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.”
Now a certain woman of the wives of the sons of the prophets cried out to Elisha, saying, “Your servant my husband is dead. You know that your servant feared the LORD. Now the creditor has come to take for himself my two children to be slaves.”
2 U-Elisha wamphendula wathi, “Ngingakunceda kanjani na? Akungitshele, kulani endlini yakho?” Umfelokazi wathi, “Incekukazi yakho ayilalutho ngaphandle kwengcosana yamafutha.”
Elisha said to her, “What should I do for you? Tell me, what do you have in the house?” She said, “Your servant has nothing in the house, except a pot of oil.”
3 U-Elisha wasesithi, “Hamba uyekweboleka imbiza ezinengi kubomakhelwane bakho bonke. Ungaceli ezilutshwane nje.
Then he said, “Go, borrow empty containers from all your neighbors. Don’t borrow just a few containers.
4 Ubusungena endlini yakho lamadodana akho uvale umnyango. Ubusuthululela amafutha embizeni inye nganye, ithi ingagcwala uyibeke eceleni.”
Go in and shut the door on you and on your sons, and pour oil into all those containers; and set aside those which are full.”
5 Wasuka kuye kwathi ngemva kwesikhathi wavala umnyango lamadodana akhe. Amadodana amqhubela imbiza yena elokhu ezigcwalisa ngamafutha.
So she went from him, and shut the door on herself and on her sons. They brought the containers to her, and she poured oil.
6 Kuthe imbiza zonke sezigcwele, wathi endodaneni yakhe, “Letha enye futhi.” Kodwa yaphendula yathi, “Akuselambiza eseleyo.” Amafutha kazabe esajuluka.
When the containers were full, she said to her son, “Bring me another container.” He said to her, “There isn’t another container.” Then the oil stopped flowing.
7 Wasuka wayatshela umuntu kaNkulunkulu, owathi, “Hamba uyethengisa amafutha lawo ubhadale izikwelede zakho. Wena lamadodana akho lizaphila ngaseleyo.”
Then she came and told the man of God. He said, “Go, sell the oil, and pay your debt; and you and your sons live on the rest.”
8 Ngolunye usuku u-Elisha waya eShunemi. Kwakulowesifazane onothileyo, owamcela ukuba ahlale adle ukudla. Kwakusithi nxa ehambele khonale wayethola ukudla khonapho.
One day Elisha went to Shunem, where there was a prominent woman; and she persuaded him to eat bread. So it was, that as often as he passed by, he turned in there to eat bread.
9 Owesifazane wathi kumyeni wakhe, “Ngiyakwazi ukuthi lumuntu ohlala esedlula lapha ngumuntu ongcwele kaNkulunkulu.
She said to her husband, “See now, I perceive that this is a holy man of God who passes by us continually.
10 Kasimlungisele indlu ephezulu simfakele khona umbheda, itafula, isihlalo kanye lesibane. Kube yindlu azafikela kiyo nxa elapha kithi.”
Please, let’s make a little room on the roof. Let’s set a bed, a table, a chair, and a lamp stand for him there. When he comes to us, he can stay there.”
11 Kwelinye ilanga, u-Elisha wafika wayangena endlini yakhe leyo wacambalala khona.
One day he came there, and he went to the room and lay there.
12 Wathuma inceku yakhe uGehazi, wathi, “Ngibizela umShunami.” Ngakho inceku yambiza, wafika wema phansi kwakhe.
He said to Gehazi his servant, “Call this Shunammite.” When he had called her, 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.”
He said to him, “Say now to her, ‘Behold, you have cared for us with all this care. What is to be done for you? Would you like to be spoken for to the king, or to the captain of the army?’” She answered, “I dwell among my own people.”
14 U-Elisha wabuza wathi, “Kuyini esingamenzela khona na?” UGehazi wathi, “Kalandodana njalo umyeni wakhe useluphele.”
He said, “What then is to be done for her?” Gehazi answered, “Most certainly she has no son, and her husband is old.”
15 Ngakho u-Elisha wathi, “Mbize.” Inceku yasimbiza, wafika wema emnyango. U-Elisha wathi,
He said, “Call her.” When he had called her, 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!”
He said, “At this season next year, you will embrace a son.” She said, “No, my lord, you man of God, do not lie to your servant.”
17 Owesifazane wathatha isisu, kwathi ngomnyaka owalandelayo ngesikhathi esifananayo wakhululeka wazuza indodana njengokutshelwa kwakhe ngu-Elisha.
The woman conceived, and bore a son at that season when the time came around, as Elisha had said to her.
18 Umntwana wakhula, kwathi ngelinye ilanga walandela uyise, owayelabavuni.
When the child was grown, one day 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.”
He said to his father, “My head! My head!” He said to his servant, “Carry him to his mother.”
20 Isisebenzi sesimthwalele kunina unina wamanga kwaze kwaba semini enkulu umntwana wasesifa.
When he had taken him and brought him to his mother, he sat on her knees until noon, and then died.
21 Unina wamthatha wayamlalisa embhedeni womuntu kaNkulunkulu, waphuma wasevala umnyango.
She went up and laid him on the man of God’s bed, and shut the door on him, and went out.
22 Owesifazane wathumela kumkakhe ilizwi elithi, “Ngicela ungithumele esinye sezisebenzi kanye lobabhemi ukuze ngiphange ngiyebona umuntu kaNkulunkulu ngiphenduke.”
She called to her husband and said, “Please send me one of the servants, and one of the donkeys, that I may run to the man of God and come again.”
23 Umyeni wakhe wathi, “Kungani umlanda lamuhla? Akusikho ekuThwaseni kweNyanga njalo akusilo iSabatha.” Owesifazane wathi, “Kulungile kunjalo.”
He said, “Why would you want to go to him today? It is not a new moon or a Sabbath.” She said, “It’s all right.”
24 Wethesa ubabhemi wasesithi kusisebenzi sakhe, “Khokhela; ungahambi kancane usenzela mina ngaphandle kokuba ngikutshele.”
Then she saddled a donkey, and said to her servant, “Drive, and go forward! Don’t slow down for me, unless I ask you to.”
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 to the man of God to Mount Carmel. When the man of God saw her afar off, he said to Gehazi his servant, “Behold, there is the Shunammite.
26 Gijima umhlangabeze umbuze uthi, ‘Konke kulungile kuwe na? Umkakho uyaphila na? Umntanakho uyaphila na?’” Owesifazane wathi, “Konke kulungile.”
Please run now to meet her, and ask her, ‘Is it well with you? Is it well with your husband? Is it well with your child?’” 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.”
When she came to the man of God to the hill, she caught hold of his feet. Gehazi came near to thrust her away; but the man of God said, “Leave her alone, for her soul is troubled within her; and the LORD has hidden it from me, and has not told me.”
28 Owesifazane wathi, “Ngake ngacela indodana kuwe na, nkosi yami? Angizange ngikutshele yini ukuthi ungaze wangikhohlisa na?”
Then she said, “Did I ask you for a son, my lord? Didn’t I say, ‘Do not deceive me’?”
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 he said to Gehazi, “Tuck your cloak into your belt, take my staff in your hand, and go your way. If you meet any man, don’t greet him; and if anyone greets you, don’t answer him again. Then lay my staff on the child’s face.”
30 Kodwa unina womfana wathi, “Ngeqiniso elinjengoba uThixo ephila lanjengoba uphila, angiyikukutshiya.” Ngakho wasuka walandela owesifazane.
The child’s mother said, “As the LORD lives, and as your soul lives, I will not leave you.” So 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.”
Gehazi went ahead of them, and laid the staff on the child’s face; but there was no voice and no hearing. Therefore he returned to meet him, and told him, “The child has not awakened.”
32 Ekufikeni kwakhe endlini u-Elisha, wafumana lakanye nangu umfana usembhedeni wakhe ufile.
When Elisha had come into the house, behold, the child was dead, and lying on his bed.
33 Wangena wavala umnyango baba bobabili lomfana wasekhuleka kuThixo.
He went in therefore, and shut the door on them both, and prayed to the LORD.
34 Wakhwela embhedeni wacambalala phezu komfana, umlomo emlonyeni, amehlo emehlweni, izandla ezandleni. Uthe esazelula phezu komfana, umzimba womfana waqalisa ukukhudumala.
He went up and lay on the child, and put his mouth on his mouth, and his eyes on his eyes, and his hands on his hands. He stretched himself on him; and the child’s flesh grew 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 once back and forth, then went up and stretched himself out on him. Then the child sneezed seven times, and the child opened his eyes.
36 U-Elisha wabiza uGehazi wathi kuye, “Biza umShunami.” Wakwenza lokho. Uthe esefikile wasesithi kuye owesifazane, “Thatha indodana yakho.”
He called Gehazi, and said, “Call this Shunammite!” So he called her. When she had come in to him, he said, “Take up your son.”
37 UmShunami wangena, wawela ezinyaweni zakhe wakhothama. Wasethatha indodana yakhe wahamba.
Then she went in, fell at his feet, and bowed herself to the ground; then she picked 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.”
Elisha came again to Gilgal. There was a famine in the land; and the sons of the prophets were sitting before him; and he said to his servant, “Get the large pot, and boil stew 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.
One went out into the field to gather herbs, and found a wild vine, and gathered a lap full of wild gourds from it, and came and cut them up into the pot of stew; for they didn’t recognize them.
40 Kwaphakululwa ukuba abantu badle, kodwa bathi beqalisa ukudla bamemeza bathi, “Awu muntu kaNkulunkulu kulokufa embizeni!” Kabazabe besakudla.
So they poured out for the men to eat. As they were eating some of the stew, they cried out and said, “Man of God, there is death in the pot!” And they could not eat it.
41 U-Elisha wathi, “Lethani ifulawa.” Wayifaka embizeni wasesithi, “Baphakuleleni abantu badle.” Ngalokho kwakungaselabuthi embizeni.
But he said, “Then bring meal.” He threw it into the pot; and he said, “Serve it to the people, that they may eat.” And there was nothing harmful 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.”
A man from Baal Shalishah came, and brought the man of God some bread of the first fruits: twenty loaves of barley and fresh ears of grain in his sack. Elisha said, “Give to 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.’”
His servant said, “What, should I set this before a hundred men?” But he said, “Give it to the people, that they may eat; for the LORD says, ‘They will eat, and will have some left over.’”
44 Inceku yasiphakululela abantu, badla baze bakutshiya, njengokutsho kwelizwi likaThixo.
So he set it before them and they ate and had some left over, according to the LORD’s word.
