2 Amakhosi 4

1 Umfazi wenye indoda phakathi kwexuku labaphrofethi wakhalaza ku-Elisha wathi, “Indoda yami ebiyinceku yakho isifile, njalo uyakwazi ukuthi ibe imkhonza uThixo. Umkami ubelesikwelede sendoda ethile esifuna ukuthumba amadodana ami amabili ukuze abe yizigqili zayo.”

And a certain woman, of the wives of the sons of the prophets cried unto Elisha', saying, Thy servant my husband is dead; and thou well knowest that thy servant was one who feared the Lord: and now the creditor is come to take my two sons unto himself for servants.

2 U-Elisha wamphendula wathi, “Ngingakunceda kanjani na? Akungitshele, kulani endlini yakho?” Umfelokazi wathi, “Incekukazi yakho ayilalutho ngaphandle kwengcosana yamafutha.”

And Elisha' said unto her, What shall I do for thee? tell me, what hast thou in the house? And she said, Thy hand-maid hath nothing in the house, save a pot of oil.

3 U-Elisha wasesithi, “Hamba uyekweboleka imbiza ezinengi kubomakhelwane bakho bonke. Ungaceli ezilutshwane nje.

And he said, Go, borrow for thyself vessels from abroad from all thy neighbors, empty vessels, let them not be a few.

4 Ubusungena endlini yakho lamadodana akho uvale umnyango. Ubusuthululela amafutha embizeni inye nganye, ithi ingagcwala uyibeke eceleni.”

And then go home, and lock the door behind thee and behind thy sons, and then pour out into all those vessels; and that which is full thou shalt set aside.

5 Wasuka kuye kwathi ngemva kwesikhathi wavala umnyango lamadodana akhe. Amadodana amqhubela imbiza yena elokhu ezigcwalisa ngamafutha.

So she went from him, and locked the door behind her and behind her sons, who brought the vessels near to her, and she poured out.

6 Kuthe imbiza zonke sezigcwele, wathi endodaneni yakhe, “Letha enye futhi.” Kodwa yaphendula yathi, “Akuselambiza eseleyo.” Amafutha kazabe esajuluka.

And it came to pass, when the vessels were full, that she said unto her son, Bring near to me yet another vessel; and he said unto her, There is not a vessel more: and the oil stayed.

7 Wasuka wayatshela umuntu kaNkulunkulu, owathi, “Hamba uyethengisa amafutha lawo ubhadale izikwelede zakho. Wena lamadodana akho lizaphila ngaseleyo.”

Then came she and told it to the man of God; and he said, Go, sell the oil, and pay thy debt, and thou with thy children shalt live of the rest.

8 Ngolunye usuku u-Elisha waya eShunemi. Kwakulowesifazane onothileyo, owamcela ukuba ahlale adle ukudla. Kwakusithi nxa ehambele khonale wayethola ukudla khonapho.

And it happened one day, that Elisha' passed over to Shunem, and there was a great woman, and she constrained him to eat bread; and it happened, that as oft as he passed by, he used to turn in thither to eat bread.

9 Owesifazane wathi kumyeni wakhe, “Ngiyakwazi ukuthi lumuntu ohlala esedlula lapha ngumuntu ongcwele kaNkulunkulu.

And she said unto her husband, Behold now, I perceive that this is a holy man of God, who passeth through by us continually.

10 Kasimlungisele indlu ephezulu simfakele khona umbheda, itafula, isihlalo kanye lesibane. Kube yindlu azafikela kiyo nxa elapha kithi.”

Let us then make a little upper chamber, on the wall; and let us set for him there a bed, and a table, and a chair, and a candlestick: and it shall be, when he cometh to us, that he shall turn in thither.

11 Kwelinye ilanga, u-Elisha wafika wayangena endlini yakhe leyo wacambalala khona.

And it happened one day, that he came thither, and he turned into the upper chamber, and lay there.

12 Wathuma inceku yakhe uGehazi, wathi, “Ngibizela umShunami.” Ngakho inceku yambiza, wafika wema phansi kwakhe.

And he said to Gechazi his servant, Call this Shunammite: and he called her, and she stood before him.

13 U-Elisha wasesithi, “Umtshele uthi, ‘Usuzihluphe kangaka usilungisela. Kambe kuyini ongakwenzelwa wena? Singakukhulumela yini enkosini loba kumlawuli wamabutho na?’” Owesifazane wathi, “Ngilomuzi phakathi kwabantu bakithi.”

And he said unto him, Say now unto her, Behold, thou hast been at pains to take all this trouble for us: what is to be done for thee? wouldst thou be spoken for to the king, or to the chief of the army? And she said, I dwell in the midst of my own people.

14 U-Elisha wabuza wathi, “Kuyini esingamenzela khona na?” UGehazi wathi, “Kalandodana njalo umyeni wakhe useluphele.”

And he said, What then is to be done for her? And Gechazi said, Verily, she hath no son, and her husband is old.

15 Ngakho u-Elisha wathi, “Mbize.” Inceku yasimbiza, wafika wema emnyango. U-Elisha wathi,

And he said, Call her: and he called her, and she stood in the door.

16 “Ngasolesi isikhathi ngomnyaka ozayo uzaphatha indodana ezandleni zakho.” Owesifazane waphikisa wathi, “Atshi, nkosi yami, ungabokhohlisa incekukazi yakho, wena muntu kaNkulunkulu!”

And he said, At this season, next year, thou shalt embrace a son. And she said, No, my Lord, man of God, do not deceive thy hand-maid.

17 Owesifazane wathatha isisu, kwathi ngomnyaka owalandelayo ngesikhathi esifananayo wakhululeka wazuza indodana njengokutshelwa kwakhe ngu-Elisha.

But the woman conceived, and bore a son at that season in the following year, as Elisha' had spoken unto her.

18 Umntwana wakhula, kwathi ngelinye ilanga walandela uyise, owayelabavuni.

And the child grew up; and it happened one day, that he went out to his father to the reapers.

19 Wasesithi kuyise, “Maye ikhanda lami! Maye ikhanda lami!” Uyise wathuma isisebenzi wathi, “Thwala umntwana uye laye kunina.”

And he said unto his father, My head, my head: and he said to a lad, Carry him to his mother.

20 Isisebenzi sesimthwalele kunina unina wamanga kwaze kwaba semini enkulu umntwana wasesifa.

And he took him up, and brought him to his mother, and he sat on her knees till noon, when he died.

21 Unina wamthatha wayamlalisa embhedeni womuntu kaNkulunkulu, waphuma wasevala umnyango.

And she went up, and laid him on the bed of the man of God, and locked the door behind him, and went out.

22 Owesifazane wathumela kumkakhe ilizwi elithi, “Ngicela ungithumele esinye sezisebenzi kanye lobabhemi ukuze ngiphange ngiyebona umuntu kaNkulunkulu ngiphenduke.”

And she called unto her husband, and said, Send me, I pray thee, one of the young men, and one of the she-asses, that I may hasten as far as the man of God, and return.

23 Umyeni wakhe wathi, “Kungani umlanda lamuhla? Akusikho ekuThwaseni kweNyanga njalo akusilo iSabatha.” Owesifazane wathi, “Kulungile kunjalo.”

And he said, Wherefore art thou going to him today? it is neither new moon, nor sabbath. And she said, It is well.

24 Wethesa ubabhemi wasesithi kusisebenzi sakhe, “Khokhela; ungahambi kancane usenzela mina ngaphandle kokuba ngikutshele.”

Then she saddled the she-ass, and said to her servant, Drive, and go forward; do not restrain me in riding, unless I say it to thee.

25 Ngakho waphuma wahamba waze wayamthola umuntu kaNkulunkulu eNtabeni yaseKhameli. Ebona owesifazane esesebucwadlana, umuntu kaNkulunkulu wathi kuGehazi inceku yakhe, “Khangela! Nanguyana umShunami!

So she went and came unto the man of God to mount Carmel; and it came to pass, when the man of God saw her afar off, that he said to Gechazi his servant, Behold, yonder that Shunammite.

26 Gijima umhlangabeze umbuze uthi, ‘Konke kulungile kuwe na? Umkakho uyaphila na? Umntanakho uyaphila na?’” Owesifazane wathi, “Konke kulungile.”

Now do run to meet her, and say unto her, Is it well with thee? is it well with thy husband? is it well with thy child? and she answered, It is well.

27 Kodwa esefikile emuntwini kaNkulunkulu entabeni, wagagadlela inyawo zakhe. UGehazi weza kuye wamfuqela khatshana, kodwa umuntu kaNkulunkulu wathi, “Myekele! Uphakathi kosizi olukhulu, kodwa uThixo ukufihlile kimi lokho njalo kangitshelanga ukuthi kungani.”

And she came to the man of God to the mount, and caught hold of his feet; and Gechazi came near to thrust her away; but the man of God said, Let her alone; for her soul is grieved within her; and the Lord hath hidden it from me, and hath not told it me.

28 Owesifazane wathi, “Ngake ngacela indodana kuwe na, nkosi yami? Angizange ngikutshele yini ukuthi ungaze wangikhohlisa na?”

And she said, Did I request a son from my Lord? did I not say, Do not lead me astray?

29 U-Elisha wathi kuGehazi, “Khwincela ijazi lakho ebhantini, uphathe intonga yami ngesandla ubusugijima. Loba ngubani ohlangana laye, ungambingeleli, loba angaze akubingelele ungamphenduli. Ufike ubeke intonga yami ebusweni bomfana.”

Then said he to Gechazi, Gird up thy loins, and take my staff in thy hand, and go thy way: if thou meet any man, thou shalt not salute him; and if any salute thee, thou shalt not answer him; and lay my staff upon the face of the lad.

30 Kodwa unina womfana wathi, “Ngeqiniso elinjengoba uThixo ephila lanjengoba uphila, angiyikukutshiya.” Ngakho wasuka walandela owesifazane.

And the mother of the lad said, As the Lord liveth, and as thy soul liveth, I will not leave thee. And he arose and followed her.

31 UGehazi wahle wagijima phambili wayabeka intonga ebusweni bomfana, kodwa akuzwakalanga lutho njalo kanyikinyekanga. Ngakho uGehazi wabuyela ukuyahlangabeza u-Elisha wamtshela wathi, “Umfana kavukanga.”

And Gechazi passed on before them, and laid the staff upon the face of the lad; but there was neither voice, nor perceptible sound; wherefore he went back to meet him, and told him, saying, The lad is not awakened.

32 Ekufikeni kwakhe endlini u-Elisha, wafumana lakanye nangu umfana usembhedeni wakhe ufile.

And when Elisha' was come into the house, behold, the lad was dead, laid upon his bed.

33 Wangena wavala umnyango baba bobabili lomfana wasekhuleka kuThixo.

And he went in and locked the door behind both of them, and prayed unto the Lord.

34 Wakhwela embhedeni wacambalala phezu komfana, umlomo emlonyeni, amehlo emehlweni, izandla ezandleni. Uthe esazelula phezu komfana, umzimba womfana waqalisa ukukhudumala.

And he went up, and laid himself upon the child, and put his mouth upon his mouth, and his eyes upon his eyes, and his hands upon his hands; and he stretched himself upon him: and the flesh of the child became warm.

35 U-Elisha wafulathela wahambahamba endlini waphinda wabuyela embhedeni wacambalala phezu komfana. Umfana wathimula kasikhombisa wasevula amehlo.

Then he returned, and walked in the house to and fro; and went up, and stretched himself [again] upon him; and the lad sneezed as many as seven times, and the lad opened his eyes.

36 U-Elisha wabiza uGehazi wathi kuye, “Biza umShunami.” Wakwenza lokho. Uthe esefikile wasesithi kuye owesifazane, “Thatha indodana yakho.”

And he called Gechazi, and said, Call this Shunammite: so he called her, and she came in unto him; and he said, Take up thy son.

37 UmShunami wangena, wawela ezinyaweni zakhe wakhothama. Wasethatha indodana yakhe wahamba.

Then went she in, and fell at his feet, and bowed herself to the ground, and took up her son, and went out.

38 U-Elisha wabuyela eGiligali njalo kulesosigaba kwakulendlala. Kwathi esesemhlanganweni lexuku labaphrofethi, wathuma isisebenzi sakhe wathi, “Beka imbiza enkulu eziko, uphekele abaphrofethi ukudla.”

And Elisha' returned to Gilgal; and there was a famine in the land; and the sons of the prophets were sitting before him: and he said unto his servant, Set on the large pot, and seethe pottage for the sons of the prophets.

39 Omunye wabo wayakukha imibhida egangeni wathola ivini leganga. Wakha amajodwana wagcwalisa ophikweni lwesigqoko sakhe. Ekuphendukeni kwakhe wawaqobaqoba wawafaka embizeni yesitshebo lanxa kungekho owayesazi ukuthi kuyini.

And one went out into the field to gather herbs, and found a wild vine, and gathered thereof wild colocynths his garment full, and came and cut them up into the pot of pottage; for they knew them not.

40 Kwaphakululwa ukuba abantu badle, kodwa bathi beqalisa ukudla bamemeza bathi, “Awu muntu kaNkulunkulu kulokufa embizeni!” Kabazabe besakudla.

And they poured it out for the men to eat; and it came to pass, as they were eating of the pottage, that they cried out, and said, Death is in the pot, O man of God. And they could not eat.

41 U-Elisha wathi, “Lethani ifulawa.” Wayifaka embizeni wasesithi, “Baphakuleleni abantu badle.” Ngalokho kwakungaselabuthi embizeni.

But he said, Then bring some meal. And he cast it into the pot; and he said, Pour it out for the people, that they may eat. And there was nothing bad in the pot.

42 Kwafika indoda ethile ivela eBhali-Shalisha, iphathele umuntu kaNkulunkulu izinkwa zebhali ezingamatshumi amabili, zibhekhwe ngezilimo zakuqala. U-Elisha wathi, “Nikani abantu badle.”

And there came a man from Ba'alshalishah, and brought unto the man of God bread of the first-fruits, twenty loaves of barley bread, and fresh ears of corn in his scrip: and he said, Give it unto the people, that they may eat.

43 Inceku yakhe yathi, “Ngingababela njani abantu abalikhulu okungaka?” Kodwa u-Elisha wathi, “Phakululela abantu badle. Ngoba ilizwi likaThixo lithi: ‘Bazakudla baze bakutshiye.’”

And his servitor said, What, shall I set this before a hundred men? And he said, Give it unto the people, that they may eat; for thus hath said the Lord, They shall eat, and shall leave [thereof].

44 Inceku yasiphakululela abantu, badla baze bakutshiya, njengokutsho kwelizwi likaThixo.

So he set it before them, and they ate, and left thereof, according to the word of the Lord.