Elia novaxunganeki vaBaal
1 Ndele eshi pa pita efimbo lile, momudo omutitatu, ondjovo ei yOmwene ye uya kuElia ndele tai ti: “Inda, u ka monike kuAhab, opo Ame ohandi ka lokifila edu odula.” 2 Ndele Elia okwa ya a ka monike kuAhab. Nondjala ya li idjuu muSamaria. 3 Ndele Ahab okwa ifana Obadja, ou okwa li omukulunhu wongulu yohamba. Ndelenee Obadja okwa li omulumenhu ha tila shili Omwene. 4 Osheshi Isabel, eshi a dipaa ovaxunganeki vOmwene, Obadja okwa kufa ovaxunganeki efele limwe nokwe va holeka mo, ovalumenhu omilongo nhano mekololo limwe, novakwao omilongo nhano mekololo li lili, nokwe va xupififa omungome nomeva. 5 Ndele Ahab okwa lombwela Obadja: “Fikama, u ka ende noshilongo keefifiya adishe nokomilonga adishe. Kashiimba hatu ka mona omwiidi, tu xupife eenghambe nomamula a kale e nomwenyo, tuha pumbwe okudipaa po oimuna.” 6 Ndele va tukula oshilongo opo keshe tuu a konge mombinga yaye. Ahab okwa enda nondjila imwe, naObadja okwa enda nondjila ikwao.
7 Fimbo Obadja ta ende nondjila, ohaluka, Elia te mu shakeneke. Ye eshi e mu dimbulukwa, ota wile poshi oshipala shaye pedu ndele ta pula: “Oove tuu shili, omwene wange Elia?” 8 Ndele oye ta ti: “Aame ou. Inda u ka lombwele omwene woye u tye: ‘Elia opo e li.’ ” 9 Ndelenee ta pula: “Ame nda nyona shike, ove eshi ho yandje omupiya woye meke laAhab a dipae nge? 10 Oshili ngaashi Omwene Kalunga koye e nomwenyo, kape na nande oshiwana ile oshilongo oko omwene wange ina tuma ko oku ku konga. Ndele eshi pa nyamukulwa: ‘Ke po apa,’ opo nee ye a anifa oshilongo ile oshiwana nokutya, ove ino monika. 11 Ndele paife to lombwele nge: ‘Inda u ka lombwele omwene woye: “Elia opo e li!” ’ 12 Kandi shii apa Omhepo yOmwene tai ku twala ngeenge handi di po pwoove, ndele ngeenge handi i ndi hepaululile Ahab, ndele ye ite ku mono, opo nee ta dipaa nge. Ndele omupiya woye okwa kala ha tila Omwene okudja kounyasha waye. 13 Omwene wange ino shi hepaululilwa mbela osho nde shi ninga, Isabel eshi a dipaa ovaxunganeki vOmwene: Omwene, nhumbi nda holeka ovaxunganeki omilongo nhano na vavali omilongo nhano mekololo, ndele nde va palulifa omungome nomeva? 14 Ndele paife to ti: ‘Inda, u ka lombwele omwene woye: “Tala, Elia opo e li,” ’ opo nee ta dipaa nge.” 15 Ndelenee Elia ta ti: “Oshili, ngaashi Omwene womatanga ovakwaita e nomwenyo, koshipala shaye ame handi kala ofika, onena eli handi ke mu lihololela.” 16 Opo nee Obadja a ya a ka shakeneka Ahab nokwe shi mu hepaululila. Opo nee Ahab a ya a ka shakeneke Elia.
17 Ndele Ahab eshi a mona Elia, Ahab te mu pula: “Oove tuu ou ho twala Israel momupya?” 18 Opo nee ta nyamukula: “Haame nda twala Israel momupya, ndelenee ove neumbo loye, nye eshi mwa efa oipango yOmwene ndele mwa shikula ooBaal. 19 Tuma hano paife u shive Ovaisraeli aveshe va ongale komhunda yaKarmel, nosho yo ovaxunganeki omafele ane nomilongo nhano vaBaal novaxunganeki omafele ane vaAsera, ava hava li poshililo shaIsabel.” 20 Ndele Ahab okwa tuma ko ndele ta ifana ovana aveshe vaIsrael novaxunganeki ve uye komhunda yaKarmel. 21 Ndele Elia okwa ehena kovanhu aveshe ndele ta ti: “Fiyo onaini tamu tengaukile kombinga nombinga? Omwene ngeenge Oye Kalunga, mu shikuleni, ndelenee Baal ngeenge oye kalunga, mu shikuleni.” Ndelenee ovanhu inave mu nyamukula sha. 22 Opo nee Elia ta ti kovanhu: “Ame andike nda xupa po movaxunganeki vOmwene, fimbo ovaxunganeki vaBaal ve li omafele ane nomilongo nhano. 23 Ndelenee tu peni eengobe mbali deemhedi. Naave lihoololele tete ongobe imwe yomhedi noku i shashaula noku i tula koikuni, ndelenee vaha shakale omundilo. Ame ohandi ka toma ongobe ikwao yomhedi noku i tula koikuni, ndele itandi ka shakala omundilo. 24 Opo nee nye ifaneni hano edina lakalunga keni, naame ohandi ka ifana edina lOmwene; ndele Kalunga ou ta nyamukula nomundilo. Oye Kalunga.” Novanhu aveshe va nyamukula, tava ti: “Ondjovo oyo ya wapala.”
25 Ndele Elia okwa lombwela ovaxunganeki vaBaal ta ti: “Lihoololeleni ongobe imwe yomhedi ndele i tomeni tete, osheshi onye vahapu. Ifaneni hano edina lakalunga keni, ndelenee inamu tema omundilo.” 26 Ndele va kufa ongobe oyo yomhedi, ve i pewa ndele ve i toma, ndele va ifana edina laBaal okudja ongula fiyo pokati komutenya, ndele tava ti: “Akutu Baal, tu nyamukula!” Ndelenee inapa holoka nande ondaka ile ou ta nyamukula. Ndele venya va nhukaanhukila nokudingilila oaltari ve shi ninga. 27 Ndele pokati komutenya Elia okwe va sheka ndele ta ti: “Ifaneni pombada. Oye tuu kalunga. Ndelenee kashiimba ye e noupyakadi ile okwa dja po, ile e li mondjila. Kashiimba ta kofa ndele e nokududuluka po.” 28 Ndele va ingida pombada ndele panghedi yavo ve lilengula nomaongamukonda fiyo ohonde ya tika muvo. 29 Ndele etango eshi la dja pokati komutwe, ova hangika komhepo yepwiduko fiyo okefimbo olo eendjayambo tadi yambwa. Ndelenee inapa holoka nande ondaka ile ou ta nyamukula, kape neudo.
30 Opo nee Elia ta ti kovanhu aveshe: “Eheneni oku kwaame.” Novanhu aveshe va ehena kuye. Nokwa tungulula oaltari yOmwene ya li ya hanaunwa po. 31 Opo nee Elia a kufa omamanya omulongo naavali pamuvalo womapata ovana vaJakob, ou a uda ondjovo ei yOmwene: “Israel, olo edina loye.” 32 Nokwa tunga oaltari yomamanya medina lOmwene. Opo nee a fa omukangha tau dingilile oaltari, wa li u fike peelita omulongo nanhee. 33 Nokwa tula ko oikuni koshiyambelo, nde ta shashaula ongobe yomhedi moinhimbu, nokwa tula ombelela kombada yoikuni. Nde ta ti: “Yadifeni oiyuma ine omeva, mu a tile keyambo nokoikuni.” Ndele osho va ninga. 34 Nokwa tya: “Shi ningeni olutivali.” Ndele ve shi ninga lutivali. Natango ta ti: “Shi ningululeni natango.” Ndele ve shi ninga lutitatu. 35 Opo nee omeva a tondoka kombinga nombinga yoaltari. Omukangha yo e u yadifa nomeva.
36 Ndele otundi eshi ya fika, eendjayambo da li di nokuyambwa, omuxunganeki Elia okwa ehena ko ndele ta ti: “Omwene, Kalunga kaAbraham, Isak naJakob, nena eli liholola kutya oove Kalunga wa kala muIsrael, naame omupiya woye ndele oinima aishe ei nde i ninga pandjovo yoye. 37 Omwene, nyamukule nge, opo ovanhu ava va koneke kutya, Oove Omwene Kalunga, ndele Ove to alula omitima davo.” 38 Opo nee omundilo wOmwene wa wila poshi ndele tau xwike po exwikiloyambo noikuni nomamanya, nedu, heeno, tau lafa omeva a li momukangha. 39 Ovanhu aveshe eshi ve shi mona, va wila eombe ndele tava ti: “Omwene Oye Kalunga! Omwene Oye Kalunga!” 40 Ndelenee Elia ta ti kuvo: “Kwateni ovaxunganeki vaBaal. Nande umwe muvo ina ya onhapo.” Ndele Elia okwe va twala kokamulonga kaKison ndele te va dipaele ko.
41 Ndele Elia okwa lombwela Ahab: “Fikama, lya, u ka nwe, osheshi oshihomo shodula tashi udika nokuli.” 42 Opo nee Ahab a fikama a lye ndele a nwe. Ndelenee Elia okwa londa koxulo yaKarmel ndele te linyongamene nokwa twa oshipala shaye pokati keengolo daye. 43 Opo nee ta ti komupiya waye: “Londa ko u ka taalele langhele kefuta.” Ye okwa londa ndele ta liamene ko, ndelenee ta ti: “Kaku na sha!” Oye kwa tya: “Shuna ko vali! Osho ngaha luheyali.” 44 Eshi ye okwa ya ko lutiheyali, omupiya ta ti: “Tala, okalemo kanini ke fike peke lomulumenhu, take litumbu mefuta.” Opo nee ye ta ti: “Fikama, inda u ka lombwele Ahab: ‘Manga etemba loita u ye, opo odula ihe ku kelele.’ ” 45 Ndelenee opo tuu opo eulu alishe la uvikwa koilemo nomhepo. Odula inene ya pauka. Ndele Ahab okwa londa metemba ndele ta i kuJisreel. 46 Ndelenee eke lOmwene la li kombada yaElia, onghee ye e limanga moshiya ndele ta tondoka, a pita komesho aAhab fiyo okuJisreel.
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.
