1 Mootota 18
1 Yeroo dheeraa booddee, waggaa sadaffaatti dubbiin Waaqayyoo, “Dhaqiitii Ahaabitti of mulʼisi; anis lafa irratti bokkaa nan roobsaa” jedhee gara Eeliyaas dhufe.
Sometime later, during the third year, a message from the Lord came to Elijah: “Go and appear before Ahab, and I will send rain on the earth.”
2 Kanaafuu Eeliyaas Ahaabitti of mulʼisuu dhaqe. Yeroo kanatti Samaariyaa keessatti beelli hammaatee ture.
So Elijah went to appear before Ahab. In the meantime the famine had become severe in Samaria.
3 Ahaabis Obaadiyaa itti gaafatama masaraa mootummaa isaa waamee ture. Obaadiyaan nama akka malee Waaqayyoon sodaatu ture.
Ahab summoned Obadiah, the manager of his palace (Obadiah was a very sincere believer in the Lord.
4 Yeroo Iizaabel raajota Waaqayyoo ajjeesaa turtetti Obaadiyaan raajota dhibba tokko fuudhee shantama shantamaan holqa lama keessa dhoksee nyaataa fi bishaan dhiʼeessaafii ture.
While Jezebel was busy killing the Lord's prophets, Obadiah had taken one hundred prophets and hidden them, fifty in each of two caves, and had provided them with food and water.)
5 Ahaabis Obaadiyaadhaan akkana jedhe; “Biyyattii keessa deemiitii gara burqaawwanii fi sululawwan hundaa dhaqi. Akka horii keenya keessaa tokko iyyuu nu jalaa hin duuneef fardeenii fi gaangolii keenya jiraachifachuuf marga muraasa arganna taʼaatii.”
Ahab told Obadiah, “Go throughout the country and check all the springs and valleys. Perhaps we can find some grass to keep the horses and mules alive so we will not lose any of the animals.”
6 Kanaafuu isaan biyya keessa deemanii waliin gaʼuu barbaadan sana gargari qooddatan; Ahaab karaa tokko, Obaadiyaan immoo karaa kaan qajeele.
So they divided the land between them. Ahab went in one direction, and Obadiah the other.
7 Utuma Obaadiyaan karaa deemuu Eeliyaas isatti dhufe. Obaadiyaan isa beekee gad jedhee harka fuudhee, “Eeliyaas gooftaan koo dhugumaan siʼii?” jedheen.
As Obadiah went on his way, Elijah came to meet him. Obadiah recognized him, bowed down to the ground, and said, “Is it you, my lord Elijah?”
8 Innis deebisee, “Eeyyee, anuma. Dhaqiitii, ‘Eeliyaas as jira’ jedhii gooftaa keetti himi” jedheen.
“It's me,” Elijah replied. “Go and tell your master, ‘Elijah is here.’”
9 Obaadiyaanis akkana jedhee gaafate; “Ati akka inni na ajjeesuuf garbicha kee dabarsitee Ahaabitti kennuun kee ani maal balleesseeti?
“How have I sinned that you are handing me, your servant, over to Ahab to be killed?
10 Dhugaa Waaqayyo Waaqa kee jiraataa sanaa, sabni yookaan mootummaan gooftaan koo si barbaaduuf jedhee nama itti hin ergin tokko iyyuu hin jiru. Yeroo sabni yookaan mootummaan tokko, ‘Nu isa hin argine’ jedhutti, inni akka isaan akka si hin argin kakatan godha ture.
As the Lord your God lives, there's no nation or kingdom where my master hasn't sent someone to search for you. When a nation or kingdom said you weren't there, he made them swear that they couldn't find you.
11 Amma garuu ati, ‘Dhaqiitii, “Kunoo Eeliyaas as jira” jedhiitii gooftaa keetti himi’ naan jetta.
And now you're telling me to go to my master and announce, ‘Elijah is here!’
12 Ani gara Hafuurri Waaqayyoo erga ani si biraa deeme itti si geessu hin beeku. Yoo ani dhaqee Ahaabitti himee inni immoo si arguu baate inni na ajjeesa. Garuu ani garbichi kee dargaggummaa kootii jalqabee Waaqayyoon waaqeffachaan jira.
I have no idea where the Spirit of the Lord will take you after I leave you. If I go and tell Ahab and then he can't find you, he's going to kill me, even though I, your servant, have worshiped the Lord since I was young.
13 Yaa gooftaa ko, ati waan ani yeroo Iizaabel raajota Waaqayyoo ajjeesaa turtetti hojjedhe hin dhageenyee? Ani raajota Waaqayyoo dhibba tokko shantama shantamaan holqa lama keessa dhokseen nyaataa fi bishaan dhiʼeesseef.
Didn't you hear, my lord, what I did when Jezebel was busy killing the Lord's prophets? I hid a hundred of the Lord's prophets, fifty in each of two caves, and provided them with food and water.
14 Amma immoo ati, ‘Dhaqiitii, “Kunoo Eeliyaas as jira” jedhii gooftaa keetti himi’ naan jetta. Inni dhugumaan na ajjeesa!”
And now you're telling me to go to my master and announce, ‘Elijah is here.’ He's going to kill me!”
15 Eeliyaasis deebisee, “Dhugaa Waaqayyoo Waan Hunda Dandaʼu kan ani isa tajaajilu sanaa, ani harʼa Ahaabitti ofan mulʼisa” jedhe.
Elijah replied, “As the Lord Almighty lives, the one I serve, I will definitely appear before Ahab today.”
16 Kanaafuu Obaadiyaan gara Ahaab dhaqee itti hime; Ahaabis Eeliyaasin Simachuu dhaqe.
So Obadiah went to meet Ahab and told him, and Ahab went to meet Elijah.
17 Innis Eeliyaasin argee, “Kan Israaʼelin jeequ sun siʼii?” jedheen.
When Ahab saw Elijah, he said to him, “Is that you—you who are causing trouble for Israel?”
18 Eeliyaas immoo deebisee akkana jedheen; “Siʼii fi mana abbaa keetiitu jeeqe malee ani Israaʼelin hin jeeqne. Isin ajaja Waaqayyoo diddaniirtu; atis Baʼaal duukaa buuteerta.
“I'm not causing trouble for Israel,” Elijah replied. “It's you and your father's family! You have rejected the Lord's commands and are worshiping the Baals.
19 Egaa amma akka isaan Tulluu Qarmeloos irratti na arganiif saba Israaʼel hunda walitti naaf waami. Raajota Baʼaal dhibba afurii fi shantamaa fi raajota Asheeraa dhibba afran maaddii Iizaabel irraa nyaatan sanas naaf fidi.”
Now call together all of Israel and meet me on Mount Carmel, along with the four hundred and fifty prophets of Baal and the four hundred prophets of Asherah, who are supported by Jezebel.”
20 Kanaafis Ahaab guutuu Israaʼel keessa ergaa ergee Tulluu Qarmeloos irratti raajota sana walitti qabe.
So Ahab summoned all of Israel and also gathered the prophets on Mount Carmel.
21 Eeliyaasis fuula sabaa duratti gad baʼee, “Isin hamma yoomiitti yaada lama gidduu deddeebitu? Yoo Waaqayyo Waaqa taʼe, isa faana deemaa; yoo Baʼaal Waaqa taʼe immoo isa faana deemaa” jedhe. Sabni garuu waan tokko illee hin jenne.
Elijah approached the people and asked them, “How long will you hobble along, hesitating between two opposite beliefs? If the Lord is God, then follow him. But if Baal is God, then follow him.” But the people gave o answer.
22 Eeliyaasis akkana isaaniin jedhe; “Raajota Waaqayyoo keessaa ana qofatu hafe; Baʼaal garuu raajota dhibba afurii fi shantama qaba.
Then Elijah told them, “I am the only one left of the Lord's prophets—just me alone—but Baal has four hundred and fifty prophets.
23 Mee jiboota lama nuuf fidaa. Isaan dibicha tokko ofii isaaniitiif filatanii qalanii gargar ciranii qoraan irra haa naqan; garuu ibidda itti hin qabsiisin. Anis dibicha isa kaan qopheessee qoraan irra nan kaaʼa; garuu ibidda itti hin qabsiisu.
Provide us with two bulls. Let the prophets of Baal choose for themselves the one they want, and have them cut it into pieces and place it on the firewood. But don't set fire to it. I will prepare the other bull and place it on the firewood but I won't set fire to it.
24 Ergasii isin maqaa Waaqa keessanii waamaa; anis maqaa Waaqayyo nan waama. Kan ibiddaan deebii kennu inni Waaqa dhugaa ti.” Kana irratti namoonni hundinuu, “Wanni ati jettu kun gaarii dha” jedhan.
Then you call on your god by name, and I will call on the Lord by name. The god who replies by sending fire—he is God.” Then all the people said, “We agree to what you say.”
25 Eeliyaasis raajota Baʼaaliin akkana jedhe; “Jiboota keessaa isa tokko filadhaatii sababii isin nama hedduu taataniif jalqabatti qalaa qopheessaa. Maqaa Waaqa keessanii waammadhaa; garuu ibidda hin bobeessinaa.”
Elijah said to the prophets of Baal, “You choose one of the bulls and prepare it first, because there are so many of you. Call on your god by name, but don't light the fire.”
26 Kanaafuu isaan dibicha isaaniif kenname fudhatanii qalanii qopheessan. Ergasii immoo ganamaa jalqabanii hamma saafaatti maqaa Baʼaal waammachaa oolan. “Yaa Baʼaal deebii nuuf kenni!” jedhanii iyyaa oolan. Garuu deebiin tokko illee hin argamne; kan deebii kennuuf tokko iyyuus hin turre. Iddoo aarsaa kan tolchan sanattis naannaʼanii shubbisan.
So they took the bull provided and prepared it. Then they called on Baal by name from morning until noon. “Baal, answer us!” they pleaded. But no voice was heard, no one answered. They hobbled in a dance around the altar they had made.
27 Gara saafaattis Eeliyaas, “Mee sagalee ol fudhadhaatii iyyaa! Inni dhugumaan Waaqa! Yaadni itti baayʼateera taʼa yookaan hojiin qabamee yookaan karaa deemee jira taʼaatii. Inni rafuutti jira taʼaatii dammaquu qaba” jedhee isaanitti qoosuu jalqabe.
At noon Elijah began to mock them. “Shout really loud!” he said. “Isn't he meant to be a god? Maybe he's meditating, or he's gone to the bathroom, or he's away on a trip! Maybe he's asleep and has to be woken up!”
28 Kanaafuu isaan akkuma amala isaanii sagalee ol fudhatanii iyyaa, goraadee fi eeboodhaan of ciranii dhiiga ofii isaanii dhangalaasan.
They shouted even louder and cut themselves with swords and spears until they bled. This was their usual way of worshiping.
29 Erga saafaan darbees isaan hamma yeroon aarsaa galgalaa gaʼutti raajii dubbachaa turan. Garuu sagaleen tokko iyyuu hin dhagaʼamne; kan deebii kenneef tokko iyyuu hin turre; kan wayittuu isaan hedes hin jiru.
Noon came and went, and they went on with their manic “prophesying” until the time of the evening sacrifice. But no voice was heard, no one answered, no one was listening.
30 Eeliyaas immoo ergasii saba hundaan, “Mee as gara koo kottaa” jedhe. Isaan gara isaa dhufnaan inni iddoo aarsaa Waaqayyoo kan caccabee ture sana deebisee tolche.
Then Elijah told everyone, “Come over here to me.” They went over to him, and he repaired the altar of the Lord that had been torn down.
31 Eeliyaasis akkuma baayʼina gosoota ilmaan Yaaqoob namicha dubbiin Waaqayyoo gara isaa dhufee, “Maqaan kee Israaʼel ni taʼa” jedheen sanaatti dhagaa kudha lama walitti qabe.
Elijah took twelve stones to represent the tribes of the sons of Jacob. (Jacob was the one who received the Lord's message that said, “Israel shall be your name.”)
32 Dhagaawwan sanaanis maqaa Waaqayyootiin iddoo aarsaa tolche; naannoo isaattis boʼoo bishaan gara liitira kudha shan qabatu baqaqse.
With the stones he built an altar in the Lord's name. He dug a ditch around it that could hold two seahs of seed.
33 Innis qoraan qopheessee, dibicha kaan qalee gargar ciree qoraan sana irra foon naqe. Ergasii immoo, “Mee okkotee gurguddaa afur fidaa bishaaniin guutaatii aarsaa fi qoraan irratti naqaa” jedheen.
He put the wood in place, cut the bull into pieces, and laid it on the wood. Then he told them, “Fill up four large jars with water and pour it over the offering and the wood.”
34 Innis, “Amma illee akkasuma godhaa” jedheen; isaanis amma illee akkasuma godhan. Innis, “Yeroo sadaffaaf godhaa” jedhee ajaje; isaanis yeroo sadaffaa illee akkasuma godhan.
“Do it again,” he said. So they did. “Do it for a third time,” he said. So they did it for the third time.
35 Bishaan sunis naannoo iddoo aarsaa sanaa lolaʼee boʼoo guute.
The water ran down all over the altar and even filled the ditch.
36 Yeroo aarsaan dhiʼaatutti, Eeliyaas raajichi gad baʼee akkana jedhee kadhate; “Yaa Waaqayyo, yaa Waaqa Abrahaam, Waaqa Yisihaaq, Waaqa Israaʼel, akka ati Israaʼel keessatti Waaqa taatee fi akka anis garbicha kee taʼee amma illee waan kana hunda ajajuma keetiin akkan hojjedhe harʼa haa beekamu.
At the time of the evening sacrifice, the prophet Elijah went over to the altar and prayed: “Lord, God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, demonstrate today that you are God in Israel, that I am your servant, and that everything I have done has been at your command.
37 Yaa Waaqayyo deebii naa kenni; yaa Waaqayyo akka sabni kun akka ati Waaqa taatee fi akka ati garaa isaa illee gara keetti deebiftu beekuuf deebii naaf kenni.”
Answer me, Lord! Answer me, so that these people will know that you, Lord, are God, and that you are bringing them back to you.”
38 Kana irratti ibiddi Waaqayyoo gad buʼee aarsaa, qoraan, dhagaa fi biyyoo gubee bishaan boʼoo keessaa sanas xuuxee fixe.
Then the fire of the Lord came down and burned up the sacrifice, the wood, the stones, and the soil—it even licked up the water in the ditch!
39 Namoonni hundinuu yommuu waan kana arganitti addaan lafatti gombifamanii, “Waaqayyo inni Waaqa! Waaqayyo inni Waaqa!” jedhanii iyyan.
When all the people saw this, they fell face down on the ground and shouted, “The Lord, he is God! The Lord, he is God!”
40 Eeliyaasis, “Raajota Baʼaal kanneen qabaa. Tokkoon isaanii iyyuu hin miliqin!” jedhee isaan ajaje. Isaanis jara ni qaban; Eeliyaasis gara Sulula Qiishoonitti geessee achitti isaan gogorraʼe.
Then Elijah ordered them, “Grab hold of the prophets of Baal. Don't let any escape!” They grabbed them, and Elijah brought them down to the Kishon Valley and killed them there.
41 Eeliyaasis Ahaabiin, “Deemi; nyaadhuu dhugi; huursaa bokkaa guddaa isaatu dhagaʼamaa jiraatii” jedhe.
Elijah told Ahab, “Go and eat and drink, for I hear the sound of a heavy rain coming.”
42 Kanaafuu Ahaab nyaachuu fi dhuguuf deeme; Eeliyaas garuu fiixee Qarmeloos ol baʼee gad jedhee fuula isaa jilba isaa gidduu kaaʼate.
So Ahab went to eat and drink, but Elijah went to the top of Carmel. There he bent down to the ground, putting his face between his knees.
43 Innis hojjetaa isaatiin, “Dhaqiitii gara galaanaa ilaali” jedhe. Hojjetaan sunis ol baʼee ilaale. Innis, “Wanni tokko iyyuu achi hin jiru” jedhe. Eeliyaasis, “Yeroo torba, deddeebiʼii ilaali” jedheen.
“Go and look toward the sea,” he told his servant. The man went and looked. “There's nothing there,” he said. Seven times Elijah told him, “Go and look again.”
44 Hojjetaan sun yeroo torbaffaatti, “Duumessa xinnaa hamma konyee namaa gaʼu tokkotu galaana irraa ol kaʼaa jira” jedhee itti hime. Kanaafuu Eeliyaas, “Dhaqiitii Ahaabiin, ‘Gaarii kee yaabbadhuutii utuu bokkaan si hin qabatin gad buʼi’ jedhii itti himi” jedheen.
The seventh time the servant came back and said, “I saw a small cloud the size of a man's hand coming up from the sea.” So Elijah said, “Run to Ahab and tell him, ‘Get your chariot ready and go down before the rain stops you.’”
45 Yeruma sana samiin duumessaan gurraachaʼee bubbeen bubbise; bokkaan guddaan isaa dhufnaan Ahaab gulufee Yizriʼeelitti baqate.
Very quickly the sky grew dark with clouds, the wind blew, heavy rain started falling, and Ahab rode down to Jezreel.
46 Humni Waaqayyoos Eeliyaas irra buʼe; innis mudhii isaa hidhatee hamma karra Yizriʼeelitti Ahaab dura darbee fiige.
The Lord gave his power to Elijah—he tucked his cloak into his belt and ran ahead of Ahab all the way to Jezreel.
