< Judges 9 >

1 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,
Pea naʻe ʻalu ki Sikemi ʻa ʻApimeleki ko e foha ʻo Selupeali ki he kāinga ʻo ʻene faʻē, pea alea ia mo kinautolu, pea mo kinautolu kotoa pē naʻe ʻi he fale ʻoe tamai ʻa ʻene faʻē, ʻo pehē,
2 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.
“ʻOku ou kole kiate kimoutolu, mou lea ʻi he telinga ʻoe kau tangata ʻo Sikemi, Ko fē ia ʻoku lelei, ʻae pule kiate kimoutolu ʻae ngaahi foha kotoa pē ʻo Selupeali, ko e toko fitungofulu, pe ko e pule ʻae tokotaha kiate kimoutolu? Mou manatu foki ʻoku ʻo homou hui mo homou kakano au.”
3 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.
Pea naʻe lea ai ʻae kāinga ʻo ʻene faʻē ʻi he telinga ʻoe kau tangata kotoa pē ʻo Sikemi ʻi he ngaahi lea ni: pea naʻe tokanga leva honau loto ke muimui ia ʻApimeleki: he naʻa nau pehē, ko hotau kāinga ia.
4 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.
Pea naʻa nau ʻatu kiate ia ʻae konga siliva ʻe fitungofulu mei he fale ʻo Peali-Piliti, ʻaia naʻe ʻave ʻe ʻApimeleki ʻo foaki ki he kau tangata kovi mo vaʻivaʻinga ʻaia naʻe muimui ʻiate ia.
5 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.
Pea naʻa ne ʻalu ki he fale ʻo ʻene tamai ʻi Ofila, ʻo ne tāmateʻi hono kāinga ko e ngaahi foha ʻo Selupeali ʻe toko fitungofulu, ʻi he funga maka pe taha: ka naʻe hao ʻa Sotame ko e foha kimui ʻo Selupeali: he naʻa ne fufū ia.
6 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.
Pea naʻe fakataha ʻae kau tangata kotoa pē ʻo Sikemi, mo e fale kotoa ʻo Milo, pea naʻa nau ʻalu, ʻo fakanofo ʻa ʻApimeleki ke tuʻi, ʻI he malaʻe ʻoe pou ʻaia naʻe ʻi Sikemi.
7 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.
Pea ʻi heʻenau tala ia kia Sotame, naʻe ʻalu ia ʻo tuʻu ʻi he tumutumu ʻoe moʻunga ko Kelisimi, pea hiki hono leʻo, ʻo kalanga, ʻo ne pehē kiate kinautolu, “Fanongo kiate au, ʻakimoutolu ʻae kau tangata ʻo Sikemi, koeʻuhi ke tokanga ʻae ʻOtua kiate kimoutolu.
8 The trees went forth [on a time] to anoint a king over them; and they said to the olive-tree, Reign thou over us.
Naʻe ʻalu atu ʻae ngaahi ʻakau ʻi he kuonga ʻe taha ke fakanofo ha tuʻi kiate kinautolu; pea naʻa nau pehē ki he ʻolive, ‘Ke ke pule koe kiate kimautolu.’
9 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?
Ka naʻe pehē ʻe he ʻolive kiate kinautolu, ‘He te u tuku ʻeku lelei ʻaʻaku ʻaia ʻoku tupu ai ʻiate au ʻenau fakaʻapaʻapa ki he ʻOtua mo e tangata, pea u ʻalu ke hoko ko e māʻolunga au ʻi he ngaahi ʻakau?’
10 And the trees said to the fig-tree, Come thou, [and] reign over us.
Pea naʻe pehē ʻe he ngaahi ʻakau ki he fiki, ‘Haʻu koe, ʻo pule kiate kimautolu.’
11 But the fig-tree said to them, Should I forsake my sweetness, and my good fruit, and go to be promoted over the trees?
Ka naʻe pehē ʻe he fiki kiate kinautolu, ‘ʻE lelei ʻeku tuku ʻeku huʻamelie, mo ʻeku fua lelei, pea u ʻalu ke hoko au ke māʻolunga ki he ngaahi ʻakau?’
12 Then said the trees to the vine, Come thou, [and] reign over us.
Pea naʻe pehē ʻe he ngaahi ʻakau ki he vaine, ‘Haʻu koe, ʻo pule kiate kimautolu.’
13 And the vine said to them, Should I leave my wine, which cheereth God and man, and go to be promoted over the trees?
Pea naʻe pehē ʻe he vaine kiate kinautolu, ‘ʻE lelei ʻeku tuku ʻeku uaine, ʻaia ʻoku ne fakafiemālie ʻae ʻOtua mo e tangata, pea u ʻalu ke hoko ke pule ki he ngaahi ʻakau?’
14 Then said all the trees to the bramble, Come thou, [and] reign over us.
Pea naʻe pehē ʻe he ngaahi ʻakau kotoa pē ki he talatalaʻāmoa, ‘Haʻu koe, ʻo pule kiate kimautolu.’
15 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.
Pea naʻe pehē ʻe he talatalaʻāmoa ki he ngaahi ʻakau, ‘Kapau ʻoku mou fakanofo moʻoni au ko e tuʻi kiate kimoutolu, mou haʻu ʻo falala ki hoku malu: pea kapau ʻe ʻikai, tuku ke haʻu ʻae afi mei he talatalaʻāmoa ʻo fakaʻauha ʻae ngaahi sita ʻo Lepanoni.’
16 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:
“Pea ko eni, kapau kuo mou fai moʻoni, mo totonu, ʻi hoʻomou fakanofo ʻa ʻApimeleki ke tuʻi, pea kapau kuo mou fai lelei kia Selupeali mo hono fale, mou fai kiate ia ʻo fakatatau ki he ngāue lelei ʻa hono nima:
17 (For my father fought for you, and adventured his life far, and delivered you from the hand of Midian:
(He naʻe tau ʻeku tamai maʻamoutolu, ʻo ne liʻaki moʻoni ʻene moʻui, ʻo ne fakamoʻui ai ʻakimoutolu mei he nima ʻo Mitiane:
18 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: )
Pea kuo mou tuʻu hake he ʻaho ni ki he fale ʻo ʻeku tamai, pea kuo mou tāmateʻi hono ngaahi foha, ko e tangata ʻe toko fitungofulu, ʻi he maka pe taha, pea kuo mou fakanofo ʻa ʻApimeleki, ko e tama ʻa ʻene kaunanga, ke tuʻi ki he kau tangata ʻo Sikemi koeʻuhi ko homou kāinga ia; )
19 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:
Pea ko eni, kapau kuo mou fai moʻoni mo angatonu kia Selupeali, pea ki hono fale he ʻaho ni, mou fiefia ia ʻApimeleki, pea tuku ke vikiviki ia ʻiate kimoutolu:
20 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.
Pea kapau ʻoku ʻikai, tuku ke haʻu ʻae afi meia ʻApimeleki ʻo fakaʻauha ʻae kau tangata ʻo Sikemi, mo e fale ʻo Milo; pea haʻu ʻae afi mei he kau tangata ʻo Sikemi, pea mei he fale ʻo Milo, pea fakaʻauha ʻa ʻApimeleki.”
21 And Jotham ran away, and fled, and went to Beer, and dwelt there, for fear of Abimelech his brother.
Pea naʻe lele ʻa Sotame ʻo hola, pea ne ʻalu ki Piea, pea nofo ai, ʻi he manavahē kia ʻApimeleki ko hono tokoua.
22 When Abimelech had reigned three years over Israel,
Pea hili ʻae taʻu ʻe tolu mo ʻene pule ʻa ʻApimeleki ki ʻIsileli,
23 Then God sent an evil spirit between Abimelech and the men of Shechem; and the men of Shechem dealt treacherously with Abimelech:
Naʻe fekau ʻe he ʻOtua ʻae laumālie kovi kia ʻApimeleki mo e kau tangata ʻo Sikemi: pea naʻe fai fakakākā ʻe he kau tangata ʻo Sikemi kia ʻApimeleki.
24 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.
Koeʻuhi ke hoko ʻae kovi naʻe fai ki he ngaahi foha ʻe toko fitungofulu ʻo Selupeali, mo honau toto, kia ʻApimeleki ko honau tehina, ʻaia naʻa ne tāmateʻi ʻakinautolu; pea ki he kau tangata ʻo Sikemi, ʻakinautolu naʻa nau tokoni ia ʻi he tāmateʻi ʻo hono ngaahi kāinga.
25 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.
Pea naʻe fakanofo ʻe he kau tangata ʻo Sikemi ʻae kau tangata ke lamasi ia ʻi he tumutumu ʻoe ngaahi moʻunga, pea naʻa nau kaihaʻasi mei he kakai kotoa pē naʻe ʻalu ʻi he hala ofi kiate kinautolu pea naʻe fakahā ia kia ʻApimeleki.
26 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.
Pea naʻe haʻu ʻa Keali ko e foha ʻo Epeti mo hono ngaahi kāinga, ʻonau hoko ki Sikemi: pea naʻe tui kiate ia ʻae kau tangata ʻo Sikemi.
27 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.
Pea naʻa nau ʻalu kituaʻā ki he ngoue, ʻo tānaki ʻenau ngoue vaine, ʻonau malakaki ʻenau ngaahi kālepi, pea fai ʻae fiefia, ʻonau hū ki he fale ʻo honau ʻotua, ʻonau kai mo inu, pea naʻa nau kapeʻi ʻa ʻApimeleki.
28 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?
Pea naʻe pehē ʻe Keali ko e foha ʻo Epeti, “Ko hai ʻa ʻApimeleki, pea ko hai ʻa Sikemi, koeʻuhi ke tau tauhi ia? ʻIkai ko e foha ia ʻo Selupeali? Mo Sepuli ko ʻene matāpule? Mou tauhi ʻae kau tangata ʻo Hemoa ko e tamai ʻa Sikemi: he koeʻumaʻā ʻemau tauhi kiate ia?
29 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.
‌ʻAmusiaange ʻeau ki he ʻOtua kuo ʻi hoku lalo nima ʻae kakai ni! Pea te u toki hiki ʻa ʻApimeleki. Pea pehē ʻe ia kia ʻApimeleki, ‘Fakatokolahi hoʻo kau tau, pea ke haʻu kituaʻā.’”
30 And when Zebul the ruler of the city heard the words of Gaal the son of Ebed, his anger was kindled.
Pea ʻi he fanongo ʻa Sepuli ko e pule ʻoe kolo ki he ngaahi lea ʻa Keali ko e foha ʻo Epeti, naʻe tupu ai ʻene ʻita.
31 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.
Pea naʻe fekau fakalilolilo kia ʻApimeleki, ʻo pehē, “Vakai, ko Keali ko e foha ʻo Epeti mo hono ngaahi kāinga kuo nau haʻu ki Sikemi: pea vakai, ʻoku nau teu ʻae kolo ni ko ho tauʻi:
32 Now therefore rise by night, thou, and the people that [are] with thee, and lie in wait in the field:
Pea ko eni ke ke hake ʻi he poʻuli ʻa koe mo e kakai ʻoku ʻiate koe, pea toka ʻae malumu ʻi he ngoue:
33 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.
Pea ʻe pehē, ʻi he hopo leva ʻae laʻā ʻapongipongi, ke ke tuʻu hake leva ʻo tauʻi ʻae kolo: pea vakai, ʻoka ʻalu atu ia mo e kakai ʻoku ʻiate ia ke tauʻi koe, te ke toki fai kiate kinautolu ʻo hangē ko e faʻa fai ʻo ho nima.”
34 And Abimelech rose, and all the people that [were] with him, by night, and they laid wait against Shechem in four companies.
Pea naʻe tuʻu hake ʻa ʻApimeleki, mo e kakai kotoa pē naʻe ʻiate ia, ʻi he poʻuli, pea naʻa nau vahe fā ʻakinautolu ʻo malumu ki Sikemi.
35 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.
Pea naʻe ʻalu atu ʻa Keali ko e foha ʻo Epeti, ʻo ne tuʻu ʻi he hūʻanga ki he matapā ʻoe kolo: pea naʻe tuʻu hake ʻa ʻApimeleki, mo e kakai naʻe ʻiate ia, mei heʻenau toka malumu.
36 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.
Pea ʻi he mamata ʻa Keali ki he kakai, naʻe pehē ʻe ia kia Sepuli, “Vakai, ʻoku ʻalu hifo ʻae kakai mei he ngaahi tumutumu ʻoe moʻunga.” Pea naʻe pehē ʻe Sepuli kiate ia, “ʻOku ke mamata ki he malu ʻoe moʻunga ʻo lau ia ko e kakai.”
37 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.
Pea naʻe toe lea ʻa Keali ʻo pehē, “Vakai, ʻoku ʻalu hifo ʻae kakai ʻi he loto fonua, pea ko e kakai ʻe taha ʻoku ʻalu ange ʻo ofi ki he tafangafanga ʻo Mioninimi.”
38 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.
Pea naʻe pehē ʻe Sepuli kiate ia, “Ko eni kuo ʻi fē ho ngutu, ʻaia naʻa ke lea ai, Ko hai ʻa ʻApimeleki ke tau tauhi ia? ʻIkai ko e kakai eni naʻa ke manukiʻi? Ko eni ʻoku ou kole kiate koe, ke ke ʻalu kituaʻā ʻo tauʻi ʻakinautolu.”
39 And Gaal went out before the men of Shechem, and fought with Abimelech.
Pea naʻe ʻalu kituaʻā ʻa Keali ʻi he ʻao ʻoe kau tangata ʻo Sikemi, ʻo ne tau mo ʻApimeleki.
40 And Abimelech chased him, and he fled before him, and many were overthrown [and] wounded, [even] to the entrance of the gate.
Pea naʻe tuli ia ʻe ʻApimeleki, pea naʻe hola ia mei hono ʻao, pea naʻe teʻia ʻae tokolahi mo lavea, ʻo aʻu atu ki he hūʻanga ʻoe matapā.
41 And Abimelech dwelt at Arumah: and Zebul thrust out Gaal and his brethren, that they should not dwell in Shechem.
Pea naʻe nofo ʻa ʻApimeleki ʻi Eluma pea naʻe kapusi ʻe Sepuli ʻa Keali mo hono kāinga, ke ʻoua naʻa nau nofo ʻi Sikemi.
42 And it came to pass on the morrow, that the people went out into the field; and they told Abimelech.
Pea naʻe hoko ʻo pehē ʻi he ʻapongipongi, naʻe ʻalu ʻae kakai ki he ngoue; pea naʻa nau tala ia kia ʻApimeleki.
43 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.
Pea naʻe ʻave ʻe ia ʻae kakai, ʻo ne vahe tolu kinautolu, pea toka ʻae malumu ʻi he ngoue, ʻo fakasio, pea vakai, kuo haʻu ʻae kakai kituaʻā mei he kolo; pea naʻe tuʻu hake ia kiate kinautolu, ʻo teʻia ʻakinautolu.
44 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.
Pea naʻe ʻoho atu ʻa ʻApimeleki mo e kau tangata naʻe ʻiate ia, ʻonau tuʻu ʻi hūʻanga ki he matapā ʻoe kolo: pea naʻe tuli ʻe he kongakau kehe ʻe ua ki he kakai naʻe ʻi he ngoue, ʻo tāmateʻi ʻakinautolu.
45 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.
Pea naʻe tauʻi ʻe ʻApimeleki ʻae kolo ʻi he ʻaho kotoa ko ia: pea naʻa ne lavaʻi ʻae kolo, ʻo tāmateʻi ʻae kakai naʻe ʻi ai, ʻo ne holoki hifo ʻae kolo, pea naʻe tūtuuʻi ia ʻaki ʻae māsima.
46 And when all the men of the tower of Shechem heard [that], they entered into a hold of the house of the god Berith.
Pea ʻi he fanongo ki ai ʻae kau tangata kotoa pē ʻoe fale tau māʻolunga ʻo Sikemi, naʻa nau hū ki he potu ʻoe fale ʻoe ʻotua ko Piliti.
47 And it was told to Abimelech, that all the men of the tower of Shechem were assembled.
Pea naʻe fakahā kia ʻApimeleki, kuo kātoa fakataha ʻae kau tangata kotoa pē ʻoe fale tau māʻolunga ʻo Sikemi.
48 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].
Pea naʻe ʻalu hake ʻa ʻApimeleki ki he moʻunga ko Salimoni, ʻaia mo e kakai kotoa pē naʻe ʻiate ia; pea naʻe toʻo ʻe ʻApimeleki ʻae toki ʻi hono nima, ʻo ne tā hifo ʻae vaʻakau mei he ngaahi ʻakau, ʻo ne toʻo ia, ʻo ʻai ki hono uma, pea ne pehē ki he kakai naʻe ʻiate ia, Ko ia kuo mou mamata kuo u fai, mou fakatoʻotoʻo ʻo faʻifaʻitaki kiate au.
49 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.
Pea naʻe fai ʻe he kakai kotoa pē ʻo tā hifo taki taha ʻae tangata ʻene vaʻakau, ʻonau muimui ʻia ʻApimeleki, ʻo fokotuʻu ia ki he potu mālohi, pea naʻe tutu ʻae potu mālohi kiate kinautolu; ko ia naʻe mate ai ʻae kau tangata ʻoe fale tau māʻolunga ʻo Sikemi foki, ko e kau tangata ʻe toko afe nai, mo e kau fefine.
50 Then went Abimelech to Thebez, and encamped against Thebez, and took it.
Pea naʻe ʻalu ai ʻa ʻApimeleki ki Tipesi, ʻo ne tauʻi ʻa Tipesi, pea ne lavaʻi ia.
51 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.
Ka naʻe ʻi ai ʻae fale tau mālohi ʻi he loto kolo, pea naʻe hola ki ai ʻae kau tangata kotoa pē mo e kau fefine, mo kinautolu kotoa pē ʻoe kolo, ʻonau tāpuni ia kiate kinautolu, pea naʻa nau ʻalu hake ki he tuʻafale ki ʻolunga.
52 And Abimelech came to the tower, and fought against it, and came near to the door of the tower to burn it with fire.
Pea naʻe haʻu ʻa ʻApimeleki ki he fale māʻolunga, ʻo ne tauʻi ia, pea naʻa ne ʻalu ofi ki he matapā ʻoe fale māʻolunga ke tutu ia ʻaki ʻae afi.
53 And a certain woman cast a piece of of a millstone upon Abimelech's head, and broke his skull.
Pea naʻe sī hifo ʻe he fefine ha konga ʻoe maka momosi ki he ʻulu ʻo ʻApimeleki, koeʻuhi ke foa ai hono ʻulu.
54 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.
Pea naʻe ui fakatoʻotoʻo ia ki he talavou ko hono hoa tau, ʻo ne pehē kiate ia, “Unuhi hoʻo heletā, ʻo tāmateʻi au, ke ʻoua naʻa pehē ʻe he kakai ʻiate au, naʻe tāmateʻi ia ʻe he fefine.” Pea naʻe tui ia ke ʻasi ʻe heʻene talavou, pea naʻa ne mate.
55 And when the men of Israel saw that Abimelech was dead, they departed every man to his place.
Pea ʻi he mamata ʻae kau tangata ʻo ʻIsileli kuo mate ʻa ʻApimeleki, naʻa nau ʻalu taki taha ki hono potu.
56 Thus God rendered the wickedness of Abimelech, which he did to his father, in slaying his seventy brethren:
Naʻe pehē ʻae totongi ʻe he ʻOtua kia ʻApimeleki ʻi he ngaahi angakovi ʻaia naʻa ne fai ki heʻene tamai, ʻi he tāmateʻi hono kāinga ʻe toko fitungofulu:
57 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.
Pea ko e ngaahi kovi ʻae kau tangata ʻo Sikemi naʻe totongi ia ʻe he ʻOtua ki honau ʻulu: pea naʻe hoko kiate kinautolu ʻae malaʻia naʻe fakahā ʻe Sotame ko e foha ʻo Selupeali.

< Judges 9 >