1 Kings 18
1 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.”
Kwasekusithi emva kwensuku ezinengi ilizwi leNkosi lafika kuElija ngomnyaka wesithathu lisithi: Hamba, uziveze kuAhabi, sengizanisa izulu ebusweni bomhlaba.
2 Elijah went to show himself to Ahab. The famine was severe in Samaria.
UElija wasesiya ukuziveza kuAhabi. Njalo indlala yayilamandla eSamariya.
3 Ahab called Obadiah, who was over the household. (Now Obadiah feared the LORD greatly;
UAhabi wasebiza uObhadiya owayephezu kwendlu yakhe. UObhadiya wayeyesaba-ke kakhulu iNkosi.
4 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.)
Ngoba kwathi lapho uJezebeli ebhubhisa abaprofethi beNkosi, uObhadiya wathatha abaprofethi abalikhulu, wabafihla ngamadoda angamatshumi amahlanu ebhalwini, wabondla ngesinkwa langamanzi.
5 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.”
UAhabi wasesithi kuObhadiya: Hamba elizweni uye emithonjeni yonke yamanzi lezifuleni zonke; mhlawumbe singathola utshani, silondoloze amabhiza lezimbongolo kuphila, ukuze singabhubhisi okwezifuyo.
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.
Basebesehlukaniselana ilizwe ukuthi badabule phakathi kwalo; uAhabi wahamba ngenye indlela yedwa, uObhadiya laye wahamba ngenye indlela yedwa.
7 As Obadiah was on the way, behold, Elijah met him. He recognized him, and fell on his face, and said, “Is it you, my lord Elijah?”
Kwasekusithi uObhadiya esendleleni, khangela-ke, uElija wamhlangabeza; wamnanzelela, wawa ngobuso bakhe wathi: Nguwe yini, nkosi yami, Elija?
8 He answered him, “It is I. Go, tell your lord, ‘Behold, Elijah is here!’”
Wasesithi kuye: Yimi. Hamba uyetshela inkosi yakho ukuthi: Khangela, uElija ulapha.
9 He said, “How have I sinned, that you would deliver your servant into the hand of Ahab, to kill me?
Wasesithi: Ngoneni ukuthi unikele inceku yakho esandleni sikaAhabi ukuthi angibulale?
10 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.
Kuphila kukaJehova uNkulunkulu wakho, kakulasizwe lombuso inkosi yami engathumelanga kukho ukukudinga. Lapho besithi: Kakho; yafungisa lowombuso lalesosizwe ukuthi kabakutholanga.
11 Now you say, ‘Go, tell your lord, “Behold, Elijah is here.”’
Khathesi-ke uthi: Hamba utshele inkosi yakho ukuthi: Khangela, uElija ulapha.
12 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.
Kuzakuthi-ke sengisukile kuwe, uMoya weNkosi akuthwale akuse lapho engingazi khona; lapho sengifike ngatshela uAhabi, angakutholi, uzangibulala; kodwa mina inceku yakho ngiyayesaba iNkosi kusukela ebutsheni bami.
13 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?
Kakutshelwanga inkosi yami yini engakwenzayo lapho uJezebeli ebulala abaprofethi beNkosi, ukuthi ngafihla amadoda alikhulu kubaprofethi beNkosi, ngamadoda angamatshumi amahlanu ebhalwini, ngabondla ngesinkwa langamanzi?
14 Now you say, ‘Go, tell your lord, “Behold, Elijah is here”.’ He will kill me.”
Khathesi-ke uthi: Hamba uyetshela inkosi yakho ukuthi: Khangela uElija ulapha. Abesengibulala.
15 Elijah said, “As the LORD of Hosts lives, before whom I stand, I will surely show myself to him today.”
UElija wasesithi: Kuphila kukaJehova wamabandla engimi phambi kwakhe, oqotho lamuhla ngizaziveza kuye.
16 So Obadiah went to meet Ahab, and told him; and Ahab went to meet Elijah.
Ngakho uObhadiya wahamba ukuhlangabeza uAhabi, wamtshela; loAhabi wayahlangabeza uElija.
17 When Ahab saw Elijah, Ahab said to him, “Is that you, you troubler of Israel?”
Kwasekusithi uAhabi ebona uElija, uAhabi wathi kuye: Nguwe yini ongumhluphi kaIsrayeli?
18 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.
Wasesithi: Kangimhluphanga uIsrayeli, kodwa nguwe lendlu kayihlo, ngokuyitshiya kwenu imilayo yeNkosi, lalandela oBhali.
19 Now therefore send, and gather to me all Israel to Mount Carmel, and four hundred fifty of the prophets of Baal, and four hundred of the prophets of the Asherah, who eat at Jezebel’s table.”
Ngakho-ke thuma, ubuthanisele kimi uIsrayeli wonke entabeni iKharmeli, labaprofethi bakaBhali abangamakhulu amane lamatshumi amahlanu labaprofethi bezixuku abangamakhulu amane abadla etafuleni likaJezebeli.
20 So Ahab sent to all the children of Israel, and gathered the prophets together to Mount Carmel.
Ngakho uAhabi wathuma phakathi kwabo bonke abantwana bakoIsrayeli, wabuthanisa abaprofethi entabeni iKharmeli.
21 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.
UElija wasesondela ebantwini bonke wathi: Koze kube nini liqhula emicabangweni emibili? Uba iNkosi inguNkulunkulu, landelani yona; kodwa uba kunguBhali, mlandeleni. Kodwa abantu kabamphendulanga ngalizwi.
22 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 fifty men.
UElija wasesithi ebantwini: Mina ngedwa ngingumprofethi weNkosi oseleyo; kodwa abaprofethi bakaBhali ngamadoda angamakhulu amane lamatshumi amahlanu.
23 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.
Ngakho kabasinike amajongosi amabili, bazikhethele ijongosi elilodwa, baliqume iziqa, bazibeke phezu kwenkuni, bangafaki mlilo; lami ngizalungisa elinye ijongosi, ngilibeke phezu kwenkuni, ngingafaki mlilo.
24 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.”
Njalo bizani ibizo likankulunkulu wenu, lami ngizabiza ibizo leNkosi; uNkulunkulu ozaphendula ngomlilo nguye uNkulunkulu. Bonke abantu basebephendula bathi: Lelilizwi lilungile.
25 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.”
UElija wasesithi kubaprofethi bakaBhali: Zikhetheleni ijongosi elilodwa, lililungise kuqala, ngoba libanengi, libize ibizo likankulunkulu wenu, kodwa lingafaki mlilo.
26 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 leaped about the altar which was made.
Basebethatha ijongosi ababelinikiwe, balilungisa, babiza ibizo likaBhali kusukela ekuseni kwaze kwaba semini, besithi: Bhali, siphendule! Kodwa kakubanga lalizwi, kakubanga lophendulayo. Basebeseqa phezu kwelathi elalenziwe.
27 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.”
Kwasekusithi emini uElija wadlala ngabo wathi: Memezani ngelizwi elikhulu, ngoba ungunkulunkulu; ngoba uyanakana, loba umonyukile, kumbe usekuhambeni, mhlawumbe ulele, njalo kudingeka ukuthi avuswe.
28 They cried aloud, and cut themselves in their way with knives and lances until the blood gushed out on them.
Basebememeza ngelizwi elikhulu, bazisika njengokomkhuba wabo ngezinkemba langemikhonto, kwaze kwantshaza igazi kubo.
29 When midday was past, they prophesied until the time of the evening offering; but there was no voice, no answer, and nobody paid attention.
Kwasekusithi sekwedlulile imini, baprofetha kwaze kwaba sekunikelweni komnikelo, kakubanga lelizwi, njalo kakubanga lophendulayo, njalo kakubanga lonakekelayo.
30 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.
UElija wasesithi ebantwini bonke: Sondelani kimi. Bonke abantu basebesondela kuye. Waselungisa ilathi leNkosi elaselidilikile.
31 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.”
UElija wasethatha amatshe alitshumi lambili, ngokwenani lezizwe zamadodana kaJakobe, okwafika kuye ilizwi leNkosi lisithi: Ibizo lakho lizakuba nguIsrayeli.
32 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.
Ngalawomatshe wasesakha ilathi ebizweni leNkosi, wenza umgelo ozingelezela ilathi, ngokwesilinganiso samaseya amabili enhlanyelo.
33 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.”
Waselungisa inkuni, waliquma iziqa ijongosi, walibeka phezu kwenkuni, wasesithi: Gcwalisani izimbiza ezine ngamanzi, liwathele phezu komnikelo wokutshiswa laphezu kwenkuni.
34 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.
Wasesithi: Kwenzeni okwesibili. Bakwenza okwesibili. Wathi: Kwenzeni okwesithathu. Basebekwenza okwesithathu.
35 The water ran around the altar; and he also filled the trench with water.
Amanzi asehamba azingelezela ilathi, lomgelo lawo wawugcwalisa ngamanzi.
36 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.
Kwasekusithi ekunikelweni komnikelo uElija umprofethi wasondela wathi: Nkosi, Nkulunkulu kaAbrahama, uIsaka, loIsrayeli, kakwaziwe lamuhla ukuthi unguNkulunkulu koIsrayeli, lami ngiyinceku yakho, lokuthi ngizenzile zonke lezizinto njengokwelizwi lakho.
37 Hear me, LORD, hear me, that this people may know that you, LORD, are God, and that you have turned their heart back again.”
Ngiphendule, Nkosi, ungiphendule, ukuze lababantu bazi ukuthi wena uyiNkosi uNkulunkulu, lokuthi uyiphendulile futhi inhliziyo yabo.
38 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.
Wasusehla umlilo weNkosi, waqothula umnikelo wokutshiswa lenkuni lamatshe lothuli, wakhotha lamanzi asemgelweni.
39 When all the people saw it, they fell on their faces. They said, “The LORD, he is God! The LORD, he is God!”
Kwathi abantu bonke bekubona bathi mbo ngobuso babo, bathi: UJehova nguye onguNkulunkulu; uJehova nguye onguNkulunkulu.
40 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.
UElija wasesithi kibo: Babambeni abaprofethi bakaBhali, kungaphunyuki lamunye wabo. Basebebabamba. UElija wasebehlisela esifuleni iKishoni, wababulalela khona.
41 Elijah said to Ahab, “Get up, eat and drink; for there is the sound of abundance of rain.”
UElija wasesithi kuAhabi: Yenyuka, udle unathe, ngoba kulomsindo wobunengi bezulu.
42 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.
UAhabi wasesenyuka ukuyakudla lokunatha. UElija wasesenyukela engqongeni yeKharmeli; wakhothamela phansi emhlabathini, wafaka ubuso bakhe phakathi kwamadolo akhe.
43 He said to his servant, “Go up now and look toward the sea.” He went up and looked, then said, “There is nothing.” He said, “Go again” seven times.
Wasesithi encekwini yakhe: Yenyuka khathesi, ukhangele ngaselwandle. Yasisenyuka, yakhangela, yathi: Kakulalutho. Wasesithi: Buyela, kasikhombisa.
44 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.’”
Kwasekusithi ngesikhathi sesikhombisa yathi: Khangela, iyezana elingangesandla somuntu lisenyuka olwandle. Wasesithi: Yenyuka uyetshela uAhabi: Bophela inqola, wehle, hlezi izulu likuvalele.
45 In a little while, the sky grew black with clouds and wind, and there was a great rain. Ahab rode, and went to Jezreel.
Kwasekusithi kungakafiki lesosikhathi isibhakabhaka sasesisiba mnyama ngamayezi langomoya, kwaba lezulu elikhulu. UAhabi wasegada, waya eJizereyeli.
46 The LORD’s hand was on Elijah; and he tucked his cloak into his belt and ran before Ahab to the entrance of Jezreel.
Lesandla seNkosi sasiphezu kukaElija; wabopha ukhalo lwakhe, wagijima phambi kukaAhabi, uze ufike eJizereyeli.
