1 Siangpahrang 18
1 Ahnintha moi a loum hnukkhu, hettelah ao. A kum thum dawk Elijah koevah, BAWIPA e lawk teh a pha. Cet nateh Ahab koe kâpâtue. Hahoi talai van kho a rak sak han telah a ti.
For almost three years there was no rain in Samaria. Then Yahweh said this to Elijah: “Go and meet with King Ahab and [tell him that] I will soon send rain.”
2 Elijah ni Ahab koevah kâpâtue hanlah a cei. Hatnavah Samaria ram dawk puenghoi takang a tho.
So Elijah went to talk to Ahab. In Samaria there was almost no food for anyone to eat.
3 Ahab ni a imthungkhu kaukkung Obadiah hah a kaw teh (Obadiah teh BAWIPA ka taket poung e lah a o),
There was a man there named Obadiah. He was in charge of the king’s palace. He greatly revered Yahweh.
4 bangkongtetpawiteh, Jezebel ni BAWIPA e profet a thei lahun na, lungngoum thungvah 50, 50 touh hoi a hro teh, vaiyei, tui hoi a kawk.
One time when [Queen] Jezebel had [tried to] kill all Yahweh’s prophets, Obadiah hid 100 of them in two caves. He put 50 prophets in each cave, and he brought food and water to them.
5 Ahab ni Obadiah koevah, ram pueng dawk tuiphueknaw, palangnaw yuengyoe tawng hanelah cet. Saringnaw pueng ni a due hoeh nahan marang hoi lanaw ni hring hlout nahanelah, hram kanawnaw na hmu yawkaw han doeh telah atipouh.
[By this time, the (famine/lack of food and water) had become very severe in Samaria]. So Ahab summoned Obadiah and said to him, “We must check/look near every spring and in every valley to see if we can find enough grass to give to some of my horses and mules, so that they will not all die.”
6 Hottelah ram katin hanlah a kârei awh teh, Ahab teh amadueng lam alouke dawk a cei teh, Obadiah hai a madueng lam alouke dawk a cei.
So they both started walking throughout the land. Obadiah went in one direction by himself, and Ahab went in another direction by himself.
7 Hottelah Obadiah ni a cei lahun nah, Elijah hah tang a kâhmo. Ahni ni a panue teh a tabo. Nang namaw ka bawipa, Elijah telah atipouh.
While Obadiah was walking along, he saw Elijah coming toward him. Obadiah recognized Elijah and bowed down in front of him and said, “Is it really you, Elijah, my master?”
8 Elijah ni Obadiah koevah, Oe kai doeh, cet nateh haw vah Elijah ao telah na bawipa koe dei pouh telah atipouh.
Elijah replied, “Yes. Now go and tell [Ahab, ] your master, that I am here.”
9 Ahni ni bang yonnae maw ka sak teh na san heh thei hanelah Ahab e kut dawk poe hanelah na ngai.
Obadiah objected. He said, “Sir, I have not [RHQ] harmed you at all. So why are you sending me back to Ahab? He will kill me!
10 BAWIPA na Cathut a hring e patetlah ka bawipa ni nang na tawnghoehnae miphun hoi uknaeram awm hoeh toe. Hivah awm hoeh telah ati awh navah, nang na hmuhoehnae kong dawk miphun hoi ram hah lawk a kam sak.
Yahweh your God [knows that I am telling the truth when] I solemnly declare that King Ahab has searched in every kingdom all over the world [HYP] to find you. Each time that some king said to him, ‘Elijah is not here,’ Ahab demanded that the king of that country solemnly swear/declare that the king was telling the truth.
11 Atuvah nang ni cet nateh, Elijah hawvah ao telah na bawipa koe dei pouh telah na ti.
Now you say to me, ‘Go and tell your master that Elijah is here!’
12 Hottelah ao han. Na ceitakhai toteh, BAWIPA e Muitha ni ka panue hoeh e hmuen koe na cet khai vaiteh, Ahab ka dei pouh vaiteh, na hmawt thai awh hoehpawiteh, kai heh na thei awh han. Hatei, na san ni ka nawca hoi BAWIPA teh ka taki.
But as soon as I leave you, the Spirit of Yahweh will carry you away, and I will not know where he will take you. So when [I tell] Ahab [that you are here and he] comes to me and he does not find you here, he will kill me! But [I do not deserve to die because] I have revered Yahweh since I was a boy.
13 Jezebel ni BAWIPA e profetnaw a thei lahun nah, BAWIPA e profetnaw tami 100 touh lungngoum thung ruipanga ruipanga touh hoi ka hro teh, vaiyei hoi tui hoi ka kawknae kong hah dei awh hoehnamaw.
My master, have you not heard about what I did when Jezebel wanted to kill all of Yahweh’s prophets? I hid 100 of them in two caves and took food and water to them.
14 Atuvah nang ni cet nateh, Elijah haw ao telah deih, telah na ti. Kai heh na thei roeroe han doeh telah atipouh.
Now, sir, you say, ‘Go and tell your master that Elijah is here.’ But if I do that, [and he comes and you are not here, ] he will kill me!”
15 Elijah ni ka bawk e ransahu BAWIPA teh a hring e patetlah kai ni sahnin Ahab koe ka kâpâtue roeroe han telah atipouh.
But Elijah replied, “Yahweh, the Almighty One whom I serve [IDM], knows that [I am telling the truth as] I solemnly declare that I will go to meet with Ahab today.”
16 Hatdawkvah, Obadiah teh Ahab kâhmo han la a cei teh a dei pouh. Hahoi Ahab ni Elijah kâhmo hanlah a cei.
So Obadiah went to tell Ahab that Elijah had come. Ahab went to meet with him.
17 Ahab ni Elijah a hmu toteh, nang maw Isarelnaw runae na ka poe e tongpa telah atipouh.
When he saw Elijah, he said to him, “Is that you, the one who causes trouble for [the people of] Israel?”
18 Ahni ni Isarelnaw runae ka poe hoeh. Nang hoi na pa imthungkhunaw ni BAWIPA e kâpoelawknaw hah na kamlang takhai awh teh, Baal na bawk dawkvah, Isarelnaw runae na poe.
Elijah replied, “It is not I who have caused trouble for the people of Israel! You and your family are the ones who have caused trouble! You have refused to obey Yahweh’s commands, and you have worshiped the idols of Baal instead.
19 Atuvah Isarelnaw pueng Baal profet 450 touh hoi Jezebel e caboi dawk bu ouk ka ven awh e Asherah profet 400 touh hah kai koe vah Karmel mon dawk kamkhueng hanlah kaw sak telah atipouh.
So now, command all the Israeli people to come to Carmel Mountain, and [be sure to] bring all the 450 prophets who worship Baal and the 400 prophets who worship [the goddess] Asherah, the ones to whom [your wife] Jezebel brings food and water.”
20 Hottelah Ahab ni Isarelnaw pueng koe, tami a patoun teh profetnaw Karmel mon dawk a pâkhueng.
So Ahab summoned all his prophets and all the other [Israeli] people to the top of Carmel Mountain, [and Elijah went up there too.]
21 Elijah ni tamihu pui hah a hnai teh, nangmouh ni, bawknae kahni touh rahak vah nâsittouh maw yuem payonnae lungthin hoi kho na sak awh rah. Jehovah teh Cathut katang lah awm pawiteh, ama hah bawk awh. Baal hah cathut katang lah awm pawiteh ama hah bawk awh. Hatei tami pueng ni lawk kam touh hai a pathung awh hoeh.
Then Elijah stood in front of them and said, “How long [RHQ] are you going to be undecided [about who is truly God]? If Yahweh is [truly] God, then worship/serve him. If Baal is truly God, then worship/serve him!” But the people said nothing [in reply, because they were afraid of what Jezebel would do to them if they admitted that they worshiped Yahweh].
22 Elijah ni BAWIPA e profet kaawm dueng e teh kai dueng doeh toe. Hatei Baal profet teh 450 touh a pha.
Then Elijah said to them, “I am the only true prophet of Yahweh who is left, but Baal has 450 prophets.
23 Hatdawkvah, maitotan kahni touh na poe awh haw. Ahnimouh ni buet touh a rawi awh vaiteh koung a tâtueng hnukkhu, thing van vah thueng awh naseh. Hmaisawi sak awh hanh. Hahoi kai ni maitotan buet touh ka rawi van vaiteh, thing van vah ka ta han. Hmai ka sawi van mahoeh,
Bring two bulls. The prophets of Baal may choose the one that they want. They must [kill it and] cut it into pieces and lay the pieces on the wood that is on the altar that they have made. But they must not light a fire [under the wood]. [I will kill the other bull and cut it in pieces and lay the pieces on the altar that I make].
24 Nangmouh ni na cathutnaw e min hah kaw awh nateh, kai ni hai Jehovah e min hah ka kaw van han. Hmai hoi ka kang sak e Cathut teh Cathut katang lah awm naseh telah taminaw koe a dei pouh. Taminaw ni hai, Elijah e lawk teh a hawi telah ati awh.
Then they must call to their god [MTY], and I will call to Yahweh. The god who answers by lighting a fire [to the wood that is on that altar] is [the true] God!” Then all the people thought that Elijah’s suggestion was good.
25 Elijah ni Baal profetnaw koe vah nangmouh teh tami na pap awh dawkvah, maito buet touh hmaloe kârawi awh nateh, sak awh, hmaisawi laipalah na cathutnaw min hah kaw awh telah atipouh e patetlah,
Then Elijah said to the prophets of Baal, “You call to Baal first, because there are many of you. Choose one of the bulls and prepare it, and then call to your god. But do not light a fire under the wood!”
26 Taminaw ni a poe e maito hah a la teh, thing van a ta hnukkhu, Oe Baal cathut, kaimouh na pato awh haw telah amom hoi kanîthun totouh Baal e min a kaw awh. Hateiteh kamthang banghai awm hoeh. Ka pathung e tami haiyah awm hoeh. A sak awh e thuengnae khoungroe hanlah a lamtu awh.
So they killed one of the bulls and cut it up and placed the pieces on the altar. Then they called out to Baal all morning. They shouted, “Baal, answer us!” But no one answered. There was no reply at all [DOU]. Then they danced wildly around the altar that they had made.
27 Kanî tuengtalueng a thun nah Elijah ni, kacaipounglah kaw awh ei. Na cathut teh a phuenang boma, ahni teh houng hoeh rah boma, ahni teh kahlawng lah boma a cei va, ahni teh muet ka ip boma, pâhlaw awh ei, telah a panuikhai teh a dei pouh.
About noontime, Elijah started to make fun of them. He said, “[Surely] Baal is a god, so it seems that you must shout louder! Perhaps he is thinking about something, or perhaps he has gone to the toilet. Or perhaps he is traveling somewhere, or perhaps he is asleep and you need to wake him up!”
28 Kacaipoung lahoi a kaw awh teh, ouk a sak awh e patetlah sarai hoi tahroe hoi thi pukkâkaawk lah a kâbouk awh.
So they shouted louder. Then, doing one of the things that they frequently did [when they worshiped Baal], they slashed/cut themselves with knives and swords until a lot of blood flowed.
29 Kanî a loum teh tangmin lae thuengnae tueng totouh pou a dei awh rah. Hateiteh, kamthang thoseh, kapathangkung thoseh, alawkpui lah kapoukkung thoseh, awm roeroe hoeh.
They continued calling out to Baal all afternoon. But there was no reply, no answer, no god who paid attention.
30 Hatdawkvah, Elijah ni tamihunaw pueng koevah, kai na hnai awh haw telah atipouh teh, tamihupui ni ama teh a hnai awh. Hahoi katim e BAWIPA e khoungroe hah a pathoup awh.
Then Elijah called to the people saying, “Come closer!” So they all crowded around him. Then Elijah repaired the altar of Yahweh that had previously been (ruined/torn down) [by the prophets of Baal].
31 Na min teh Isarel ti han telah BAWIPA lawk ka dâw e Jakop casaknaw miphun yit touh, Elijah ni talung hlaikahni touh a la.
Then he took twelve [large] stones, each one to represent one of the Israeli tribes. The names of those tribes were given to them by their ancestor Jacob.
32 Hote talung hoi BAWIPA hanelah khoungroe hah a sak. Hote khoungroe petkâkalup lah cati pung hni tabang ka cawng lah tuilam a tai.
With these stones he rebuilt Yahweh’s altar. Then around the altar he dug a little ditch that was large enough to hold about (three gallons/12 liters) of water.
33 Thing hah a mawk teh maitomoi a tâtueng e hah thinghong van a ta. Hahoi hlaam pali touh dawk tui pakawi awh nateh, thueng hane hoi thing hah tui hoi awi awh telah atipouh.
He piled wood on top of the stones. He killed the bull and cut it in pieces. Then he laid the pieces on top of the wood. Then he said, “Fill four large jars with water, and pour the water on top of the pieces of meat and the wood.” So they did that.
34 Bout awi awh telah atipouh e patetlah bout a awi awh. Bout awi awh ei telah atipouh teh bout a awi awh rah.
Then he said, “Do the same thing again!” So they did it again. Then he said “Do it a third time!” So they did it again.
35 Tui teh khoungroe petkâkalup lah a lawng teh tai e a tuilam dawk yikkawi sak.
As a result, the water flowed down below the altar and filled the ditches.
36 Tangmin lah thuengnae atueng a pha toteh, hettelah ao. Elijah ni a hnai teh, Oe, Jehovah, Abraham Isak hoi Isarel Cathut, nang teh Isarel ram dawk Cathut lah na o. Kai teh na san lah ka o. Hete hnonaw pueng heh nange kâ lahoi ka sak tie heh sahnin panuek awh naseh.
When it was time to offer the evening sacrifices, Elijah walked close [to the altar] and prayed. He said, “Yahweh, you who are the God that [our ancestors] Abraham and Isaac and Jacob [worshiped], prove today that you are the God whom the Israeli people [should worship], and prove that I am your servant. Prove that I have done all these things because you told me to do them.
37 Ka lawk na thai pouh haw. Hete taminaw niyah nang teh Jehovah Cathut doeh tie thoseh, hete taminaw e lungthin hah a kamlang sak tie thoseh, ahnimouh ni a panue thai awh nahanelah, kaie lawk hah na thai pouh haw, Oe BAWIPA na thai pouh haw telah a ratoum.
Yahweh, answer me! Answer me in order that these people will know that you, Yahweh God, [have the power to do what you say that you will do], and that you have caused them to trust in [IDM] you again!”
38 Hottelah BAWIPA e hmai a bo teh hmaisawi thuengnae thing hoi talung hoi vaiphu hah a kak teh tai e tuilam dawk e tui koung a hak sak.
Immediately a fire from Yahweh flashed down from the sky. The fire burned up the pieces of meat, the wood, the stones, and the dirt [that was around the altar]. It even dried up all the water in the ditch!
39 Taminaw pueng ni hote a hmu awh toteh, a tabo awh teh, Jehovah teh Cathut doeh, Jehovah teh Cathut doeh telah ati awh.
When the people saw that, they prostrated themselves on the ground and shouted, “Yahweh is God! Yahweh is God!”
40 Elijah ni ahnimouh koe vah, Baal profetnaw hah man awh nateh, buet touh boehai hlout sak awh hanh atipouh. A man awh teh, Elijah ni Kishion palang koe a ceikhai awh teh, hawvah koung a thei.
Then Elijah commanded them, “Seize all the prophets of Baal! Do not allow any of them to escape!” So the people seized all the prophets of Baal, and took them down the mountain to the Kishon Valley, and Elijah killed them all there.
41 Elijah ni Ahab koevah, canei hanelah luen leih, bangkongtetpawiteh, kho a kâcaw toe telah atipouh.
Then Elijah said to Ahab, “Go and get something to eat and drink. [But do it quickly, because] it is soon going to rain very hard!”
42 Ahab teh canei hanelah a luen. Elijah teh Karmel mon dawk a luen. Talai dawk a tabo teh a khokpakhu rahak vah a minhmai a hro.
So Ahab [and his men] left to prepare a big meal. But Elijah went back up to the top of Carmel Mountain and prayed.
43 Hahoi a san koevah luen nateh, tuipui hah khenhaw! telah atipouh. A luen teh a khet, banghai awm hoeh telah atipouh. Ahni ni vai sari totouh cet telah atipouh.
Then he said to his servant, “Go and look out toward the sea, [to see if there are any rain clouds.]” So his servant went and looked, [and came back] and said, “I do not see anything.” This happened six times.
44 Avai sarinae dawk hettelah ao. Khenhaw! tuipui dawk hoi kutkasum tit touh tâmai hah a luen telah atipouh. Ahni ni bout cet haw, Ahab koevah, leng rakueng nateh cet leih, bangkongtetpawiteh, kho ni na ngang payon vaih telah tet pouh telah a ti.
But when the servant went the seventh time, he came back and said, “I saw a very small cloud above the sea. [As I extend my arm, ] the cloud is about the size of my hand/fist.” Then Elijah shouted to him, “Go and tell King Ahab to get his chariot ready and go home immediately! If he does not do that, the rain will stop him!”
45 A ro hoehnahlan vah hottelah ao. Kalvan teh kahlî hoi tâmai muen a tamang teh kho teh puenghoi a rak. Ahab teh leng van a kâcui teh Jezreel lah a cei.
Very soon the sky was full of black clouds. There was a strong wind, and then it began to rain very hard. Ahab got into his chariot and started to return to Jezreel [city].
46 BAWIPA e kut teh Elijah koe a pha teh ahni teh taisawm hah a kâyeng teh Ahab hmalah Jezreel kâennae longkha totouh a yawng.
Yahweh gave extra strength to Elijah. He tucked his cloak into his belt [in order to run fast], and he ran ahead of Ahab’s [chariot] all the way [17 miles/26 km.] to Jezreel.
