1 Madzimambo 19
1 Zvino Ahabhu akaudza Jezebheri zvose zvakanga zvaitwa naEria nokuuraya kwaakanga aita vaprofita vose nomunondo.
When Ahab got home, he told [his wife] Jezebel what Elijah had done. He told her that Elijah had killed all the prophets of Baal.
2 Ipapo Jezebheri akatuma nhume kuna Eria kundoti, “Vamwari ngavandirange, vanyanyise kudaro, kana nenguva ino mangwana, ndikasaita kuti upenyu hwako hufanane nehwomumwe wavo.”
So Jezebel sent this message to Elijah: “By this time tomorrow I will have [killed] you, just like you [killed all those prophets of Baal]. If I do not do that, I hope the gods will kill me.”
3 Eria akatya akatiza kuti aponese upenyu hwake. Paakasvika kuBheerishebha muJudha, akasiya muranda wake ikoko,
When Elijah received [her message], he was afraid. So [taking his servant with him], he fled in order that he would not be killed. He went [far south] to Beersheba, in Judah. He left his servant there.
4 iye pachake akafamba rwendo rwezuva rimwe chete achipinda mugwenga. Akasvika pamuti womurara, akagara pasi pawo akanamata kuti achifa. Akati, “Zvaringana hazvo, Jehovha. Chitorai upenyu hwangu; handipfuuri madzitateguru angu pakururama.”
Then he went by himself further [south] into the desert. He walked all day. He sat down under a broom tree and prayed that [Yahweh] would allow him to die. He said, “Yahweh, I’ve had enough. So allow me to die, because for me to live is no better than [being with] my ancestors [who have died].”
5 Ipapo akarara pasi pomuti akabatwa nehope. Pakarepo mutumwa akamubata akati, “Simuka udye.”
Then he lay down under the broom tree and slept. But while he was sleeping, an angel touched him and [woke him up and] said to him, “Get up and eat some food!”
6 Akatarisa-tarisa, akaona chingwa chakanga chabikwa pamazimbe omoto pedyo nomusoro wake, nechirongo chemvura. Akadya, akanwa, akabva arara zvakare.
Elijah looked around and saw some bread which had been baked on hot stones, and he also saw a jar of water. So he ate some bread and drank some water and lay down [to sleep] again.
7 Mutumwa waJehovha akadzoka kechipiri akamubata akati, “Simuka udye, nokuti rwendo rungakuremera.”
Then the angel [who had been sent by] Yahweh came again and touched him, and said, “Get up and eat some [more] food, because you need [more strength] to go on a long journey.”
8 Naizvozvo akamuka akadya, akanwa. Zvokudya izvozvo zvakamupa simba zvokuti akafamba kwamazuva makumi mana nousiku makumi mana kusvikira asvika paHorebhi, gomo raMwari.
So he got up and ate and drank some more, and because of doing that, he got enough strength to enable him to travel for forty days and nights to Sinai Mountain, the mountain [that was dedicated to] God.
9 Ipapo akapinda mubako akarara usiku hwose. Zvino shoko raJehovha rakasvika kwaari richiti, “Uri kuiteiko pano, Eria?”
He went into a cave there and slept there that night. [The next morning, ] Yahweh said to him “Elijah, why are you here?”
10 Akapindura akati, “Ndakanga ndichishingairira Jehovha Mwari Wamasimba Ose kwazvo. VaIsraeri vakaramba sungano yenyu, vakaputsa aritari dzenyu, uye vakauraya vaprofita venyu nomunondo. Ndini ndoga ndasara, zvino vava kuedza kundiurayawo.”
Elijah replied, “I have zealously served you, Yahweh, God Almighty. But the Israeli people have broken the agreement that they made with you. They have torn down your altars, and they have killed all of your prophets. I am the only one whom they have not killed, and now they are trying to kill me, too. [So I am running away from them].”
11 Jehovha akati, “Buda panze umire pagomo pamberi paJehovha, nokuti Jehovha ari kuda kuzopfuura nepo.” Ipapo mhepo huru ine simba yakapamura makomo ikapwanya mabwe pamberi paJehovha, asi Jehovha akanga asiri mumhepo. Mushure memhepo, pakava nokudengenyeka kwenyika, asi Jehovha akanga asiri mukudengenyeka ikoko.
Yahweh said to him, “Go out and stand in front of me on this mountain while I pass by.” [Suddenly] a strong windstorm struck the mountain. As a result, rocks were loosened from the mountainside. But Yahweh was not in the wind. Then there was an earthquake, but Yahweh was not in the earthquake.
12 Mushure mokudengenyeka kwenyika kwakauya moto, asi Jehovha akanga asiri mumoto. Uye shure kwomoto akanzwa inzwi richitaura nakazevezeve kakapfava.
Then there was a fire, but Yahweh was not in the fire. Then there was a sound like someone whispering quietly.
13 Eria paakarinzwa, akafukidza chiso chake nejasi rake akabuda panze akamira pamuromo webako. Ipapo inzwi rakati kwaari, “Uri kuiteiko pano, Eria?”
When Elijah heard that, he wrapped his cloak around his face. He went out of the cave and stood at its entrance. And he heard Yahweh speaking to him, saying again, “Elijah, why are you here?”
14 Akapindura akati, “Ndakanga ndichishingairira Jehovha Mwari Wamasimba Ose kwazvo. VaIsraeri vakaramba sungano yenyu, vakaputsa aritari dzenyu, uye vakauraya vaprofita venyu nomunondo. Ndini ndoga ndasara, zvino vava kuedza kundiurayawo.”
He replied again, “I have zealously served you, Yahweh, God Almighty. But the Israeli people have broken the agreement that they made with you. They have torn down your altars, and they have killed all of your prophets. I am the only one whom they have not killed, and now they are trying to kill me, too. [So I am running away from them].”
15 Jehovha akati kwaari, “Dzokera nenzira yawauya nayo, ugoenda kuGwenga reDhamasiko. Kana wasvikako, uzodze Hazaeri kuti ave mambo weAramu.
Then Yahweh told him, “Go back to the desert near Damascus. When you arrive there, anoint [with olive oil] a man named Hazael, [to appoint him] to be the king of Syria.
16 Uzodzezve Jehu, mwanakomana waNimishi kuti ave mambo weIsraeri, ugozodza Erisha, mwanakomana waShafati wokuAbheri Mehora kuti atore nzvimbo yako somuprofita.
Then anoint Jehu, the son of Nimshi, to be the king of Israel, and also anoint Elisha the son of Shaphat, from Abel-Meholah [town], to become my prophet after you are dead.
17 Jehu achauraya vose vachapunyuka munondo waHazaeri, uye Erisha achaurayawo vose vachapunyuka munondo waJehu.
Hazael’s army [will kill many people, and] those who escape from [being killed by] his army will be killed by Jehu’s [army], and those who escape from [being killed by] Jehu’s army will be killed by Elisha.
18 Kunyange zvakadaro, ndakachengeta zviuru zvinomwe zvavanhu muIsraeri, vose vane mabvi asina kupfugamira Bhaari uye vane miromo isina kumutsvoda.”
But [you need to know that] there are still 7,000 people in Israel who have never bowed to [worship] Baal or kissed his [idol].”
19 Naizvozvo Eria akabvapo akandowana Erisha mwanakomana waShafati. Akanga achirima nehando dzakasungwa pamajoko gumi namaviri, iye achichaira joko regumi namaviri. Eria akaenda kwaari akakanda jasi rake paari.
So Elijah went [to Syria] and found Elisha as he was plowing a field with a team of oxen. There were eleven other men who were in front of him, plowing with teams of oxen in the same field. Elijah went to Elisha, and took off his own coat and put it on Elisha, [to show Elisha that he wanted him to take his place as a prophet. Then he started to walk away].
20 Ipapo Erisha akasiya hando dzake akamhanya achitevera Eria. Akati, “Regai ndimbonotsvoda baba namai vangu ndichionekana navo, ndigozoenda nemi.” Eria akati, “Dzokera zvako. Ndakuiteiko?”
Elisha left the oxen standing there and ran after Elijah, and said to him, “I will go with you, but first let me kiss my parents goodbye.” Elijah replied, “Okay, go home. But do not forget why I have [given my cloak] to you!”
21 Naizvozvo Erisha akamusiya akadzokera. Akatora hando dzejoko rake akadzibaya. Akashandisa zvaairimisa sehuni dzokubikisa nyama yacho, akaipa kuvanhu, ndokubva vadya. Ipapo akasimuka akatevera Eria akabva ava muranda wake.
So Elisha went back [to his oxen]. He killed them [and cut them in pieces] and used the wood from the plow to build a fire to roast the meat. He distributed the meat to the other people [in his town], and they all ate some. Then he went with Elijah and became his helper.
