1 Kings 18
1 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.”
PASADOS muchos días, fué palabra de Jehová á Elías en el tercer año, diciendo: Ve, muéstrate á Achâb, y yo daré lluvia sobre la haz de la tierra.
2 So Elijah went to talk to Ahab. In Samaria there was almost no food for anyone to eat.
Fué pues Elías á mostrarse á Achâb. Había á la sazón grande hambre en Samaria.
3 There was a man there named Obadiah. He was in charge of the king’s palace. He greatly revered Yahweh.
Y Achâb llamó á Abdías su mayordomo, el cual Abdías era en grande manera temeroso de Jehová;
4 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.
Porque cuando Jezabel destruía á los profetas de Jehová, Abdías tomó cien profetas, los cuales escondió de cincuenta en cincuenta por cuevas, y sustentólos á pan y agua.
5 [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.”
Y dijo Achâb á Abdías: Ve por el país á todas las fuentes de aguas, y á todos los arroyos; que acaso hallaremos grama con que conservemos la vida á los caballos y á las acémilas, para que no nos quedemos sin bestias.
6 So they both started walking throughout the land. Obadiah went in one direction by himself, and Ahab went in another direction by himself.
Y partieron entre sí el país para recorrerlo: Achâb fué de por sí por un camino, y Abdías fué separadamente por otro.
7 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?”
Y yendo Abdías por el camino, topóse con Elías; y como le conoció, postróse sobre su rostro, y dijo: ¿No eres tú mi señor Elías?
8 Elijah replied, “Yes. Now go and tell [Ahab, ] your master, that I am here.”
Y él respondió: Yo soy; ve, di á tu amo: He aquí Elías.
9 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!
Pero él dijo: ¿En qué he pecado, para que tú entregues tu siervo en mano de Achâb para que me mate?
10 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.
Vive Jehová tu Dios, que no ha habido nación ni reino donde mi señor no haya enviado á buscarte; y respondiendo [ellos], No está aquí, él ha conjurado á reinos y naciones si no te han hallado.
11 Now you say to me, ‘Go and tell your master that Elijah is here!’
¿Y ahora tú dices: Ve, di á tu amo: Aquí está Elías?
12 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.
Y acontecerá que, luego que yo me haya partido de ti, el espíritu de Jehová te llevará donde yo no sepa; y viniendo yo, y dando las nuevas á Achâb, y no hallándote él, me matará; y tu siervo teme á Jehová desde su mocedad.
13 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.
¿No ha sido dicho á mi señor lo que hice, cuando Jezabel mataba á los profetas de Jehová: que escondí cien varones de los profetas de Jehová de cincuenta en cincuenta en cuevas, y los mantuve á pan y agua?
14 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!”
¿Y ahora dices tú: Ve, di á tu amo: Aquí está Elías: para que él me mate?
15 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.”
Y díjole Elías: Vive Jehová de los ejércitos, delante del cual estoy, que hoy me mostraré á él.
16 So Obadiah went to tell Ahab that Elijah had come. Ahab went to meet with him.
Entonces Abdías fué á encontrarse con Achâb, y dióle el aviso; y Achâb vino á encontrarse con Elías.
17 When he saw Elijah, he said to him, “Is that you, the one who causes trouble for [the people of] Israel?”
Y como Achâb vió á Elías, díjole Achâb: ¿Eres tú el que alborotas á Israel?
18 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.
Y él respondió: Yo no he alborotado á Israel, sino tú y la casa de tu padre, dejando los mandamientos de Jehová, y siguiendo á los Baales.
19 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.”
Envía pues ahora y júntame á todo Israel en el monte de Carmelo, y los cuatrocientos y cincuenta profetas de Baal, y los cuatrocientos profetas de los bosques, que comen de la mesa de Jezabel.
20 So Ahab summoned all his prophets and all the other [Israeli] people to the top of Carmel Mountain, [and Elijah went up there too.]
Entonces Achâb envió á todos los hijos de Israel, y juntó los profetas en el monte de Carmelo.
21 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].
Y acercándose Elías á todo el pueblo, dijo: ¿Hasta cuándo claudicaréis vosotros entre dos pensamientos? Si Jehová es Dios, seguidle; y si Baal, id en pos de él. Y el pueblo no respondió palabra.
22 Then Elijah said to them, “I am the only true prophet of Yahweh who is left, but Baal has 450 prophets.
Y Elías tornó á decir al pueblo: Sólo yo he quedado profeta de Jehová; mas de los profetas de Baal hay cuatrocientos y cincuenta hombres.
23 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].
Dénsenos pues dos bueyes, y escójanse ellos el uno, y córtenlo en pedazos, y pónganlo sobre leña, mas no pongan fuego debajo; y yo aprestaré el otro buey, y pondrélo sobre leña, y ningún fuego pondré debajo.
24 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.
Invocad luego vosotros en el nombre de vuestros dioses, y yo invocaré en el nombre de Jehová: y el Dios que respondiere por fuego, ése sea Dios. Y todo el pueblo respondió, diciendo: Bien dicho.
25 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!”
Entonces Elías dijo á los profetas de Baal: Escogeos el un buey, y haced primero, pues que vosotros sois los más: é invocad en el nombre de vuestros dioses, mas no pongáis fuego debajo.
26 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.
Y ellos tomaron el buey que les fué dado, y aprestáronlo, é invocaron en el nombre de Baal desde la mañana hasta el medio día, diciendo: ¡Baal, respóndenos! Mas no había voz, ni quien respondiese; entre tanto, ellos andaban saltando cerca del altar que habían hecho.
27 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!”
Y aconteció al medio día, que Elías se burlaba de ellos, diciendo: Gritad en alta voz, que dios es: quizá está conversando, ó tiene algún empeño, ó va de camino; acaso duerme, y despertará.
28 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.
Y ellos clamaban á grandes voces, y sajábanse con cuchillos y con lancetas conforme á su costumbre, hasta chorrear la sangre sobre ellos.
29 They continued calling out to Baal all afternoon. But there was no reply, no answer, no god who paid attention.
Y como pasó el medio día, y ellos profetizaran hasta el tiempo del sacrificio del presente, y no había voz, ni quien respondiese ni escuchase;
30 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].
Elías dijo entonces á todo el pueblo: Acercaos á mí. Y todo el pueblo se llegó á él: y él reparó el altar de Jehová que estaba arruinado.
31 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.
Y tomando Elías doce piedras, conforme al número de las tribus de los hijos de Jacob, al cual había sido palabra de Jehová, diciendo, Israel será tu nombre;
32 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.
Edificó con las piedras un altar en el nombre de Jehová: después hizo una reguera alrededor del altar, cuanto cupieran dos satos de simiente.
33 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.
Compuso luego la leña, y cortó el buey en pedazos, y púsolo sobre la leña.
34 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.
Y dijo: Henchid cuatro cántaros de agua, y derramadla sobre el holocausto y sobre la leña. Y dijo: Hacedlo otra vez; y otra vez lo hicieron. Dijo aún: Hacedlo la tercera vez; é hiciéronlo la tercera vez.
35 As a result, the water flowed down below the altar and filled the ditches.
De manera que las aguas corrían alrededor del altar; y había también henchido de agua la reguera.
36 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.
Y como llegó la hora de ofrecerse el holocausto, llegóse el profeta Elías, y dijo: Jehová Dios de Abraham, de Isaac, y de Israel, sea hoy manifiesto que tú eres Dios en Israel, y que yo soy tu siervo, y que por mandato tuyo he hecho todas estas cosas.
37 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!”
Respóndeme, Jehová, respóndeme; para que conozca este pueblo que tú, oh Jehová, eres el Dios, y que tú volviste atrás el corazón de ellos.
38 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!
Entonces cayó fuego de Jehová, el cual consumió el holocausto, y la leña, y las piedras, y el polvo, y aun lamió las aguas que estaban en la reguera.
39 When the people saw that, they prostrated themselves on the ground and shouted, “Yahweh is God! Yahweh is God!”
Y viéndolo todo el pueblo, cayeron sobre sus rostros, y dijeron: ¡Jehová es el Dios! ¡Jehová es el Dios!
40 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.
Y díjoles Elías: Prended á los profetas de Baal, que no escape ninguno. Y ellos los prendieron; y llevólos Elías al arroyo de Cisón, y allí los degolló.
41 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!”
Y entonces Elías dijo á Achâb: Sube, come y bebe; porque una grande lluvia suena.
42 So Ahab [and his men] left to prepare a big meal. But Elijah went back up to the top of Carmel Mountain and prayed.
Y Achâb subió á comer y á beber. Y Elías subió á la cumbre del Carmelo; y postrándose en tierra, puso su rostro entre las rodillas.
43 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.
Y dijo á su criado: Sube ahora, y mira hacia la mar. Y él subió, y miró, y dijo: No hay nada. Y él le volvió á decir: Vuelve siete veces.
44 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!”
Y á la séptima vez dijo: Yo veo una pequeña nube como la palma de la mano de un hombre, que sube de la mar. Y él dijo: Ve, y di á Achâb: Unce y desciende, porque la lluvia no te ataje.
45 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].
Y aconteció, estando en esto, que los cielos se oscurecieron con nubes y viento; y hubo una gran lluvia. Y subiendo Achâb, vino á Jezreel.
46 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.
Y la mano de Jehová fué sobre Elías, el cual ciñó sus lomos, y vino corriendo delante de Achâb hasta llegar á Jezreel.
