1 Reyes 18
Nova Versão de Acesso Livre
1Então, depois de muitos dias, a palavra de Yahweh veio a Elias, no terceiro ano da seca, dizendo: "Vai, apresenta-te a Acabe, e Eu enviarei chuva sobre a terra."
2Elias foi apresentar-se a Acabe; naquela época, a fome era severa em Samaria.
3Acabe chamou Obadias, que estava no comando do palácio. Obadias honrava muito a Yahweh,
4pois, quando Jezabel estava matando os profetas de Yahweh, Obadias pegou cem profetas e os escondeu de cinquenta em cinquenta em cavernas e alimentou-os com pão e água.
5Acabe disse a Obadias: "Vai pela terra a todas as fontes de água e ribeiros, pode ser que acharemos pasto para conservar vivos os cavalos e mulas, e assim não perderemos todos os animais".
6Então eles dividiram a terra entre si para a percorrerem procurando água. Acabe foi por um caminho sozinho, e Obadias foi por outro caminho.
7Enquanto Obadias ia pela estrada, Elias, sem esperar, encontrou-o. Obadias o reconheceu e colocou o rosto em terra, e disse: "És tu o meu senhor Elias?"
8Elias respondeu: "Sou eu. Vai e diz a teu senhor: 'Olha, Elias está aqui'".
9Obadias respondeu: "Em que pequei eu, para entregares o teu servo nas mãos de Acabe, para ele me matar?
10Assim como vive Yahweh, teu Deus, não há nação ou reino que meu senhor não tenha enviado homens para te procurar. Sempre que uma nação ou reino diz: 'Elias não está aqui', Acabe faz com que eles jurem que não te acharam.
11Mas agora tu dizes: 'vai dizer ao teu senhor que Elias está aqui'.
12Assim que eu te deixar, o Espírito de Yahweh te levará para lugares onde eu não sei; e, indo eu dizer isso a Acabe, e ele não podendo te achar, ele me matará. Porém eu, teu servo, tenho adorado Yahweh desde minha juventude.
13Não foi dito a ti, meu mestre, o que eu fiz quando Jezabel matou os profetas de Yahweh, como eu escondi cem profetas de Yahweh divididos entre cinquenta em cinquenta nas cavernas e os alimentei com pão e água?
14E agora tu dizes: 'Vai, fala ao teu senhor que Elias está aqui'. Assim ele me matará."
15Então Elias respondeu: "Tão certo como Yahweh dos Exércitos vive, em cuja presença estou, hoje eu me apresentarei a Acabe".
16Assim Obadias foi se encontrar com Acabe e disse a ele o que Elias lhe dissera. Então o rei foi ao encontro de Elias.
17Quando Acabe viu Elias, disse-lhe: "És tu, o pertubador de Israel?"
18Elias respondeu: "Eu não tenho perturbado Israel, porém tu e a família de teu pai é que são os perturbadores, abandonando os mandamentos de Yahweh e seguindo os ídolos de Baal.
19Agora, ordena e reúne para mim todo Israel no monte Carmelo, junto a quatrocentos e cinquenta profetas de Baal e os quatrocentos profetas de Aserá, que se alimentam da mesa de Jesabel.
20Então Acabe ordenou a todo o povo de Israel e aos profetas que se reunissem no monte Carmelo.
21Elias se aproximou de todo o povo e disse: "Até quando ficareis indecisos entre dois pensamentos? Se Yahweh é Deus, segui-o. Mas, se Baal é deus, então segui-o". E o povo não respondeu a ele palavra alguma.
22Então Elias disse ao povo: "Eu sou o último profeta de Yahweh, mas os profetas de Baal são quatrocentos e cinquenta homens.
23Então deixai que eles tragam dois bois. Deixai que eles escolham um boi para eles e cortem em pedaços e coloquem sobre a lenha, mas não ponham fogo nela. Então eu prepararei o outro boi, colocarei sobre a lenha e não colocarei fogo.
24Então vós clamareis pelo nome de vosso deus e eu clamarei pelo nome de Yahweh, e o deus que responder por meio de fogo, esse é Deus." E todo o povo respondeu: "Está bem".
25Então Elias disse aos profetas de Baal: "Escolhei primeiro um boi para vós e o preparai, pois vós sois muitas pessoas. Então clamai pelo nome de vosso deus, mas não colocai fogo sob o boi".
26Eles pegaram o boi que lhes fora entregue e o prepararam, e clamaram no nome de Baal desde a manhã até ao meio-dia, dizendo: "Baal, responde-nos!" Mas não houve voz, nem ninguém que respondesse; e dançavam em volta do altar que haviam feito.
27Ao meio dia, Elias zombava deles dizendo: "Gritai mais alto! Ele é um deus! Talvez ele esteja pensando, ou atendendo alguma necessidade, ou em viagem, ou talvez esteja dormindo e precisa ser despertado".
28Então eles gritaram mais alto, e, conforme o seu costume, cortaram-se com facas e lancetas, até escorrer sangue sobre si.
29O meio dia se passou, e eles ainda estavam delirantes até o momento do sacrifício da tarde, mas não havia qualquer voz ou alguém que respondesse; não havia quem prestasse atenção aos seus pedidos.
30Então Elias disse a todo o povo: "Chegai-vos a mim", e todo o povo se aproximou dele. E ele reparou o altar de Yahweh, que estava em ruínas.
31Elias pegou doze pedras, cada pedra representando uma das doze tribos dos filhos de Jacó — foi para Jacó que a palavra de Yahweh veio dizendo: "Teu nome será Israel".
32Com as pedras, ele construiu um altar em nome de Yahweh, cavou uma cova em volta do altar, larga o suficiente para semear duas medidas de semente.
33A seguir, ele armou a lenha para o fogo, dividiu o novilho em pedaços, e colocou os pedaços sobre a lenha. Ele disse: "Enchei quatro cântaros de água e despejai sobre o sacrifício e sobre a lenha".
34Então disse: "Façai pela segunda vez", e eles fizeram isto pela segunda vez. Mais uma vez, ele disse: "Façai uma terceira vez", e eles fizeram pela terceira vez.
35A água correu ao redor do altar e encheu a cova.
36Aconteceu que, na hora da oferta do sacrifício da tarde, o profeta Elias se aproximou e disse: "Yahweh, Deus de Abraão, de Isaque e de Israel, manifesta hoje que tu és Deus em Israel, que eu sou Teu servo, e que eu tenho feito todas essas coisas conforme a Tua palavra.
37Responde-me, Yahweh, responde-me, para que esse povo saiba que tu, Yahweh, és Deus e que tu fizeste o coração deles se voltar para Ti".
38Então o fogo de Yahweh caiu e consumiu tanto o sacrifício, quanto a lenha, as pedras, o pó, e até a água que estava na cova.
39Quando todo o povo viu isso, todos se prostraram com o rosto em terra e disseram: "Yahweh, Ele é Deus! Yahweh, Ele é Deus!"
40Elias disse ao povo: "Agarrai os profetas de Baal; não deixai nenhum deles escapar". Então eles os agarraram e Elias trouxe esses profetas para perto do ribeiro de Quison e os matou lá.
41Elias disse à Acabe: "Sobe, come e bebe, pois há som de muita chuva".
42Assim sendo, Acabe subiu para comer e beber; enquanto isso, Elias subiu ao topo do monte Carmelo, inclinou-se na terra, colocou seu rosto entre seus joelhos,
43e disse ao seu servo: "Sobe agora, olha na direção do mar". O seu servo subiu, olhou e disse: "Não há nada". Então Elias disse: "Vai de novo" e assim por sete vezes.
44Na sétima vez, o servo disse: "Olha, há uma nuvem subindo do mar, pequena como a mão de um homem". Elias respondeu: "Sobe e diz a Acabe: 'Prepara a tua carruagem e desce antes que a chuva te pare'".
45Aconteceu que, em pouco tempo, os céus se escureceram com nuvens e vento, e caiu uma forte chuva. Acabe entrou em sua carruagem e foi para Jezreel,
46mas a mão de Yahweh estava sobre Elias. Ele enfiou o manto no seu cinto, depois correu, e ainda chegou antes de Acabe na entrada de Jezreel.
Reina-Valera 1909
1PASADOS muchos días, fué palabra de Jehová á Elías en el tercer año, diciendo: Ve, muéstrate á Achâb, y yo daré lluvia sobre la haz de la tierra.
2Fué pues Elías á mostrarse á Achâb. Había á la sazón grande hambre en Samaria.
3Y Achâb llamó á Abdías su mayordomo, el cual Abdías era en grande manera temeroso de Jehová;
4Porque cuando Jezabel destruía á los profetas de Jehová, Abdías tomó cien profetas, los cuales escondió de cincuenta en cincuenta por cuevas, y sustentólos á pan y agua.
5Y dijo Achâb á Abdías: Ve por el país á todas las fuentes de aguas, y á todos los arroyos; que acaso hallaremos grama con que conservemos la vida á los caballos y á las acémilas, para que no nos quedemos sin bestias.
6Y partieron entre sí el país para recorrerlo: Achâb fué de por sí por un camino, y Abdías fué separadamente por otro.
7Y yendo Abdías por el camino, topóse con Elías; y como le conoció, postróse sobre su rostro, y dijo: ¿No eres tú mi señor Elías?
8Y él respondió: Yo soy; ve, di á tu amo: He aquí Elías.
9Pero él dijo: ¿En qué he pecado, para que tú entregues tu siervo en mano de Achâb para que me mate?
10Vive Jehová tu Dios, que no ha habido nación ni reino donde mi señor no haya enviado á buscarte; y respondiendo ellos, No está aquí, él ha conjurado á reinos y naciones si no te han hallado.
11¿Y ahora tú dices: Ve, di á tu amo: Aquí está Elías?
12Y acontecerá que, luego que yo me haya partido de ti, el espíritu de Jehová te llevará donde yo no sepa; y viniendo yo, y dando las nuevas á Achâb, y no hallándote él, me matará; y tu siervo teme á Jehová desde su mocedad.
13¿No ha sido dicho á mi señor lo que hice, cuando Jezabel mataba á los profetas de Jehová: que escondí cien varones de los profetas de Jehová de cincuenta en cincuenta en cuevas, y los mantuve á pan y agua?
14¿Y ahora dices tú: Ve, di á tu amo: Aquí está Elías: para que él me mate?
15Y díjole Elías: Vive Jehová de los ejércitos, delante del cual estoy, que hoy me mostraré á él.
16Entonces Abdías fué á encontrarse con Achâb, y dióle el aviso; y Achâb vino á encontrarse con Elías.
17Y como Achâb vió á Elías, díjole Achâb: ¿Eres tú el que alborotas á Israel?
18Y él respondió: Yo no he alborotado á Israel, sino tú y la casa de tu padre, dejando los mandamientos de Jehová, y siguiendo á los Baales.
19Envía pues ahora y júntame á todo Israel en el monte de Carmelo, y los cuatrocientos y cincuenta profetas de Baal, y los cuatrocientos profetas de los bosques, que comen de la mesa de Jezabel.
20Entonces Achâb envió á todos los hijos de Israel, y juntó los profetas en el monte de Carmelo.
21Y acercándose Elías á todo el pueblo, dijo: ¿Hasta cuándo claudicaréis vosotros entre dos pensamientos? Si Jehová es Dios, seguidle; y si Baal, id en pos de él. Y el pueblo no respondió palabra.
22Y Elías tornó á decir al pueblo: Sólo yo he quedado profeta de Jehová; mas de los profetas de Baal hay cuatrocientos y cincuenta hombres.
23Dénsenos pues dos bueyes, y escójanse ellos el uno, y córtenlo en pedazos, y pónganlo sobre leña, mas no pongan fuego debajo; y yo aprestaré el otro buey, y pondrélo sobre leña, y ningún fuego pondré debajo.
24Invocad luego vosotros en el nombre de vuestros dioses, y yo invocaré en el nombre de Jehová: y el Dios que respondiere por fuego, ése sea Dios. Y todo el pueblo respondió, diciendo: Bien dicho.
25Entonces Elías dijo á los profetas de Baal: Escogeos el un buey, y haced primero, pues que vosotros sois los más: é invocad en el nombre de vuestros dioses, mas no pongáis fuego debajo.
26Y ellos tomaron el buey que les fué dado, y aprestáronlo, é invocaron en el nombre de Baal desde la mañana hasta el medio día, diciendo: ¡Baal, respóndenos! Mas no había voz, ni quien respondiese; entre tanto, ellos andaban saltando cerca del altar que habían hecho.
27Y aconteció al medio día, que Elías se burlaba de ellos, diciendo: Gritad en alta voz, que dios es: quizá está conversando, ó tiene algún empeño, ó va de camino; acaso duerme, y despertará.
28Y ellos clamaban á grandes voces, y sajábanse con cuchillos y con lancetas conforme á su costumbre, hasta chorrear la sangre sobre ellos.
29Y como pasó el medio día, y ellos profetizaran hasta el tiempo del sacrificio del presente, y no había voz, ni quien respondiese ni escuchase;
30Elías dijo entonces á todo el pueblo: Acercaos á mí. Y todo el pueblo se llegó á él: y él reparó el altar de Jehová que estaba arruinado.
31Y tomando Elías doce piedras, conforme al número de las tribus de los hijos de Jacob, al cual había sido palabra de Jehová, diciendo, Israel será tu nombre;
32Edificó con las piedras un altar en el nombre de Jehová: después hizo una reguera alrededor del altar, cuanto cupieran dos satos de simiente.
33Compuso luego la leña, y cortó el buey en pedazos, y púsolo sobre la leña.
34Y dijo: Henchid cuatro cántaros de agua, y derramadla sobre el holocausto y sobre la leña. Y dijo: Hacedlo otra vez; y otra vez lo hicieron. Dijo aún: Hacedlo la tercera vez; é hiciéronlo la tercera vez.
35De manera que las aguas corrían alrededor del altar; y había también henchido de agua la reguera.
36Y como llegó la hora de ofrecerse el holocausto, llegóse el profeta Elías, y dijo: Jehová Dios de Abraham, de Isaac, y de Israel, sea hoy manifiesto que tú eres Dios en Israel, y que yo soy tu siervo, y que por mandato tuyo he hecho todas estas cosas.
37Respóndeme, Jehová, respóndeme; para que conozca este pueblo que tú, oh Jehová, eres el Dios, y que tú volviste atrás el corazón de ellos.
38Entonces cayó fuego de Jehová, el cual consumió el holocausto, y la leña, y las piedras, y el polvo, y aun lamió las aguas que estaban en la reguera.
39Y viéndolo todo el pueblo, cayeron sobre sus rostros, y dijeron: ¡Jehová es el Dios! ¡Jehová es el Dios!
40Y díjoles Elías: Prended á los profetas de Baal, que no escape ninguno. Y ellos los prendieron; y llevólos Elías al arroyo de Cisón, y allí los degolló.
41Y entonces Elías dijo á Achâb: Sube, come y bebe; porque una grande lluvia suena.
42Y Achâb subió á comer y á beber. Y Elías subió á la cumbre del Carmelo; y postrándose en tierra, puso su rostro entre las rodillas.
43Y dijo á su criado: Sube ahora, y mira hacia la mar. Y él subió, y miró, y dijo: No hay nada. Y él le volvió á decir: Vuelve siete veces.
44Y á la séptima vez dijo: Yo veo una pequeña nube como la palma de la mano de un hombre, que sube de la mar. Y él dijo: Ve, y di á Achâb: Unce y desciende, porque la lluvia no te ataje.
45Y aconteció, estando en esto, que los cielos se oscurecieron con nubes y viento; y hubo una gran lluvia. Y subiendo Achâb, vino á Jezreel.
46Y la mano de Jehová fué sobre Elías, el cual ciñó sus lomos, y vino corriendo delante de Achâb hasta llegar á Jezreel.
King James Version
1And it came to pass after many days, that the word of the LORD came to Elijah in the third year, saying, Go, shew thyself unto Ahab; and I will send rain upon the earth.
2And Elijah went to shew himself unto Ahab. And there was a sore famine in Samaria.
3And Ahab called Obadiah, which was the governor of his house. (Now Obadiah feared the LORD greatly:
4For it was so, when Jezebel cut off the prophets of the LORD, that Obadiah took an hundred prophets, and hid them by fifty in a cave, and fed them with bread and water.)
5And Ahab said unto Obadiah, Go into the land, unto all fountains of water, and unto all brooks: peradventure we may find grass to save the horses and mules alive, that we lose not all the beasts.
6So they divided the land between them to pass throughout it: Ahab went one way by himself, and Obadiah went another way by himself.
7And as Obadiah was in the way, behold, Elijah met him: and he knew him, and fell on his face, and said, Art thou that my lord Elijah?
8And he answered him, I am: go, tell thy lord, Behold, Elijah is here.
9And he said, What have I sinned, that thou wouldest deliver thy servant into the hand of Ahab, to slay me?
10As the LORD thy God liveth, there is no nation or kingdom, whither my lord hath not sent to seek thee: and when they said, He is not there; he took an oath of the kingdom and nation, that they found thee not.
11And now thou sayest, Go, tell thy lord, Behold, Elijah is here.
12And it shall come to pass, as soon as I am gone from thee, that the Spirit of the LORD shall carry thee whither I know not; and so when I come and tell Ahab, and he cannot find thee, he shall slay me: but I thy servant fear the LORD from my youth.
13Was it not told my lord what I did when Jezebel slew the prophets of the LORD, how I hid an hundred men of the LORD’s prophets by fifty in a cave, and fed them with bread and water?
14And now thou sayest, Go, tell thy lord, Behold, Elijah is here: and he shall slay me.
15And Elijah said, As the LORD of hosts liveth, before whom I stand, I will surely shew myself unto him to day.
16So Obadiah went to meet Ahab, and told him: and Ahab went to meet Elijah.
17And it came to pass, when Ahab saw Elijah, that Ahab said unto him, Art thou he that troubleth Israel?
18And he answered, I have not troubled Israel; but thou, and thy father’s house, in that ye have forsaken the commandments of the LORD, and thou hast followed Baalim.
19Now therefore send, and gather to me all Israel unto mount Carmel, and the prophets of Baal four hundred and fifty, and the prophets of the groves four hundred, which eat at Jezebel’s table.
20So Ahab sent unto all the children of Israel, and gathered the prophets together unto mount Carmel.
21And Elijah came unto all the people, and said, How long halt ye between two opinions? if the LORD be God, follow him: but if Baal, then follow him. And the people answered him not a word.
22Then said Elijah unto the people, I, even I only, remain a prophet of the LORD; but Baal’s prophets are four hundred and fifty men.
23Let them therefore give us two bullocks; and let them choose one bullock for themselves, and cut it in pieces, and lay it on wood, and put no fire under: and I will dress the other bullock, and lay it on wood, and put no fire under:
24And call ye on the name of your gods, and I will call on the name of the LORD: and the God that answereth by fire, let him be God. And all the people answered and said, It is well spoken.
25And Elijah said unto the prophets of Baal, Choose you one bullock for yourselves, and dress it first; for ye are many; and call on the name of your gods, but put no fire under.
26And they took the bullock which was given them, and they dressed it, and called on the name of Baal from morning even until noon, saying, O Baal, hear us. But there was no voice, nor any that answered. And they leaped upon the altar which was made.
27And it came to pass at noon, that Elijah mocked them, and said, Cry aloud: for he is a god; either he is talking, or he is pursuing, or he is in a journey, or peradventure he sleepeth, and must be awaked.
28And they cried aloud, and cut themselves after their manner with knives and lancets, till the blood gushed out upon them.
29And it came to pass, when midday was past, and they prophesied until the time of the offering of the evening sacrifice, that there was neither voice, nor any to answer, nor any that regarded.
30And Elijah said unto all the people, Come near unto me. And all the people came near unto him. And he repaired the altar of the LORD that was broken down.
31And Elijah took twelve stones, according to the number of the tribes of the sons of Jacob, unto whom the word of the LORD came, saying, Israel shall be thy name:
32And 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.
33And he put the wood in order, and cut the bullock in pieces, and laid him on the wood, and said, Fill four barrels with water, and pour it on the burnt sacrifice, and on the wood.
34And he said, Do it the second time. And they did it the second time. And he said, Do it the third time. And they did it the third time.
35And the water ran round about the altar; and he filled the trench also with water.
36And it came to pass at the time of the offering of the evening sacrifice, that Elijah the prophet came near, and said, LORD God of Abraham, Isaac, and of 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.
37Hear me, O LORD, hear me, that this people may know that thou art the LORD God, and that thou hast turned their heart back again.
38Then the fire of the LORD fell, and consumed the burnt sacrifice, and the wood, and the stones, and the dust, and licked up the water that was in the trench.
39And when all the people saw it, they fell on their faces: and they said, The LORD, he is the God; the LORD, he is the God.
40And Elijah said unto them, Take the prophets of Baal; let not one of them escape. And they took them: and Elijah brought them down to the brook Kishon, and slew them there.
41And Elijah said unto Ahab, Get thee up, eat and drink; for there is a sound of abundance of rain.
42So Ahab went up to eat and to drink. And Elijah went up to the top of Carmel; and he cast himself down upon the earth, and put his face between his knees,
43And 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.
44And it came to pass at the seventh time, that he said, Behold, there ariseth a little cloud out of the sea, like a man’s hand. And he said, Go up, say unto Ahab, Prepare thy chariot, and get thee down, that the rain stop thee not.
45And it came to pass in the mean while, that the heaven was black with clouds and wind, and there was a great rain. And Ahab rode, and went to Jezreel.
46And the hand of the LORD was on Elijah; and he girded up his loins, and ran before Ahab to the entrance of Jezreel.
World English Bible
1After many days, the LORD’s word came to Elijah, in the third year, saying, “Go, show yourself to Ahab; and I will send rain on the earth.”
2Elijah went to show himself to Ahab. The famine was severe in Samaria.
3Ahab called Obadiah, who was over the household. (Now Obadiah feared the LORD greatly;
4for when Jezebel cut off the LORD’s prophets, Obadiah took one hundred prophets, and hid them fifty to a cave, and fed them with bread and water.)
5Ahab said to Obadiah, “Go through the land, to all the springs of water, and to all the brooks. Perhaps we may find grass and save the horses and mules alive, that we not lose all the animals.”
6So they divided the land between them to pass throughout it. Ahab went one way by himself, and Obadiah went another way by himself.
7As Obadiah was on the way, behold, Elijah met him. He recognized him, and fell on his face, and said, “Is it you, my lord Elijah?”
8He answered him, “It is I. Go, tell your lord, ‘Behold, Elijah is here!’”
9He said, “How have I sinned, that you would deliver your servant into the hand of Ahab, to kill me?
10As the LORD your God lives, there is no nation or kingdom where my lord has not sent to seek you. When they said, ‘He is not here,’ he took an oath of the kingdom and nation that they didn’t find you.
11Now you say, ‘Go, tell your lord, “Behold, Elijah is here.”’
12It will happen, as soon as I leave you, that the LORD’s Spirit will carry you I don’t know where; and so when I come and tell Ahab, and he can’t find you, he will kill me. But I, your servant, have feared the LORD from my youth.
13Wasn’t it told my lord what I did when Jezebel killed the LORD’s prophets, how I hid one hundred men of the LORD’s prophets with fifty to a cave, and fed them with bread and water?
14Now you say, ‘Go, tell your lord, “Behold, Elijah is here”.’ He will kill me.”
15Elijah said, “As the LORD of Armies lives, before whom I stand, I will surely show myself to him today.”
16So Obadiah went to meet Ahab, and told him; and Ahab went to meet Elijah.
17When Ahab saw Elijah, Ahab said to him, “Is that you, you troubler of Israel?”
18He answered, “I have not troubled Israel, but you and your father’s house, in that you have forsaken the LORD’s commandments and you have followed the Baals.
19Now therefore send, and gather to me all Israel to Mount Carmel, and four hundred fifty of the prophets of Baal, and four hundred of the prophets of the Asherah, who eat at Jezebel’s table.”
20So Ahab sent to all the children of Israel, and gathered the prophets together to Mount Carmel.
21Elijah came near to all the people, and said, “How long will you waver between the two sides? If the LORD is God, follow him; but if Baal, then follow him.” The people didn’t say a word.
22Then Elijah said to the people, “I, even I only, am left as a prophet of the LORD; but Baal’s prophets are four hundred fifty men.
23Let them therefore give us two bulls; and let them choose one bull for themselves, and cut it in pieces, and lay it on the wood, and put no fire under; and I will dress the other bull, and lay it on the wood, and put no fire under it.
24You call on the name of your god, and I will call on the LORD’s name. The God who answers by fire, let him be God.” All the people answered, “What you say is good.”
25Elijah said to the prophets of Baal, “Choose one bull for yourselves, and dress it first, for you are many; and call on the name of your god, but put no fire under it.”
26They took the bull which was given them, and they dressed it, and called on the name of Baal from morning even until noon, saying, “Baal, hear us!” But there was no voice, and nobody answered. They leaped about the altar which was made.
27At noon, Elijah mocked them, and said, “Cry aloud, for he is a god. Either he is deep in thought, or he has gone somewhere, or he is on a journey, or perhaps he sleeps and must be awakened.”
28They cried aloud, and cut themselves in their way with knives and lances until the blood gushed out on them.
29When midday was past, they prophesied until the time of the evening offering; but there was no voice, no answer, and nobody paid attention.
30Elijah said to all the people, “Come near to me!”; and all the people came near to him. He repaired the LORD’s altar that had been thrown down.
31Elijah took twelve stones, according to the number of the tribes of the sons of Jacob, to whom the LORD’s word came, saying, “Israel shall be your name.”
32With the stones he built an altar in the LORD’s name. He made a trench around the altar large enough to contain two seahs of seed.
33He put the wood in order, and cut the bull in pieces and laid it on the wood. He said, “Fill four jars with water, and pour it on the burnt offering and on the wood.”
34He said, “Do it a second time;” and they did it the second time. He said, “Do it a third time;” and they did it the third time.
35The water ran around the altar; and he also filled the trench with water.
36At the time of the evening offering, Elijah the prophet came near and said, “LORD, the God of Abraham, of Isaac, and of Israel, let it be known today that you are God in Israel and that I am your servant, and that I have done all these things at your word.
37Hear me, LORD, hear me, that this people may know that you, LORD, are God, and that you have turned their heart back again.”
38Then the LORD’s fire fell and consumed the burnt offering, the wood, the stones, and the dust; and it licked up the water that was in the trench.
39When all the people saw it, they fell on their faces. They said, “The LORD, he is God! The LORD, he is God!”
40Elijah said to them, “Seize the prophets of Baal! Don’t let one of them escape!” They seized them; and Elijah brought them down to the brook Kishon, and killed them there.
41Elijah said to Ahab, “Get up, eat and drink; for there is the sound of abundance of rain.”
42So Ahab went up to eat and to drink. Elijah went up to the top of Carmel; and he bowed himself down on the earth, and put his face between his knees.
43He said to his servant, “Go up now and look toward the sea.” He went up and looked, then said, “There is nothing.” He said, “Go again” seven times.
44On the seventh time, he said, “Behold, a small cloud, like a man’s hand, is rising out of the sea.” He said, “Go up, tell Ahab, ‘Get ready and go down, so that the rain doesn’t stop you.’”
45In a little while, the sky grew black with clouds and wind, and there was a great rain. Ahab rode, and went to Jezreel.
46The LORD’s hand was on Elijah; and he tucked his cloak into his belt and ran before Ahab to the entrance of Jezreel.