1 Ndị Eze 18
1 Mgbe ọtụtụ oge gasịrị, nʼafọ nke atọ, okwu Onyenwe anyị rutere Ịlaịja ntị, “Bilie, gaa gosi Ehab onwe gị. Aga m emekwa ka mmiri zookwa nʼala a.”
And it came to pass, after many days, that, the word of Yahweh, came unto Elijah, in the third year, saying, —Go, shew thyself unto Ahab, that I may send rain upon the face of the ground.
2 Ya mere, Ịlaịja pụrụ gaa igosi Ehab onwe ya. Ma ụnwụ dị na Sameria nʼoge a siri nnọọ ike.
And Elijah went, to show himself unto Ahab. Now, the famine, was severe in Samaria.
3 O nwere otu nwoke na-elekọta ihe dị nʼezinaụlọ Ehab. Aha ya bụ Ọbadaya. (Ọ bụ nwoke ji obi ya niile kwere na Onyenwe anyị.
And Ahab had called for Obadiah, who was over his house. Now, Obadiah, was one who revered Yahweh, exceedingly.
4 Mgbe eze nwanyị bụ Jezebel na-egbu ndị amụma Onyenwe anyị chọọ igbuchapụ ha, ọ bụ Ọbadaya zoro narị ndị amụma nʼime ha nʼime ọgba nkume. O zoro iri ndị amụma ise nʼotu ọgba nkume, zookwa iri ndị amụma ise fọdụrụ nʼime ọgba nkume ọzọ. Emesịa, ọ na-ewegara ha nri na mmiri nʼebe ahụ.)
And so it came to pass, when Jezebel was cutting off the prophets of Yahweh, that Obadiah took a hundred prophets, and hid them by fifties in caves, and sustained them, with bread and water.
5 Ehab kpọrọ Ọbadaya sị ya, “Jegharịa nʼala a niile nyochapụta na ndagwurugwu na isi iyi niile, ebe ahịhịa ndụ dị. Gbutere ịnyịnya na ịnyịnya muul m ahịhịa ahụ ka ha taa ghara ịnwụ, ka anyị gharakwa igbu ha.”
So then Ahab said unto Obadiah, Go, and let us pass throughout the land, unto all the fountains of water, and unto all the ravines, peradventure we may find grass, and save alive horse and mule, and not have more of the beasts cut off.
6 Ha kere ala ahụ nʼetiti onwe ha. Ehab sitere otu akụkụ, ma Ọbadaya sitere akụkụ nke ọzọ.
So they divided to them the land, to pass through it, —Ahab, went one way, by himself, and, Obadiah, went another way, by himself.
7 Ọ dịghị anya, na mberede, Ọbadaya hụrụ Ịlaịja ka ọ na-abịa izute ya. Ọbadaya matara na ọ bụ ya. Nʼihi ya, ọ dara nʼala kpuo ihu ya nʼala sị, “Ọ bụ gị ka m hụrụ nʼezie, onyenwe m, Ịlaịja?”
And so it was, as Obadiah was on the road, that lo! Elijah, met him, —and he recognised him, and fell upon his face, and said—Now art, thou, my lord Elijah?
8 Ịlaịja zara sị ya, “E, ọ bụ m. Ugbu a gaa gwa onyenwe gị, ‘mụ bụ Ịlaịja nọ nʼebe a.’”
And he said to him—I, am! Go, say to thy lord: Here, is, Elijah!
9 Mgbe ahụ, Ọbadaya jụrụ Ịlaịja sị, “Gịnị bụ ihe m mejọrọ, nke mere i ji na-achọ inyefe ohu gị nʼaka Ehab ka o gbuo ya?
And he said—How have I sinned, —that, thou, art delivering thy servant into the hand of Ahab, to put me to death?
10 Dịka Onyenwe anyị Chineke gị sị adị ndụ, o nwebeghị mba maọbụ alaeze dị nke nna m ukwu na-ezigaghị mmadụ ịchọ gị. Ebe ọbụla ọ gara a na-akọrọ ya na Ịlaịja anọghị nʼebe ahụ. Ehab na-eme ka eze obodo ahụ ṅụọ iyi na ihe ọ na-ekwu bụ eziokwu.
By the life of Yahweh thy God, there is no nation or kingdom, whither my lord hath not sent to seek thee, and, when they have said—Nay! he hath taken an oath of the kingdom or the nation, that no one could find thee;
11 Ma ugbu a, ị na-asị m gaa gwa Onyenwe m na, ‘Ịlaịja nọ nʼebe a.’
and, now, thou, art saying, —Go say to thy lord, Here, is, Elijah;
12 Ọ bụrụkwanụ na m esite nʼebe a pụọ, onye ma ebe Mmụọ Onyenwe anyị ga-ebuga gị. Mgbe ahụ, ọ bụrụ na Ehab abịa hapụ ịhụ gị, ọ ga-egbu m. Nʼihi na mụ bụ ohu gị bụ onye na-efe Onyenwe anyị ofufe siterị na mgbe m bụ okorobịa.
so shall it come to pass, as soon as, I, go from thee, that, the spirit of Yahweh, shall carry thee away—whither I know not, and so, when I go in to tell Ahab, and he cannot find thee, then will he slay me, —and yet, thy servant, hath revered Yahweh, from my youth.
13 Ọ bụ na onyenwe m anụghị ihe m mere mgbe Jezebel nọ na-egbu ndị amụma Onyenwe anyị? E zoro narị ndị amụma Onyenwe anyị nʼime ọgba nkume abụọ, iri ise nʼime otu ọgba nkume, iri ise nʼime otu ọgba nkume ka m zoro ha, jirikwa nri na mmiri ọṅụṅụ zụọ ha.
Was it not told my lord, what I did when Jezebel was slaying the prophets of Yahweh, —how I hid, of the prophets of Yahweh, a hundred men—by fifties—in caves, and sustained them with bread and water?
14 Ma ugbu a i na-agwa m sị m, ‘Gaa gwa onyenwe gị na Ịlaịja abịala.’ Ọ ga-egbukwa m!”
and yet, now, thou, art saying, Go, tell thy lord—Here, is, Elijah; and so he will slay me!
15 Ma Ịlaịja zara sị ya, “Dịka Onyenwe anyị Chineke Onye pụrụ ime ihe niile na-adị ndụ, onye m na-ejere ozi, ana m agwa gị na agaghị m esi nʼebe a pụọ tutu ruo mgbe m gosiri Ehab onwe m taa.”
Then said Elijah—By the life of Yahweh of hosts, before whom I stand, to-day, will I show myself unto him.
16 Mgbe ahụ, Ọbadaya pụrụ gaa kọọrọ Ehab na Ịlaịja abịala. Emesịa, Ehab pụtara izute Ịlaịja.
So Obadiah went to meet Ahab, and told him, —and, Ahab, went to meet, Elijah.
17 Mgbe ọ hụrụ Ịlaịja, Ehab sịrị ya, “Ọ bụ gị onwe gị bụ nke a, gị onye na-emekpa Izrel ahụ?”
And it came to pass, when Ahab saw Elijah, that Ahab said unto him, Now, art, thou, troubling Israel?
18 Ịlaịja zara sị Ehab, “O nweghị mgbe m ji butere Izrel nsogbu. Ọ bụ gị onwe gị na ezinaụlọ nna gị na-ebutere Izrel nsogbu. Unu agbakụtala iwu Onyenwe anyị azụ, gbasoro chi Baal dị iche iche.
And he said—I have not troubled Israel, but, thou and the house of thy father, —in that ye have forsaken the commandments of Yahweh, and followed Baal.
19 Ugbu a, kpọkọta ndị Izrel niile ka ha zute m nʼugwu Kamel. Kpọpụtakwa ndị amụma Baal ọnụọgụgụ ha dị narị anọ na iri mmadụ ise, na ndị amụma Ashera, ndị dị narị anọ, bụ ndị na-eso eze nwanyị Jezebel erikọ ihe na tebul ya.”
Now, therefore, send, gather unto me all Israel, unto Mount Carmel, —and the prophets of Baal, four hundred and fifty, and the prophets of the Sacred Stem, four hundred, who do eat at the table of Jezebel.
20 Ehab zigara ozi kpọkọta ndị Izrel niile, na ndị amụma ahụ niile. Ha niile bịakwara nʼugwu Kamel.
So Ahab sent among all the sons of Israel, —and gathered the prophets unto Mount Carmel.
21 Ịlaịja gara nʼihu ndị a, sị ha, “Ọ bụ ruo ole mgbe ka unu ga-akwụsị inwe obi abụọ? Ọ bụrụ na Onyenwe anyị bụ Chineke unu, soronụ ya! Ma ọ bụrụkwanụ na unu ekpebie na Baal bụ chi unu, soronụ ya.” Ma ndị zukọrọ nʼebe ahụ ekwughị ihe ọbụla.
And Elijah drew near unto all the people, and said—How long are ye limping on the two divided opinions? If, Yahweh, be GOD, follow, him, but, if, Baal, follow, him. But the people answered him, not a word.
22 Mgbe ahụ Ịlaịja sịrị ha, “Leenụ! Ọ bụ mụ onwe m, naanị m, bụ onye amụma Onyenwe anyị fọdụrụ, ma ndị amụma Baal dị narị anọ na iri ise nʼọnụọgụgụ.
Then said Elijah unto the people—I, am left, Yahweh’s, only, prophet, —but, the prophets of Baal, are four hundred and fifty men.
23 Ugbu a wetanụ oke ehi abụọ ka ndị amụma Baal họrọ otu oke ehi, nke ha chọrọ. Ha ga-egbujasị ya, tụkwasị ya nʼelu nkụ dị nʼebe ịchụ aja, ma ha agaghị amụnye ọkụ ọbụla nʼokpuru ya. Mụ onwe m ga-akwado oke ehi nke ọzọ tụkwasị ya nʼelu nkụ ma agaghị m amụnyekwa ọkụ nʼokpuru ya.
Let there be given us, therefore, two bullocks, and let them choose for themselves one bullock, and cut it in pieces, and lay it upon the wood, but, fire, shall they not put, —then, I, will make ready the other bullock, and place upon the wood, but, fire, will I not put.
24 Emesịa, unu ga-akpọku chi Baal unu, mụ onwe m kwa ga-akpọku aha Onyenwe anyị. Ọ ga-erukwa na chi ga-eji ọkụ za, chi ahụ bụ Chineke.” Ndị Izrel niile zara sị, “Okwu gị dị mma.”
Then shall ye call on the name of your god, and, I, will call on the name of Yahweh, and it shall be, the God that respondeth by fire, he, is GOD. And all the people responded—Well spoken!
25 Ịlaịja gwara ndị amụma Baal, sị, “Ebe unu dị ọtụtụ, burunu ụzọ họrọ otu oke ehi nʼime ehi abụọ a dozie ya. Unu amụnyekwala ya ọkụ nʼokpuru, kama kpọkuonụ chi unu.”
Then said Elijah to the prophets of Baal—Choose for yourselves one bullock, and make ye ready, first, for, ye, are many, —and call ye on the name of your god, but, fire, shall ye not put.
26 Ya mere, ndị amụma Baal weere oke ehi ahụ e nyere ha doziekwa ya. Mgbe ahụ, ha kpọkuru aha Baal, chi ha. Site nʼụtụtụ tigide mkpu ruo nʼetiti ehihie na-asị “O Baal, biko, zaa anyị.” Ma o nweghị ihe ha nụrụ site nʼọnụ Baal. Ọ dịkwaghị onye zara ha. Ha malitere ite egwu gburugburu ebe ịchụ aja ahụ ha kwadoro.
So they took the bullock which was given them, and made ready, and called on the name of Baal—from the morning even until the noon, saying—O Baal! answer us. But them was no voice, nor any that answered. And they leaped about by the altar which had been made.
27 Nʼihe dị ka nʼetiti ehihie, Ịlaịja malitere ịchị ha ọchị, na ịkwa ha emo. Ọ gwara ha okwu sị ha, “Tisienụ mkpu ike ka Baal nwe ike ịnụ arịrịọ unu. Nʼezie, ọ bụ chi! Ma eleghị anya ọ nọ nʼoke echiche, maọbụ o ji ọrụ nʼaka, maọbụ ọ gara njem. Ma eleghị anya ọ na-arahụ ụra. Ọ chọrọ onye ga-akpọte ya.”
And it came to pass, at noon, that Elijah mocked them, and said—Cry with a loud voice, for, a god, he is, either he hath, a meditation, or an occasion to retire, or he hath, a journey, —peradventure, he, sleepeth, and must be awaked.
28 Ndị amụma a tiri mkpu nʼoke olu dịka ha si eme. Ha ji mma na ùbe na-egbukasị onwe ha ahụ, tutu ruo mgbe ọbara malitere isite ha nʼahụ na-agbapụta.
And they cried, with a loud voice, and cut themselves, after their custom, with swords, and with lances, —until the blood gushed out upon them.
29 Ma mgbe etiti ehihie gasịrị, ha nọgidekwara na-ebu amụma ruo mgbe oge ịchụ aja uhuruchi ruru, ma o nweghị onye zara ha, o nwekwaghị olu a nụrụ. Ọ dịkwaghị onye ṅara ha ntị.
And so it was, when noon was passed, that although they prophesied until the offering up of the evening gift, yet was there no voice nor any that answered, nor any that hearkened.
30 Mgbe ahụ, Ịlaịja kpọrọ ndị Izrel sị ha, “Bịaruenụ m nso.” Ha niile bịaruru ya nso, o doziri ebe ịchụ aja Onyenwe anyị, bụ ndị ahụ a kwaturu nʼala na mbụ.
Then said Elijah unto all the people: Draw near unto, me. And all the people drew near unto, him. Then repaired he the broken-down altar of Yahweh; yea Elijah took twelve stones, according to the number of the tribes of the sons of Jacob, —
31 Ịlaịja chịịrị nkume iri na abụọ, nke otu nʼime ha nọchiri anya otu ebo Jekọb, onye okwu Onyenwe anyị rutere si ya, “Aha gị ga-abụ Izrel.”
unto whom the word of Yahweh came, saying—Israel, shall be thy name;
32 O ji nkume ndị a wuzie ebe ịchụ aja Onyenwe anyị. Emesịa, o gwuru olulu miri emi, nke gbara ebe ịchụ aja ahụ gburugburu.
and built, with the stones, an altar, in the name of Yahweh, —and he made a trench, as large as would contain two measures of seed, round about the altar;
33 Ọ tụkwasịrị nkụ nʼelu ebe ịchụ aja ahụ, tụkwasịkwa otu oke ehi o gbujasịrị nʼelu nkụ ndị ahụ. Emesịa, o nyere ndị nọ nʼebe ahụ iwu sị ha, “Gbajuonụ ite anọ mmiri. Butekwanụ mmiri ahụ bịa wụkwasị ya nʼelu aja nsure ọkụ a, na nʼelu nkụ ndị a.” Mgbe ha mesiri nke a, Ịlaịja gwara ha okwu sị,
and he put in order the wood, —and cut in pieces the bullock, and laid upon the wood. Then said he—Fill four pitchers with water, and pour out upon the ascending-sacrifice, and upon the wood. And they did so.
34 “Gbajukwaanụ ite mmiri ndị ahụ, bute ha bịa wụkwasị mmiri ahụ nke ugboro abụọ nʼelu aja nsure ọkụ a.” Ha mere dịka Ịlaịja kwuru. Ịlaịja nyekwara ha iwu sị, “Gbajukwaanụ ya nke ugboro atọ, bịa wụkwasị ya.” Ha mekwara otu a.
And he said—Do it the second time. And they did it the second time. And he said—Do it the third time. And they did it the third time.
35 Mmiri jupụtakwara nʼebe ịchụ aja ahụ, na olulu ahụ dị ya gburugburu.
And the water ran round about the altar, —moreover also, the trench, filled he with water.
36 Mgbe oge e ji achụ aja anyasị ruru, Ịlaịja, onye amụma bịara ebe ịchụ aja ahụ nso kpee ekpere sị, “O, Onyenwe anyị Chineke Ebraham, na Aịzik, na Izrel, biko gosi taa na ọ bụ gị onwe gị bụ naanị Chineke nʼIzrel, na mụ onwe m bụkwa ohu gị. Gosikwa na m bụ onyeozi gị, na ọ bụ ihe i nyere m nʼiwu ka m mere oge ndị a niile.
And it came to pass, at the time of the offering of the gift, that Elijah the prophet drew near, and said, O Yahweh, God of Abraham, Isaac and Israel! To-day, let it be known—That, thou, art God in Israel, and that, I, am thy servant, —and that, by thy word, have I done all these things.
37 Biko, Onyenwe anyị m, zaa m ekpere m, zaa m ya, ka ndị Izrel niile mata na gị onwe gị, Onyenwe anyị bụ Chineke, na gị onwe gị na-atụgharịkwa obi ha ịlaghachikwute gị.”
Answer me, O Yahweh! answer me, That this people may know, that, thou—Yahweh, art GOD, —so shalt, thou thyself, have turned their heart back again.
38 Mgbe ahụ, na mberede, ọkụ Onyenwe anyị sitere nʼeluigwe daa, rechapụ oke ehi ahụ, na nkụ ahụ, na nkume, na ntụ, ma rechapụkwa mmiri niile dị nʼime olulu ahụ dị gburugburu ebe ịchụ aja ahụ.
Then fell fire from Yahweh, and consumed the ascending-sacrifice, and the wood, and the stones, and the dust, —even the water that was in the trench, it licked up.
39 Mgbe ndị mmadụ ahụ niile hụrụ ihe a mere, ha niile dara nʼala kpuo ihu nʼala, na-eti mkpu na-asị, “Onyenwe anyị, ya onwe ya bụ Chineke! Onyenwe anyị ya onwe ya bụ Chineke!”
And, when all the people saw it, they fell upon their faces, —and said, Yahweh, he, is GOD, Yahweh, he, is GOD.
40 Mgbe ahụ, Ịlaịja nyere ha iwu sị, “Jidenụ ndị amụma Baal niile. Unu ekwekwala ka otu onye nʼime ha laa.” Ha jidekwara ha niile. Ịlaịja dukwaara ha niile gaa na ndagwurugwu iyi Kishọn, gbuo ha nʼebe ahụ.
And Elijah said unto them—Seize ye the prophets of Baal—let not, a man, of them escape. So they seized them. And Elijah took them down unto the ravine of Kishon, and slaughtered them there.
41 Emesịa, Ịlaịja gwara Ehab okwu sị, “Gaa rie nri, ṅụọkwa ihe ọṅụṅụ; nʼihi na anụrụ m ụzụ oke mmiri ozuzo ka ọ na-ada.”
Then said Elijah unto Ahab, Go up, eat and drink, —for there is a sound of a downpour of rain.
42 Nʼihi nke a, Ehab sitere nʼebe ahụ pụọ gaa iri nri na ịṅụ ihe ọṅụṅụ ma Ịlaịja rigooro nʼelu ugwu Kamel gbuo ikpere nʼala, kpuokwa ihu ya nʼala nʼetiti ikpere ya abụọ ikpe ekpere.
So Ahab went up, to eat and to drink, —but, Elijah, went up to the top of Carmel, and bowed himself to the earth, and put his face between his knees.
43 Nʼoge a, ọ gwara nwokorobịa na-ejere ya ozi sị ya, “Gaa lee anya nʼụzọ oke osimiri.” Ọ rịgoro lee anya, sị, “Ọ dịghị ihe ọbụla m hụrụ.” Ịlaịja gwakwara ya otu a, ugboro asaa, sị ya, “Jeghachi.”
Then said he unto his young man—Go up, I pray thee, and look about in the direction of the sea. So he went up, and looked about, and said—There is, nothing whatever. Then said he—Go again, seven times.
44 O ruo na nke ugboro asaa, nwokorobịa ahụ bịaghachiri sị Ịlaịja, “Onyenwe m, ahụrụ m igwe ojii dị nta dịka ọbụ aka mmadụ ka o si nʼoke osimiri na-apụta.” Ya mere, Ịlaịja sịrị, “Gaa gwa Ehab, ‘dozie ụgbọ agha gị, gbadaa tupu mmiri ozuzo egbochi gị ịla.’”
And it came to pass, at the seventh time, that he said, Lo! a little cloud, like a man’s hand coming up from the sea. Then he said—Go up, say unto Ahab—Harness, and get thee down, lest the rain shut thee in.
45 Ọ dịghị anya, eluigwe gbajikọtara nnọọ oji. Oke ifufe bidokwara ife. Mmiri dị ukwuu bidokwara izo. Mgbe ahụ, Ehab gbaara ụgbọ agha ya laa Jezril.
And it came to pass, meanwhile, that, the heavens, had enshrouded themselves with clouds and wind, and there came a great rain, and Ahab rode, and went to Jezreel;
46 Ma ike Onyenwe anyị bịakwasịrị Ịlaịja. Ọ fanyere ọnụ uwe mwụda ya na belịt o kere nʼukwu, gbapụ ọsọ buru Ehab ụzọ gbaruo obodo Jezril.
but, the hand of Yahweh, came upon Elijah, so he girded his loins, —and ran before Ahab, until thou enterest Jezreel.
