Ndị Ikpe 6
1 Ọzọkwa, ụmụ Izrel mere ihe ọjọọ nʼanya Onyenwe anyị, nʼihi ya, Onyenwe anyị nyefere ha nʼaka ndị Midia afọ asaa.
The children of Israel did that which was evil in the LORD’s sight, so the LORD delivered them into the hand of Midian seven years.
2 Nʼihi na ndị Midia mekpara ha ahụ nke ukwuu, ụmụ Izrel meere onwe ha ebe obibi nʼugwu, nʼime ọgba nkume, na nʼebe e wusiri ike dị iche iche.
The hand of Midian prevailed against Israel; and because of Midian the children of Israel made themselves the dens which are in the mountains, the caves, and the strongholds.
3 Mgbe ọbụla ndị Izrel ghasịrị mkpụrụ nʼubi ha, ndị Midia, ndị Amalek na ụfọdụ ndị ọzọ si nʼọwụwa anyanwụ na-abịa buso ha agha.
So it was, when Israel had sown, that the Midianites, the Amalekites, and the children of the east came up against them.
4 Ha na-ebichi ala ahụ, bibie ihe niile a kụrụ nʼubi nʼala ahụ niile ruo na Gaza. O nweghị ihe ọbụla dị ndụ ndị Izrel nwere, ma atụrụ, ma ehi, ma ịnyịnya ibu, ha na-ahapụ.
They encamped against them, and destroyed the increase of the earth, until you come to Gaza. They left no sustenance in Israel, and no sheep, ox, or donkey.
5 Dịka usuu igurube ka ha na-abịa, ha na anụ ụlọ ha niile, na ụlọ ikwu ha niile. Ọnụọgụgụ ha dị ukwuu ruo na-apụghị ịgụta ole ha dị, maọbụ ịnyịnya kamel ha. Ha na-abata nʼala ahụ nʼihi ibibicha ya.
For they came up with their livestock and their tents. They came in as locusts for multitude. Both they and their camels were without number; and they came into the land to destroy it.
6 Site nʼomume ọjọọ ndị a, e mere ka ụmụ Izrel bụrụ ndị dara ụbịam nke ukwuu nʼihi ọchịchị ndị Midia. Nʼikpeazụ, ụmụ Izrel tikuru Onyenwe anyị ka o nyere ha aka.
Israel was brought very low because of Midian; and the children of Israel cried to the LORD.
7 Mgbe ụmụ Izrel tikuru Onyenwe anyị nʼihi mkpagbu ndị Midia na-akpagbu ha,
When the children of Israel cried to the LORD because of Midian,
8 Onyenwe anyị zitere onye amụma, onye gwara ha okwu sị, “Ihe a bụ ihe Onyenwe anyị Chineke nke Izrel kwuru, Esi m nʼala Ijipt, ala ahụ unu bụ ndị ohu nʼime ya, kpọpụta unu.
The LORD sent a prophet to the children of Israel; and he said to them, “The LORD, the God of Israel, says, ‘I brought you up from Egypt, and brought you out of the house of bondage.
9 Anapụtara m unu site nʼaka ike ndị Ijipt na site nʼaka ndị niile kpagburu unu, chụpụ ha site nʼihu unu, ma nye unu ala ha.
I delivered you out of the hand of the Egyptians and out of the hand of all who oppressed you, and drove them out from before you, and gave you their land.
10 Agwara m unu sị, ‘Mụ onwe m bụ Onyenwe anyị Chineke unu. Unu efela chi niile nke ndị Amọrait, ndị unu bi nʼala ha.’ Ma unu jụrụ ige m ntị.”
I said to you, “I am the LORD your God. You shall not fear the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you dwell.” But you have not listened to my voice.’”
11 Mmụọ ozi Onyenwe anyị bịara nọdụ ọdụ nʼokpuru osisi ukwu ook dị nʼOfra, nʼala ubi Joash, onye obodo Abieza, ebe nwa ya a na-akpọ Gidiọn nọ na-azọcha mkpụrụ ọka wiiti nʼime ebe ịzọcha mkpụrụ vaịnị nʼihi na ọ na-ezo onwe ya ka ndị Midia hapụ ịhụ ya anya.
The LORD’s angel came and sat under the oak which was in Ophrah, that belonged to Joash the Abiezrite. His son Gideon was beating out wheat in the wine press, to hide it from the Midianites.
12 Mmụọ ozi Onyenwe anyị pụtara ihe nʼebe ahụ gwa ya okwu sị, “Gị dike na dimkpa nʼagha, Onyenwe anyị nọnyeere gị.”
The LORD’s angel appeared to him, and said to him, “The LORD is with you, you mighty man of valour!”
13 Gidiọn zara sị, “Biko onyenwe m, ma ọ bụrụ na Onyenwe anyị nọnyeere anyị, gịnị mere ihe ndị a niile ji na-adakwasị anyị? Ebeekwanụ ka ihe ịrịbama ahụ niile dị nke nna anyị ha gwara anyị sị, ‘Ọ bụghị site nʼIjipt ka Onyenwe anyị siri gbapụta anyị?’ Ma ugbu a, Onyenwe anyị ajụla anyị, hapụ anyị nʼaka ndị Midia ka ha laa anyị nʼiyi.”
Gideon said to him, “Oh, my lord, if the LORD is with us, why then has all this happened to us? Where are all his wondrous works which our fathers told us of, saying, ‘Didn’t the LORD bring us up from Egypt?’ But now the LORD has cast us off, and delivered us into the hand of Midian.”
14 Mgbe ahụ, Onyenwe anyị nyere ya iwu sị ya, “Ngwa, jiri ike gị dị ukwuu pụọ, gaa ka ị gbapụta ụmụ Izrel site nʼaka ndị Midia. Mụ onwe m na-ezigakwa gị.”
The LORD looked at him, and said, “Go in this your might, and save Israel from the hand of Midian. Haven’t I sent you?”
15 Ma Gidiọn sịrị ya, “Biko, Onyenwe m, olee otu m ga-esi zọpụta Izrel? Lee, esi m nʼikwu dịkarịsịrị nta nʼime Manase pụta. Mụ onwe m bụkwa onye dịkarịsịrị ala nʼezinaụlọ m.”
He said to him, “O Lord, how shall I save Israel? Behold, my family is the poorest in Manasseh, and I am the least in my father’s house.”
16 Ma Onyenwe anyị zara sị ya, “Mụ onwe m ga-anọnyere gị. Ị ga-ebibikwa ndị Midia niile.”
The LORD said to him, “Surely I will be with you, and you shall strike the Midianites as one man.”
17 Gidiọn zaghachiri sị, “Ọ bụrụ na m achọtala ihuọma nʼanya gị, nye m ihe ịrịbama nke ga-egosi na ọ bụ gị nʼezie na-agwa m okwu.
He said to him, “If now I have found favour in your sight, then show me a sign that it is you who talk with me.
18 Biko esikwala ebe a pụọ ruo mgbe m lọghachiri weta onyinye m ga-eche nʼihu gị.” Onyenwe anyị zara sị ya, “Aga m eche ruo mgbe ị lọghachiri.”
Please don’t go away until I come to you, and bring out my present, and lay it before you.” He said, “I will wait until you come back.”
19 Gidiọn mere ngwangwa laa nʼụlọ ya, gbuo otu nwa ewu, sie ya. O jikwa ụtụ ọka mee achịcha, nke ihe na-eko achịcha na-adịghị nʼime ya. Emesịa, o tinyere anụ ahụ nʼime nkata, wụnyekwa ofe nʼime ite, buru ha jekwuru Mmụọ ozi ahụ, ebe ọ nọ na-eche ya nʼokpuru osisi ook ahụ.
Gideon went in and prepared a young goat and unleavened cakes of an ephah of meal. He put the meat in a basket and he put the broth in a pot, and brought it out to him under the oak, and presented it.
20 Mmụọ ozi nke Chineke sịrị ya, “Were anụ a na ogbe achịcha ahụ na-ekoghị eko, tụkwasị ha nʼelu nkume a, wụpụkwa ofe ahụ.” Gidiọn mere otu a.
The angel of God said to him, “Take the meat and the unleavened cakes, and lay them on this rock, and pour out the broth.” He did so.
21 Mgbe Mmụọ ozi Onyenwe anyị ahụ metụrụ ọnụ mkpanaka ahụ nke dị nʼaka ya nʼelu anụ na achịcha ahụ na-ekoghị eko. Ọkụ sitere nʼoke nkume ahụ nwuru, rechapụ anụ ahụ na achịcha nʼekoghị eko ahụ. Mmụọ ozi nke Onyenwe anyị ahụ gbara barịị site nʼihu ya.
Then the LORD’s angel stretched out the end of the staff that was in his hand, and touched the meat and the unleavened cakes; and fire went up out of the rock and consumed the meat and the unleavened cakes. Then the LORD’s angel departed out of his sight.
22 Mgbe Gidiọn ghọtara na ọ bụ Mmụọ ozi nke Onyenwe anyị, o tiri mkpu akwa sị, “Ewoo! Onyenwe m Onyenwe anyị! Ahụla m Mmụọ ozi Onyenwe anyị ihu na ihu!”
Gideon saw that he was the LORD’s angel; and Gideon said, “Alas, Lord GOD! Because I have seen the LORD’s angel face to face!”
23 Ma Onyenwe anyị sịrị ya, “Udo dịrị gị, atụla egwu! Ị gaghị anwụ.”
The LORD said to him, “Peace be to you! Don’t be afraid. You shall not die.”
24 Ya mere, Gidiọn wuuru Onyenwe anyị ebe ịchụ aja nʼebe ahụ, kpọọ ya, Onyenwe anyị bụ Onye Udo. Ụlọ nchụaja ahụ dịkwa nʼime obodo Ofra nʼala ndị Abieza ruo taa.
Then Gideon built an altar there to the LORD, and called it “The LORD is Peace.” To this day it is still in Ophrah of the Abiezrites.
25 Nʼabalị ụbọchị ahụ, Onyenwe anyị gwara Gidiọn okwu sị ya, “Were oke ehi nna gị, bụ oke ehi nke abụọ, nke gbara afọ asaa. Dọtuo ebe ịchụ aja nna gị wuru maka Baal, gbutukwaa ogidi osisi Ashera dị nʼakụkụ ya.
That same night, the LORD said to him, “Take your father’s bull, even the second bull seven years old, and throw down the altar of Baal that your father has, and cut down the Asherah that is by it.
26 Mgbe ahụ, wuoro Onyenwe anyị bụ Chineke gị ebe ịchụ aja, nʼelu ebe a dị oke elu. Jiri osisi Ashera ahụ nke ị gbuturu kwanye ọkụ, chụọ oke ehi nke abụọ ahụ dịka aja nsure ọkụ.”
Then build an altar to the LORD your God on the top of this stronghold, in an orderly way, and take the second bull, and offer a burnt offering with the wood of the Asherah which you shall cut down.”
27 Ya mere, Gidiọn duuru mmadụ iri site na ndị na-ejere ya ozi, ndị nyeere ya aka imezu ihe niile dịka Onyenwe anyị nyere ya nʼiwu. Kama, site nʼegwu maka ndị ikwu nna ya, na ndị bi nʼobodo ahụ, o mere ihe ndị a niile nʼime abalị.
Then Gideon took ten men of his servants, and did as the LORD had spoken to him. Because he feared his father’s household and the men of the city, he could not do it by day, but he did it by night.
28 Mgbe chi bọrọ, mgbe ndị obodo ahụ malitere ijegharị, ha hụrụ na a kwatuola ebe ịchụ aja Baal, hụkwa na e gbutuola ogidi osisi Ashera dị nʼakụkụ ya, ma werekwa oke ehi nke abụọ chụọ aja nʼelu ebe ịchụ aja ọhụrụ ahụ!
When the men of the city arose early in the morning, behold, the altar of Baal was broken down, and the Asherah was cut down that was by it, and the second bull was offered on the altar that was built.
29 Ha jụrịtara onwe ha ajụjụ sị, “Onye mere ihe dị otu a?” Mgbe ha ji nwayọọ jụgharịa ajụjụ, a gwara ha sị, “Ọ bụ Gidiọn nwa Joash mere ya.”
They said to one another, “Who has done this thing?” When they enquired and asked, they said, “Gideon the son of Joash has done this thing.”
30 Ndị obodo ahụ sịrị Joash, “Kpụpụta nwa gị. Ọ ga-anwụrịrị, nʼihi na ọ kwadala ebe ịchụ aja Baal, gbutuo ogidi osisi Ashera, nke dị nʼakụkụ ya.”
Then the men of the city said to Joash, “Bring out your son, that he may die, because he has broken down the altar of Baal, and because he has cut down the Asherah that was by it.”
31 Ma Joash tinyere ọnụ jụọ ha ajụjụ sị ha, “Baal, ọ gwara unu na ọ chọrọ ka unu nyere ya aka? Unu na-achọ ịzọpụta ya? Onye ọbụla wepụtara onwe ya maka ịlụrụ Baal ọgụ ga-anwụ tupu chi echi abọọ. Ọ bụrụ nʼezie na Baal bụ chi, hapụnụ ya ka o tigbuo onye ahụ mebiri ebe ịchụ aja ya.”
Joash said to all who stood against him, “Will you contend for Baal? Or will you save him? He who will contend for him, let him be put to death by morning! If he is a god, let him contend for himself, because someone has broken down his altar!”
32 Ya mere, nʼụbọchị ahụ, ha malitere ịkpọ Gidiọn “Jerub-Baal.” Ha kwuru sị, “Ka Baal lụọrọ onwe ya ọgụ,” nʼihi na ọ kwadara ebe ịchụ aja Baal.
Therefore on that day he named him Jerub-Baal, saying, “Let Baal contend against him, because he has broken down his altar.”
33 Mgbe na-adịghị anya, usuu ndị agha Midia, na ndị Amalek, na obodo niile gbara ha gburugburu jikọtara onwe ha nʼotu, bịa ibu agha megide ụmụ Izrel. Ha niile gafere osimiri Jọdan, bịaruo na Ndagwurugwu Jezril ebe ha mara ụlọ ikwu.
Then all the Midianites and the Amalekites and the children of the east assembled themselves together; and they passed over, and encamped in the valley of Jezreel.
34 Mgbe ahụ, Mmụọ Nsọ Onyenwe anyị bịakwasịrị Gidiọn. Ọ fụrụ opi ike nke o ji kpọkọta ndị agha ka ha zukọọ. Ndị agha niile si nʼikwu Abieza pụkwutere ya.
But the LORD’s Spirit came on Gideon, and he blew a trumpet; and Abiezer was gathered together to follow him.
35 Otu aka ahụ, o zipụrụ ndị ozi ka ha jekwuru ndị agha ndị Manase, na nke ndị Asha, na nke ndị Zebụlọn, na nke ndị Naftalị, ịkpọ ha ka ha bịa soro ya gaa ibu agha. Ha niile kwenyere pụkwute ya maka agha ahụ.
He sent messengers throughout all Manasseh, and they also were gathered together to follow him. He sent messengers to Asher, to Zebulun, and to Naphtali; and they came up to meet them.
36 Gidiọn sịrị Chineke, “Ọ bụrụ nʼezie na ị ga-azọpụta Izrel site nʼaka m dịka i kwere na nkwa,
Gideon said to God, “If you will save Israel by my hand, as you have spoken,
37 lee, aga m edebe ajị anụ nʼebe ịzọcha ọka. Ọ bụrụ na igirigi adakwasị naanị nʼelu ajị anụ ahụ ma ala ebe ọ tọgbọ gbakọọ agbakọ, mgbe ahụ aga m amata na ị ga-anapụta Izrel site nʼaka m, dịka ị kwuru.”
behold, I will put a fleece of wool on the threshing floor. If there is dew on the fleece only, and it is dry on all the ground, then I’ll know that you will save Israel by my hand, as you have spoken.”
38 Ihe a mezukwara dịka Gidiọn si rịọọ ya. Mgbe chi bọrọ, ọ gara welite ajị anụ ahụ chọpụta na o jupụtara na mmiri. Mmiri o si na ya pịpụta juru otu efere miri emi.
It was so; for he rose up early on the next day, and pressed the fleece together, and wrung the dew out of the fleece, a bowl full of water.
39 Mgbe ahụ, Gidiọn sịrị Chineke, “Ka iwe gị ghara ịdị ọkụ megide m. Ka m rịọkwuo naanị otu ihe ọzọ. Kwere ka m jiri ajị anụ a nwalee otu ugboro ọzọ, kama nʼoge a, mee ka mmiri ghara ịdị nʼajị anụ ahụ, ma ka igirigi jupụta nʼala ebe ọ tọgbọ.”
Gideon said to God, “Don’t let your anger be kindled against me, and I will speak but this once. Please let me make a trial just this once with the fleece. Let it now be dry only on the fleece, and on all the ground let there be dew.”
40 Nʼabalị ahụ, Chineke mere otu a. Ala niile gbaa gburugburu dere mmiri site nʼigirigi, ma mmiri ọbụla adịghị nʼajị anụ ahụ.
God did so that night; for it was dry on the fleece only, and there was dew on all the ground.
