1 Na ka haere a Apimereke tama a Ierupaara ki Hekeme ki nga tungane o tona whaea, a ka korero ki a ratou, ki te hapu katoa ano hoki o te whare o te papa o tona whaea, ka mea,

2 Tena, ki atu ki nga taringa o nga tangata katoa o Hekeme, Ko tehea te mea pai ki a koutou, ko nga tangata e whitu tekau, ko nga tama katoa a Ierupaara, hei kingi mo koutou, kia kotahi ranei te tangata hei kingi mo koutou? Kia mahara hoki he wheua ahau no koutou, he kikokiko no koutou.

3 Na ka korerotia e nga tungane o tona whaea enei kupu katoa mona ki nga taringa o nga tangata katoa o Hekeme, a ka anga o ratou ngakau ki te aru i a Apimereke; i mea hoki ratou, Ko to tatou teina ia.

4 Na ka homai e ratou ki a ia etahi hiriwa, e whitu tekau, i roto i te whare o Paaraperiti, a ka utua e Apimereke ki aua mea etahi tangata wairangi, he hunga hikaka, a aru ana ratou i a ia.

5 Na ka haere ia ki te whare o tona papa ki Opora, a patua iho e ia ona tuakana, ona teina, nga tama a Ierupaara, e whitu tekau nga tangata, i runga i te kohatu kotahi; otiia i mahue a Iotama te tama whakaotinga a Ierupaara; i piri hoki ia.

6 Na ka huihui nga tangata katoa o Hekeme, ratou ko te whare katoa o Miro, a ka haere, ka mea i a Apimereke hei kingi, ki te oki i te pou i Hekeme.

7 A ka korerotia ki a Iotama, na ka haere ia, a tu ana i runga i te tihi o Maunga Keritimi; na ka ara tona reo, ka karanga, ka mea ki a ratou, Whakarongo mai ki ahau, e nga tangata o Hekeme, kia whakarongo ai te Atua ki a koutou.

8 I haere nga rakau ki te whakawahi i tetahi kingi mo ratou, a ka mea ki te oriwa, Ko koe hei kingi mo matou.

9 Na ka mea te oriwa ki a ratou, Kia whakarerea koia e ahau toku momonatanga, taku mea i whai kororia ai te Atua, te tangata, a kia haere ki runga i nga rakau tiwhaiwhai ai?

10 Na ka mea nga rakau ki te piki, Haere mai hei kingi mo matou.

11 Ano ra ko te piki ki a ratou, Kia whakarerea koia e ahau toku reka me oku hua pai, a kia haere ki runga i nga rakau tiwhaiwhai ai?

12 Katahi ka mea nga rakau ki te waina, Haere mai koe hei kingi mo matou.

13 Na ka mea te waina ki a ratou, Kia whakarerea koia e ahau toku waina e whakahari nei i te Atua, i te tangata, a kia haere ki runga i nga rakau tiwhaiwhai ai?

14 Na ka mea nga rakau katoa ki te taraheke, Haere mai hei kingi mo matou.

15 Na ka mea te taraheke ki nga rakau, Ki te mea he pono ta koutou whakawahi i ahau hei kingi mo koutou, haere mai ki raro ki toku taumarumarutanga iho okioki ai, a ki te kahore, kia puta atu he ahi i roto i te taraheke hei kai i nga hita o Repanon a.

16 Na ki te mea he pono, he tika, ta koutou mahi, i a koutou i mea nei i a Apimereke hei kingi, ki te pai hoki ta koutou mahi ki a Ierupaara ratou ko tona whare, ki te mea hoki i rite ki nga mahi a ona ringa ta koutou i mea ai ki a ia;

17 Na toku papa hoki i whawhai a koutou whawhai, a taruke ana ki te mate; a ora ake koutou i te ringa o Miriana:

18 Na kua whakatika nei koutou i tenei ra ki te whare o toku papa, a patua iho ana tama, e whitu tekau tangata, ki runga ki te kohatu kotahi, a meinga ana a Apimereke, tama a tana pononga wahine hei kingi mo nga tangata o Hekeme, no te mea ko to ko utou teina ia;

19 Na ki te mea he pono, he tika, ta koutou i mea ai ki a Ierupaara ratou ko tona whare i tenei ra, kia hari ki a Apimereke, kia hari hoki ia ki a koutou.

20 Ki te kahore ia kia puta he ahi i a Apimereke hei kai i nga tangata o Hekeme, ratou ko te whare o Miro; kia puta hoki he ahi i nga tangata o Hekeme, i te whare hoki o Miro, hei kai a Apimereke.

21 Na ko te rerenga i rere ai a Iotama, haere ana ki Peere, a noho ana i reira i te wehi o tona tuakana, o Apimereke.

22 A e toru nga tau o Apimereke e kawana ana i a Iharaira,

23 Na ka unga e te Atua he wairua kino hei wehe i a Apimereke ratou ko nga tangata o Hekeme; a ka mahi tinihanga nga tangata o Hekeme ki a Apimereke.

24 He mea mo te tukinotanga i nga tama e whitu tekau a Ierupaara kia eke mai, kia utaina o ratou toto ki runga ki to ratou teina, ki a Apimereke, nana nei ratou i patu; ki runga ano hoki i nga tangata o Hekeme nana nei i whakakaha ona ringa i patua ai ona tuakana, ona teina.

25 Na ka whakanohoia e nga tangata o Hekeme he kaiwhanga mona ki nga tihi o nga maunga, a pahuatia ana e ratou te hunga katoa i puta ki a ratou i te ara; a ka korerotia ki a Apimereke.

26 Na ka haere mai a Kaara tama a Epere ratou ko ona teina, a ka tae atu ki Hekeme; na ka whakawhirinaki nga tangata o Hekeme ki a ia.

27 Na ka haere ratou ki te mara, a whakiia ana nga hua o a ratou mara waina, takahia ana; na ka tuku hakari ratou, a ka haere ki te whare o to ratou atua, ka kai, ka inu, a kohukohua ana e ratou a Apimereke.

28 I mea ano a Kaara tama a Epere, Ko wai a Apimereke, ko wai hoki a Hekeme e mahi ai tatou ki a ia? ehara ianei ia i te tama a Ierupaara? ko Tepuru hoki tana kaiwhakahauhau? me mahi koutou ki nga tangata a Hamora, a te papa o Hekeme: engari he aha tatou ka mahi ai ki a ia?

29 Na me i pai te Atua ki tenei iwi ki raro ki toku ringa! ina kua peia e ahau a Apimereke. Katahi ia ka mea ki a Apimereke, Whakanuia tou ope, puta mai hoki.

30 A, no te rongonga o Tepuru rangatira o te pa ki nga kupu a Kaara tama a Epere, ka mura tona riri.

31 Na ka tono puku ia i etahi tangata ki a Apimereke hei me, Ko Kaara tama a Epere tenei, ratou ko ona teina, kua tae mai ki Hekeme; a kei te whakatutehu ratou i te pa kia tu atu ki a koe.

32 Na reira whakatika i te po, a koe me au tangata, ka takoto tauwhanga ai i te parae.

33 A ka whiti te ra i te ata, ka maranga wawe koe, ka huaki ki te pa: a ka puta ia, ratou ko ana tangata ki te whawhai ki a koe, mau e mea ki a ia tau e kite ai.

34 Na ko te whakatikanga ake o Apimereke ratou ko ana tangata katoa i te po, a e wha o ratou matua i takoto tauwhanga ai mo Hekeme.

35 A ka puta atu a Kaara tama a Epere, ka tu i te tomokanga ki te kuwaha o te pa: na kua whakatika ake a Apimereke ratou ko ana tangata i te pehipehi.

36 A, i te kitenga o Kaara i aua tangata, ka mea ia ki a Tepuru, Nana, he tangata e heke mai ra i nga tihi o nga maunga. Na ka mea a Tepuru ki a ia, Ko te ata o nga maunga tau e kite na, me te mea he tangata.

37 Na ka korero ano a Kaara, ka mea, Nana, titiro ki te hunga e heke mai ra ma waenganui o te whenua! kotahi hoki tera matua e haere mai ra i te ara i te oki o Meonenimi.

38 Na ka mea a Tepuru ki a ia, Kei hea ra tou mangai i mea ra koe, Ko wai a Apimereke, e mahi ai tatou ki a ia? ehara ianei tenei i te iwi i whakahaweatia ra e koe? Na haere atu inaianei ki te whawhai ki a ia.

39 Na ka haere a Kaara i te aroaro o nga tangata o Hekeme ki te whawhai ki a Apimereke.

40 Na ka whaia ia e Apimereke, a rere ana ia i tona aroaro, a he tokomaha i hinga, i patua, a te tomokanga ra ano o te kuwaha.

41 Na ka noho a Apimereke ki Aruma: a ka peia a Kaara ratou ko ona teina e Tepuru, kei noho ki Hekeme.

42 A i te aonga ake ka puta atu nga tangata ki te parae; a ka korerotia e ratou ki a Apimereke.

43 Na ka mau ia ki nga tangata, a wehea ana e ia kia toru nga matua, a ka tauwhanga i te parae. A ka kite ia, na, kua puta mai te iwi i roto i te pa, ka whakatika ia ki a ratou a patua iho.

44 I kokiri hoki a Apimereke ratou ko ana ngohi, a tu ana i te tomokanga ki te kuwaha o te pa: a kokiri ana nga ngohi e rua ki te hunga katoa i te parae, a patua iho.

45 A whakapaua ana e Apimereke taua ra ki te whawhai ki te pa, a horo ana te pa i a ia, patua iho hoki nga tangata katoa i roto; na wahia ana e ia te pa, ruia iho ki te tote.

46 A, no te rongonga o nga tangata katoa o te pourewa o Hekeme, ka haere ratou ki roto ki te taumaihi o te whare o te atua, o Periti.

47 A ka korerotia ki a Apimereke kua huihui katoa nga tangata o te pourewa o Hekeme.

48 Katahi ka piki atu a Apimereke ki Maunga Taramono, ratou ko ana tangata katoa; i mauria atu ano i Apimereke he toki i tona ringa; na ka tapahia e ia he rakau, a hapainga ana, amohia ana e ia i runga i ona pokohiwi, me te mea ano ki ana tangata, Ko ta koutou i kite nei e meatia ana e ahau, kia hohoro ta koutou pera.

49 Na ka tapahia he peka e tenei, e tenei o te iwi katoa, a haere ana ki te whai i a Apimereke: na ka whakatakotoria e ratou ki te taha o te taumaihi, a tahuna ana te taumaihi ki te ahi ki runga ki a ratou: na ka mate ano hoki nga tangata katoa o t e pourewa o Hekeme; ki te whakaaro iho kotahi mano nga tane, nga wahine.

50 Katahi ka haere a Apimereke ki Tepehe, a whakapaea ana a Tepehe e ia, a horo ana i a ia.

51 Na i waenganui o te pa he pourewa kaha, a ka rere ki reira nga tane katoa, me nga wahine, nga tangata katoa o te pa, a tutakina ana mai ratou ki roto, a piki ana ratou ki runga ki te tuanui o te pourewa.

52 Na ko te haerenga atu o Apimereke ki te pourewa, tauria ana e ia, ka whakatata hoki ki te kuwaha o te pourewa, he tahu ki te ahi.

53 Ko te tino makanga iho a tetahi wahine i to runga kohatu mira ki runga ki te matenga o Apimereke, na ngawha iho tona angaanga.

54 Na hohoro tonu tana karanga ki te tangata i mau i ana patu, ka mea ki a ia, Unuhia tau hoari, whakamatea hoki ahau, kei korerotia ahau, He wahine nana ia i patu. Na werohia ana ia e tana tangata, a ka mate.

55 A, no te kitenga o nga tangata o Iharaira kua mate a Apimereke, ka haere ratou ki tona wahi, ki tona wahi.

56 Na i penei te whakautu a te Atua i te kino a Apimereke i meatia e ia ki tona papa, i a ia i patu ai i ona tuakana, i ona teina, e whitu tekau:

57 Me te kino hoki a nga tangata o Hekeme, i whakautua katoatia e te Atua ki runga ki o ratou matenga; a ka tau iho ki a ratou te kanga a Iotama tama a Ierupaara.

1 and 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,

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.`

3 And 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;`

4 and 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;

5 and 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.

6 And 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;

7 and 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:

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

9 And 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?

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

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

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

13 And 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?

14 And all the trees say unto the bramble, Come thou, reign over us.

15 And 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.

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 because my father hath fought for you, and doth cast away his life from [him], and deliver you from the hand of Midian;

18 and 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 --

19 yea, 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;

20 and 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.`

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

22 And Abimelech is prince over Israel three years,

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

24 for 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.

25 And 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.

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

27 and 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.

28 And 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?

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

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

31 and 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;

32 and, now, rise by night, thou and the people who [are] with thee, and lay wait in the field,

33 and 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.`

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

35 and 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,

36 and 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.`

37 And 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.`

38 And 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.`

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

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

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

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

43 and 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.

44 And 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,

45 and 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.

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

47 and it is declared to Abimelech that all the masters of the tower of Shechem have gathered themselves together,

48 and 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.`

49 And 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.

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

51 and 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.

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

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

54 and 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.

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

56 and God turneth back the evil of Abimelech which he did to his father to slay his seventy brethren;

57 and 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.