1 Kings 18
1 And it came to pass after many days, that the word of YHWH came to EliYah in the third year, saying, Go, shew thyself unto Ahab; and I will send rain upon the earth.
Baada ya muda mrefu, katika mwaka wa tatu, neno la Bwana likamjia Eliya kusema, “Nenda ukajionyeshe kwa Ahabu na mimi nitanyesha mvua juu ya nchi.”
2 And EliYah went to shew himself unto Ahab. And there was a sore famine in Samaria.
Kwa hiyo Eliya akaenda kujionyesha kwa Ahabu. Wakati huu njaa ilikuwa kali sana katika Samaria,
3 And Ahab called Obadiah, which was the governor of his house. (Now Obadiah feared YHWH greatly:
naye Ahabu alikuwa amemwita Obadia ambaye alikuwa msimamizi wa jumba lake la kifalme. (Obadia alimcha Bwana sana.
4 For it was so, when Jezebel cut off the prophets of YHWH, that Obadiah took an hundred prophets, and hid them by fifty in a cave, and fed them with bread and water.)
Wakati Yezebeli alipokuwa akiwaua manabii wa Bwana, Obadia alikuwa amewachukua manabii mia moja na kuwaficha katika mapango mawili, hamsini kwenye kila moja na akawa akiwapa chakula na maji.)
5 And Ahab said unto Obadiah, Go into the land, unto all fountains of water, and unto all brooks: peradventure we may find grass to save the horses and mules alive, that we lose not all the beasts.
Ahabu alikuwa amemwambia Obadia, “Nenda katika nchi yote kwenye vijito vyote na mabonde. Huenda tunaweza kupata majani ya kuwalisha farasi na nyumbu wapate kuishi ili tusilazimike kuwaua hata mmoja wa wanyama wetu.”
6 So they divided the land between them to pass throughout it: Ahab went one way by himself, and Obadiah went another way by himself.
Kwa hiyo wakagawanya nchi waliyokusudia kutafuta majani, Ahabu akaenda upande mmoja na Obadia upande mwingine.
7 And as Obadiah was in the way, behold, EliYah met him: and he knew him, and fell on his face, and said, Art thou that my master EliYah?
Wakati Obadia alipokuwa akitembea njiani, Eliya akakutana naye. Obadia akamtambua, akamsujudia hadi nchi na kusema, “Je, hivi kweli ni wewe, bwana wangu Eliya?”
8 And he answered him, I am: go, tell thy master, Behold, EliYah is here.
Eliya akamjibu, “Ndiyo, nenda ukamwambie bwana wako Ahabu, ‘Eliya yuko hapa.’”
9 And he said, What have I sinned, that thou wouldest deliver thy servant into the hand of Ahab, to slay me?
Obadia akamuuliza, “Ni kosa gani nimefanya, hata ukaamua kumkabidhi mtumishi wako mkononi mwa Ahabu ili aniue?
10 As YHWH thy Elohim liveth, there is no nation or kingdom, whither my master hath not sent to seek thee: and when they said, He is not there; he took an oath of the kingdom and nation, that they found thee not.
Hakika kama Bwana Mungu wako aishivyo, hakuna taifa hata moja au ufalme ambapo bwana wangu hajamtuma mtu kukutafuta. Kila wakati taifa au ufalme walipodai kwamba haupo huko, aliwafanya waape kwamba hawakuweza kukupata.
11 And now thou sayest, Go, tell thy master, Behold, EliYah is here.
Lakini sasa unaniambia niende kwa bwana wangu na kusema, ‘Eliya yuko hapa.’
12 And it shall come to pass, as soon as I am gone from thee, that the Spirit of YHWH shall carry thee whither I know not; and so when I come and tell Ahab, and he cannot find thee, he shall slay me: but I thy servant fear YHWH from my youth.
Sijui ni wapi Roho wa Bwana ataamua kukupeleka wakati nitakapokuacha. Kama nikienda kumwambia Ahabu na asikupate, ataniua. Hata hivyo mimi mtumishi wako nimemwabudu Bwana tangu ujana wangu.
13 Was it not told my master what I did when Jezebel slew the prophets of YHWH, how I hid an hundred men of YHWH 's prophets by fifty in a cave, and fed them with bread and water?
Je, hukusikia, bwana wangu, nilifanya nini wakati Yezebeli alipokuwa akiua manabii wa Bwana? Niliwaficha manabii wa Bwana mia moja katika mapango mawili, hamsini katika kila moja, nami nikawapatia chakula na maji.
14 And now thou sayest, Go, tell thy master, Behold, EliYah is here: and he shall slay me.
Nawe sasa unaniambia niende kwa bwana wangu na kumwambia, ‘Eliya yuko hapa.’ Yeye ataniua!”
15 And EliYah said, As YHWH of hosts liveth, before whom I stand, I will surely shew myself unto him to day.
Eliya akasema, “Kama Bwana Mwenye Nguvu Zote aishivyo, yeye ninayemtumikia, hakika nitajionyesha kwa Ahabu leo.”
16 So Obadiah went to meet Ahab, and told him: and Ahab went to meet EliYah.
Basi Obadia akaenda kukutana na Ahabu na kumwambia, naye Ahabu akaenda kukutana na Eliya.
17 And it came to pass, when Ahab saw EliYah, that Ahab said unto him, Art thou he that troubleth Israel?
Ahabu alipomwona Eliya, akamwambia, “Je, ni wewe, mtaabishaji wa Israeli?”
18 And he answered, I have not troubled Israel; but thou, and thy father's house, in that ye have forsaken the commandments of YHWH, and thou hast followed Baalim.
Eliya akamjibu, “Mimi sijaitaabisha Israeli. Lakini wewe na jamaa ya baba yako ndio mnaofanya hivyo. Mmeziacha amri za Bwana na mkafuata Mabaali.
19 Now therefore send, and gather to me all Israel unto mount Carmel, and the prophets of Baal four hundred and fifty, and the prophets of the groves four hundred, which eat at Jezebel's table.
Sasa waite watu kutoka Israeli yote tukutane nao juu ya Mlima Karmeli. Nawe uwalete hao manabii wa Baali mia nne na hamsini na hao manabii mia nne wa Ashera, walao chakula mezani mwa Yezebeli.”
20 So Ahab sent unto all the children of Israel, and gathered the prophets together unto mount Carmel.
Ndipo Ahabu akatuma ujumbe katika Israeli yote na kuwakusanya manabii hao juu ya mlima Karmeli.
21 And EliYah came unto all the people, and said, How long halt ye between two opinions? if YHWH be Elohim, follow him: but if the Baal, then follow him. And the people answered him not a word.
Eliya akasimama mbele ya watu na kusema, “Mtasitasita katika mawazo mawili hadi lini? Ikiwa Bwana ndiye Mungu, mfuateni yeye; lakini ikiwa Baali ni Mungu, basi mfuateni yeye.” Lakini watu hawakusema kitu.
22 Then said EliYah unto the people, I, even I only, remain a prophet of YHWH; but Baal's prophets are four hundred and fifty men.
Kisha Eliya akawaambia, “Ni mimi peke yangu nabii wa Bwana aliyebaki, lakini Baali ana manabii mia nne na hamsini.
23 Let them therefore give us two bullocks; and let them choose one bullock for themselves, and cut it in pieces, and lay it on wood, and put no fire under: and I will dress the other bullock, and lay it on wood, and put no fire under:
Leteni mafahali wawili. Wao na wajichagulie mmoja, wamkate vipande vipande na waweke juu ya kuni lakini wasiiwashie moto. Nitamwandaa huyo fahali mwingine na kumweka juu ya kuni lakini sitawasha moto.
24 And call ye on the name of your elohim, and I will call on the name of YHWH: and the Elohim that answereth by fire, let him be Elohim. And all the people answered and said, It is well spoken.
Kisha mliitie jina la mungu wenu, nami nitaliitia jina la Bwana Mungu yule ambaye atajibu kwa moto, huyo ndiye Mungu.” Kisha watu wote wakasema, “Hilo unalosema ni jema.”
25 And EliYah said unto the prophets of Baal, Choose you one bullock for yourselves, and dress it first; for ye are many; and call on the name of your elohim, but put no fire under.
Eliya akawaambia manabii wa Baali, “Chagueni mmoja kati ya hawa mafahali na mwe wa kwanza kumwandaa, kwa kuwa ninyi mko wengi sana. Liitieni jina la mungu wenu, lakini msiwashe moto.”
26 And they took the bullock which was given them, and they dressed it, and called on the name of Baal from morning even until noon, saying, O Baal, hear us. But there was no voice, nor any that answered. And they leaped upon the altar which was made.
Kwa hiyo wakamchukua yule fahali waliyepewa, nao wakamwandaa. Kisha wakaliitia jina la Baali kutoka asubuhi hadi adhuhuri, wakapiga kelele, “Ee Baali, utujibu!” Lakini hapakuwa na jibu; hakuna aliyejibu. Nao wakacheza kuizunguka madhabahu waliyoijenga.
27 And it came to pass at noon, that EliYah mocked them, and said, Cry aloud: for he is an elohim; either he is talking, or he is pursuing, or he is in a journey, or peradventure he sleepeth, and must be awaked.
Wakati wa adhuhuri, Eliya akaanza kuwadhihaki, akisema, “Pigeni kelele zaidi! Hakika yeye ni mungu! Labda amezama katika mawazo mazito, au ana shughuli nyingi, au amesafiri. Labda amelala usingizi mzito, naye ni lazima aamshwe.”
28 And they cried aloud, and cut themselves after their manner with knives and lancets, till the blood gushed out upon them.
Kwa hiyo wakapiga kelele zaidi na kama ilivyokuwa desturi yao wakajichanja wenyewe kwa visu na vyembe, mpaka damu ikachuruzika.
29 And it came to pass, when midday was past, and they prophesied until the time of the offering of the evening sacrifice, that there was neither voice, nor any to answer, nor any that regarded.
Adhuhuri ikapita, nao wakaendelea na utabiri wao wa kiwazimu mpaka wakati wa dhabihu ya jioni. Lakini hapakuwa na jibu, hakuna aliyejibu, hakuna aliyeangalia.
30 And EliYah said unto all the people, Come near unto me. And all the people came near unto him. And he repaired the altar of YHWH that was broken down.
Kisha Eliya akawaambia watu wote, “Sogeeni karibu nami.” Watu wote wakamkaribia, naye akakarabati madhabahu ya Bwana, ambayo ilikuwa imevunjwa.
31 And EliYah took twelve stones, according to the number of the tribes of the sons of Jacob, unto whom the word of YHWH came, saying, Israel shall be thy name:
Eliya akachukua mawe kumi na mawili, moja kwa ajili ya kila kabila la wana wa Yakobo, ambaye neno la Bwana lilimjia, likisema, “Jina lako litakuwa Israeli.”
32 And with the stones he built an altar in the name of YHWH: and he made a trench about the altar, as great as would contain two measures of seed.
Kwa mawe hayo, akajenga madhabahu katika jina la Bwana, na akachimba handaki kuizunguka, ukubwa wa kutosha vipimo viwili vya mbegu.
33 And he put the wood in order, and cut the bullock in pieces, and laid him on the wood, and said, Fill four barrels with water, and pour it on the burnt sacrifice, and on the wood.
Akapanga kuni, akamkata yule fahali vipande vipande na kuvipanga juu ya kuni. Kisha akawaambia, “Jazeni mapipa manne maji na kuyamwaga juu ya sadaka ya kuteketezwa na juu ya kuni.”
34 And he said, Do it the second time. And they did it the second time. And he said, Do it the third time. And they did it the third time.
Akawaambia, “Fanyeni hivyo tena.” Nao wakafanya hivyo tena. Akaagiza, “Fanyeni kwa mara ya tatu.” Nao wakafanya hivyo kwa mara ya tatu.
35 And the water ran round about the altar; and he filled the trench also with water.
Maji yakatiririka kuizunguka madhabahu na hata kujaza lile handaki.
36 And it came to pass at the time of the offering of the evening sacrifice, that EliYah the prophet came near, and said, YHWH Elohim of Abraham, Isaac, and of Israel, let it be known this day that thou art Elohim in Israel, and that I am thy servant, and that I have done all these things at thy word.
Wakati wa kutoa dhabihu ya jioni, nabii Eliya akasogea mbele na kuomba, akisema: “Ee Bwana, Mungu wa Abrahamu, na Isaki na Israeli, ijulikane leo kwamba wewe ndiye Mungu katika Israeli na ya kwamba mimi ni mtumishi wako na nimefanya mambo haya yote kwa neno lako.
37 Hear me, O YHWH, hear me, that this people may know that thou art YHWH Elohim, and that thou hast turned their heart back again.
Unijibu mimi, Ee Bwana, nijibu mimi, ili watu hawa wajue kwamba wewe, Ee Bwana, ndiwe Mungu, na kwamba unaigeuza mioyo yao ikurudie tena.”
38 Then the fire of YHWH fell, and consumed the burnt sacrifice, and the wood, and the stones, and the dust, and licked up the water that was in the trench.
Kisha moto wa Bwana ukashuka na kuiteketeza ile dhabihu, zile kuni, yale mawe, ule udongo, na pia kuramba yale maji yaliyokuwa ndani ya handaki.
39 And when all the people saw it, they fell on their faces: and they said, YHWH, he is the Elohim; YHWH, he is the Elohim.
Wakati watu wote walipoona hili, wakaanguka kifudifudi na kulia, “Bwana: yeye ndiye Mungu! Bwana: yeye ndiye Mungu!”
40 And EliYah said unto them, Take the prophets of Baal; let not one of them escape. And they took them: and EliYah brought them down to the brook Kishon, and slew them there.
Kisha Eliya akawaamuru, “Wakamateni hao manabii wa Baali. Msimwache hata mmoja atoroke!” Wakawakamata, naye Eliya akawaleta mpaka Bonde la Kishoni na kuwachinja huko.
41 And EliYah said unto Ahab, Get thee up, eat and drink; for there is a sound of abundance of rain.
Eliya akamwambia Ahabu, “Nenda, ukale na kunywa, kwa kuwa kuna sauti ya mvua kubwa.”
42 So Ahab went up to eat and to drink. And EliYah went up to the top of Carmel; and he cast himself down upon the earth, and put his face between his knees,
Hivyo Ahabu akaondoka ili kula na kunywa. Lakini Eliya akapanda kileleni mwa Karmeli, akasujudu na akaweka kichwa chake katikati ya magoti yake.
43 And said to his servant, Go up now, look toward the sea. And he went up, and looked, and said, There is nothing. And he said, Go again seven times.
Akamwambia mtumishi wake, “Nenda ukatazame kuelekea bahari.” Akaenda na kutazama. Akasema, “Hakuna kitu chochote huko.” Mara saba Eliya akasema, “Nenda tena.”
44 And it came to pass at the seventh time, that he said, Behold, there ariseth a little cloud out of the sea, like a man's hand. And he said, Go up, say unto Ahab, Prepare thy chariot, and get thee down, that the rain stop thee not.
Mara ya saba, mtumishi akaleta taarifa, “Wingu dogo kama mkono wa mwanadamu linainuka kutoka baharini.” Hivyo Eliya akasema, “Nenda ukamwambie Ahabu, ‘Tandika gari lako na ushuke kabla mvua haijakuzuia.’”
45 And it came to pass in the mean while, that the heaven was black with clouds and wind, and there was a great rain. And Ahab rode, and went to Jezreel.
Wakati ule ule anga likawa jeusi kwa mawingu, upepo ukainuka na mvua kubwa ikanyesha, naye Ahabu akaenda zake Yezreeli.
46 And the hand of YHWH was on EliYah; and he girded up his loins, and ran before Ahab to the entrance of Jezreel.
Nguvu za Bwana zikamjia Eliya, naye akajikaza viuno, akakimbia mbele ya Ahabu njia yote hadi maingilio ya Yezreeli.
