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 many days, the LORD’s word came to Elijah, in the third year, saying, “Go, show yourself to Ahab; and I will send rain on the earth.”
2 Choncho Eliya anapita kukadzionetsa kwa Ahabu. Tsono nthawi imeneyi njala inakula kwambiri mu Samariya,
Elijah went to show himself to Ahab. The famine was severe in Samaria.
3 ndipo Ahabu anayitana Obadiya amene ankayangʼanira nyumba yake yaufumu. (Obadiya ankaopa Yehova kwambiri.
Ahab called Obadiah, who was over the household. (Now Obadiah feared the LORD 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 cut off the LORD’s prophets, Obadiah took one hundred prophets, and hid them fifty to a cave, and fed them with 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.”
Ahab said to Obadiah, “Go through the land, to all the springs of water, and to all the brooks. Perhaps we may find grass and save the horses and mules alive, that we not lose all the animals.”
6 Choncho anagawana dziko loti apiteko, Ahabu anapita mbali ina, Obadiya nʼkupita ina.
So they divided the land between them to pass throughout it. Ahab went one way by himself, and Obadiah went another way by himself.
7 Obadiya akuyenda mʼnjira anakumana ndi Eliya. Ndipo taonani, Obadiya anamuzindikira Eliyayo, naweramira pansi ndipo anati, “Kodi ndinu, mbuye wanga Eliya?”
As Obadiah was on the way, behold, Elijah met him. He recognised him, and fell on his face, and said, “Is it you, my lord Elijah?”
8 Eliya anayankha kuti, “Inde. Pita kawuze mbuye wako kuti, ‘Eliya wabwera.’”
He answered him, “It is I. Go, tell your lord, ‘Behold, Elijah is here!’”
9 Obadiya anafunsa kuti, “Kodi ndalakwa chiyani kuti inu mupereke mtumiki wanu kwa Ahabu kuti akaphedwe?
He said, “How have I sinned, that you would deliver your servant into the hand of Ahab, to kill me?
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 the LORD your God lives, there is no nation or kingdom where my lord has not sent to seek you. When they said, ‘He is not here,’ he took an oath of the kingdom and nation that they didn’t find you.
11 Koma tsopano mukundiwuza kuti ndipite kwa mbuye wanga ndi kukanena kuti, ‘Eliya wabwera.’
Now you say, ‘Go, tell your lord, “Behold, 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.
It will happen, as soon as I leave you, that the LORD’s Spirit will carry you I don’t know where; and so when I come and tell Ahab, and he can’t 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.
Wasn’t it told my lord what I did when Jezebel killed the LORD’s prophets, how I hid one hundred men of the LORD’s prophets with fifty to a cave, and fed them with bread and water?
14 Ndiye inu tsopano mukundiwuza kuti ndipite kwa mbuye wanga ndi kukanena kuti, ‘Eliya wabwera.’ Iyeyo adzandipha ndithu!”
Now you say, ‘Go, tell your lord, “Behold, Elijah is here”.’ He will kill me.”
15 Eliya anati, “Pali Yehova Wamphamvuzonse wamoyo, amene ndimamutumikira, ine lero ndidzaonekera ndithu pamaso pa Ahabu.”
Elijah said, “As the LORD of Armies lives, before whom I stand, I will surely show myself to him today.”
16 Choncho Obadiya anapita kukakumana ndi Ahabu, namuwuza, ndipo Ahabu anapita kukakumana ndi Eliya.
So Obadiah went to meet Ahab, and told him; and Ahab went to meet Elijah.
17 Pamene Ahabu anaona Eliya, anati kwa iye, “Kodi ndiwedi, munthu wovutitsa Israeli uja?”
When Ahab saw Elijah, Ahab said to him, “Is that you, you troubler of Israel?”
18 Eliya anayankha kuti, “Ine sindinavutitse Israeli, koma ndinuyo ndi banja lanu. Mwasiya malamulo a Yehova ndipo mwatsatira Abaala.
He answered, “I have not troubled Israel, but you and your father’s house, in that you have forsaken the LORD’s commandments and you 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 therefore send, and gather to me all Israel to Mount Carmel, and four hundred and fifty of the prophets of Baal, and four hundred of the prophets of the 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 sent to all the children of Israel, and gathered the prophets together to 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.
Elijah came near to all the people, and said, “How long will you waver between the two sides? If the LORD is God, follow him; but if Baal, then follow him.” The people didn’t say 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, even I only, am left as a 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.
Let them therefore give us two bulls; and let them choose one bull for themselves, and cut it in pieces, and lay it on the wood, and put no fire under; and I will dress the other bull, and lay 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.”
You call on the name of your god, and I will call on the LORD’s name. The God who answers by fire, let him be God.” 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.”
Elijah said to the prophets of Baal, “Choose one bull for yourselves, and dress it first, for you are many; and call on the name of your god, but put no fire under it.”
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.
They took the bull which was given them, and they dressed it, and called on the name of Baal from morning even until noon, saying, “Baal, hear us!” But there was no voice, and nobody answered. They leapt about the altar which was 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 mocked them, and said, “Cry aloud, for he is a god. Either he is deep in thought, or he has gone somewhere, or he is on a journey, or perhaps he sleeps and must be awakened.”
28 Choncho iwo anafuwula kwambiri ndi kudzichekacheka ndi malupanga ndi mikondo, potsata miyambo yawo, mpaka kutuluka magazi.
They cried aloud, and cut themselves in their way with knives and lances until the blood gushed out on them.
29 Nthawi yamasana inadutsa, ndipo anapitiriza kunenera mwakhama mpaka nthawi yopereka nsembe ya madzulo. Koma panalibe yankho. Palibe amene anayankha, kapena kulabadira zimenezo.
When midday was past, they prophesied until the time of the evening offering; but there was no voice, no answer, and nobody 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.
Elijah said to all the people, “Come near to me!”; and all the people came near to him. He repaired the LORD’s altar that had been thrown down.
31 Eliya anatenga miyala 12, mwala uliwonse kuyimira fuko lililonse la Yakobo, amene Yehova anamuwuza kuti, “Dzina lako lidzakhala Israeli.”
Elijah took twelve stones, according to the number of the tribes of the sons of Jacob, to whom the LORD’s word came, saying, “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.
With the stones he built an altar in the LORD’s name. He made a trench around the altar large enough to contain 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.”
He put the wood in order, and cut the bull in pieces and laid it on the wood. He said, “Fill four jars with water, and pour it on the burnt offering and on the wood.”
34 Eliya anati, “Thiraninso kachiwiri.” Anthu aja anathiranso madziwo kachiwiri. Iye analamula kuti, “Thiraninso kachitatu.” Ndipo iwo anathiranso kachitatu.
He said, “Do it a second time;” and they did it the second time. He said, “Do it a third time;” and they did it the third time.
35 Madziwo anayenderera pansi kuzungulira guwa lansembe, nadzaza ngalande yonse.
The water ran around the altar; and he also filled the trench with water.
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 offering, Elijah the prophet came near and said, “LORD, the God of Abraham, of Isaac, and of Israel, let it be known today that you are God in Israel and that I am your servant, and that I have done all these things at your word.
37 Ndiyankheni, Inu Yehova, ndiyankheni, kuti anthu awa adziwe Inu Yehova, kuti ndinu Mulungu, ndipo kuti mutembenuziranso mitima yawo kwa Inu.”
Hear me, LORD, hear me, that this people may know that you, LORD, are God, and that you have turned their heart back again.”
38 Pamenepo moto wa Yehova unagwa, nunyeketsa nsembe yopserezayo, nkhuni, miyala ndi dothi lomwe. Unawumitsanso madzi amene anali mʼngalande.
Then the LORD’s fire fell and consumed the burnt offering, the wood, the stones, and the dust; and it licked up the water that was 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 it, they fell on their faces. They 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.
Elijah said to them, “Seize the prophets of Baal! Don’t let one of them escape!” They seized them; and Elijah brought them down to the brook Kishon, and killed them there.
41 Ndipo Eliya anati kwa Ahabu, “Pitani, kadyeni ndi kumwa, pakuti kukumveka mkokomo wa mvula.”
Elijah said to Ahab, “Get up, eat and drink; for there is the sound of abundance of 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 to drink. Elijah went up to the top of Carmel; and he bowed himself down on the earth, 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.”
He said to his servant, “Go up now and look towards the sea.” He went up and looked, then said, “There is nothing.” He said, “Go again” 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.’”
On the seventh time, he said, “Behold, a small cloud, like a man’s hand, is rising out of the sea.” He said, “Go up, tell Ahab, ‘Get ready and go down, so that the rain doesn’t stop you.’”
45 Nthawi imeneyi nʼkuti kuthambo kutayamba kusonkhana mitambo yakuda, mphepo inawomba, mvula yamphamvu inagwa ndipo Ahabu anakwera galeta napita ku Yezireeli.
In a little while, the sky grew black with clouds and wind, and there was a great rain. Ahab rode, 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.
The LORD’s hand was on Elijah; and he tucked his cloak into his belt and ran before Ahab to the entrance of Jezreel.
