1 Amakhosi 18
1 Ngemva kwesikhathi eside, ngomnyaka wesithathu, ilizwi likaThixo lezwakala ku-Elija lisithi: “Hamba uyezibika ku-Ahabi, ngizanisa izulu elizweni.”
And it came to pass [after] many days, that the word of the LORD came to Elijah in the third year, saying, Go, show thyself to Ahab; and I will send rain upon the earth.
2 Lakanye u-Elija wahamba wayazibika ku-Ahabi. Ngalesosikhathi indlala yayinkulu kakhulu eSamariya,
And Elijah went to show himself to Ahab. And [there was] a grievous famine in Samaria.
3 njalo u-Ahabi wayebize u-Obhadaya, owayengumlindi wesigodlo sakhe. (U-Obhadaya wayekholwa kakhulu kuThixo.
And Ahab called Obadiah who [was] the governor of [his] 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.)
For it was [so], when Jezebel cut off the prophets of the LORD, that Obadiah took a hundred prophets, and hid them by fifty in a cave, and fed 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 Ahab said to Obadiah, Go into the land, to all fountains of water, and to all brooks: it may be we may find grass to save the horses and mules alive, that we lose not all the beasts.
6 Ngakho behlukaniselana isigaba somhlaba ababezawuhlola. U-Ahabi wakhangela le kwathi lo-Obhadaya laye waya le.
So they divided the land between them to pass throughout it: Ahab went one way by himself, and Obadiah went another way by himself.
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 in the way, behold, Elijah met him: and he knew him, and fell on his face, and said, [Art] thou that my lord Elijah?
8 U-Elija waphendula wathi, “Yebo. Hamba uyetshela inkosi yakho ukuthi, ‘U-Elija ulapha.’”
And he answered him, I [am]: go, tell 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 wouldest deliver thy servant into the hand of Ahab 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 no nation nor kingdom, whither my lord hath not sent to seek thee: and when they said, [He is] not [there]; he took an oath of the kingdom and nation, that they found thee not.
11 Kodwa khathesi usungithuma ukuthi ngiye enkosini ngiyeyitshela ukuthi, ‘U-Elija ulapha.’
And now thou sayest, Go, tell thy lord, Behold, Elijah [is here].
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 will come to pass, [as soon as] I have gone from thee, that the Spirit of the LORD will carry thee whither I know not; and [so] when I come and tell Ahab, and he cannot find thee, he will slay me: but I thy servant fear 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.
Was it not told my lord what I did when Jezebel slew the prophets of the LORD, how I hid a hundred men of the LORD'S prophets by fifty in a cave, and fed 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, tell 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.”
And Elijah said, [As] the LORD of hosts liveth, before whom I stand, I will surely show myself to him to-day.
16 Ngakho u-Obhadaya wahlangabeza u-Ahabi wayamtshela, u-Ahabi wayahlangabeza u-Elija.
So Obadiah went to meet Ahab, and told him; and Ahab went to meet Elijah.
17 Uthe ebona u-Elija, wathi kuye, “Nguwe wena, wena oluhlupho ko-Israyeli?”
And it came to pass, when Ahab saw Elijah, that Ahab said to 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, in that ye have forsaken the commandments of the LORD, and thou hast followed Baalim.
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.”
Now therefore send, [and] gather to me all Israel to mount Carmel, and the prophets of Baal four hundred and fifty, and the prophets of the groves four hundred, who eat at Jezebel's table.
20 U-Ahabi wakhupha ilizwi kulolonke elako-Israyeli wahlanganisa abaphrofethi labo eNtabeni iKhameli.
So Ahab sent to all the children of Israel, and gathered the prophets to 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 came to all the people, and said, How long halt ye between two opinions? if the LORD [is] God, follow him: but if Baal, [then] 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.
Then said Elijah to the people, I [even] I only, remain a prophet of the LORD; but Baal's prophet's [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.
Let them therefore give us two bullocks; and let them choose one bullock for themselves, and cut it in pieces, and lay [it] on wood, and put no fire [under]: and I will dress the other bullock, and lay [it] on wood, and put no fire [under]:
24 Libe selibiza ibizo likankulunkulu wenu mina ngizacela ebizweni likaThixo. Unkulunkulu ozaphendula ngomlilo, nguye-ke uNkulunkulu.” Ngakho abantu bonke bathi, “Lokho okutshoyo kulungile.”
And call ye on the name of your gods, and I will call on the name of the LORD: and the God that answereth by fire, let him be God. And all the people answered and said, It is well spoken.
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 to the prophets of Baal, Choose you one bullock for yourselves, and dress [it] first; for ye [are] many; and call on the name of your gods, but put no fire [under].
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 was given them, and they dressed [it], and called on the name of Baal from morning even until noon, saying, O Baal, hear us. But [there was] no voice, nor any that answered. And they leaped upon the altar which was 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 them, and said, Cry aloud: for he [is] a god; either he is talking, or he is pursuing, or he is on a journey, [or] perhaps he sleepeth, and must be awaked.
28 Ngakho baklabalala ngamandla baziklaya ngezingqamu langezinkemba, njengoba kwakungumkhuba wabo, kwaze kwajuluka igazi.
And they cried aloud, and cut themselves after their manner with knives and lancets, till the blood gushed out upon 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 mid-day was past, and they prophesied until the [time] of the offering of the [evening] sacrifice, that [there was] neither voice, nor any to answer, nor any that regarded.
30 Ngakho u-Elija wathi ebantwini, “Wozani ngapha engikhona.” Basondela kuye, yena walungilungisa i-alithari likaThixo elaselibhidlikile.
And Elijah said to all the people, Come near to me. And all the people came near to him. And he repaired the altar of the LORD [that was] broken 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, to whom the word of the LORD came, saying, Israel shall be thy name:
32 Wakha i-alithari ngebizo likaThixo ngalawo matshe, wagebha umgelo ozingelezela i-alithari okungangena kuwo igokoko lamabele.
And with the stones he built an altar in the name of the LORD: and he made a trench about the altar, as great as would contain two measures of seed.
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 the wood in order, and cut the bullock in pieces, and laid [him] on the wood, and said, Fill four barrels with water, and pour [it] on the burnt-sacrifice, and on the wood.
34 Wathi, “Kwenzeni futhi,” bakwenza lokho njalo. Wathi, “Kwenzeni okwesithathu,” lakanye bakwenza bephinda okwesithathu.
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 around the altar; and he filled the trench also 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, LORD God of Abraham, Isaac, and of Israel, let it be known this day that thou [art] God in Israel, and [that] I [am] thy servant, and [that] I have done all these things at thy word.
37 Akungiphendule Oh Thixo, akungiphendule ukuze lababantu bakwazi ukuthi wena Thixo, unguNkulunkulu, lokuthi njalo uguqula inhliziyo zabo.”
Hear me, O LORD, hear me, that this people may know that thou [art] the LORD God, and [that] thou hast turned their heart back again.
38 Khonokho umlilo kaThixo wehla watshisa umhlatshelo, inkuni, amatshe lomhlabathi, kwaze kwatsha lamanzi ayesemgelweni.
Then the fire of the LORD fell, and consumed the burnt-sacrifice, and the wood, and the stones, and the dust, and licked up the water that [was] in the trench.
39 Abantu bonke bekubona lokhu, bazilahla phansi bakhala bathi, “UThixo nguye uNkulunkulu! UThixo nguye uNkulunkulu!”
And when all the people saw [it], 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 to them, Take the prophets of Baal; let not one of them escape. And they took them: and Elijah brought them down to the brook Kishon, and slew them there.
41 Ngakho u-Elija wasesithi ku-Ahabi, “Hamba, udle unathe, ngoba kuzwakala umdumo wezulu elikhulu.”
And Elijah said to Ahab, 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 Ahab went up to eat and to drink. And Elijah went up to the top of Carmel; and he cast himself down upon 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 said to his servant, Go up now, look towards the sea. And he went up and looked, and said, [There is] nothing. 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 ariseth a little cloud out of the sea, like a man's hand. And he said, Go up, say to Ahab, Prepare [thy chariot], and go down, that the rain may not hinder 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 heaven was black with clouds and wind, and there was a great rain. And Ahab rode, and went to Jezreel.
46 Amandla kaThixo ehlela ku-Elija, njalo uthe ukuba akhwicele isembatho sakhe ebhantini wagijima phambi kuka-Ahabi indlela yonke esiya eJezerili.
And the hand of the LORD was on Elijah; and he girded his loins, and ran before Ahab to the entrance of Jezreel.
