< 1 Wa 18 >

1 Alò, li te rive apre anpil jou ke pawòl SENYÈ a te vini a Élie nan twazyèm ane a. Li te di: “Ale, montre ou menm a Achab e Mwen va voye lapli sou fas tè a.”
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 Konsa, Élie te ale montre li menm a Achab. Alò, gwo grangou a te byen rèd nan Samarie.
So Elijah went to talk to Ahab. In Samaria there was almost no food for anyone to eat.
3 Achab te rele Abdias ki te chèf sou lakay li. (Alò, Abdias te gen lakrent SENYÈ a anpil;
There was a man there named Obadiah. He was in charge of the king’s palace. He greatly revered Yahweh.
4 paske lè Jézabel te detwi pwofèt SENYÈ yo, Abdias te pran yon santèn nan pwofèt yo, li te kache yo pa senkant nan yon kav e li te founi yo avèk pen avèk dlo.)
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 Alò, Achab te di Abdias: “Pase nan peyi kote tout sous dlo yo. Petèt nou va twouve zèb pou kenbe chwal avèk milèt yo vivan e pou nou pa oblije touye nan bèt yo.”
[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 Pou sa, yo te divize peyi a antre yo pou yo fè rechèch li. Achab te pran yon chemen e Abdias te pran yon lòt pou kont li.
So they both started walking throughout the land. Obadiah went in one direction by himself, and Ahab went in another direction by himself.
7 Alò, pandan Abdias te nan wout la, vwala, Élie te rankontre li. Abdias te rekonèt li e te tonbe sou figi li. Li te di: “Èske se ou menm, Élie, mèt mwen an?”
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 Li te di li: “Se mwen. Ale, pale a mèt ou a, ‘Men vwala, Élie isit.’”
Elijah replied, “Yes. Now go and tell [Ahab, ] your master, that I am here.”
9 Li te di: “Ki peche mwen te fè ke ou ta vin mete sèvitè ou nan men Achab pou l mete m a lanmò?
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 Jan SENYÈ a, Bondye ou a, viv la, nanpwen nasyon oswa wayòm kote mèt mwen pa t voye chache ou. Lè yo te di: ‘Li pa la’, li te fè wayòm nan oswa nasyon an sèmante ke yo pa t kab jwenn ou.
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 Epi koulye a w ap di: ‘Ale di mèt ou “Men vwala, Élie!”’
Now you say to me, ‘Go and tell your master that Elijah is here!’
12 Li va vin rive ke lè m kite ou, Lespri SENYÈ a va pote ou kote m pa konnen. Konsa, lè m vini pale Achab, lè l pa kab jwenn ou, li va touye mwen, malgre mwen, sèvitè ou a, te gen lakrent SENYÈ a depi nan jenès mwen.
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 Èske sa pa t pale a mèt mwen sa m te fè lè Jézabel te touye pwofèt SENYÈ yo, ke m te kache yon santèn nan pwofèt SENYÈ a pa senkantèn nan yon kav e mwen te founi yo avèk pen avèk dlo?
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 Epi koulye a, w ap di mwen: ‘Ale pale a mèt ou: “Men Élie!” Epi se konsa l ap touye mwen.’
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 Élie te di: “Jan SENYÈ dèzame yo viv la, devan sila mwen kanpe a, anverite, mwen va montre mwen menm a li menm jodi a.”
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 Konsa, Abdias te ale rankontre Achab e te pale li, epi Achab te ale rankontre Élie.
So Obadiah went to tell Ahab that Elijah had come. Ahab went to meet with him.
17 Lè Achab te wè Élie, Achab te di li: “Èske se ou menm, sila ki twouble Israël la?”
When he saw Elijah, he said to him, “Is that you, the one who causes trouble for [the people of] Israel?”
18 Li te di: “Mwen pa t twouble Israël, men ou menm avèk lakay papa ou, akoz ou te abandone lòd SENYÈ yo pou ou te swiv Baal yo.
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 Alò, pou sa, voye ranmase vè mwen tout Israël nan Mòn Carmel avèk kat-san-senkant pwofèt Baal ak kat-san pwofèt Astarté ki manje sou tab Jézabel la.”
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 Konsa, Achab te voye pami tout fis Israël yo e te mennen pwofèt yo ansanm nan Mont Carmel.
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 Élie te pwoche tout pèp la e te di: “Pou konbyen de tan n ap kontinye panche de bò, antre de bi? Si SENYÈ a se Bondye a, swiv Li, men si se Baal, swiv li.” Men moun yo pa t reponn menm yon mo.
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 Konsa, Élie te di a pèp la: “Se mwen sèl ki rete kòm pwofèt SENYÈ a, men pwofèt a Baal yo se kat-san-senkant òm.
Then Elijah said to them, “I am the only true prophet of Yahweh who is left, but Baal has 450 prophets.
23 Alò, kite yo bannou de bèf, e kite yo chwazi yon bèf pou yo menm, koupe li an mòso e mete li sou bwa a, men san pa mete dife; epi mwen va prepare lòt bèf la e kouche li sou bwa e mwen p ap mete dife.
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 Alò, ou va rele non a dye pa nou an e mwen va rele non SENYÈ a, e Dye ki reponn pa dife a, se Li menm ki Bondye a.” Epi tout moun yo te reponn: “Lide sa a bon.”
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 Konsa, Élie te di a pwofèt a Baal yo: “Chwazi yon bèf pou nou menm e prepare li, paske nou anpil e rele non a dye pa nou an, men pa mete dife.”
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 Konsa, yo te pran bèf ki te bay a yo menm nan, yo te prepare li e te rele non Baal la soti nan maten jis rive midi e yo t ap di: “O Baal, reponn nou.” Men pa t gen vwa e okenn moun pa t reponn. Epi yo te toutotou lotèl ke yo te fè a.
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 Li te vin rive vè midi ke Élie te moke yo. Li te di: “Rele avèk vwa fò, paske li se yon dye! Oswa petèt li okipe, ke li okipe! Oswa li te vire akote, oswa li fè yon vwayaj, o petèt li dòmi e ou bezwen fè l leve.”
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 Konsa, yo te kriye avèk gwo vwa. Yo te koupe kò yo selon abitid pa yo avèk nepe ak frenn jis san te fè flèv sou yo.
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 Lè midi te fin pase, yo te anraje jis rive nan moman pou ofri sakrifis aswè yo, men pa t gen vwa, okenn pa t reponn, ni okenn pa t okipe yo.
They continued calling out to Baal all afternoon. But there was no reply, no answer, no god who paid attention.
30 Alò, Élie te di a tout pèp la: “Vin kote mwen.” Konsa, tout pèp la te vin kote li. Konsa, li te repare lotèl SENYÈ a ki te dechire a.
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 Élie te pran douz wòch selon non tribi a fis a Jacob yo, a sila pawòl SENYÈ a te parèt yo, e te di: “Israël va non ou.”
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 Konsa, avèk wòch yo, li te bati yon lotèl nan non SENYÈ a e li te fè yon kanal antoure lotèl la ase laj pou kenbe de mezi semans.
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 Apre, li te ranje bwa a, li te koupe bèf la an mòso e li te poze li sou bwa a.
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 Epi li te di: “Ranpli kat po avèk dlo e vide li sou ofrann brile yo ak sou bwa a.” Epi li te di: “Fè l yon dezyèm fwa,” epi yo te fè l yon dezyèm fwa. Epi li te di: “Fè l yon twazyèm fwa,” epi yo te fè l yon twazyèm fwa.
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 Dlo a te kouri antoure lotèl la e li te plen kanal la osi.
As a result, the water flowed down below the altar and filled the ditches.
36 Nan tan ofrann sakrifis aswè a, Élie, pwofèt la, te pwoche e te di: “O SENYÈ, Bondye Abraham, Isaac avèk Israël la, jodi a, kite li byen rekonèt ke Ou se Bondye an Israël, ke mwen se sèvitè Ou, e ke mwen te fè tout bagay sa yo pa pawòl Ou menm.
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 Reponn mwen, O SENYÈ, reponn mwen, pou pèp sa a kapab konnen ke Ou menm, O SENYÈ, se Bondye e ke Ou fè kè yo vire retounen kote Ou ankò.”
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 Konsa, dife SENYÈ a te tonbe e te konsonmen ofrann brile a avèk bwa a, avèk wòch yo ak pousyè a e te vale tout dlo ki te nan kanal la.
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 Lè tout pèp la te wè sa, yo te tonbe sou figi yo, epi yo te di: “SENYÈ a, se Li menm Ki Bondye a! SENYÈ a, se Li menm ki Bondye a!”
When the people saw that, they prostrated themselves on the ground and shouted, “Yahweh is God! Yahweh is God!”
40 Epi Élie te di yo: “Sezi pwofèt a Baal yo! Pa kite youn nan yo chape!” Yo te sezi yo, epi Élie te mennen yo desann nan flèv Kison an e te touye yo la.
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 Alò, Élie te di a Achab: “Ale monte, manje e bwè; paske gen gwo bwi lapli.”
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 Konsa, Achab te monte pou manje e bwè. Men Élie te monte sou tèt Mòn Carmel; epi li te koube jenou li, apiye atè avèk figi li antre jenou li.
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 Li te di a sèvitè li: “Ale monte koulye a, gade bò kote lanmè a.” Konsa, li te monte gade, e te di: “Nanpwen anyen” epi li te di: “Ale retounen” menm sèt fwa.”
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 Li te vin rive nan setyèm fwa a ke li te di: “Vwala, yon grenn nwaj piti tankou men a yon moun ap monte soti kote lanmè a.” Epi li te di: “Ale monte, pale Achab pou di l: ‘fè cha ou a parèt e desann pou gwo lapli a pa rete ou.’”
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 Nan yon ti tan, syèl la te vin fènwa avèk nwaj ak van e te gen yon lapli fò. Epi Achab te monte pou te ale kote Jizréel.
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 Alò, men SENYÈ a te sou Élie. Li te mare senti li e te kouri pi vit ke Achab pou rive nan lantre kote Jizréel.
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.

< 1 Wa 18 >