¹Zvino Abhimereki, mwanakomana

¹And Abimelech the son of Jerubbaal went to Shechem unto his mother's brethren, and communed with them, and with all the family of the house of his mother's father, saying,

²Taurirai henyu, varume vose veShekemu vanzwe, muti, Chinhu chakanaka ndechipiko, kuti mubatwe ushe navanakomana vose vaJerubhaari vanosvika vanhu vana makumi manomwe, kana mubatwe nomunhu mumwe chete? Rangariraiwo kuti ini ndiri pfupa renyu nenyama yenyu.

²Speak, I pray you, in the ears of all the men of Shechem, Whether is better for you, either that all the sons of Jerubbaal, which are threescore and ten persons, reign over you, or that one reign over you? remember also that I am your bone and your flesh.

³Zvino madzisekuru ake akataura mashoko awa ose pamusoro pake, varume veShekemu vachizvinzwa; moyo yavo ikada kutevera Abhimereki, nekuti vakati, Ihama yedu.

³And 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.

⁴Vakamupa mari yesirivha yakasvika mashekeri ana makumi manomwe, yavakatora paimba yaBhaari-bheriti, Abhimereki akaripira varume vakaipa, vasine hanya, ivo vakamutevera.

⁴And they gave him threescore and ten pieces of silver out of the house of Baalberith, wherewith Abimelech hired vain and light persons, which followed him.

⁵Akaenda kumba kwababa vake paOfura, akauraya pabwe rimwe vana vababa vake, ivo vanakomana vaJerubhaari, vaiva varume vana makumi manomwe; asi Jotamu, mwanakomana worugotwe waJerubhaari wakapukunyuka, nekuti wakange avanda.

⁵And 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: notwithstanding yet Jotham the youngest son of Jerubbaal was left; for he hid himself.

⁶Zvino varume vose veShekemu vakaungana pamwechete navose veimba yaMiro, vakandoita Abhimereki mambo pamuouki weshongwe yakamiswa paShekemu.

⁶And all the men of Shechem gathered together, and all the house of Millo, and went, and made Abimelech king, by the plain of the pillar that was in Shechem.

⁷Vakati vaudza Jotamu izvozvo, iye akaenda, akandomira pamusoro pegomo reGerizimi, akadana nenzwi guru, akati kwavari, Mundinzwei, imwi varume veShekemu, kuti Mwari akunzweiwo imi.

⁷And 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.

⁸Imwe nguva miti yakandozvizodzera mambo wayo; ikati kumuorivhi, Iva mambo wedu iwe.

⁸The trees went forth on a time to anoint a king over them; and they said unto the olive tree, Reign thou over us.

⁹Asi muorivhi wakati kwairi, Ko ini ndingarega mafuta angu, anorumbidzwa naMwari navanhu mandiri ndipepere uko nokoko pamusoro pemiti here?

⁹But the olive tree said unto them, Should I leave my fatness, wherewith by me they honor God and man, and go to be promoted over the trees?

¹⁰Zvino miti ikati kumuonde, Uya iwe, uve mambo wedu.

¹⁰And the trees said to the fig tree, Come thou, and reign over us.

¹¹Asi muonde, wakati kwairi ko ini ndingarega kutapira kwangu nemichero yangu yakanaka, ndipepere uko nokoko pamusoro pemiti here?

¹¹But the fig tree said unto them, Should I forsake my sweetness, and my good fruit, and go to be promoted over the trees?

¹²Zvino miti ikati kumuzambiringa, Uya iwe, uve mambo wedu.

¹²Then said the trees unto the vine, Come thou, and reign over us.

¹³Muzambiringa ukati kwairi, Ko ini ndingarega waini yangu, inofadza Mwari navanhu, ndipepere uko nokoko pamusoro pemiti here?

¹³And the vine said unto them, Should I leave my wine, which cheereth God and man, and go to be promoted over the trees?

¹⁴Ipapo miti yose yakati kurukato, Uya iwe, uve mambo wedu.

¹⁴Then said all the trees unto the bramble, Come thou, and reign over us.

¹⁵Rukato rukati kumiti, Kana mukandizodza kuti ndive mambo wenyu zvirokwazvo, chiuyai muvande pamumvuri wangu; kana musingadi, moto ngaubude parukato, uparadze misidhari yeRebhanoni.

¹⁵And 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.

¹⁶Saka zvino kana makaita zvakanaka nezvakarurama, zvamakaita Abhimereki mambo wenyu, uye kana makaitira Jerubhaari sezvaakafanirwa pamusoro pezvaakakuitirai,

¹⁶Now 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 unto him according to the deserving of his hands;

¹⁷(nokuti baba vangu vakakurwirai, vasingarangariri upenyu hwavo, vakakurwirai mumaoko avaMidhiani;

¹⁷(For my father fought for you, and adventured his life far, and delivered you out of the hand of Midian:

¹⁸imwi mukamukira nhasi imba yababa vangu, mukauraya pabwe rimwe vanakomana vake, vanhu vana makumi manomwe, mukaita Abhimereki, mwanakomana womurandakadzi wake, mambo wavarume veShekemu, zvairi hama yenyu;)

¹⁸And 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;)

¹⁹kana makaitira Jerubhaari neimba yake zvakanaka nezvakarurama nhasi, chifarirai henyu Abhimereki, naiye akufarireiwo;

¹⁹If 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:

²⁰asi kana zvisina kunaka, moto ngaubude kuna Abhimereki, uparadze varume veShekemu, naveimba yaMiro; uye moto ngaubude kuvarume veShekemu, naveimba yaMiro, uparadze Abhimereki.

²⁰But 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.

²¹Ipapo Jotamu akamhanya, akatiza, akandogara paBheeri, nekuti wakatya Abhimereki mukuru wake.

²¹And Jotham ran away, and fled, and went to Beer, and dwelt there, for fear of Abimelech his brother.

²²Abhimereki akabata ushe pavaIsiraeri makore matatu.

²²When Abimelech had reigned three years over Israel,

²³Mwari akazotuma mweya wetsvina pakati paAbhimereki navarume veShekemu; varume veShekemu vakanyengera Abhimereki;

²³Then God sent an evil spirit between Abimelech and the men of Shechem; and the men of Shechem dealt treacherously with Abimelech:

²⁴kuti zvakashata zvakaitirwa vanakomana vaJerubhaari vana makumi manomwe zvitsibwe, neropa ravo ritsibwe kuna Abhimereki, munin'ina wavo wakavauraya, nokuvarume veShekemu vakanga vasimbisa maoko ake kuti auraye vana vababa vake.

²⁴That the cruelty done to the threescore and ten sons of Jerubbaal might come, and their blood be laid upon Abimelech their brother, which slew them; and upon the men of Shechem, which aided him in the killing of his brethren.

²⁵Varume veShekemu vakaisa vanhu vakamuvandira pamusoro pamakomo, vakapamba vose vakanga vachipfuura kwavari nenzira iyo; Abhimereki akaudzwa izvozvo.

²⁵And the men of Shechem set liers in wait for him in the top of the mountains, and they robbed all that came along that way by them: and it was told Abimelech.

²⁶Zvino Gaari mwanakomana waEbhedhi, wakauya nehama dzake, vakaenda Shekemu; varume veShekemu vakavimba naye.

²⁶And Gaal the son of Ebed came with his brethren, and went over to Shechem: and the men of Shechem put their confidence in him.

²⁷Vakabudira kuminda yavo, vakakohwa mazambiringa avo vakatsika-tsika mazambiringa, vakatamba mutambo, ndokupinda mumba mamwari wavo, vakadya, vakamwa, vakatuka Abhimereki.

²⁷And they went out into the fields, and gathered their vineyards, and trode the grapes, and made merry, and went into the house of their god, and did eat and drink, and cursed Abimelech.

²⁸Zvino Gaari mwanakomana waEbhedhi, akati, Abhimereki ndianiko, Shekemu ndianiko, kuti timushumire? Haazi mwanakomana waJerubhaari here? NaZebhuri haazi munyai wake here? imwi shumirai henyu varume vaHamori, baba vaShekemu; asi isu tichamushumireiko?

²⁸And 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?

²⁹Haiwa, dai vanhu ava vaiva muruoko rwangu, ndaidzinga Abhimereki. Zvino akati kuna Abhimereki, Wedzera hondo yako, ubude kuzorwa.

²⁹And 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.

³⁰Zvino Zebhuri mubati weguta, wakati achinzwa mashoko aGaari mwanakomana waEbhedhi, akatsamwa kwazvo.

³⁰And when Zebul the ruler of the city heard the words of Gaal the son of Ebed, his anger was kindled.

³¹Akatuma nhume kuna Abhimereki nokunyengera, akati, Tarira, Gaari, mwanakomana waEbhedhi nehama dzake vasvika paShekemu; tarira vanokurudzira guta kurwa newe.

³¹And he sent messengers unto Abimelech privily, saying, Behold, Gaal the son of Ebed and his brethren be come to Shechem; and, behold, they fortify the city against thee.

³²Saka zvino chimuka usiku, iwe navanhu vaunavo, muvande musango.

³²Now therefore up by night, thou and the people that is with thee, and lie in wait in the field:

³³Zvino mangwanani, zuva richangobuda, unofanira kufumira kundovamba guta; kana iye navanhu vaanavo vachibuda kuzorwa newe, iwe ungaita navo sezvaunoda.

³³And 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.

³⁴Ipapo Abhimereki akamuka usiku, iye navanhu vose vaakanga anavo, vakandovandira Shekemu vakaita mapoka mana.

³⁴And Abimelech rose up, and all the people that were with him, by night, and they laid wait against Shechem in four companies.

³⁵Zvino Gaari, mwanakomana waEbhedhi, akamira pavanopinda napo pasuwo reguta; Abhimereki akasimuka, iye navanhu vaakanga anavo pavakanga vakavandira.

³⁵And 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 lying in wait.

³⁶Zvino Gaari wakati achiona vanhu, akati kuna Zebhuri, Tarira, kuna vanhu vanoburuka vachibva kumusoro kumakomo. Zebhuri akati kwaari, Unoona hako mimvuri yamakomo, yakafanana navanhu.

³⁶And when Gaal saw the people, he said to Zebul, Behold, there come people down from the top of the mountains. And Zebul said unto him, Thou seest the shadow of the mountains as if they were men.

³⁷Gaari akapamhidzazve, akati, Tarira, kuna vanhu vanoburuka vachibva kurutivi rwokumusoro, nerimwe boka rinouya richibva nenzira yomuouki weMeonenimi.

³⁷And Gaal spake again, and said, See there come people down by the middle of the land, and another company come along by the plain of Meonenim.

³⁸Ipapo Zebhuri akati kwaari, Zvino muromo wako uripi, zvawakanga uchiti, Abhimereki ndianiko, kuti timushumire? Ko ava havazi vanhu avo vawakazvidza here? Zvino chiburuka hako undorwa navo.

³⁸Then said Zebul unto him, Where is now thy mouth, wherewith thou saidst, Who is Abimelech, that we should serve him? is not this the people that thou hast despised? go out, I pray now, and fight with them.

³⁹Ipapo Gaari akabuda pamberi pavarume veShekemu, akandorwa naAbhimereki.

³⁹And Gaal went out before the men of Shechem, and fought with Abimelech.

⁴⁰Abhimereki akadzingana naye, akatiza pamberi pake,

⁴⁰And Abimelech chased him, and he fled before him, and many were overthrown and wounded, even unto the entering of the gate.

⁴¹Abhimereki akagara paAruma, Zebhuri akadzinga Gaari nehama dzake, kuti varege kuzogara paShekemu.

⁴¹And Abimelech dwelt at Arumah: and Zebul thrust out Gaal and his brethren, that they should not dwell in Shechem.

⁴²Zvino fume mangwana vanhu vakabuda kusango; vakaudza Abhimereki.

⁴²And it came to pass on the morrow, that the people went out into the field; and they told Abimelech.

⁴³Iye akatora vanhu akavakamura, akaita mapoka matatu, akandovavandira kusango; akatarira, akaona vanhu vachibuda muguta, akasimuka, akandorwa navo, akavauraya.

⁴³And he took the people, and divided them into three companies, and laid wait in the field, and looked, and, behold, the people were come forth out of the city; and he rose up against them, and smote them.

⁴⁴Abhimereki namapoka akanga anaye, vakamhanya, vakandomira pavanopinda napo pasuwo reguta; namapoka maviri akamhanyira kuna vose vakanga vari kusango, vakavauraya.

⁴⁴And Abimelech, and the company that was with him, rushed forward, and stood in the entering of the gate of the city: and the two other companies ran upon all the people that were in the fields, and slew them.

⁴⁵Abhimereki akarwa neguta musi iwoyo wose, akakunda guta, akauraya vanhu vakanga varimo; akaputsa guta, ndokurikusha munyu.

⁴⁵And Abimelech fought against the city all that day; and he took the city, and slew the people that was therein, and beat down the city, and sowed it with salt.

⁴⁶Zvino varume vose vorusvingo rweShekemu vakati vazvinzwa, vakapinda munhare, mumba maEri-bheriti.

⁴⁶And when all the men of the tower of Shechem heard that, they entered into an hold of the house of the god Berith.

⁴⁷Abhimereki akaudzwa kuti varume vose vorusvingo rweShekemu vaungana pamwechete.

⁴⁷And it was told Abimelech, that all the men of the tower of Shechem were gathered together.

⁴⁸Abhimereki akakwira pagomo reZarimoni, iye navanhu vose vaakanga anavo; Abhimereki akatora masanhu muruoko rwake, akatema davi romuti, akarisimudza, akariisa pafudzi rake; akati kuvanhu vaakanga anavo, Kurumidzai, muite sezvamakaona ndichiita ini.

⁴⁸And 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, and laid it on his shoulder, and said unto the people that were with him, What ye have seen me do, make haste, and do as I have done.

⁴⁹Ipapo vanhu vose vakatema mumwe nomumwe davi rake, vakatevera Abhimereki; vakaaisa kunhare, vakapisa nhare nomoto, ivo varimo, naizvozvo vanhu vose vakanga vari murusvingo rweShekemu vakafa, vanenge chiuru chimwe chavarume navakadzi.

⁴⁹And 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.

⁵⁰Zvino Abhimereki akaenda Tebhezi, akamisa misasa yavo paTebhezi, akarikunda.

⁵⁰Then went Abimelech to Thebez, and encamped against Thebez, and took it.

⁵¹Asi mukati meguta makanga muno rusvingo rwakanga rwakasimba, varume navakadzi vose vakatiziramo, vose vakanga vari muguta vakazvipfigiramo, vakakwira kudenga rorusvingo.

⁵¹But 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 to them, and gat them up to the top of the tower.

⁵²Abhimereki akasvika parusvingo, akarwa narwo, akaswedera pedo nomukova worusvingo, kuti arupise nomoto.

⁵²And Abimelech came unto the tower, and fought against it, and went hard unto the door of the tower to burn it with fire.

⁵³Ipapo mumwe mukadzi akakanda guyo pamusoro waAbhimereki, akaputsa dehenya rake.

⁵³And a certain woman cast a piece of a millstone upon Abimelech's head, and all to brake his skull.

⁵⁴Ipapo akakurumidza kudana jaya raitakura nhumbi dzake dzokurwa nadzo, akati kwariri, Vhomora munondo wako, undiuraye, kuti vanhu varege kuzoti, Wakaurawa nomukadzi. Jaya rake rikamubaya, akafa.

⁵⁴Then he called hastily unto the young man his armourbearer, and said unto him, Draw thy sword, and slay me, that men say not of me, A women slew him. And his young man thrust him through, and he died.

⁵⁵Zvino varume vaIsiraeri vakati vachiona kuti Abhimereki wafa, vakaenda mumwe nomumwe kumba kwake.

⁵⁵And when the men of Israel saw that Abimelech was dead, they departed every man unto his place.

⁵⁶Saizvozvo Mwari akatsiva zvakashata zvaAbhimereki zvaakaitira baba vake, zvaakauraya vana vababa vake vana makumi manomwe,

⁵⁶Thus God rendered the wickedness of Abimelech, which he did unto his father, in slaying his seventy brethren:

⁵⁷nezvakashata zvose zvavarume veShekemu zvakatsibwa naMwari kwaari; kutuka kwaJotamu mwanakomana waJerubhaari, kukaitika kwavari.

⁵⁷And 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.