1. U-Abimeleki indodana kaJerubali* waya kubafowabo bakanina, wakhuluma kubo nomndeni wonke wendlu kayise kanina, wathi:
2. “Ake nikhulume ezindlebeni zabo bonke abantu baseShekemi, nithi: ‘Yikuphi okuhle kini ukuba onke amadodana kaJerubali* angabantu abangamashumi ayisikhombisa anibuse nokuba nibuswe ngumuntu munye na?’ Khumbulani ukuthi mina ngiyithambo lenu nenyama yenu.”
3. Abafowabo bakanina base bekhuluma ngaye ezindlebeni zabo bonke abantu baseShekemi onke lawo mazwi; izinhliziyo zabo zathanda ukumlandela u-Abimeleki, ngokuba bathi: “Ungumfowethu.”
4. Bamnika amashekeli* angamashumi ayisikhombisa esiliva endlini kaBali Beriti, u-Abimeleki aqasha ngawo izidenga namayiyane, bamlandela.
5. Waya endlini kayise e-Ofira, wabulala abafowabo, amadodana kaJerubali,* abantu abangamashumi ayisikhombisa etsheni linye, kepha kwasala uJothamu indodana encinyane kaJerubali, ngokuba wacasha.
6. Bonke abantu baseShekemi bahlangana nabo bonke abaseBeti Milo, baya bambeka u-Abimeleki inkosi ngase-okini* letshe lesikhumbuzo elaliseShekemi.
7. Lapho kubikwa lokho kuJothamu, waya wema esiqongweni sentaba yaseGerizimu, waphakamisa izwi lakhe, wamemeza, wathi kubo: “Ngilaleleni nina bantu baseShekemi ukuba uNkulunkulu anilalele nina.
8. Imithi yake yaya ukuzigcobela inkosi, yathi kuwo umnqumo: ‘Yiba yinkosi yethu.’
9. “Kepha umnqumo wathi kuyo: ‘Ngiyakuwayeka yini amafutha ami abadunyiswa ngawo onkulunkulu nabantu, ngiye ngintengantenge phezu kwemithi, na?’
10. “Imithi yayisithi kuwo umkhiwane: ‘Woza wena, ube yinkosi yethu.’
11. “Kepha umkhiwane wathi kuyo: ‘Ngiyakubuyeka yini ubumnandi bami nezithelo zami ezinhle, ngiye ngintengantenge phezu kwemithi, na?’
12. “Yayisithi imithi kuwo umvini: ‘Woza wena, ube yinkosi yethu.’