1And Abimelech the son of Jerubbaal went to Shechem to his mother's relatives, and spoke to them and to the whole clan of the household of his mother's father, saying,
1耶路巴力的兒子亞比米勒到了示劍見他的眾母舅，對他們和他外祖全家的人說：
2'Speak, now, in the hearing of all the leaders of Shechem, 'Which is better for you, that seventy men, all the sons of Jerubbaal, rule over you, or that one man rule over you?' Also, remember that I am your bone and your flesh.'
2請你們問示劍的眾人說，是耶路巴力的眾子七十人都管理你們好呢？還是一人管理你們好呢？你們又要記念我是你們的骨肉。
3And his mother's relatives spoke all these words on his behalf in the hearing of all the leaders of Shechem; and they were inclined to follow Abimelech, for they said, 'He is our relative.'
3他的眾母舅便將這一切話為他說給示劍人聽，示劍人的心就歸向亞比米勒。他們說：他原是我們的弟兄；
4They gave him seventy [pieces] of silver from the house of Baal-berith with which Abimelech hired worthless and reckless fellows, and they followed him.
4就從巴力比利土的廟中取了七十舍客勒銀子給亞比米勒；亞比米勒用以雇了些匪徒跟隨他。
5Then he went to his father's house at Ophrah and killed his brothers the sons of Jerubbaal, seventy men, on one stone. But Jotham the youngest son of Jerubbaal was left, for he hid himself.
5他往俄弗拉到他父親的家，將他弟兄、耶路巴力的眾子七十人都殺在一塊磐石上；只剩下耶路巴力的小兒子約坦，因為他躲藏了。
6All the men of Shechem and all Beth-millo assembled together, and they went and made Abimelech king, by the oak of the pillar which was in Shechem.
6示劍人和米羅人都一同聚集，往示劍橡樹旁的柱子那裡，立亞比米勒為王。
7Now when they told Jotham, he went and stood on the top of Mount Gerizim, and lifted his voice and called out. Thus he said to them, 'Listen to me, O men of Shechem, that God may listen to you.
7有人將這事告訴約坦，他就去站在基利心山頂上，向眾人大聲喊叫說：示劍人哪，你們要聽我的話，神也就聽你們的話。
8'Once the trees went forth to anoint a king over them, and they said to the olive tree, 'Reign over us!'
8有一時樹木要膏一樹為王，管理他們，就去對橄欖樹說：請你作我們的王。
9'But the olive tree said to them, 'Shall I leave my fatness with which God and men are honored, and go to wave over the trees?'
9橄欖樹回答說：我豈肯止住供奉神和尊重人的油，飄颻在眾樹之上呢？
10'Then the trees said to the fig tree, 'You come, reign over us!'
10樹木對無花果樹說：請你來作我們的王。
11'But the fig tree said to them, 'Shall I leave my sweetness and my good fruit, and go to wave over the trees?'
11無花果樹回答說：我豈肯止住所結甜美的果子，飄颻在眾樹之上呢？
12'Then the trees said to the vine, 'You come, reign over us!'
12樹木對葡萄樹說：請你來作我們的王。
13'But the vine said to them, 'Shall I leave my new wine, which cheers God and men, and go to wave over the trees?'
13葡萄樹回答說：我豈肯止住使神和人喜樂的新酒，飄颻在眾樹之上呢。
14'Finally all the trees said to the bramble, 'You come, reign over us!'
14眾樹對荊棘說：請你來作我們的王。
15'The bramble said to the trees, 'If in truth you are anointing me as king over you, come and take refuge in my shade; but if not, may fire come out from the bramble and consume the cedars of Lebanon.'
15荊棘回答說：你們若誠誠實實地膏我為王，就要投在我的蔭下；不然，願火從荊棘裡出來，燒滅利巴嫩的香柏樹。
16'Now therefore, if you have dealt in truth and integrity in making Abimelech king, and if you have dealt well with Jerubbaal and his house, and have dealt with him as he deserved--
16現在你們立亞比米勒為王，若按誠實正直善待耶路巴力和他的全家，這就是酬他的勞。
17for my father fought for you and risked his life and delivered you from the hand of Midian;
17從前我父冒死為你們爭戰，救了你們脫離米甸人的手。
18but you have risen against my father's house today and have killed his sons, seventy men, on one stone, and have made Abimelech, the son of his maidservant, king over the men of Shechem, because he is your relative--
18你們如今起來攻擊我的父家，將他眾子七十人殺在一塊磐石上，又立他婢女所生的兒子亞比米勒為示劍人的王；他原是你們的弟兄。
19if then you have dealt in truth and integrity with Jerubbaal and his house this day, rejoice in Abimelech, and let him also rejoice in you.
19你們如今若按誠實正直待耶路巴力和他的家，就可因亞比米勒得歡樂，他也可因你們得歡樂；
20'But if not, let fire come out from Abimelech and consume the men of Shechem and Beth-millo; and let fire come out from the men of Shechem and from Beth-millo, and consume Abimelech.'
20不然，願火從亞比米勒發出，燒滅示劍人和米羅眾人，又願火從示劍人和米羅人中出來，燒滅亞比米勒。
21Then Jotham escaped and fled, and went to Beer and remained there because of Abimelech his brother.
21約坦因怕他弟兄亞比米勒，就逃跑，來到比珥，住在那裡。
22Now Abimelech ruled over Israel three years.
22亞比米勒管理以色列人三年。
23Then God sent an evil spirit between Abimelech and the men of Shechem; and the men of Shechem dealt treacherously with Abimelech,
23神使惡魔降在亞比米勒和示劍人中間，示劍人就以詭詐待亞比米勒。
24so that the violence done to the seventy sons of Jerubbaal might come, and 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.
24這是要叫耶路巴力七十個兒子所受的殘害歸與他們的哥哥亞比米勒，又叫那流他們血的罪歸與幫助他殺弟兄的示劍人。
25The men of Shechem set men in ambush against him on the tops of the mountains, and they robbed all who might pass by them along the road; and it was told to Abimelech.
25示劍人在山頂上設埋伏，等候亞比米勒。凡從他們那裡經過的人，他們就搶奪。有人將這事告訴亞比米勒。
26Now Gaal the son of Ebed came with his relatives, and crossed over into Shechem; and the men of Shechem put their trust in him.
26以別的兒子迦勒和他的弟兄來到示劍，示劍人都信靠他。
27They went out into the field and gathered [the grapes of] their vineyards and trod [them], and held a festival; and they went into the house of their god, and ate and drank and cursed Abimelech.
27示劍人出城到田間去，摘下葡萄，踹酒，設擺筵宴，進他們神的廟中吃喝，咒詛亞比米勒。
28Then 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] Zebul [not] his lieutenant? Serve the men of Hamor the father of Shechem; but why should we serve him?
28以別的兒子迦勒說：亞比米勒是誰？示劍是誰？使我們服事他呢？他不是耶路巴力的兒子麼？他的幫手不是西布勒麼？你們可以服事示劍的父親哈抹的後裔。我們為何服事亞比米勒呢？
29'Would, therefore, that this people were under my authority! Then I would remove Abimelech.' And he said to Abimelech, 'Increase your army and come out.'
29惟願這民歸我的手下，我就除掉亞比米勒。迦勒又對亞比米勒說：增添你的軍兵出來罷。
30When Zebul the ruler of the city heard the words of Gaal the son of Ebed, his anger burned.
30邑宰西布勒聽見以別的兒子迦勒的話，就發怒，
31He sent messengers to Abimelech deceitfully, saying, 'Behold, Gaal the son of Ebed and his relatives have come to Shechem; and behold, they are stirring up the city against you.
31悄悄地打發人去見亞比米勒，說：以別的兒子迦勒和他的弟兄到了示劍，煽惑城中的民攻擊你。
32'Now therefore, arise by night, you and the people who are with you, and lie in wait in the field.
32現在你和跟隨你的人今夜起來，在田間埋伏。
33'In the morning, as soon as the sun is up, you shall rise early and rush upon the city; and behold, when he and the people who are with him come out against you, you shall do to them whatever you can.'
33到早晨太陽一出，你就起來闖城。迦勒和跟隨他的人出來攻擊你的時候，你便向他們見機而做。
34So Abimelech and all the people who [were] with him arose by night and lay in wait against Shechem in four companies.
34於是，亞比米勒和跟隨他的眾人夜間起來，分作四隊，埋伏等候示劍人。
35Now Gaal the son of Ebed went out and stood in the entrance of the city gate; and Abimelech and the people who [were] with him arose from the ambush.
35以別的兒子迦勒出去，站在城門口。亞比米勒和跟隨他的人從埋伏之處起來。
36When 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 are seeing the shadow of the mountains as [if they were] men.'
36迦勒看見那些人，就對西布勒說：看哪，有人從山頂上下來了。西布勒說：你看見山的影子，以為是人。
37Gaal spoke again and said, 'Behold, people are coming down from the highest part of the land, and one company comes by the way of the diviners' oak.'
37迦勒又說：看哪，有人從高處下來，又有一隊從米惡尼尼橡樹的路上而來。
38Then Zebul said to him, 'Where is your boasting now with which you said, 'Who is Abimelech that we should serve him?' Is this not the people whom you despised? Go out now and fight with them!'
38西布勒對他說：你曾說，亞比米勒是誰，叫我們服事他？你所誇的口在哪裡呢？這不是你所藐視的民麼？你現在出去，與他們交戰罷！
39So Gaal went out before the leaders of Shechem and fought with Abimelech.
39於是迦勒率領示劍人出去，與亞比米勒交戰。
40Abimelech chased him, and he fled before him; and many fell wounded up to the entrance of the gate.
40亞比米勒追趕迦勒；迦勒在他面前逃跑，有許多受傷仆倒的，直到城門。
41Then Abimelech remained at Arumah, but Zebul drove out Gaal and his relatives so that they could not remain in Shechem.
41亞比米勒住在亞魯瑪。西布勒趕出迦勒和他弟兄，不准他們住在示劍。
42Now it came about the next day, that the people went out to the field, and it was told to Abimelech.
42次日，民出到田間，有人告訴亞比米勒；
43So he took his people and divided them into three companies, and lay in wait in the field; when he looked and saw the people coming out from the city, he arose against them and slew them.
43他就把他的人分作三隊，埋伏在田間，看見示劍人從城裡出來，就起來擊殺他們。
44Then Abimelech and the company who was with him dashed forward and stood in the entrance of the city gate; the other two companies then dashed against all who [were] in the field and slew them.
44亞比米勒和跟隨他的一隊向前闖去，站在城門口；那兩隊直闖到田間，擊殺了眾人。
45Abimelech fought against the city all that day, and he captured the city and killed the people who [were] in it; then he razed the city and sowed it with salt.
45亞比米勒整天攻打城，將城奪取，殺了其中的居民，將城拆毀，撒上了鹽。
46When all the leaders of the tower of Shechem heard of [it], they entered the inner chamber of the temple of El-berith.
46示劍樓的人聽見了，就躲入巴力比利土廟的衛所。
47It was told Abimelech that all the leaders of the tower of Shechem were gathered together.
47有人告訴亞比米勒說：示劍樓的人都聚在一處。
48So Abimelech 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 branch from the trees, and lifted it and laid [it] on his shoulder. Then he said to the people who [were] with him, 'What you have seen me do, hurry [and] do likewise.'
48亞比米勒和跟隨他的人就都上撒們山。亞比米勒手拿斧子，砍下一根樹枝，扛在肩上，對跟隨他的人說：你們看我所行的，也當趕緊照樣行。
49All the people also cut down each one his branch and followed Abimelech, and put [them] on the inner chamber and set the inner chamber on fire over those [inside], so that all the men of the tower of Shechem also died, about a thousand men and women.
49眾人就各砍一枝，跟隨亞比米勒，把樹枝堆在衛所的四圍，放火燒了衛所，以致示劍樓的人都死了，男女約有一千。
50Then Abimelech went to Thebez, and he camped against Thebez and captured it.
50亞比米勒到提備斯，向提備斯安營，就攻取了那城。
51But there was a strong tower in the center of the city, and all the men and women with all the leaders of the city fled there and shut themselves in; and they went up on the roof of the tower.
51城中有一座堅固的樓；城裡的眾人，無論男女，都逃進樓去，關上門，上了樓頂。
52So Abimelech came to the tower and fought against it, and approached the entrance of the tower to burn it with fire.
52亞比米勒到了樓前攻打，挨近樓門，要用火焚燒。
53But a certain woman threw an upper millstone on Abimelech's head, crushing his skull.
53有一個婦人把一塊上磨石拋在亞比米勒的頭上，打破了他的腦骨。
54Then he called quickly to the young man, his armor bearer, and said to him, 'Draw your sword and kill me, so that it will not be said of me, 'A woman slew him.'' So the young man pierced him through, and he died.
54他就急忙喊叫拿他兵器的少年人，對他說：拔出你的刀來，殺了我罷！免得人議論我說，他為一個婦人所殺。於是少年人把他刺透，他就死了。
55When the men of Israel saw that Abimelech was dead, each departed to his home.
55以色列人見亞比米勒死了，便各回自己的地方去了。
56Thus God repaid the wickedness of Abimelech, which he had done to his father in killing his seventy brothers.
56這樣，神報應亞比米勒向他父親所行的惡，就是殺了弟兄七十個人的惡。
57Also God returned all the wickedness of the men of Shechem on their heads, and the curse of Jotham the son of Jerubbaal came upon them.
57示劍人的一切惡，神也都報應在他們頭上；耶路巴力的兒子約坦的咒詛歸到們身上了。