1 Wafalme 18
1 Baada ya muda mrefu, katika mwaka wa tatu, neno la Bwana likamjia Eliya kusema, “Nenda ukajionyeshe kwa Ahabu na mimi nitanyesha mvua juu ya nchi.”
After many days, the word of the Lord came to Elijah, in the third year, saying, “Go and show yourself to Ahab, so that I may grant rain upon the face of the earth.”
2 Kwa hiyo Eliya akaenda kujionyesha kwa Ahabu. Wakati huu njaa ilikuwa kali sana katika Samaria,
Therefore, Elijah went to show himself to Ahab. For there was a severe famine in Samaria.
3 naye Ahabu alikuwa amemwita Obadia ambaye alikuwa msimamizi wa jumba lake la kifalme. (Obadia alimcha Bwana sana.
And Ahab called Obadiah, the manager of his household. Now Obadiah feared the Lord greatly.
4 Wakati Yezebeli alipokuwa akiwaua manabii wa Bwana, Obadia alikuwa amewachukua manabii mia moja na kuwaficha katika mapango mawili, hamsini kwenye kila moja na akawa akiwapa chakula na maji.)
For when Jezebel was killing the prophets of the Lord, he took one hundred prophets, and concealed them, fifty and fifty, in caves. And he fed them with bread and water.
5 Ahabu alikuwa amemwambia Obadia, “Nenda katika nchi yote kwenye vijito vyote na mabonde. Huenda tunaweza kupata majani ya kuwalisha farasi na nyumbu wapate kuishi ili tusilazimike kuwaua hata mmoja wa wanyama wetu.”
Then Ahab said to Obadiah, “Go into the land, to all fountains of water, and to all the valleys, for perhaps we will be able to find plants, and save the horses and mules, so that the beasts of burden may not perish entirely.”
6 Kwa hiyo wakagawanya nchi waliyokusudia kutafuta majani, Ahabu akaenda upande mmoja na Obadia upande mwingine.
And they divided the regions among themselves, so that they might travel through them. Ahab went one way alone, and Obadiah went another way by himself.
7 Wakati Obadia alipokuwa akitembea njiani, Eliya akakutana naye. Obadia akamtambua, akamsujudia hadi nchi na kusema, “Je, hivi kweli ni wewe, bwana wangu Eliya?”
And while Obadiah was on the way, Elijah met him. And when he had recognized him, he fell on his face, and he said, “Are you not my lord Elijah?”
8 Eliya akamjibu, “Ndiyo, nenda ukamwambie bwana wako Ahabu, ‘Eliya yuko hapa.’”
And he responded to him: “I am. Go and tell your lord that Elijah is here.”
9 Obadia akamuuliza, “Ni kosa gani nimefanya, hata ukaamua kumkabidhi mtumishi wako mkononi mwa Ahabu ili aniue?
And he said: “How have I sinned that you would deliver me, your servant, into the hand of Ahab, so that he would put me to death?
10 Hakika kama Bwana Mungu wako aishivyo, hakuna taifa hata moja au ufalme ambapo bwana wangu hajamtuma mtu kukutafuta. Kila wakati taifa au ufalme walipodai kwamba haupo huko, aliwafanya waape kwamba hawakuweza kukupata.
As the Lord your God lives, there is no nation or kingdom to which my lord has not sent, seeking you. And when all responded, ‘He is not here,’ he swore each kingdom and nation to an oath, because you were not found at all.
11 Lakini sasa unaniambia niende kwa bwana wangu na kusema, ‘Eliya yuko hapa.’
And now, you say to me, ‘Go and tell your lord that Elijah is here.’
12 Sijui ni wapi Roho wa Bwana ataamua kukupeleka wakati nitakapokuacha. Kama nikienda kumwambia Ahabu na asikupate, ataniua. Hata hivyo mimi mtumishi wako nimemwabudu Bwana tangu ujana wangu.
And when I will have departed from you, the Spirit of the Lord will transport you to a place that I do not know. And entering, I will report to Ahab. And he, not finding you, will put me to death. Yet your servant has feared the Lord from his infancy.
13 Je, hukusikia, bwana wangu, nilifanya nini wakati Yezebeli alipokuwa akiua manabii wa Bwana? Niliwaficha manabii wa Bwana mia moja katika mapango mawili, hamsini katika kila moja, nami nikawapatia chakula na maji.
Has it not been revealed to you, my lord, what I did when Jezebel was killing the prophets of the Lord: how I hid one hundred men from the prophets of the Lord, fifty and fifty, in caves, and how I fed them with bread and water?
14 Nawe sasa unaniambia niende kwa bwana wangu na kumwambia, ‘Eliya yuko hapa.’ Yeye ataniua!”
And now you say: ‘Go and tell your lord that Elijah is here,’ so that he may kill me!”
15 Eliya akasema, “Kama Bwana Mwenye Nguvu Zote aishivyo, yeye ninayemtumikia, hakika nitajionyesha kwa Ahabu leo.”
And Elijah said, “As the Lord of hosts lives, before whose face I stand, this day I will appear to him.”
16 Basi Obadia akaenda kukutana na Ahabu na kumwambia, naye Ahabu akaenda kukutana na Eliya.
Therefore, Obadiah went away to meet Ahab, and he reported to him. And Ahab went to meet Elijah.
17 Ahabu alipomwona Eliya, akamwambia, “Je, ni wewe, mtaabishaji wa Israeli?”
And when he had seen him, he said, “Are you the one who is disturbing Israel?”
18 Eliya akamjibu, “Mimi sijaitaabisha Israeli. Lakini wewe na jamaa ya baba yako ndio mnaofanya hivyo. Mmeziacha amri za Bwana na mkafuata Mabaali.
And he said: “I have not troubled Israel. But it is you, and the house of your father, who have abandoned the commandments of the Lord, and have followed the Baals.
19 Sasa waite watu kutoka Israeli yote tukutane nao juu ya Mlima Karmeli. Nawe uwalete hao manabii wa Baali mia nne na hamsini na hao manabii mia nne wa Ashera, walao chakula mezani mwa Yezebeli.”
Yet truly now, send and gather to me all of Israel, on Mount Carmel, with the four hundred and fifty prophets of Baal, and the four hundred prophets of the sacred groves, who eat from the table of Jezebel.”
20 Ndipo Ahabu akatuma ujumbe katika Israeli yote na kuwakusanya manabii hao juu ya mlima Karmeli.
Ahab sent to all the sons of Israel, and he gathered together the prophets on mount Carmel.
21 Eliya akasimama mbele ya watu na kusema, “Mtasitasita katika mawazo mawili hadi lini? Ikiwa Bwana ndiye Mungu, mfuateni yeye; lakini ikiwa Baali ni Mungu, basi mfuateni yeye.” Lakini watu hawakusema kitu.
Then Elijah, drawing near to all the people, said: “How long will you waver between two sides? If the Lord is God, follow him. But if Baal is, then follow him.” And the people did not respond a word to him.
22 Kisha Eliya akawaambia, “Ni mimi peke yangu nabii wa Bwana aliyebaki, lakini Baali ana manabii mia nne na hamsini.
And Elijah said again to the people: “I alone remain as a prophet of the Lord. But the prophets of Baal are four hundred and fifty men.
23 Leteni mafahali wawili. Wao na wajichagulie mmoja, wamkate vipande vipande na waweke juu ya kuni lakini wasiiwashie moto. Nitamwandaa huyo fahali mwingine na kumweka juu ya kuni lakini sitawasha moto.
Let two oxen be given to us. And let them choose one ox for themselves, and, cutting it into pieces, let them set it on the wood. But they may not place fire under it. And I will prepare the other ox, and set it on the wood. But I will not place fire under it.
24 Kisha mliitie jina la mungu wenu, nami nitaliitia jina la Bwana Mungu yule ambaye atajibu kwa moto, huyo ndiye Mungu.” Kisha watu wote wakasema, “Hilo unalosema ni jema.”
Call upon the names of your gods. And I will call on the name of my Lord. And the God who will have heeded with fire, let him be God.” And in response, all the people said, “Excellent proposition.”
25 Eliya akawaambia manabii wa Baali, “Chagueni mmoja kati ya hawa mafahali na mwe wa kwanza kumwandaa, kwa kuwa ninyi mko wengi sana. Liitieni jina la mungu wenu, lakini msiwashe moto.”
Then Elijah said to the prophets of Baal: “Choose for yourselves one ox, and prepare it first. For you are many. And call on the names of your gods, but do not place fire under it.”
26 Kwa hiyo wakamchukua yule fahali waliyepewa, nao wakamwandaa. Kisha wakaliitia jina la Baali kutoka asubuhi hadi adhuhuri, wakapiga kelele, “Ee Baali, utujibu!” Lakini hapakuwa na jibu; hakuna aliyejibu. Nao wakacheza kuizunguka madhabahu waliyoijenga.
And when they had taken an ox, which he had given to them, they prepared it. And they called on the name of Baal, from morning even until midday, saying, “O Baal, heed us.” And there was no voice, nor did anyone respond. And so they leaped upon the altar that they had made.
27 Wakati wa adhuhuri, Eliya akaanza kuwadhihaki, akisema, “Pigeni kelele zaidi! Hakika yeye ni mungu! Labda amezama katika mawazo mazito, au ana shughuli nyingi, au amesafiri. Labda amelala usingizi mzito, naye ni lazima aamshwe.”
And when it was now midday, Elijah ridiculed them, saying: “Cry out with a louder voice. For he is a god, and perhaps he is talking, or at an inn, or on a journey, or certainly he may be asleep, and must be awakened.”
28 Kwa hiyo wakapiga kelele zaidi na kama ilivyokuwa desturi yao wakajichanja wenyewe kwa visu na vyembe, mpaka damu ikachuruzika.
Then they cried out with a loud voice, and they cut themselves, in accord with their ritual, with knives and lancets, until they were entirely covered in blood.
29 Adhuhuri ikapita, nao wakaendelea na utabiri wao wa kiwazimu mpaka wakati wa dhabihu ya jioni. Lakini hapakuwa na jibu, hakuna aliyejibu, hakuna aliyeangalia.
Then, after midday had passed, and they were prophesying, the time had arrived when the sacrifice is usually offered. And there was no voice heard, neither did anyone heed or respond to the praying.
30 Kisha Eliya akawaambia watu wote, “Sogeeni karibu nami.” Watu wote wakamkaribia, naye akakarabati madhabahu ya Bwana, ambayo ilikuwa imevunjwa.
Elijah said to all the people, “Draw near to me.” And as the people were drawing near to him, he repaired the altar of the Lord, which had been torn down.
31 Eliya akachukua mawe kumi na mawili, moja kwa ajili ya kila kabila la wana wa Yakobo, ambaye neno la Bwana lilimjia, likisema, “Jina lako litakuwa Israeli.”
And he took twelve stones, in accord with the number of the tribes of the sons of Jacob, to whom the word of the Lord came, saying, “Israel shall be your name.”
32 Kwa mawe hayo, akajenga madhabahu katika jina la Bwana, na akachimba handaki kuizunguka, ukubwa wa kutosha vipimo viwili vya mbegu.
And he built from the stones an altar to the name of the Lord. And he made a trench for water, like two furrows of plowed land, all around the altar.
33 Akapanga kuni, akamkata yule fahali vipande vipande na kuvipanga juu ya kuni. Kisha akawaambia, “Jazeni mapipa manne maji na kuyamwaga juu ya sadaka ya kuteketezwa na juu ya kuni.”
And he arranged the wood, and he cut the ox into pieces, and he placed it on the wood.
34 Akawaambia, “Fanyeni hivyo tena.” Nao wakafanya hivyo tena. Akaagiza, “Fanyeni kwa mara ya tatu.” Nao wakafanya hivyo kwa mara ya tatu.
And he said, “Fill four containers with water, and pour it over the holocaust, and over the wood.” And again, he said, “Do this a second time.” And when they had done it a second time, he said, “Do it also a third time.” And they did so a third time.
35 Maji yakatiririka kuizunguka madhabahu na hata kujaza lile handaki.
And the water was running down around the altar, and the pit of the trench was filled with water.
36 Wakati wa kutoa dhabihu ya jioni, nabii Eliya akasogea mbele na kuomba, akisema: “Ee Bwana, Mungu wa Abrahamu, na Isaki na Israeli, ijulikane leo kwamba wewe ndiye Mungu katika Israeli na ya kwamba mimi ni mtumishi wako na nimefanya mambo haya yote kwa neno lako.
And when it was now time for the holocaust to be offered, the prophet Elijah, drawing near, said: “O Lord, God of Abraham, and Isaac, and Israel, reveal this day that you are the God of Israel, and that I am your servant, and that I have acted, in all these things, in accord with your precept.
37 Unijibu mimi, Ee Bwana, nijibu mimi, ili watu hawa wajue kwamba wewe, Ee Bwana, ndiwe Mungu, na kwamba unaigeuza mioyo yao ikurudie tena.”
Heed me, O Lord, heed me, so that this people may learn that you are the Lord God, and that you have converted their heart again.”
38 Kisha moto wa Bwana ukashuka na kuiteketeza ile dhabihu, zile kuni, yale mawe, ule udongo, na pia kuramba yale maji yaliyokuwa ndani ya handaki.
Then the fire of the Lord fell down and devoured the holocaust, and the wood, and the stones, and even the dust, and it absorbed the water that was in the trench.
39 Wakati watu wote walipoona hili, wakaanguka kifudifudi na kulia, “Bwana: yeye ndiye Mungu! Bwana: yeye ndiye Mungu!”
And when all the people had seen it, they fell upon their face, and they said: “The Lord himself is God! The Lord himself is God!”
40 Kisha Eliya akawaamuru, “Wakamateni hao manabii wa Baali. Msimwache hata mmoja atoroke!” Wakawakamata, naye Eliya akawaleta mpaka Bonde la Kishoni na kuwachinja huko.
And Elijah said to them, “Apprehend the prophets of Baal, and do not let even one of them escape.” And when they had apprehended them, Elijah led them down to the torrent Kishon, and he put them to death there.
41 Eliya akamwambia Ahabu, “Nenda, ukale na kunywa, kwa kuwa kuna sauti ya mvua kubwa.”
And Elijah said to Ahab “Ascend; eat and drink. For there is the sound of an abundance of rain.”
42 Hivyo Ahabu akaondoka ili kula na kunywa. Lakini Eliya akapanda kileleni mwa Karmeli, akasujudu na akaweka kichwa chake katikati ya magoti yake.
Ahab ascended, so that he might eat and drink. But Elijah ascended to the top of Carmel, and bending down to the ground, he placed his face between his knees.
43 Akamwambia mtumishi wake, “Nenda ukatazame kuelekea bahari.” Akaenda na kutazama. Akasema, “Hakuna kitu chochote huko.” Mara saba Eliya akasema, “Nenda tena.”
And he said to his servant, “Ascend, and gaze out toward the sea.” And when he had ascended, and had contemplated, he said, “There is nothing.” And again, he said to him, “Return seven times.”
44 Mara ya saba, mtumishi akaleta taarifa, “Wingu dogo kama mkono wa mwanadamu linainuka kutoka baharini.” Hivyo Eliya akasema, “Nenda ukamwambie Ahabu, ‘Tandika gari lako na ushuke kabla mvua haijakuzuia.’”
And at the seventh time, behold, a little cloud ascended from the sea like the footstep of a man. And he said: “Ascend, and say to Ahab, ‘Yoke your chariot, and descend; otherwise, the rain may prevent you.’”
45 Wakati ule ule anga likawa jeusi kwa mawingu, upepo ukainuka na mvua kubwa ikanyesha, naye Ahabu akaenda zake Yezreeli.
And as he was turning himself this way and that, behold, the heavens were darkened, and there were clouds and wind, and a great rainstorm occurred. And so Ahab, going up, went away to Jezreel.
46 Nguvu za Bwana zikamjia Eliya, naye akajikaza viuno, akakimbia mbele ya Ahabu njia yote hadi maingilio ya Yezreeli.
And the hand of the Lord was upon Elijah. And cinching his waist, he ran before Ahab, until he arrived at Jezreel.
