Judges 9 Parallel Bible

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	BLB Berean Literal Bible	ESV English Standard Version	NIV New International Version
1	And Abimelech son of Jerubbaal went to Shechem to the brothers of his mother, and he spoke to them and to all the family of the house of the father of his mother, saying,	Now Abimelech the son of Jerubbaal went to Shechem to his mother’s relatives and said to them and to the whole clan of his mother’s family,	Abimelek son of Jerub-Baal went to his mother’s brothers in Shechem and said to them and to all his mother’s clan,
2	“Speak, please, in the ears of all the men of Shechem, ‘What is better for you⁺, that seventy men reign over you⁺, all sons of Jerubbaal, or that one man reigns over you⁺?’ And remember that I am your⁺ bone and your⁺ flesh.”	“Say in the ears of all the leaders of Shechem, ‘Which is better for you, that all seventy of the sons of Jerubbaal rule over you, or that one rule over you?’ Remember also that I am your bone and your flesh.”	“Ask all the citizens of Shechem, ‘Which is better for you: to have all seventy of Jerub-Baal’s sons rule over you, or just one man?’ Remember, I am your flesh and blood.”
3	And the brothers of his mother spoke concerning him in the ears of all the men of Shechem all these words, and their heart was inclined to follow Abimelech, for they said, “He is our brother.”	And his mother’s relatives spoke all these words on his behalf in the ears of all the leaders of Shechem, and their hearts inclined to follow Abimelech, for they said, “He is our brother.”	When the brothers repeated all this to the citizens of Shechem, they were inclined to follow Abimelek, for they said, “He is related to us.”
4	And they gave to him seventy shekels of silver from the temple of Baal-berith, and Abimelech hired with them worthless and reckless men, and they followed him.	And they gave him seventy pieces of silver out of the house of Baal-berith with which Abimelech hired worthless and reckless fellows, who followed him.	They gave him seventy shekels of silver from the temple of Baal-Berith, and Abimelek used it to hire reckless scoundrels, who became his followers.
5	And he went into the house of his father at Ophrah and killed his brothers, the sons of Jerubbaal, seventy men, on one stone. And Jotham, the youngest son of Jerubbaal, was left, because he hid himself.	And 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.	He went to his father’s home in Ophrah and on one stone murdered his seventy brothers, the sons of Jerub-Baal. But Jotham, the youngest son of Jerub-Baal, escaped by hiding.
6	And all the men of Shechem gathered together, and all of Beth-millo, and they went and made Abimelech king beside the oak at the pillar that was in Shechem.	And all the leaders of Shechem came together, and all Beth-millo, and they went and made Abimelech king, by the oak of the pillar at Shechem.	Then all the citizens of Shechem and Beth Millo gathered beside the great tree at the pillar in Shechem to crown Abimelek king.
7	And they told Jotham, and he went and stood on the top of Mount Gerizim, and he lifted his voice and cried out and said to them, “Listen to me, O masters of Shechem, that God may listen to you⁺.	When it was told to Jotham, he went and stood on top of Mount Gerizim and cried aloud and said to them, “Listen to me, you leaders of Shechem, that God may listen to you.	When Jotham was told about this, he climbed up on the top of Mount Gerizim and shouted to them, “Listen to me, citizens of Shechem, so that God may listen to you.
8	The trees have diligently gone to anoint over them a king. And they said to the olive tree, ‘Reign over us.’	The trees once went out to anoint a king over them, and they said to the olive tree, ‘Reign over us.’	One day the trees went out to anoint a king for themselves. They said to the olive tree, ‘Be our king.’
9	And the olive tree said to them, ‘Should I cease giving my oil, with which they honor God and men, and go to sway over the trees?’	But the olive tree said to them, ‘Shall I leave my abundance, by which gods and men are honored, and go hold sway over the trees?’	“But the olive tree answered, ‘Should I give up my oil, by which both gods and humans are honored, to hold sway over the trees?’
10	And the trees said to the fig tree, ‘Come you, reign over us.’	And the trees said to the fig tree, ‘You come and reign over us.’	“Next, the trees said to the fig tree, ‘Come and be our king.’
11	And the fig tree said to them, ‘Should I cease my sweetness, and my good fruit, and go to sway over the trees?’	But the fig tree said to them, ‘Shall I leave my sweetness and my good fruit and go hold sway over the trees?’	“But the fig tree replied, ‘Should I give up my fruit, so good and sweet, to hold sway over the trees?’
12	And the trees said to the vine, ‘Come you, reign over us.’	And the trees said to the vine, ‘You come and reign over us.’	“Then the trees said to the vine, ‘Come and be our king.’
13	And the vine said to them, ‘Should I cease my new wine, which cheers God and men, and go to sway over the trees?’	But the vine said to them, ‘Shall I leave my wine that cheers God and men and go hold sway over the trees?’	“But the vine answered, ‘Should I give up my wine, which cheers both gods and humans, to hold sway over the trees?’
14	And all the trees said to the bramble, ‘Come you, reign over us.’	Then all the trees said to the bramble, ‘You come and reign over us.’	“Finally all the trees said to the thornbush, ‘Come and be our king.’
15	And the bramble said to the trees, ‘If in truth you⁺ anoint me as king over you⁺, come, take refuge in my shade. But if not, let fire come out of the bramble and devour the cedars of Lebanon.’	And the bramble said to the trees, ‘If in good faith you are anointing me king over you, then come and take refuge in my shade, but if not, let fire come out of the bramble and devour the cedars of Lebanon.’	“The thornbush said to the trees, ‘If you really want to anoint me king over you, come and take refuge in my shade; but if not, then let fire come out of the thornbush and consume the cedars of Lebanon!’
16	And now, if in truth and sincerity you⁺ have acted in making Abimelech king, and if you⁺ have dealt well with Jerubbaal and his house, and if according to the deed of his hands you⁺ have done to him—	“Now therefore, if you acted in good faith and integrity when you made Abimelech king, and if you have dealt well with Jerubbaal and his house and have done to him as his deeds deserved—	“Have you acted honorably and in good faith by making Abimelek king? Have you been fair to Jerub-Baal and his family? Have you treated him as he deserves?
17	for my father fought for you⁺ and cast away his life from him, and delivered you⁺ out of the hand of Midian.	for my father fought for you and risked his life and delivered you from the hand of Midian,	Remember that my father fought for you and risked his life to rescue you from the hand of Midian.
18	And you⁺ have risen up against the house of my father this day and killed his sons, seventy men, on one stone, and made Abimelech son of his maidservant king over the men of Shechem, because he is your⁺ brother—	and you have risen up against my father’s house this day and have killed his sons, seventy men on one stone, and have made Abimelech, the son of his female servant, king over the leaders of Shechem, because he is your relative—	But today you have revolted against my father’s family. You have murdered his seventy sons on a single stone and have made Abimelek, the son of his female slave, king over the citizens of Shechem because he is related to you.
19	and if then in truth and sincerity you⁺ have acted with Jerubbaal and with his house this day, then rejoice in Abimelech and let him rejoice also in you⁺.	if you then have acted in good faith and integrity with Jerubbaal and with his house this day, then rejoice in Abimelech, and let him also rejoice in you.	So have you acted honorably and in good faith toward Jerub-Baal and his family today? If you have, may Abimelek be your joy, and may you be his, too!
20	But if not, let fire come from Abimelech and devour the men of Shechem and Beth-millo, and let come fire from the men of Shechem and Beth-millo, and devour Abimelech.”	But if not, let fire come out from Abimelech and devour the leaders of Shechem and Beth-millo; and let fire come out from the leaders of Shechem and from Beth-millo and devour Abimelech.”	But if you have not, let fire come out from Abimelek and consume you, the citizens of Shechem and Beth Millo, and let fire come out from you, the citizens of Shechem and Beth Millo, and consume Abimelek!”
21	And Jotham ran away and fled, and he went to Beer and dwelt there, for fear of Abimelech his brother.	And Jotham ran away and fled and went to Beer and lived there, because of Abimelech his brother.	Then Jotham fled, escaping to Beer, and he lived there because he was afraid of his brother Abimelek.
22	And Abimelech had reigned over Israel three years,	Abimelech ruled over Israel three years.	After Abimelek had governed Israel three years,
23	and God sent a spirit of animosity between Abimelech and between the men of Shechem, and the men of Shechem dealt treacherously with Abimelech,	And God sent an evil spirit between Abimelech and the leaders of Shechem, and the leaders of Shechem dealt treacherously with Abimelech,	God stirred up animosity between Abimelek and the citizens of Shechem so that they acted treacherously against Abimelek.
24	for the coming in of the violence to the seventy the sons of Jerubbaal, and to place their blood on Abimelech their brother who killed them, and on the men of Shechem who aided him in the killing of his brothers.	that the violence done to the seventy sons of Jerubbaal might come, and their blood be laid on Abimelech their brother, who killed them, and on the men of Shechem, who strengthened his hands to kill his brothers.	God did this in order that the crime against Jerub-Baal’s seventy sons, the shedding of their blood, might be avenged on their brother Abimelek and on the citizens of Shechem, who had helped him murder his brothers.
25	And the men of Shechem set against him an ambush on the tops of the hills, and they robbed all who passed by them along that way. And it was told to Abimelech.	And the leaders of Shechem put men in ambush against him on the mountaintops, and they robbed all who passed by them along that way. And it was told to Abimelech.	In opposition to him these citizens of Shechem set men on the hilltops to ambush and rob everyone who passed by, and this was reported to Abimelek.
26	And Gaal son of Ebed came, and his brothers, and went over to Shechem. And the men of Shechem put their confidence in him.	And Gaal the son of Ebed moved into Shechem with his relatives, and the leaders of Shechem put confidence in him.	Now Gaal son of Ebed moved with his clan into Shechem, and its citizens put their confidence in him.
27	And they went out into the fields, and gathered from their vineyards, and trod and made merry. And they went into the house of their god and ate and drank and cursed Abimelech.	And they went out into the field and gathered the grapes from their vineyards and trod them and held a festival; and they went into the house of their god and ate and drank and reviled Abimelech.	After they had gone out into the fields and gathered the grapes and trodden them, they held a festival in the temple of their god. While they were eating and drinking, they cursed Abimelek.
28	And Gaal 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—and why should we serve him?	And Gaal the son of Ebed said, “Who is Abimelech, and who are we of 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?	Then Gaal son of Ebed said, “Who is Abimelek, and why should we Shechemites be subject to him? Isn’t he Jerub-Baal’s son, and isn’t Zebul his deputy? Serve the family of Hamor, Shechem’s father! Why should we serve Abimelek?
29	And if only were given this people into my hand, Abimelech I would remove.” I would say to Abimelech, “Increase your army and come out.”	Would that this people were under my hand! Then I would remove Abimelech. I would say to Abimelech, ‘Increase your army, and come out.’”	If only this people were under my command! Then I would get rid of him. I would say to Abimelek, ‘Call out your whole army!’”
30	And Zebul the ruler of the city heard the words of Gaal son of Ebed, and his anger was kindled.	When Zebul the ruler of the city heard the words of Gaal the son of Ebed, his anger was kindled.	When Zebul the governor of the city heard what Gaal son of Ebed said, he was very angry.
31	And he sent messengers to Abimelech in deceit, saying, “Behold, Gaal son of Ebed and his brothers have come to Shechem. And behold, they are fortifying the city against you.	And he sent messengers to Abimelech secretly, saying, “Behold, Gaal the son of Ebed and his relatives have come to Shechem, and they are stirring up the city against you.	Under cover he sent messengers to Abimelek, saying, “Gaal son of Ebed and his clan have come to Shechem and are stirring up the city against you.
32	And now get up by night, you and the people who are with you, and lie in wait in the field.	Now therefore, go by night, you and the people who are with you, and set an ambush in the field.	Now then, during the night you and your men should come and lie in wait in the fields.
33	And it shall come to pass in the morning, at the rising of the sun, that you shall rise early and rush upon the city. And behold, he and the people who are with him will be coming out against you, and you may do to them as your hand finds.”	Then in the morning, as soon as the sun is up, rise early and rush upon the city. And when he and the people who are with him come out against you, you may do to them as your hand finds to do.”	In the morning at sunrise, advance against the city. When Gaal and his men come out against you, seize the opportunity to attack them.”
34	And Abimelech rose, and all the people who were with him, by night, and they lay in wait against Shechem in four companies.	So Abimelech and all the men who were with him rose up by night and set an ambush against Shechem in four companies.	So Abimelek and all his troops set out by night and took up concealed positions near Shechem in four companies.
35	And Gaal son of Ebed went out and stood in the entrance of the gate of the city, and Abimelech rose, and the people who were with him, from the ambush.	And Gaal the son of Ebed went out and stood in the entrance of the gate of the city, and Abimelech and the people who were with him rose from the ambush.	Now Gaal son of Ebed had gone out and was standing at the entrance of the city gate just as Abimelek and his troops came out from their hiding place.
36	And Gaal saw the people, and he said to Zebul, “Behold, a people is coming down from the tops of the mountains.” And Zebul said to him, “The shadows of the mountains You are seeing as men.”	And when Gaal saw the people, he said to Zebul, “Look, people are coming down from the mountaintops!” And Zebul said to him, “You mistake the shadow of the mountains for men.”	When Gaal saw them, he said to Zebul, “Look, people are coming down from the tops of the mountains!” Zebul replied, “You mistake the shadows of the mountains for men.”
37	And Gaal added again to speak, and he said, “Behold, a people are coming down from the center of the land, and one company is coming from the way of the Oak of the Diviners.”	Gaal spoke again and said, “Look, people are coming down from the center of the land, and one company is coming from the direction of the Diviners’ Oak.”	But Gaal spoke up again: “Look, people are coming down from the central hill, and a company is coming from the direction of the diviners’ tree.”
38	And Zebul said to him, “Where now is your mouth, with which you said, ‘Who is Abimelech, that we should serve him?’ Is this not the people whom you have despised? Go out, please, now, and fight against it.”	Then Zebul said to him, “Where is your mouth now, you who said, ‘Who is Abimelech, that we should serve him?’ Are not these the people whom you despised? Go out now and fight with them.”	Then Zebul said to him, “Where is your big talk now, you who said, ‘Who is Abimelek that we should be subject to him?’ Aren’t these the men you ridiculed? Go out and fight them!”
39	And Gaal went out before the faces of the masters of Shechem, and he fought with Abimelech.	And Gaal went out at the head of the leaders of Shechem and fought with Abimelech.	So Gaal led out the citizens of Shechem and fought Abimelek.
40	And Abimelech chased him, and he fled from him, and many fell wounded as far as the entrance of the gate.	And Abimelech chased him, and he fled before him. And many fell wounded, up to the entrance of the gate.	Abimelek chased him all the way to the entrance of the gate, and many were killed as they fled.
41	And Abimelech dwelt in Arumah, and Zebul drove out Gaal and his brothers from dwelling in Shechem.	And Abimelech lived at Arumah, and Zebul drove out Gaal and his relatives, so that they could not dwell at Shechem.	Then Abimelek stayed in Arumah, and Zebul drove Gaal and his clan out of Shechem.
42	And it came to pass on the next day that the people went out into the field. And they declared it to Abimelech.	On the following day, the people went out into the field, and Abimelech was told.	The next day the people of Shechem went out to the fields, and this was reported to Abimelek.
43	And he took the people and divided them into three companies and lay in wait in the field, and he looked, and behold, the people were coming out of the city; and he rose up against them and attacked them.	He took his people and divided them into three companies and set an ambush in the fields. And he looked and saw the people coming out of the city. So he rose against them and killed them.	So he took his men, divided them into three companies and set an ambush in the fields. When he saw the people coming out of the city, he rose to attack them.
44	And Abimelech and the company that was with him rushed forward and stood at the entrance of the gate of the city, and the two companies rushed upon all who were in the fields, and struck them.	Abimelech and the company that was with him rushed forward and stood at the entrance of the gate of the city, while the two companies rushed upon all who were in the field and killed them.	Abimelek and the companies with him rushed forward to a position at the entrance of the city gate. Then two companies attacked those in the fields and struck them down.
45	And Abimelech fought against the city all that day, and he took the city, and he killed the people who were in it, and he tore down the city and sowed it with salt.	And Abimelech fought against the city all that day. He captured the city and killed the people who were in it, and he razed the city and sowed it with salt.	All that day Abimelek pressed his attack against the city until he had captured it and killed its people. Then he destroyed the city and scattered salt over it.
46	And all the men of the tower of Shechem had heard, and they entered into the stronghold of the temple of El-berith.	When all the leaders of the Tower of Shechem heard of it, they entered the stronghold of the house of El-berith.	On hearing this, the citizens in the tower of Shechem went into the stronghold of the temple of El-Berith.
47	And it was told to Abimelech that all the men of the tower of Shechem were gathered together.	Abimelech was told that all the leaders of the Tower of Shechem were gathered together.	When Abimelek heard that they had assembled there,
48	And 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 lifted it and set it on his shoulder, and he said to the people who were with him, “What you⁺ have seen me do, hurry and do as I.”	And 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 bundle of brushwood and took it up and laid it on his shoulder. And he said to the men who were with him, “What you have seen me do, hurry and do as I have done.”	he and all his men went up Mount Zalmon. He took an ax and cut off some branches, which he lifted to his shoulders. He ordered the men with him, “Quick! Do what you have seen me do!”
49	And all the people, indeed each man, cut down his bough, and they went after Abimelech, and they put them against the stronghold, and they burned above them the stronghold with the fire, and died also all the people of the tower of Shechem—about a thousand men and women.	So every one of the people cut down his bundle and following Abimelech put it against the stronghold, and they set the stronghold on fire over them, so that all the people of the Tower of Shechem also died, about 1,000 men and women.	So all the men cut branches and followed Abimelek. They piled them against the stronghold and set it on fire with the people still inside. So all the people in the tower of Shechem, about a thousand men and women, also died.
50	And Abimelech went to Thebez, and he encamped against Thebez and took it.	Then Abimelech went to Thebez and encamped against Thebez and captured it.	Next Abimelek went to Thebez and besieged it and captured it.
51	And there was a strong tower in the midst of the city, and there fled all the men and the women, and all the masters of the city, and shut themselves in. And they went up to the top of the tower.	But there was a strong tower within the city, and all the men and women and all the leaders of the city fled to it and shut themselves in, and they went up to the roof of the tower.	Inside the city, however, was a strong tower, to which all the men and women—all the people of the city—had fled. They had locked themselves in and climbed up on the tower roof.
52	And Abimelech came as far as the tower and fought against it, and he drew near the door of the tower to burn it with the fire.	And Abimelech came to the tower and fought against it and drew near to the door of the tower to burn it with fire.	Abimelek went to the tower and attacked it. But as he approached the entrance to the tower to set it on fire,
53	And one woman dropped an upper millstone on the head of Abimelech, and it crushed his skull.	And a certain woman threw an upper millstone on Abimelech’s head and crushed his skull.	a woman dropped an upper millstone on his head and cracked his skull.
54	And he called quickly to the young man bearing his armor and said to him, “Draw your sword and kill me, lest they say of me, ‘A woman killed him.’” And his young man thrust him through, and he died.	Then he called quickly to the young man his armor-bearer and said to him, “Draw your sword and kill me, lest they say of me, ‘A woman killed him.’” And his young man thrust him through, and he died.	Hurriedly he called to his armor-bearer, “Draw your sword and kill me, so that they can’t say, ‘A woman killed him.’” So his servant ran him through, and he died.
55	And the men of Israel saw that Abimelech was dead, and every man departed to his place.	And when the men of Israel saw that Abimelech was dead, everyone departed to his home.	When the Israelites saw that Abimelek was dead, they went home.
56	And God repaid the wickedness of Abimelech, which he had done to his father by killing his seventy brothers.	Thus God returned the evil of Abimelech, which he committed against his father in killing his seventy brothers.	Thus God repaid the wickedness that Abimelek had done to his father by murdering his seventy brothers.
57	And all the evil of the men of Shechem God returned on their own heads, and came upon them the curse of Jotham son of Jerubbaal.	And God also made all the evil of the men of Shechem return on their heads, and upon them came the curse of Jotham the son of Jerubbaal.	God also made the people of Shechem pay for all their wickedness. The curse of Jotham son of Jerub-Baal came on them.
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Judges 9 Parallel Bible Translations