1
Ikawa baada ya siku nyingi, neno la Bwana likamjia Eliya, katika mwaka wa tatu, kusema, Enenda, ukajionyeshe kwa Ahabu; nami nitaleta mvua juu ya nchi.
After a long time, in the third year of the drought, the word of the LORD came to Elijah: “Go and present yourself to Ahab, and I will send rain upon the face of the earth.”
2
Basi Eliya akaenda ili ajionyeshe kwa Ahabu. Na njaa ilikuwa nzito katika Samaria.
So Elijah went to present himself to Ahab. The famine was severe in Samaria,
3
Ahabu akamwita Obadia, aliyekuwa juu ya nyumba yake; (na huyu Obadia alikuwa mwenye kumcha Bwana sana;
and Ahab summoned Obadiah, who was in charge of the palace. (Now Obadiah greatly feared the LORD,
4
kwa kuwa ikawa, Yezebeli alipowaua manabii wa Bwana, Obadia akatwaa manabii mia, akawaficha hamsini hamsini katika pango, akawalisha chakula na kuwapa maji).
for when Jezebel had slaughtered the prophets of the LORD, Obadiah had taken a hundred prophets and hidden them, fifty men per cave, providing them with food and water.)
5
Ahabu akamwambia Obadia, Pita katika nchi, kwenye chemchemi zote za maji, na vijito vyote; labda tutapata majani, tuwahifadhi hai farasi na nyumbu, tusipate hasara ya hao wanyama wote.
Then Ahab said to Obadiah, “Go throughout the land to every spring and every valley. Perhaps we will find grass to keep the horses and mules alive so that we will not have to destroy any livestock.”
6
Basi wakaigawanya nchi, ili wapite katika nchi yote; Ahabu akaenda zake njia moja peke yake, na Obadia akaenda zake njia nyingine peke yake.
So they divided the land to explore. Ahab went one way by himself, and Obadiah went the other way by himself.
7
Na Obadia alipokuwa njiani, kumbe! Eliya akakutana naye. Akamtambua, akaanguka kifudifudi, akanena, Je! Ni wewe, bwana wangu Eliya?
Now as Obadiah went on his way, Elijah suddenly met him. When Obadiah recognized him, he fell facedown and said, “Is it you, my lord Elijah?”
8
Akamjibu, Ni mimi. Enenda, umwambie bwana wako, Tazama, Eliya yupo.
“It is I,” he answered. “Go tell your master, ‘Elijah is here!’”
9
Akamwambia, Nimekosa nini, hata unitie mimi mtumishi wako mkononi mwa Ahabu, aniue?
But Obadiah replied, “How have I sinned, that you are handing your servant over to Ahab to put me to death?
10
Kama Bwana, Mungu wako, aishivyo, hakuna taifa wala ufalme ambao bwana wangu hakutuma watu wakutafute; na waliposema, Hayupo, akawaapisha ule ufalme, na taifa, ya kwamba hawakukuona.
As surely as the LORD your God lives, there is no nation or kingdom where my lord has not sent someone to search for you. When they said, ‘He is not here,’ he made that kingdom or nation swear that they had not found you.
11
Nawe sasa wasema, Enenda, umwambie bwana wako, Tazama, Eliya yupo.
And now you say, ‘Go tell your master that Elijah is here!’
12
Na itakuwa, mara mimi nikiondoka kwako, roho ya Bwana atakuchukua uende nisikojua; nami nitakapokwenda kumwambia Ahabu, naye asipokuona, ataniua, lakini mimi mtumishi wako namcha Bwana tangu ujana wangu.
I do not know where the Spirit of the LORD may carry you off when I leave you. Then when I go and tell Ahab and he does not find you, he will kill me. But I, your servant, have feared the LORD from my youth.
13
Je! Bwana wangu hakuambiwa nilivyofanya hapo Yezebeli alipowaua manabii wa Bwana? Jinsi nilivyowaficha manabii wa Bwana, watu mia, hamsini hamsini katika pango, nikawalisha chakula na kuwapa maji?
Was it not reported to my lord what I did when Jezebel slaughtered the prophets of the LORD? I hid a hundred prophets of the LORD, fifty men per cave, and I provided them with food and water.
14
Nawe sasa wasema, Enenda umwambie bwana wako, Tazama, Eliya yupo; basi, ataniua.
And now you say, ‘Go tell your lord that Elijah is here!’ He will kill me!”
15
Eliya akasema, Kama Bwana wa majeshi aishivyo ambaye ninasimama mbele zake, hakika nitajionyesha kwake leo.
Then Elijah said, “As surely as the LORD of Hosts lives, before whom I stand, I will present myself to Ahab today.”
16
Basi, Obadia akaenda zake amwone Ahabu, akamwambia; naye Ahabu akaenda kumlaki Eliya.
So Obadiah went to inform Ahab, who went to meet Elijah.
17
Ikawa, Ahabu alipomwona Eliya, Ahabu akamwambia, Je! Ni wewe, Ewe mtaabishaji wa Israeli?
When Ahab saw Elijah, he said to him, “Is that you, O troubler of Israel?”
18
Naye akajibu, Si mimi niliyewataabisha Israeli; bali ni wewe, na nyumba ya baba yako, kwa kuwa mmeziacha amri za Bwana; nawe umewafuata mabaali.
“I have not troubled Israel,” Elijah replied, “but you and your father’s house have, for you have forsaken the commandments of the LORD and have followed the Baals.
19
Basi sasa upeleke watu, unikusanyie jamii ya Israeli katika mlima wa Karmeli, na wale manabii wa Baali mia nne na hamsini, na wale manabii wa Ashera mia nne, walao chakula mezani pa Yezebeli.
Now summon all Israel to meet me on Mount Carmel, along with the four hundred and fifty prophets of Baal and the four hundred prophets of Asherah who eat at Jezebel’s table.”
20
Basi, Ahabu akapeleka watu kwa wana wa Israeli wote, akawakusanya manabii pamoja katika mlima wa Karmeli.
So Ahab summoned all the Israelites and assembled the prophets on Mount Carmel.
21
Naye Eliya akawakaribia watu wote, akanena, Mtasita-sita katikati ya mawazo mawili hata lini? Bwana akiwa ndiye Mungu, mfuateni; bali ikiwa Baali ni Mungu, haya! Mfuateni yeye. Wale watu hawakumjibu neno.
Then Elijah approached all the people and said, “How long will you waver between two opinions? If the LORD is God, follow Him. But if Baal is God, follow him.” But the people did not answer a word.
22
Ndipo Eliya akawaambia watu, Mimi nimesalia, mimi peke yangu, nabii wa Bwana; lakini manabii wa Baali ni watu mia nne na hamsini.
Then Elijah said to the people, “I am the only remaining prophet of the LORD, but Baal has four hundred and fifty prophets.
23
Kwa hiyo na watutolee ng'ombe wawili; wao na wajichagulie ng'ombe mmoja, wamkate-kate na kumweka juu ya kuni, wasitie moto chini; nami nitamtengeza huyo ng'ombe wa pili, na kumweka juu ya kuni, wala sitatia moto chini.
Get two bulls for us. Let the prophets of Baal choose one bull for themselves, cut it into pieces, and place it on the wood but not light the fire. And I will prepare the other bull and place it on the wood but not light the fire.
24
Nanyi ombeni kwa jina la mungu wenu, nami nitaomba kwa jina la Bwana; na Mungu yule ajibuye kwa moto, na awe ndiye Mungu. Watu wote wakajibu wakasema, Maneno haya ni mazuri.
Then you may call on the name of your god, and I will call on the name of the LORD. The God who answers by fire, He is God.” And all the people answered, “What you say is good.”
25
Eliya akawaambia manabii wa Baali, Jichagulieni ng'ombe mmoja, mkamtengeze kwanza; maana ninyi ndio wengi; mkaliitie jina la mungu wenu, wala msitie moto chini.
Then Elijah said to the prophets of Baal, “Since you are so numerous, choose for yourselves one bull and prepare it first. Then call on the name of your god, but do not light the fire.”
26
Wakamtwaa yule ng'ombe waliyepewa, wakamtengeza, wakaliitia jina la Baali tangu asubuhi hata adhuhuri, wakisema, Ee Baali, utusikie. Lakini hapakuwa na sauti, wala aliyejibu. Nao wakaruka-ruka juu ya madhabahu waliyoifanya.
And they took the bull that was given them, prepared it, and called on the name of Baal from morning until noon, shouting, “O Baal, answer us!” But there was no sound, and no one answered as they leaped around the altar they had made.
27
Ikawa, wakati wa adhuhuri, Eliya akawafanyia dhihaka, akasema, Mwiteni kwa sauti kuu; maana ni mungu huyo; labda anazungumza, au ana shughuli, au anasafiri, au labda amelala, sharti aamshwe.
At noon Elijah began to taunt them, saying, “Shout louder, for he is a god! Perhaps he is deep in thought, or occupied, or on a journey. Perhaps he is sleeping and must be awakened!”
28
Wakapiga kelele, wakajikata-kata kwa visu na vyembe kama ilivyo desturi yao, hata damu ikawachuruzika.
So they shouted louder and cut themselves with knives and lances, as was their custom, until the blood gushed over them.
29
Ikawa, wakati wa adhuhuri ulipopita, walitabiri hata wakati wa kutoa dhabihu ya jioni; lakini hapakuwa na sauti, wala aliyejibu, wala aliyeangalia.
Midday passed, and they kept on raving until the time of the evening sacrifice. But there was no response; no one answered, no one paid attention.
30
Kisha Eliya akawaambia watu wote, Nikaribieni mimi. Watu wote wakamkaribia. Akaitengeneza madhabahu ya Bwana iliyovunjika.
Then Elijah said to all the people, “Come near to me.” So all the people approached him, and he repaired the altar of the LORD that had been torn down.
31
Eliya akatwaa mawe kumi na mawili, kwa hesabu ya kabila za wana wa Yakobo, aliyejiliwa na neno la Bwana na kuambiwa, Jina lako litakuwa Israeli.
And Elijah took twelve stones, one for each tribe of the sons of Jacob, to whom the word of the LORD had come and said, “Israel shall be your name.”
32
Naye akaijenga madhabahu kwa mawe hayo katika jina la Bwana; akafanya mfereji, kama wa vipimo viwili vya mbegu, ukiizunguka madhabahu.
And with the stones, Elijah built an altar in the name of the LORD. Then he dug a trench around the altar large enough to hold two seahs of seed.
33
Kisha akazipanga zile kuni, akamkata yule ng'ombe vipande vipande, akaviweka juu ya kuni. Akasema, Jazeni mapipa manne maji, mkayamwage juu ya sadaka ya kuteketezwa, na juu ya kuni.
Next, he arranged the wood, cut up the bull, placed it on the wood,
34
Akasema, Fanyeni mara ya pili. Wakafanya mara ya pili. Akasema, Fanyeni mara ya tatu. Wakafanya mara ya tatu.
and said, “Fill four waterpots and pour the water on the offering and on the wood.” “Do it a second time,” he said, and they did it a second time. “Do it a third time,” he said, and they did it a third time.
35
Yale maji yakaizunguka madhabahu; akaujaza mfereji maji.
So the water ran down around the altar and even filled the trench.
36
Ikawa, wakati wa kutoa dhabihu ya jioni, Eliya nabii akakaribia, akasema, Ee Bwana, Mungu wa Ibrahimu, na wa Isaka, na wa Israeli, na ijulikane leo ya kuwa wewe ndiwe Mungu katika Israeli, na ya kuwa mimi ni mtumishi wako, na ya kuwa nimefanya mambo haya yote kwa neno lako.
At the time of the evening sacrifice, Elijah the prophet approached the altar and said, “O LORD, God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, let it be known this day that You are God in Israel and that I am Your servant and have done all these things at Your command.
37
Unisikie, Ee Bwana, unisikie, ili watu hawa wajue ya kuwa wewe, Bwana, ndiwe Mungu, na ya kuwa wewe umewageuza moyo wakurudie.
Answer me, O LORD! Answer me, so that this people will know that You, the LORD, are God, and that You have turned their hearts back again.”
38
Ndipo moto wa Bwana ukashuka, ukaiteketeza sadaka ya kuteketezwa, na kuni, na mawe, na mavumbi, ukayaramba yale maji yaliyokuwamo katika mfereji.
Then the fire of the LORD fell and consumed the sacrifice, the wood, the stones, and the dust, and it licked up the water in the trench.
39
Na watu wote walipoona, wakaanguka kifudifudi; wakasema, Bwana ndiye Mungu, Bwana ndiye Mungu.
When all the people saw this, they fell facedown and said, “The LORD, He is God! The LORD, He is God!”
40
Eliya akawaambia, Wakamateni hao manabii wa Baali, asiokoke hata mmoja. Wakawakamata; na Eliya akawachukua mpaka kijito cha Kishoni, akawaua huko.
Then Elijah ordered them, “Seize the prophets of Baal! Do not let a single one escape.” So they seized them, and Elijah brought them down to the Kishon Valley and slaughtered them there.
41
Naye Eliya akamwambia Ahabu, Haya! Inuka, ule, unywe; kwani pana sauti ya mvua tele.
And Elijah said to Ahab, “Go up, eat and drink, for there is the sound of a heavy rain.”
42
Basi Ahabu akainuka ili ale na kunywa. Naye Eliya akapanda juu mpaka kilele cha Karmeli; akasujudu kifudifudi, akainama uso mpaka magotini.
So Ahab went up to eat and drink. But Elijah climbed to the summit of Carmel, bent down on the ground, and put his face between his knees.
43
Akamwambia mtumishi wake, Kwea sasa, utazame upande wa bahari. Akakwea, akatazama, na kusema, Hakuna kitu. Naye akanena, Enenda tena mara saba.
“Go and look toward the sea,” he said to his servant. So the servant went and looked, and he said, “There is nothing there.” Seven times Elijah said, “Go back.”
44
Ikawa mara ya saba akasema, Tazama, wingu linatoka katika bahari, nalo ni dogo kama mkono wa mtu. Akanena, Enenda, umwambie Ahabu, Tandika, ushuke, mvua isikuzuie.
On the seventh time the servant reported, “There is a cloud as small as a man’s hand rising from the sea.” And Elijah replied, “Go and tell Ahab, ‘Prepare your chariot and go down before the rain stops you.’”
45
Ikawa, muda si muda, mbingu zikawa nyeusi kwa mawingu na upepo, ikanyesha mvua nyingi. Ahabu akapanda garini, akaenda zake Yezreeli.
Meanwhile, the sky grew dark with clouds and wind, and a heavy rain began to fall. So Ahab rode away and went to Jezreel.
46
Mkono wa Bwana ulikuwa juu ya Eliya; akajikaza viuno, akapiga mbio mbele ya Ahabu mpaka kuiingia Yezreeli.
And the hand of the LORD came upon Elijah, and he tucked his cloak into his belt and ran ahead of Ahab all the way to Jezreel.