1 Mpanjaka 18
1 Ary nony afaka andro maro, dia tonga tamin’ i Elia ny tenin’ i Jehovah tamin’ ny taona fahatelo nanao hoe: Mandehana hiseho amin’ i Ahaba, fa handatsaka ranonorana amin’ ny tany Aho.
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 Dia niainga Elia hiseho amin’ i Ahaba. Ary mafy ny mosary tany Samaria.
So Elijah went to appear before Ahab. In the meantime the famine had become severe in Samaria.
3 Ary Ahaba niantso an’ i Obadia, izay lehiben’ ny tao an-dapany (Obadia dia natahotra an’ i Jehovah tokoa,
Ahab summoned Obadiah, the manager of his palace (Obadiah was a very sincere believer in the Lord.
4 ka nony naringan’ i Jezebela ny mpaminanin’ i Jehovah, dia nalain’ i Obadia ny mpaminany zato ka nafeniny, dimam-polo avy no nataony tao an-johy iray, ary novelominy mofo sy rano ireo).
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 Ary hoy Ahaba tamin’ i Obadia: Andeha mitety ny tany, dia hatrany amin’ ny loharano rehetra sy hatrany amin’ ny lohasahan-driaka rehetra; fa angamba hahita ahitra hamelomana ny soavaly sy ny ampondra isika, mba tsy hisy hovonointsika ny biby fiompintsika.
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 Dia nizara lalana izy, ka Ahaba nandeha tamin’ ny lalana iray, ary Obadia kosa nandeha tamin’ ny lalana iray.
So they divided the land between them. Ahab went in one direction, and Obadiah the other.
7 Ary raha tany an-dalana Obadia indro, Elia nifanena taminy; ary nahalala azy izy, dia niankohoka ka nanao hoe: Hay! ianao va ity, ry Elia tompoko?
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 Ary izy namaly azy hoe: Eny, izaho ity, andeha, lazao amin’ ny tomponao hoe: Injao, atsy Elia.
“It's me,” Elijah replied. “Go and tell your master, ‘Elijah is here.’”
9 Fa hoy Obadia: Inona no heloko, no anoloranao ny mpanomponao ho eo an-tànan’ i Ahaba hamonoany ahy?
“How have I sinned that you are handing me, your servant, over to Ahab to be killed?
10 Raha velona koa Jehovah Andriamanitrao, dia tsy misy firenena na fanjakana izay tsy nanirahan’ ny tompoko hitady anao; ary raha hoy ny olona: Tsy ato izy, dia nampianianiny izany firenena sy fanjakana izany raha tsy nahita anao izy.
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 Ary ankehitriny hoy ianao: Andeha, lazao amin’ ny tomponao hoe: Injao, atsy Elia.
And now you're telling me to go to my master and announce, ‘Elijah is here!’
12 Nefa raha vao miala aminao aho, dia ho entin’ ny Fanahin’ i Jehovah any amin’ izay tsy fantatro ianao; koa raha tonga aho ka milaza amin’ i Ahaba, nefa tsy ho hitany ianao tsinona, dia hovonoiny aho; kanefa izaho mpanomponao matahotra an’ i Jehovah hatry ny fony mbola kely.
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 Moa tsy nolazaina taminao va, tompoko, izay nataoko tamin’ ilay namonoan’ i Jezebela ny mpaminanin’ i Jehovah, dia ny nanafenako ny mpaminanin’ i Jehovah zato lahy, ka dimam-polo avy no nataoko tao an-johy iray, ary novelomiko mofo sy rano ireo?
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 Nefa ankehitriny hoy ianao: Andeha, lazao amin’ ny tomponao hoe: Injao, atsy Elia; dia hamono ahy Ahaba.
And now you're telling me to go to my master and announce, ‘Elijah is here.’ He's going to kill me!”
15 Fa hoy Elia: Raha velona koa Jehovah, Tompon’ ny maro, Izay itsanganako eo anatrehany, dia hiseho aminy tokoa aho anio.
Elijah replied, “As the Lord Almighty lives, the one I serve, I will definitely appear before Ahab today.”
16 Dia lasa Obadia nitsena an’ i Ahaba ka nilaza taminy; ary Ahaba nandeha hitsena an’ i Elia.
So Obadiah went to meet Ahab and told him, and Ahab went to meet Elijah.
17 Ary nony hitan’ i Ahaba Elia, dia hoy izy taminy: Hay! tonga etỳ ianao, ry ilay mampidi-doza amin’ ny Isiraely!
When Ahab saw Elijah, he said to him, “Is that you—you who are causing trouble for Israel?”
18 Fa Elia namaly hoe: Tsy izaho no nampidi-doza tamin’ ny Isiraely, fa ianao sy ny mpianakavin’ ny rainao ihany tamin’ ny nandavanareo ny didin’ i Jehovah sy ny nanarahanao ireo Bala.
“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 Ary ankehitriny maniraha hamory ny Isiraely rehetra hihaona amiko any an-tendrombohitra Karmela, ary ny mpaminanin’ i Bala dimam-polo amby efa-jato sy ny mpaminanin’ ny Aseraha efa-jato, izay mihinana eo amin’ ny latabatr’ i Jezebela.
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 Dia naniraka tany amin’ ny Zanak’ Isiraely rehetra Ahaba ka namory ny mpaminany ho any an-tendrombohitra Karmela.
So Ahab summoned all of Israel and also gathered the prophets on Mount Carmel.
21 Ary dia nankeo amin’ ny olona rehetra Elia ka nanao hoe: Mandra-pahoviana no hiroa saina ianareo? Raha Jehovah no Andriamanitra, manaraha Azy; fa raha Bala kosa, dia manaraha azy. Fa ny olona tsy namaly azy akory.
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 Dia hoy Elia tamin’ ny olona: Izaho dia izaho irery ihany no sisa amin’ ny mpaminanin’ i Jehovah; fa ny mpaminanin’ i Bala kosa dia dimam-polo amby efa-jato lahy.
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 Koa aoka ireo no hanome vantotr’ ombilahy roa ho antsika; ary aoka izy no hifidy ny iray ho azy, dia handrasa azy ka hametraka azy eo ambonin’ ny kitay hazo, nefa tsy hasiana afo ao; ary izaho kosa hamboatra ny iray ka hametraka azy eo ambonin’ ny kitay hazo, nefa tsy hasiana afo koa ao.
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 Ary miantsoa ny anaran’ ny andriamanitrareo ianareo, ary izaho kosa hiantso ny anaran’ i Jehovah; koa Izay Andriamanitra mamaly amin’ ny afo, dia aoka Izy no ho Andriamanitra. Ary ny olona rehetra namaly hoe: Marina izany teny izany.
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 Ary hoy Elia tamin’ ireo mpaminanin’ i Bala: Mifidiana vantotr’ ombilahy iray ho anareo, ka dia manamboara aloha ianareo, satria ianareo no maro; ary miantsoa ny anaran’ ny andriamanitrareo, nefa aza asiana afo ao.
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 Dia naka ny vantotr’ ombilahy izay nomeny azy ireo ka namboatra azy, dia niantso ny anaran’ i Bala hatramin’ ny maraina ka mandra-pitataovovonan’ ny andro izy nanao hoe: Ry Bala ô, henoy izahay! Kanjo tsy nisy nanoina na namaly akory. Ary nihinjakinjaka tamin’ ny alitara izay nataony izy.
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 Ary nony nitataovovonana ny andro, dia nanesoeso azy Elia ka nanao hoe: Miantsoa mafy ihany, fa andriamanitra izy; angamba sondrian-dresaka izy, na miavela, na nisy nalehany, na matory angaha izy ka tsy maintsy hofohazina.
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 Dia niantso mafy indray ireo sady nitetika ny tenany araka ny fanaony amin’ ny sabatra sy ny lefona mandra-pahaloa-drà tamin’ ny tenany.
They shouted even louder and cut themselves with swords and spears until they bled. This was their usual way of worshiping.
29 Ary na dia efa nitsidika aza ny andro, dia mbola naminany ihany izy hatramin’ ny fotoan’ ny fanatitra hariva; nefa tsy nisy nanoina, na namaly, na nihaino azy akory.
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 Ary hoy Elia tamin’ ny olona rehetra: Manatona ahy. Dia nanatona azy ny olona rehetra. Ary Elia namboatra ny alitaran’ i Jehovah izay efa rava
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 ka naka vato roa ambin’ ny folo, araka ny isan’ ny firenen’ ny zanak’ i Jakoba, izay nihavian’ ilay tenin’ i Jehovah hoe: Isiraely no ho anaranao;
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 ary izany vato izany dia nataony alitara ho an’ ny anaran’ i Jehovah; ary nanao hady kely manodidina ny alitara koa izy, izay mifafy voan-javatra indroan’ ny famarana.
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 Ary nandahatra ny kitay hazo izy, dia nandrasa ny vantotr’ ombilahy ka nametraka azy teo ambonin’ ny kitay hazo,
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 dia nanao hoe: Fenoy rano ny siny efatra, ka aidino amin’ ny fanatitra dorana sy amin’ ny kitay hazo. Dia hoy koa izy: Ataovy indray izany. Dia nataony indray. Ary hoy koa izy: Ataovy indray koa izany. Ary dia nataony indray koa.
“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 Ary ny rano nikorotsaka nanodidina ny alitara; ka nofenoiny rano koa ny hady kely.
The water ran down all over the altar and even filled the ditch.
36 Ary nony tamin’ ny fotoan’ ny fanatitra hariva dia nanatona Elia mpaminany ka nanao hoe: Jehovah ô. Andriamanitr’ i Abrahama sy Isaka ary Isiraely, aoka ho fantatra anio fa Hianao no Andriamanitra amin’ ny Isiraely, ary izaho no mpanomponao, ary araka ny teninao no efa nanaovako izao zavatra izao.
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 Mihainoa ahy mihainoa ahy, Jehovah ô, mba hahafantaran’ ireto olona ireto fa Hianao Jehovah no Andriamanitra, ary Hianao no mampiverina ny fony indray.
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 Dia latsaka ny afon’ i Jehovah ka nandevona ny fanatitra dorana sy ny kitay hazo sy ny vato ary ny vovoka sady nandritra ny rano tao amin’ ny hady kely.
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 Ary raha nahita izany ny olona rehetra, dia niankohoka ka nanao hoe: Jehovah, Izy no Andriamanitra; Jehovah, Izy no Andriamanitra.
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 Ary hoy Elia taminy: Sambory ny mpaminanin’ i Bala; aza avela hisy afa-mandositra izy na dia iray akory aza. Dia nosamborin’ ny olona izy; ary nentin’ i Elia ho eo amin’ ny ony Kisona, ka dia novonoiny teo.
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 Ary hoy Elia tamin’ i Ahaba: Miakara hihinana sy hisotro, fa misasasasa izato ny ranonorana be.
Elijah told Ahab, “Go and eat and drink, for I hear the sound of a heavy rain coming.”
42 Dia niakatra hihinana sy hisotro Ahaba. Fa Elia kosa niakatra ho eo an-tampon’ i Karmela, dia niankohoka tamin’ ny tany, ary ny lohany nataony teo anelanelan’ ny lohaliny
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 Ary hoy izy tamin’ ny zatovony: Miakara kely, ka tazano ny ranomasina. Dia niakatra izy ka nitazana, dia nanao hoe: Tsy misy na inona na inona. Ary hoy izy: Mandehana koa impito.
“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 Ary nony fanimpitony, dia hoy izy: Misy rahona kely hoatra ny tànan’ olona miakatra avy eny amin’ ny ranomasina. Dia hoy izy: Miakara, ka lazao amin’ i Ahaba hoe: Amboary ny kalesinao, ka midìna, fandrao voasakan’ ny ranonorana ianao.
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 Ary vetivety dia maintin’ ny rahona sy ny rivotra ny lanitra, ka nisy ranonorana be. Ary Ahaba niakatra tamin’ ny kalesy ka nankany Jezirela.
Very quickly the sky grew dark with clouds, the wind blew, heavy rain started falling, and Ahab rode down to Jezreel.
46 Ary ny tànan’ i Jehovah dia tao amin’ i Elia, dia nisikina izy ka nihazakazaka teo alohan i Ahaba mandra-pahatongany tany Jezirela.
The Lord gave his power to Elijah—he tucked his cloak into his belt and ran ahead of Ahab all the way to Jezreel.
