Waamuzi 9
1 Abimeleki, mwana wa Yerubaali, akaenda kwa jamaa za mama yake huko Shekemu, akawaambia, na jamaa yote ya mama yake,
Abimelech the son of Jerubbaal went to Shechem to his mother’s brothers, and spoke 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.
“Please speak in the ears of all the men of Shechem, ‘Is it better for you that all the sons of Jerubbaal, who are seventy persons, rule over you, or that one rule 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.
His mother’s brothers spoke of him in the ears of all the men of Shechem all these words. 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.
They gave him seventy pieces of silver out of the house of Baal Berith, with which Abimelech hired vain and reckless fellows 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.
He went to his father’s house at Ophrah, and killed his brothers the sons of Jerubbaal, being seventy persons, on one stone; but 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.
All the men of Shechem assembled themselves together with all the house of Millo, and went and made Abimelech king by the oak 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.
When they told it to Jotham, he went and stood on the top of Mount Gerizim and lifted up his voice, cried out, and said to them, “Listen to me, you men of Shechem, that God may listen to you.
8 Siku moja miti ilikwenda kumtia mafuta mfalme juu yao. Wakauambia mzeituni, tawala juu yetu.
The trees set out to anoint a king over themselves. They said to the olive tree, ‘Reign 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 stop producing my oil, with which they honour God and man by me, and go to wave back and forth over the trees?’
10 Miti hiyo ikamwambia mtini, 'Njoo utawale juu yetu.'
“The trees said to the fig tree, ‘Come 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 leave my sweetness, and my good fruit, and go to wave back and forth over the trees?’
12 Miti hiyo ikamwambia mzabibu, 'Njoo utawale juu yetu.'
“The trees said to the vine, ‘Come 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?
“The vine said to them, ‘Should I leave my new wine, which cheers God and man, and go to wave back and forth over the trees?’
14 Kisha miti yote ikawaambia mchanga, 'Njoo utawale juu yetu.'
“Then all the trees said to the bramble, ‘Come 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. '
“The bramble said to the trees, ‘If in truth you anoint me king over you, then come and take refuge in my shade; 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 you have dealt truly and righteously, in that you have made Abimelech king, and if you 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, risked his life, and delivered you out of 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 you have risen up against my father’s house today and have slain his sons, seventy persons, on one stone, and have made Abimelech, the son of his female 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 you then have dealt truly and righteously with Jerubbaal and with his house today, then rejoice 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.
Jotham ran away and fled, and went to Beer and lived there, for fear of Abimelech his brother.
22 Abimeleki akatawala juu ya Israeli kwa miaka mitatu.
Abimelech was prince over Israel three years.
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 violence done to the seventy sons of Jerubbaal might come, and that their blood might be laid on Abimelech their brother who killed them, and on the men of Shechem who strengthened his hands to kill his brothers.
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.
The men of Shechem set an ambush for him on the tops of the mountains, and they robbed all who came along that way by them; and Abimelech was told about it.
26 Gaali mwana wa Ebedi akenda pamoja na ndugu zake, wakavuka Shekemu. Viongozi wa Shekemu walimwamini.
Gaal the son of Ebed came with his brothers and went over to Shechem; and the men of Shechem put their trust in him.
27 Wakaenda shambani wakakusanya zabibu kutoka kwa mizabibu, nao wakazikanyaga. Walifanya sherehe katika nyumba ya mungu wao, walikula na kunywa, kumlaani Abimeleki.
They went out into the field, harvested their vineyards, trod the grapes, celebrated, 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?
Gaal the son of Ebed said, “Who is Abimelech, and who is Shechem, that we should serve him? Isn’t he the son of Jerubbaal? Isn’t Zebul his officer? Serve the men of Hamor the father of Shechem, but why should we serve him?
29 Laiti watu hawa wangekukuwa chini ya amri yangu! Kisha ningemuondoa Abimeleki. Ningemwambia Abimeleki, 'liondoe nje jeshi lako lote.'
I wish that this people were under my hand! Then I would remove Abimelech.” He said to Abimelech, “Increase your army and come out!”
30 Zebul, mkuu wa mji, aliposikia maneno ya Gaali, mwana wa Ebedi, hasira yake ikawaka.
When Zebul the ruler of the city heard the words of Gaal the son of Ebed, his anger burnt.
31 Akatuma wajumbe kwa Abimeleki ili wapate kudanganya, akisema, Tazama, Gaali mwana wa Ebedi na ndugu zake wanafika Shekemu; nao wanauchochea mji dhidi yako.
He sent messengers to Abimelech craftily, saying, “Behold, Gaal the son of Ebed and his brothers have come to Shechem; and behold, they incite the city against you.
32 Sasa, amka wakati wa usiku, wewe na askari pamoja nawe, na uandae uvamizi katika mashamba.
Now therefore, go up by night, you and the people who are with you, 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.
It shall be that in the morning, as soon as the sun is up, you shall rise early and rush on the city. Behold, when he and the people who are with him come out against you, then may you do to them as you shall find occasion.”
34 Basi Abimeleki akainuka usiku, yeye na watu wote waliokuwa pamoja naye, wakaandaa uvamizi dhidi ya Shekemu, wakagawanyika vitengo vinne.
Abimelech rose up, and all the people who 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.
Gaal the son of Ebed went out, and stood in the entrance of the gate of the city. Abimelech rose up, and the people who were with him, from the ambush.
36 Gaali alipowaona hao watu, akamwambia Zebuli, “Tazama, watu wanatoka kwenye vilima!” Zebuli akamwambia, “Wewe unaona vivuli juu ya vilima kama vile watu”.
When Gaal saw the people, he said to Zebul, “Behold, people are coming down from the tops of the mountains.” Zebul said to him, “You see the shadows 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.”
Gaal spoke again and said, “Behold, people are coming down by the middle of the land, and one company comes by the way of the oak 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 Zebul said to him, “Now where is your mouth, that you said, ‘Who is Abimelech, that we should serve him?’ Isn’t this the people that you have despised? Please go out now and fight with them.”
39 Gaali akatoka na alikuwa akiwaongoza watu wa Shekemu, naye alipigana na Abimeleki.
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.
Abimelech chased him, and he fled before him, and many fell wounded, even to the entrance of the gate.
41 Abimeleki alikaa Aruma. Zebul akawalazimisha Gaal na ndugu zake watoke Shekemu.
Abimelech lived at Arumah; and Zebul drove out Gaal and his brothers, that they should not dwell in Shechem.
42 Siku ya pili watu wa Shekemu wakatoka shambani, na habari hii ikamfikia Abimeleki.
On the next day, 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.
He took the people and divided them into three companies, and laid wait in the field; and he looked, and behold, the people came out of the city. So, he rose up against them and struck 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.
Abimelech and the companies that were with him rushed forward and stood in the entrance of the gate of the city; and the two companies rushed on all who were in the field and struck 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.
Abimelech fought against the city all that day; and he took the city and killed the people in it. He 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.
When all the men of the tower of Shechem heard of it, they entered into the stronghold of the house of Elberith.
47 Abimeleki aliambiwa kuwa viongozi wote walikuwa wamekusanyika pamoja kwenye mnara wa Shekemu.
Abimelech was told that all the men of the tower of Shechem were gathered together.
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.'
Abimelech went up to Mount Zalmon, he and all the people who were with him; and Abimelech took an axe in his hand, and cut down a bough from the trees, and took it up, and laid it on his shoulder. Then he said to the people who were with him, “What you 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.
All the people likewise each cut down his bough, followed Abimelech, and put them at the base of the stronghold, and set the stronghold on fire over them, so that all the people 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 Abimelech went 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 all the men and women of the city fled there, and shut themselves in, and went up to the roof of the tower.
52 Abimeleki alikwenda kwenye mnara na kupigana nao, naye akaenda karibu na mlango wa mnara ili kuuchoma.
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.
A certain woman cast an upper millstone on 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 armour bearer, and said to him, “Draw your sword and kill me, that men not say of me, ‘A woman killed him.’ His young man thrust him through, and he died.”
55 Watu wa Israeli walipoona kwamba Abimeleki amekufa, wakaenda nyumbani.
When the men of Israel saw that Abimelech was dead, they each departed to his place.
56 Basi Mungu akalipiza kisasi cha uovu wa Abimeleki alichomfanyia baba yake kwa kuua ndugu zake sabini.
Thus God repaid the wickedness of Abimelech, which he did to his father in killing his seventy brothers;
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 God repaid all the wickedness of the men of Shechem on their heads; and the curse of Jotham the son of Jerubbaal came on them.
