2 Amakhosi 4
1 Kwasekukhala kuElisha umfazi othile wabafazi bamadodana abaprofethi esithi: Inceku yakho umkami sewafa; lawe uyazi ukuthi inceku yakho yayiyesaba iNkosi; sekufikile umkweledisi ukuzithathela abantwana bami ababili babe yizigqili.
One day the widow of one of [Yahweh’s] prophets came to Elisha and cried out to him, “My husband, who worked with you, is dead. You know that he revered Yahweh [very much]. But now a man to whom he owed a lot of money has come to me. [And because I cannot pay back the money, he is threatening] to take away my two sons to be his slaves [as payment for what I owe him]!”
2 UElisha wasesithi kuye: Ngingakwenzelani? Ngitshela, ulani endlini? Wasesithi: Incekukazi yakho kayilalutho endlini, ngaphandle kwesiphiso samafutha.
Elisha replied, “What can I do to help you? Tell me, what do you have in your house?” She replied, “We have only a container of [olive] oil; we have nothing else.”
3 Wasesithi: Hamba uyezebolekela izitsha ezivela phandle, kubomakhelwane bakho bonke, izitsha ezingelalutho, zingabi nlutshwana.
Elisha said, “Go to your neighbors and borrow from them as many empty jars as you can.
4 Nxa usungenile uzivalele wena lamadodana akho umnyango, uthele kulezizitsha zonke; lokugcweleyo ukubeke eceleni.
Then take the jars into your house with your sons. Shut the door. Then pour olive oil from your container into the other jars. When each jar is full, set it aside [and fill another jar. Keep doing that until all the jars are full].”
5 Wasesuka-ke kuye wazivalela yena lamadodana akhe umnyango; bazisondeza kuye, wathulula.
[So she did what Elisha told her to do]. Her sons kept bringing jars to her, and she kept filling them.
6 Kwasekusithi izitsha sezigcwele wathi endodaneni yakhe: Ngilethela njalo isitsha. Yasisithi kuye: Kakuselasitsha. Amafutha asesima.
Soon all the jars were full. So she said to one of her sons, “Bring me another jar!” But he replied, “There are no more jars!” And then the olive oil stopped flowing.
7 Wasesiza wamazisa umuntu kaNkulunkulu; wasesithi: Hamba uyethengisa amafutha, uhlawule isikwelede sakho; wena-ke lamadodana akho liphile ngaseleyo.
When she told Elijah [what had happened], he said to her, “Now sell the jars of oil. And [with the money you get, ] pay what you owe, and there will be enough extra money to keep buying food for yourself and your sons.” [So she did that].
8 Kwasekusithi ngolunye usuku uElisha wedlulela eShunemi lapho okwakulowesifazana oyisikhulu owamcindezela ukuthi adle isinkwa. Kwakusithi-ke lanini esedlula, aphambukele khona ukuthi adle isinkwa.
One day Elisha went to Shunem [town]. There was a wealthy woman who lived there [with her husband]. One day she invited Elisha to her house for a meal. [Elisha went there and] from then on, every time Elisha was in Shunem, he went to their house to eat a meal.
9 Wasesithi kumkakhe: Khangela-ke, ngiyazi ukuthi lo ungumuntu ongcwele kaNkulunkulu, owedlula kithi njalonjalo.
One day the woman said to her husband, “I am sure that this man who often comes here is a prophet [who brings messages] from God.
10 Ake senze ikamelo elincinyane eliphezulu emdulini, simfakele lapho umbheda letafula lesihlalo lesiqobane sesibane; kuzakuthi-ke lapho efika kithi aphambukele khona.
I think we should make a small room for him on our [flat] roof, and put a bed, a table, a chair, and a lamp in it. If we do that, whenever he comes here, he will have a place to stay.” [So they did that].
11 Kwasekusithi ngolunye usuku wafika khona, waphambukela ekamelweni eliphezulu, walala khona.
One day Elisha returned to Shunem, and he went up to that room to rest.
12 Wasesithi kuGehazi inceku yakhe: Biza lo umShunamikazi. Esembizile, wema phambi kwakhe.
He said to his servant Gehazi, “Tell the woman that I want to speak to her.” [So the servant went and told her]. When she came [to the doorway of Elisha’s room],
13 Wasesithi kuyo: Tshono kuye-ke uthi: Khangela, usinakekele ngakho konke lokhukunaka; kuyini ongakwenzelwa? Kukhona ongakukhulunyelwa enkosini kumbe enduneni yebutho yini? Wasesithi: Ngihlala phakathi kwabantu bakithi.
Elisha said to Gehazi, “Tell her that we both appreciate all the kind things that she has done for us. Then ask her what we can do for her. Ask, ‘Do you want [me to go to] the king or the army commander, to request something for you?’” [Gehazi told her, ] and she replied, “No, [he does not need to do that, because] my family/relatives are able to give me what I need.”
14 Wasesithi: Kuyini-ke angakwenzelwa? UGehazi wasesithi: Qiniso, kalamntwana, lomkakhe usemdala.
[Later, ] Elisha asked Gehazi, “What do you think that we can do for that woman?” He replied, “She does not have a son, and her husband is an old man. [So maybe we should ask Yahweh to enable her to have a son].”
15 Wasesithi: Mbize. Esembizile, wema emnyango.
Elisha told Gehazi, “Call her back again.” [So Gehazi went and called her]. And when the woman returned, as she stood in the doorway,
16 Wasesithi: Ngalesisikhathi esimisiweyo njengokwesikhathi sempilo uzagona umntwana. Kodwa wathi: Hatshi, nkosi yami, muntu kaNkulunkulu, ungayiqambeli amanga incekukazi yakho.
Elisha said to her, “About this time next year you will be holding your [infant] son in your arms.” But she protested, “O, sir, you are a prophet [who brings messages] from God, so please do not deceive/lie to me by saying things like that!”
17 Owesifazana wasekhulelwa, wabeletha umntwana ngalesosikhathi esimisiweyo njengokwesikhathi sempilo uElisha ayesitshilo kuye.
But a few months later, the woman became pregnant, and she gave birth to a son at that time the following year, just like Elisha had predicted.
18 Esekhulile umntwana, kwathi ngosuku oluthile waphuma waya kuyise kubavuni.
When the child was older, one day he went out to the fields to see his father, who was [working] with the men who were harvesting [grain].
19 Wasesithi kuyise: Ikhanda lami! Ikhanda lami! Wasesithi encekwini: Mthwale umuse kunina.
[Suddenly] the boy exclaimed, “My head [hurts]! My head [hurts a lot]!” His father said to one of the servants, “Carry him home to his mother!”
20 Isimthwele yamusa kunina, wahlala emadolweni akhe kwaze kwaba semini, wasesifa.
So the servant carried him home, and his mother held him on her lap. But at noontime the boy died.
21 Wasesenyuka, wamlalisa embhedeni womuntu kaNkulunkulu, wamvalela, waphuma.
She carried him up [the steps] to the prophet’s room and laid him on the bed. She left him there and went out and shut the door.
22 Wasememeza umkakhe wathi: Ake uthume kimi enye yezinceku lomunye wabobabhemi, ukuze ngigijime ngiye emuntwini kaNkulunkulu, ngibuye futhi.
She then called out to her husband, saying, “Send to me one of the servants and a donkey, so that I can ride [on it] quickly to the prophet, and then come back!” [But she did not tell her husband that their son had died].
23 Wasesithi. Uyelani kuye lamuhla? Kakusikuthwasa kwenyanga njalo kakusisabatha. Owesifazana wasesithi: Kulungile.
Her husband [called out to her and] said, “Why [do you want to go] today? This is not the day when we celebrate the Festival of the New Moon, and it is not a Sabbath day!” But she only replied, “[Just do what I requested and] everything will be all right.”
24 Esembophelele isihlalo ubabhemi, wathi encekwini yakhe: Tshaya uhambe, ungangibambeleli ekuhambeni, ngaphandle ngikutshele.
So she [told the servant to] put saddles on [two] donkeys, and as they left, she said, “Hurry! Do not slow down unless t tell you to do that!”
25 Wahamba-ke, weza emuntwini kaNkulunkulu entabeni iKharmeli. Kwasekusithi umuntu kaNkulunkulu embona esiza, wathi kuGehazi inceku yakhe: Khangela, nanguyana umShunamikazi.
As they approached Carmel Mountain, where Elisha was, Elisha saw her in the distance. He said to Gehazi, “Look, the woman from Shunem is coming!
26 Khathesi akugijime umhlangabeze, uthi kuye: Kulungile yini kuwe? Kulungile yini ngomkakho? Kulungile yini ngomntwana? Wasesithi: Kulungile.
Run to her, and ask her if everything is all right with her and her husband and with her child!” [So Gehazi ran to her and asked her, but she did not tell Gehazi anything.] She only said, “Yes, everything is fine.”
27 Esefikile entabeni kumuntu kaNkulunkulu wabamba inyawo zakhe. Kodwa uGehazi wasondela ukumsunduza asuke. Kodwa umuntu kaNkulunkulu wathi: Myekele, ngoba umphefumulo wakhe umunyu kuye, leNkosi ingifihlele lokhu, kayingitshelanga.
But when she came to where Elisha was, she [prostrated herself on the ground in front of Elisha and] took hold of his feet. Gehazi started to push her away, but Elisha said, “(Do not push her away/Leave her alone)! Something is troubling her very much, but Yahweh has not told me what it is.”
28 Wasesithi: Ngangicelile indodana enkosini yami yini? Kangitshongo yini ukuthi: Ungangikhohlisi?
Then she said to Elisha, “O, sir, I did not ask you to enable me to give birth to a son [RHQ]. And I told you not to lie to me about that!” [RHQ]
29 UElisha wasesithi kuGehazi: Bopha ukhalo lwakho, uthathe udondolo lwami esandleni sakho, uhambe. Uba uhlangana lomuntu ungambingeleli, njalo uba umuntu ekubingelela ungamphenduli; ubeke udondolo lwami ebusweni bomntwana.
Then Elisha [realized that something must have happened to her son. So he] said to Gehazi, “Get ready [to leave immediately]. Take my staff/walking stick and go [to her home]. Do not [stop to] talk to anyone on the way. Go quickly [to where her son is] and lay the staff on the child’s face. [If you do that, perhaps Yahweh will enable him to be well].”
30 Unina womntwana wasesithi: Kuphila kukaJehova lokuphila komphefumulo wakho, kangiyikukutshiya. Wasesukuma wamlandela.
But the boy’s mother said, “Just [as certain] as Yahweh lives and you live, I will not go home if you do not go with me.” So Elisha returned with her [to her home].
31 UGehazi wedlulela phambi kwabo, walubeka udondolo ebusweni bomntwana, kodwa kakubanga khona ilizwi njalo kwakungelakunaka. Wasebuyela ukumhlangabeza, wamtshela esithi: Umntwana kavukanga.
Gehazi hurried quickly, and [when he got to the woman’s home, ] he laid the staff/walking stick on the child’s face, but the child did not move or say anything. So Gehazi returned to meet Elisha [along the road], and told him, “The child is still dead.”
32 UElisha esengenile endlini, khangela, umntwana wayefile, elaliswe embhedeni wakhe.
When Elisha reached the house, he saw that the boy was lying dead on his bed.
33 Wasengena, wavala umnyango emva kwabo bobabili, wakhuleka eNkosini.
Elisha went into the room by himself and shut the door and prayed to Yahweh.
34 Wenyuka walala phezu komntwana, wabeka umlomo wakhe phezu komlomo wakhe lamehlo akhe phezu kwamehlo akhe lezandla zakhe phezu kwezandla zakhe, wacambalala phezu kwakhe; inyama yomntwana yasikhudumala.
Then he lay down on the boy’s body, and put his mouth on the boy’s mouth, and put his eyes on the boy’s eyes, and put his hands on the boy’s hands. Then the boy’s body started to become warm!
35 Wasebuyela, wahambahamba endlini waya kanye ngapha lakanye le, wasesenyuka wacambalala phezu kwakhe; umntwana wasethimula kwaze kwaba kasikhombisa, umntwana wasevula amehlo akhe.
Elisha got up and walked back and forth in the room [several times]. Then he stretched his body on the boy’s body again. The boy sneezed seven times and opened his eyes!
36 Wasebiza uGehazi wathi: Mbize lo umShunamikazi. Wasembiza. Esefikile kuye, wathi kuye: Thatha umntanakho.
Then Elisha summoned Gehazi. He said, “Call the boy’s mother!” [So Gehazi went and called her, ] and when she came in, Elisha said, “Here, take your son!”
37 Wasengena, wawela ezinyaweni zakhe, wakhothamela emhlabathini, waphakamisa umntanakhe, waphuma.
She [gratefully] prostrated herself at Elisha’s feet. Then she picked up her son and carried him downstairs.
38 UElisha wasebuyela eGiligali, njalo kwakukhona indlala elizweni, amadodana abaprofethi ayehlezi-ke phambi kwakhe, wathi encekwini yakhe: Beka imbiza enkulu eziko, uphekele abaprofethi ukudla okuphekiweyo.
Then Elisha returned to Gilgal. But at that time there was (a famine/very little food) in that area. One day as the group of prophets was sitting in front of Elisha [listening to what he was teaching], he said to his servant, “Put a large pot on [the stove] and make some stew for these men.”
39 Omunye wasephuma waya egangeni ukukha imibhida, wathola intandela yeganga, wakha amajodwana ayo eganga, isembatho sakhe sagcwala, weza wawaqobelela embizeni yokudla okuphekiweyo, ngoba ayengawazi.
One of the prophets went out to the fields to gather some vegetables. But he gathered [only] some wild gourds and put them in his cloak and brought them back. He shredded them and put them in the pot, but he did not know that the gourds were poisonous.
40 Basebethululela abantu ukuze badle; kwasekusithi besadla okokudla okuphekiweyo bona bamemeza bathi: Ukufa embizeni, muntu kaNkulunkulu! Njalo babengelakukudla.
He served the stew to the prophets, but after the men had eaten only a couple bites, they cried out, “Elisha, there is something in the pot that will kill us!” So they would not eat it.
41 Wasesithi: Lethani-ke impuphu. Waseyithela embizeni wathi: Thululela abantu, ukuze badle. Kwakungaselalutho oluyingozi embizeni.
Elisha said, “Bring me some flour.” [They brought him some, and] he threw it in the pot and he said, “It is all right now. You can eat it.” And they ate it, and it did not harm them.
42 Kwasekufika umuntu evela eBhali-Shalisha, walethela umuntu kaNkulunkulu ukudla kwezithelo zokuqala, izinkwa zebhali ezingamatshumi amabili, lezikhwebu zamabele amatsha emgodleni wakhe. Wasesithi: Banike abantu ukuze badle.
One day a man from Baal-Shalishah [town] brought to Elisha a sack of freshly cut grain and 20 loaves of barley bread, made from the first grain that they harvested [that year]. Elisha said [to his servant], “Give it to the group of prophets, so that they can eat it.”
43 Kodwa inceku yakhe yathi: Ini, ngibeke lokhu phambi kwabantu abalikhulu? Wasesithi: Banike abantu ukuze badle, ngoba itsho njalo iNkosi: Bazakudla, batshiye.
But his servant exclaimed, “Do you think that we can feed 100 of us prophets with only that much?” [RHQ] But Elisha replied, “Give it to the prophets so that they can eat it, because Yahweh says that there will be plenty for all of them, and there will be some left over!”
44 Yasikubeka phambi kwabo, badla, batshiya, njengokwelizwi leNkosi.
After his servant gave it to the prophets, they ate [all that they wanted], and there was food left over, just as Yahweh had promised.
