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.”
Now after a long time, the word of the Lord came to Elijah, in the third year, saying, Go and let Ahab see you, so that I may send rain on the earth.
2 Choncho Eliya anapita kukadzionetsa kwa Ahabu. Tsono nthawi imeneyi njala inakula kwambiri mu Samariya,
So Elijah went to let Ahab see him. Now there was no food to be had in Samaria.
3 ndipo Ahabu anayitana Obadiya amene ankayangʼanira nyumba yake yaufumu. (Obadiya ankaopa Yehova kwambiri.
And Ahab sent for Obadiah, the controller of the king's house. (Now Obadiah had the fear of the Lord before him greatly;
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 was cutting off the prophets of the Lord, Obadiah took a hundred of them, and kept them secretly in a hole in the rock, fifty at a time, and gave them bread 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.”
And Ahab said to Obadiah, Come, let us go through all the country, to all the fountains of water and all the rivers, and see if there is any grass to be had for the horses and the transport beasts, so that we may be able to keep some of the beasts from destruction.
6 Choncho anagawana dziko loti apiteko, Ahabu anapita mbali ina, Obadiya nʼkupita ina.
So they went through all the country, covering it between them; Ahab went in one direction by himself, and Obadiah went in another by himself.
7 Obadiya akuyenda mʼnjira anakumana ndi Eliya. Ndipo taonani, Obadiya anamuzindikira Eliyayo, naweramira pansi ndipo anati, “Kodi ndinu, mbuye wanga Eliya?”
And while Obadiah was on his way, he came face to face with Elijah; and seeing who it was, he went down on his face and said, Is it you, my lord Elijah?
8 Eliya anayankha kuti, “Inde. Pita kawuze mbuye wako kuti, ‘Eliya wabwera.’”
And Elijah in answer said, It is I; now go and say to your lord, Elijah is here.
9 Obadiya anafunsa kuti, “Kodi ndalakwa chiyani kuti inu mupereke mtumiki wanu kwa Ahabu kuti akaphedwe?
And he said, What sin have I done, that you would give up your servant into the hand of Ahab, and be the cause of my 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.
By the life of the Lord your God, there is not a nation or kingdom where my lord has not sent in search of you; and when they said, He is not here; he made them take an oath that they had not seen you.
11 Koma tsopano mukundiwuza kuti ndipite kwa mbuye wanga ndi kukanena kuti, ‘Eliya wabwera.’
And now you say, Go, say to your lord, 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.
And straight away, when I have gone from you, the spirit of the Lord will take you away, I have no idea where, so that when I come and give word to Ahab, and he sees you not, he will put me to death: though I, your servant, have been a worshipper of the Lord from my earliest years.
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.
Has my lord not had word of what I did when Jezebel was putting the Lord's prophets to death? how I kept a hundred of them in a secret hole in the rock, fifty at a time, and gave them bread 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 and say to your Lord, Elijah is here; and he will put me to death.
15 Eliya anati, “Pali Yehova Wamphamvuzonse wamoyo, amene ndimamutumikira, ine lero ndidzaonekera ndithu pamaso pa Ahabu.”
And Elijah said, By the life of the Lord of armies, whose servant I am, I will certainly let him see me today.
16 Choncho Obadiya anapita kukakumana ndi Ahabu, namuwuza, ndipo Ahabu anapita kukakumana ndi Eliya.
So Obadiah went to Ahab and gave him the news; and Ahab went to see Elijah.
17 Pamene Ahabu anaona Eliya, anati kwa iye, “Kodi ndiwedi, munthu wovutitsa Israeli uja?”
And when he saw Elijah, Ahab said to him, Is it you, you troubler of Israel?
18 Eliya anayankha kuti, “Ine sindinavutitse Israeli, koma ndinuyo ndi banja lanu. Mwasiya malamulo a Yehova ndipo mwatsatira Abaala.
Then he said in answer, I have not been troubling Israel, but you and your family; because, turning away from the orders of the Lord, you have gone after 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 send, and get Israel together before me at Mount Carmel, with the four hundred and fifty prophets of Baal who get their food at Jezebel's table.
20 Choncho Ahabu anatumiza mawu mʼdziko lonse la Israeli, ndipo anasonkhanitsa aneneri a Baala ku Phiri la Karimeli.
So Ahab sent for all the children of Israel, and got the prophets together at 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.
And Elijah came near to all the people and said, How long will you go on balancing between two opinions? if the Lord is God, then give worship to him; but if Baal, give worship to him. And the people said not a word in answer.
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, even I, am the only living prophet of the Lord; but Baal's prophets are four hundred and fifty men.
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.
Now, let them give us two oxen; and let them take one for themselves, and have it cut up, and put it on the wood, but put no fire under it; I will get the other ox ready, and put it on the wood, and put no fire under it.
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.”
And do you make prayers to your god, and I will make a prayer to the Lord: and it will be clear that the one who gives an answer by fire is God. And all the people in answer said, It is well said.
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, Take one ox for yourselves and get it ready first, for there are more of you; and make your prayers to your god, but put no fire under.
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.
So they took the ox which was given them, and made it ready, crying out to Baal from morning till the middle of the day, and saying, O Baal, give ear to us. But there was no voice and no answer. And they were jumping up and down before 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.”
And in the middle of the day, Elijah made sport of them, saying, Give louder cries, for he is a god; he may be deep in thought, or he may have gone away for some purpose, or he may be on a journey, or by chance he is sleeping and has to be made awake.
28 Choncho iwo anafuwula kwambiri ndi kudzichekacheka ndi malupanga ndi mikondo, potsata miyambo yawo, mpaka kutuluka magazi.
So they gave loud cries, cutting themselves with knives and swords, as was their way, till the blood came streaming out all 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.
And from the middle of the day they went on with their prayers till the time of the offering; but there was no voice, or any answer, or any who gave attention to them.
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; and all the people came near. And he put up again the altar of the Lord which had been broken 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, the number of the tribes of the sons of Jacob, to whom the Lord had said, Israel will 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 he made an altar to the name of the Lord; and he made a deep drain all round the altar, great enough to take two measures 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.”
And he put the wood in order, and, cutting up the ox, put it on the wood. Then he said, Get four vessels full of water and put it on the burned offering and on the wood. And he said, Do it a second time, and they did it a second time;
34 Eliya anati, “Thiraninso kachiwiri.” Anthu aja anathiranso madziwo kachiwiri. Iye analamula kuti, “Thiraninso kachitatu.” Ndipo iwo anathiranso kachitatu.
And he said, Do it a third time, and they did it a third time.
35 Madziwo anayenderera pansi kuzungulira guwa lansembe, nadzaza ngalande yonse.
And the water went all round the altar, till the drain was full.
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.
Then at the time of the offering, Elijah the prophet came near and said, O Lord, the God of Abraham, of Isaac, and of Israel, let it be seen this day that you are God in Israel, and that I am your servant, and that I have done all these things by your order.
37 Ndiyankheni, Inu Yehova, ndiyankheni, kuti anthu awa adziwe Inu Yehova, kuti ndinu Mulungu, ndipo kuti mutembenuziranso mitima yawo kwa Inu.”
Give me an answer, O Lord, give me an answer, so that this people may see that you are God, and that you have made their hearts come 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 came down, burning up the offering and the wood and the stones and the dust, and drinking up the water in the drain.
39 Anthu onse ataona zimenezi, anaweramitsa nkhope zawo pansi, nafuwula kuti, “Yehova ndiye Mulungu! Yehova ndiye Mulungu!”
And when the people saw it, they all went down on their faces, 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.
And Elijah said to them, Take the prophets of Baal, let not one of them get away. So they took them, and Elijah made them go down to the stream Kishon, and put them to death there.
41 Ndipo Eliya anati kwa Ahabu, “Pitani, kadyeni ndi kumwa, pakuti kukumveka mkokomo wa mvula.”
Then Elijah said to Ahab, Up! take food and drink, for there is a sound of much 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 have food and drink, while Elijah went up to the top of Carmel; and he went down on the earth, putting 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.”
And he said to his servant, Go now, and take a look in the direction of the sea. And he went up, and after looking said, There is nothing. And he said, Go again seven times; and he went seven times.
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.’”
And the seventh time he said, I see a cloud coming up out of the sea, as small as a man's hand. Then he said, Go up and say to Ahab, Get your carriage ready and go down or the rain will keep you back.
45 Nthawi imeneyi nʼkuti kuthambo kutayamba kusonkhana mitambo yakuda, mphepo inawomba, mvula yamphamvu inagwa ndipo Ahabu anakwera galeta napita ku Yezireeli.
And after a very little time, the heaven became black with clouds and wind, and there was a great rain. And Ahab went in his carriage 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 was on Elijah; and he made himself strong, and went running before Ahab till they came to Jezreel.
