Liber I Regum, 18

1. Post dies multos factum est verbum Domini ad Eliam in anno tertio dicens: “Vade et ostende te Achab, ut dem pluviam super faciem terrae”.

1. After many days the word of the LORD came to Eli'jah, in the third year, saying, "Go, show yourself to Ahab; and I will send rain upon the earth."

2. Ivit ergo Elias, ut ostenderet se Achab. Erat autem fames vehemens in Samaria.

2. So Eli'jah went to show himself to Ahab. Now the famine was severe in Sama'ria.

3. Vocavitque Achab Abdiam dispensatorem domus suae. Abdias autem timebat Dominum valde;

3. And Ahab called Obadi'ah, who was over the household. (Now Obadi'ah revered the LORD greatly;

4. nam, cum interficeret Iezabel prophetas Domini, tulit ille centum prophetas et abscondit eos quinquagenos et quinquagenos in speluncis et pavit eos pane et aqua.

4. and when Jez'ebel cut off the prophets of the LORD, Obadi'ah took a hundred prophets and hid them by fifties in a cave, and fed them with bread and water.)

5. Dixit ergo Achab ad Abdiam: “Vade in terra ad universos fontes aquarum et in cunctas valles, si forte invenire possimus herbam, ut salvemus equos et mulos et nullum de iumentis interficere debeamus”.

5. And Ahab said to Obadi'ah, "Go through the land to all the springs of water and to all the valleys; perhaps we may find grass and save the horses and mules alive, and not lose some of the animals."

6. Diviseruntque sibi regiones, ut circuirent eas: Achab ibat per viam unam, et Abdias per viam alteram seorsum.

6. So they divided the land between them to pass through it; Ahab went in one direction by himself, and Obadi'ah went in another direction by himself.

7. Cumque esset Abdias in via, Elias occurrit ei; qui cum cognovisset eum, cecidit super faciem suam et ait: “Num tu es, domine mi, Elias?”.

7. And as Obadi'ah was on the way, behold, Eli'jah met him; and Obadi'ah recognized him, and fell on his face, and said, "Is it you, my lord Eli'jah?"

8. Cui ille respondit: “Ego. Vade, dic domino tuo: “Adest Elias””.

8. And he answered him, "It is I. Go, tell your lord, `Behold, Eli'jah is here.'"

9. Et ille: “Quid peccavi, inquit, quoniam trades me servum tuum in manu Achab, ut interficiat me?

9. And he said, "Wherein have I sinned, that you would give your servant into the hand of Ahab, to kill me?

10. Vivit Dominus Deus tuus, non est gens aut regnum, quo non miserit dominus meus te requirens et, respondentibus cunctis: “Non est hic”, adiuravit regna singula et gentes, eo quod minime reperireris.

10. As the LORD your God lives, there is no nation or kingdom whither my lord has not sent to seek you; and when they would say, `He is not here,' he would take an oath of the kingdom or nation, that they had not found you.

11. Et nunc dicis mihi: “Vade et dic domino tuo: Adest Elias”.

11. And now you say, `Go, tell your lord, "Behold, Eli'jah is here."'

12. Cumque recessero a te, spiritus Domini asportabit te in locum, quem ego ignoro; et ingressus nuntiabo Achab, et non inveniet te et interficiet me. Servus autem tuus timet Dominum ab infantia sua.

12. And as soon as I have gone from you, the Spirit of the LORD will carry you whither I know not; and so, when I come and tell Ahab and he cannot find you, he will kill me, although I your servant have revered the LORD from my youth.

13. Numquid non indicatum est domino meo quid fecerim, cum interficeret Iezabel prophetas Domini: quod absconderim de prophetis Domini centum viros, quinquagenos et quinquagenos in speluncis et paverim eos pane et aqua?

13. Has it not been told my lord what I did when Jez'ebel killed the prophets of the LORD, how I hid a hundred men of the LORD'S prophets by fifties in a cave, and fed them with bread and water?

14. Et nunc tu dicis: “Vade et dic domino tuo: Adest Elias”, ut interficiat me”.

14. And now you say, `Go, tell your lord, "Behold, Eli'jah is here"'; and he will kill me."

15. Dixit Elias: “Vivit Dominus exercituum ante cuius vultum sto: hodie apparebo ei”.

15. And Eli'jah said, "As the LORD of hosts lives, before whom I stand, I will surely show myself to him today."

16. Abiit ergo Abdias in occursum Achab et indicavit ei. Venitque Achab in occursum Eliae

16. So Obadi'ah went to meet Ahab, and told him; and Ahab went to meet Eli'jah.

17. et, cum vidisset eum, ait: “Tune es, qui conturbas Israel?”.

17. When Ahab saw Eli'jah, Ahab said to him, "Is it you, you troubler of Israel?"

18. Et ille ait: “Non turbavi Israel, sed tu et domus patris tui, qui dereliquistis mandata Domini, et secutus es Baalim.

18. And he answered, "I have not troubled Israel; but you have, and your father's house, because you have forsaken the commandments of the LORD and followed the Ba'als.

19. Verumtamen nunc mitte et congrega ad me universum Israel in monte Carmeli et prophetas Baal quadringentos quinquaginta prophetasque Aserae quadringentos, qui comedunt de mensa Iezabel”.

19. Now therefore send and gather all Israel to me at Mount Carmel, and the four hundred and fifty prophets of Ba'al and the four hundred prophets of Ashe'rah, who eat at Jez'ebel's table."

20. Misit Achab ad omnes filios Israel et congregavit prophetas in monte Carmeli.

20. So Ahab sent to all the people of Israel, and gathered the prophets together at Mount Carmel.

21. Accedens autem Elias ad omnem populum ait: “Usquequo claudicatis in duas partes? Si Dominus est Deus, sequimini eum; si autem Baal, sequimini illum”. Et non respondit ei populus verbum.

21. And Eli'jah came near to all the people, and said, "How long will you go limping with two different opinions? If the LORD is God, follow him; but if Ba'al, then follow him." And the people did not answer him a word.

22. Et ait rursus Elias ad populum: “Ego remansi propheta Domini solus; prophetae autem Baal quadringenti et quinquaginta viri sunt.

22. Then Eli'jah said to the people, "I, even I only, am left a prophet of the LORD; but Ba'al's prophets are four hundred and fifty men.

23. Dentur nobis duo boves, et illi eligant sibi bovem unum et in frusta caedentes ponant super ligna; ignem autem non supponant. Et ego faciam bovem alterum et imponam super ligna; ignemque non supponam.

23. Let two bulls be given to us; and let them choose one bull for themselves, and cut it in pieces and lay it on the wood, but put no fire to it; and I will prepare the other bull and lay it on the wood, and put no fire to it.

24. Invocate nomen dei vestri, et ego invocabo nomen Domini; et Deus, qui exaudierit per ignem, ipse est Deus!”. Respondens omnis populus ait: “Optima propositio”.

24. And you call on the name of your god and I will call on the name of the LORD; and the God who answers by fire, he is God." And all the people answered, "It is well spoken."

25. Dixit ergo Elias prophetis Baal: “Eligite vobis bovem unum et facite primi, quia vos plures estis; et invocate nomen dei vestri ignemque non supponatis”.

25. Then Eli'jah said to the prophets of Ba'al, "Choose for yourselves one bull and prepare it first, for you are many; and call on the name of your god, but put no fire to it."

26. Qui cum tulissent bovem, quem dederat eis, fecerunt et invocabant nomen Baal de mane usque ad meridiem dicentes: “Baal, exaudi nos!”. Et non erat vox, nec qui responderet. Saliebantque in circuitu altaris, quod fecerant.

26. And they took the bull which was given them, and they prepared it, and called on the name of Ba'al from morning until noon, saying, "O Ba'al, answer us!" But there was no voice, and no one answered. And they limped about the altar which they had made.

27. Cumque esset iam meridies, illudebat eis Elias dicens: “Clamate voce maiore; deus enim est et forsitan occupatus est aut secessit aut in itinere aut certe dormit, ut excitetur”.

27. And at noon Eli'jah mocked them, saying, "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 is asleep and must be awakened."

28. Clamabant ergo voce magna et incidebant se iuxta ritum suum cultris et lanceolis, donec perfunderentur sanguine.

28. And they cried aloud, and cut themselves after their custom with swords and lances, until the blood gushed out upon them.

29. Postquam autem transiit meridies, et, illis prophetantibus, venerat tempus, quo sacrificium offerri solet, nec audiebatur vox, neque aliquis respondebat nec attendebat orantes,

29. And as midday passed, they raved on until the time of the offering of the oblation, but there was no voice; no one answered, no one heeded.

30. dixit Elias omni populo: “Venite ad me”. Et, accedente ad se populo, curavit altare Domini, quod destructum fuerat;

30. Then Eli'jah said to all the people, "Come near to me"; and all the people came near to him. And he repaired the altar of the LORD that had been thrown down;

31. et tulit duodecim lapides iuxta numerum tribuum filiorum Iacob, ad quem factus est sermo Domini dicens: “Israel erit nomen tuum”.

31. Eli'jah took twelve stones, according to the number of the tribes of the sons of Jacob, to whom the word of the LORD came, saying, "Israel shall be your name";

32. Et aedificavit lapidibus altare in nomine Domini fecitque aquaeductum quasi pro duobus satis in circuitu altaris

32. and with the stones he built an altar in the name of the LORD. And he made a trench about the altar, as great as would contain two measures of seed.

33. et composuit ligna divisitque per membra bovem et posuit super ligna

33. And he put the wood in order, and cut the bull in pieces and laid it on the wood. And he said, "Fill four jars with water, and pour it on the burnt offering, and on the wood."

34. et ait: “Implete quattuor hydrias aqua et fundite super holocaustum et super ligna”. Rursumque dixit: “Etiam secundo hoc facite”. Qui cum fecissent et secundo, ait: “Etiam tertio idipsum facite”. Feceruntque et tertio,

34. And he said, "Do it a second time"; and they did it a second time. And he said, "Do it a third time"; and they did it a third time.

35. et currebant aquae circum altare, et fossa aquaeductus repleta est.

35. And the water ran round about the altar, and filled the trench also with water.

36. Cumque iam tempus esset, ut offerretur sacrificium, accedens Elias propheta ait: “Domine, Deus Abraham, Isaac et Israel, hodie ostende quia tu es Deus in Israel, et ego servus tuus et iuxta praeceptum tuum feci omnia haec.

36. And at the time of the offering of the oblation, Eli'jah the prophet came near and said, "O LORD, God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, let it be known this day that thou art God in Israel, and that I am thy servant, and that I have done all these things at thy word.

37. Exaudi me, Domine, exaudi me, ut discat populus iste quia tu, Domine, es Deus et tu convertisti cor eorum iterum!”.

37. Answer me, O LORD, answer me, that this people may know that thou, O LORD, art God, and that thou hast turned their hearts back."

38. Cecidit autem ignis Domini et voravit holocaustum et ligna et lapides, pulverem quoque et aquam, quae erat in aquaeductu lambens.

38. Then the fire of the LORD 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.

39. Quod cum vidisset omnis populus, cecidit in faciem suam et ait: “Dominus ipse est Deus, Dominus ipse est Deus!”.

39. And when all the people saw it, they fell on their faces; and they said, "The LORD, he is God; the LORD, he is God."

40. Dixitque Elias ad eos: “Apprehendite prophetas Baal, et ne unus quidem effugiat ex eis!”. Quos cum comprehendissent, duxit eos Elias ad torrentem Cison et interfecit eos ibi.

40. And Eli'jah said to them, "Seize the prophets of Ba'al; let not one of them escape." And they seized them; and Eli'jah brought them down to the brook Kishon, and killed them there.

41. Et ait Elias ad Achab: “Ascende, comede et bibe, quia sonus multae pluviae est”.

41. And Eli'jah said to Ahab, "Go up, eat and drink; for there is a sound of the rushing of rain."

42. Ascendit Achab, ut comederet et biberet. Elias autem ascendit in verticem Carmeli et pronus in terram posuit faciem inter genua sua

42. So Ahab went up to eat and to drink. And Eli'jah went up to the top of Carmel; and he bowed himself down upon the earth, and put his face between his knees.

43. et dixit ad puerum suum: “Ascende et prospice contra mare”. Qui, cum ascen disset et contemplatus esset, ait: “Non est quidquam”. Et rursum ait illi: “Revertere septem vicibus”.

43. And he said to his servant, "Go up now, look toward the sea." And he went up and looked, and said, "There is nothing." And he said, "Go again seven times."

44. In septima autem vice dixit: “Ecce nubecula parva quasi manus hominis ascendit de mari”. Et ait: “Ascende et dic Achab: Iunge et descende, ne occupet te pluvia!”.

44. And at the seventh time he said, "Behold, a little cloud like a man's hand is rising out of the sea." And he said, "Go up, say to Ahab, `Prepare your chariot and go down, lest the rain stop you.'"

45. Et factum est interea: ecce caeli contenebrati sunt, et nubes et ventus, et facta est pluvia grandis. Ascendens itaque Achab abiit in Iezrahel.

45. And in a little while the heavens grew black with clouds and wind, and there was a great rain. And Ahab rode and went to Jezreel.

46. Et manus Domini facta est super Eliam; accinctisque lumbis, currebat ante Achab, donec veniret in Iezrahel.

46. And the hand of the LORD was on Eli'jah; and he girded up his loins and ran before Ahab to the entrance of Jezreel.