1 Amakhosi 19
1 U-Ahabi wasetshela uJezebheli ngakho konke okwakwenziwe ngu-Elija kanye lokuthi wababulala njani abaphrofethi ngenkemba.
And Ahab told Jezebel all that Elijah had done, and withal how he had slain all the prophets with the sword.
2 Ngalokho uJezebheli wathumela isithunywa ku-Elija ukuthi siyekuthi, “Onkulunkulu kabangihlanekele ngokwengezelelweyo nxa ngingakubulalanga kuze kube kusasa, njengoba usubulele abaphrofethi.”
Then Jezebel sent a messenger unto Elijah, saying, So let the gods do to me, and more also, if I make not thy life as the life of one of them by tomorrow about this time.
3 U-Elija wasesesaba, wasuka wabaleka, wayafika eBherishebha yakoJuda, wasetshiya khona inceku yakhe.
And when he saw that, he arose, and went for his life, and came to Beer-sheba, which belongeth to Judah, and left his servant there.
4 Yena wahamba okwelanga elilodwa engena enkangala. Wathola khona isihlahla, wahlala ngaphansi kwaso emthunzini, wakhulekela ukuthi ngabe uyafa wathi, “Kwanele, Thixo, susa ukuphila kwami ngoba angingcono kulabokhokho.”
But he himself went a day’s journey into the wilderness, and came and sat down under a juniper tree: and he requested for himself that he might die; and said, It is enough; now, O LORD, take away my life; for I am not better than my fathers.
5 Wasecambalala elala ngaphansi kwesihlahla wajunywa yibuthongo. Khonokho ingilosi yamthinta yathi kuye, “Vuka udle.”
And he lay down and slept under a juniper tree; and, behold, an angel touched him, and said unto him, Arise and eat.
6 Wathalaza, lakanye wabona ngemakhanda nantiyana iqebelengwane lisatshisa emalahleni elaliphekwe kuwo, kanye lenkezo eyayilamanzi okunatha. Wadla njalo wanatha, waphinda walala.
And he looked, and, behold, there was at his head a cake baken on the coals, and a cruse of water. And he did eat and drink, and laid him down again.
7 Ingilosi kaThixo yaphinda yabuya okwesibili yamthinta, yathi kuye, “Vuka udle, ngoba uhambo lude luzakukhulela.”
And the angel of the LORD came again the second time, and touched him, and said, Arise and eat; because the journey is too great for thee.
8 Ngakho wavuka, wadla njalo wehlisa ngamanzi. Eseqiniswe yilokhokudla wahamba insuku ezingamatshumi amane lobusuku obungamatshumi amane waze wayafika eHorebhi intaba kaNkulunkulu.
And he arose, and did eat and drink, and went in the strength of that meat forty days and forty nights unto Horeb the mount of God.
9 Eselapho wangena ebhalwini walala. Ngakho ilizwi likaThixo lafika kuye lisithi, “Kanti wenzani khonapha, Elija?”
And he came thither unto a cave, and lodged there; and, behold, the word of the LORD came to him, and he said unto him, What doest thou here, Elijah?
10 Yena waphendula wathi, “Bengikutshisekela kakhulu, wena Thixo Nkulunkulu Somandla. Abako-Israyeli basephule isivumelwano sakho, badiliza ama-alithare akho, babulala abaphrofethi bakho ngenkemba. Yimi ngedwa engiseleyo, njalo khathesi bayangizingela bafuna ukungibulala.”
And he said, I have been very jealous for the LORD, the God of hosts; for the children of Israel have forsaken thy covenant, thrown down thine altars, and slain thy prophets with the sword: and I, even I only, am left; and they seek my life, to take it away.
11 UThixo wathi kuye, “Hamba uyekuma phezu kwentaba phambi kukaThixo ngoba uThixo uzadlula khona.” Kwaba lomoya owawuvunguza ngamandla udabula izintaba uqhekeza lamadwala phambi kukaThixo, kodwa uThixo wayengekho kulesosiphepho. Kwedlula isiphepho kweza ukuzamazama komhlaba kodwa uThixo wayengekho kulokhokuzamazama.
And he said, Go forth, and stand upon the mount before the LORD. And, behold, the LORD passed by, and a great and strong wind rent the mountains, and brake in pieces the rocks before the LORD; but the LORD was not in the wind: and after the wind an earthquake; but the LORD was not in the earthquake:
12 Kwedlula ukuzamazama komhlaba kwaqhamuka umlilo, kodwa uThixo wayengekho kulowomlilo. Ngemva komlilo kwezwakala ilizwi elipholileyo linyenyeza.
and after the earthquake a fire; but the LORD was not in the fire: and after the fire a still small voice.
13 U-Elija uthe elizwa, wadonsa isembatho sakhe wamboza ubuso bakhe wasuka wayakuma entubeni yobhalu. Khonokho ilizwi lathi kuye, “Wenzani khonapha, Elija?”
And it was so, when Elijah heard it, that he wrapped his face in his mantle, and went out, and stood in the entering in of the cave. And, behold, there came a voice unto him, and said, What doest thou here, Elijah?
14 Yena waphendula wathi, “Bengikutshisekela kakhulu wena Thixo Nkulunkulu Somandla. Abako-Israyeli basephule isivumelwano sakho, badiliza ama-alithare akho, babulala abaphrofethi bakho ngenkemba. Yimi ngedwa engiseleyo, njalo khathesi bayangizingela bafuna ukungibulala lami.”
And he said, I have been very jealous for the LORD, the God of hosts; for the children of Israel have forsaken thy covenant, thrown down thine altars, and slain thy prophets with the sword; and I, even I only, am left; and they seek my life, to take it away.
15 UThixo wathi kuye, “Buyela ngayonale indlela oze ngayo, uye enkangala yaseDamaseko. Ekufikeni kwakho khonale, ugcobe uHazayeli abe yinkosi yase-Aramu.
And the LORD said unto him, Go return on thy way to the wilderness of Damascus: and when thou comest, thou shalt anoint Hazael to be king over Syria:
16 Njalo, ugcobe loJehu indodana kaNimishi abe yinkosi yako-Israyeli, ubusugcoba u-Elisha indodana kaShafathi wase-Abheli-Mehola athathe isikhundla sakho sobuphrofethi.
and Jehu the son of Nimshi shalt thou anoint to be king over Israel: and Elisha the son of Shaphat of Abel-meholah shalt thou anoint to be prophet in thy room.
17 UJehu uzabulala bonke abazaphepha kuleyonkemba kaHazayeli, njalo u-Elisha uzabulala labo abazasila kuleyonkemba kaJehu.
And it shall come to pass, that him that escapeth from the sword of Hazael shall Jehu slay: and him that escapeth from the sword of Jehu shall Elisha slay;
18 Kodwa ngizaphephisa abako-Israyeli abazinkulungwane eziyisikhombisa abangazange bakhothamele uBhali njalo abandebe zabo azizange zimange.”
Yet will I leave [me] seven thousand in Israel, all the knees which have not bowed unto Baal, and every mouth which hath not kissed him.
19 Ngakho u-Elija wasuka lapho wathola u-Elisha indodana kaShafathi. Wamfica elima labanye ngenkabi emajogweni alitshumi lambili, yena etshayela ezejogwe letshumi lambili. U-Elija wasondela kuye wamembesa ngesembatho sakhe.
So he departed thence, and found Elisha, the son of Shaphat, who was plowing, with twelve yoke [of oxen] before him, and he with the twelfth: and Elijah passed over unto him, and cast his mantle upon him.
20 U-Elisha watshiya inkabi zakhe walandela u-Elija. Wasesithi, “Ngivumela ngiyevalelisa ubaba lomama, ngibuye ngizehamba lawe.” U-Elija wamphendula wathi, “Buyela, kanti ngenzeni kuwe?”
And he left the oxen, and ran after Elijah, and said, Let me, I pray thee, kiss my father and my mother, and then I will follow thee. And he said unto him, Go back again; for what have I done to thee?
21 Ngakho u-Elisha wehlukana laye wabuyela emuva. Wathatha inkabi zejogwe lakhe wazihlaba. Wabasa umlilo ngezinto lezo ayelima ngazo ukuze ose inyama yazo wayinika abantu bayidla. Waselandela u-Elija waba yinceku yakhe.
And he returned from following him, and took the yoke of oxen, and slew them, and boiled their flesh with the instruments of the oxen, and gave unto the people, and they did eat. Then he arose, and went after Elijah, and ministered unto him.
