Atemmufoɔ 9
1 Ɛda koro bi, Yerub-Baal babarima Abimelek kɔɔ Sekem kɔsraa ne wɔfanom a wɔyɛ ne maame nuanom mmarima. Ɔka kyerɛɛ wɔn ne ne ne maame fiefoɔ nkaeɛfoɔ sɛ,
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 “Mommisa ɔmanfoɔ a wɔwɔ Sekem no sɛ, wɔpɛ sɛ Yerub-Baal mmammarima aduɔson no nyinaa di wɔn so anaasɛ wɔpɛ sɛ ɔbarima baako di wɔn so? Na monkae sɛ meyɛ mo bogyani!”
"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 wɔtiee wɔn adwenkyerɛ no, wɔpenee so faa Abimelek, ɛfiri sɛ, 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 pranpran aduɔson firi Baal-Berit asɔreeɛ so de maa Abimelek, na ɔde faa asraafoɔ a wɔpenee so sɛ wobɛdi 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 asraafoɔ no kɔɔ nʼagya kurom wɔ Ofra. Na ɛhɔ, ɛboɔ bi so, na ɔkunkumm nʼagya mmammarima aduɔson no nyinaa. Nanso ne nuanom mu akumaa koraa a wɔfrɛ no Yotam no dwane kɔtɛɛ 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, Sekemfoɔ ne Bet-Milofoɔ yɛɛ nhyiamu wɔ odupɔn a ɛbɛn nkaeɛdum a ɛwɔ Sekem no ase. Wɔsii Abimelek wɔn so ɔhene.
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 bepɔ no atifi na ɔteaam ka kyerɛɛ wɔn sɛ, “Sekemfoɔ montie me! Sɛ mopɛ sɛ Onyankopɔn tie mo deɛ a, montie 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 Ɛberɛ bi, nnua nyinaa pɛɛ sɛ wɔsi wɔn so ɔhene. Deɛ ɛdi ɛkan no, wɔka kyerɛɛ ngo dua sɛ, ‘Bɛdi yɛn so ɔhene!’
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 kaa sɛ, ‘Adɛn? Mennyae me ngo a wɔde hyɛ Onyankopɔn ne nnipa animuonyam no, na menkɔkyinkyin nnua a aka so anaa?’
"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 sɛ, ‘Bɛdi yɛn so ɔhene!’
"The trees said to the fig tree, 'Come, and reign over us.'
11 “Borɔdɔma nso buaa sɛ, ‘Na mennyae aba so na menkyini nnua foforɔ 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 sɛ, ‘Bɛdi yɛn so ɔhene.’
"The trees said to the vine, 'Come, and reign over us.'
13 “Na bobe no buaa sɛ, ‘Sɛ megyae me nsa pa a ɛma anyame ne nnipa anigyeɛ no ma a, na afei na merebɛkyini nnua bi so?’
"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 nkasɛɛ sɛ, ‘Bɛdi yɛn so ɔhene.’
"Then all the trees said to the bramble, 'Come, and reign over us.'
15 “Na nkasɛɛ buaa sɛ, ‘Sɛ ɛyɛ mo adwene kann sɛ mode me bɛsi mo so ɔhene a, mommra mmɛhyɛ me nwunu yi ase. Sɛ ɛnte saa a, momma ogya mfiri nkasɛɛ mu mmɛhye Lebanon ntweneduro 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 mogye di sɛ moayɛ deɛ ɛho wɔ nyam, na ɛnam ne kwan mu sɛ mode Abimelek asi mo so ɔhene, na moayɛ Yerub-Baal ne nʼasefoɔ nyinaa apɛdeɛ. Moayɛ deɛ ɛfata ama mʼagya anaa?
"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 afɔdeɛ ɛberɛ a ɔgyee mo firii Midianfoɔ nsam no.
(for my father fought for you, and risked his life, and delivered you out of the hand of Midian:
18 Na ɛnnɛ moasɔre atia mʼagya ne nʼasefoɔ, akunkum ne mmammarima aduɔson wɔ ɛboɔ baako so. Mode Abimelek a ɔyɛ ne ɔsomfoɔ baa babarima asi Sekem manfoɔ so ɔhene, sɛ ɔyɛ mo busuani enti.
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 deɛ ɛho wɔ nyam na ɛnam ne kwan mu ama Yerub-Baal ne nʼasefoɔ a, ɛnneɛ mobɛnya ahosɛpɛ wɔ Abimelek mu na ɔno nso anya ahosɛpɛ 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 deɛ moayɛ no mfa ne kwan mu deɛ a, ɛnneɛ ogya mfiri Abimelek nkyɛn mmɛhye mo, Sekemfoɔ ne Bet-Milofoɔ. Na ogya nso mfiri Sekemfoɔ ne Bet-Milofoɔ nkyɛn mmɛhye 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 ɛsiane Abimelek ho suro enti, ne nuabarima Yotam dwane 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 mfeɛ mmiɛnsa akyi no,
Abimelech was prince over Israel three years.
23 Onyankopɔn somaa honhom fi bi maa ɔde ɔhaw baa Abimelek ne Sekem mpanimfoɔ ntam na wɔtee 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 ɛsisii akyire no mu no, Onyankopɔn twee Abimelek ne Sekemfoɔ aso sɛ wɔkunkumm Yerub-Baal mmammarima 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 kɔtɛɛ Abimelek wɔ mmepɔ atifi, na wɔbɔɔ obiara a ɔtwaam wɔ hɔ no apoo. Nnipa bi kɔɔ Abimelek nkyɛn kɔtii 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 ɛberɛ no, Ebed babarima Gaal ne ne nuammarima kɔɔ Sekem. Na Sekemfoɔ no nyaa wɔn mu awerɛhyɛmu.
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 Ɛberɛ a wɔredi otwa afahyɛ wɔ Sekem wɔ ɛhɔ nyame bi asɔreeɛ so no, bobesa buu so hɔ maa obiara hyɛɛ aseɛ 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 Ebed babarima Gaal teaam sɛ, “Hwan ne Abimelek? Ɔnyɛ Sekem aseni kann, na adɛn enti na ɛsɛ sɛ yɛyɛ nʼasomfoɔ? Ɔyɛ Yerub-Baal babarima kɛkɛ na Sebul na ɔtoto ne ɔman ho nhyehyɛeɛ ma no. Monsom nnipa a wɔfiri Hamor, wɔn na wɔyɛ Sekem asefoɔ kann. Adɛn enti 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 mɛyi Abimelek afiri hɔ. Anka mɛka akyerɛ no sɛ, ‘Pɛ asraafoɔ 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 ɔtua kuro no ano tee deɛ Ebed babarima Gaal rekeka no, ne bo fuiɛ.
When Zebul the ruler of the city heard the words of Gaal the son of Ebed, his anger was kindled.
31 Ɔsomaa abɔfoɔ kɔɔ Abimelek nkyɛn wɔ Aruma, kɔka kyerɛɛ no sɛ, “Ebed babarima Gaal ne ne nuammarima abɛtena Sekem na wɔretu ɔmanfoɔ 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 akodɔm bra anadwo bɛtɛ mfuo yi mu.
Now therefore, rise up by night, you and the people who are with you, and lie in wait in the field.
33 Adeɛ kyeeɛ ara pɛ, to hyɛ kuropɔn yi so. Na sɛ Gaal ne nʼapamfoɔ ba bɛtia wo a, deɛ wopɛ biara wotumi 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 akuo ɛnan de twaa Sekem ho hyiaeɛ.
Abimelech rose up, and all the people who were with him, by night, and they lay in wait against Shechem in four companies.
35 Ɛberɛ a Abimelek ne nʼakodɔm pue firii atɛeɛ mu no, na Ebed babarima Gaal gyina kuro no ɛpono 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 Ɛberɛ a Gaal hunuu wɔn no, ɔka kyerɛɛ Sebul sɛ, “Hwɛ, nnipa bi firi bepɔ no so reba!” Sebul buaa sɛ, “Ɛyɛ mmepɔ no sunsum 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 sane kaa sɛ, “Dabi, nnipa bi resiane mmepɔ no. Na ekuo foforɔ nso nam ɛkwan a ɛfa Akɔmfoɔ 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 dane guu ne so sɛ, “Anosɛm a na woyeyɛ no aseɛ ne sɛn? Ɛnyɛ wo ara na wokaa sɛ ‘Hwan ne Abimelek, na adɛn enti na ɛsɛ sɛ yɛyɛ ne nkoa’ no? Nnipa a wodii wɔn ho fɛ no, wɔaduru yɛn mfikyire ha yi ara! 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, ɔdii nkoguo na ɔdwaneeɛ. Wɔkunkumm Sekem akofoɔ bebree sɛɛ wɔn afunu kɛtɛ wɔ ɛkwan a ɛkɔ kuropɔn no ɛpono 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 ɛnna Sebul pamoo Gaal ne ne nuanom mmarima firii Sekem.
And Abimelech returned to Arumah; and Zebul drove out Gaal and his brothers, so that they could not dwell in Shechem.
42 Adeɛ kyeeɛ no, Sekemfoɔ no kɔɔ wira mu sɛ wɔrekɔko. Abimelek teeɛ no,
It happened on the next day, that the people went out into the field; and they told Abimelech.
43 ɔkyɛɛ ne mmarima mu akuakuo mmiɛnsa ma wɔkɔtetɛɛ wira mu. Ɛberɛ a Abimelek hunuu sɛ nnipa no firi kuropɔn no mu reba no, ɔne ne mmarima no firii wɔn atɛeɛ mu to 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 kuo no kɔgyee kuropɔn no ɛpono ano hɔ faeɛ sɛdeɛ ɛbɛyɛ a Sekemfoɔ rentumi nsane wɔn akyi. Afei, akuo mmienu to hyɛɛ Sekemfoɔ a wɔwɔ wiram hɔ no so kunkumm 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 ɛda mu no nyinaa ansa na Abimelek redi kuropɔn no so koraa. Ɔkunkumm 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, wɔkɔhintaa Baal-Berit asɔreeɛ 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 amaneɛ sɛ nnipa no bi aboa wɔn ho ano wɔ asɔreeɛ so hɔ,
And it was told Abimelech that all the lords of the Tower of Shechem were gathered together.
48 enti ɔdii nʼakodɔm anim kɔɔ Salmon Bepɔ so. Ɔfaa akuma twaa mman bi firii dua bi so na ɔde guu ne mmati so. Ɔka kyerɛɛ ne dɔm no sɛ, “Ntɛm, deɛ 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, sɛdeɛ Abimelek yɛeɛ no. Wɔboaa mman no ano wɔ asɔreeɛ no afasuo ho de ogya too mu. Enti, nnipa a na wɔte Sekem abantenten mu a wɔn dodoɔ bɛyɛ mmarima ne mmaa apem no nyinaa wuwuiɛ.
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 to hyɛɛ kuropɔn Tebes so dii so.
Then Abimelech went to Thebez, and camped against Thebez, and took it.
51 Nanso, na abandenden bi wɔ kuropɔn no mu. Ɛno enti, kuropɔn no mu nnipa nyinaa dwane kɔhyɛɛ mu. Wɔtoo wɔn ho ɛpono mu, foforo kɔɔ abandenden 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 ɔrekɔto ahyɛ abandenden no so. Ɔyɛɛ nʼadwene sɛ ɔreto mu ogya 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 ɔbaa bi a ɔwɔ abandenden no atifi gyaa ayuyammoɔ mu ma ɛbɛbɔɔ Abimelek moma so na ɛpɛkyɛɛ ne ti kwankoraa.
A certain woman threw down an upper millstone on Abimelech's head, and broke his skull.
54 Abimelek ka kyerɛɛ aberanteɛ a ɔkura nʼakodeɛ sɛ, “Twe wʼakofena na kum me! Na nnipa anka sɛ ɔbaabasia na ɔkumm Abimelek!” Enti, aberanteɛ no de nʼakofena wɔɔ no ma ɔwuiɛ.
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 Ɛberɛ a Abimelek nkurɔfoɔ hunuu sɛ wawuo no, wɔde wɔn akodeɛ guu hɔ sane kɔɔ wɔn afie 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 ɔkumm ne nuammarima 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 ahodoɔ a wɔyɛeɛ no ho. Ɛno enti, 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.
