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.”
And the days are many, and the word of Jehovah hath been unto Elijah in the third year, saying, 'Go, appear unto Ahab, and I give rain on the face of the ground;'
2 Kwa hiyo Eliya akaenda kujionyesha kwa Ahabu. Wakati huu njaa ilikuwa kali sana katika Samaria,
and Elijah goeth to appear unto Ahab. And the famine is severe in Samaria,
3 naye Ahabu alikuwa amemwita Obadia ambaye alikuwa msimamizi wa jumba lake la kifalme. (Obadia alimcha Bwana sana.
and Ahab calleth unto Obadiah, who [is] over the house — and Obadiah hath been fearing Jehovah 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.)
and it cometh to pass, in Jezebel's cutting off the prophets of Jehovah, that Obadiah taketh a hundred prophets, and hideth them, fifty men in a cave, and hath sustained 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.”
and Ahab saith unto Obadiah, 'Go through the land, unto all fountains of waters, and unto all the brooks, if so be we find hay, and keep alive horse and mule, and do not cut off any of the cattle.'
6 Kwa hiyo wakagawanya nchi waliyokusudia kutafuta majani, Ahabu akaenda upande mmoja na Obadia upande mwingine.
And they apportion to themselves the land, to pass over into it; Ahab hath gone in one way by himself, and Obadiah hath gone in 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 Obadiah [is] in the way, and lo, Elijah — to meet him; and he discerneth him, and falleth on his face, and saith, 'Art thou he — my lord Elijah?'
8 Eliya akamjibu, “Ndiyo, nenda ukamwambie bwana wako Ahabu, ‘Eliya yuko hapa.’”
And he saith to him, 'I [am]; go, say to thy lord, Lo, Elijah.'
9 Obadia akamuuliza, “Ni kosa gani nimefanya, hata ukaamua kumkabidhi mtumishi wako mkononi mwa Ahabu ili aniue?
And he saith, 'What have I sinned, that thou art giving thy servant into the hand of Ahab — to 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.
Jehovah thy God liveth, if there is a nation and kingdom whither my lord hath not sent to seek thee; and they said, He is not, then he caused the kingdom and the nation to swear, that it doth not find thee;
11 Lakini sasa unaniambia niende kwa bwana wangu na kusema, ‘Eliya yuko hapa.’
and now, thou art saying, Go, say to thy lord, Lo, Elijah;
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 it hath been, I go from thee, and the Spirit of Jehovah doth lift thee up, whither I know not, and I have come to declare to Ahab, and he doth not find thee, and he hath slain me; and thy servant is fearing Jehovah from my youth.
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.
'Hath it not been declared to my lord that which I have done in Jezebel's slaying the prophets of Jehovah, that I hide of the prophets of Jehovah a hundred men, fifty by fifty in a cave, and sustained them with bread and water?
14 Nawe sasa unaniambia niende kwa bwana wangu na kumwambia, ‘Eliya yuko hapa.’ Yeye ataniua!”
and now thou art saying, Go, say to my lord, Lo, Elijah — and he hath slain me!'
15 Eliya akasema, “Kama Bwana Mwenye Nguvu Zote aishivyo, yeye ninayemtumikia, hakika nitajionyesha kwa Ahabu leo.”
And Elijah saith, 'Jehovah of Hosts liveth, before whom I have stood, surely to-day I appear unto him.'
16 Basi Obadia akaenda kukutana na Ahabu na kumwambia, naye Ahabu akaenda kukutana na Eliya.
And Obadiah goeth to meet Ahab, and declareth [it] to him, and Ahab goeth to meet Elijah,
17 Ahabu alipomwona Eliya, akamwambia, “Je, ni wewe, mtaabishaji wa Israeli?”
and it cometh to pass at Ahab's seeing Elijah, that Ahab saith unto him, 'Art thou he — the troubler of 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 saith, 'I have not troubled Israel, but thou and the house of thy father, in your forsaking the commands of Jehovah, and thou goest after the Baalim;
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.”
and now, send, gather unto me all Israel, unto the mount of Carmel, and the prophets of Baal four hundred and fifty, and the prophets of the shrine, four hundred — eating at the table of Jezebel.'
20 Ndipo Ahabu akatuma ujumbe katika Israeli yote na kuwakusanya manabii hao juu ya mlima Karmeli.
And Ahab sendeth among all the sons of Israel, and gathereth the prophets unto the mount of 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.
and Elijah cometh nigh unto all the people, and saith, 'Till when are ye leaping on the two branches? — if Jehovah [is] God, go after Him; and if Baal, go after him;' and the people have not answered him a word.
22 Kisha Eliya akawaambia, “Ni mimi peke yangu nabii wa Bwana aliyebaki, lakini Baali ana manabii mia nne na hamsini.
And Elijah saith unto the people, 'I — I have been left a prophet of Jehovah — by myself; and 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.
and let them give to us two bullocks, and they choose for themselves the one bullock, and cut it in pieces, and place [it] on the wood, and place no fire; and I — I prepare the other bullock, and have put [it] on the wood, and fire I do not place; —
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.”
and ye have called in the name of your god, and I — I call in the name of Jehovah, and it hath been, the god who answereth by fire — He [is] the God.' And all the people answer and say, 'Good [is] the word.'
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.”
And Elijah saith to the prophets of Baal, 'Choose for you the one bullock, and prepare first, for ye [are] the multitude, and call ye in the name of your god, and place no fire.'
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 they take the bullock that [one] gave to them, and prepare, and call in the name of Baal from the morning even till the noon, saying, 'O Baal, answer us!' and there is no voice, and there is none answering; and they leap on the altar that one 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 it cometh to pass, at noon, that Elijah playeth on them, and saith, 'Call with a loud voice, for he [is] a god, for he is meditating, or pursuing, or on a journey; it may be he is asleep, an doth awake.'
28 Kwa hiyo wakapiga kelele zaidi na kama ilivyokuwa desturi yao wakajichanja wenyewe kwa visu na vyembe, mpaka damu ikachuruzika.
And they call with a loud voice, and cut themselves, according to their ordinance, with swords and with spears, till a flowing of blood [is] on them;
29 Adhuhuri ikapita, nao wakaendelea na utabiri wao wa kiwazimu mpaka wakati wa dhabihu ya jioni. Lakini hapakuwa na jibu, hakuna aliyejibu, hakuna aliyeangalia.
and it cometh to pass, at the passing by of the noon, that they feign themselves prophets till the going up of the present, and there is no voice, and there is none answering, and there is none attending.
30 Kisha Eliya akawaambia watu wote, “Sogeeni karibu nami.” Watu wote wakamkaribia, naye akakarabati madhabahu ya Bwana, ambayo ilikuwa imevunjwa.
And Elijah saith to all the people, 'Come nigh unto me;' and all the people come nigh unto him, and he repaireth the altar of Jehovah that is broken 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 Elijah taketh twelve stones, according to the number of the tribes of the sons of Jacob, unto whom the word of Jehovah was, saying, 'Israel is thy name;'
32 Kwa mawe hayo, akajenga madhabahu katika jina la Bwana, na akachimba handaki kuizunguka, ukubwa wa kutosha vipimo viwili vya mbegu.
and he buildeth with the stones an altar, in the name of Jehovah, and maketh a trench, as about the space of two measures of seed, round about 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 arrangeth the wood, and cutteth in pieces the bullock, and placeth [it] on the wood, and saith, 'Fill ye four pitchers of water, and pour on the burnt-offering, and 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 saith, 'Do [it] a second time;' and they do [it] a second time; and he saith, 'Do [it] a third time;' and they do [it] a third time;
35 Maji yakatiririka kuizunguka madhabahu na hata kujaza lile handaki.
and the water goeth round about the altar, and also, the trench he hath 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 it cometh to pass, at the going up of the [evening -]present, that Elijah the prophet cometh nigh and saith, 'Jehovah, God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, to-day let it be known that Thou [art] God in Israel, and I Thy servant, that by Thy word I have done the whole of these things;
37 Unijibu mimi, Ee Bwana, nijibu mimi, ili watu hawa wajue kwamba wewe, Ee Bwana, ndiwe Mungu, na kwamba unaigeuza mioyo yao ikurudie tena.”
answer me, O Jehovah, answer me, and this people doth know that Thou [art] Jehovah God; and Thou hast turned their heart backward.'
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.
And there falleth a fire of Jehovah, and consumeth the burnt-offering, and the wood, and the stones, and the dust, and the water that [is] in the trench it hath licked up.
39 Wakati watu wote walipoona hili, wakaanguka kifudifudi na kulia, “Bwana: yeye ndiye Mungu! Bwana: yeye ndiye Mungu!”
And all the people see, and fall on their faces, and say, 'Jehovah, He [is] the God, Jehovah, He [is] the 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 saith to them, 'Catch ye the prophets of Baal; let not a man escape of them;' and they catch them, and Elijah bringeth them down unto the stream Kishon, and doth slaughter them there.
41 Eliya akamwambia Ahabu, “Nenda, ukale na kunywa, kwa kuwa kuna sauti ya mvua kubwa.”
And Elijah saith to Ahab, 'Go up, eat and drink, because of the sound of the noise of the shower.'
42 Hivyo Ahabu akaondoka ili kula na kunywa. Lakini Eliya akapanda kileleni mwa Karmeli, akasujudu na akaweka kichwa chake katikati ya magoti yake.
And Ahab goeth up to eat, and to drink, and Elijah hath gone up unto the top of Carmel, and he stretcheth himself out on the earth, and he placeth 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 saith unto his young man, 'Go up, I pray thee, look attentively the way of the sea;' and he goeth up and looketh attentively, and saith, 'There is nothing;' and he saith, 'Turn back,' 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 it cometh to pass, at the seventh, that he saith, 'Lo, a little thickness as the palm of a man is coming up out of the sea.' And he saith, 'Go up, say unto Ahab, 'Bind — and go down, and the shower doth not restrain thee.'
45 Wakati ule ule anga likawa jeusi kwa mawingu, upepo ukainuka na mvua kubwa ikanyesha, naye Ahabu akaenda zake Yezreeli.
And it cometh to pass, in the meantime, that the heavens have become black — thick clouds and wind — and the shower is great; and Ahab rideth, and goeth 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 Jehovah hath been on Elijah, and he girdeth up his loins, and runneth before Ahab, till thine entering Jezreel.
