1 N a 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,

Then Abimelech 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,

2 T ena, 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.

“Please speak in the hearing of all the men of Shechem: ‘Which is better for you, that all seventy of the sons of Jerubbaal reign over you, or that one reign over you?’ Remember that I am your own flesh and bone.”

3 N a 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.

And his mother’s brothers spoke all these words concerning him in the hearing of all the men of Shechem; and their heart was inclined to follow Abimelech, for they said, “He is our brother.”

4 N a 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.

So they gave him seventy shekels of silver from the temple of Baal-Berith, with which Abimelech hired worthless and reckless men; and they followed him.

5 N a 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.

Then he went to his father’s house at Ophrah and killed his brothers, the seventy sons of Jerubbaal, on one stone. But Jotham the youngest son of Jerubbaal was left, because he hid himself.

6 N a 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.

And all the men of Shechem gathered together, all of Beth Millo, and they went and made Abimelech king beside the terebinth tree at the pillar that was in Shechem. The Parable of the Trees

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.

Now when they told Jotham, he went and stood on top of Mount Gerizim, and lifted his voice and cried out. And he said to them: “Listen to me, you men of Shechem, That God may listen to you!

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.

“The trees once went forth to anoint a king over them. And they said to the olive tree, ‘Reign over us!’

9 N a 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?

But the olive tree said to them, ‘Should I cease giving my oil, With which they honor God and men, And go to sway over trees?’

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

“Then the trees said to the fig tree, ‘You come and reign over us!’

11 A no 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?

But the fig tree said to them, ‘Should I cease my sweetness and my good fruit, And go to sway over trees?’

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

“Then the trees said to the vine, ‘You come and reign over us!’

13 N a 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?

But the vine said to them, ‘Should I cease my new wine, Which cheers both God and men, And go to sway over trees?’

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

“Then all the trees said to the bramble, ‘You come and reign over us!’

15 N a 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.

And the bramble said to the trees, ‘If in truth you anoint me as king over you, Then come and take shelter in my shade; But if not, let fire come out of the bramble And devour the cedars of Lebanon!’

16 N a 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;

“Now therefore, if you have acted in truth and sincerity in making Abimelech king, and if you have dealt well with Jerubbaal and his house, and have done to him as he deserves—

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

for my father fought for you, risked his life, and delivered you out of the hand of Midian;

18 N a 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;

but you have risen up against my father’s house this day, and killed his seventy sons on one stone, and made Abimelech, the son of his female servant, king over the men of Shechem, because he is your brother—

19 N a 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.

if then you have acted in truth and sincerity with Jerubbaal and with his house this day, then rejoice in Abimelech, and let him also rejoice in you.

20 K i 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.

“But if not, let fire come from Abimelech and devour the men of Shechem and Beth Millo; and let fire come from the men of Shechem and from Beth Millo and devour Abimelech!”

21 N a 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.

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

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

After Abimelech had reigned over Israel three years,

23 N a 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.

God sent a spirit of ill will between Abimelech and the men of Shechem; and the men of Shechem dealt treacherously with Abimelech,

24 H e 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.

that the crime done to the seventy sons of Jerubbaal might be settled and their blood be laid on Abimelech their brother, who killed them, and on the men of Shechem, who aided him in the killing of his brothers.

25 N a 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.

And the men of Shechem set men in ambush against him on the tops of the mountains, and they robbed all who passed by them along that way; and it was told Abimelech.

26 N a 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.

Now Gaal the son of Ebed came with his brothers and went over to Shechem; and the men of Shechem put their confidence in him.

27 N a 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.

So they went out into the fields, and gathered grapes from their vineyards and trod them, and made merry. And they went into the house of their god, and ate and drank, and cursed Abimelech.

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?

Then Gaal the son of Ebed said, “Who is Abimelech, and who is Shechem, that we should serve him? Is he not the son of Jerubbaal, and is not Zebul his officer? Serve the men of Hamor the father of Shechem; but why should we serve him?

29 N a 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.

If only this people were under my authority! Then I would remove Abimelech.” So he said to Abimelech, “Increase your army and come out!”

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

When Zebul, the ruler of the city, heard the words of Gaal the son of Ebed, his anger was aroused.

31 N a 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.

And he sent messengers to Abimelech secretly, saying, “Take note! Gaal the son of Ebed and his brothers have come to Shechem; and here they are, fortifying the city against you.

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

Now therefore, get up by night, you and the people who are with you, and lie in wait in the field.

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.

And it shall be, as soon as the sun is up in the morning, that you shall rise early and rush upon the city; and when he and the people who are with him come out against you, you may then do to them as you find opportunity.”

34 N a 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.

So Abimelech and all the people who were with him rose by night, and lay in wait against Shechem in four companies.

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.

When Gaal the son of Ebed went out and stood in the entrance to the city gate, Abimelech and the people who were with him rose from lying in wait.

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.

And when Gaal saw the people, he said to Zebul, “Look, people are coming down from the tops of the mountains!” But Zebul said to him, “You see the shadows of the mountains as if they were men.”

37 N a 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.

So Gaal spoke again and said, “See, people are coming down from the center of the land, and another company is coming from the Diviners’ Terebinth Tree.”

38 N a 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.

Then Zebul said to him, “Where indeed is your mouth now, with which you said, ‘Who is Abimelech, that we should serve him?’ Are not these the people whom you despised? Go out, if you will, and fight with them now.”

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

So Gaal went out, leading the men of Shechem, and fought with Abimelech.

40 N a 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.

And Abimelech chased him, and he fled from him; and many fell wounded, to the very entrance of the gate.

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

Then Abimelech dwelt at Arumah, and Zebul drove out Gaal and his brothers, so that they would not dwell in Shechem.

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

And it came about on the next day that the people went out into the field, and they told Abimelech.

43 N a 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.

So he took his people, divided them into three companies, and lay in wait in the field. And he looked, and there were the people, coming out of the city; and he rose against them and attacked them.

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.

Then Abimelech and the company that was with him rushed forward and stood at the entrance of the gate of the city; and the other two companies rushed upon all who were in the fields and killed them.

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.

So Abimelech fought against the city all that day; he took the city and killed the people who were in it; and he demolished the city and sowed it with salt.

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.

Now when all the men of the tower of Shechem had heard that, they entered the stronghold of the temple of the god Berith.

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

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

48 K atahi 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.

Then Abimelech went up to Mount Zalmon, he and all the people who were with him. And Abimelech took an ax in his hand and cut down a bough from the trees, and took it and laid it on his shoulder; then he said to the people who were with him, “What you have seen me do, make haste and do as I have done. ”

49 N a 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.

So each of the people likewise cut down his own bough and followed Abimelech, put them against the stronghold, and set the stronghold on fire above them, so that all the people of the tower of Shechem died, about a thousand men and women.

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

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

51 N a 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.

But there was a strong tower in the city, and all the men and women—all the people of the city—fled there and shut themselves in; then they went up to the top of the tower.

52 N a 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.

So Abimelech came as far as the tower and fought against it; and he drew near the door of the tower to burn it with fire.

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

But a certain woman dropped an upper millstone on Abimelech’s head and crushed his skull.

54 N a 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.

Then he called quickly to the young man, his armorbearer, and said to him, “Draw your sword and kill me, lest men say of me, ‘A woman killed him.’” So his young man thrust him through, and he died.

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

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

56 N a 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:

Thus God repaid the wickedness of Abimelech, which he had done to his father by killing his seventy brothers.

57 M e 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.

And all the evil of the men of Shechem God returned on their own heads, and on them came the curse of Jotham the son of Jerubbaal.