5 Bakubuya ke abathunywa abo, wabuza wathi ukumkani: “Ngani ukuba nijike?”
6 Baphendula ke bona bathi: “Sidibene nomfo othile, wathi masibuyele kuwe, kumkani, sikuxelele sithi: ‘UNdikhoyo uthi: Ngaba kungenxa yokuba kungekho Thixo kwaSirayeli, le nto uhamba uye kubuzisa kuBhali-zabhubhe isithixo sase-Ekron?’ Ewe, uthi: ‘Akusayi kuvuka kuloo mandlalo ulele kuwo; uza kufa.’ ”
7 Ukumkani wathi: “Yayingumfo oluhlobo luni na lowo nidibene naye waza wathetha loo mazwi kuni?”
8 Abathunywa bathi: “Ibingumfo onomnweba owenziwe ngesikhumba esinoboya, ebhinqe ngethwathwa esinqeni.”Ukumkani wathi: “NguEliya waseTishbhi lowo.”
9 Ngoko ke wathumela apho kuEliya igosa lomkhosi, likunye namadoda alo angamashumi amahlanu. Elo gosa ke laya kuEliya, ehleli encotsheni yenduli, lafika lathi kuye: “Mfo wakwaThixo, ukumkani uthi: ‘Yihla.’ ”
10 UEliya waphendula wathi kwelo gosa lomkhosi: “Ukuba ke ndingumfo wakwaThixo, ngamana kwehla umlilo ezulwini, ukutshise ndawonye nala madoda akho angamashumi amahlanu!” Kwehla umlilo ezulwini, walitshisa elo gosa ndawonye naloo madoda alo angamashumi amahlanu.
11 Kwesi sithuba ke ukumkani waphinda wathumela elinye igosa lomkhosi kwakuEliya, likwahamba namanye amashumi amahlanu amadoda. Elo gosa lafika lathi kuEliya: “Mfo wakwaThixo, ukumkani uthi: ‘Khawuleza uhle.’ ”