2 Amakhosi 1
1 Ngemva kokufa kuka-Ahabi, amaMowabi ahlamukela u-Israyeli.
Moab rebelled against Israel after the death of Ahab.
2 U-Ahaziya wayewele embotsheni yendlu yakhe engaphezulu eSamariya walimala. Wathumela izithunywa, wathi kuzo, “Hambani liyebuza kuBhali-Zebhubhi, unkulunkulu wase-Ekroni, ukuthi kambe ngizasila yini kulokhu kulimala na.”
Ahaziah fell down through the lattice in his upper room that was in Samaria, and was sick. So he sent messengers, and said to them, “Go, inquire of Baal Zebub, the god of Ekron, whether I will recover of this sickness.”
3 Kodwa ingilosi kaThixo yathi ku-Elija umThishibi, “Suka uyehlangabeza izithunywa zenkosi yaseSamariya uyezibuza ukuthi, ‘Kambe yikuthi akuselaNkulunkulu ko-Israyeli na ukuze uyehlahlula kuBhali-Zebhubhi, unkulunkulu wase-Ekroni?’
But the LORD’s angel said to Elijah the Tishbite, “Arise, go up to meet the messengers of the king of Samaria, and tell them, ‘Is it because there is no God in Israel that you go to inquire of Baal Zebub, the god of Ekron?
4 Ngakho uThixo uthi: ‘Awuyikusuka kulowombheda ogulela kuwo. Ngempela uzakufa!’”
Now therefore the LORD says, “You will not come down from the bed where you have gone up, but you will surely die.”’” Then Elijah departed.
5 Ekubuyeleni kwezithunywa enkosini, yazibuza yathi, “Kungani selibuyile na?”
The messengers returned to him, and he said to them, “Why is it that you have returned?”
6 Izithunywa zaphendula zathi, “Kulendoda esihlangabezileyo yathi kithi, ‘Buyelani enkosini elithumileyo liyeyitshela ukuthi, “Ilizwi likaThixo lithi: Kungenxa yokuthi akulaNkulunkulu yini ko-Israyeli okubangele ukuthi uthumele abantu ukuyahlahlula kuBhali-Zebhubhi, unkulunkulu we-Ekroni na? Ngakho awuyikuvuka kulowombheda olele kuwo. Ngempela uzakufa!”’”
They said to him, “A man came up to meet us, and said to us, ‘Go, return to the king who sent you, and tell him, “The LORD says, ‘Is it because there is no God in Israel that you send to inquire of Baal Zebub, the god of Ekron? Therefore you will not come down from the bed where you have gone up, but you will surely die.’”’”
7 Inkosi yabuza izithunywa yathi, “Ngumuntu onjani lowo olihlangabezileyo waselitshela lokhu?”
He said to them, “What kind of man was he who came up to meet you and told you these words?”
8 Izithunywa zaphendula zathi, “Yindoda ebigqoke isigqoko soboya ekhalweni ibophe ngozwezwe.” Inkosi yathi, “Lowo ngu-Elija umThishibi.”
They answered him, “He was a hairy man, and wearing a leather belt around his waist.” He said, “It’s Elijah the Tishbite.”
9 Inkosi yasithumela ku-Elija induna yebutho labantu bayo abangamatshumi amahlanu. Induna yebutho yakhwela yaya ku-Elija, owayehlezi phezu koqaqa, yafika yathi kuye, “Muntu kaNkulunkulu, inkosi ithi, ‘Yehla!’”
Then the king sent a captain of fifty with his fifty to him. He went up to him; and behold, he was sitting on the top of the hill. He said to him, “Man of God, the king has said, ‘Come down!’”
10 U-Elija ephendula induna yebutho wathi, “Nxa ngingumuntu kaNkulunkulu, kakwehle umlilo ovela ezulwini ukuqothule wena kanye labantu bakho abangamatshumi amahlanu!” Lakanye wehla umlilo uvela ezulwini wayiqothula induna yebutho kanye labantu bayo.
Elijah answered to the captain of fifty, “If I am a man of God, then let fire come down from the sky and consume you and your fifty!” Then fire came down from the sky, and consumed him and his fifty.
11 Ngokubona lokho inkosi yathuma ku-Elija eyinye induna yebutho lamanye amadoda angamatshumi amahlanu. Induna yathi ku-Elija, “Muntu kaNkulunkulu, inkosi ithi, ‘Yehla khathesi.’”
Again he sent to him another captain of fifty with his fifty. He answered him, “Man of God, the king has said, ‘Come down quickly!’”
12 U-Elija waphendula wathi, “Nxa ngingumuntu kaNkulunkulu, kakwehle umlilo ovela ezulwini ukuqothule wena kanye labantu bakho!” Ngakho umlilo kaNkulunkulu wehla uvela ezulwini waqothula izinduna zamabutho ezakuqala zombili kanye labo bonke abantu bayo abangamatshumi amahlanu.
Elijah answered them, “If I am a man of God, then let fire come down from the sky and consume you and your fifty!” Then God’s fire came down from the sky, and consumed him and his fifty.
13 Ngakho inkosi yathuma induna yebutho yesithathu labantu bayo abangamatshumi amahlanu. Induna yebutho yesithathu yakhwela yafika yaguqa ngamadolo phambi kuka-Elija yamncenga yathi, “Muntu kaNkulunkulu, akube lesihawu ngempilo yami leyamadoda la angamatshumi amahlanu, thina sizinceku zakho!
Again he sent the captain of a third fifty with his fifty. The third captain of fifty went up, and came and fell on his knees before Elijah, and begged him, and said to him, “Man of God, please let my life and the life of these fifty of your servants be precious in your sight.
14 Angithi uyabona, umlilo wehle uvela ezulwini waqothula izinduna zamabutho lamadoda angamatshumi amahlanu induna nganye. Kodwa manje akunakekele impilo yami!”
Behold, fire came down from the sky and consumed the last two captains of fifty with their fifties. But now let my life be precious in your sight.”
15 Ingilosi kaThixo yathi ku-Elija, “Yehla kanye layo induna; ungayesabi.” Ngakho u-Elija wasukuma wehla kanye lenduna waya enkosini.
The LORD’s angel said to Elijah, “Go down with him. Don’t be afraid of him.” Then he arose and went down with him to the king.
16 Wasesithi enkosini, “Ilizwi likaThixo lithi: Kungenxa yokuthi akulaNkulunkulu yini ko-Israyeli ukuze uthume izithunywa ukuthi ziyohlahlula kuBhali-Zebhubhi, unkulunkulu we-Ekroni na? Ngenxa yesenzo sakho lesi, awuyikuvuka kulowombheda olele kuwo. Ngempela uzakufa!”
He said to him, “The LORD says, ‘Because you have sent messengers to inquire of Baal Zebub, the god of Ekron, is it because there is no God in Israel to inquire of his word? Therefore you will not come down from the bed where you have gone up, but you will surely die.’”
17 Lakanye wafa, njengelizwi likaThixo elakhulunywa ngu-Elija. Njengoba u-Ahaziya wayengelandodana, ubukhosi bakhe bathathwa nguJoramu owaba yinkosi ngomnyaka wesibili wokubusa kukaJehoramu indodana kaJehoshafathi inkosi yakoJuda.
So he died according to the LORD’s word which Elijah had spoken. Jehoram began to reign in his place in the second year of Jehoram the son of Jehoshaphat king of Judah, because he had no son.
18 Konke okwembali yokubusa kuka-Ahaziya, kanye lakwenzayo, akulotshwanga yini egwalweni lwembali yamakhosi ako-Israyeli na?
Now the rest of the acts of Ahaziah which he did, aren’t they written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel?
