1 Amakhosi 18
1 Ngemva kwesikhathi eside, ngomnyaka wesithathu, ilizwi likaThixo lezwakala ku-Elija lisithi: “Hamba uyezibika ku-Ahabi, ngizanisa izulu elizweni.”
And it lasted many days, when the word of the Lord came to Elijah in the third year, saying, Go, show thyself unto Achab; and I will give rain upon the face of the earth.
2 Lakanye u-Elija wahamba wayazibika ku-Ahabi. Ngalesosikhathi indlala yayinkulu kakhulu eSamariya,
And Elijah went to show himself unto Achab; and the famine was grievous in Samaria.
3 njalo u-Ahabi wayebize u-Obhadaya, owayengumlindi wesigodlo sakhe. (U-Obhadaya wayekholwa kakhulu kuThixo.
And Achab called 'Obadiah, who was the superintendent of the house; —(now 'Obadiah feared the Lord greatly;
4 Lapho uJezebheli wayebulala abaphrofethi bakaThixo, u-Obhadaya wayethethe abalikhulu wayabafihla ezimbalwini ezimbili, bengamatshumi amahlanu ebhalwini lunye, wabathumela ukudla lamanzi.)
And it happened, when Izebel cut off the prophets of the Lord, that 'Obadiah took a hundred prophets, and hid them fifty each in one cave, and provided them with bread and water; )
5 U-Ahabi wayethe ku-Obhadaya, “Ngena elizweni lonke emaxhaphozini lasezihotsheni. Mhlawumbe singathola khona utshani bokupha amabhiza lezimbongolo zethu ukuze singabulali leyodwa yezinyamazana zethu.”
And Achab said unto 'Obadiah, Go through the land, unto all the springs of water, and unto all the brooks, peradventure we may find grass and keep alive horse and mule, that we lose not all the cattle.
6 Ngakho behlukaniselana isigaba somhlaba ababezawuhlola. U-Ahabi wakhangela le kwathi lo-Obhadaya laye waya le.
So they divided between them the land to pass through it: Achab went one way by himself alone, and 'Obadiah went another way by himself alone.
7 Kwathi u-Obhadaya ezihambela nje, wahlangabezwa ngu-Elija. U-Obhadaya wamnanzelela, wakhothamela phansi emhlabathini, wasesithi, “Kambe nguwe sibili, nkosi yami Elija?”
And as 'Obadiah was on the way, behold, Elijah came toward him; and he recognized him, and fell on his face, and said, Art thou here indeed, my Lord Elijah?
8 U-Elija waphendula wathi, “Yebo. Hamba uyetshela inkosi yakho ukuthi, ‘U-Elija ulapha.’”
And he said unto him, I am: go, say unto thy Lord, Behold, Elijah is here.
9 U-Obhadaya wabuza wathi, “Ngoneni kanti okwenza unikele inceku yakho ezandleni zika-Ahabi ukuba ibulawe?
And he said, What have I sinned, that thou wouldst deliver thy servant into the hand of Achab, to slay me?
10 Ngeqiniso elinjengoba uThixo uNkulunkulu wakho ephila, akukho sizwe loba umbuso lapho inkosi yami ingazange ithume izithunywa ukuba zikudinge khona. Kuthe laloba isizwe loba umbuso ulandula ukuba awukho khonale, ubenze bafunga ukuthi abangeke bakuthole.
As the Lord thy God liveth, there is not a nation or kingdom whither my Lord hath not sent to seek thee; and when they said, He is not here: he caused that kingdom and nation to take an oath, that no one could find thee.
11 Kodwa khathesi usungithuma ukuthi ngiye enkosini ngiyeyitshela ukuthi, ‘U-Elija ulapha.’
And now thou sayest, Go, say unto thy Lord, Behold, here is Elijah.
12 Angikwazi ukuthi uMoya kaThixo uzakusa ngaphi mhla ngakutshiyayo. Nxa ngingayatshela u-Ahabi akudinge akuswele, uzangibulala. Kunjalo-nje mina nceku yakho ngimkhonzile uThixo kusukela ebutsheni bami.
And it may come to pass, that, when I go from thee, the spirit of the Lord may carry thee whither I know not; and when I come to inform Achab, and he cannot find thee, he will slay me; but I thy servant have feared the Lord from my youth.
13 Awukezwa yini, nkosi yami, engakwenzayo uJezebheli ebulala abaphrofethi bakaThixo na? Ngafihla abalikhulu ezimbalwini ezimbili, bengamatshumi amahlanu kolulodwa, ngabapha ukudla lamanzi.
Hath it not been told unto my Lord what I did when Izebel slew the prophets of the Lord, how I hid a hundred men of the prophets of the Lord, fifty each in one cave, and provided them with bread and water?
14 Njalo khathesi usungithuma ukuba ngiye enkosini yami ngiyeyitshela ngithi, ‘U-Elija ulapha.’ Kusobala ukuthi izangibulala!”
And now thou sayest, Go say to thy lord, Behold, Elijah is here: and he will slay me.
15 U-Elija wathi, “Njengoba uThixo uSomandla engimkhonzayo ekhona, ngizazinikela ngempela ku-Ahabi lamuhla.”
Then said Elijah, As the Lord of hosts liveth, before whom I have stood, surely today will I show myself unto him.
16 Ngakho u-Obhadaya wahlangabeza u-Ahabi wayamtshela, u-Ahabi wayahlangabeza u-Elija.
So 'Ohadiah went to meet Achab, and he told it to him; and Achab went to meet Elijah.
17 Uthe ebona u-Elija, wathi kuye, “Nguwe wena, wena oluhlupho ko-Israyeli?”
And it came to pass, when Achab saw Elijah, that Achab said unto him, Art thou he that troubleth Israel?
18 U-Elija waphendula wathi, “Angibanganga hlupho ko-Israyeli. Kodwa nguwe labendlu kayihlo abalubangileyo. Selitshiye imilayo kaThixo lalandela oBhali.
And he answered, I have not troubled Israel; but thou, and thy father's house, through your forsaking the commandments of the Lord, and because thou hast followed the Be'alim.
19 Biza abantu kulolonke elako-Israyeli ngiyehlangana labo eNtabeni iKhameli. Njalo letha bonke abaphrofethi bakaBhali abangamakhulu amane lamatshumi amahlanu labaka-Ashera abangamakhulu amane, abadlela etafuleni kaJezebheli.”
And now send, assemble unto me all Israel at Mount Carmel, and the prophets of Ba'al four hundred and fifty, and the prophets of the grove four hundred, who eat at the table of Izebel.
20 U-Ahabi wakhupha ilizwi kulolonke elako-Israyeli wahlanganisa abaphrofethi labo eNtabeni iKhameli.
And Achab sent round among all the children of Israel, and he assembled the prophets at Mount Carmel.
21 U-Elija wema phambi kwabantu wathi, “Lizathandabuza kuze kube nini ngeminakano emibili le na? Nxa uThixo enguNkulunkulu mlandeleni kodwa nxa uBhali enguNkulunkulu, mlandeleni.” Kodwa abantu abazange batsho lutho.
And Elijah approached unto all the people, and said, How long halt ye between the two opinions? if the Lord be the God, follow him; and if Ba'al—follow him. And the people answered him not a word.
22 Ngakho u-Elija wasesithi kubo, “Yimi ngedwa umphrofethi kaThixo oseleyo kodwa uBhali ulabangamakhulu amane lamatshumi amahlanu.
And Elijah said unto the people, I have been left a prophet of the Lord by myself alone; but the prophets of Ba'al are four hundred and fifty men.
23 Sidingeleni inkunzi ezimbili. Libanike bazikhethele abayifunayo bayihlabe bayiqume amaqatha bayifake phezu kwenkuni kodwa bangabasi umlilo. Lami ngizahlinza eyinye yazo ngiyiqobaqobe ngiyifake phezu kwenkuni kodwa angiyikubasa umlilo.
Therefore let there be given unto us two bullocks; and let them choose for themselves the one bullock, and cut it in pieces, and lay it on wood, and put no fire to it: and I will prepare the other bullock, and lay it on wood, and put no fire to it.
24 Libe selibiza ibizo likankulunkulu wenu mina ngizacela ebizweni likaThixo. Unkulunkulu ozaphendula ngomlilo, nguye-ke uNkulunkulu.” Ngakho abantu bonke bathi, “Lokho okutshoyo kulungile.”
And do ye call on the name of your god, and I will call on the name of the Lord: and it shall be that the God who answereth by fire, he shall be the [true] God. And all the people answered and said, The proposal is good.
25 U-Elija wathi kubaphrofethi bakaBhali, “Khethani inkunzi eyodwa njalo liqale lina ukuyilungiselela, njengoba lina libanengi kangaka. Memezani unkulunkulu wenu ngegama lakhe, kodwa lingalumathisi umlilo.”
And Elijah said unto the prophets of Ba'al, Choose you for yourselves the one bullock, and prepare it first; for ye are the many; and call on the name of your god, but put no fire to it.
26 Bayithatha inkunzi ababeyiphiwe bayilungisa. Basebebiza ibizo likaBhali kusukela ekuseni kwaze kwaba semini enkulu. Baklabalala besithi, “We Bhali, sabela bo!” Kodwa akubanga lampendulo; kakho owaphendulayo. Bagida bezingelezela i-alithari ababelakhile.
And they took the bullock which he had given to them, and they prepared it; and they called on the name of Ba'al from morning even until noon, saying, O Ba'al, answer us; but there was no voice, nor any answer: and they danced about the altar which had been made.
27 Kwathi emini enkulu u-Elija waqalisa ukubahoza esithi, “Klabalalani ngamandla! Ngempela angithi ungunkulunkulu! Mhlawumbe ujule eminakanweni, engxenye ubambekile, loba engxenye uphakathi kohambo. Engxenye ulele ngakho ufuna ukuvuswa.”
And it came to pass at noon, that Elijah mocked at them, and said, Call with a loud voice; for he is a god; either he is holding council, or he is busy in some pursuit, or he is on a journey; or peradventure he sleepeth, and may thus awaken.
28 Ngakho baklabalala ngamandla baziklaya ngezingqamu langezinkemba, njengoba kwakungumkhuba wabo, kwaze kwajuluka igazi.
And they called with a loud voice and cut themselves after their custom with knives and spears, till the blood gushed out over them.
29 Yedlula imini enkulu, bona baqhubeka ngokuphithizela bephrofetha kwaze kwaba yisikhathi somhlatshelo wakusihlwa. Kodwa akubanga lalutho, akubanga lampendulo, kakho owazihlupha ngakho.
And it came to pass, when midday was past, that they practised their follies until near [the time of] the offering of the evening-sacrifice; but there was neither voice, nor any answer, nor any perceptible sound.
30 Ngakho u-Elija wathi ebantwini, “Wozani ngapha engikhona.” Basondela kuye, yena walungilungisa i-alithari likaThixo elaselibhidlikile.
And Elijah said unto all the people, Come near unto me: and all the people came near unto him; and he repaired the altar of the Lord that had been torn down.
31 U-Elija wathatha amatshe alitshumi lambili, yilelo limele isizwana sosendo lukaJakhobe, yena owayezwe ilizwi likaThixo lisithi kuye, “Uzabizwa ngokuthi ungu-Israyeli.”
And Elijah took twelve stones, according to the number of the tribes of the sons of Jacob, unto whom the word of the Lord was come, saying, Israel shall be thy name.
32 Wakha i-alithari ngebizo likaThixo ngalawo matshe, wagebha umgelo ozingelezela i-alithari okungangena kuwo igokoko lamabele.
And he built of the stones an altar in the name of the Lord; and he made a trench as great as would contain two seahs of seed round about the altar.
33 Walungisa inkuni, wasika inyama yenkunzi wenza amaqatha, waseyibeka phezu kwenkuni. Wasesithi kubo, “Gcwalisani imigqomo emine emikhulu ngamanzi libe seliwathela phezu komhlatshelo laphezu kwenkuni.”
And he put in order the wood, and cut the bullock in pieces, and laid them on the wood,
34 Wathi, “Kwenzeni futhi,” bakwenza lokho njalo. Wathi, “Kwenzeni okwesithathu,” lakanye bakwenza bephinda okwesithathu.
And he said. Fill four jars with water; and they had to pour it on the burnt-offering, and on the wood: 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 Amanzi agcwala aze agcwala lasemgelweni owawugombolozele i-alithari.
And the water ran round about the altar; and the trench also he filled with water.
36 Kuthe ngesikhathi somhlatshelo, u-Elija umphrofethi wasondela wakhuleka esithi, “Oh Thixo, Nkulunkulu ka-Abhrahama, lo-Isaka lo-Israyeli, veza obala lamuhla ukuthi wena unguNkulunkulu ko-Israyeli kanye lokuthi mina ngiyinceku yakho, lokuthi zonke lezizinto ngizenza ngokulaya kwakho.
And it came to pass, at [the time of] the offering of the evening-sacrifice, that Elijah the prophet came near, and said, O Lord, God of Abraham, of Isaac, and of Israel, this day let it be known that thou art God in Israel, and that I am thy servant, and that at thy word I have done all these things.
37 Akungiphendule Oh Thixo, akungiphendule ukuze lababantu bakwazi ukuthi wena Thixo, unguNkulunkulu, lokuthi njalo uguqula inhliziyo zabo.”
Answer me, O Lord, answer me, and let all this people know that thou, O Lord, art the [true] God, and thou wilt [then] have turned their heart back again.
38 Khonokho umlilo kaThixo wehla watshisa umhlatshelo, inkuni, amatshe lomhlabathi, kwaze kwatsha lamanzi ayesemgelweni.
And there fell a fire of the Lord, and consumed the burnt-offering, and the wood, and the stones, and the dust; and the water also that was in the trench did it lick up.
39 Abantu bonke bekubona lokhu, bazilahla phansi bakhala bathi, “UThixo nguye uNkulunkulu! UThixo nguye uNkulunkulu!”
And when all the people saw this, they fell on their faces; and they said, the Lord—he is the God; the Lord—he is the God.
40 U-Elija wasebalaya wathi, “Bambani abaphrofethi bakaBhali. Akungaphunyuki lamunye!” Bababamba, u-Elija wathi kabasiwe eSigodini saseKhishoni, babulawelwa khona.
And Elijah said unto them, Seize the prophets of Ba'al; not one of them must escape; and they seized them: and Elijah brought them down to the brook Kishon, and slaughtered them there.
41 Ngakho u-Elija wasesithi ku-Ahabi, “Hamba, udle unathe, ngoba kuzwakala umdumo wezulu elikhulu.”
And Elijah said unto Achab, Go up, eat and drink; for there is a sound of abundance of rain.
42 Ngalokho u-Ahabi wasuka wayakudla njalo wanatha, kodwa u-Elija wakhwela phezu kwentaba yaseKhameli, wagobisa ikhanda lakhe walifaka phakathi kwamadolo akhe.
So Achab went up to eat and to drink. And Elijah went up to the top of Carmel; and he cast himself down toward the earth, and put his face between his knees;
43 Wathuma isisebenzi sakhe wathi: “Hamba uyephosa amehlo akho olwandle.” Lakanye isisebenzi sahamba sayakhangela. Sathi, “Akulalutho laphaya.” U-Elija watsho kwaze kwaba kasikhombisa esithi, “Buyela.”
And he said to his servant, Go up, I pray thee, look in the direction of the sea. And he went up, and looked, and said, Not the least [is visible]. And he said, Go again, seven times.
44 Ngesikhathi sesikhombisa isisebenzi sabika sathi, “Iyezana elincinyane ngangesandla somuntu likhanya liqubuka lisuka olwandle.” Ngakho u-Elija wasesithi, “Hamba uyetshela u-Ahabi uthi, ‘Bopha inqola yakho yempi usuke lapho ungakavalelwa lizulu.’”
And it came to pass at the seventh time, that he said, Behold, there is a little cloud like a man's hand arising out of the sea. And he said, Go up, say unto Achab, Harness up [thy chariot], and come down, that the rain may not detain thee.
45 Ngalesosikhathi, kwaba mnyama emkhathini ngamayezi, kwaqubuka umoya, kwana izulu elikhulu njalo u-Ahabi wasuka ngenqola waya eJezerili.
And it came to pass in the mean while, that the heavens were blackened with clouds and wind, and there was a great rain. And Achab rode, and went to Yizre'el.
46 Amandla kaThixo ehlela ku-Elija, njalo uthe ukuba akhwicele isembatho sakhe ebhantini wagijima phambi kuka-Ahabi indlela yonke esiya eJezerili.
And the inspiration of the Lord came over Elijah, and he girded up his loins; and he ran before Achab up to the entrance of Yizre'el.
