1Zvino mazuva mazhinji akati apfuura, shoko raJehovha rikasvika kuna Eria negore rechitatu, richiti, Enda undozviratidza kuna Ahabhi; ndigotuma mvura panyika.
1It happened after many days, that the word of Yahweh came to Elijah, in the third year, saying, “Go, show yourself to Ahab; and I will send rain on the earth.”
2Ipapo Eria akandozviratidza kuna Ahabhi. Zvino nzara yakanga yanyanya kwazvo paSamaria.
2Elijah went to show himself to Ahab. The famine was severe in Samaria.
3Ahabhi akadana Obhadhiya, iye wakange ari mutariri weimba yake. (Zvino Obhadhiya wakange achitya Jehovha kwazvo;
3Ahab called Obadiah, who was over the household. (Now Obadiah feared Yahweh greatly:
4nekuti nenguva iyo Izebheri yaakaparadza nayo navaporofita vaJehovha, Obhadhia wakatora vaporofita vane zana, akavavanza makumi mashanu namakumi mashanuzve mubako, akavapa chingwa nemvura.)
4for it was so, when Jezebel cut off the prophets of Yahweh, that Obadiah took one hundred prophets, and hid them by fifty in a cave, and fed them with bread and water.)
5Zvino Ahabhi akati kuna Obhadhiya, Famba nenyika, kumatsime emvura, nokuhova dzose; zvimwe tingawana bundo, tiraramise mabhiza namahesera,tirege kurashikirwa nechimwe chezvipfuwo.
5Ahab said to Obadiah, “Go through the land, to all the springs of water, and to all the brooks. Perhaps we may find grass and save the horses and mules alive, that we not lose all the animals.”
6Naizvozvo vakagovana nyika, kuti vafambe nayo; Ahabhi akaenda ari oga kuno rumwe rutivi, Obhadhiya akaendawo ari oga kuno rumwe rutivi.
6So they divided the land between them to pass throughout it: Ahab went one way by himself, and Obadiah went another way by himself.
7Zvino Obhadhiya wakati ari panzira, Eria akasangana naye; akamuziva, akawira pasi nechiso chake, akati, Ndimi here, ishe wangu Eria?
7As Obadiah was in the way, behold, Elijah met him: and he recognized him, and fell on his face, and said, “Is it you, my lord Elijah?”
8Iye akamupindura, akati, Ndini; enda unoudza ishe wako, uti, Tarirai, Eria ari pano.
8He answered him, “It is I. Go, tell your lord, ‘Behold, Elijah is here!’”
9Iye akati, Ndatadzeiko, zvamoda kuisa muranda wenyu mumaoko aAhabhi, andiuraye?
9He said, “Wherein have I sinned, that you would deliver your servant into the hand of Ahab, to kill me?
10NaJehovha Mwari wenyu mupenyu, hapano rudzi kana ushe kwaasina kutuma iye ishe wangu kukutsvakai; kana vakati, Haapo pano, waipikisa ushe uhwo kana rudzi urwo, kuti havana kukuwanai.
10As Yahweh your God lives, there is no nation or kingdom, where my lord has not sent to seek you. When they said, ‘He is not here,’ he took an oath of the kingdom and nation, that they didn’t find you.
11Zvino moti, Enda undoudza ishe wako, uti, Eria ari pano.
11Now you say, ‘Go, tell your lord, “Behold, Elijah is here.”’
12Zvimwe ndichangobva kwamuri, Mweya waJehovha ndokukuisai kwandisingazivi; zvino kana ndikandoudza Ahabhi, akakushayai, uchandiuraya, asi ini muranda wenyu ndinotya Jehovha kubva pauduku hwangu.
12It will happen, as soon as I am gone from you, that the Spirit of Yahweh will carry you I don’t know where; and so when I come and tell Ahab, and he can’t find you, he will kill me. But I, your servant, have feared Yahweh from my youth.
13Ishe wangu hamuna kuudzwa here zvandakaita panguva iya Izebheri yaakauraya nayo vaporofita vaJehovha kuti ndakavanza vaporofita vaJehovha, vane zana, makumi mashanu namakumi mashanu mubako, ndikavapa zvingwa nemvura?
13Wasn’t it told my lord what I did when Jezebel killed the prophets of Yahweh, how I hid one hundred men of Yahweh’s prophets with fifty to a cave, and fed them with bread and water?
14Zvino moti, Chindoudza ishe wako, uti, Eria ari pano. Iye uchandiuraya.
14Now you say, ‘Go, tell your lord, “Behold, Elijah is here”;’ and he will kill me.”
15Eria akati, NaJehovha wehondo mupenyu, iye wandimire pamberi pake, ndichazviratidza kwaari nhasi zvirokwazvo.
15Elijah said, “As Yahweh of Armies lives, before whom I stand, I will surely show myself to him today.”
16Naizvozvo Obhadhiya akaenda kuna Ahabhi, akamuudza Ahabhi akandosangana naEria.
16So Obadiah went to meet Ahab, and told him; and Ahab went to meet Elijah.
17Zvino Ahabhi wakati achiona Eria, Ahabhi akati kwaari, Ndiwe here, iwe mutambudzi waIsiraeri?
17It happened, when Ahab saw Elijah, that Ahab said to him, “Is that you, you troubler of Israel?”
18Iye akati, Ini handina kutambudza Isiraeri; asi ndiwe neimba yababa vako, nekuti makasiya mirairo yaJehovha, mukatevera vaBhaari.
18He answered, “I have not troubled Israel; but you, and your father’s house, in that you have forsaken the commandments of Yahweh, and you have followed the Baals.
19Naizvozvo zvino chituma vanhu uunganidze vaIsiraeri vose pagomo reKarimeri, navaporofita vaBhaari vana mazana mana vanodya patafura yaIzebheri,
19Now therefore send, and gather to me all Israel to Mount Carmel, and four hundred fifty of the prophets of Baal, and four hundred of the prophets of the Asherah, who eat at Jezebel’s table.”
20Naizvozvo Ahabhi akatuma vanhu kuvana vaIsiraeri vose, akaunganidza vaporofita pagomo reKarimeri.
20So Ahab sent to all the children of Israel, and gathered the prophets together to Mount Carmel.
21Zvino Eria akaswedera kuvanhu vose, akati, Mucharamba muchikamhina pamifungo miviri kusvikira rinhiko? Kana Jehovha ari Mwari, mumutevere, kana ari Bhaari, mumutevere iye. Asi vanhu havana kupindura shoko rimwe.
21Elijah came near to all the people, and said, “How long will you waver between the two sides? If Yahweh is God, follow him; but if Baal, then follow him.” The people answered him not a word.
22Ipapo Eria akati kuvanhu, Ini, iyeni ndoga, ndini ndasara kuvaporofita vaJehovha, asi vaporofita vaBhaari vanosvika varume vana mazana mana namakumi mashanu.
22Then Elijah said to the people, “I, even I only, am left a prophet of Yahweh; but Baal’s prophets are four hundred fifty men.
23Naizvozvo ngavatipe nzombe mbiri, ivo vazvitsaurire nzombe imwe, vaiguranye, vaiise pamusoro pehuni, asi varege kuisa moto pasi payo; neniwo ndichagadzira imwe nzombe, ndichiisa pamusoro pehuni, asi ndisingaisi moto pasi payo.
23Let them therefore give us two bulls; and let them choose one bull for themselves, and cut it in pieces, and lay it on the wood, and put no fire under; and I will dress the other bull, and lay it on the wood, and put no fire under it.
24Zvino imwi mudane zita ramwari wenyu, ini ndidanewo zita raJehovha, Mwari unopindura nomoto, iye ngaave Mwari. Vanhu vose vakapindura, vakati, Zvarehwa zvakanaka.
24You call on the name of your god, and I will call on the name of Yahweh. The God who answers by fire, let him be God.” All the people answered, “It is well said.”
25Ipapo Eria akati kuvaporofita vaBhaari, Chizvitsaurirai nzombe imwe, mutange kuigadzira, nekuti muri vazhinji; mudane zita ramwari wenyu, asi murege kuisa moto pasi payo.
25Elijah said to the prophets of Baal, “Choose one bull for yourselves, and dress it first; for you are many; and call on the name of your god, but put no fire under it.”
26Ivo vakatora nzombe yavakanga vapiwa, vakaigadzira, vakadana zita raBhaari kubva mangwanani kusvikira masikati makuru, vachiti, Bhaari, tinzwei! Asi kwakanga kusine inzwi kana unopindura. Vakapoteredza aritari yakanga yavakwa vachipembera.
26They took the bull which was given them, and they dressed it, and called on the name of Baal from morning even until noon, saying, Baal, hear us. But there was no voice, nor any who answered. They leaped about the altar which was made.
27Zvino panguva yamasikati makuru Eria akavasweveredza, akati, Danidzirai nenzwi guru; nekuti ndimwari, zvimwe ari pakufunga, zvimwe wambosuduruka, zvimwe wafamba rwendo, kana zvimwe uvete hake, anofanira kumutswa.
27It happened at noon, that Elijah mocked them, and said, “Cry aloud; for he is a god. Either he is musing, or he has gone aside, or he is on a journey, or perhaps he sleeps and must be awakened.”
28Ipapo vakadanidzira kwazvo, vakazvicheka netsika dzavo neminondo namapfumo, kusvikira ropa richidzutuka kwavari.
28They cried aloud, and cut themselves in their way with knives and lances, until the blood gushed out on them.
29Masikati makuru akati apfuura, vakaporofita kusvikira panguva yokubayira chipo chamadekwana; asi kwakanga kusina inzwi kana unopindura, kana wakange achiteerera.
29It was so, when midday was past, that they prophesied until the time of the offering of the offering; but there was neither voice, nor any to answer, nor any who regarded.
30Ipapo Eria akati kuvanhu vose, Swederai kwandiri, vanhu vose vakaswedera kwaari. Zvino wakagadzira aritari yaJehovha yakanga yaputswa.
30Elijah said to all the people, “Come near to me”; and all the people came near to him. He repaired the altar of Yahweh that was thrown down.
31Eria akatora mabwe ane gumi namaviri akaenzana namarudzi avana vaJakove iye wakange audzwa naJehovha zvichinzi, Zita rako richanzi Isiraeri.
31Elijah took twelve stones, according to the number of the tribes of the sons of Jacob, to whom the word of Yahweh came, saying, “Israel shall be your name.”
32Akavaka aritari namabwe iwayo nezita raJehovha, akachera goronga rakakomba aritari rakanga rakaenzana napangadzvarwa zviyero zviviri zvezviyo.
32With the stones he built an altar in the name of Yahweh. He made a trench around the altar, large enough to contain two measures of seed.
33Akaronga huni, akaguranya nzombe, akaiisa pamusoro pehuni, akati, Chizadzai zvirongo zvina nemvura, muidire pamusoro pechipiriso chinopiswa, napamusoro pehuni.
33He put the wood in order, and cut the bull in pieces, and laid it on the wood. He said, “Fill four jars with water, and pour it on the burnt offering, and on the wood.”
34Akati, Itai izvozvo rwechipiri, vakazviita rwechipiri. Akati, Itai izvozvo rwechitatu; vakazviita rwechitatu.
34He said, “Do it a second time”; and they did it the second time. He said, “Do it a third time”; and they did it the third time.
35Mvura ikayerera, ikapoteredza aritari; akazadza negorongawo nemvura.
35The water ran around the altar; and he also filled the trench with water.
36Nenguva yokubayira chipo chamadekwana, muporofita Eria akaswedera, akati, Imi Jehovha, Mwari waAbhurahamu, nowaIsaka, nowaIsiraeri, uye kuti ini ndiri muranda wenyu, uye kuti ndakaita izvi zvose ndarairwa nemi.
36It happened at the time of the offering of the offering, 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.
37Ndinzwei Jehovha, ndinzwei, kuti vanhu ava vazive kuti imwi Jehovha ndimi Mwari, uye kuti ndimi makadzosazve moyo yavo.
37Hear me, Yahweh, hear me, that this people may know that you, Yahweh, are God, and that you have turned their heart back again.”
38Ipapo moto waJehovha wakaburuka, ukapedza chipiriso chinopiswa, nehuni, namabwe, neguruva, ukananzva mvura yakanga iri mugoronga.
38Then the fire of Yahweh 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.
39Vanhu vose vakati vachizviona, vakawira pasi nezviso zvavo, vakati, Jehovha ndiye Mwari, Jehovha ndiye Mwari!
39When all the people saw it, they fell on their faces. They said, “Yahweh, he is God! Yahweh, he is God!”
40Eria akati kwavari, Batai vaporofita vaBhaari, varege kupukunyuka kunyange nomumwe wavo. Vakavabata. Eria akaburuka navo kurukova Kishoni, akavaurayirapo.
40Elijah said to them, “Seize the prophets of Baal! Don’t let one of them escape!” They seized them. Elijah brought them down to the brook Kishon, and killed them there.
41Eria akati kuna Ahabhi, Chirongedzai, mudye, mumwe, nekuti kuno kuunga kwemvura zhinji.
41Elijah said to Ahab, “Get up, eat and drink; for there is the sound of abundance of rain.”
42Naizvozvo Ahabhi akarongedza kundodya nokumwa. Eria akakwira pamusoro pegomo reKarimeri, akagwadamira pasi, akaisa chiso chake pakati pamabvi ake;
42So Ahab went up to eat and to drink. Elijah went up to the top of Carmel; and he bowed himself down on the earth, and put his face between his knees.
43akati kumuranda wake, Chikwira zvino, utarire kurutivi rwegungwa. Akakwira akatarira, akati, Hakuna chinhu. Akati, Endazve, kanomwe.
43He said to his servant, “Go up now, look toward the sea.” He went up, and looked, and said, “There is nothing.” He said, “Go again” seven times.
44Zvino panguva yechinomwe akati, Tarirai, kune gore duku, rinokwira richibva mugungwa, rakafanana nechanza chomunhu. Akati, Enda, undoti kuna Ahabhi, Sungai ngoro yenyu, muburuke, kuti murege kudzivirirwa nemvura.
44It happened at the seventh time, that he said, “Behold, a small cloud, like a man’s hand, is rising out of the sea.” He said, “Go up, tell Ahab, ‘Get ready and go down, so that the rain doesn’t stop you.’”
45Zvino nguva duku yakati yapfuura, denga rikasviba namakore nemhepo, mvura zhinji ikanaya Ahabhi akaenda nengoro, akasvika Jezereeri.
45It happened in a little while, that the sky grew black with clouds and wind, and there was a great rain. Ahab rode, and went to Jezreel.
46Ruoko rwaJehovha rukasimbisa Eria; akazvisunga chivuno chake, akamhanya pamberi paAhabhi kusvikira pasuwo reJezereeri.
46The hand of Yahweh was on Elijah; and he tucked his cloak into his belt and ran before Ahab to the entrance of Jezreel.