Atemmufo 9
1 Da koro bi, Yerub-Baal babarima Abimelek kɔɔ Sekem kɔsraa ne wɔfanom a wɔyɛ ne na nuabarimanom. Ɔka kyerɛɛ wɔn ne ne na fifo nkae no se,
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 “Mummisa ɔmanfo a wɔwɔ Sekem no se, wɔpɛ sɛ Yerub-Baal mmabarima aduɔson no nyinaa di wɔn so anaasɛ wɔpɛ sɛ ɔbarima baako di wɔn so? Na monkae sɛ meyɛ mo bogya!”
"Please speak in the ears of all the lords 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 Enti Abimelek wɔfanom gyinaa nʼanan mu kasa kyerɛɛ nnipa a wɔwɔ Sekem nyinaa. Na wotiee wɔn adwenkyerɛ no, wɔpenee so faa Abimelek, efisɛ ɔyɛ wɔn busuani.
And his mother's brothers spoke of him in the ears of all the lords of Shechem all these words: and their hearts inclined to follow Abimelech; for they said, "He is our brother."
4 Wɔfaa dwetɛ sika nnwetɛbona aduɔson fi Baal-Berit nsɔre so de maa Abimelek, na ɔde faa asraafo a wɔpenee so sɛ wubedi nʼakyi.
They gave him seventy pieces of silver out of the house of Baal Berith, with which Abimelech hired vain and light fellows, who followed him.
5 Ɔde asraafo no kɔɔ nʼagya kurom wɔ Ofra. Na ɛhɔ, ɔbo bi so, na okunkum nʼagya mmabarima aduɔson no nyinaa. Nanso ne nuanom mu akumaa koraa a wɔfrɛ no Yotam no guan kɔtɛwee baabi.
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 Enti Sekemfo ne Bet-Milofo yɛɛ nhyiamu wɔ odupɔn a ɛbɛn nkaedum a ɛwɔ Sekem no ase. Wosii Abimelek wɔn so hene.
And all the lords of Shechem assembled themselves together, and all Beth Millo, and went and made Abimelech king by the oak which is found at the pillar in Shechem.
7 Yotam tee asɛm yi no, ɔforo kɔɔ Gerisim bepɔw no atifi na ɔteɛɛ mu ka kyerɛɛ wɔn se, “Sekemfo muntie me! Sɛ mopɛ sɛ Onyankopɔn tie mo de a, muntie me!
And when they told it to Jotham, he went and stood on the top of Mount Gerizim, and lifted up his voice, and cried, and said to them, "Listen to me, you lords of Shechem, that God may listen to you.
8 Bere bi, nnua nyinaa pɛɛ sɛ wosi wɔn so hene. Nea edi kan no, wɔka kyerɛɛ ngodua se, ‘Bedi yɛn so hene!’
The trees went forth on a time to anoint a king over them; and they said to the olive tree, 'Reign you over us.'
9 “Nanso, wampene so kae se, ‘Adɛn? Minnyae me ngo a wɔde hyɛ Onyankopɔn ne nnipa anuonyam no, na minkokyinkyin nnua a aka so ana?’
"But the olive tree said to them, 'Should I leave my fatness, with which by me they honor God and man, and go to wave back and forth over the trees?'
10 “Afei, wɔka kyerɛɛ borɔdɔma se ‘Bedi yɛn so hene!’
"The trees said to the fig tree, 'Come, and reign over us.'
11 “Borɔdɔma nso buae se, ‘Na minnyae aba sow na minkyin nnua afoforo so?’
"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 “Afei wɔka kyerɛɛ bobe se, ‘Bedi yɛn so hene.’
"The trees said to the vine, 'Come, and reign over us.'
13 “Na bobe no buae se, ‘Sɛ migyae me nsa pa a ɛma anyame ne nnipa anigye no ma a, na afei na merebekyin nnua bi so ana?’
"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 “Ne korakora ne sɛ, nnua no nyinaa ka kyerɛɛ nsɔe se, ‘Bedi yɛn so hene.’
"Then all the trees said to the bramble, 'Come, and reign over us.'
15 “Na nsɔe buae se, ‘Sɛ ɛyɛ mo adwene kann sɛ mode me besi mo so hene a, mommra mmɛhyɛ me nwini yi ase. Sɛ ɛnte saa a, momma ogya mfi nsɔe mu mmɛhyew Lebanon sida nyinaa.’
"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 “Afei mugye di sɛ moayɛ nea ɛho wɔ nyam, na ɛnam ne kwan mu sɛ mode Abimelek asi mo so hene, na moayɛ Yerub-Baal ne nʼasefo nyinaa apɛde. Moayɛ nea ɛfata ama mʼagya ana?
"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 ɔko maa mo de ne ho bɔɔ afɔre bere a ogyee mo fii Midianfo nsam no.
(for my father fought for you, and risked his life, and delivered you out of the hand of Midian:
18 Na nnɛ, moasɔre atia mʼagya ne nʼasefo, akunkum ne mmabarima aduɔson wɔ ɔbo baako so. Mode Abimelek a ɔyɛ ne somfobea babarima asi Sekem manfo so hene, sɛ ɔyɛ mo busuani nti.
and you are risen up against my father's house this day, and have slain his sons, seventy persons, on one stone, and have made Abimelech, the son of his female servant, king over the lords of Shechem, because he is your brother).
19 Sɛ moayɛ nea ɛho wɔ nyam na ɛnam ne kwan mu ama Yerub-Baal ne nʼasefo a, ɛno de mubenya ahosɛpɛw wɔ Abimelek mu na ɔno nso anya ahosɛpɛw wɔ mo mu.
If you then have dealt truly and righteously with Jerubbaal and with his house this day, then rejoice in Abimelech, and let him also rejoice in you:
20 Sɛ nea moayɛ no mfa ne kwan mu de a, ɛno de, ogya mfi Abimelek nkyɛn mmɛhyew mo, Sekemfo ne Bet-Milofo. Na ogya nso mfi Sekemfo ne Bet-Milofo nkyɛn mmɛhyew Abimelek!”
but if not, let fire come out from Abimelech, and devour the lords of Shechem, and Beth Millo; and let fire come out from the lords of Shechem, and from Beth Millo, and devour Abimelech."
21 Na esiane Abimelek ho suro nti, ne nuabarima Yotam guan kɔtenaa Beer.
And Jotham escaped and fled and went to Beer and lived there, for fear of Abimelech his brother.
22 Abimelek dii Israel so mfe abiɛsa akyi no,
Abimelech was prince over Israel three years.
23 Onyankopɔn somaa honhom fi bi ma ɔde ɔhaw baa Abimelek ne Sekem mpanyimfo ntam na wɔtew atua.
And God sent a spirit of hostility between Abimelech and the lords of Shechem; and the lords of Shechem dealt treacherously with Abimelech:
24 Nsɛm a esisii akyi yi mu no, Onyankopɔn twee Abimelek ne Sekemfo aso sɛ wokunkum Yerub-Baal mmabarima aduɔson no.
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 Sekem mmarima bi kɔtɛwee Abimelek wɔ mmepɔw atifi, na wɔbɔɔ obiara a otwaa mu wɔ hɔ no apoo. Nnipa bi kɔɔ Abimelek nkyɛn kotii nʼase.
And the lords 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 it was told to Abimelech.
26 Saa bere no, Ebed babarima Gaal ne ne nuabarimanom kɔɔ Sekem. Na Sekemfo no nyaa wɔn mu awerehyɛmu.
And Gaal the son of Ebed came with his brothers, and went over to Shechem; and the lords of Shechem put their trust in him.
27 Bere a wɔredi Otwabere Afahyɛ wɔ Sekem wɔ ɛhɔ nyame bi nsɔree so no, bobesa buu so wɔ hɔ maa obiara fitii ase domee Abimelek.
They went out into the field, and gathered their vineyards, and trod the grapes, and held festival, and went into the house of their god, and did eat and drink, and cursed Abimelech.
28 Gaal teɛɛ mu se, “Hena ne Abimelek? Ɔnyɛ Sekem aseni kann, na adɛn nti na ɛsɛ sɛ yɛyɛ nʼasomfo? Ɔyɛ Yerub-Baal babarima kɛkɛ na Sebul na ɔtoto ne man ho nhyehyɛe ma no. Monsom nnipa a wofi Hamor, wɔn na wɔyɛ Sekem asefo kann. Adɛn nti na ɛsɛ sɛ yɛsom Abimelek?
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, and Zebul his officer? Serve the men of Hamor the father of Shechem. But why should we serve him?
29 Sɛ mewɔ tumi a, anka meyi Abimelek afi hɔ. Anka mɛka akyerɛ no se, ‘Pɛ asraafo bebree bra bɛko!’”
Would that this people were under my hand. Then I would remove Abimelech. I would say to Abimelech, "Increase your army, and come out."
30 Na Sebul a otua kurow no ano tee nea Gaal rekeka no, ne bo fuwii.
When Zebul the ruler of the city heard the words of Gaal the son of Ebed, his anger was kindled.
31 Ɔsomaa abɔfo kɔɔ Abimelek nkyɛn wɔ Aruma, kɔka kyerɛɛ no se, “Ebed babarima Gaal ne ne nuabarimanom abɛtena Sekem na wɔretu ɔmanfo no aso sɛ wɔnsɔre ntia wo.
He sent messengers to Abimelech in Arumah, saying, "Look, Gaal the son of Ebed and his brothers have come to Shechem; and look, they constrain the city to take part against you.
32 Fa asraafo bra anadwo bɛtɛw mfuw yi mu.
Now therefore, rise up by night, you and the people who are with you, and lie in wait in the field.
33 Ade kyee ara pɛ, tow hyɛ kuropɔn yi so. Na sɛ Gaal ne nʼapamfo ba betia wo a, nea wopɛ biara wutumi yɛ wɔn.”
And it shall be that in the morning, as soon as the sun is up, you shall rise early, and rush on the city. And look, when he and the people who are with him come out against you, then do whatever you can to them."
34 Na Abimelek ne ne mmarima kɔɔ anadwo no, na wɔkyɛɛ wɔn mu akuw anan de twaa Sekem ho hyiae.
Abimelech rose up, and all the people who were with him, by night, and they lay in wait against Shechem in four companies.
35 Bere a Abimelek ne nʼakofo pue fii ahintawee mu no, na Gaal gyina kurow no pon ano.
And it happened early in the morning that Gaal the son of Ebed went out, and stood in the entrance of the gate of the city. And Abimelech rose up, and the people who were with him, from the ambush.
36 Bere a Gaal huu wɔn no, ɔka kyerɛɛ Sebul se, “Hwɛ, nnipa bi fi bepɔw no so reba!” Sebul buae se, “Ɛyɛ mmepɔw no sunsuma na ayɛ sɛ nnipa no.”
When Gaal saw the people, he said to Zebul, "Look, there are people coming down from the tops of the mountains." Zebul said to him, "You see the shadow of the mountains as if they were men."
37 Nanso Gaal san kae se, “Dabi, nnipa bi resian mmepɔw no. Na kuw foforo nso nam ɔkwan a ɛfa Akɔmfo Dupɔn ho no reba.”
Gaal spoke again and said, "Look, there are people coming down by the central part of the land, and one company comes by the way of the Diviners' Oak."
38 Afei, Sebul dan guu ne so se, “Anosɛm a na woyɛ no ase ne dɛn? Ɛnyɛ wo ara na wokae se ‘Hena ne Abimelek, na adɛn nti na ɛsɛ sɛ yɛyɛ ne nkoa’ no? Ɛnyɛ nnipa yi na wudii wɔn ho fɛw no? Kɔ na wo ne wɔn nkɔko!”
Then Zebul said to him, "Where is now your mouth, that you said, 'Who is Abimelech, that we should serve him?' Is not this the people that you have despised? Please go out now and fight with them."
39 Enti Gaal dii Sekem mmarima anim sɛ wɔrekɔko atia Abimelek,
And Gaal went out before the lords of Shechem, and fought with Abimelech.
40 nanso odii nkogu na oguanee. Wokunkum Sekem akofo bebree sɛw wɔn afunu kɛtɛ wɔ ɔkwan a ɛkɔ kuropɔn no pon ano no so.
Abimelech chased him, and he fled before him, and there fell many wounded, even to the entrance of the gate of the city.
41 Abimelek tenaa Aruma na Sebul pam Gaal ne ne nuanom mmarima fii Sekem.
And Abimelech returned to Arumah; and Zebul drove out Gaal and his brothers, so that they could not dwell in Shechem.
42 Ade kyee no, Sekemfo no kɔɔ wura mu sɛ wɔrekɔko. Abimelek tee no,
It happened on the next day, that the people went out into the field; and they told Abimelech.
43 ɔkyɛɛ ne mmarima mu akuwakuw abiɛsa ma wɔkɔtetɛw wura mu. Bere a Abimelek huu sɛ nnipa no fi kuropɔn no mu reba no, ɔne ne mmarima no fii wɔn ahintawee mu tow hyɛɛ wɔn so.
He took the people, and divided them into three companies, and waited in ambush in the field; and he looked, and look, the people came forth out of the city. He rose up against them, and struck them.
44 Abimelek ne ne kuw no kogyee kuropɔn no pon ano hɔ fae sɛnea ɛbɛyɛ a Sekemfo rentumi nsan wɔn akyi. Afei, akuw abien tow hyɛɛ Sekemfo a wɔwɔ wuram hɔ no so kunkum wɔn.
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 against all who were in the field, and struck them.
45 Ɔko no kɔɔ so da mu no nyinaa ansa na Abimelek redi kuropɔn no so koraa. Okunkum nnipa no, sɛee kuropɔn no, na ɔpetee nkyene wɔ hɔ nyinaa.
Abimelech fought against the city all that day; and he took the city, and killed the people who were in it. And he destroyed the city, and sowed it with salt.
46 Nnipa a wɔte Sekem abantenten mu tee asɛm a asi no, wokohintaw Baal-Berit nsɔree so.
And when all the lords of the Tower of Shechem heard of it, they entered into the stronghold of the house of El Berith.
47 Obi kɔbɔɔ Abimelek amanneɛ sɛ nnipa no bi aboa wɔn ho ano wɔ nsɔree so hɔ,
Ant it was told Abimelech that all the lords of the Tower of Shechem were gathered together.
48 enti odii nʼakofo anim kɔɔ Salmon Bepɔw so. Ɔfaa abonnua twaa mman bi fii dua bi so na ɔde guu ne mmati so. Ɔka kyerɛɛ ne dɔm no se, “Ntɛm, nea mayɛ yi, monyɛ bi!”
So 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 branch from the trees, and took it up, and laid it on his shoulder. And he said to the people who were with him, "What you have seen me do, do quickly, and do as I have done."
49 Enti wɔn mu biara twitwaa dua mman no bi, sɛnea Abimelek yɛe no. Wɔboaa mman no ano wɔ nsɔree so no afasu ho de ogya too mu. Enti nnipa a na wɔte Sekem abantenten mu a wɔn dodow bɛyɛ mmarima ne mmea apem no nyinaa wuwui.
All the people likewise cut down his branch and followed Abimelech, and put them on the stronghold, and set the stronghold on fire on them; so that all the men of the Tower of Shechem died also, about a thousand men and women.
50 Afei Abimelek tow hyɛɛ kuropɔn Tebes so dii so.
Then Abimelech went to Thebez, and camped against Thebez, and took it.
51 Nanso na abandennen bi wɔ kuropɔn no mu. Ɛno nti, kuropɔn no mu nnipa nyinaa guan kɔhyɛɛ mu. Wɔtoo wɔn ho pon mu, foforo kɔɔ abandennen no atifi pɛɛ.
But there was a strong tower within the city, and all the men and women fled, and all the lords of the city, and shut themselves in, and got them up to the roof of the tower.
52 Abimelek toaa wɔn sɛ ɔrekɔtow ahyɛ abandennen no so. Ɔyɛɛ nʼadwene sɛ ɔreto mu gya pɛ,
Abimelech came to the tower, and fought against it, and drew near to the door of the tower to burn it with fire.
53 ɔbea bi a ɔwɔ abandennen no atifi gyaa awiyammo mu ma ɛbɛbɔɔ Abimelek moma so na ɛpɛtɛw ne ti koraa.
A certain woman threw down an upper millstone on Abimelech's head, and broke his skull.
54 Abimelek ka kyerɛɛ aberante a okura nʼakode no se, “Twe wʼafoa na kum me! Na nnipa anka sɛ ɔbeabasia na okum Abimelek!” Enti aberante no de nʼafoa wɔɔ no maa owui.
Then he called quickly to the young man his armor bearer, and said to him, "Draw your sword, and kill me, that men not say of me, 'A woman killed him.'" So the young man thrust him through, and he died.
55 Bere a Abimelek nkurɔfo huu sɛ wawu no, wɔde wɔn akode guu hɔ san kɔɔ wɔn afi mu.
When the men of Israel saw that Abimelech was dead, they departed every man to his place.
56 Saa na Onyankopɔn twee Abimelek aso wɔ bɔne a ɔyɛ de tiaa nʼagya sɛ okum ne nuabarimanom aduɔson no.
Thus God requited the wickedness of Abimelech, which he did to his father, in killing his seventy brothers;
57 Saa ara na Onyankopɔn twee mmarima a wɔwɔ Sekem aso wɔ wɔn bɔne ahorow a wɔyɛɛ no ho. Ɛno nti, Yerub-Baal babarima Yotam nnome no baa mu.
and all the wickedness of the men of Shechem did God return on their heads, and on them came the curse of Jotham the son of Jerubbaal.
