1 Ahemfo 18
1 Mfe abiɛsa akyi no, Awurade asɛm baa Elia nkyɛn se, “Fa wo ho kɔkyerɛ ɔhene Ahab na ka kyerɛ no se ɛrenkyɛ biara, mɛma osu atɔ asase no so.”
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 Elia de ne ho kɔkyerɛɛ ɔhene Ahab. Na ɔkɔm no ano yɛɛ den yiye wɔ Samaria.
So Elijah went to appear before Ahab. In the meantime the famine had become severe in Samaria.
3 Ahab frɛɛ Obadia a na ɔhwɛ nʼahemfi so no. Na Obadia gye Awurade di yiye.
Ahab summoned Obadiah, the manager of his palace (Obadiah was a very sincere believer in the Lord.
4 Bere a na Isebel rekunkum Awurade adiyifo no, Obadia faa adiyifo no ɔha de wɔn kosiee abodan abien mu a, wɔn mu aduonum biara da ɔbodan baako mu. Na ɔmaa wɔn aduan ne nsu.
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 Ahab ka kyerɛɛ Obadia se, “Kɔ na kɔhwehwɛ asase no so mmura ne abon nyinaa sɛ ebia yebenya sare ama apɔnkɔ ne mfurum yi awe sɛnea wɔrenwuwu.”
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 Enti wɔkyɛɛ asase no mu maa wɔn ho. Ahab faa fa na Obadia nso faa fa.
So they divided the land between them. Ahab went in one direction, and Obadiah the other.
7 Obadia nam no, Elia hyiaa no. Obadia huu no, kaee no nti, ɔkotow no wɔ fam kae se, “Enti wo ni, me wura Elia?”
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 Elia buae se, “Yiw, kɔka kyerɛ wo wura se, ‘Elia wɔ ha.’”
“It's me,” Elijah replied. “Go and tell your master, ‘Elijah is here.’”
9 Obadia bisae se, “Me wura, dɛn bɔne na mayɛ a enti woresoma me Ahab nkyɛn ama wɔakum me yi?
“How have I sinned that you are handing me, your servant, over to Ahab to be killed?
10 Mmere dodow a Awurade, wo Nyankopɔn te ase yi, ɔman anaa ahemman biara nni hɔ a me wura nsomaa obi wɔ so sɛ ɔnhwehwɛ wo. Na ɔman anaa ahemman biara a wɔbɛka sɛ wunni so no, ɔma wɔka ntam, ka se wɔanhu wo.
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 Na afei, woka kyerɛ me sɛ menkɔ me wura nkyɛn nkɔka nkyerɛ no se, ‘Elia wɔ ha.’
And now you're telling me to go to my master and announce, ‘Elijah is here!’
12 Minnim baabi a sɛ migyaw wo hɔ kɔ a, Awurade honhom bɛpagyaw wo akosi. Sɛ mekɔka kyerɛ Ahab, na wanhu wo a, obekum me. Nanso me, wo somfo, masom Awurade fi me mmofraase.
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 Me wura, wontee nea meyɛɛ bere a na Isebel rekunkum Awurade adiyifo no ana? Mede Awurade adiyifo no ɔha siee abodan abien mu a, na wɔn mu aduonum wɔ ɔbodan baako biara mu. Memaa wɔn aduan ne nsu nso.
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 Na afei, woka kyerɛ me se menkɔ me wura nkyɛn nkɔka nkyerɛ no se, ‘Elia wɔ ha!’ Obekum me!”
And now you're telling me to go to my master and announce, ‘Elijah is here.’ He's going to kill me!”
15 Elia kaa se, “Mmere dodow a Awurade a mesom no te ase yi, nea ɛbɛyɛ biara, mede me ho bɛma Ahab nnɛ.”
Elijah replied, “As the Lord Almighty lives, the one I serve, I will definitely appear before Ahab today.”
16 Enti Obadia kohyiaa Ahab, ka kyerɛɛ no, na Ahab kohyiaa Elia.
So Obadiah went to meet Ahab and told him, and Ahab went to meet Elijah.
17 Ohuu Elia no, obisaa no se, “Wo ni, wo a wohaw Israelfo?”
When Ahab saw Elijah, he said to him, “Is that you—you who are causing trouble for Israel?”
18 Elia buae se, “Menhaw Israel ɔkwan biara so. Na mmom, wo ne wʼagya fifo na moahaw Israel. Moagyae Awurade mmara so di, akodi Baal akyi.
“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 Enti frɛ Israel nnipa nyinaa na wommehyia me Karmel bepɔw so. Na fa Baal adiyifo ahannan aduonum ne Asera adiyifo ahannan a wodidi Isebel didipon so no nso bra.”
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 Na Ahab soma kɔɔ Israel nyinaa kɔboaboaa adiyifo no ano wɔ Karmel bepɔw so.
So Ahab summoned all of Israel and also gathered the prophets on Mount Carmel.
21 Elia dii nnipa no anim kae se, “Moadwene bɛyɛ ntanta wɔ saa asɛm yi ho akosi da bɛn? Sɛ Awurade yɛ Onyankopɔn a, munni nʼakyi, na sɛ Baal nso yɛ Onyankopɔn a, munni nʼakyi.” Nanso nnipa no yɛɛ dinn.
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 Elia ka kyerɛɛ ɔman no se, “Me nko ara ne Awurade odiyifo a maka, nanso Baal wɔ adiyifo ahannan aduonum.
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 Momma yɛn anantwinini abien. Momma wonyi mu baako, na wontwitwa no asinasin mfa ngu nnyina so, nsɔ wɔn mu gya. Nantwinini baako a waka no, mɛyɛ ne ho adwuma de agu nnyina so a merento mu gya.
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 Na mobɛfrɛ mo nyame na me nso mafrɛ Awurade. Onyame a ɔnam ogya so gye so no, ɔno ne Onyankopɔn.” Ɔmanfo no nyinaa penee so.
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 Elia ka kyerɛɛ Baal adiyifo no se, “Momfa anantwinini no baako, na munni kan nsiesie no, efisɛ mo dɔɔso. Momfrɛ mo nyame a, monnto mu gya.”
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 Enti wɔfaa nantwinini a wɔkae se wɔmfa no no, siesiee no too afɔremuka no so. Afei, wɔfrɛɛ Baal, frɛɛ no, frɛɛ no fi anɔpa mu nyinaa se, “Ao, Baal! Tie yɛn oo!” Wɔteɛteɛɛ mu saa ara, nanso wɔannya mmuae biara! Afei wɔde anibere saw faa afɔremuka a wɔasi no ho hyiae.
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 Eduu owigyinae no, Elia dii wɔn ho fɛw se, “Monteɛteɛ mu den! Ɔyɛ onyame! Ebia, ɔredwen biribi ho denneennen anaa ɔregye nʼahome, onyaa adagyew anaa watu kwan. Ebi nso a, na wada a ɛsɛ sɛ wonyan no.”
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 Enti wɔteɛteɛ mu den, de afoa twitwaa wɔn ho wɔn ho, wowɔɔ wɔn ho wɔn ho peaw sɛnea wɔn amanne te, maa mogya pram wɔn.
They shouted even louder and cut themselves with swords and spears until they bled. This was their usual way of worshiping.
29 Owigyinae no twaa mu mpo no wɔtoaa wɔn nkɔmhyɛ no so, kosii anwummere afɔrebɔ bere no mu. Nanso mmuae biara amma. Wɔante obiara nne na obiara annye wɔn so.
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 Afei, Elia ka kyerɛɛ ɔmanfo no nyinaa se, “Mommra me nkyɛn ha.” Wɔkɔɔ ne nkyɛn, na osiesiee Awurade afɔremuka a na abubu no.
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 Elia faa abo dumien a baako biara gyina hɔ ma Israel abusuakuw baako,
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 na ɔde abo no san sii Awurade afɔremuka no. Na otwaa amoa a ne trɛw bɛyɛ anammɔn abiɛsa faa afɔremuka no ho hyiae.
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 Ɔde nnyansin guu afɔremuka no so, twitwaa nantwinini no asinasin guu so. Afei ɔkae se, “Monhyɛ nhina akɛse no nsu ma ma, na munhwie ngu afɔrebɔde no ne nnyansin no so.” Wɔyɛɛ nea ɔkae no wiei no,
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 ɔkae se, “Monyɛ saa ara bio!” Na wɔyɛɛ saa wiei no, ɔkae se, “Monyɛ saa ne mprɛnsa so.” Wɔyɛɛ sɛnea ɔkae no,
“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 maa nsu no sen faa afɔremuka no ho, maa mpo, ebu faa amoa no so.
The water ran down all over the altar and even filled the ditch.
36 Eduu bere a ɛsɛ sɛ wɔbɔ anwummere afɔre, sɛnea wɔn amanne kyerɛ no, odiyifo Elia kɔɔ afɔremuka no so, bɔɔ mpae se, “Awurade, Abraham, Isak ne Yakob Nyankopɔn, kyerɛ nnɛ sɛ woyɛ Nyankopɔn wɔ Israel, na meyɛ wo somfo. Kyerɛ sɛ, nea mereyɛ yi nyinaa fi wo.
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 Awurade, tie me! Tie me na saa nnipa yi nyinaa nhu sɛ, Awurade, woyɛ Onyankopɔn a woatwe wɔn asan aba wo nkyɛn.”
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 Nʼano sii pɛ, na ogya a efi Awurade nkyɛn tew fii soro bɛhyew nantwinini ba no, nnyansin no, abo no ne mfutuma no. Mpo, ɛyow amoa no mu nsu no nyinaa.
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 Nnipa no hui no, wɔde wɔn anim butubutuw fam, teɛteɛɛ mu se, “Awurade yɛ Onyankopɔn! Awurade yɛ Onyankopɔn!”
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 Na Elia hyɛe se, “Monkyere Baal adiyifo no nyinaa. Mommma wɔn mu baako koraa nguan.” Enti ɔmanfo no kyekyeree wɔn nyinaa. Na Elia de wɔn kɔɔ Kison bon mu kokunkum wɔn wɔ hɔ.
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 Elia ka kyerɛɛ Ahab se, “Kɔ na kodi aduan pa, ma wo ho ntɔ wo! Na mate sɛ osu kɛse bi rebɛtɔ.”
Elijah told Ahab, “Go and eat and drink, for I hear the sound of a heavy rain coming.”
42 Enti Ahab too pon. Na Elia foro kɔɔ Karmel bepɔw atifi, kobutuw fam, bɔɔ mpae.
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 Na ɔka kyerɛɛ ne somfo se, “Kɔ na fa wʼani kyerɛ po so.” Ɔsomfo no kɔ kɔhwɛɛ hɔ, na ɔba bɛka kyerɛɛ Elia se, “Manhu hwee.” Elia kaa saa kyerɛɛ no mpɛn ason sɛ ɔmfa nʼani nkɔkyerɛ hɔ. Ɔno nso kɔɔ mpɛn ason.
“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 Ne mpɛn ason so no, ne somfo no ka kyerɛɛ no se, “Mihuu omununkum bi a ɛte sɛ onipa abasa a apue afi po no so reforo.” Ɛhɔ ara na Elia teɛɛ mu se, “Ntɛm! Kɔ Ahab nkyɛn kɔka kyerɛ no. ‘Foro wo teaseɛnam no, na san kɔ fie. Sɛ woanka wo ho a, osu no besiw wo kwan.’”
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 Ankyɛ biara na osu munaa tumm. Osuframa bɔe, na osu kɛse tɔe, na ntɛm so, Ahab kɔɔ Yesreel.
Very quickly the sky grew dark with clouds, the wind blew, heavy rain started falling, and Ahab rode down to Jezreel.
46 Afei, Awurade maa Elia ahoɔden sononko bi. Ɔkekaa nʼatade hyɛɛ nʼabɔso mu, na odii Ahab teaseɛnam no kan ara kosii Yesreel kwan ano.
The Lord gave his power to Elijah—he tucked his cloak into his belt and ran ahead of Ahab all the way to Jezreel.
