Judges 9
1 And Abimelech the son of Jerubbaal went to Shechem unto his mother’s brethren, and spake with them, and with all the family of the house of his mother’s father, saying,
Gbe ɖeka la Abimelek, Yerubaal ƒe vi, ɖi tsa yi ɖasra nyruiawo kpɔ le Sekem
2 Speak, I pray you, in the ears of all the men of Shechem, Whether is better for you that all the sons of Jerubbaal, which are threescore and ten persons, rule over you, or that one rule over you? remember also that I am your bone and your flesh.
eye wòdo susu sia ɖe wo gbɔ be: Alekee, anyo na mi be Yerubaal ƒe vi blaadre sɔŋ naɖu fia ɖe mia dzi loo, alo be nye Abimelek, ame si nye mia vi ŋutɔŋutɔ la naɖu fia ɖe mia dzia, miyi ɖabia dumemetsitsiawo se.
3 And his mother’s brethren spake 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.
Ale Abimelek nyruiawo yi dumemetsitsiwo gbɔ hetsɔ Abimelek ƒe nya la ɖo woƒe ŋkume. Woɖo be, esi Abimelek dada tso yewoƒe dua me ta la, yewoxɔ Abimelek ƒe nya la.
4 And they gave him threescore and ten [pieces] of silver out of the house of Baal-berith, wherewith Abimelech hired vain and light fellows, which followed him.
Ale wona gae tso esi wodzɔ le trɔ̃ Baal Berit subɔƒe la me eye fia Abimelek tsɔ ga sia ƒo gbevu aɖewo nu ƒu ɖe eɖokui ŋu.
5 And he went unto his father’s house at Ophrah, and slew his brethren the sons of Jerubbaal, being threescore and ten persons, upon one stone: but Jotham the youngest son of Jerubbaal was left; for he hid himself.
Ekplɔ wo yi fofoa ƒe aƒe me le Ofra eye wòna wowu Yerubaal ƒe vi blaadreawo ɖe kpe ɖeka dzi, ke Yerubaal ƒe vi ɖeka, Yotam, koe si ɖaɣla eɖokui.
6 And all the men of Shechem assembled themselves together, and all the house of Millo, and went and made Abimelech king, by the oak of the pillar that was in Shechem.
Esia megbe la, Sekemtɔwo kple Betmilɔtɔwo wɔ takpekpe gã aɖe le oɖumti la te le Sekem eye woɖo Abimelek fiae.
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 unto them, Hearken unto me, ye men of Shechem, that God may hearken unto you.
Esi wogblɔ nya sia na Yotam la, eyi Gerizim to la tame eye wòdo ɣli gblɔ na wo be, “Miɖo tom, mi Sekemtɔwo, ale be Mawu naɖo to mi.
8 The trees went forth on a time to anoint a king over them; and they said unto the olive tree, Reign thou over us.
Gbe ɖeka la, atiwo kpe ta be woaɖo fia na wo ɖokui. Wogblɔ na amiti be, ‘Ɖu fia ɖe mía dzi.’
9 But the olive tree said unto them, Should I leave my fatness, wherewith by me they honour God and man, and go to wave to and fro over the trees?
“Gake amiti ɖo eŋu na wo be, ‘Ɖe madzudzɔ amidzidzi, ami si wotsɔna dea bubu mawuwo kple amegbetɔwo ŋu be mava ɖu fia ɖe atiwo dzia?’
10 And the trees said to the fig tree, Come thou, and reign over us.
“Emegbe la wogblɔ na gboti be, ‘Va ɖu fia ɖe mía dzi.’
11 But the fig tree said unto them, Should I leave my sweetness, and my good fruit, and go to wave to and fro over the trees?
“Ke gboti ɖo eŋu na wo be, ‘Ɖe madzudzɔ nye ku vivi ŋanɛwo tsetse be maɖu fia ɖe atiwo dzia?’
12 And the trees said unto the vine, Come thou, and reign over us.
“Wogblɔ na wainka be, ‘Va ɖu fia ɖe mía dzi.’
13 And the vine said unto them, Should I leave my wine, which cheereth God and man, and go to wave to and fro over the trees?
“Ke wainka ɖo eŋu na wo be, ‘Ɖe madzudzɔ wain si doa dzidzɔ na mawuwo kple amewo siaa la tsetse ale be maɖu fia ɖe atiwo dzia.’
14 Then said all the trees unto the bramble, Come thou, and reign over us.
“Mlɔeba la, atiawo katã gblɔ na ŋuti be, ‘Va, nàɖu fia ɖe mía dzi.’
15 And the bramble said unto 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.
“Ŋuti gblɔ na atiawo be, ‘Ne miaɖom fiae ɖe mia nu vavã la, ekema miva be ɖe nye vɔvɔli te, ke ne menye nenema o la, mina dzo nado tso ŋuti la me ava bi Lebanon ƒe sedatiwo.’”
16 Now therefore, if ye have dealt truly and uprightly, in that ye have made Abimelech king, and if ye have dealt well with Jerubbaal and his house, and have done unto him according to the deserving of his hands;
Yotam yi edzi be, “Ɖe miewɔ nu dzɔdzɔe ɖe Yerubaal kple eƒe dzidzimeviwo ŋu be mietsɔ Abimelek ɖo fia mahã?
17 (for my father fought for you, and adventured his life, and delivered you out of the hand of Midian:
Fofonye wɔ aʋa na mi, tsɔ eƒe agbe ke eye wòɖe mi tso Midiantɔwo ƒe asi me,
18 and ye are risen up against my father’s house this day, and have slain his sons, threescore and ten persons, upon one stone, and have made Abimelech, the son of his maidservant, king over the men of Shechem, because he is your brother; )
ke mietso ɖe eŋu eye miewu via blaadre le kpe ɖeka dzi. Azɔ la, mietsɔ via Abimelek, ame si nye fofonye ƒe kosi vi la ɖo fiae elabena miaƒe ƒometɔ wònye.
19 if ye then have dealt truly and uprightly with Jerubbaal and with his house this day, then rejoice ye in Abimelech, and let him also rejoice in you:
Ne mieka ɖe edzi be yewowɔ nu dzɔdzɔe ɖe Yerubaal kple eƒe dzidzimeviwo ŋu la, ekema agbe nadidi na mi eye eme nafa na miawo kple Abimelek siaa.
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.
Ke ne miewɔ nu dzɔdzɔe ɖe Gideon ŋu o la, ekema Abimelek natsrɔ̃ Sekemtɔwo kple Betmilɔt ƒe amewo eye woawo hã natsrɔ̃ Abimelek!”
21 And Jotham ran away, and fled, and went to Beer, and dwelt there, for fear of Abimelech his brother.
Azɔ vɔvɔ̃ na nɔvia Abimelek ta la, Yotam si yi ɖanɔ Beer.
22 And Abimelech was prince over Israel three years.
Le Abimelek ƒe fiaɖuɖu le Israel ƒe etɔ̃ megbe la,
23 And God sent an evil spirit between Abimelech and the men of Shechem; and the men of Shechem dealt treacherously with Abimelech:
Mawu na dzre va dzɔ ɖe Fia Abimelek kple Sekemtɔwo dome, ale Sekemtɔwo tso ɖe fia la ŋu.
24 that the violence done to the threescore and ten sons of Jerubbaal might come, and that their blood might be laid upon Abimelech their brother, which slew them, and upon the men of Shechem, which strengthened his hands to slay his brethren.
Le nya siwo va dzɔ me la, wohe to na Abimelek kple Sekemtɔ siwo kpe ɖe eŋu le Yerubaal ƒe vi blaadreawo wuwu me.
25 And the men of Shechem set liers in wait for him on the tops of the mountains, and they robbed all that came along that way by them: and it was told Abimelech.
Sekemtɔwo be ɖe mɔ si yi to la dzi la dzi na Abimelek. Esi wonɔ elalam be wòava yi la, woda adzo ame siwo va to mɔ la dzi yina. Ke ame aɖe fi tofi na Abimelek le nugbe si woɖo ɖe eŋu la ŋuti.
26 And Gaal the son of Ebed came with his brethren, and went over to Shechem: and the men of Shechem put their trust in him.
Ɣe ma ɣi la, Gaal, Ebed ƒe vi, ʋu kple nɔviawo yi Sekem eye wòzu ame ŋkutawo dometɔ ɖeka le dua me.
27 And they went out into the field, and gathered their vineyards, and trode [the grapes], and held festival, and went into the house of their god, and did eat and drink, and cursed Abimelech.
Le esime wonɔ nuŋeŋeŋkekenyui ɖum le Sekem le ƒe ma me le woƒe mawu ƒe gbedoxɔ me la, amewo no wain nyuie eye wode asi fiƒoƒo de Abimelek me.
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 ye the men of Hamor the father of Shechem: but why should we serve him?
Gaal do ɣli be, “Ame kae nye Abimelek eye nu ka ta wòanye míaƒe fia? Nu ka ta míanye eƒe subɔlawo? Eya kple xɔlɔ̃a, Zebul, boŋue anye míawo ƒe subɔlawo. Miɖe kɔ ɖa le Abimelek ŋu!
29 And would to God this people were under my hand! then would I remove Abimelech. And he said to Abimelech, Increase thine army, and come out.
Mitsɔm ɖo fiae eye enumake miakpɔ nu si adzɔ ɖe Abimelek dzi! Magblɔ na Abimelek be, ‘Ƒo aʋawɔlawo nu ƒu eye nàho aʋa!’”
30 And when Zebul the ruler of the city heard the words of Gaal the son of Ebed, his anger was kindled.
Ke esi dumegã Zebul se nya si Gaal gblɔ la, edo dɔmedzoe.
31 And he sent messengers unto Abimelech craftily, saying, Behold, Gaal the son of Ebed and his brethren are come to Shechem; and, behold, they constrain the city [to take part] against thee.
Enumake eɖo du ɖe Abimelek le Aruma be, “Gaal, Ebed ƒe vi kple eƒe ƒometɔwo ʋu va le Sekem eye wole aɖaŋu vɔ̃ ɖom na amewo be woatso ɖe ŋuwò.
32 Now therefore, up by night, thou and the people that is with thee, and lie in wait in the field:
Wò kple wò aʋakɔ miva be ɖe gbedzi le zã me
33 and it shall be, that in the morning, as soon as the sun is up, thou shalt rise early, and set upon the city: and, behold, when he and the people that is with him come out against thee, then mayest thou do to them as thou shalt find occasion.
eye ne ŋu ke ko la, mige ɖe dua me. Ne Gaal kple eƒe amewo do va kpe mi la, ekema miate ŋu awɔ nu sia nu si dze mia ŋu la kpli wo!”
34 And Abimelech rose up, and all the people that were with him, by night, and they laid wait against Shechem in four companies.
Abimelek kple eƒe amewo zɔ mɔ le zã me, woma ɖe akpa ene me eye wode xa ɖe teƒe vovovowo ƒo xlã dua.
35 And Gaal the son of Ebed went out, and stood in the entering of the gate of the city: and Abimelech rose up, and the people that were with him, from the ambushment.
Esi ŋu ke, le ŋdi me la, esime Gaal nɔ anyi ɖe dua ƒe agbo nu henɔ aɖaŋu dem kple dumemetsitsiawo la, Abimelek kple eƒe amewo lũ ɖe dua dzi.
36 And when Gaal saw the people, he said to Zebul, Behold, there come people down from the tops of the mountains. And Zebul said unto him, Thou seest the shadow of the mountains as if they were men.
Esi Gaal kpɔ wo la, edo ɣli gblɔ na Zebul be, “Kpɔ to ma dzi ɖa! Medze abe amewoe le ɖiɖim tso afi ma gbɔna ene oa?” Zebul ɖo eŋu be, “Ao! Vɔvɔliwo ko kpɔm nèle abe amewo ene!”
37 And Gaal spake again and said, See, there come people down by the middle of the land, and one company cometh by the way of the oak of Meonenim.
Gaal yi edzi be, “Kpɔ afi ma nyuie, meka ɖe edzi be mekpɔ amewo le lulũm ɖe mía dzi gbɔna. Kpɔ afi sia hã ɖa, ame bubuwo hã gbɔna; wodze le Meomenim ƒe oɖumti la ŋu!”
38 Then said Zebul unto him, Where is now thy mouth, that thou saidst, Who is Abimelech, that we should serve him? is not this the people that thou hast despised? go out now, I pray, and fight with them.
Tete Zebul biae be, “Afi ka wò numeɖiɖi gbogboawo le azɔ? Ame kae gblɔ be, ‘Ame ka gɔ̃e nye Abimelek eye nu ka ta wòaɖu fia ɖe mía dzi?’ Ame siwo ŋu nèɖu fewu le eye nèƒo fi de wo la le dua godo fifi laa! Do go nàkpe aʋa kpli wo!”
39 And Gaal went out before the men of Shechem, and fought with Abimelech.
Enumake Gaal kplɔ Sekemtɔwo eye wowɔ aʋa kple Abimelek.
40 And Abimelech chased him, and he fled before him, and there fell many wounded, even unto the entering of the gate.
Ke Abimelek ƒe amewo ɖu Gaal dzi. Sekemtɔ geɖewo xɔ abi eye womlɔ aʋagbe la dzi va se ɖe keke dua ƒe agbo nu ke.
41 And Abimelech dwelt at Arumah: and Zebul drave out Gaal and his brethren, that they should not dwell in Shechem.
Abimelek nɔ Aruma ɣe ma ɣi. Zebul nya Gaal kple eƒe ƒometɔwo le Sekem eye meɖe mɔ be woaganɔ afi ma o.
42 And it came to pass on the morrow, that the people went out into the field; and they told Abimelech.
Le ŋufɔke la, Sekemtɔwo gayi aʋa, ke ame aɖe fi tofi na Abimelek tso woƒe ɖoɖowo ŋu.
43 And he took the people, and divided them into three companies, and laid wait in the field; and he looked, and, behold, the people came forth out of the city; and he rose up against them, and smote them.
Ale wòma eƒe aʋawɔlawo ɖe akpa etɔ̃ eye wòɣla wo ɖe gbedzi. Esi Sekemtɔwo do ta ɖa la, Abimelek ƒe amewo dze wo dzi eye wode asi wo wuwu me.
44 And Abimelech, and the companies that were with him, rushed forward, and stood in the entering of the gate of the city: and the two companies rushed upon all that were in the field, and smote them.
Abimelek da aʋalɔgo ɖeka ɖe dua ƒe agbo nu ale be Sekemtɔwo ƒe aʋawɔlawo mate ŋu atrɔ, asi yi dua me o, le esime aʋalɔgo eve bubuawo nɔ wo wum le gbedzi.
45 And Abimelech fought against the city all that day; and he took the city, and slew the people that was therein: and he beat down the city, and sowed it with salt.
Wowɔ aʋa ŋkeke blibo la hafi Abimelek te ŋu xɔ du la. Ewu amewo eye wògbã du la.
46 And when all the men of the tower of Shechem heard thereof, they entered into the hold of the house of El-berith.
Esi Migdaltɔwo kpɔ nu si dzɔ la, wosi yi mɔ si te ɖe Baal Berit, ƒe subɔƒe la me.
47 And it was told Abimelech that all the men of the tower of Shechem were gathered together.
Esi Abimelek se be ameawo si yi mɔ la me la,
48 And Abimelech gat him up to mount Zalmon, he and all the people that 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: and he said unto the people that were with him, What ye have seen me do, make haste, and do as I have done.
Abimelek yi Zalmɔn to dzi. Efɔ nake lé ɖe abɔta eye wòɖe gbe na eƒe ameawo bena woawɔ nu si tututu yewɔ.
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.
Ale ameawo dometɔ ɖe sia ɖe fɔ nake yi dua me. Abimelek tsɔ eƒe nake tu mɔ la ƒe gli ŋu eya ta ameawo hã wɔ nenema ke. Woli kɔ woƒe nakewo ɖe glia ŋu eye wode dzo nakekɔ la me. Ale ame abe akpe ɖeka ene, ŋutsuwo kple nyɔnuwo siaa, ame siwo nɔ mɔ la me la katã ku.
50 Then went Abimelech to Thebez, and encamped against Thebez, and took it.
Abimelek ho aʋa ɖe Tebez du la ŋu azɔ eye wòxɔe.
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 themselves in, and gat them up to the roof of the tower.
Mɔ sesẽ aɖe nɔ dua me eya ta dua me tɔwo katã si yi eme. Wotu agbo la heyi mɔ la tame ke henɔ ŋku lém ɖe Abimelek kple eƒe amewo ŋu.
52 And Abimelech came unto the tower, and fought against it, and went hard unto the door of the tower to burn it with fire.
Esi Abimelek va mɔ la te eye wònɔ dzadzram ɖo be yeatɔ dzoe la,
53 And a certain woman cast an upper millstone upon Abimelech’s head, and brake his skull.
nyɔnu aɖe ɖe asi le nutukpe gã aɖe ŋu tso mɔ la tame ɖo ɖe anyigba eye kpea ge dze Abimelek dzi eye wogbã ta nɛ.
54 Then he called hastily unto the young man his armourbearer, and said unto him, Draw thy sword, and kill me, that men say not of me, A woman slew him. And his young man thrust him through, and he died.
Abimelek gblɔ na eƒe adekplɔvi be, “Wum! Elabena menyo be woase be nyɔnue wu Abimelek o!” Ale adekplɔvi la tɔ hɛe wòku.
55 And when the men of Israel saw that Abimelech was dead, they departed every man unto his place.
Esi Israelviwo kpɔ be Abimelek ku la, wokaka yi wo de.
56 Thus God requited the wickedness of Abimelech, which he did unto his father, in slaying his seventy brethren:
Ale Mawu he to na Abimelek le nu vɔ̃ si wòwɔ ɖe fofoa ŋu, to fofoa ƒe vi blaadreawo wuwu me la ta.
57 and all the wickedness of the men of Shechem did God requite upon their heads: and upon them came the curse of Jotham the son of Jerubbaal.
Mawu na Sekemtɔwo hã kpe fu ɖe woƒe ŋutasesẽ ta, abe ale si Yotam, Yerubaal ƒe vi gblɔe do ŋgɔ, esi wòƒo fi de wo la ene.
