1 Yookumkani 18:15-26 Ibhayibhile (XHO96)

15. UEliya wathi: “Ekho nje uNdikhoyo uSomandla lo ndimkhonzayo, inene, ngayo yona le mini ndiza kubonana noAhabhi.”

16. Ke kaloku uObhadiya wemka, waza ke wadibana naye uAhabhi, wamxelela. Ke uAhabhi wahamba, waza wabonana noEliya.

17. Akubona uEliya uAhabhi wathi: “Ngaba nguwe lowo, wena ohlisela amaSirayeli intlekele?”

18. UEliya waphendula ngelithi: “Khange ndiwahlisele mna intlekele amaSirayeli. Kodwa nguwe nendlu kayihlo lo uhlisele amaSirayeli intlekele. Imithetho kaNdikhoyo uyityeshele, waza walandelana nooBhali.

19. Khawubaqokelele bonke abantu bakwaSirayeli, ukuze ndihlangane nabo phezu kwentaba iKarmele. Uze ungabashiyi abashumayeli bakaBhali abamakhulu mane namashumi amahlanu, kananjalo nabashumayeli baka-Ashera abamakhulu mane, abo batya kwisithebe sikaJezebhele.”

20. Ngoko ke uAhabhi wathumela ilizwi kuSirayeli ephela, wabaqokelela kwintaba iKarmele bonke abashumayeli.

21. UEliya wasondela kubo ke abo bantu, waza wathi: “Koda kube nini na nimbaxa! Ukuba uNdikhoyo nguye uThixo, landelani yena; kanti ke ukuba uBhali nguThixo, landelani yena kaloku.” Kwasuka kwathi cwaka.

22. UEliya wabhekisa ebantwini wathi: “Ndim ndodwa umshumayeli kaNdikhoyo oshiyekileyo, kodwa ke yena uBhali usenabashumayeli abangamakhulu amane anamashumi amahlanu.

23. Sinikeni iinkunzana zeenkomo zibe mbini. Abashumayeli bakaBhali mabazikhethele ibe nye, baze bayixhele bayixhaxhe, bayibeke phezu kweenkuni, kodwa bangaphembi mlilo. Nam ke ndozilungiselela enye inkunzana leyo, ndiyixhaxhe, ndiyibeke phezu kweenkuni, kodwa ndingaphembi mlilo.

24. Ze ke nibize igama lothixo wenu, nam ndibize igama likaNdikhoyo. Ke uThixo othe waphendula ngomlilo ngoyena-yena Thixo!”Ke abantu baphendula bathi: “La mazwi uwathethileyo mahle.”

25. UEliya wabhekisa kubashumayeli bakaBhali wathi: “Makuqale nina baninzi, nizikhethele inkunzana ibe nye, nizilungiselele yona. Nakugqiba ke, bizani igama lothixo wenu, kodwa ningawuphembi umlilo.”

26. Ngenene ke bayithatha eyabo inkunzana yenkomo, bayixhela, bayixhaxha.Baza ke banqula igama likaBhali, besukela kusasa kwada kwasemini emaqanda, besithi: “Khawuncede usiphendule, Bhali!” Kodwa ke akwabikho mpendulo, akwabikho bani usabelayo. Hayi ke, baxhentsa bejikeleza elo qonga babelenzile.

1 Yookumkani 18