¹Zvino Abhimereki, mwanakomana

¹and Abimelech son of Jerubbaal goeth to Shechem, unto his mother`s brethren, and speaketh unto them, and unto 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.

²`Speak, I pray you, in the ears of all the masters of Shechem, Which [is] good for you — the ruling over you of seventy men (all the sons of Jerubbaal), or the ruling over you of one man? — and ye have remembered 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 speak concerning him, in the ears of all the masters of Shechem, all these words, and their heart inclineth after 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 give to him seventy silverings out of the house of Baal-Berith, and Abimelech hireth with them men, vain and unstable, and they go after 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 goeth into the house of his father at Ophrah, and slayeth his brethren, sons of Jerubbaal, seventy men, on one stone; and Jotham, youngest son of Jerubbaal, is left, for he was hidden.

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

⁶And all the masters of Shechem are gathered together, and all the house of Millo, and come and cause Abimelech to reign for king at the oak of the camp which [is] 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 they declare [it] to Jotham, and he goeth and standeth on the top of mount Gerizim, and lifteth up his voice, and calleth, and saith to them, `Hearken unto me, O masters of Shechem, and God doth hearken unto you:

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

⁸`The trees have diligently gone to anoint over them a king, and they say to the olive, Reign thou over us.

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

⁹And the olive saith to them, Have I ceased from my fatness, by which they honour gods and men, that I have gone to stagger over the trees?

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

¹⁰And the trees say to the fig, Come thou, reign over us.

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

¹¹And the fig saith to them, Have I ceased from my sweetness, and my good increase, that I have gone to stagger over the trees?

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

¹²`And the trees say to the vine, Come thou, reign over us.

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

¹³And the vine saith to them, Have I ceased from my new wine, which is rejoicing gods and men, that I have gone to stagger over the trees?

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

¹⁴And all the trees say unto the bramble, Come thou, 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 saith unto the trees, If in truth ye are anointing me for king over you, come, take refuge in my shadow; and if not — fire cometh out from the bramble, and devoureth the cedars of Lebanon.

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

¹⁶`And, now, if in truth and in sincerity ye have acted, when ye make Abimelech king; and if ye have done good with Jerubbaal, and with his house; and if according to the deed of his hands ye have done to him —

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

¹⁷because my father hath fought for you, and doth cast away his life from [him], and deliver you from 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 have risen against the house of my father to-day, and slay his sons, seventy men, on one stone, and cause Abimelech son of his handmaid to reign over the masters of Shechem, because he [is] your brother —

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

¹⁹yea, if in truth and in sincerity ye have acted with Jerubbaal and with his house this day, rejoice ye in Abimelech, and he doth rejoice — even he — in you;

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

²⁰and if not — fire cometh out from Abimelech and devoureth the masters of Shechem and the house of Millo, and fire cometh out from the masters of Shechem and from the house of Millo, and devoureth Abimelech.`

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

²¹And Jotham hasteth, and fleeth, and goeth to Beer, and dwelleth there, from the face of Abimelech his brother.

²²Abhimereki akabata ushe pavaIsiraeri makore matatu.

²²And Abimelech is prince over Israel three years,

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

²³and God sendeth an evil spirit between Abimelech and the masters of Shechem, and the masters of Shechem deal 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.

²⁴for the coming in of the violence [to] the seventy sons of Jerubbaal, and of their blood to place [it] on Abimelech their brother, who slew them, and on the masters of Shechem, who strengthened his hands to slay his brethren.

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

²⁵And the masters of Shechem set for him ambushes on the top of the hills, and rob every one who passeth over by them in the way, and it is declared to Abimelech.

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

²⁶And Gaal son of Ebed cometh — also his brethren — and they pass over into Shechem, and the masters of Shechem trust in him,

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

²⁷and go out into the field, and gather their vineyards, and tread, and make praises, and go into the house of their god, and eat and drink, and revile 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 son of Ebed saith, `Who [is] Abimelech, and who [is] Shechem, that we serve him? is [he] not son of Jerubbaal? and Zebul his commander? Serve ye the men of Hamor father of Shechem, and wherefore do we serve him — we?

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

²⁹and oh that this people were in my hand — then I turn Abimelech aside;` and he saith to Abimelech, `Increase thy host, and come out.`

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

³⁰And Zebul, prince of the city, heareth the words of Gaal son of Ebed, and his anger burneth,

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

³¹and he sendeth messengers unto Abimelech deceitfully, saying, `Lo, Gaal son of Ebed and his brethren are coming into Shechem, and lo, they are fortifying the city against thee;

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

³²and, now, rise by night, thou and the people who [are] with thee, and lay 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 hath been, in the morning, about the rising of the sun, thou dost rise early, and hast pushed against the city; and lo, he and the people who [are] with him are going out unto thee — and thou hast done to him as thy hand doth find.`

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

³⁴And Abimelech riseth, and all the people who [are] with him, by night, and they lay wait against Shechem — four detachments;

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

³⁵and Gaal son of Ebed goeth out, and standeth at the opening of the gate of the city, and Abimelech riseth — also the people who [are] with him — from the ambush,

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 Gaal seeth the people, and saith unto Zebul, `Lo, people are coming down from the top of the hills;` and Zebul saith unto him, `The shadow of the hills thou art seeing like men.`

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

³⁷And Gaal addeth yet to speak, and saith, `Lo, people are coming down from the high part of the land, and another detachment is coming by the way of the oak 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.

³⁸And Zebul saith unto him, `Where [is] now thy mouth, in that thou sayest, Who [is] Abimelech that we serve him? is not this the people against which thou hast kicked? go out, I pray thee now, and fight against it.`

³⁹Ipapo Gaari akabuda pamberi pavarume veShekemu, akandorwa naAbhimereki.

³⁹And Gaal goeth out before the masters of Shechem, and fighteth against Abimelech,

⁴⁰Abhimereki akadzingana naye, akatiza pamberi pake,

⁴⁰and Abimelech pursueth him, and he fleeth from his presence, and many fall wounded — unto the opening of the gate.

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

⁴¹And Abimelech abideth in Arumah, and Zebul casteth out Gaal and his brethren from dwelling in Shechem.

⁴²Zvino fume mangwana vanhu vakabuda kusango; vakaudza Abhimereki.

⁴²And it cometh to pass, on the morrow, that the people go out to the field, and they declare [it] to Abimelech,

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

⁴³and he taketh the people, and divideth them into three detachments, and layeth wait in a field, and looketh, and lo, the people are coming out from the city, and he riseth against them, and smiteth them.

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

⁴⁴And Abimelech and the detachments who [are] with him have pushed on, and stand at the opening of the gate of the city, and the two detachments have pushed against all who are in the field, and smite them,

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

⁴⁵and Abimelech hath fought against the city all that day, and captureth the city, and the people who [are] in it he hath slain, and he breaketh down the city, and soweth it [with] salt.

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

⁴⁶And all the masters of the tower of Shechem hear, and go in unto the high place of the house of the god Berith,

⁴⁷Abhimereki akaudzwa kuti varume vose vorusvingo rweShekemu vaungana pamwechete.

⁴⁷and it is declared to Abimelech that all the masters of the tower of Shechem have gathered themselves 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 goeth up to mount Zalmon, he and all the people who [are] with him, and Abimelech taketh the great axe in his hand, and cutteth off a bough of the trees, and lifteth it up, and setteth [it] on his shoulder, and saith unto the people who [are] with him, `What ye have seen I have done — haste, do ye like it.`

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 also cut down each one his bough, and go after Abimelech, and set [them] at the high place, and burn by these the high place with fire, and also all the men of the tower of Shechem die, about a thousand men and women.

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

⁵⁰And Abimelech goeth unto Thebez, and encampeth against Thebez, and captureth it,

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

⁵¹and a strong tower hath been in the midst of the city, and thither flee do all the men and the women, and all the masters of the city, and they shut [it] behind them, and go up on the roof of the tower.

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

⁵²And Abimelech cometh unto the tower, and fighteth against it, and draweth nigh unto the opening of the tower to burn it with fire,

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

⁵³and a certain woman doth cast a piece of a rider on the head of Abimelech, and breaketh 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.

⁵⁴and he calleth hastily unto the young man bearing his weapons, and saith to him, `Draw thy sword, and thou hast put me to death, lest they say of me — A woman slew him;` and his young man pierced him through, and he dieth.

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

⁵⁵And the men of Israel see that Abimelech [is] dead, and go each one to his place;

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

⁵⁶and God turneth back the evil of Abimelech which he did to his father to slay 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 hath God turned back on their head, and come unto them doth the cursing of Jotham son of Jerubbaal.