1Zvino Abhimereki, mwanakomana
1Abimelech 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,
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“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.”
3Zvino madzisekuru ake akataura mashoko awa ose pamusoro pake, varume veShekemu vachizvinzwa; moyo yavo ikada kutevera Abhimereki, nekuti vakati, Ihama yedu.
3His mother’s brothers spoke 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.
4They gave him seventy pieces of silver out of the house of Baal Berith, with which Abimelech hired vain and light fellows, who 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.
5He 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.
6Zvino varume vose veShekemu vakaungana pamwechete navose veimba yaMiro, vakandoita Abhimereki mambo pamuouki weshongwe yakamiswa paShekemu.
6All 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.
7Vakati vaudza Jotamu izvozvo, iye akaenda, akandomira pamusoro pegomo reGerizimi, akadana nenzwi guru, akati kwavari, Mundinzwei, imwi varume veShekemu, kuti Mwari akunzweiwo imi.
7When they told it to Jotham, he went and stood on the top of Mount Gerizim, and lifted up his voice, and cried, and said to them, “Listen to me, you men of Shechem, that God may listen to 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 to the olive tree, ‘Reign over us.’
9Asi muorivhi wakati kwairi, Ko ini ndingarega mafuta angu, anorumbidzwa naMwari navanhu mandiri ndipepere uko nokoko pamusoro pemiti here?
9“But the olive tree said to them, ‘Should I leave my fatness, with which by me they honor God and man, and go to wave back and forth over the trees?’
10Zvino miti ikati kumuonde, Uya iwe, uve mambo wedu.
10“The trees said to the fig tree, ‘Come and reign over us.’
11Asi muonde, wakati kwairi ko ini ndingarega kutapira kwangu nemichero yangu yakanaka, ndipepere uko nokoko pamusoro pemiti here?
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?’
12Zvino miti ikati kumuzambiringa, Uya iwe, uve mambo wedu.
12“The trees said to the vine, ‘Come and reign over us.’
13Muzambiringa ukati kwairi, Ko ini ndingarega waini yangu, inofadza Mwari navanhu, ndipepere uko nokoko pamusoro pemiti here?
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?’
14Ipapo miti yose yakati kurukato, Uya iwe, uve mambo wedu.
14“Then all the trees said to the bramble, ‘Come 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.
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.’
16Saka zvino kana makaita zvakanaka nezvakarurama, zvamakaita Abhimereki mambo wenyu, uye kana makaitira Jerubhaari sezvaakafanirwa pamusoro pezvaakakuitirai,
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
17(nokuti baba vangu vakakurwirai, vasingarangariri upenyu hwavo, vakakurwirai mumaoko avaMidhiani;
17(for my father fought for you, and risked his life, 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 you have risen up against my father’s house this day, 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);
19kana makaitira Jerubhaari neimba yake zvakanaka nezvakarurama nhasi, chifarirai henyu Abhimereki, naiye akufarireiwo;
19if you then have dealt truly and righteously with Jerubbaal and with his house this day, then rejoice 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.
21Jotham ran away, and fled, and went to Beer, and lived there, for fear of Abimelech his brother.
22Abhimereki akabata ushe pavaIsiraeri makore matatu.
22Abimelech was prince over Israel three years.
23Mwari akazotuma mweya wetsvina pakati paAbhimereki navarume veShekemu; varume veShekemu vakanyengera Abhimereki;
23God 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 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.
25Varume veShekemu vakaisa vanhu vakamuvandira pamusoro pamakomo, vakapamba vose vakanga vachipfuura kwavari nenzira iyo; Abhimereki akaudzwa izvozvo.
25The 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 it was told Abimelech.
26Zvino Gaari mwanakomana waEbhedhi, wakauya nehama dzake, vakaenda Shekemu; varume veShekemu vakavimba naye.
26Gaal the son of Ebed came with his brothers, and went over to Shechem; and the men of Shechem put their trust in him.
27Vakabudira kuminda yavo, vakakohwa mazambiringa avo vakatsika-tsika mazambiringa, vakatamba mutambo, ndokupinda mumba mamwari wavo, vakadya, vakamwa, vakatuka Abhimereki.
27They went out into the field, and harvested their vineyards, and trod the grapes, and held festival, and went into the house of their god, and ate and drank, 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?
28Gaal the son of Ebed said, “Who is Abimelech, and who is Shechem, that we should serve him? Isn’t he the son of Jerubbaal? and Zebul his officer? Serve the men of Hamor the father of Shechem: but why should we serve him?
29Haiwa, dai vanhu ava vaiva muruoko rwangu, ndaidzinga Abhimereki. Zvino akati kuna Abhimereki, Wedzera hondo yako, ubude kuzorwa.
29Would that this people were under my hand! Then I would remove Abimelech.” He said to Abimelech, “Increase your army, and come out!”
30Zvino Zebhuri mubati weguta, wakati achinzwa mashoko aGaari mwanakomana waEbhedhi, akatsamwa kwazvo.
30When 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.
31He 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.
32Saka zvino chimuka usiku, iwe navanhu vaunavo, muvande musango.
32Now therefore, go up by night, you and the people who are with you, 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, you shall rise early, and rush on the city; and 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.”
34Ipapo Abhimereki akamuka usiku, iye navanhu vose vaakanga anavo, vakandovandira Shekemu vakaita mapoka mana.
34Abimelech rose up, and all the people who 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.
35Gaal the son of Ebed went out, and stood in the entrance of the gate of the city: and Abimelech rose up, and the people who were 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.
36When 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 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.
37Gaal 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.”
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 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.”
39Ipapo Gaari akabuda pamberi pavarume veShekemu, akandorwa naAbhimereki.
39Gaal went out before the men of Shechem, and fought with Abimelech.
40Abhimereki akadzingana naye, akatiza pamberi pake,
40Abimelech chased him, and he fled before him, and many fell wounded, even to the entrance of the gate.
41Abhimereki akagara paAruma, Zebhuri akadzinga Gaari nehama dzake, kuti varege kuzogara paShekemu.
41Abimelech lived at Arumah: and Zebul drove out Gaal and his brothers, that they should not dwell in Shechem.
42Zvino fume mangwana vanhu vakabuda kusango; vakaudza Abhimereki.
42It happened on the next day, 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.
43He 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; He rose up against them, and struck them.
44Abhimereki namapoka akanga anaye, vakamhanya, vakandomira pavanopinda napo pasuwo reguta; namapoka maviri akamhanyira kuna vose vakanga vari kusango, vakavauraya.
44Abimelech, 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.
45Abhimereki akarwa neguta musi iwoyo wose, akakunda guta, akauraya vanhu vakanga varimo; akaputsa guta, ndokurikusha munyu.
45Abimelech fought against the city all that day; and he took the city, and killed the people who were therein: and he beat down the city, and sowed it with salt.
46Zvino varume vose vorusvingo rweShekemu vakati vazvinzwa, vakapinda munhare, mumba maEri-bheriti.
46When all the men of the tower of Shechem heard of it, they entered into the stronghold of the house of Elberith.
47Abhimereki akaudzwa kuti varume vose vorusvingo rweShekemu vaungana pamwechete.
47It 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.
48Abimelech 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: and he said to the people who were with him, “What you 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.
49All the people likewise each cut down his bough, and followed Abimelech, and put them at the base of the stronghold, and set the stronghold on fire on them; so that all the people 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 there fled all the men and women, and all they of the city, and shut themselves in, and went up to the roof of the tower.
52Abhimereki akasvika parusvingo, akarwa narwo, akaswedera pedo nomukova worusvingo, kuti arupise nomoto.
52Abimelech came to the tower, and fought against it, and drew near to the door of the tower to burn it with fire.
53Ipapo mumwe mukadzi akakanda guyo pamusoro waAbhimereki, akaputsa dehenya rake.
53A certain woman cast an upper millstone on Abimelech’s head, and broke 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 to the young man his armor 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.”
55Zvino varume vaIsiraeri vakati vachiona kuti Abhimereki wafa, vakaenda mumwe nomumwe kumba kwake.
55When the men of Israel saw that Abimelech was dead, they departed every man to his place.
56Saizvozvo Mwari akatsiva zvakashata zvaAbhimereki zvaakaitira baba vake, zvaakauraya vana vababa vake vana makumi manomwe,
56Thus God requited the wickedness of Abimelech, which he did to his father, in killing his seventy brothers;
57nezvakashata zvose zvavarume veShekemu zvakatsibwa naMwari kwaari; kutuka kwaJotamu mwanakomana waJerubhaari, kukaitika kwavari.
57and all the wickedness of the men of Shechem did God requite on their heads: and on them came the curse of Jotham the son of Jerubbaal.