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.”
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.”
2 Ale Eliya ɖagblɔe na Fia Ahab. Le ɣeyiɣi sia me la, dɔwuame nu sẽ ŋutɔ le Samaria.
So Elijah went to talk to Ahab. In Samaria there was almost no food for anyone to eat.
3 Ame si kpɔa Fia Ahab ƒe aƒemenyawo dzi lae nye Obadiya, ame si nye mawuvɔ̃la aɖe.
There was a man there named Obadiah. He was in charge of the king’s palace. He greatly revered Yahweh.
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.
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.
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.
[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.”
6 Ale ame eveawo tsa le anyigba la dzi; Ahab tsɔ eƒe mɔ eye Obadiya hã lé eƒe mɔ tsɔ.”
So they both started walking throughout the land. Obadiah went in one direction by himself, and Ahab went in another direction by himself.
7 Obadiya kpɔ Eliya wògbɔna egbɔ. Obadiya dze sii enumake. Ede ta agu nɛ eye wòbiae be, “Nye aƒetɔ Eliya, wò tututuea?”
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?”
8 Eliya ɖo eŋu be, “Ɛ̃, nye tututue. Yi nàgblɔ na Fia la be mele afii.”
Elijah replied, “Yes. Now go and tell [Ahab, ] your master, that I am here.”
9 Obadiya biae be, “Nu gbegblẽ ka mewɔ be nètsɔ wò dɔla le asi dem na Ahab be wòawu?
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!
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.
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.
11 Ke azɔ la, ègblɔ nam be mayi nye aƒetɔ gbɔ, agblɔ nɛ be, ‘Eliya le afii.’
Now you say to me, ‘Go and tell your master that 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.
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.
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.
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.
14 Ke azɔ la, ègblɔ nam be mayi nye aƒetɔ gbɔ agblɔ nɛ be, ‘Eliya le afii.’ Awum godoo!”
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!”
15 Eliya gblɔ nɛ be, “Meta Yehowa, Dziƒoʋakɔwo ƒe Aƒetɔ la, ame si mesubɔna la ƒe agbe be egbe matsɔ ɖokuinye afia Ahab godoo.”
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.”
16 Ale Obadiya yi ɖagblɔ na Fia Ahab be Eliya va. Ale Ahab do go be yeayi aɖakpee.
So Obadiah went to tell Ahab that Elijah had come. Ahab went to meet with him.
17 Esi wòkpɔ Eliya la, ebiae be, “Wòe nye ema? Wò ame si le fu ɖem na Israel mahã?”
When he saw Elijah, he said to him, “Is that you, the one who causes trouble for [the people of] 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.
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.
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.”
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.”
20 Ale Ahab ɖo du ɖe Israelnyigba katã dzi eye wòna nyagblɔɖilawo ƒo ƒu ɖe Karmel to dzi.
So Ahab summoned all his prophets and all the other [Israeli] people to the top of Carmel Mountain, [and Elijah went up there too.]
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.
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].
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 said to them, “I am the only true prophet of Yahweh who is left, but Baal has 450 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.
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].
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 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.
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.”
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!”
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 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.
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.”
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!”
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.
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.
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.
They continued calling out to Baal all afternoon. But there was no reply, no answer, no god who paid attention.
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 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].
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.
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.
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 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.
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 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.
34 Egblɔ na wo be, “Migawɔe ake” eye wogawɔe. Eɖe gbe na wò be, “Miwɔe zi etɔ̃lia.” Ale wowɔe zi etɔ̃lia.
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.
35 Ale tsi la gbagba tso vɔsamlekpui la dzi eye wòyɔ do si woɖe ƒo xlã vɔsamlekpui la gɔ̃ hã.
As a result, the water flowed down below the altar and filled the ditches.
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.
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.
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.”
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!”
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!
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!
39 Esi ameawo katã kpɔ esia la, wotsyɔ mo anyi hedo ɣli be, “Yehowae nye Mawu! Yehowae nye Mawu vavã!”
When the people saw that, they prostrated themselves on the ground and shouted, “Yahweh is God! Yahweh 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 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.
41 Azɔ la, Eliya gblɔ na Fia Ahab be, “Yi nàdi nu nyui aɖe nàɖu elabena tsi gã aɖe ɖo gbɔna.”
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!”
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 [and his men] left to prepare a big meal. But Elijah went back up to the top of Carmel Mountain and prayed.
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!”
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.
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!”
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!”
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 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].
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.
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.
