Elija ne balebesambeli ba Bhaale
1 Shule kwe tjibaka tjilefu, mu gole le butatu kuli bhamba, dama la Yahwe likazha kuna Elija liti, “Yenda unozwilakidza kuna Ahabu, ngono ndowonisa vula mu shango.” 2 Ndizo Elija kayenda kunozwilakidza kuna Ahabu.
Ipapo bhamba lakabe lakula kwazo mu Samariya. 3 Ngono Ahabu kadana Obhadiya wakabe ali nlauli we ng'umba ye bushe. (Obhadiya wakabe etja Yahwe kwazo. 4 Kwakati Jezebele ebulaya balebesambeli ba Yahwe, Obhadiya katola balebesambeli bali zana (100) kabathubukanya nge makupo mabili, kabasumbika mu makuwu mabili, guwu limwe ne limwe bali makumi mashanu (50), kabapila zojiwa ne vula ko.) 5 Ahabu kadwa Obhadiya kati, “Ngati palame shango tiyende mu misenya yose ne mikuku yose, pamwe tingawanila mbizi ne moulo dzedu fulo, kuti tisitongodwa tifigwa nge zwimwe zwithuwo zwedu.” 6 Ndizo bakazwikoba nge shango bubili gwabo kuipalama, Ahabu kayenda ega ku imwe mbizho, Obhadiya katolabo imwe mbizho ali egabo.
7 Kwakati Obhadiya atji mu zila, kashangana na Elija, ngono Obhadiya kanziba, kathigama kakotamisa nsholo kambhuzwa kati, “Apa ndimwi tetshi wangu Elija kene?” 8 Elija kan'dabila eti, “Ee ndimi. Yenda unobudza tetshi uwo mambo kuti ndi ipapa.”
9 Obhadiya kabe eti, “Apa ndakatjinyani kwaungadza ukandilonga mu maboko a Mambo Ahabu kuti ndibulawe? 10 Ndotuna na Yahwe, Ndzimu wenyu banotjila, akuna itjaba kene mbuso nakuto bali tetshi wangu kwabasakatongo mutumila bathu kunomushaka. Ngono ha bezha beti, ‘Amutoboneka,’ Mambo Ahabu kakumbila mbuso kene itjaba itjetjo kuti batune, kuti amuzowang'wa. 11 Apa ngwenu mondidwa muti, ‘Yenda unobudza tetshi uwo uti, “Bonani, Elija upano.” ’ 12 Apa ha kungati ndidwa pamuli Meya ya Yahwe ibe imutola imuyisa kwandisingazibe, ndibe ndizha ndimushaya ngono ndabudza Mambo Ahabu kuti mu ipapa, ebe ezha emushaya, unondibulaya. Zibani kuti imi nlanda wenyu, kudwa mu butjetjana gwangu ndotja Yahwe. 13 Apa tetshi wangu amuzohwa tjandakathama mu tjibaka Jezebele tjaakabe ebulaya balebesambeli ba Yahwe kene? Ndakasumbika balebesambeli ba Yahwe bali zana mu makuhwu mabili, limwe ne limwe lina bali makumi mashanu (50), ndibuya ndibapa tjiwunga ne vula. 14 Apa mungandidwa muti ndiyende ndinobudza tetshi wangu nditi, ‘Elija uipapa kene?’ Unowondibulaya!” 15 Ngono Elija kadabila eti, “Ndotuna na Yahwe Masimbawose banotjila, bandimile mbeli kwabo, nasi tjoselele ndowonozwiyisa mbeli kwa Mambo Ahabu.”
16 Ndizo Obhadiya kayenda kanobudza Ahabu, ngono Ahabu kamilika kanoshangana na Elija. 17 Kukati Ahabu ebona Elija, kandwa kati, “Apa ndiwe dumbu, iwe unodziyidza Iziraela?”
18 Ngono Elija kan'dabila eti, “Imi andizotongo dziyidza Iziraela, koga iwe ne nsha wa tate babo ndimwi badziyidzi be Iziraela, ngobe makalasha milayo ya Yahwe mukatobela ya bo Bhaale. 19 Ndizo ngwenu tjituma bathu banodana Baiziraela bose banoshangana nami ku Dombo le Karimeli ne balebesambeli ba Bhaale bali zwiwulu zwili zwinna (400) ne bali zwiwulu zwili zwinna (400) be ndzimukadzi Ashera, banoja na Mambokadzi Jezebele pa tafuli.”
20 Ipapo Ahabu kadana Baiziraela bose ne balebesambeli ba Bhaale kunoshangana nabo ku Dombo le Karimeli. 21 Ngono Elija kasedzela ku Baiziraela kabadwa kati, “Apa kowodza kukabe lini mudzungayila muli pakati kwe mikumbulo mibili kene? Ha Yahwe bali Ndzimu, mubatobele, koga ha Ndzimu ali Bhaale, muntobele!” Koga Baiziraela bakashaya dama labangadabila Elija ndilo. 22 Ndizo Elija kadwa Baiziraela kati, “Ndimi ndoga nlebesambeli wa Yahwe wakasala, koga balebesambeli ba Bhaale ba mazana ali manna ana makumi mashanu (450). 23 Ndokumbila kuti tipiwe mikono mibili, ibo bazwishalulile ng'ompela baubhaye bautjekelele nge mitezho baubige pezhugwi kwe hwuni, koga basitongo ulonga moto. Ngono imi ndowobhaya mmwe awutjekelela awubiga pezhugwi kwe hwuni, ngono anditowoulonga moto. 24 Ngono mudwe balebesambeli ba Bhaale batembezele ndzimu wabo, imi ndowotembezela Yahwe, ngono Ndzimu unowodabila nge kutuma moto, ndiwo Ndzimu.”
Bathu bose bakadabila beti, “Waleba zubuyanana.” 25 Ndizo Elija kadwa balebesambeli ba Bhaale kati, “Muzwishalulile nkono nng'ompela muubhaye imwi kutanga, ngoti mubanjinji, mube mudana zina le ndzimu wenyu, koga musitongo longa moto muuli.”
26 Balebesambeli ba Bhaale bakatola nkono wabapiwa, bakaubhaya bakautjekelela bakadana zina la Bhaale kudwa mangwanana kunoti masikati beti, “Imwi Bhaale, mutidabile!” Koga kukasibe ne hwi, kene dabilo ing'ompela. Ngono bakazana bepoteleka tjibeso tjinopisigwa zwibhayilo tjabakabe bathama. Koga kukasibe ne dabilo.
27 Kukati kwabe masikati makulu, Elija katangisa kubadadila eti, “Tembezelani nge mahwi apezhugwi, ngoti ndzimu. Pamwe utjaalakana zwimwe kene kuna kwaayenda. Pamwe watola gwendo, pamwe akayizelazwe, makafanila kuumusa.” 28 Bakatembezela nge mahwi apezhugwi, bakazwitjeka bezwipalulanya, kuyendidzana ne tjilenje tjabo, kudzina malopa ewunga edwa mubali. 29 Ngono kukati kwabe masikati e mateuko, bakaleba ngodzadzanya beleba dama yeli beletja, kudzina kuswika tjibaka tjekuyisa tjibhayilo tje madekwana. Koga kusina hwi linohwika kene dabilo yabanowana.
30 Ndizo Elija kadwa bathu bose kati, “Sedzelani kundili,” ngono bakasedzela bose bakampoteleka. Elija katangisa ngomusa tjibeso tjinopisigwa zwibhayilo tja Yahwe tjakabe tjaligigwa pasi. 31 Ipapo Elija katola mabgwe ali gumi lina mabili, kuyenda nge njudzi dze bakololo ba Jakubo, wakazhigwa nge dama la Yahwe lin'dwa liti, “Zina lilo lowodang'wa Iziraela.” 32 Kabakila Yahwe tjibeso tjinopisigwa zwibhayilo nge mabgwe iyawo, kathama ngolo ingabhata vula ingabe tjilizanyo tje dzilitha dzili gumi lina dzili nna (14) kutjipoteleka. 33 Kayilikanya hwuni pezhugwi kwe tjibeso tjinopisigwa zwibhayilo, katjekelela nkono nge mitezho kaibiga pezhugwi kwe hwuni. Kadwa bathu kati, “Zhadzani hali dzili nna nge vula muidile mu tjibhayilo tjinopisiwa ne mu hwuni.” 34 Kabadwa kakale kati, “Thamani kakale gwe bubili.” Bakathama gwe bubili. Kabadwa kakale kati, “Thamani kakale gwe butatu.” Bakathama kakale gwe butatu. 35 Vula ikazhala ngolo ikawunga kupoteleka tjibeso tjinopisigwa zwibhayilo.
36 Kukati kuswika tjibaka tje kupisa tjibhayilo, nlebesambeli Elija kasedzela pa tjibeso tjinopisigwa zwibhayilo katembezela eti, “Imwi Yahwe, Ndzimu wa Abhurahama na Isaki na Jakubo, thamani kuti kuzibgwe nasi mu zhuba ileli kuti mu Ndzimu mu Iziraela ne kuti kuzibgwe kuti ndi nlanda wenyu ndothama zwithu zose izwezwi nge ndaulo yenyu. 37 Mundidabile, imwi Yahwe, mundidabile, kuti ndizo bathu ibaba bazibe kuti imwe Yahwe mu Ndzimu, mushandulile moyo ye bathu ibaba kumuli.”
38 Ndizo Yahwe bakadelusa moto ukapisa tjibhayilo ne hwuni ne mabgwe, ukawomesa pasi ubuya upkhwisa vula mu ngolo. 39 Kukati bathu bose bebona tjashingikala, bakawila pasi bakakotamisa misholo bemimila beti, “Yahwe, ba Ndzimu dumbu, Yahwe ndibo Ndzimu!”
40 Elija kadwa bathu kati, “Bhatani balebesambeli ba Bhaale, kushaye ne nng'ompela wapudzumuka.” Bathu bakababhata bose, Elija kabe eti bayisiwe ku Nkuku we Kishoni, banobulayigwa ko.
Bupelo gwe bhamba
41 Ngono Elija kadwa Mambo Ahabu kati, “Yendani munoja mung'we, ngoti ndohwa nsindo, kwaswika vula isishoma.” 42 Ipapo kukati Ahabu etathila kunoja ebuya eng'wa. Elija katatha Dombo le Karimeli kanogala pasi, akakotamisa nsholo uwe uli pakati kwe makumbo awe. 43 Ngono kadwa nlanda uwe kati, “Yenda unolinga ku gungwa.”
Kayenda kanolinga kanshaka kazha eti, “Akuna tjandabona.” Elija kadwa nlanda katendeka eti, “Bgwilila unolinga.” 44 Ngono nlanda kati ebuya gwe butendeka kadwa Elija kati, “Bonani, kuna gojana lingapa tjiazha tje nthu linomilika lidwa mu gungwa.”
Elija kadwa nlanda uwe kati, “Yenda unodwa Mambo Ahabu alibilidze alulwamise koloyi iye ayende, ngoti vula ingadwa indziba.” 45 Tjinyolotjo makole kashanduka kabe matema ne phepo ikawuwudza, kukana vula isishoma. Ngono Ahabu kangina mu koloyi iye kayenda ku Jezirele. 46 Simba la Yahwe likazha muna Elija kazwisunga thunji nge zwiambalo zwizwe, kalabuka ali mbeli kwa Ahabu kudzina enongina ku Jezirele.
Elijah Proves He Is the Lord's Prophet
1-2 For three years no rain fell in Samaria, and there was almost nothing to eat anywhere. The Lord said to Elijah, “Go and meet with King Ahab. I will soon make it rain.” So Elijah went to see Ahab.
3-4 At that time Obadiah was in charge of Ahab's palace, but he faithfully worshiped the Lord. In fact, when Jezebel was trying to kill the Lord's prophets, Obadiah hid 100 of them in two caves and gave them food and water.
Ahab sent for Obadiah 5 and said, “We have to find something for our horses and mules to eat. If we don't, we will have to kill them. Let's look around every creek and spring in the country for some grass. 6 You go one way, and I'll go the other.” Then they left in separate directions.
7 As Obadiah was walking along, he met Elijah. Obadiah recognized him, bowed down, and asked, “Elijah, is it really you?”
8 “Yes. Go tell Ahab I'm here.”
9 Obadiah replied:
King Ahab would kill me if I told him that. And I haven't even done anything wrong. 10 I swear to you in the name of the living Lord your God that the king has looked everywhere for you. He sent people to look in every country, and when they couldn't find you, he made the leader of each country swear that you were not in that country. 11 Do you really want me to tell him you're here?
12 What if the Lord's Spirit takes you away as soon as I leave? When Ahab comes to get you, he won't find you. Then he will surely kill me.
I have worshiped the Lord since I was a boy. 13 I even hid 100 of the Lord's prophets in caves when Jezebel was trying to kill them. I also gave them food and water. 14 Do you really want me to tell Ahab you're here? He will kill me!
15 Elijah said, “I'm a servant of the living Lord All-Powerful, and I swear in his name that I will meet with Ahab today.”
16 Obadiah left and told Ahab where to find Elijah.
Ahab went to meet Elijah, 17 and when he saw him, Ahab shouted, “There you are, the biggest troublemaker in Israel!”
18 Elijah answered:
You're the troublemaker—not me! You and your family have disobeyed the Lord's commands by worshiping Baal.
19 Call together everyone from Israel to meet me on Mount Carmel. Be sure to bring along the 450 prophets of Baal and the 400 prophets of Asherah who eat at Jezebel's table.
20 Ahab got everyone together, then they went to meet Elijah on Mount Carmel. 21 Elijah stood in front of them and said, “How much longer will you try to have things both ways? If the Lord is God, worship him! But if Baal is God, worship him!”
The people did not say a word.
22 Then Elijah continued:
I am the Lord's only prophet, but Baal has 450 prophets.
23 Bring us two bulls. Baal's prophets can take one of them, kill it, and cut it into pieces. Then they can put the meat on the wood without lighting the fire. I will do the same thing with the other bull, and I won't light a fire under it either.
24 The prophets of Baal will pray to their god, and I will pray to the Lord. The one who answers by starting the fire is God.
“That's a good idea,” everyone agreed.
25 Elijah said to Baal's prophets, “There are more of you, so you go first. Pick out a bull and get it ready, but don't light the fire. Then pray to your god.”
26 They chose their bull, then they got it ready and prayed to Baal all morning, asking him to start the fire. They danced around the altar and shouted, “Answer us, Baal!” But there was no answer.
27 At noon, Elijah began making fun of them. “Pray louder!” he said. “Baal must be a god. Maybe he's daydreaming or using the toilet or traveling somewhere. Or maybe he's asleep, and you have to wake him up.”
28 The prophets kept shouting louder and louder, and they cut themselves with swords and knives until they were bleeding. This was the way they worshiped, 29 and they kept it up until time for the evening sacrifice. But there was no answer of any kind.
30 Elijah told everyone to gather around him while he repaired the Lord's altar. 31-32 Then he used twelve stones to build an altar in honor of the Lord. Each stone stood for one of the tribes of Israel, which was the name the Lord had given to their ancestor Jacob. Elijah dug a ditch around the altar, large enough to hold about 14 liters. 33 He placed the wood on the altar, then they cut the bull into pieces and laid the meat on the wood.
He told the people, “Fill four large jars with water and pour it over the meat and the wood.” After they did this, 34 he told them to do it two more times. They did exactly as he said 35 until finally, the water ran down the altar and filled the ditch.
36 When it was time for the evening sacrifice, Elijah prayed:
Our Lord, you are the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel. Now, prove that you are the God of this nation, and that I, your servant, have done this at your command. 37 Please answer me, so these people will know that you are the Lord God, and that you will turn their hearts back to you.
38 The Lord immediately sent fire, and it burned up the sacrifice, the wood, and the stones. It scorched the ground everywhere around the altar and dried up every drop of water in the ditch. 39 When the crowd saw what had happened, they all bowed down and shouted, “The Lord is God! The Lord is God!”
40 Just then, Elijah said, “Grab the prophets of Baal! Don't let any of them get away.”
So the people captured the prophets and took them to Kishon River, where Elijah killed every one of them.
It Starts To Rain
41 Elijah told Ahab, “Get something to eat and drink. I hear a heavy rain coming.”
42 Ahab left, but Elijah climbed back to the top of Mount Carmel. Then he stooped down with his face almost to the ground 43 and said to his servant, “Look toward the sea.”
The servant left. And when he came back, he said, “I looked, but I didn't see anything.” Elijah told him to look seven more times.
44 After the seventh time the servant replied, “I see a small cloud coming this way. But it's no bigger than a fist.”
Elijah told him, “Tell Ahab to get his chariot ready and start home now. Otherwise, the rain will stop him.”
45-46 A few minutes later, it got very cloudy and windy, and rain started pouring down. So Elijah wrapped his coat around himself, and the Lord gave him strength to run all the way to Jezreel. Ahab followed in his chariot.