Fiawo 1 18
1 Le ɣeyiɣi didi aɖe megbe, le ƒe etɔ̃lia me la, Yehowa ƒe nya va na Eliya be, “Yi nàtsɔ ɖokuiwò afia Ahab eye mana tsi nadza ɖe anyigba dzi.”
Sometime later, during the third year, a message from the Lord came to Elijah: “Go and appear before Ahab, and I will send rain on the earth.”
2 Ale Eliya ɖagblɔe na Fia Ahab. Le ɣeyiɣi sia me la, dɔwuame nu sẽ ŋutɔ le Samaria.
So Elijah went to appear before Ahab. In the meantime the famine had become severe in Samaria.
3 Ame si kpɔa Fia Ahab ƒe aƒemenyawo dzi lae nye Obadiya, ame si nye mawuvɔ̃la aɖe.
Ahab summoned Obadiah, the manager of his palace (Obadiah was a very sincere believer in the Lord.
4 Eva eme be fianyɔnu Yezebel dze agbagba be yeawu Yehowa ƒe nyagblɔɖilawo katã le anyigba la dzi, ke Obadiya dze agbagba ɣla wo dometɔ alafa ɖeka ɖe agado eve me. Ame blaatɔ̃ nɔ agado ɖeka me eye blaatɔ̃ hã nɔ agado evelia me. Enyi wo kple abolo kple tsi ƒuƒlu ko.
While Jezebel was busy killing the Lord's prophets, Obadiah had taken one hundred prophets and hidden them, fifty in each of two caves, and had provided them with food and water.)
5 Fia Ahab gblɔ na Obadiya be, “Tsa le tɔsisi kple tɔʋu ɖe sia ɖe to le anyigba blibo la dzi ɖewohĩ miakpɔ gbe ana sɔawo kple tedziawo woaɖu be miaƒe lãwo magatsrɔ̃ na mi o.
Ahab told Obadiah, “Go throughout the country and check all the springs and valleys. Perhaps we can find some grass to keep the horses and mules alive so we will not lose any of the animals.”
6 Ale ame eveawo tsa le anyigba la dzi; Ahab tsɔ eƒe mɔ eye Obadiya hã lé eƒe mɔ tsɔ.”
So they divided the land between them. Ahab went in one direction, and Obadiah the other.
7 Obadiya kpɔ Eliya wògbɔna egbɔ. Obadiya dze sii enumake. Ede ta agu nɛ eye wòbiae be, “Nye aƒetɔ Eliya, wò tututuea?”
As Obadiah went on his way, Elijah came to meet him. Obadiah recognized him, bowed down to the ground, and said, “Is it you, my lord Elijah?”
8 Eliya ɖo eŋu be, “Ɛ̃, nye tututue. Yi nàgblɔ na Fia la be mele afii.”
“It's me,” Elijah replied. “Go and tell your master, ‘Elijah is here.’”
9 Obadiya biae be, “Nu gbegblẽ ka mewɔ be nètsɔ wò dɔla le asi dem na Ahab be wòawu?
“How have I sinned that you are handing me, your servant, over to Ahab to be killed?
10 Meta Yehowa, wò Mawu la ƒe agbe be dukɔ alo fiaɖuƒe aɖeke meli si nye aƒetɔ medɔ ame ɖo be woadi wò o. Ne dukɔ aɖe alo fiaɖuƒe aɖe gblɔ be mèle yewo gbɔ o la, enana wokaa atam be nyateƒee yewomekpɔ wò o.
As the Lord your God lives, there's no nation or kingdom where my master hasn't sent someone to search for you. When a nation or kingdom said you weren't there, he made them swear that they couldn't find you.
11 Ke azɔ la, ègblɔ nam be mayi nye aƒetɔ gbɔ, agblɔ nɛ be, ‘Eliya le afii.’
And now you're telling me to go to my master and announce, ‘Elijah is here!’
12 Nyemenya afi si Yehowa ƒe Gbɔgbɔ akplɔ wò ayii ne medzo le gbɔwò o. Ke ne meɖagblɔe na Ahab eye meva kpɔ wò o la, awum. Ke hã la, nye, wò dɔla, mesubɔ Yehowa tso nye ɖekakpuime ke.
I have no idea where the Spirit of the Lord will take you after I leave you. If I go and tell Ahab and then he can't find you, he's going to kill me, even though I, your servant, have worshiped the Lord since I was young.
13 Nye aƒetɔ, ɖe mèse nu si mewɔ esi Yezebel nɔ Yehowa ƒe nyagblɔɖilawo wum oa? Meɣla Yehowa ƒe nyagblɔɖila alafa ɖeka ɖe agado eve me, blaatɔ̃ ɖe agado ɖeka me, blaatɔ̃ ɖe agado evelia me eye mena nuɖuɖu kple tsi wo.
Didn't you hear, my lord, what I did when Jezebel was busy killing the Lord's prophets? I hid a hundred of the Lord's prophets, fifty in each of two caves, and provided them with food and water.
14 Ke azɔ la, ègblɔ nam be mayi nye aƒetɔ gbɔ agblɔ nɛ be, ‘Eliya le afii.’ Awum godoo!”
And now you're telling me to go to my master and announce, ‘Elijah is here.’ He's going to kill me!”
15 Eliya gblɔ nɛ be, “Meta Yehowa, Dziƒoʋakɔwo ƒe Aƒetɔ la, ame si mesubɔna la ƒe agbe be egbe matsɔ ɖokuinye afia Ahab godoo.”
Elijah replied, “As the Lord Almighty lives, the one I serve, I will definitely appear before Ahab today.”
16 Ale Obadiya yi ɖagblɔ na Fia Ahab be Eliya va. Ale Ahab do go be yeayi aɖakpee.
So Obadiah went to meet Ahab and told him, and Ahab went to meet Elijah.
17 Esi wòkpɔ Eliya la, ebiae be, “Wòe nye ema? Wò ame si le fu ɖem na Israel mahã?”
When Ahab saw Elijah, he said to him, “Is that you—you who are causing trouble for Israel?”
18 Eliya ɖo eŋu be, “Nyemehe fukpekpe aɖeke va Israel dzi o, ke boŋ wò kple fofowò ƒe aƒe lae elabena miegble Yehowa ƒe sededewo ɖi eye miedze Baalwo yome.
“I'm not causing trouble for Israel,” Elijah replied. “It's you and your father's family! You have rejected the Lord's commands and are worshiping the Baals.
19 Azɔ la, yɔ Israel katã, Baal ƒe nyagblɔɖila alafa ene blaatɔ̃ kple aƒeli ƒe nyagblɔɖila alafa ene siwo ɖua nu le Yezebel ƒe kplɔ̃ ŋu ƒo ƒu ɖe gbɔnye le Karmel to dzi.”
Now call together all of Israel and meet me on Mount Carmel, along with the four hundred and fifty prophets of Baal and the four hundred prophets of Asherah, who are supported by Jezebel.”
20 Ale Ahab ɖo du ɖe Israelnyigba katã dzi eye wòna nyagblɔɖilawo ƒo ƒu ɖe Karmel to dzi.
So Ahab summoned all of Israel and also gathered the prophets on Mount Carmel.
21 Eye Eliya do ɖe ameawo ŋgɔ eye wògblɔ na wo be, “Ɣe ka ɣie mianɔ evedome si va se ɖo? Ne Yehowae nye Mawu la, midze eyome, ke nenye Baal ye nye Mawu la, midze eyome!” Gake womeɖo nya aɖeke ŋuti nɛ o.
Elijah approached the people and asked them, “How long will you hobble along, hesitating between two opposite beliefs? If the Lord is God, then follow him. But if Baal is God, then follow him.” But the people gave o answer.
22 Eliya yi edzi be, “Nye ɖeka koe nye Yehowa ƒe nyagblɔɖila si susɔ, ke nyagblɔɖila alafa ene blaatɔ̃ le Baal ya si.
Then Elijah told them, “I am the only one left of the Lord's prophets—just me alone—but Baal has four hundred and fifty prophets.
23 Midi nyitsu eve na mí. Mina woatia ɖeka na wo ɖokui. Wonefli lã la eye woatsɔ lãkɔawo aɖo nake la dzi gake womado dzo ɖe ete o. Nye hã mafli nyitsu evelia atsɔ lãkɔawo aɖo nake la dzi eye nyemado dzo ɖe ete o.
Provide us with two bulls. Let the prophets of Baal choose for themselves the one they want, and have them cut it into pieces and place it on the firewood. But don't set fire to it. I will prepare the other bull and place it on the firewood but I won't set fire to it.
24 Ekema miayɔ miaƒe mawu la ƒe ŋkɔ eye nye hã mayɔ Yehowa ƒe ŋkɔ eye mawu si aɖo dzo ɖa la, eyae nye Mawu.” Tete ameawo katã do ɣli be, “Nya si nègblɔ la nyo.”
Then you call on your god by name, and I will call on the Lord by name. The god who replies by sending fire—he is God.” Then all the people said, “We agree to what you say.”
25 Eliya trɔ ɖe Baal ƒe nyagblɔɖilawo gbɔ eye wògblɔ na wo be, “Miawo miwɔ mia tɔ gbã, elabena miesɔ gbɔ. Mitia nyitsuawo dometɔ ɖeka, miflii da ɖe nakeawo dzi eye miyɔ miaƒe mawu la ƒe ŋkɔ gake migade dzo nakeawo te o.”
Elijah said to the prophets of Baal, “You choose one of the bulls and prepare it first, because there are so many of you. Call on your god by name, but don't light the fire.”
26 Wokplɔ nyitsu si wotsɔ na wo la, wowui, heflii ɖo nakeawo dzi. Tete woyɔ Baal ƒe ŋkɔ tso ŋdi va se ɖe ŋdɔ. Wodo ɣli be, “Oo Baal, tɔ na mí!” Gake ŋuɖoɖo aɖeke meva o eye ame aɖeke metɔ na wo o. Ale woɖu ɣe ƒo xlã vɔsamlekpui si woɖi.
So they took the bull provided and prepared it. Then they called on Baal by name from morning until noon. “Baal, answer us!” they pleaded. But no voice was heard, no one answered. They hobbled in a dance around the altar they had made.
27 Esi ɣe ɖo to la, Eliya nɔ alɔme ɖem le wo ŋu be, “Mido ɣli sesĩe! Nyateƒemawue wònye! Ɖewohĩ ele ŋugble dem vevie alo eƒe ŋku biã ɖe dɔ aɖe ŋu alo ezɔ mɔ. Ɖewohĩ ele alɔ̃ dɔm eye wòhiã be woanyɔe.”
At noon Elijah began to mock them. “Shout really loud!” he said. “Isn't he meant to be a god? Maybe he's meditating, or he's gone to the bathroom, or he's away on a trip! Maybe he's asleep and has to be woken up!”
28 Ale wogado ɣli ɖe edzi sesĩe wu tsã, eye le woƒe kɔnyinyi nu la, wotsɔ hɛwo kple yiwo si wo ɖokui va se ɖe esime ʋu do le wo ŋu.
They shouted even louder and cut themselves with swords and spears until they bled. This was their usual way of worshiping.
29 Le ɣetrɔ me la, woganɔ woƒe gbedodoɖa dzi kple ŋkubiã va se ɖe fiẽvɔsaɣi gake ame aɖeke metɔ o, ame aɖeke meɖo nya ŋu na wo loo alo ɖo to wo o.
Noon came and went, and they went on with their manic “prophesying” until the time of the evening sacrifice. But no voice was heard, no one answered, no one was listening.
30 Eliya gblɔ na ameawo katã be, “Mite va gbɔnye!” Ameawo katã ƒo ƒu ɖe eŋu esi wòdzra Yehowa ƒe vɔsamlekpui si wogbã la ɖo.
Then Elijah told everyone, “Come over here to me.” They went over to him, and he repaired the altar of the Lord that had been torn down.
31 Etsɔ kpe wuieve ɖe Yakob, ame si Yehowa gblɔ na be, “Wò ŋkɔe anye Israel” la ƒe viwo ƒe to wuieveawo ƒe xexlẽme nu.
Elijah took twelve stones to represent the tribes of the sons of Jacob. (Jacob was the one who received the Lord's message that said, “Israel shall be your name.”)
32 Etsɔ kpeawo ɖi vɔsamlekpui le Yehowa ŋkɔ me eye wòɖe do ƒo xlãe. Do la lolo ale be woate ŋu akɔ tsi lita wuiatɔ̃ ɖe eme.
With the stones he built an altar in the Lord's name. He dug a ditch around it that could hold two seahs of seed.
33 Eɖo nakeawo ɖe vɔsamlekpui la dzi eye wòfli nyitsu la hetsɔ ɖo nakeawo dzi. Emegbe la egblɔ na wo be, “Miku tsi ɖe tsizɔ eneawo me eye miatrɔe akɔ ɖe vɔsalã la kple nakeawo dzi.”
He put the wood in place, cut the bull into pieces, and laid it on the wood. Then he told them, “Fill up four large jars with water and pour it over the offering and the wood.”
34 Egblɔ na wo be, “Migawɔe ake” eye wogawɔe. Eɖe gbe na wò be, “Miwɔe zi etɔ̃lia.” Ale wowɔe zi etɔ̃lia.
“Do it again,” he said. So they did. “Do it for a third time,” he said. So they did it for the third time.
35 Ale tsi la gbagba tso vɔsamlekpui la dzi eye wòyɔ do si woɖe ƒo xlã vɔsamlekpui la gɔ̃ hã.
The water ran down all over the altar and even filled the ditch.
36 Esime fiẽvɔsaɣi ɖo la, Eliya te ɖe vɔsamlekpui la ŋu eye wòdo gbe ɖa be, “Oo, Yehowa, Abraham, Isak kple Israel ƒe Mawu, ɖee fia egbe be wòe nye Mawu le Israel eye mewɔ esiawo katã le wò nya nu.
At the time of the evening sacrifice, the prophet Elijah went over to the altar and prayed: “Lord, God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, demonstrate today that you are God in Israel, that I am your servant, and that everything I have done has been at your command.
37 Tɔ nam, oo Yehowa, tɔ nam. Ekema, oo Yehowa, ame siawo anyae be, wòe nye Mawu eye be wòe gbugbɔ woƒe dzi le tɔtrɔm ɖe ŋuwò.”
Answer me, Lord! Answer me, so that these people will know that you, Lord, are God, and that you are bringing them back to you.”
38 Tete Yehowa ƒe dzo ge va fia vɔsalã la, nakeawo, kpeawo kple anyigli la eye wòno tsi wòvɔ le do si woɖe ƒo xlã vɔsamlekpui la me ƒiaƒiaƒia!
Then the fire of the Lord came down and burned up the sacrifice, the wood, the stones, and the soil—it even licked up the water in the ditch!
39 Esi ameawo katã kpɔ esia la, wotsyɔ mo anyi hedo ɣli be, “Yehowae nye Mawu! Yehowae nye Mawu vavã!”
When all the people saw this, they fell face down on the ground and shouted, “The Lord, he is God! The Lord, he is God!”
40 Tete Eliya ɖe gbe na wo be, “Milé Baal ƒe nyagblɔɖilawo. Migana wo dometɔ aɖeke nasi adzo o!” Ale wolé wo eye Eliya na wokplɔ wo ɖi agae yi ɖe Kison balime eye wòwu wo le afi ma.
Then Elijah ordered them, “Grab hold of the prophets of Baal. Don't let any escape!” They grabbed them, and Elijah brought them down to the Kishon Valley and killed them there.
41 Azɔ la, Eliya gblɔ na Fia Ahab be, “Yi nàdi nu nyui aɖe nàɖu elabena tsi gã aɖe ɖo gbɔna.”
Elijah told Ahab, “Go and eat and drink, for I hear the sound of a heavy rain coming.”
42 Ale Ahab ɖo kplɔ̃ gã aɖe, ke Eliya lia Karmel to la, dze klo eye wòtsɔ eƒe ta de eƒe klowo dome.
So Ahab went to eat and drink, but Elijah went to the top of Carmel. There he bent down to the ground, putting his face between his knees.
43 Egblɔ na eƒe subɔla be, “Yi nàkpɔ atsiaƒu la gbɔ lɔƒo ɖa.” Subɔla la de gbɔ va gblɔ na Eliya be, “Nyemekpɔ naneke o.” Eliya gblɔ nɛ be, “Yi, nàgayi, nàgayi zi adre!”
“Go and look toward the sea,” he told his servant. The man went and looked. “There's nothing there,” he said. Seven times Elijah told him, “Go and look again.”
44 Mlɔeba la, esi subɔla la yi zi adrelia la, egblɔ na Eliya be, “Mekpɔ lilikpo aɖe wòlolo abe ŋutsu ƒe asi ene. Enɔ hohom tso atsiaƒu la me.” Eliya do ɣli enumake be, “Ɖe abla nàyi Ahab gbɔ, gblɔ nɛ be wòage ɖe eƒe tasiaɖam me eye wòaɖi tso to la dzi kaba, ne menye nenema o la, tsidzadza ava xe mɔ nɛ!”
The seventh time the servant came back and said, “I saw a small cloud the size of a man's hand coming up from the sea.” So Elijah said, “Run to Ahab and tell him, ‘Get your chariot ready and go down before the rain stops you.’”
45 Azɔ la, lilikpowo va xe dziŋgɔli la ŋkume litii eye ahomya sesẽ aɖe he tsidzadza gã aɖe vɛ. Ahab dzo enumake yi Yezreel.
Very quickly the sky grew dark with clouds, the wind blew, heavy rain started falling, and Ahab rode down to Jezreel.
46 Yehowa ƒe ŋusẽ va Eliya dzi ale be, esi wòbla eƒe ali dzi nyuie la, ete ŋu ƒu du nɔ ŋgɔ na Ahab ƒe tasiaɖam va se ɖe Yezreel ƒe agbo nu.
The Lord gave his power to Elijah—he tucked his cloak into his belt and ran ahead of Ahab all the way to Jezreel.
