimelech rose, and all the people that [were] with him, by night, and they laid wait against Shechem in four companies.
35 Gaali mwana wa Ebedi akatoka, akasimama penye mlango wa mji. Abimeleki na watu waliokuwa pamoja naye wakatoka mahali pa kuficha.
And Gaal the son of Ebed went out, and stood in the entrance of the gate of the city: and Abimelech rose, and the people that [were] with him, from lying in wait.
36 Gaali alipowaona hao watu, akamwambia Zebuli, “Tazama, watu wanatoka kwenye vilima!” Zebuli akamwambia, “Wewe unaona vivuli juu ya vilima kama vile watu”.
And when Gaal saw the people, he said to Zebul, Behold, there come people down from the top of the mountains. And Zebul said to him, Thou seest the shadow of the mountains as [if they were] men.
37 Gaali akaongea tena na kusema, “Angalia, watu wanashuka katikati ya nchi, na kitengo kimoja kinakuja kwa njia ya mwaloni wa Maenenimu.”
And Gaal spoke again, and said, See, there come people down by the middle of the land, and another company come along by the plain of Meonenim.
38 Ndipo Zebuli akamwambia, “Je, maneno yako ya kiburi yako wapi sasa, wewe uliyesema, 'Abimeleki ni nani, ili tumtumikie?' Je, hao sio watu ambao uliwadharau? Toka sasa na pigana nao.”
Then said Zebul to him, Where [is] now thy mouth, with which thou saidst, Who [is] Abimelech, that we should serve him? [are] not these the people that thou hast despised? go out, I pray now, and fight with them.
39 Gaali akatoka na alikuwa akiwaongoza watu wa Shekemu, naye alipigana na Abimeleki.
And Gaal went out before the men of Shechem, and fought with Abimelech.
40 Abimeleki akamfukuza, na Gaali akakimbia mbele yake. Na wengi wakaanguka na majeraha ya mauti mbele ya mingilio ya lango la mji.
And Abimelech chased him, and he fled before him, and many were overthrown [and] wounded, [even] to the entrance of the gate.
41 Abimeleki alikaa Aruma. Zebul akawalazimisha Gaal na ndugu zake watoke Shekemu.
And Abimelech dwelt at Arumah: and Zebul thrust out Gaal and his brethren, that they should not dwell in Shechem.
42 Siku ya pili watu wa Shekemu wakatoka shambani, na habari hii ikamfikia Abimeleki.
And it came to pass on the morrow, that the people went out into the field; and they told Abimelech.
43 Aliwachukua watu wake, akawagawanywa katika vitengo vitatu, na wakaandaa uvamizi mashambani. Aliangalia na kuona watu wakitoka mjini. Akawakamata na kuwaua.
And he took the people, and divided them into three companies, and laid wait in the field, and looked, and behold, the people [had] come out of the city; and he rose up against them, and smote them.
44 Abimeleki na vitengo vilivyokuwa pamoja naye vilishambulia na kuzuia maingilio ya lango la mji. Vitengo vingine viwili vilishambulia wote waliokuwa katika shamba na wakawaua.
And Abimelech, and the company that [was] with him, rushed forward, and stood in the entrance of the gate of the city: and the two [other] companies ran upon all [the people] that [were] in the fields, and slew them.
45 Abimeleki alipigana na huo mji siku nzima. Aliteka mji huo, na kuwaua watu waliokuwa ndani yake. Akabomoa kuta za mji na kueneza chumvi juu yake.
And Abimelech fought against the city all that day; and he took the city, and slew the people that [were] in it, and beat down the city, and sowed it with salt.
46 Wakati wakuu wote wa mnara wa Shekemu waliposikia hayo, waliingia katika ngome ya nyumba ya El Berithi.
And when all the men of the tower of Shechem heard [that], they entered into a hold of the house of the god Berith.
47 Abimeleki aliambiwa kuwa viongozi wote walikuwa wamekusanyika pamoja kwenye mnara wa Shekemu.
And it was told to Abimelech, that all the men of the tower of Shechem were assembled.
48 Abimeleki akaenda mpaka mlima wa Salmoni, yeye na watu wote waliokuwa pamoja naye. Abimeleki akachukua shoka na kukata matawi. Akaweka juu ya bega lake na kuwaagiza watu waliokuwa pamoja naye, 'Mlichoona nimekifanya fanyeni kama nilivyofanya.'
And Abimelech ascended mount Zalmon, he and all the people that [were] with him; and Abimelech took an ax in his hand, and cut down a bough from the trees, and took it, and laid [it] on his shoulder, and said to the people that [were] with him, What ye have seen me do, make haste, [and] do as I [have done].
49 Basi kila mmoja akakata matawi, wakamfuata Abimeleki. Wakayafungia juu ya ukuta wa mnara, nao wakawasha moto, hata watu wote wa mnara wa Shekemu wakafa, wanaume na wanawake elfu.
And all the people likewise cut down every man his bough, and followed Abimelech, and put [them] to the hold, and set the hold on fire upon them: so that all the men of the tower of Shechem died also, about a thousand men and women.
50 Abimeleki akaenda Tebezi, naye akapiga kambi dhidi ya Thebezi, akautwaa.
Then went Abimelech to Thebez, and encamped against Thebez, and took it.
51 Lakini kulikuwa na mnara wenye nguvu katika mji, wanaume na wanawake wote na viongozi wote wa mji walikimbilia na kujifungia wenyewe. Kisha wakaenda juu ya paa la mnara.
But there was a strong tower within the city, and thither fled all the men and women, and all they of the city, and shut [it] after them, and ascended to the top of the tower.
52 Abimeleki alikwenda kwenye mnara na kupigana nao, naye akaenda karibu na mlango wa mnara ili kuuchoma.
And Abimelech came to the tower, and fought against it, and came near to the door of the tower to burn it with fire.
53 Lakini mwanamke akatupa jiwe la juu, juu ya kichwa cha Abimeleki likavunja fuvu lake.
And a certain woman cast a piece of of a millstone upon Abimelech's head, and broke his skull.
54 Kisha akamwita yule kijana aliyekuwa anamchukulia silaha zake, akamwambia, “Chukua upanga wako ukaniue, kwa hiyo hakuna mtu atakayesema juu yangu, 'Mwanamke alimwua.'” Basi kijana wake akamchoma naye akafa.
Then he called hastily to the young man his armor-bearer, and said to him, Draw thy sword, and slay me, that men say not of me, A woman slew him. And his young man thrust him through, and he died.
55 Watu wa Israeli walipoona kwamba Abimeleki amekufa, wakaenda nyumbani.
And when the men of Israel saw that Abimelech was dead, they departed every man to his place.
56 Basi Mungu akalipiza kisasi cha uovu wa Abimeleki alichomfanyia baba yake kwa kuua ndugu zake sabini.
Thus God rendered the wickedness of Abimelech, which he did to his father, in slaying his seventy brethren:
57 Mungu akafanya uovu wote wa watu wa Shekemu ugeuke juu ya vichwa vyao wenyewe, na juu yao ilikuja laana ya Yothamu mwana wa Yerubaali.
And all the evil of the men of Shechem did God render upon their heads: and upon them came the curse of Jotham the son of Jerubbaal.
