< 2 Amakhosi 1 >
1 Ngemva kokufa kuka-Ahabi, amaMowabi ahlamukela u-Israyeli.
Then 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.”
And Ahaziah fell down through a lattice in his upper chamber that [was] in Samaria, and was sick: and he sent messengers, and said to them, Go, inquire of Baal-zebub the god of Ekron, whether I shall recover from this disease.
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 angel of the LORD said to Elijah the Tishbite, Arise, go up to meet the messengers of the king of Samaria, and say to them, [Is it] not because [there is] not a God in Israel, [that] ye go to inquire of Baal-zebub the god of Ekron?
4 Ngakho uThixo uthi: ‘Awuyikusuka kulowombheda ogulela kuwo. Ngempela uzakufa!’”
Now therefore thus saith the LORD, Thou shalt not come down from that bed on which thou art gone up, but shalt surely die. And Elijah departed.
5 Ekubuyeleni kwezithunywa enkosini, yazibuza yathi, “Kungani selibuyile na?”
And when the messengers turned back to him, he said to them, Why have ye now 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!”’”
And they said to him, There came up a man to meet us, and said to us, Go, turn again to the king that sent you, and say to him, Thus saith the LORD, [Is it] not because [there is] not a God in Israel, [that] thou sendest to inquire of Baal-zebub the god of Ekron? therefore thou shalt not come down from that bed on which thou art gone up, but shalt surely die.
7 Inkosi yabuza izithunywa yathi, “Ngumuntu onjani lowo olihlangabezileyo waselitshela lokhu?”
And he said to them, What manner 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.”
And they answered him, [He was] a hairy man, and girt with a girdle of leather about his loins. And he said, It [is] 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 to him a captain of fifty with his fifty. And he went up to him: and behold, he sat on the top of a hill. And he spoke to him, Thou man of God, the king hath 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.
And Elijah answered and said to the captain of fifty, If I [am] a man of God, then let fire come down from heaven, and consume thee and thy fifty. And there came down fire from heaven, 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 also he sent to him another captain of fifty with his fifty. And he answered and said to him, O man of God, thus hath the king 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.
And Elijah answered and said to them, If I [am] a man of God, let fire come down from heaven, and consume thee and thy fifty. And the fire of God came down from heaven, 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!
And he sent again a captain of the third fifty with his fifty. And the third captain of fifty went up, and came and fell on his knees before Elijah, and besought him, and said to him, O man of God, I pray thee, let my life, and the life of these fifty thy servants, be precious in thy sight.
14 Angithi uyabona, umlilo wehle uvela ezulwini waqothula izinduna zamabutho lamadoda angamatshumi amahlanu induna nganye. Kodwa manje akunakekele impilo yami!”
Behold, there came fire down from heaven, and burnt up the two captains of the former fifties with their fifties: therefore let my life now be precious in thy sight.
15 Ingilosi kaThixo yathi ku-Elija, “Yehla kanye layo induna; ungayesabi.” Ngakho u-Elija wasukuma wehla kanye lenduna waya enkosini.
And the angel of the LORD said to Elijah, Go down with him: be not afraid of him. And 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!”
And he said to him, Thus saith the LORD, Forasmuch as thou hast sent messengers to inquire of Baal-zebub the god of Ekron, [is it] not because [there is] no God in Israel to inquire of his word? therefore thou shalt not come down off that bed on which thou art gone up, but shalt 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 word of the LORD which Elijah had spoken. And Jehoram reigned in his stead 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, [are] they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel?