1 Kings 18

And 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.

After a long time, God's voice reached Elijah in the third year. He said, "Elijah, it's time to face Ahab. I'm ready to bless the earth with rain."

And Elijah went to shew himself unto Ahab. And there was a sore famine in Samaria.

So Elijah bravely went to present himself to Ahab. Samaria was gripped by a severe famine, its people suffering deeply.

And Ahab called Obadiah, which was the governor of his house. (Now Obadiah feared the LORD greatly:

Ahab summoned Obadiah, his trusted steward. Obadiah, a man of deep reverence and fear for the Lord, answered his call.

For 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.)

When Jezebel was ruthlessly killing God's prophets, Obadiah bravely saved a hundred of them. He hid them in caves, in groups of fifty, and lovingly provided them with bread and water.

And 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.

Ahab pleaded with Obadiah, "Search every spring and stream in the land. Maybe we'll find some grass to keep our horses and mules alive, so we don't lose all our animals."

So they divided the land between them to pass throughout it: Ahab went one way by himself, and Obadiah went another way by himself.

They split the land, each to explore on their own: Ahab journeyed alone in one direction, while Obadiah ventured solo in another.

And 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?

While on his journey, Obadiah unexpectedly encountered Elijah. Recognizing him instantly, he was overcome with awe and respect, and fell to his knees, asking in disbelief, "Are you really my lord, Elijah?"

And he answered him, I am: go, tell thy lord, Behold, Elijah is here.

He replied confidently, "Yes, it's me. Now go, inform your master, Elijah has arrived."

And he said, What have I sinned, that thou wouldest deliver thy servant into the hand of Ahab, to slay me?

He asked, "What wrong have I done to deserve being handed over to Ahab, to be killed?"

As 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.

In the eyes of the living God, there isn't a single place where you haven't been sought. And when they claimed you weren't there, they swore, both kingdom and nation, that they couldn't find you.

And now thou sayest, Go, tell thy lord, Behold, Elijah is here.

Now you're telling me, "Go, inform your master, Elijah has arrived."

And 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.

Once I leave you, God's Spirit will guide you to a place unknown to me. When I return to inform Ahab and he can't find you, he will kill me. But remember, I've been a faithful servant of God since my youth.

Was 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?

Didn't you hear, my lord, about my act of courage when Jezebel was killing God's prophets? I secretly sheltered a hundred of them, fifty in each cave, and kept them alive with bread and water.

And now thou sayest, Go, tell thy lord, Behold, Elijah is here: and he shall slay me.

Now you're telling me to inform your master, "Elijah has arrived," and I fear he will kill me.

And Elijah said, As the LORD of hosts liveth, before whom I stand, I will surely shew myself unto him to day.

Elijah declared passionately, "By the living God I serve, I promise to reveal myself to him today."

So Obadiah went to meet Ahab, and told him: and Ahab went to meet Elijah.

So Obadiah went to Ahab and relayed the message, and Ahab set out to meet Elijah.

And it came to pass, when Ahab saw Elijah, that Ahab said unto him, Art thou he that troubleth Israel?

When Ahab finally laid eyes on Elijah, he couldn't help but accuse him, "Are you the one causing all this trouble for Israel?"

And 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.

He replied, "I'm not the one causing problems; it's you and your family. You've abandoned God's laws and chosen to follow false idols."

Now 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.

Call upon all of Israel to join me at Mount Carmel, along with the 450 prophets of Baal and the 400 prophets of the goddess Asherah who dine with Jezebel.

So Ahab sent unto all the children of Israel, and gathered the prophets together unto mount Carmel.

Ahab passionately summoned all of Israel's children and assembled the prophets on Mount Carmel.

And 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.

Elijah approached the crowd, his voice filled with frustration, "Why are you torn between two beliefs? If you believe in the LORD, then devote yourselves to Him. If it's Baal, then follow him." The crowd remained silent, offering no response.

Then 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.

Elijah spoke to the people, "I am the only prophet left serving the Lord, while Baal has a legion of four hundred and fifty prophets."

Let 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:

So, let them provide us with two bulls. They can pick one, cut it up, and place it on the wood, but not set it on fire. I'll prepare the other bull, place it on the wood, but also not ignite it.

And 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.

Plead to your gods, while I'll pray to the LORD. The God who responds with fire, let Him be the true God. The crowd agreed, saying, "That sounds fair."

And 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.

Elijah challenged Baal's prophets, "Pick a bull and prepare it. You're many, after all. Pray to your gods, but don't light a fire."

And 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.

They received the bull and prepared it, pleading to Baal from dawn till noon, "Baal, listen to us." But there was only silence, no response. Frustrated, they jumped on the altar they had built.

And 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.

Around midday, Elijah couldn't help but tease them, saying, "Go on, shout louder! Maybe your god is busy chatting, or perhaps he's out on a trip. Or maybe he's just taking a nap and needs to be woken up."

And they cried aloud, and cut themselves after their manner with knives and lancets, till the blood gushed out upon them.

They shouted louder and, as was their custom, cut themselves with knives and spears until their own blood gushed over them.

And 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.

As the day wore on, they kept prophesying until the evening sacrifice, but there was no response, no one paid attention or even acknowledged them.

And 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.

Elijah called out to everyone, "Come closer to me." Everyone moved closer to him. Then, he lovingly restored the Lord's altar that had been neglected and damaged.

And 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:

Elijah, filled with divine purpose, gathered twelve stones, each symbolizing the tribes descended from Jacob. God had spoken to Jacob, declaring, "You shall be known as Israel."

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.

With heartfelt devotion, he constructed a sacred altar from stones, honoring God's name. Around it, he dug a trench, large enough to hold two measures of seed.

And 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.

He carefully arranged the wood, then tenderly sliced the bullock into pieces, placing them atop the wood. He then instructed, "Fill four barrels with water and douse both the sacrifice and the wood."

And 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.

He urged, "Repeat it." So, they did. Again, he insisted, "Once more." And they complied.

And the water ran round about the altar; and he filled the trench also with water.

The water flowed all around the altar, and he also filled the ditch with water, creating a sense of awe and reverence.

And 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.

As the evening sacrifice was being offered, Elijah, the prophet, stepped forward. With a heartfelt plea, he said, "O Lord, the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, let it be clear today that you are God in Israel. I am your humble servant, following your commands faithfully."

Hear 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.

Listen to me, O LORD, let your voice echo so that everyone realizes that you are the one true God, and you have guided their hearts back to righteousness.

Then 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.

Then, with a mighty roar, God's fire descended, devouring the offering, the wood, the stones, even the dust. It lapped up every drop of water in the trench, leaving nothing but awe behind.

And 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.

Upon witnessing the miracle, everyone was overcome with awe, falling to their knees. They cried out in unison, "Indeed, He is our God, our one true God!"

And 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.

Elijah commanded, "Capture Baal's prophets; don't let a single one slip away." They obeyed, and Elijah led them to the Kishon brook, where he ended their lives.

And Elijah said unto Ahab, Get thee up, eat and drink; for there is a sound of abundance of rain.

Elijah told Ahab, "Cheer up, feast and rejoice; I hear the promising sound of plentiful rain."

So 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,

So Ahab went up to eat and drink. Meanwhile, Elijah climbed to the top of Carmel. He bowed down to the ground and put his face between his knees.

And 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.

He instructed his servant, "Climb up, gaze at the sea." The servant did as told, but saw nothing. "Try again, seven more times," he urged with patience.

And 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.

On the seventh time, he noticed a small cloud rising from the sea, as tiny as a man's hand. He instructed, "Tell Ahab to ready his chariot. He must leave before the rain hinders him."

And 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.

Suddenly, the sky turned dark, filled with menacing clouds and fierce winds, and a heavy rain began to fall. Amidst this, Ahab rode off in his chariot towards Jezreel.

And the hand of the LORD was on Elijah; and he girded up his loins, and ran before Ahab to the entrance of Jezreel.

God's empowering presence enveloped Elijah, filling him with strength. Bracing himself, he sprinted ahead of Ahab, leading the way to Jezreel's gates.