1 Mafumu 18
1 Patapita masiku ambiri, mʼchaka chachitatu cha chilala, Yehova anayankhula ndi Eliya kuti, “Pita ukadzionetse kwa Ahabu ndipo ndidzagwetsa mvula pa dziko lapansi.”
After a long time, in the third year of the drought, the word of the LORD came to Elijah: “Go and present yourself to Ahab, and I will send rain upon the face of the earth.”
2 Choncho Eliya anapita kukadzionetsa kwa Ahabu. Tsono nthawi imeneyi njala inakula kwambiri mu Samariya,
So Elijah went to present himself to Ahab. The famine was severe in Samaria,
3 ndipo Ahabu anayitana Obadiya amene ankayangʼanira nyumba yake yaufumu. (Obadiya ankaopa Yehova kwambiri.
and Ahab summoned Obadiah, who was in charge of the palace. (Now Obadiah greatly feared the LORD,
4 Pamene Yezebeli ankapha aneneri a Yehova, Obadiya anatenga aneneri 100 ndi kuwabisa mʼmapanga awiri, phanga lililonse aneneri makumi asanu, ndipo ankawapatsa chakudya ndi madzi).
for when Jezebel had slaughtered the prophets of the LORD, Obadiah had taken a hundred prophets and hidden them, fifty men per cave, providing them with food and water.)
5 Ahabu anawuza Obadiya kuti, “Pita mʼdziko kulikonse kumene kuli zitsime za madzi ndi ku zigwa zonse. Mwina mwake tingapeze udzu oti nʼkumadyetsa akavalo ndi abulu kuti akhale ndi moyo, kuti tisaphe chiweto chilichonse.”
Then Ahab said to Obadiah, “Go throughout the land to every spring and every valley. Perhaps we will find grass to keep the horses and mules alive so that we will not have to destroy any livestock.”
6 Choncho anagawana dziko loti apiteko, Ahabu anapita mbali ina, Obadiya nʼkupita ina.
So they divided the land to explore. Ahab went one way by himself, and Obadiah went the other way by himself.
7 Obadiya akuyenda mʼnjira anakumana ndi Eliya. Ndipo taonani, Obadiya anamuzindikira Eliyayo, naweramira pansi ndipo anati, “Kodi ndinu, mbuye wanga Eliya?”
Now as Obadiah went on his way, Elijah suddenly met him. When Obadiah recognized him, he fell facedown and said, “Is it you, my lord Elijah?”
8 Eliya anayankha kuti, “Inde. Pita kawuze mbuye wako kuti, ‘Eliya wabwera.’”
“It is I,” he answered. “Go tell your master, ‘Elijah is here!’”
9 Obadiya anafunsa kuti, “Kodi ndalakwa chiyani kuti inu mupereke mtumiki wanu kwa Ahabu kuti akaphedwe?
But Obadiah replied, “How have I sinned, that you are handing your servant over to Ahab to put me to death?
10 Pali Yehova Mulungu wanu wamoyo, kulibe mtundu wa anthu kapena ufumu uliwonse kumene mbuye wanga sanatumeko anthu okakufunafunani. Ndipo pamene mtundu wa anthu kapena ufumu unena kuti kuno kulibe, Ahabu ankawalumbiritsa kuti atsimikizedi kuti inuyo kulibe kumeneko.
As surely as the LORD your God lives, there is no nation or kingdom where my lord has not sent someone to search for you. When they said, ‘He is not here,’ he made that kingdom or nation swear that they had not found you.
11 Koma tsopano mukundiwuza kuti ndipite kwa mbuye wanga ndi kukanena kuti, ‘Eliya wabwera.’
And now you say, ‘Go tell your master that Elijah is here!’
12 Ine sindikudziwa kumene Mzimu wa Yehova udzakupititsani ine ndikachoka. Ngati ndipita kukamuwuza Ahabu ndipo iye wosadzakupezani, adzandipha. Komatu ine mtumiki wanu ndakhala ndi kupembedza Yehova kuyambira ubwana wanga.
I do not know where the Spirit of the LORD may carry you off when I leave you. Then when I go and tell Ahab and he does not find you, he will kill me. But I, your servant, have feared the LORD from my youth.
13 Mbuye wanga, kodi simunamve zimene ndinachita pamene Yezebeli ankapha aneneri a Yehova? Ine ndinabisa aneneri 100 a Yehova mʼmapanga awiri, mʼphanga lililonse aneneri makumi asanu, ndipo ndinkawapatsa chakudya ndi madzi akumwa.
Was it not reported to my lord what I did when Jezebel slaughtered the prophets of the LORD? I hid a hundred prophets of the LORD, fifty men per cave, and I provided them with food and water.
14 Ndiye inu tsopano mukundiwuza kuti ndipite kwa mbuye wanga ndi kukanena kuti, ‘Eliya wabwera.’ Iyeyo adzandipha ndithu!”
And now you say, ‘Go tell your lord that Elijah is here!’ He will kill me!”
15 Eliya anati, “Pali Yehova Wamphamvuzonse wamoyo, amene ndimamutumikira, ine lero ndidzaonekera ndithu pamaso pa Ahabu.”
Then Elijah said, “As surely as the LORD of Hosts lives, before whom I stand, I will present myself to Ahab today.”
16 Choncho Obadiya anapita kukakumana ndi Ahabu, namuwuza, ndipo Ahabu anapita kukakumana ndi Eliya.
So Obadiah went to inform Ahab, who went to meet Elijah.
17 Pamene Ahabu anaona Eliya, anati kwa iye, “Kodi ndiwedi, munthu wovutitsa Israeli uja?”
When Ahab saw Elijah, he said to him, “Is that you, O troubler of Israel?”
18 Eliya anayankha kuti, “Ine sindinavutitse Israeli, koma ndinuyo ndi banja lanu. Mwasiya malamulo a Yehova ndipo mwatsatira Abaala.
“I have not troubled Israel,” Elijah replied, “but you and your father’s house have, for you have forsaken the commandments of the LORD and have followed the Baals.
19 Tsopano sonkhanitsani anthu a mʼdziko lonse la Israeli kuti akumane nane pa Phiri la Karimeli. Ndipo mubwere nawo aneneri a Baala 450 ndi aneneri a fano la Asera 400, amene amadya pa tebulo la Yezebeli.”
Now summon all Israel to meet me on Mount Carmel, along with the four hundred and fifty prophets of Baal and the four hundred prophets of Asherah who eat at Jezebel’s table.”
20 Choncho Ahabu anatumiza mawu mʼdziko lonse la Israeli, ndipo anasonkhanitsa aneneri a Baala ku Phiri la Karimeli.
So Ahab summoned all the Israelites and assembled the prophets on Mount Carmel.
21 Eliya anapita patsogolo pa anthuwo ndipo anati, “Kodi mudzakhala anthu a mitima iwiri mpaka liti? Ngati Yehova ndi Mulungu, mutsateni; koma ngati Baala ndi Mulungu, mutsateni.” Koma anthu aja sanayankhe.
Then Elijah approached all the people and said, “How long will you waver between two opinions? If the LORD is God, follow Him. But if Baal is God, follow him.” But the people did not answer a word.
22 Pamenepo Eliya ananena kwa iwo kuti, “Ine ndilipo ndekha mneneri wa Yehova, koma Baala ali ndi aneneri 450.
Then Elijah said to the people, “I am the only remaining prophet of the LORD, but Baal has four hundred and fifty prophets.
23 Tibweretsereni ngʼombe zazimuna ziwiri. Iwo asankhepo okha ngʼombe imodzi, ndipo ayidule nthulinthuli ndi kuziyika pa nkhuni nthulizo, koma osakolezapo moto. Ndipo ine ndidzadula nthulinthuli ngʼombe inayo ndi kuyika pa nkhuni koma sindikolezapo moto.
Get two bulls for us. Let the prophets of Baal choose one bull for themselves, cut it into pieces, and place it on the wood but not light the fire. And I will prepare the other bull and place it on the wood but not light the fire.
24 Kenaka inu muyitane dzina la mulungu wanu, ndipo ine ndidzayitana dzina la Yehova. Mulungu amene ati ayankhe potumiza moto, iyeyo ndiye Mulungu.” Pamenepo anthu onse anati, “Izi mwanena zamveka bwino.”
Then you may call on the name of your god, and I will call on the name of the LORD. The God who answers by fire, He is God.” And all the people answered, “What you say is good.”
25 Eliya anawuza aneneri a Baala kuti, “Yambani ndinu. Sankhani ngʼombe yayimuna imodzi, muyikonze, popeza mulipo ambiri. Muyitane dzina la mulungu wanu, koma musakoleze moto.”
Then Elijah said to the prophets of Baal, “Since you are so numerous, choose for yourselves one bull and prepare it first. Then call on the name of your god, but do not light the fire.”
26 Choncho iwo anatenga ngʼombe yayimunayo imene anawapatsa, nayikonza. Kenaka anayitana dzina la Baala kuyambira mmawa mpaka masana. Iwo anafuwula kuti, “Inu Baala, tiyankheni ife.” Koma panalibe yankho; palibe amene anayankha. Ndipo anavinavina mozungulira guwa lansembe limene anapanga.
And they took the bull that was given them, prepared it, and called on the name of Baal from morning until noon, shouting, “O Baal, answer us!” But there was no sound, and no one answered as they leaped around the altar they had made.
27 Nthawi yamasana Eliya anayamba kuwanyogodola ndipo anati, “Fuwulani kwambiri. Ndithudi, iye ndi mulungu! Mwinatu akulingalira kwambiri, kapena watanganidwa, kapena ali paulendo. Mwina wagona ndipo nʼkofunika kuti adzutsidwe.”
At noon Elijah began to taunt them, saying, “Shout louder, for he is a god! Perhaps he is deep in thought, or occupied, or on a journey. Perhaps he is sleeping and must be awakened!”
28 Choncho iwo anafuwula kwambiri ndi kudzichekacheka ndi malupanga ndi mikondo, potsata miyambo yawo, mpaka kutuluka magazi.
So they shouted louder and cut themselves with knives and lances, as was their custom, until the blood gushed over them.
29 Nthawi yamasana inadutsa, ndipo anapitiriza kunenera mwakhama mpaka nthawi yopereka nsembe ya madzulo. Koma panalibe yankho. Palibe amene anayankha, kapena kulabadira zimenezo.
Midday passed, and they kept on raving until the time of the evening sacrifice. But there was no response; no one answered, no one paid attention.
30 Pamenepo Eliya anati kwa anthu onse, “Senderani pafupi ndi ine.” Ndipo anthu onsewo anasendera pafupi ndi iye, ndipo iye anakonza guwa lansembe la Yehova limene linali litawonongeka.
Then Elijah said to all the people, “Come near to me.” So all the people approached him, and he repaired the altar of the LORD that had been torn down.
31 Eliya anatenga miyala 12, mwala uliwonse kuyimira fuko lililonse la Yakobo, amene Yehova anamuwuza kuti, “Dzina lako lidzakhala Israeli.”
And Elijah took twelve stones, one for each tribe of the sons of Jacob, to whom the word of the LORD had come and said, “Israel shall be your name.”
32 Ndi miyala imeneyo anamanga guwa mʼdzina la Yehova, ndipo anakumba ngalande yayikulu yolowa malita 15 a madzi kuzungulira guwalo.
And with the stones, Elijah built an altar in the name of the LORD. Then he dug a trench around the altar large enough to hold two seahs of seed.
33 Anayika nkhuni zija mʼmalo mwake nadula nthulinthuli ngʼombe yayimuna ija ndi kuyika nthulizo pa nkhunipo. Pamenepo Eliya anati, “Dzazani mitsuko inayi ndi madzi ndipo muwathire pa nyama ya nsembeyo ndi nkhunizo.”
Next, he arranged the wood, cut up the bull, placed it on the wood,
34 Eliya anati, “Thiraninso kachiwiri.” Anthu aja anathiranso madziwo kachiwiri. Iye analamula kuti, “Thiraninso kachitatu.” Ndipo iwo anathiranso kachitatu.
and said, “Fill four waterpots and pour the water on the offering and on the wood.” “Do it a second time,” he said, and they did it a second time. “Do it a third time,” he said, and they did it a third time.
35 Madziwo anayenderera pansi kuzungulira guwa lansembe, nadzaza ngalande yonse.
So the water ran down around the altar and even filled the trench.
36 Pa nthawi yopereka nsembe, mneneri Eliya anasendera pafupi ndi guwa lansembe, napemphera kuti, “Inu Yehova, Mulungu wa Abrahamu, Isake ndi Yakobo, lero zidziwike kuti ndinu Mulungu mu Israeli ndipo kuti ine ndine mtumiki wanu, kuti ine ndachita zonsezi chifukwa mwalamula ndinu.
At the time of the evening sacrifice, Elijah the prophet approached the altar and said, “O LORD, God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, let it be known this day that You are God in Israel and that I am Your servant and have done all these things at Your command.
37 Ndiyankheni, Inu Yehova, ndiyankheni, kuti anthu awa adziwe Inu Yehova, kuti ndinu Mulungu, ndipo kuti mutembenuziranso mitima yawo kwa Inu.”
Answer me, O LORD! Answer me, so that this people will know that You, the LORD, are God, and that You have turned their hearts back again.”
38 Pamenepo moto wa Yehova unagwa, nunyeketsa nsembe yopserezayo, nkhuni, miyala ndi dothi lomwe. Unawumitsanso madzi amene anali mʼngalande.
Then the fire of the LORD fell and consumed the sacrifice, the wood, the stones, and the dust, and it licked up the water in the trench.
39 Anthu onse ataona zimenezi, anaweramitsa nkhope zawo pansi, nafuwula kuti, “Yehova ndiye Mulungu! Yehova ndiye Mulungu!”
When all the people saw this, they fell facedown and said, “The LORD, He is God! The LORD, He is God!”
40 Pamenepo Eliya analamula anthuwo kuti, “Gwirani aneneri a Baala. Musalole kuti wina aliyense athawe!” Anagwira onsewo ndipo Eliya anabwera nawo ku Chigwa cha Kisoni, nawapha kumeneko.
Then Elijah ordered them, “Seize the prophets of Baal! Do not let a single one escape.” So they seized them, and Elijah brought them down to the Kishon Valley and slaughtered them there.
41 Ndipo Eliya anati kwa Ahabu, “Pitani, kadyeni ndi kumwa, pakuti kukumveka mkokomo wa mvula.”
And Elijah said to Ahab, “Go up, eat and drink, for there is the sound of a heavy rain.”
42 Choncho Ahabu anapita kukadya ndi kumwa, koma Eliya anakwera pamwamba pa Phiri la Karimeli, ndipo anawerama mpaka pansi, nayika mutu wake pakati pa mawondo ake.
So Ahab went up to eat and drink. But Elijah climbed to the summit of Carmel, bent down on the ground, and put his face between his knees.
43 Eliya anawuza mtumiki wake kuti, “Pita kayangʼane ku nyanja.” Ndipo iye anapita nakayangʼana. Mtumikiyo anati, “Kulibe kanthu.” Kasanu nʼkawiri Eliya anati, “Pitanso.”
“Go and look toward the sea,” he said to his servant. So the servant went and looked, and he said, “There is nothing there.” Seven times Elijah said, “Go back.”
44 Ulendo wachisanu ndi chiwiri mtumikiyo anafotokoza kuti, “Taonani, kamtambo kakangʼono kokhala ngati dzanja la munthu kakutuluka ku nyanja.” Pamenepo Eliya anati, “Pita, kamuwuze Ahabu kuti, ‘Konzani galeta lanu ndipo mutsike mvula isanakutsekerezeni.’”
On the seventh time the servant reported, “There is a cloud as small as a man’s hand rising from the sea.” And Elijah replied, “Go and tell Ahab, ‘Prepare your chariot and go down before the rain stops you.’”
45 Nthawi imeneyi nʼkuti kuthambo kutayamba kusonkhana mitambo yakuda, mphepo inawomba, mvula yamphamvu inagwa ndipo Ahabu anakwera galeta napita ku Yezireeli.
Meanwhile, the sky grew dark with clouds and wind, and a heavy rain began to fall. So Ahab rode away and went to Jezreel.
46 Dzanja la Yehova linali pa Eliya ndipo atamangira lamba chovala chake, anathamanga ndi kumupitirira Ahabu mpaka kukhala woyamba kukafika ku Yezireeli.
And the hand of the LORD came upon Elijah, and he tucked his cloak into his belt and ran ahead of Ahab all the way to Jezreel.
