1 Amakhosi 18:14-25 Ibhayibheli Elingcwele (ZUL59)

14. Usuthi manje: ‘Hamba utshele inkosi yakho ukuthi: Nangu u-Eliya,’ bese yingibulala.”

15. Kepha u-Eliya wathi: “Kuphila kukaJehova Sebawoti engimi phambi kwakhe namuhla, ngizakuzibonakalisa kuye.”

16. U-Obadiya wayesehamba ukumhlangabeza u-Ahabi, wamtshela lokho; wayesehamba u-Ahabi ukumhlangabeza u-Eliya.

17. Kwathi u-Ahabi esembonile u-Eliya, u-Ahabi wathi kuye: “Nguwe ongumhluphi wakwa-Israyeli na?”

18. Kodwa wathi: “Mina angimhluphanga u-Israyeli, kepha nguwe nendlu kayihlo, ngokuyilahla imiyalo kaJehova, uze ulandele oBali.

19. Ngalokho thumela ubuthe kimi u-Israyeli wonke entabeni yaseKarmeli, nabaprofethi bakaBali abangamakhulu amane namashumi ayisihlanu, nabaprofethi baka-Ashera* abangamakhulu amane abadla etafuleni lika-Izebeli.”

20. U-Ahabi wayesethumela kubo bonke abantwana bakwa-Israyeli, wabutha abaprofethi entabeni yaseKarmeli.

21. U-Eliya wasondela kubo bonke abantu, wathi: “Koze kube nini nimanqikanqika phakathi kwezinhlangothi ezimbili na? Uma uJehova enguNkulunkulu, mlandeleni yena, kepha uma kunguBali, mlandeleni yena.” Kodwa abantu kabamphendulanga ngazwi.

22. Wayesethi u-Eliya kubantu: “Yimi ngedwa oseleyo engumprofethi kaJehova, kepha abaprofethi bakaBali bangabantu abangamakhulu amane namashumi ayisihlanu.

23. Mabasinike izinkunzi ezimbili, bazikhethele inkunzi ibenye, bayihlahlele, bayibeke phezu kwezinkuni, bangafaki umlilo; mina ngiyakuyilungisa enye inkunzi, ngiyibeke phezu kwezinkuni, ngingafaki umlilo.

24. Libizeni igama likankulunkulu wenu, mina ngibize igama likaJehova; bese kuthi uNkulunkulu ophendula ngomlilo abe nguye onguNkulunkulu.”Bonke abantu bathi: “Lihle leli zwi.”

25. U-Eliya wayesethi kubaprofethi bakaBali: “Zikhetheleni inkunzi, niyilungise kuqala, ngokuba nibaningi, nibize igama likankulunkulu wenu, ningafaki umlilo nokho.”

1 Amakhosi 18