1 Athamaki 18
1 Thuutha wa ihinda iraaya, mwaka-inĩ wa gatatũ, kiugo kĩa Jehova gĩgĩkinyĩra Elija, akĩĩrwo atĩrĩ, “Ũkĩra ũthiĩ ũkeyonanie harĩ Ahabu, na thuutha wa ũguo nĩnguuria mbura bũrũri-inĩ ũyũ.”
So after many days the word of Yahweh came to Elijah, in the third year of the drought, saying, “Go, show yourself to Ahab and I will send rain on the land.”
2 Nĩ ũndũ ũcio Elija agĩthiĩ kwĩonania kũrĩ Ahabu. Na rĩrĩ, ngʼaragu yarĩ nene mũno kũu Samaria,
Elijah went to show himself to Ahab; now the famine was severe in Samaria.
3 nake Ahabu nĩatũmanĩire Obadia ũrĩa warĩ mũrũgamĩrĩri wa nyũmba yake ya ũthamaki. (Obadia aarĩ mwĩtĩkia weheanĩte mũno kũrĩ Jehova.
Ahab called Obadiah, who was in charge of the palace. Now Obadiah honored Yahweh very much,
4 Rĩrĩa Jezebeli ooragithagia anabii a Jehova, Obadia nĩoete anabii igana rĩmwe akamahitha ngurunga-inĩ igĩrĩ, o ĩmwe andũ mĩrongo ĩtano, na akamaheaga irio na maaĩ.)
for when Jezebel was killing the prophets of Yahweh, Obadiah took one hundred prophets and hid them by fifties in a cave and fed them with bread and water.
5 Ahabu akĩĩra Obadia atĩrĩ, “Thiũrũrũka bũrũri wothe ũthiĩ ithima-inĩ ciothe, na ituamba-inĩ. No gũkorwo tuona handũ harĩ nyeki ĩngĩtũũria mbarathi na nyũmbũ muoyo, nĩguo tũtikoorage nyamũ o na ĩmwe iitũ.”
Ahab said to Obadiah, “Go through the land to all the water springs and brooks. Perhaps we will find grass and save the horses and mules alive, so that we will not lose all the animals.”
6 Nĩ ũndũ ũcio makĩgayana bũrũri ũcio o eerĩ o mũndũ kũrĩa egũtuĩkanĩria, Ahabu agĩthiĩ mwena ũmwe na Obadia agĩthiĩ mwena ũrĩa ũngĩ.
So they divided the land between them to pass through it and look for water. Ahab went one way by himself and Obadiah went another way.
7 Rĩrĩa Obadia aathiiaga-rĩ, agĩtũngana na Elija. Obadia akĩmũmenya, akĩinamĩrĩra, agĩturumithia ũthiũ thĩ, akĩmũũria atĩrĩ, “Ti-itherũ nĩwe, mwathi wakwa Elija?”
As Obadiah was on the road, Elijah unexpectedly met him. Obadiah recognized him and lay facedown on the ground. He said, “Is it you, my master Elijah?”
8 Nake agĩcookia atĩrĩ, “Ĩĩ nĩ niĩ, thiĩ ũkeere Ahabu mwathi waku atĩrĩ, ‘Elija arĩ gũkũ.’”
Elijah answered him, “It is I. Go tell your master, 'Look, Elijah is here.'”
9 Obadia akĩmũũria atĩrĩ, “Kaĩ njĩkĩte ũũru ũrĩkũ, nĩguo ũũneane niĩ ndungata yaku moko-inĩ ma Ahabu njũragwo?
Obadiah replied, “How have I sinned, that you would give your servant into the hand of Ahab, for him to kill me?
10 Ti-itheru o ta ũrĩa Jehova Ngai waku atũũraga muoyo-rĩ, gũtirĩ rũrĩrĩ kana ũthamaki mwathi wakwa atarĩ aatũmana ũgacario. Na rũrĩrĩ kana ũthamaki o wothe woiga ndũrĩ kuo, nake akehĩtithia andũ akuo moige na ma atĩ matikuonete.
As Yahweh your God lives, there is no nation or kingdom where my master has not sent men to find you. Whenever a nation or kingdom says, 'Elijah is not here,' Ahab makes them take an oath swearing that they could not find you.
11 Na rĩu ũranjĩĩra thiĩ kũrĩ mwathi wakwa ngamwĩre atĩrĩ, ‘Elija arĩ gũkũ.’
Yet now you say, 'Go, tell your master that Elijah is here.'
12 Niĩ ndiũĩ kũrĩa Roho wa Jehova angĩgũtwara twatigana nawe. Ingĩthiĩ njĩĩre Ahabu ũguo na acooke akwage-rĩ, nĩekũnjũraga. No niĩ ndungata yaku ndũire hooyaga Jehova kuuma ndĩ o mũnini.
As soon as I am gone from you, the Spirit of Yahweh will carry you some place I do not know. Then when I go and tell Ahab, and when he cannot find you, he will kill me. Yet I, your servant, have worshiped Yahweh from my youth.
13 Wee mwathi wakwa-rĩ, kaĩ ũtarĩ waigua ũrĩa ndeekire rĩrĩa Jezebeli ooragaga anabii a Jehova, ũrĩa ndaahithire anabii a Jehova igana rĩmwe ngurunga-inĩ igĩrĩ, o ĩmwe anabii mĩrongo ĩtano, na ngamaheaga irio na maaĩ?
Has it not been told to you, my master, what I did when Jezebel killed the prophets of Yahweh, how I hid one hundred of Yahweh's prophets by fifties in a cave and fed them with bread and water?
14 Na rĩu ũranjĩĩra thiĩ kũrĩ mwathi wakwa ngamwĩre atĩrĩ, ‘Elija arĩ gũkũ.’ Nĩekũnjũraga!”
Now you say to me, 'Go and tell your master that Elijah is here,' so that he will kill me.”
15 Elija akĩmwĩra atĩrĩ, “O ta ũrĩa Jehova Mwene-Hinya-Wothe ũrĩa ndungatagĩra atũũraga muoyo-rĩ, ti-itherũ nĩngwĩonithania niĩ mwene kũrĩ Ahabu ũmũthĩ.”
Then Elijah responded, “As Yahweh of hosts lives, before whom I stand, I will surely show myself to Ahab today.”
16 Nĩ ũndũ ũcio Obadia agĩthiĩ gũtũnga Ahabu akĩmwĩra ũhoro ũcio, nake Ahabu agĩthiĩ gũtũnga Elija.
So Obadiah went to meet Ahab, and told him what Elijah said. Then the king went to meet Elijah.
17 Rĩrĩa Ahabu onire Elija, akĩmwĩra atĩrĩ, “Wee nĩwe, wee mũnyariiri wa Isiraeli?”
When Ahab saw Elijah, he said to him, “Is it you? You are the one who brings trouble to Israel!”
18 Elija akĩmũcookeria atĩrĩ, “Niĩ ndinyariirĩte Isiraeli. No wee na nyũmba ya thoguo, nĩ inyuĩ mwĩkĩte ũguo. Nĩmwatiganĩirie maathani ma Jehova na mũkĩrũmĩrĩra Baali.
Elijah answered, “I have not brought trouble to Israel, but you and your father's family are the ones who have caused trouble by abandoning the commandments of Yahweh and by following the Baals.
19 Rĩu tũmana andũ moime Isiraeli guothe, moke tũcemanie nao Kĩrĩma-inĩ gĩa Karimeli. Na ũrehe anabii arĩa a Baali magana mana ma mĩrongo ĩtano na anabii a Ashera magana mana, arĩa marĩĩagĩra metha-inĩ ya Jezebeli.”
Now then, send word and gather to me all Israel at Mount Carmel, along with the 450 prophets of Baal and the four hundred prophets of Asherah who eat at Jezebel's table.”
20 Nĩ ũndũ ũcio Ahabu agĩtũmana Isiraeli guothe na agĩcookanĩrĩria anabii Kĩrĩma-inĩ gĩa Karimeli.
So Ahab sent word to all the people of Israel and gathered the prophets together at Mount Carmel.
21 Elija agĩthiĩ mbere ya andũ akĩmeera atĩrĩ, “Nĩ nginya rĩ mũgũtũũra mũthanganagĩria njĩra igĩrĩ? Angĩkorwo Jehova nĩwe Ngai-rĩ, mũrũmĩrĩrei, no angĩkorwo Baali nĩwe Ngai-rĩ, mũkĩmũrũmĩrĩre we.” No andũ acio matiamũcookeirie ũndũ o na ũmwe.
Elijah came near to all the people and said, “How long will you keep changing your mind? If Yahweh is God, follow him. But if Baal is God, then follow him.” Yet the people did not answer him a word.
22 Hĩndĩ ĩyo Elija akĩmeera atĩrĩ, “Niĩ nyiki no niĩ ndigĩtwo ndĩ mũnabii wa Jehova, no Baali arĩ na anabii magana mana ma mĩrongo ĩtano.
Then Elijah said to the people, “I, I alone, am left as a prophet of Yahweh, but Baal's prophets are 450 men.
23 Tũreherei ndegwa igĩrĩ. Reke methuurĩre ndegwa ĩmwe, na mamĩtinangie icunjĩ, macooke mamĩigĩrĩre ngũ igũrũ, no matigaakie mwaki. Na niĩ haarĩrie ndegwa ĩyo ĩngĩ, na ndĩmĩigĩrĩre ngũ igũrũ, na ndigwakia mwaki.
So let them give us two bulls. Let them choose one bull for themselves and cut it in pieces, and lay it on the wood, but put no fire under it. Then I will prepare the other bull and lay it on the wood, and put no fire under it.
24 Ningĩ mũcooke mũkaĩre rĩĩtwa rĩa ngai wanyu, na niĩ ngaĩre rĩĩtwa rĩa Jehova. Na ngai ũrĩa ũgũcookia mahooya na ũndũ wa kũrehe mwaki-rĩ, ũcio nĩwe Ngai.” Nao andũ othe makiuga atĩrĩ, “Ũguo woiga nĩ wega.”
Then you will call on the name of your god, and I will call on the name of Yahweh, and the God who answers by fire, then let him be God.” So all the people answered and said, “This is good.”
25 Elija akĩĩra anabii a Baali atĩrĩ, “Thuurai ndegwa ĩmwe, mwambĩrĩrie kũmĩhaarĩria, tondũ nĩ inyuĩ mũkĩrĩ aingĩ. Mũkaĩre rĩĩtwa rĩa ngai wanyu, na mũtigaakie mwaki.”
So Elijah said to the prophets of Baal, “Choose one bull for yourselves and prepare it first, for you are many people. Then call on the name of your god, but put no fire under the bull.”
26 Tondũ ũcio makĩoya ndegwa ĩrĩa maaheirwo makĩmĩhaarĩria. Magĩkaĩra rĩĩtwa rĩa Baali kuuma rũciinĩ nginya mĩaraho, makĩanĩrĩra makiugaga atĩrĩ, “Wee Baali tũigue!” No matiigana gũcookerio, tondũ gũtiarĩ mũndũ wa kũmacookeria. Nao makĩrũgarũga, makĩinaga, na magĩthiũrũrũkaga kĩgongona kĩu maathondekete.
They took the bull that was given to them and prepared it, and they called on the name of Baal from morning until noon, saying, “Baal, hear us.” But there was no voice, nor anyone who answered. They danced around the altar they had made.
27 Mĩaraho yakinya-rĩ, Elija akĩambĩrĩria kũmanyũrũria, akĩmeera atĩrĩ, “Anĩrĩrai mũno! Ti-itherũ we akĩrĩ ngai! No gũkorwo e na maũndũ areciiria, kana e na mĩhangʼo, kana agathiĩ rũgendo. No gũkorwo nĩakomete na no nginya okĩrio.”
At noon Elijah mocked them and said, “Shout out loudly! He is a god! Perhaps he is thinking, or is relieving himself, or he is traveling on a journey, or perhaps he is sleeping and must be awakened.”
28 Tondũ ũcio makĩanĩrĩra mũno, na magĩĩtemanga na hiũ cia njora na matimũ, nginya thakame ĩkĩambĩrĩria kũnyũrũrũka, tondũ ũcio nĩguo warĩ mũtugo wao.
So they shouted more loudly, and they cut themselves, as they usually did, with swords and spears, until their blood flowed out over themselves.
29 Na rĩrĩ, mĩaraho yahĩtũka-rĩ, magĩthiĩ o na mbere na ũrathi wao wa matũhũhũ nginya ihinda rĩa igongona rĩa hwaĩ-inĩ. No gũtiarĩ na macookio, na gũtiarĩ o na ũmwe wa kũmacookeria, na gũtiarĩ o na ũmwe wa kũmarũmbũiya.
Midday passed, and they were still raving until the time of offering of the evening sacrifice, but there was no voice or anyone to answer; there was no one who paid any attention to their pleadings.
30 Ningĩ Elija akĩĩra andũ othe atĩrĩ, “Okokaai hakuhĩ na niĩ” Nao andũ acio magĩthiĩ hakuhĩ nake. Elija agĩcookereria kĩgongona kĩa Jehova tondũ nĩgĩathũkangĩtio.
Then Elijah said to all the people, “Come near to me,” and all the people came near to him. Then he repaired the altar of Yahweh that was lying in ruin.
31 Elija akĩoya mahiga ikũmi na meerĩ kũringana na mĩhĩrĩga ya njiarwa cia Jakubu, ũrĩa wakinyĩirwo nĩ kiugo kĩa Jehova akĩĩrwo atĩrĩ, “Ũrĩĩtagwo Isiraeli.”
Elijah took twelve stones, each stone representing one of the tribes of the sons of Jacob—it was Jacob to whom the word of Yahweh came, saying, “Israel will be your name.”
32 Nake agĩaka kĩgongona na mahiga macio rĩĩtwa-inĩ rĩa Jehova, na akĩenja mũtaro mwariĩ ũngĩiganĩra ibaba igĩrĩ cia mbegũ, ũkĩrigiicĩria kĩgongona kĩu.
With the stones he built an altar in the name of Yahweh and he dug a trench around the altar large enough to contain two seahs of seeds.
33 Akĩara ngũ, agĩtinangia ndegwa ĩyo icunjĩ, na akĩmĩigĩrĩra ngũ igũrũ. Ningĩ akĩmeera atĩrĩ, “Iyũriai mĩtũngi ĩna mĩnene maaĩ, mũmaitĩrĩrie igũrũ rĩa iruta na igũrũ rĩa ngũ.”
He arranged the wood for a fire, cut the bull in pieces, and laid the pieces of the bull on the wood. He said, “Fill four jars with water and pour it on the burnt offering and on the wood.”
34 Akĩmeera atĩrĩ, “Ĩkai ũguo rĩngĩ,” nao magĩĩka o ro ũguo. Akĩmaatha akĩmeera atĩrĩ, “Ĩkai ũguo riita rĩa gatatũ,” nao magĩĩka ũguo riita rĩa gatatũ.
Then he said, “Do it a second time,” and they did it a second time. Once more he said, “Do it a third time,” and they did it a third time.
35 Namo maaĩ macio magĩtherera gũthiũrũrũka kĩgongona, o na makĩiyũra mũtaro.
The water ran around the altar and filled the trench.
36 Ihinda rĩa kũruta igongona-rĩ, mũnabii Elija agĩokooka hau mbere na akĩhooya atĩrĩ: “Wee Jehova Ngai wa Iburahĩmu, na Isaaka, na Isiraeli, reke kũmenyeke ũmũthĩ atĩ Wee nĩwe Ngai thĩinĩ wa Isiraeli, na ningĩ atĩ niĩ ndĩ ndungata yaku na njĩkĩte maũndũ maya mothe o ta ũrĩa ũnjathĩte.
It happened at the time of the offering of the evening sacrifice, that Elijah the prophet came near and said, “Yahweh, the God of Abraham, of Isaac, and of Israel, let it be known this day that you are God in Israel, and that I am your servant, and that I have done all these things at your word.
37 Njigua, Wee Jehova, njigua, nĩgeetha andũ aya mamenye atĩ Wee Jehova nĩwe Ngai, na atĩ nĩũkũgarũra ngoro ciao igũcookerere.”
Hear me, Yahweh, hear me, that these people may know that you, Yahweh, are God, and that you have turned their heart back again to yourself.”
38 Naguo mwaki wa Jehova ũgĩikũrũka ũgĩcina igongona, na ngũ icio, na mahiga, o na tĩĩri, ningĩ ũkĩngʼaria maaĩ marĩa maarĩ mũtaro.
Then the fire of Yahweh fell and consumed the burnt offering, as well as the wood, the stones, and the dust, and licked up the water that was in the trench.
39 Hĩndĩ ĩrĩa andũ othe moonire ũndũ ũcio, makĩgũa, magĩturumithia mothiũ thĩ, makĩanĩrĩra makiuga atĩrĩ, “Jehova nĩwe Ngai! Jehova nĩwe Ngai!”
When all the people saw this, they lay facedown on the ground and said, “Yahweh, he is God! Yahweh, he is God!”
40 Nake Elija agĩatha andũ acio akĩmeera atĩrĩ, “Nyiitai anabii acio a Baali. Mũtikareke o na ũmwe wao oore!” Nao makĩmanyiita, nake Elija akiuga maikũrũkio gĩtuamba-inĩ gĩa Kishoni mooragĩrwo kuo.
So Elijah said to them, “Take the prophets of Baal. Do not let one of them escape.” So they took them, and Elijah brought the prophets of Baal down to the Kishon River and killed them there.
41 Nake Elija akĩĩra Ahabu atĩrĩ, “Thiĩ ũrĩe na ũnyue tondũ kũrĩ na mũhũyũko wa mbura nene.”
Elijah said to Ahab, “Get up, eat and drink, for there is the sound of much rain.”
42 Nĩ ũndũ ũcio Ahabu agĩthiĩ, akĩrĩa na akĩnyua, nowe Elija akĩambata Kĩrĩma igũrũ gĩa Karimeli, akĩinamĩrĩra nginya thĩ, agĩtoonyia mũtwe gatagatĩ ka maru make.
So Ahab went up to eat and to drink. Then Elijah went up to the top of Carmel, bowed himself down on the earth and put his face between his knees.
43 Nake akĩĩra ndungata yake atĩrĩ, “Thiĩ ũcũthĩrĩrie iria-inĩ,” nayo ĩkĩambata ĩgĩcũthĩrĩria. Ĩkiuga atĩrĩ, “Hatirĩ kĩndũ.” Nake Elija akĩmĩĩra ĩcooke ho rĩngĩ na rĩngĩ maita mũgwanja.
He said to his servant, “Go up now, look toward the sea.” His servant went up and looked and said, “There is nothing.” So Elijah said, “Go again, seven times.”
44 Riita rĩa mũgwanja ndungata ĩyo ĩkĩmwĩra atĩrĩ, “Nĩ harĩ na gatu kanini kaigana guoko kwa mũndũ karoimĩra kuuma iria-inĩ.” Nĩ ũndũ ũcio Elija akĩmĩĩra atĩrĩ, “Thiĩ ũkeere Ahabu atĩrĩ, ‘Ohania ngaari yaku ya ita, ũikũrũke ũtanahingĩrĩrio nĩ mbura.’”
At the seventh time the servant said, “Look, there is a cloud going up from the sea, as small as a man's hand.” Elijah replied, “Go up and say to Ahab, 'Make ready your chariot and go down before the rain stops you.'”
45 Hĩndĩ ĩyo igũrũ rĩgĩthimba nĩ ũndũ wa matu, na rũhuho rũkĩhurutana, gũkiura mbura nene, nake Ahabu akĩhaica ngaari yake agĩthiĩ Jezireeli.
It happened that in a little while the heavens grew black with clouds and wind, and there was a great rain. Ahab rode and went to Jezreel,
46 Naguo hinya wa Jehova ũgĩũka igũrũ rĩa Elija, akĩĩhotora akĩrũmia nguo yake na mũcibi, akĩhanyũka e mbere ya Ahabu, o nginya Jezireeli.
but the hand of Yahweh was on Elijah. He tucked his robe in his belt and ran before Ahab to the entrance of Jezreel.
