1 Amakhosi 18:20-30 Ibhayibheli Elingcwele (ZUL59)

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.”

26. Bayithatha inkunzi abayinikwayo, bayilungisa, balibiza igama likaBali kwasekuseni kwaze kwaba semini ngokuthi: “Bali, siphenduleni;” kepha akubangakho zwi, nophendulayo wayengekho. Baxhuma ngase-altare ebelenziwe.

27. Kwathi ngasemini u-Eliya wadlala ngabo, wathi: “Memezani ngezwi elikhulu; noma engunkulunkulu, mhlawumbe uyazindla, noma echezukile nje, noma esohambeni, noma elele edinga ukuvuswa.”

28. Base bememeza ngezwi elikhulu, bazisika ngawomese nangemikhonto ngomthetho wabo, kwaze kwatshaza igazi kubo.

29. Kwathi lapho isidlulile imini, baprofetha kwaze kwanikelwa ngomnikelo wempuphu, kepha akubangakho zwi, nophendulayo, nonakekelayo.

30. U-Eliya wayesethi kubantu bonke: “Sondelani kimi.” Bonke abantu basondela kuye. Wayeselungisa i-altare likaJehova elalidiliziwe.

1 Amakhosi 18