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.”
So after many days the word of Yahweh came to Elijah, in the third year of the drought, saying, “Go, show yourself to Ahab and I will send rain on the land.”
2 Elia de ne ho kɔkyerɛɛ ɔhene Ahab. Na ɛkɔm no ano yɛɛ den yie wɔ Samaria.
Elijah went to show himself to Ahab; now the famine was severe in Samaria.
3 Ahab frɛɛ Obadia a na ɔhwɛ nʼahemfie so no. Na Obadia gye Awurade di yie.
Ahab called Obadiah, who was in charge of the palace. Now Obadiah honored Yahweh very much,
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.
for when Jezebel was killing the prophets of Yahweh, Obadiah took one hundred prophets and hid them by fifties in a cave and fed 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.”
Ahab said to Obadiah, “Go through the land to all the water springs and brooks. Perhaps we will find grass and save the horses and mules alive, so that we will not lose all the animals.”
6 Enti, wɔkyɛɛ asase no mu maa wɔn ho. Ahab faa ɛfa na Obadia nso faa ɛfa.
So they divided the land between them to pass through it and look for water. Ahab went one way by himself and Obadiah went another way.
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?”
As Obadiah was on the road, Elijah unexpectedly met him. Obadiah recognized him and lay facedown on the ground. He said, “Is it you, my master Elijah?”
8 Elia buaa sɛ, “Aane, kɔka kyerɛ wo wura sɛ, ‘Elia wɔ ha.’”
Elijah answered him, “It is I. Go tell your master, 'Look, Elijah is here.'”
9 Obadia bisaa sɛ, “Me wura, ɛdeɛn bɔne na mayɛ a enti woresoma me Ahab nkyɛn ama wɔakum me?
Obadiah replied, “How have I sinned, that you would give your servant into the hand of Ahab, for him to kill me?
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.
As Yahweh your God lives, there is no nation or kingdom where my master has not sent men to find you. Whenever a nation or kingdom says, 'Elijah is not here,' Ahab makes them take an oath swearing that they could not find you.
11 Na afei, woka kyerɛ me sɛ menkɔ me wura nkyɛn nkɔka nkyerɛ no sɛ, ‘Elia wɔ ha.’
Yet now you say, 'Go, tell your master that Elijah is here.'
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.
As soon as I am gone from you, the Spirit of Yahweh will carry you some place I do not know. Then when I go and tell Ahab, and when he cannot find you, he will kill me. Yet I, your servant, have worshiped 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.
Has it not been told to you, my master, what I did when Jezebel killed the prophets of Yahweh, how I hid one hundred of Yahweh's prophets by fifties in a cave and fed 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!”
Now you say to me, 'Go and tell your master that Elijah is here,' so that he will kill 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 Elijah responded, “As Yahweh of hosts lives, before whom I stand, I will surely show myself to Ahab today.”
16 Enti, Obadia kɔhyiaa Ahab, ka kyerɛɛ no, na Ahab kɔhyiaa Elia.
So Obadiah went to meet Ahab, and told him what Elijah said. Then the king went to meet Elijah.
17 Ɔhunuu Elia no, ɔbisaa no sɛ, “Wo nie, wo a woha Israelfoɔ?”
When Ahab saw Elijah, he said to him, “Is it you? You are the one who brings trouble to 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.
Elijah answered, “I have not brought trouble to Israel, but you and your father's family are the ones who have caused trouble by abandoning the commandments of Yahweh and by following the Baals.
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 then, send word and gather to me all Israel at Mount Carmel, along with the 450 prophets of Baal and the four hundred prophets of Asherah who eat at Jezebel's table.”
20 Na Ahab soma kɔɔ Israel nyinaa kɔboaboaa adiyifoɔ no ano wɔ Karmel bepɔ so.
So Ahab sent word to all the people of Israel and gathered the prophets together at 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.
Elijah came near to all the people and said, “How long will you keep changing your mind? If Yahweh is God, follow him. But if Baal is God, then follow him.” Yet the people did not answer him a word.
22 Elia ka kyerɛɛ ɔman no sɛ, “Me nko ara ne Awurade odiyifoɔ a maka, nanso Baal wɔ adiyifoɔ ahanan aduonum.
Then Elijah said to the people, “I, I alone, am left as a prophet of Yahweh, but Baal's prophets are 450 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.
So let them give us two bulls. Let them choose one bull for themselves and cut it in pieces, and lay it on the wood, but put no fire under it. Then I will prepare the other bull and lay it on the wood, and put no fire under it.
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 you will call on the name of your god, and I will call on the name of Yahweh, and the God who answers by fire, then let him be God.” So all the people answered and said, “This is good.”
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.”
So Elijah said to the prophets of Baal, “Choose one bull for yourselves and prepare it first, for you are many people. Then call on the name of your god, but put no fire under the bull.”
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.
They took the bull that was given to them and prepared it, and they called on the name of Baal from morning until noon, saying, “Baal, hear us.” But there was no voice, nor anyone who answered. They danced around the altar they had 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.”
At noon Elijah mocked them and said, “Shout out loudly! He is a god! Perhaps he is thinking, or is relieving himself, or he is traveling on a journey, or perhaps he is sleeping and must be awakened.”
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.
So they shouted more loudly, and they cut themselves, as they usually did, with swords and spears, until their blood flowed out over themselves.
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.
Midday passed, and they were still raving until the time of offering of the evening sacrifice, but there was no voice or anyone to answer; there was no one who paid any attention to their pleadings.
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 Elijah said to all the people, “Come near to me,” and all the people came near to him. Then he repaired the altar of Yahweh that was lying in ruin.
31 Elia faa aboɔ dumienu a baako biara gyina hɔ ma Israel abusuakuo baako,
Elijah took twelve stones, each stone representing one of the tribes of the sons of Jacob—it was Jacob to whom the word of Yahweh came, saying, “Israel will be your 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.
With the stones he built an altar in the name of Yahweh and he dug a trench around the altar large enough to contain two seahs of seeds.
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,
He arranged the wood for a fire, cut the bull in pieces, and laid the pieces of the bull on the wood. He said, “Fill four jars with water and pour it on the burnt offering and on the wood.”
34 ɔkaa sɛ, “Monyɛ saa ara bio!” Na wɔyɛɛ saa wieeɛ no, ɔkaa sɛ, “Monyɛ saa ne mprɛnsa so.” Wɔyɛɛ sɛdeɛ ɔkaeɛ no,
Then he said, “Do it a second time,” and they did it a second time. Once more he said, “Do it a third time,” and they did it a third time.
35 maa nsuo no tene faa afɔrebukyia no ho, maa mpo, ɛbu faa amena no so.
The water ran around the altar and filled the trench.
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.
It happened at the time of the offering of the evening sacrifice, that Elijah the prophet came near and said, “Yahweh, the God of Abraham, of Isaac, and of Israel, let it be known this day that you are God in Israel, and that I am your servant, and that I have done all these things at your word.
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.”
Hear me, Yahweh, hear me, that these people may know that you, Yahweh, are God, and that you have turned their heart back again to yourself.”
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 the fire of Yahweh fell and consumed the burnt offering, as well as the wood, the stones, and the dust, and licked up the water that was in the trench.
39 Nnipa no hunuiɛ no, wɔde wɔn anim butubutuu fam, teateaam sɛ, “Awurade yɛ Onyankopɔn! Awurade yɛ Onyankopɔn!”
When all the people saw this, they lay facedown on the ground 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.
So Elijah said to them, “Take the prophets of Baal. Do not let one of them escape.” So they took them, and Elijah brought the prophets of Baal down to the Kishon River and killed 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.”
Elijah said to Ahab, “Get up, eat and drink, for there is the sound of much 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. Then Elijah went up to the top of Carmel, bowed himself down on 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.
He said to his servant, “Go up now, look toward the sea.” His servant went up and looked and said, “There is nothing.” So Elijah said, “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.’”
At the seventh time the servant said, “Look, there is a cloud going up from the sea, as small as a man's hand.” Elijah replied, “Go up and say to Ahab, 'Make ready your chariot and go down before the rain stops you.'”
45 Ankyɛre biara na osuo munaa tumm. Osuframa bɔeɛ, na osu kɛseɛ tɔeɛ, na ntɛm so, Ahab kɔɔ Yesreel.
It happened that in a little while the heavens grew black with clouds and wind, and there was a great rain. 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 was on Elijah. He tucked his robe in his belt and ran before Ahab to the entrance of Jezreel.
