1 Kings 18
1 After many days, the word of the Lord came to Elijah, in the third year, saying, “Go and show yourself to Ahab, so that I may grant rain upon the face of the earth.”
Mgbe ọtụtụ oge gasịrị, nʼafọ nke atọ, okwu Onyenwe anyị rutere Ịlaịja ntị, “Bilie, gaa gosi Ehab onwe gị. Aga m emekwa ka mmiri zookwa nʼala a.”
2 Therefore, Elijah went to show himself to Ahab. For there was a severe famine in Samaria.
Ya mere, Ịlaịja pụrụ gaa igosi Ehab onwe ya. Ma ụnwụ dị na Sameria nʼoge a siri nnọọ ike.
3 And Ahab called Obadiah, the manager of his household. Now Obadiah feared the Lord greatly.
O nwere otu nwoke na-elekọta ihe dị nʼezinaụlọ Ehab. Aha ya bụ Ọbadaya. (Ọ bụ nwoke ji obi ya niile kwere na Onyenwe anyị.
4 For when Jezebel was killing the prophets of the Lord, he took one hundred prophets, and concealed them, fifty and fifty, in caves. And he fed them with bread and water.
Mgbe eze nwanyị bụ Jezebel na-egbu ndị amụma Onyenwe anyị chọọ igbuchapụ ha, ọ bụ Ọbadaya zoro narị ndị amụma nʼime ha nʼime ọgba nkume. O zoro iri ndị amụma ise nʼotu ọgba nkume, zookwa iri ndị amụma ise fọdụrụ nʼime ọgba nkume ọzọ. Emesịa, ọ na-ewegara ha nri na mmiri nʼebe ahụ.)
5 Then Ahab said to Obadiah, “Go into the land, to all fountains of water, and to all the valleys, for perhaps we will be able to find plants, and save the horses and mules, so that the beasts of burden may not perish entirely.”
Ehab kpọrọ Ọbadaya sị ya, “Jegharịa nʼala a niile nyochapụta na ndagwurugwu na isi iyi niile, ebe ahịhịa ndụ dị. Gbutere ịnyịnya na ịnyịnya muul m ahịhịa ahụ ka ha taa ghara ịnwụ, ka anyị gharakwa igbu ha.”
6 And they divided the regions among themselves, so that they might travel through them. Ahab went one way alone, and Obadiah went another way by himself.
Ha kere ala ahụ nʼetiti onwe ha. Ehab sitere otu akụkụ, ma Ọbadaya sitere akụkụ nke ọzọ.
7 And while Obadiah was on the way, Elijah met him. And when he had recognized him, he fell on his face, and he said, “Are you not my lord Elijah?”
Ọ dịghị anya, na mberede, Ọbadaya hụrụ Ịlaịja ka ọ na-abịa izute ya. Ọbadaya matara na ọ bụ ya. Nʼihi ya, ọ dara nʼala kpuo ihu ya nʼala sị, “Ọ bụ gị ka m hụrụ nʼezie, onyenwe m, Ịlaịja?”
8 And he responded to him: “I am. Go and tell your lord that Elijah is here.”
Ịlaịja zara sị ya, “E, ọ bụ m. Ugbu a gaa gwa onyenwe gị, ‘mụ bụ Ịlaịja nọ nʼebe a.’”
9 And he said: “How have I sinned that you would deliver me, your servant, into the hand of Ahab, so that he would put me to death?
Mgbe ahụ, Ọbadaya jụrụ Ịlaịja sị, “Gịnị bụ ihe m mejọrọ, nke mere i ji na-achọ inyefe ohu gị nʼaka Ehab ka o gbuo ya?
10 As the Lord your God lives, there is no nation or kingdom to which my lord has not sent, seeking you. And when all responded, ‘He is not here,’ he swore each kingdom and nation to an oath, because you were not found at all.
Dịka Onyenwe anyị Chineke gị sị adị ndụ, o nwebeghị mba maọbụ alaeze dị nke nna m ukwu na-ezigaghị mmadụ ịchọ gị. Ebe ọbụla ọ gara a na-akọrọ ya na Ịlaịja anọghị nʼebe ahụ. Ehab na-eme ka eze obodo ahụ ṅụọ iyi na ihe ọ na-ekwu bụ eziokwu.
11 And now, you say to me, ‘Go and tell your lord that Elijah is here.’
Ma ugbu a, ị na-asị m gaa gwa Onyenwe m na, ‘Ịlaịja nọ nʼebe a.’
12 And when I will have departed from you, the Spirit of the Lord will transport you to a place that I do not know. And entering, I will report to Ahab. And he, not finding you, will put me to death. Yet your servant has feared the Lord from his infancy.
Ọ bụrụkwanụ na m esite nʼebe a pụọ, onye ma ebe Mmụọ Onyenwe anyị ga-ebuga gị. Mgbe ahụ, ọ bụrụ na Ehab abịa hapụ ịhụ gị, ọ ga-egbu m. Nʼihi na mụ bụ ohu gị bụ onye na-efe Onyenwe anyị ofufe siterị na mgbe m bụ okorobịa.
13 Has it not been revealed to you, my lord, what I did when Jezebel was killing the prophets of the Lord: how I hid one hundred men from the prophets of the Lord, fifty and fifty, in caves, and how I fed them with bread and water?
Ọ bụ na onyenwe m anụghị ihe m mere mgbe Jezebel nọ na-egbu ndị amụma Onyenwe anyị? E zoro narị ndị amụma Onyenwe anyị nʼime ọgba nkume abụọ, iri ise nʼime otu ọgba nkume, iri ise nʼime otu ọgba nkume ka m zoro ha, jirikwa nri na mmiri ọṅụṅụ zụọ ha.
14 And now you say: ‘Go and tell your lord that Elijah is here,’ so that he may kill me!”
Ma ugbu a i na-agwa m sị m, ‘Gaa gwa onyenwe gị na Ịlaịja abịala.’ Ọ ga-egbukwa m!”
15 And Elijah said, “As the Lord of hosts lives, before whose face I stand, this day I will appear to him.”
Ma Ịlaịja zara sị ya, “Dịka Onyenwe anyị Chineke Onye pụrụ ime ihe niile na-adị ndụ, onye m na-ejere ozi, ana m agwa gị na agaghị m esi nʼebe a pụọ tutu ruo mgbe m gosiri Ehab onwe m taa.”
16 Therefore, Obadiah went away to meet Ahab, and he reported to him. And Ahab went to meet Elijah.
Mgbe ahụ, Ọbadaya pụrụ gaa kọọrọ Ehab na Ịlaịja abịala. Emesịa, Ehab pụtara izute Ịlaịja.
17 And when he had seen him, he said, “Are you the one who is disturbing Israel?”
Mgbe ọ hụrụ Ịlaịja, Ehab sịrị ya, “Ọ bụ gị onwe gị bụ nke a, gị onye na-emekpa Izrel ahụ?”
18 And he said: “I have not troubled Israel. But it is you, and the house of your father, who have abandoned the commandments of the Lord, and have followed the Baals.
Ịlaịja zara sị Ehab, “O nweghị mgbe m ji butere Izrel nsogbu. Ọ bụ gị onwe gị na ezinaụlọ nna gị na-ebutere Izrel nsogbu. Unu agbakụtala iwu Onyenwe anyị azụ, gbasoro chi Baal dị iche iche.
19 Yet truly now, send and gather to me all of Israel, on Mount Carmel, with the four hundred and fifty prophets of Baal, and the four hundred prophets of the sacred groves, who eat from the table of Jezebel.”
Ugbu a, kpọkọta ndị Izrel niile ka ha zute m nʼugwu Kamel. Kpọpụtakwa ndị amụma Baal ọnụọgụgụ ha dị narị anọ na iri mmadụ ise, na ndị amụma Ashera, ndị dị narị anọ, bụ ndị na-eso eze nwanyị Jezebel erikọ ihe na tebul ya.”
20 Ahab sent to all the sons of Israel, and he gathered together the prophets on mount Carmel.
Ehab zigara ozi kpọkọta ndị Izrel niile, na ndị amụma ahụ niile. Ha niile bịakwara nʼugwu Kamel.
21 Then Elijah, drawing near to all the people, said: “How long will you waver between two sides? If the Lord is God, follow him. But if Baal is, then follow him.” And the people did not respond a word to him.
Ịlaịja gara nʼihu ndị a, sị ha, “Ọ bụ ruo ole mgbe ka unu ga-akwụsị inwe obi abụọ? Ọ bụrụ na Onyenwe anyị bụ Chineke unu, soronụ ya! Ma ọ bụrụkwanụ na unu ekpebie na Baal bụ chi unu, soronụ ya.” Ma ndị zukọrọ nʼebe ahụ ekwughị ihe ọbụla.
22 And Elijah said again to the people: “I alone remain as a prophet of the Lord. But the prophets of Baal are four hundred and fifty men.
Mgbe ahụ Ịlaịja sịrị ha, “Leenụ! Ọ bụ mụ onwe m, naanị m, bụ onye amụma Onyenwe anyị fọdụrụ, ma ndị amụma Baal dị narị anọ na iri ise nʼọnụọgụgụ.
23 Let two oxen be given to us. And let them choose one ox for themselves, and, cutting it into pieces, let them set it on the wood. But they may not place fire under it. And I will prepare the other ox, and set it on the wood. But I will not place fire under it.
Ugbu a wetanụ oke ehi abụọ ka ndị amụma Baal họrọ otu oke ehi, nke ha chọrọ. Ha ga-egbujasị ya, tụkwasị ya nʼelu nkụ dị nʼebe ịchụ aja, ma ha agaghị amụnye ọkụ ọbụla nʼokpuru ya. Mụ onwe m ga-akwado oke ehi nke ọzọ tụkwasị ya nʼelu nkụ ma agaghị m amụnyekwa ọkụ nʼokpuru ya.
24 Call upon the names of your gods. And I will call on the name of my Lord. And the God who will have heeded with fire, let him be God.” And in response, all the people said, “Excellent proposition.”
Emesịa, unu ga-akpọku chi Baal unu, mụ onwe m kwa ga-akpọku aha Onyenwe anyị. Ọ ga-erukwa na chi ga-eji ọkụ za, chi ahụ bụ Chineke.” Ndị Izrel niile zara sị, “Okwu gị dị mma.”
25 Then Elijah said to the prophets of Baal: “Choose for yourselves one ox, and prepare it first. For you are many. And call on the names of your gods, but do not place fire under it.”
Ịlaịja gwara ndị amụma Baal, sị, “Ebe unu dị ọtụtụ, burunu ụzọ họrọ otu oke ehi nʼime ehi abụọ a dozie ya. Unu amụnyekwala ya ọkụ nʼokpuru, kama kpọkuonụ chi unu.”
26 And when they had taken an ox, which he had given to them, they prepared it. And they called on the name of Baal, from morning even until midday, saying, “O Baal, heed us.” And there was no voice, nor did anyone respond. And so they leaped upon the altar that they had made.
Ya mere, ndị amụma Baal weere oke ehi ahụ e nyere ha doziekwa ya. Mgbe ahụ, ha kpọkuru aha Baal, chi ha. Site nʼụtụtụ tigide mkpu ruo nʼetiti ehihie na-asị “O Baal, biko, zaa anyị.” Ma o nweghị ihe ha nụrụ site nʼọnụ Baal. Ọ dịkwaghị onye zara ha. Ha malitere ite egwu gburugburu ebe ịchụ aja ahụ ha kwadoro.
27 And when it was now midday, Elijah ridiculed them, saying: “Cry out with a louder voice. For he is a god, and perhaps he is talking, or at an inn, or on a journey, or certainly he may be asleep, and must be awakened.”
Nʼihe dị ka nʼetiti ehihie, Ịlaịja malitere ịchị ha ọchị, na ịkwa ha emo. Ọ gwara ha okwu sị ha, “Tisienụ mkpu ike ka Baal nwe ike ịnụ arịrịọ unu. Nʼezie, ọ bụ chi! Ma eleghị anya ọ nọ nʼoke echiche, maọbụ o ji ọrụ nʼaka, maọbụ ọ gara njem. Ma eleghị anya ọ na-arahụ ụra. Ọ chọrọ onye ga-akpọte ya.”
28 Then they cried out with a loud voice, and they cut themselves, in accord with their ritual, with knives and lancets, until they were entirely covered in blood.
Ndị amụma a tiri mkpu nʼoke olu dịka ha si eme. Ha ji mma na ùbe na-egbukasị onwe ha ahụ, tutu ruo mgbe ọbara malitere isite ha nʼahụ na-agbapụta.
29 Then, after midday had passed, and they were prophesying, the time had arrived when the sacrifice is usually offered. And there was no voice heard, neither did anyone heed or respond to the praying.
Ma mgbe etiti ehihie gasịrị, ha nọgidekwara na-ebu amụma ruo mgbe oge ịchụ aja uhuruchi ruru, ma o nweghị onye zara ha, o nwekwaghị olu a nụrụ. Ọ dịkwaghị onye ṅara ha ntị.
30 Elijah said to all the people, “Draw near to me.” And as the people were drawing near to him, he repaired the altar of the Lord, which had been torn down.
Mgbe ahụ, Ịlaịja kpọrọ ndị Izrel sị ha, “Bịaruenụ m nso.” Ha niile bịaruru ya nso, o doziri ebe ịchụ aja Onyenwe anyị, bụ ndị ahụ a kwaturu nʼala na mbụ.
31 And he took twelve stones, in accord with the number of the tribes of the sons of Jacob, to whom the word of the Lord came, saying, “Israel shall be your name.”
Ịlaịja chịịrị nkume iri na abụọ, nke otu nʼime ha nọchiri anya otu ebo Jekọb, onye okwu Onyenwe anyị rutere si ya, “Aha gị ga-abụ Izrel.”
32 And he built from the stones an altar to the name of the Lord. And he made a trench for water, like two furrows of plowed land, all around the altar.
O ji nkume ndị a wuzie ebe ịchụ aja Onyenwe anyị. Emesịa, o gwuru olulu miri emi, nke gbara ebe ịchụ aja ahụ gburugburu.
33 And he arranged the wood, and he cut the ox into pieces, and he placed it on the wood.
Ọ tụkwasịrị nkụ nʼelu ebe ịchụ aja ahụ, tụkwasịkwa otu oke ehi o gbujasịrị nʼelu nkụ ndị ahụ. Emesịa, o nyere ndị nọ nʼebe ahụ iwu sị ha, “Gbajuonụ ite anọ mmiri. Butekwanụ mmiri ahụ bịa wụkwasị ya nʼelu aja nsure ọkụ a, na nʼelu nkụ ndị a.” Mgbe ha mesiri nke a, Ịlaịja gwara ha okwu sị,
34 And he said, “Fill four containers with water, and pour it over the holocaust, and over the wood.” And again, he said, “Do this a second time.” And when they had done it a second time, he said, “Do it also a third time.” And they did so a third time.
“Gbajukwaanụ ite mmiri ndị ahụ, bute ha bịa wụkwasị mmiri ahụ nke ugboro abụọ nʼelu aja nsure ọkụ a.” Ha mere dịka Ịlaịja kwuru. Ịlaịja nyekwara ha iwu sị, “Gbajukwaanụ ya nke ugboro atọ, bịa wụkwasị ya.” Ha mekwara otu a.
35 And the water was running down around the altar, and the pit of the trench was filled with water.
Mmiri jupụtakwara nʼebe ịchụ aja ahụ, na olulu ahụ dị ya gburugburu.
36 And when it was now time for the holocaust to be offered, the prophet Elijah, drawing near, said: “O Lord, God of Abraham, and Isaac, and Israel, reveal this day that you are the God of Israel, and that I am your servant, and that I have acted, in all these things, in accord with your precept.
Mgbe oge e ji achụ aja anyasị ruru, Ịlaịja, onye amụma bịara ebe ịchụ aja ahụ nso kpee ekpere sị, “O, Onyenwe anyị Chineke Ebraham, na Aịzik, na Izrel, biko gosi taa na ọ bụ gị onwe gị bụ naanị Chineke nʼIzrel, na mụ onwe m bụkwa ohu gị. Gosikwa na m bụ onyeozi gị, na ọ bụ ihe i nyere m nʼiwu ka m mere oge ndị a niile.
37 Heed me, O Lord, heed me, so that this people may learn that you are the Lord God, and that you have converted their heart again.”
Biko, Onyenwe anyị m, zaa m ekpere m, zaa m ya, ka ndị Izrel niile mata na gị onwe gị, Onyenwe anyị bụ Chineke, na gị onwe gị na-atụgharịkwa obi ha ịlaghachikwute gị.”
38 Then the fire of the Lord fell down and devoured the holocaust, and the wood, and the stones, and even the dust, and it absorbed the water that was in the trench.
Mgbe ahụ, na mberede, ọkụ Onyenwe anyị sitere nʼeluigwe daa, rechapụ oke ehi ahụ, na nkụ ahụ, na nkume, na ntụ, ma rechapụkwa mmiri niile dị nʼime olulu ahụ dị gburugburu ebe ịchụ aja ahụ.
39 And when all the people had seen it, they fell upon their face, and they said: “The Lord himself is God! The Lord himself is God!”
Mgbe ndị mmadụ ahụ niile hụrụ ihe a mere, ha niile dara nʼala kpuo ihu nʼala, na-eti mkpu na-asị, “Onyenwe anyị, ya onwe ya bụ Chineke! Onyenwe anyị ya onwe ya bụ Chineke!”
40 And Elijah said to them, “Apprehend the prophets of Baal, and do not let even one of them escape.” And when they had apprehended them, Elijah led them down to the torrent Kishon, and he put them to death there.
Mgbe ahụ, Ịlaịja nyere ha iwu sị, “Jidenụ ndị amụma Baal niile. Unu ekwekwala ka otu onye nʼime ha laa.” Ha jidekwara ha niile. Ịlaịja dukwaara ha niile gaa na ndagwurugwu iyi Kishọn, gbuo ha nʼebe ahụ.
41 And Elijah said to Ahab “Ascend; eat and drink. For there is the sound of an abundance of rain.”
Emesịa, Ịlaịja gwara Ehab okwu sị, “Gaa rie nri, ṅụọkwa ihe ọṅụṅụ; nʼihi na anụrụ m ụzụ oke mmiri ozuzo ka ọ na-ada.”
42 Ahab ascended, so that he might eat and drink. But Elijah ascended to the top of Carmel, and bending down to the ground, he placed his face between his knees.
Nʼihi nke a, Ehab sitere nʼebe ahụ pụọ gaa iri nri na ịṅụ ihe ọṅụṅụ ma Ịlaịja rigooro nʼelu ugwu Kamel gbuo ikpere nʼala, kpuokwa ihu ya nʼala nʼetiti ikpere ya abụọ ikpe ekpere.
43 And he said to his servant, “Ascend, and gaze out toward the sea.” And when he had ascended, and had contemplated, he said, “There is nothing.” And again, he said to him, “Return seven times.”
Nʼoge a, ọ gwara nwokorobịa na-ejere ya ozi sị ya, “Gaa lee anya nʼụzọ oke osimiri.” Ọ rịgoro lee anya, sị, “Ọ dịghị ihe ọbụla m hụrụ.” Ịlaịja gwakwara ya otu a, ugboro asaa, sị ya, “Jeghachi.”
44 And at the seventh time, behold, a little cloud ascended from the sea like the footstep of a man. And he said: “Ascend, and say to Ahab, ‘Yoke your chariot, and descend; otherwise, the rain may prevent you.’”
O ruo na nke ugboro asaa, nwokorobịa ahụ bịaghachiri sị Ịlaịja, “Onyenwe m, ahụrụ m igwe ojii dị nta dịka ọbụ aka mmadụ ka o si nʼoke osimiri na-apụta.” Ya mere, Ịlaịja sịrị, “Gaa gwa Ehab, ‘dozie ụgbọ agha gị, gbadaa tupu mmiri ozuzo egbochi gị ịla.’”
45 And as he was turning himself this way and that, behold, the heavens were darkened, and there were clouds and wind, and a great rainstorm occurred. And so Ahab, going up, went away to Jezreel.
Ọ dịghị anya, eluigwe gbajikọtara nnọọ oji. Oke ifufe bidokwara ife. Mmiri dị ukwuu bidokwara izo. Mgbe ahụ, Ehab gbaara ụgbọ agha ya laa Jezril.
46 And the hand of the Lord was upon Elijah. And cinching his waist, he ran before Ahab, until he arrived at Jezreel.
Ma ike Onyenwe anyị bịakwasịrị Ịlaịja. Ọ fanyere ọnụ uwe mwụda ya na belịt o kere nʼukwu, gbapụ ọsọ buru Ehab ụzọ gbaruo obodo Jezril.
