1 Ahemfo 18
1 Mfeɛ mmiɛnsa akyi, Awurade asɛm baa Elia nkyɛn sɛ, “Fa wo ho kɔkyerɛ ɔhene Ahab na ka kyerɛ no sɛ ɛnkyɛre biara, mɛma osuo atɔ asase no so.”
And it came to pass, after many days, that, the word of Yahweh, came unto Elijah, in the third year, saying, —Go, shew thyself unto Ahab, that I may send rain upon the face of the ground.
2 Elia de ne ho kɔkyerɛɛ ɔhene Ahab. Na ɛkɔm no ano yɛɛ den yie wɔ Samaria.
And Elijah went, to show himself unto Ahab. Now, the famine, was severe in Samaria.
3 Ahab frɛɛ Obadia a na ɔhwɛ nʼahemfie so no. Na Obadia gye Awurade di yie.
And Ahab had called for Obadiah, who was over his house. Now, Obadiah, was one who revered Yahweh, exceedingly.
4 Ɛberɛ a na Isebel rekunkum Awurade adiyifoɔ no, Obadia faa adiyifoɔ no ɔha de wɔn kɔsiee abodan mmienu mu a, wɔn mu aduonum biara da ɔbodan baako mu. Na ɔmaa wɔn aduane ne nsuo.
And so it came to pass, when Jezebel was cutting off the prophets of Yahweh, that Obadiah took a hundred prophets, and hid them by fifties in caves, and sustained them, with bread and water.
5 Ahab ka kyerɛɛ Obadia sɛ, “Ɛsɛ sɛ yɛhwehwɛ asase no so nsuwa ne bɔnhwa nyinaa sɛ ebia yɛbɛnya ɛserɛ ama apɔnkɔ ne mfunumu yi awe sɛdeɛ wɔrenwu.”
So then Ahab said unto Obadiah, Go, and let us pass throughout the land, unto all the fountains of water, and unto all the ravines, peradventure we may find grass, and save alive horse and mule, and not have more of the beasts cut off.
6 Enti, wɔkyɛɛ asase no mu maa wɔn ho. Ahab faa ɛfa na Obadia nso faa ɛfa.
So they divided to them the land, to pass through it, —Ahab, went one way, by himself, and, Obadiah, went another way, by himself.
7 Obadia nam, nam no, Elia hyiaa no. Obadia hunuu no, kaee no enti, ɔkotoo no wɔ fam kaa sɛ, “Enti, wo nie, me wura Elia?”
And so it was, as Obadiah was on the road, that lo! Elijah, met him, —and he recognised him, and fell upon his face, and said—Now art, thou, my lord Elijah?
8 Elia buaa sɛ, “Aane, kɔka kyerɛ wo wura sɛ, ‘Elia wɔ ha.’”
And he said to him—I, am! Go, say to thy lord: Here, is, Elijah!
9 Obadia bisaa sɛ, “Me wura, ɛdeɛn bɔne na mayɛ a enti woresoma me Ahab nkyɛn ama wɔakum me?
And he said—How have I sinned, —that, thou, art delivering thy servant into the hand of Ahab, to put me to death?
10 Mmerɛ dodoɔ a Awurade, wo Onyankopɔn 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 wonni soɔ no, ɔma wɔka ntam, ka sɛ wɔanhunu wo.
By the life of Yahweh thy God, there is no nation or kingdom, whither my lord hath not sent to seek thee, and, when they have said—Nay! he hath taken an oath of the kingdom or the nation, that no one could find thee;
11 Na afei, woka kyerɛ me sɛ menkɔ me wura nkyɛn nkɔka nkyerɛ no sɛ, ‘Elia wɔ ha.’
and, now, thou, art saying, —Go say to thy lord, Here, is, Elijah;
12 Mennim baabi a sɛ megya wo hɔ kɔ a, Awurade honhom bɛpagya wo akɔsi. Sɛ mekɔka kyerɛ Ahab, na wanhunu wo a, ɔbɛkum me. Nanso, me, wo ɔsomfoɔ, masom Awurade firi me mmɔfraase.
so shall it come to pass, as soon as, I, go from thee, that, the spirit of Yahweh, shall carry thee away—whither I know not, and so, when I go in to tell Ahab, and he cannot find thee, then will he slay me, —and yet, thy servant, hath revered Yahweh, from my youth.
13 Me wura, wontee deɛ meyɛɛ ɛberɛ a na Isebel rekunkum Awurade adiyifoɔ no anaa? Mede Awurade adiyifoɔ no ɔha siee abodan mmienu mu a, na wɔn mu aduonum wɔ ɔbodan baako biara mu. Memaa wɔn aduane ne nsuo nso.
Was it not told my lord, what I did when Jezebel was slaying the prophets of Yahweh, —how I hid, of the prophets of Yahweh, a hundred men—by fifties—in caves, and sustained them with bread and water?
14 Na afei, woka kyerɛ me sɛ menkɔ me wura nkyɛn nkɔka nkyerɛ no sɛ, ‘Elia wɔ ha!’ Ɔbɛkum me!”
and yet, now, thou, art saying, Go, tell thy lord—Here, is, Elijah; and so he will slay me!
15 Elia kaa sɛ, “Mmerɛ dodoɔ a Awurade a mesom no te ase yi, deɛ ɛbɛyɛ biara, mede me ho bɛma Ahab ɛnnɛ.”
Then said Elijah—By the life of Yahweh of hosts, before whom I stand, to-day, will I show myself unto him.
16 Enti, Obadia kɔhyiaa Ahab, ka kyerɛɛ no, na Ahab kɔhyiaa Elia.
So Obadiah went to meet Ahab, and told him, —and, Ahab, went to meet, Elijah.
17 Ɔhunuu Elia no, ɔbisaa no sɛ, “Wo nie, wo a woha Israelfoɔ?”
And it came to pass, when Ahab saw Elijah, that Ahab said unto him, Now, art, thou, troubling Israel?
18 Elia buaa sɛ, “Menhaa Israel ɛkwan biara so. Na mmom, wo ne wʼagya fiefoɔ na moaha Israel. Moagyae Awurade mmara so die, akɔdi Baal akyi.
And he said—I have not troubled Israel, but, thou and the house of thy father, —in that ye have forsaken the commandments of Yahweh, and followed Baal.
19 Enti, frɛ Israel nnipa nyinaa na wɔmmɛhyia me Karmel bepɔ so. Na fa Baal adiyifoɔ ahanan aduonum ne Asera adiyifoɔ ahanan a wɔdidi Isebel didipono so no nso bra.”
Now, therefore, send, gather unto me all Israel, unto Mount Carmel, —and the prophets of Baal, four hundred and fifty, and the prophets of the Sacred Stem, four hundred, who do eat at the table of Jezebel.
20 Na Ahab soma kɔɔ Israel nyinaa kɔboaboaa adiyifoɔ no ano wɔ Karmel bepɔ so.
So Ahab sent among all the sons of Israel, —and gathered the prophets unto Mount Carmel.
21 Elia dii nnipa no anim kaa sɛ, “Moadwene bɛyɛ ntanta wɔ saa asɛm yi ho akɔsi da bɛn? Sɛ Awurade yɛ Onyankopɔn a, monni nʼakyi, na sɛ Baal nso yɛ Onyankopɔn a, monni nʼakyi.” Nanso, nnipa no yɛɛ dinn.
And Elijah drew near unto all the people, and said—How long are ye limping on the two divided opinions? If, Yahweh, be GOD, follow, him, but, if, Baal, follow, him. But the people answered him, not a word.
22 Elia ka kyerɛɛ ɔman no sɛ, “Me nko ara ne Awurade odiyifoɔ a maka, nanso Baal wɔ adiyifoɔ ahanan aduonum.
Then said Elijah unto the people—I, am left, Yahweh’s, only, prophet, —but, the prophets of Baal, are four hundred and fifty men.
23 Momma yɛn anantwinini mmienu. Momma wɔnyi mu baako, na wɔntwitwa no asinasini mfa ngu gyenyina so, nsɔ wɔn mu ogya. Nantwinini baako a aka no, mɛyɛ ne ho adwuma, de agu gyenyina so a merento mu ogya.
Let there be given us, therefore, two bullocks, and let them choose for themselves one bullock, and cut it in pieces, and lay it upon the wood, but, fire, shall they not put, —then, I, will make ready the other bullock, and place upon the wood, but, fire, will I not put.
24 Na mobɛfrɛ mo nyame na me nso mafrɛ Awurade. Onyame a ɔnam ogya so gye so no, ɔno ne Onyankopɔn.” Ɔmanfoɔ no nyinaa penee so.
Then shall ye call on the name of your god, and, I, will call on the name of Yahweh, and it shall be, the God that respondeth by fire, he, is GOD. And all the people responded—Well spoken!
25 Elia ka kyerɛɛ Baal adiyifoɔ no sɛ, “Momfa anantwinini no baako, na monni ɛkan nsiesie no, ɛfiri sɛ, mo dɔɔso. Momfrɛ mo nyame a monnto mu ogya.”
Then said Elijah to the prophets of Baal—Choose for yourselves one bullock, and make ye ready, first, for, ye, are many, —and call ye on the name of your god, but, fire, shall ye not put.
26 Enti, wɔfaa nantwinini a wɔkaa sɛ wɔmfa no no, siesiee no too afɔrebukyia no so. Afei, wɔfrɛɛ Baal, frɛɛ no, frɛɛ no firi anɔpa mu nyinaa sɛ, “Ao, Baal! Tie yɛn oo!” Wɔteateaam saa ara, nanso wɔannya mmuaeɛ biara! Afei wɔde anibereɛ sa faa afɔrebukyia a wɔasi no ho hyiaeɛ.
So they took the bullock which was given them, and made ready, and called on the name of Baal—from the morning even until the noon, saying—O Baal! answer us. But them was no voice, nor any that answered. And they leaped about by the altar which had been made.
27 Ɛduruu owigyinaeɛ no, Elia dii wɔn ho fɛ sɛ, “Monteateam den! Ɔyɛ onyame! Ebia, ɔredwene biribi ho dendeenden anaa ɔregye nʼahome, ɔnnyaa adagyeɛ anaa watu ɛkwan. Ebi nso a, wada a ɛsɛ sɛ wɔnyane no.”
And it came to pass, at noon, that Elijah mocked them, and said—Cry with a loud voice, for, a god, he is, either he hath, a meditation, or an occasion to retire, or he hath, a journey, —peradventure, he, sleepeth, and must be awaked.
28 Enti, wɔteateaam den, de asekan twitwaa wɔn ho wɔn ho, wowɔɔ wɔn ho wɔn ho pea sɛdeɛ wɔn amanneɛ teɛ, maa mogya pram wɔn.
And they cried, with a loud voice, and cut themselves, after their custom, with swords, and with lances, —until the blood gushed out upon them.
29 Owigyinaeɛ no twaa mu mpo no wɔtoaa wɔn nkɔmhyɛ no so, kɔsii anwummerɛ afɔrebɔ berɛ no mu. Nanso, mmuaeɛ biara amma. Wɔante obiara nne na obiara annye wɔn so.
And so it was, when noon was passed, that although they prophesied until the offering up of the evening gift, yet was there no voice nor any that answered, nor any that hearkened.
30 Afei, Elia ka kyerɛɛ ɔmanfoɔ no nyinaa sɛ, “Mommra me nkyɛn ha.” Wɔkɔɔ ne nkyɛn, na ɔsiesiee Awurade afɔrebukyia a na abubuo no.
Then said Elijah unto all the people: Draw near unto, me. And all the people drew near unto, him. Then repaired he the broken-down altar of Yahweh; yea Elijah took twelve stones, according to the number of the tribes of the sons of Jacob, —
31 Elia faa aboɔ dumienu a baako biara gyina hɔ ma Israel abusuakuo baako,
unto whom the word of Yahweh came, saying—Israel, shall be thy name;
32 na ɔde aboɔ no sane sii Awurade afɔrebukyia no. Na ɔtwaa amena a ne tɛtrɛtɛ bɛyɛ anammɔn mmiɛnsa faa afɔrebukyia no ho hyiaeɛ.
and built, with the stones, an altar, in the name of Yahweh, —and he made a trench, as large as would contain two measures of seed, round about the altar;
33 Ɔde nnyensin guu afɔrebukyia no so, twitwaa nantwinini no asinasini guu so. Afei, ɔkaa sɛ, “Monhyɛ pɔre akɛseɛ no nsuo ma ma, na monhwie ngu afɔrebɔdeɛ no ne nnyensin no so.” Wɔyɛɛ deɛ ɔkaeɛ no wieeɛ no,
and he put in order the wood, —and cut in pieces the bullock, and laid upon the wood. Then said he—Fill four pitchers with water, and pour out upon the ascending-sacrifice, and upon the wood. And they did so.
34 ɔkaa sɛ, “Monyɛ saa ara bio!” Na wɔyɛɛ saa wieeɛ no, ɔkaa sɛ, “Monyɛ saa ne mprɛnsa so.” Wɔyɛɛ sɛdeɛ ɔkaeɛ no,
And he said—Do it the second time. And they did it the second time. And he said—Do it the third time. And they did it the third time.
35 maa nsuo no tene faa afɔrebukyia no ho, maa mpo, ɛbu faa amena no so.
And the water ran round about the altar, —moreover also, the trench, filled he with water.
36 Ɛduruu ɛberɛ a ɛsɛ sɛ wɔbɔ anwummerɛ afɔdeɛ, sɛdeɛ wɔn amanneɛ kyerɛ no, odiyifoɔ Elia kɔɔ afɔrebukyia no so, bɔɔ mpaeɛ sɛ, “Ao, Awurade, Abraham, Isak ne Yakob Onyankopɔn, kyerɛ ɛnnɛ sɛ woyɛ Onyankopɔn wɔ Israel, na meyɛ wo ɔsomfoɔ. Kyerɛ sɛ, deɛ mereyɛ yi nyinaa firi wo.
And it came to pass, at the time of the offering of the gift, that Elijah the prophet drew near, and said, O Yahweh, God of Abraham, Isaac and Israel! To-day, let it be known—That, thou, art God in Israel, and that, I, am thy servant, —and that, by thy word, have I done all these things.
37 Ao, Awurade, tie me! Tie me na saa nnipa yi nyinaa nhunu sɛ, Ao, Awurade, woyɛ Onyankopɔn a woatwe wɔn asane aba wo nkyɛn.”
Answer me, O Yahweh! answer me, That this people may know, that, thou—Yahweh, art GOD, —so shalt, thou thyself, have turned their heart back again.
38 Nʼano siiɛ pɛ, na ogya a ɛfiri Awurade nkyɛn te firii soro bɛhyee nantwinini ba no, nnyensin no, aboɔ no ne mfuturo no. Mpo, ɛwee amena no mu nsuo no nyinaa.
Then fell fire from Yahweh, and consumed the ascending-sacrifice, and the wood, and the stones, and the dust, —even the water that was in the trench, it licked up.
39 Nnipa no hunuiɛ no, wɔde wɔn anim butubutuu fam, teateaam sɛ, “Awurade yɛ Onyankopɔn! Awurade yɛ Onyankopɔn!”
And, when all the people saw it, they fell upon their faces, —and said, Yahweh, he, is GOD, Yahweh, he, is GOD.
40 Na Elia hyɛɛ sɛ, “Monkyere Baal adiyifoɔ no nyinaa. Mommma wɔn mu baako koraa nnwane.” Enti, ɔmanfoɔ no kyekyeree wɔn nyinaa. Na Elia de wɔn kɔɔ Kison bɔnhwa mu kɔkunkumm wɔn wɔ hɔ.
And Elijah said unto them—Seize ye the prophets of Baal—let not, a man, of them escape. So they seized them. And Elijah took them down unto the ravine of Kishon, and slaughtered them there.
41 Elia ka kyerɛɛ Ahab sɛ, “Kɔ na kɔdi aduane pa, ma wo ho ntɔ wo! Na mate sɛ osu kɛseɛ bi rebɛtɔ.”
Then said Elijah unto Ahab, Go up, eat and drink, —for there is a sound of a downpour of rain.
42 Enti, Ahab too ɛpono. Na Elia foro kɔɔ Karmel bepɔ atifi, kɔbutuu fam, bɔɔ mpaeɛ.
So Ahab went up, to eat and to drink, —but, Elijah, went up to the top of Carmel, and bowed himself to the earth, and put his face between his knees.
43 Na ɔka kyerɛɛ ne ɔsomfoɔ sɛ, “Kɔ na fa wʼani kyerɛ ɛpo so.” Ɔsomfoɔ no kɔ kɔhwɛɛ hɔ, na ɔba bɛka kyerɛɛ Elia sɛ, “Manhunu hwee.” Elia kaa saa kyerɛɛ no mprɛnson sɛ ɔmfa nʼani nkɔkyerɛ hɔ. Ɔno nso kɔɔ mprɛnson.
Then said he unto his young man—Go up, I pray thee, and look about in the direction of the sea. So he went up, and looked about, and said—There is, nothing whatever. Then said he—Go again, seven times.
44 Ne mprɛnson so no, ne ɔsomfoɔ no ka kyerɛɛ no sɛ, “Mehunuu omununkum bi a ɛte sɛ onipa abasa a, apue afiri ɛpo no so reforo.” Ɛhɔ ara na Elia teaam sɛ, “Ntɛm! Kɔ Ahab nkyɛn kɔka kyerɛ no. ‘Foro wo teaseɛnam no, na sane kɔ efie. Sɛ woanka wo ho a, osuo no bɛsi wo ɛkwan.’”
And it came to pass, at the seventh time, that he said, Lo! a little cloud, like a man’s hand coming up from the sea. Then he said—Go up, say unto Ahab—Harness, and get thee down, lest the rain shut thee in.
45 Ankyɛre biara na osuo munaa tumm. Osuframa bɔeɛ, na osu kɛseɛ tɔeɛ, na ntɛm so, Ahab kɔɔ Yesreel.
And it came to pass, meanwhile, that, the heavens, had enshrouded themselves with clouds and wind, and there came a great rain, and Ahab rode, and went to Jezreel;
46 Afei, Awurade maa Elia ahoɔden sononko bi. Ɔkekaa nʼatadeɛ hyɛɛ nʼabɔsoɔ mu, na ɔdii Ahab teaseɛnam no ɛkan ara kɔsii Yesreel ɛkwan ano.
but, the hand of Yahweh, came upon Elijah, so he girded his loins, —and ran before Ahab, until thou enterest Jezreel.
