5 Izithunywa zabuyela kuye; wathi kuzo: “Nibuyeleni na?”
6 Zathi kuye: “Kwakhuphuka umuntu ukuba asihlangabeze, wathi kithi: ‘Hambani, nibuyele enkosini enithumileyo, nithi kuyo: “Usho kanje uJehova, uthi: Kungokuba kungekho Nkulunkulu kwa-Israyeli ukuba uthume ukubuza kuBali Zebubi unkulunkulu wase-Ekroni na? Ngalokho umbhede okhuphukele kuwo awuyikwehlika kuwo, kepha uyakufa nokufa.” ’ ”
7 Wathi kuzo: “Bekungumuntu onjani owakhuphuka ukunihlangabeza, wanitshela lawo mazwi na?”
8 Zathi kuye: “Umuntu wayenengubo yoboya, ebhince ibhande* lesikhumba okhalweni lwakhe.”Wathi: “Bekungu-Eliya waseThishibi.”
9 Wayesethuma kuye induna yamashumi ayisihlanu inamashumi ayisihlanu ayo. Yakhuphukela kuye; bheka, wayehlezi esiqongweni sentaba. Yakhuluma kuye, yathi: “We muntu kaNkulunkulu, inkosi ishilo ukuthi: ‘Yehla.’ ”
10 U-Eliya waphendula, wathi enduneni yamashumi ayisihlanu: “Uma ngingumuntu kaNkulunkulu, makwehle umlilo ezulwini, ukuqede wena namashumi ayisihlanu akho.” Wehla-ke umlilo ezulwini, wayiqeda yona namashumi ayisihlanu ayo.
11 Wabuye wathuma kuye enye induna yamashumi ayisihlanu inamashumi ayisihlanu ayo. Yathatha yathi kuye: “We muntu kaNkulunkulu, isho kanje inkosi, ithi: ‘Shesha wehle.’ ”