1 Kings 18
1 And it came to pass after many days, that the word of Jehovah came to Elijah in the third year, saying, Go, shew thyself to Ahab; and I will send rain upon the face of the earth.
Kwa hiyo baada ya siku nyingi neno la BWANA likamjia Eliya, katika mwaka wa tatu wa ukame, likisema, “Nenda ukajionyeshe mwenyewe kwa Ahabu nami nitainyeshea ardhi mvua.”
2 And Elijah went to shew himself to Ahab. And the famine was severe in Samaria.
Eliya akaenda kujionyesha mwenyewe kwa Ahabu; sasa njaa ilikuwa kali sana kule Samaria.
3 And Ahab called Obadiah, who was the steward of his house (now Obadiah feared Jehovah greatly;
Ahabu akamwita Obadia, aliyekuwa mkuu wa ikulu. Obadia alimheshimu sana BWANA,
4 and it was so, when Jezebel cut off the prophets of Jehovah, that Obadiah took a hundred prophets, and hid them by fifty in a cave, and maintained them with bread and water);
kwa kuwa wakati Yezebeli alipokuwa akiwaua manabii wa BWANA, Obadia alichukua manabii mia akawaficha katika makundi ya hamsini hamsini katika pango na akawalisha kwa mikate na maji.
5 and Ahab said to Obadiah, Go through the land, to all the fountains of water and to all the torrents, perhaps we may find grass to save the horses and the mules alive, so that we may not have to destroy some of [our] beasts.
Ahabu akamwambia Obadia, “Pita katika nchi yote na katika chemichemi zote za maji na vijito. Yamkini tunaweza kupata maji na nyasi ili tuwaokoa hawa farasi na nyumbu, ili tusiwakose wanyama wote.”
6 And they divided the land between them to pass through it: Ahab went one way by himself, and Obadiah went another way by himself.
Kwa hiyo wakaigawa nchi kati yao ili wapite kati yake wakitafuta maji. Ahabu akaenda njia yake mwenyewe na Obadia naye akaenda njia yake.
7 And as Obadiah was on the way, behold, Elijah met him; and he knew him, and fell on his face, and said, Is it indeed thou, my lord Elijah?
Wakati Obadia akiwa njiani, akakutana na Eliya pasipo kutegemea. Obadia akamtambua na akalala kifudifudi chini. Akamwambia, “Ndiye wewe, bwana wangu Eliya?”
8 And he said to him, I [am he]: go, say to thy lord, Behold Elijah!
Naye Eliya akamjibu, Ni mimi. Nenda umwambie bwana wako, 'Tazama, Eliya yuko hapa.'”
9 And he said, What have I sinned, that thou givest thy servant into the hand of Ahab, to put me to death?
Obadia akamjibu. “Nimekoseaje, kwamba umtoe mtumishi wako katika mkono wa Ahabu ili aniue?
10 As Jehovah thy God liveth, there is no nation or kingdom whither my lord has not sent to seek thee; and when they said, He is not [here], he took an oath of the kingdom or nation that they found thee not.
Kama BWANA Mungu wako aishivyo, hakuna taifa wala ufalme ambapo bwana wangu hajatuma watu kukutafuta. Kila taifa au ufalme unaposema, “Eliya hayuko hapa,' Ahabu hufanya waape ni kweli hawajakuona.
11 And now thou sayest, Go, say to thy lord, Behold Elijah!
Na sasa wewe unasema, 'Nenda, ukamwambie bwana wako kwamba Eliya yuko hapa.'
12 And it shall come to pass when I am gone from thee, that the Spirit of Jehovah shall carry thee whither I know not; and when I come and tell Ahab, and he cannot find thee, he will kill me; and I thy servant fear Jehovah from my youth.
Mara tu baada ya kukuacha Roho wa BWANA atakuchukua na kukupeleka mahali ambapo sitapajua. Kisha nikienda na kumwambia Ahabu, na asipokuona, ataniua. Bado, mimi, mtumishi wako, nimekuwa nikimwabudu BWANA kutoka ujana wangu.
13 Was it not told my lord what I did when Jezebel slew the prophets of Jehovah, how I hid a hundred men of Jehovah's prophets by fifty in a cave, and maintained them with bread and water?
Je, haujaambiwa, bwana wangu, nilichokifanya wakati Yezebeli alipowaua manabii wa BWANA, jinsi nilivyowaficha wale manabii mia moja wa BWANA katika makundi ya hamsini kwenye pango na kuwalisha kwa mikate na maji?
14 And now thou sayest, Go, say to thy lord, Behold Elijah! and he will kill me.
Na sasa unasema, 'Nenda umwambie bwana wako kwamba Eliya yuko hapa,' kwa hiyo ataniua.”
15 And Elijah said, As Jehovah of hosts liveth, before whom I stand, I will certainly shew myself to him to-day.
Ndipo Eliya alipomjibu, “Kama vile BWANA wa majeshi aishivyo, ambaye mimi ninasimama, Kwa hakika nitajionyeshakwa Ahabu leo.”
16 Then Obadiah went to meet Ahab, and told him. And Ahab went to meet Elijah.
Kwa hiyo Obadia akaenda kukutana na Ahabu, nakumwambia kile Eliya alichokuwa amemwambia. Ndipo mfalme alipoenda kukutana na Eliya.
17 And it came to pass when Ahab saw Elijah, that Ahab said to him, Is it thou, the troubler of Israel?
Ahabu alipomwona Eliya, akamwambia, “Je, ni wewe? Wewe mtabishaji wa Israeli!”
18 And he said, I have not troubled Israel, but thou and thy father's house, in that ye have forsaken the commandments of Jehovah, and thou hast followed the Baals.
Eliya akamwambia, “Mimi sijaitabisha Israeli, Lakiini wewe na familia ya baba yako ndio watabishaji kwa kuziacha amri za BWANA na kufuata sanamu za Baali.
19 And now send, gather to me all Israel to mount Carmel, and the prophets of Baal four hundred and fifty, and the prophets of the Asherah four hundred, who eat at Jezebel's table.
Kwa hiyo sasa, Tuma neno na unikusanyie Israeli yote katika mlima Kameli, pamoja na manabii 450 wa Baali na wale manabii 400 wa Ashera wanaokula kwenye meza ya Yezebeli.”
20 So Ahab sent to all the children of Israel, and gathered the prophets together unto mount Carmel.
Kwa hiyo Ahabu akatuma neno kwa watu wote wa Israeli na akawakusanya manabii wote kwenye mlima Kameli.
21 Then Elijah drew near to all the people, and said, How long do ye halt between two opinions? if Jehovah be God, follow him; and if Baal, follow him. And the people answered him not a word.
Eliya akaja karibu na watu wote akasema, “Mtaendelea kubadilisha mawazo yenu mpaka lini? Kama BWANA ni Mungu, mfuateni yeye, Lakini kama Baali ni Mungu, basi mfuateni yeye,” Lakini watu hawakumjibu neno.
22 And Elijah said to the people, I, only I, remain a prophet of Jehovah; and Baal's prophets are four hundred and fifty men.
Kisha Eliya akawaambia wale watu, “Mimi, pekee yangu, ndiye niliyebaki kuwa nabii wa BWANA, lakini manabii wa Baali wako 450.
23 Let them therefore give us two bullocks: and let them choose one bullock for themselves, and cut it in pieces, and put it on the wood, and put no fire; and I will sacrifice the other bullock, and put it on the wood, and put no fire.
Hebu tutoleeni ng'ombe wawili. Nao wajichagulie ng'ombe mmoja na wamchinje na kumkatakata katika vipnde, na wamweke kwenye kuni, na wasitie moto chini yake. Nami nitamwandaa yule wa pili na kumweke juu ya kuni nami sitatia moto chini yake.
24 And call ye on the name of your gods, and I will call on the name of Jehovah; and the god that answers by fire, let him be God. And all the people answered and said, The word is good.
Kisha mtaliita jina la mungu wenu, nami nitaliita jina la BWANA, na Mungu atakayejibu kwa moto, huyo ndiye Mungu.” Watu wote wakajibu na kusema, “Hilo ni jambo jema.”
25 And Elijah said to the prophets of Baal, Choose one bullock for yourselves, and sacrifice it first; for ye are the many; and call on the name of your god, but put no fire.
Kwa Eliya akawaambia manabii wa Baali, “Chagueni ng'ombe mmoja kwa ajili yenu na mwe wa kwanza kumwamdaa, kwa kuwa ninyi ni wengi, Kisha liiteni jina la mungu wenu, lakini msiwashe moto.”
26 And they took the bullock which had been given them, and sacrificed it, and called on the name of Baal from morning until noon, saying, O Baal, answer us! But there was no voice, and none answered. And they leaped about the altar that had been made.
Nao wakamchukua yule ng'ombe waliokuwa wamepewa na wakamwandaa, na ndipo walipoliita jina la Baali kuanzia asubuhi hadi adhuhuri, wakisema, “Baali, tusikie.” Lakini hapakuwepo na Sauti, na wala hakuna aliyejibu. Wakachezacheza kuizunguka madhabahu waliyotengeneza.
27 And it came to pass at noon that Elijah mocked them and said, Cry aloud; for he is a god; for he is meditating, or gone aside, or he is on a journey; perhaps he sleeps, and will awake.
Ilipofika adhuhuri Eliya akawakejeli akisema, “Mwiteni kwa nguvu! Huyo ni mungu! labda anawaza kitu, au amepumzika, au yuko safarini, au pengine amelala sharti aamshwe.”
28 And they cried aloud, and cut themselves after their manner with swords and spears, till the blood gushed out upon them.
Kwa hiyo wakamwita kwa nguvu, wakajikatakata kama kawaida yao ilivyokuwa, kwa upanga na nyembe, mpaka damu ikawachuruzika.
29 And it came to pass when midday was past, that they prophesied until the [time] of the offering up of the oblation; but there was neither voice, nor any that answered, nor any attention.
Ikawa wakati wa adhuhuri ulipopita, na bado walikuwa wakiendelea kutabiri mpaka wakati wa jioni wa kutoa dhabihu, lakini hapakuwepo na sauti wala mtu wa kuwajibu; wala hapakuwepo na yeyote wa kujibu wala wa kuangalia.
30 Then Elijah said to all the people, Draw near to me. And all the people drew near to him. And he repaired the altar of Jehovah which was broken down.
Kisha Eliya akawaambia watu wote, “Nisogeleeni,” na watu wote wakamsogelea. Naye akatengeneza ile madhabahu ya BWANA ambayo ilikuwa imeharibika.
31 And Elijah took twelve stones, according to the number of the tribes of the sons of Jacob, to whom the word of Jehovah came saying, Israel shall be thy name;
Eliya akachukua mawe kumi na mawili, kila jiwe moja liliwakilisha kabila moja la wana wa Yakobo - ni kupitia Yakobo kwamba neno la BWANA lilikuja, likisema, “Jina lako litakuwa Israel.”
32 and with the stones he built an altar in the name of Jehovah, and made a trench round about the altar, of the capacity of two measures of seed;
Kwa kutumia hayo mawe aliijenga ile madhabahu kwa jina la BWANA na akachimba mfereji kuizunguka ile madhabahu kubwa kiasi cha kubeba lita kumi na tano za maji.
33 and he put the wood in order, and cut the bullock in pieces, and laid it on the wood. And he said, Fill four pitchers with water, and pour it on the burnt-offering, and on the wood.
Kisha akaweka kuni kwa ajili ya moto na akamkatakata yule ng'ombe katika vipande vipande na akaweka vile vipande juu ya kuni. Na akasema, “Vijazeni maji hivyo vyombo na yamwageni kwenye hiyo sadaka ya kueketezwa na juu ya hizo kuni.”
34 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.
Akasema tena fanyeni hivyo mara ya pili,” nao wakafanya kwa mara ya pili. kisha akasema, “Fanyeni mara ya tatu,” nao wakafanya kwa mara ya tatu.
35 And the water ran round about the altar; and he filled the trench also with water.
Maji yakaizunguka ile madhabahu na kuujaza ule mfereji.
36 And it came to pass at [the time of] the offering up of the oblation, that Elijah the prophet drew near, and said, Jehovah, God of Abraham, Isaac and Israel, let it be known this day that thou art God in Israel, and that I am thy servant, and that I have done all these things by thy word.
Ikawa wakati wa kutoa dhabihu ya jioni, nabii Eliya akasogea na akasema, “BWANA, Mungu wa Abrahamu, na wa Isaka, na wa Israeli, na ijulikane leo kwamba wewe ndiye Mungu wa Israeli, na kwamba mimi ni mtumishi wako, na kwamba nimeyafanya mambo haya yote kwa jina lako.
37 Answer me, Jehovah, answer me, that this people may know that thou Jehovah art God, and [that] thou hast turned their heart back again.
Nisikie, BWANA, nisike, ili hawa watu wajue kuwa wewe, BWANA, ndiye Mungu, na kwamba umeirudisha mioyo yao kwako tena.”
38 And the fire of Jehovah fell, and consumed the burnt-offering, and the wood, and the stones, and the dust, and licked up the water that was in the trench.
Ndipo moto wa BWANA ukashuka ukairamba ile sadaka, pamoja na zile kuni, mawe na mavumbi, na kuyaramba yale maji yaliyokuwa kwenye ule mfereji.
39 And all the people saw [it], and they fell on their faces and said, Jehovah, he is God! Jehovah, he is God!
watu wote walipoona haya, wakalala kifudifudi chini wakasema, “BWANA, ndiye Mungu! BWANA ndiye Mungu!
40 And Elijah said to them, Seize the prophets of Baal; let not one of them escape! And they seized them; and Elijah brought them down to the torrent of Kishon, and slaughtered them there.
Kwa hiyo Eliya akawaambia, “Wakamateni manabii wa Baali. Msimwache hata mmoja wao atoroke.” Kwa hiyo wakawakamata, na Eliya akawaleta manabii wa Baali chini kwenye kijito cha Kishoni na akawaua huko.
41 And Elijah said to Ahab, Go up, eat and drink; for there is a sound of abundance of rain.
Eliya akamwambia Ahabu, “Inuka, ule na kunywa, kwa kuwa kuna sauti ya mvua kubwa.”
42 And Ahab went up to eat and to drink. And Elijah went up to the top of Carmel; and he bowed down on the earth, and put his face between his knees.
Kwa hiyo Ahabu akaenda akala na knywa. Kisha Eliya akaenda juu ya mlima Kameli, akasudu chini na akaweka uso wake katikati ya magoti.
43 And he said to his servant, Go up now, look toward the sea. And he went up and looked, and said, [There is] nothing. And he said, Go again seven times.
Akamwambia mtumishi wake, “Nenda sasa, utazame upande wa bahari.” mtumishi wake akaenda na akasema, “Hakuna kitu,” Eliya akamwambia, “Nenda tena, mpaka mara saba.”
44 And it came to pass at the seventh time that he said, Behold there is a cloud, small as a man's hand, arising out of the sea. And he said, Go up, say to Ahab, Harness and go down, that the pour of rain stop thee not.
Ile mara ya saba mtumishi wake akasema, “Tazama, kuna wingu linapanda kutoka baharini, ni dogo kama mkono wa mtu.” Eliya akamjibu, Nenda ukamwambie Ahabu, 'Andaa gari lako na ushuke kabla mvua haijakuzuia.'”
45 And it came to pass in the mean while, that the heavens became black [with] clouds and wind, and there was a great pour of rain. And Ahab got on the chariot, and went to Jizreel.
Ikatokea baada ya muda mfupi mbingu zikawa nyeusi kwa mawingu na upepo, na kulikuwa na mvua kubwa. Ahabu akapanda gari akaenda zake Yezreeli,
46 And the hand of Jehovah was upon Elijah; and he girded up his loins, and ran before Ahab to the entrance of Jizreel.
lakini mkono wa BWANA ulikuwa juu ya Eliya. Akalikaza vazi lake kwa mshipi wake na akakimbia mbele ya Ahabu kwenye lango la Yezreeli.
