< Judges 9 >

1 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,
Jerub-Baal capa Abimelek loe Shekem ah kaom amno ih thangqoinawk hoi amno ih acaengnawk khaeah caeh moe,
2 “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.”
Shekem ih kaminawk boih khaeah, Nangcae to Jerub-Baal ih capa quisarihtonawk mah ukhaih maw hoih kue, to ai boeh loe kami maeto mah ukhaih? kai loe nangcae ih ahuh hoi angan ah ni ka oh, tiah panoek oh, tiah thuih pae hanah tahmenhaih a hnik.
3 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.”
To tiah a thuih pae ih loknawk to amno ih tangqoinawk mah Shekem vangpui ah kaom kaminawk boih khaeah thuih pae o naah, Abimelek loe kaicae ih amnawk ni, tiah a thuih o pongah, anih to abomh han koeh o.
4 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.
To pongah nihcae mah Baal-Berith tempul ih phoisa shekel quisarihto anih hanah paek o; Abimelek mah to ih phoisa hoiah zithaih tawn ai misahoih kaminawk to tlai moe, angmah hnukah bangsak.
5 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.
Anih loe Ophrah ah kaom ampa im ah caeh moe, angmah ih nawkamyanawk Jerub-Baal capa quisarihtonawk to lungsong maeto nuiah hum boih; toe Jerub-Baal capa asoi koek, Jotham loe anghawk ving pongah a loih.
6 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.
To naah Shekem ah kaom kaminawk hoi Millo imthung takohnawk loe, Shekem ih thing ohhaih ahmuen ah nawnto amkhueng o moe, Abimelek to siangpahrang ah suek o.
7 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.
To lok to Jotham khae thuih pae o naah, Gerizim mae nuiah dawh moe, nihcae khaeah, hae tiah a hang thuih; Shekem acaengnawk, Sithaw mah nangcae ih lok tahngai hanah, ka lok hae tahngai oh.
8 The trees set out to anoint a king over themselves. They said to the olive tree, ‘Reign over us.’
Nito naah thingnawk loe angmacae ukkung siangpahrang to suek moe, situi bawh hanah a caeh o; nihcae mah olive thing khaeah, Kaicae hae na uk ah, tiah a naa o.
9 “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?’
Toe olive thing mah, nihcae khaeah, Sithaw hoi kami mah pakoeh ih ka thawkhaih to caehtaak moe, thing nuiah kam zam han maw? tiah a naa.
10 “The trees said to the fig tree, ‘Come and reign over us.’
To pacoengah thingnawk mah thaiduet thing khaeah, Angzoh loe kaicae hae na uk ah, tiah a naa o.
11 “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?’
Toe thaiduet thing mah nihcae khaeah, Ka luephaih hoi kahoih kaimah ih thingthai hae ka caehtaak moe, thingnawk to ka khuk han maw? tiah naa let bae.
12 “The trees said to the vine, ‘Come and reign over us.’
Thingnawk mah misurkung khaeah, Angzoh loe, kaicae hae na uk ah, tiah a naa o.
13 “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?’
Toe misurkung mah nihcae khaeah, Sithaw hoi kami nawmsakhaih kaimah ih misurtui hae ka caehtaak moe, thingnawk to ka khuk han maw? tiah a naa.
14 “Then all the trees said to the bramble, ‘Come and reign over us.’
Thingnawk boih mah soekhringkung khaeah, Angzoh loe, kaicae hae na uk ah, tiah a naa o.
15 “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.’
To naah soekhringkung mah thingnawk khaeah, Kai hae nangcae nuiah siangpahrang ah nang suek o moe, situi bawh han na koeh o tangtang nahaeloe, angzo oh loe, kai ih tahlip ah abuep oh; to tih ai nahaeloe soekhringkung thung hoiah hmai to tacawt ueloe, Lebanon ih sidar thingnawk to kangh tih, tiah a naa.
16 “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
To pongah vaihi nangcae mah, Palungthin tang hoiah Abimelek to siangpahrang ah na suek o moe, Jerub-Baal hoi a imthung takoh nuiah kahoih hmuen to na sak o boeh maw, a hnuk han koi hmuen to a nuiah na sak pae o maw?
17 (for my father fought for you, risked his life, and delivered you out of the hand of Midian;
(Kam pa mah nangcae han misatuk pae, a hinghaih paek moe, nangcae to Midian kaminawk ban thung hoiah ang pahlong o boeh.
18 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);
Toe vaihniah kam pa ih imthung takoh ah misa nang thawk o moe, lungsong maeto nuiah a capa quisarihto na hum pae o boih; a tamna nongpata ih capa Abimelek loe, nangmacae ih amnawk ah oh pongah, Shekem acaengnawk boih ukkung siangpahrang ah na suek o; )
19 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;
vaihniah palungthin tang hoiah Jerub-Baal hoi a imthung takoh nuiah kahoih hmuen to na sak o nahaeloe, Abimelek to nangcae anghoehaih ah om nasoe, nangcae doeh a nuiah anghoe o toeng ah:
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.”
toe nang hoe o ai nahaeloe, Abimelek khae hoi hmai to tacawt nasoe loe, nangcae Shekem vangpui ah kaom kaminawk hoi Millo imthung takohnawk boih to paduek nasoe; Shekem ih kaminawk hoi Millo imthung takoh khae hoiah hmai to tacawt nasoe loe, Abimelek to kangh nasoe, tiah a naa.
21 Jotham ran away and fled, and went to Beer and lived there, for fear of Abimelech his brother.
To pacoengah Jotham loe amya Abimelek to zit pongah, cawnh moe, Beer vangpui ah oh.
22 Abimelech was prince over Israel three years.
Abimelek mah Israel kaminawk to saning thumto uk,
23 Then God sent an evil spirit between Abimelech and the men of Shechem; and the men of Shechem dealt treacherously with Abimelech,
Sithaw mah Abimelek hoi Shekem kaminawk khaeah kasae muithla to patoeh pae; to naah Shekem ih kaminawk mah Abimelek nuiah oep om ai ah khosak pae o.
24 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.
Jerub-Baal ih capa quisarihtonawk nuiah sak ih sethaih to nihcae humkung angmacae ih amnawk Abimelek nuiah krah tih; angmah ih nawkamyanawk hum hanah bomkung Shekem vangpui kaminawk nuiah doeh krah tih.
25 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.
Shekem vangpui ih kaminawk loe Abimelek angang hanah mae nuiah caeh o; to ah caeh kaminawk boih ih hmuenmaenawk to lomh pae o; to lok to Abimelek khaeah thuih pae o.
26 Gaal the son of Ebed came with his brothers and went over to Shechem; and the men of Shechem put their trust in him.
Ebed capa Gaal loe angmah ih nawkamyanawk hoi nawnto Shekem ah khosak han angpoeng o; anih loe to vangpui kaminawk mah oep ih kami ah oh.
27 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.
Nihcae loe lawk ah caeh o, misurthaih to pakhrik o moe, khok hoiah atit o; tempul thungah caeh o moe, kanawm ah poih to sak o; a caak a naek o moe, Abimelek to tangoeng o.
28 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?
To naah Ebed capa Gaal mah, Abimelek loe mi aa, Shekem loe mi aa, Tipongah aicae mah anih ih toksak pae han angaih loe? Anih loe Jerub-Baal capa na ai maw? Zebul loe anih ih toksah kami ah na ai maw oh? Shekem ampa, Hamor ih tok to sah pae oh; tih hanah Abimelek ih tok a sak o han loe?
29 I wish that this people were under my hand! Then I would remove Abimelech.” He said to Abimelech, “Increase your army and come out!”
Sithaw rang hoiah hae kaminawk hae ka ban thungah om o na haeloe, Abimelek to ka takhoe ving han; Abimelek khaeah, Nang mah ih misatuh kaminawk boih na kawk cadoeh, kaicae mah kang pazawk o han vop, tiah ka naa han, tiah a thuih.
30 When Zebul the ruler of the city heard the words of Gaal the son of Ebed, his anger burnt.
Ebed capa Gaal ih lok to, vangpui ukkung Zebul mah thaih naah, paroeai palungphui.
31 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.
To naah anih mah tamqumta hoi Abimelek khaeah laicaehnawk to patoeh, Ebed capa Gaal hoi anih ih nawkamyanawk loe Shekem vangpui ah khosak han angpoeng o tih; khenah, nihcae loe nang to tuk hanah vangpui thungah toksak o.
32 Now therefore, go up by night, you and the people who are with you, and lie in wait in the field.
To pongah aqum ah nangmah ih kaminawk hoi nawnto angzoh loe, nihcae to lawk ah angang oh;
33 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.”
akhawn bang khawnthaw ni tacawt naah, vangpui to tuh oh; Gaal hoi anih ih kaminawk nang tuk hanah angzoh o naah, na ban mah sak koeh ih baktih toengah sah oh, tiah a naa.
34 Abimelech rose up, and all the people who were with him, by night, and they laid wait against Shechem in four companies.
To pongah Abimelek hoi anih ih misatuh kaminawk boih angthawk o, khoving ah caeh o moe, abu palito ampraek o pacoengah, Shekem vangpui to a toep o.
35 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.
Abimelek hoi anih ih misatuh kaminawk loe anghawkhaih ahmuen hoiah angzoh o naah, Ebed capa Gaal loe tasa bangah caeh moe, khongkha taengah angdoet.
36 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.”
Gaal mah nihcae to hnuk naah, Zebul khaeah, Khenah, mae nui hoiah kaminawk angzoh o, tiah a naa. Zebul mah anih khaeah, Mae ih tahlip to kami baktiah na hnuk moeng kalang mue, tiah a naa.
37 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.”
Toe Gaal mah, khenah, lawk aum hoiah kaminawk to angzoh o tathuk, kalah kami abu loe Meonenim thing ohhaih ahmuen bang hoiah angzoh o, tiah a naa.
38 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.”
To naah Zebul mah anih khaeah, Abimelek loe kawbaktih kami ah maw oh moe, anih ih tok ka sak pae o han loe? tiah na thuih ih pakha loe vaihi naah maw oh? Nihcae loe na khet patoek ih kaminawk na ai maw? Caeh loe nihcae to tuh ah, tiah a naa.
39 Gaal went out before the men of Shechem, and fought with Abimelech.
To pongah Gaal mah vangpui thung ih kaminawk to kok moe, Abimelek to tuk.
40 Abimelech chased him, and he fled before him, and many fell wounded, even to the entrance of the gate.
Abimelek mah Gaal to patom naah, anih loe cawnh ving; vangpui thungah akunhaih khongkha khoek to, kami paroeai ahmaa caak o moe, duek o.
41 Abimelech lived at Arumah; and Zebul drove out Gaal and his brothers, that they should not dwell in Shechem.
Abimelek loe Arumah ah khosak; Zebul mah Gaal hoi anih ih nawkamyanawk to Shekem vangpui hoiah haek boih.
42 On the next day, the people went out into the field; and they told Abimelech.
Khawnbangah Shekem vangpui ih kaminawk loe lawk ah caeh o, to lok to Abimelek khaeah thuih pae o.
43 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.
To pongah anih mah angmah ih kaminawk to kawk moe, abu thumto ah tapraek pacoengah, lawk ah kami to angangsak; khenah, vangpui thung hoiah kami angzoh o naah, anih loe nihcae tuk hanah angthawk moe, a tuk.
44 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.
Abimelek hoi a taengah kaom misatuh kaminawk loe, vangpui khongkha thungah cawnh o moe, angang o; kalah misatuh abu hnetto loe lawk ah caeh o moe, kaminawk to patom o pacoengah, hum o.
45 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.
To na ni athun qui Abimelek mah vangpui to tuk moe, a lak; athung ah kaom kaminawk to hum moe, vangpui to paro pacoengah, a nuiah paloi to a phuih.
46 When all the men of the tower of Shechem heard of it, they entered into the stronghold of the house of Elberith.
To lok to Shekem imsang ah kaom kaminawk mah thaih o naah, sithaw Berith tempul thungah akun o.
47 Abimelech was told that all the men of the tower of Shechem were gathered together.
Shekem vangpui ih kaom kaminawk boih loe to ahmuen ah amkhueng o, tiah Abimelek khaeah thuih pae o.
48 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!”
Abimelek mah angmah hoi angmah ih kaminawk boih to Zalmon mae ah dawh haih; anih mah caka to lak moe, thing tanghang to pakhruk pacoengah, palaeng ah aput; a taengah kaom kaminawk khaeah, Nang hnuk o ih ka sak ih hmuen baktih toengah, karangah sah oh, tiah a naa.
49 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.
To pongah kaminawk boih mah thing tanghang to pakruk o moe, Abimelek hnukah bang o; thingnawk to akhaw thungah hnawt o moe, akhaw to hmai hoiah thlaek o; to naah Shekem imsang thungah kaom kaminawk, nongpa nongpata kami sangto duek o.
50 Then Abimelech went to Thebez and encamped against Thebez, and took it.
To pacoengah Abimelek to Thebez vangpui ah caeh, to vangpui to tuk moe, a lak.
51 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.
Toe vangpui thungah kacak parai imsang maeto oh; vangpui thungah kaom kaminawk hoi nongpa nongpatanawk loe to imsang ah cawnh o boih; thok to khah o moe, imsang imphu ah a dawh o.
52 Abimelech came to the tower and fought against it, and came near to the door of the tower to burn it with fire.
Abimelek loe to imsang ah caeh moe, a tuk; toe imsang to hmai hoi qoeng hanah tha pathok moe, akunhaih khongkha khoek to a phak.
53 A certain woman cast an upper millstone on Abimelech’s head, and broke his skull.
To naah nongpata maeto mah imphu hoiah Abimelek ih lu nuiah thlung pakhrak thuih moe, a lu to koih phaeng.
54 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.”
To naah angmah ih hmuenmae phawkung to karangah kawk moe, anih khaeah, Nongpata maeto mah hum, tiah minawk mah thuih o han ai ah, na sumsen to aphongh loe, na hum ah, tiah a naa. To pongah a tamna mah anih to thunh moe, duek.
55 When the men of Israel saw that Abimelech was dead, they each departed to his place.
Abimelek duek boeh, tiah Israel kaminawk mah hnuk o naah, kami boih angmacae im ah amlaem o.
56 Thus God repaid the wickedness of Abimelech, which he did to his father in killing his seventy brothers;
Abimelek mah angmah ih nawkamya quisarihto hum moe, ampa nuiah sak ih zaehaih to Sithaw mah pathok let.
57 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.
Shekem vangpui ih kaminawk boih mah sak o ih kasae hmuennawk to angmacae lu nuiah Sithaw mah kraksak let; Jerub-Baal capa Jotham ih tangoenghaih to nihcae nuiah phak.

< Judges 9 >