1 Kings 18:15-32
New American Standard Bible
Chapter 18
15Then Elijah said, 'As surely as the Lord of armies lives, before whom I stand, I will certainly present myself to him today.' 16So Obadiah went to meet Ahab and informed him; then Ahab went to meet Elijah.
17When Ahab saw Elijah, Ahab said to him, 'Is this you, the cause of disaster to Israel?'
18He said, 'I have not brought disaster to Israel, but you and your father’s house have, because you have abandoned the commandments of the Lord and you have followed the Baals.
19Now then, send orders and gather to me all Israel at Mount Carmel, together with 450 prophets of Baal and four hundred prophets of the Asherah, who eat at Jezebel’s table.'
20So Ahab sent orders among all the sons of Israel and brought the prophets together at Mount Carmel.
21Then Elijah approached all the people and said, 'How long are you going to struggle with the two choices? If the Lord is God, follow Him; but if Baal, follow him.' But the people did not answer him so much as a word.
22Then Elijah said to the people, 'I alone am left as a prophet of the Lord, while Baal’s prophets are 450 men.
23Now have them give us two oxen; and have them choose the one ox for themselves and cut it up, and place it on the wood, but put no fire under it; and I will prepare the other ox and lay it on the wood, and I will not put a fire under it.
24Then 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 replied, 'That is a good idea.'
25So Elijah said to the prophets of Baal, 'Choose the one ox for yourselves and prepare it first, since there are many of you, and call on the name of your god, but put no fire under the ox.'
26Then they took the ox which was given them and they prepared it, and they called on the name of Baal from morning until noon, saying, 'O Baal, answer us!' But there was no voice and no one answered. And they limped about the altar which they had made.
27And at noon Elijah ridiculed them and said, 'Call out with a loud voice, since he is a god; undoubtedly he is attending to business, or is on the way, or is on a journey. Perhaps he is asleep, and will awaken.'
28So they cried out with a loud voice, and cut themselves according to their custom with swords and lances until blood gushed out on them.
29When midday was past, they raved until the time of the offering of the evening sacrifice; but there was no voice, no one answered, and no one paid attention.
30Then Elijah said to all the people, 'Come forward to me.' So all the people came forward to him. And he repaired the altar of the Lord which had been torn down.
31Then Elijah took twelve stones, corresponding to the number of the tribes of the sons of Jacob, to whom the word of the Lord had come, saying, 'Israel shall be your name.'
32And with the stones he built an altar in the name of the Lord; and he made a trench around the altar, large enough to hold two measures of seed.
King James Version
Chapter 18
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.
Christian Standard Bible
16Obadiah went to meet Ahab and told him. Then Ahab went to meet Elijah.
17When Ahab saw Elijah, Ahab said to him, "Is that you, the one ruining Israel?"
18He replied, "I have not ruined Israel, but you and your father’s family have, because you have abandoned the Lord’s commands and followed the Baals.
19Now summon all Israel to meet me at Mount Carmel, along with the 450 prophets of Baal and the 400 prophets of Asherah who eat at Jezebel’s table."
20So Ahab summoned all the Israelites and gathered the prophets at Mount Carmel.
21Then Elijah approached all the people and said, "How long will you waver between two opinions? If the Lord is God, follow him. But if Baal, follow him." But the people didn’t answer him a word.
22Then Elijah said to the people, "I am the only remaining prophet of the Lord, but Baal’s prophets are 450 men.
23Let two bulls be given to us. They are to choose one bull for themselves, cut it in pieces, and place it on the wood but not light the fire. I will prepare the other bull and place it on the wood but not light the fire.
27At noon Elijah mocked them. He said, "Shout loudly, for he’s a god! Maybe he’s thinking it over; maybe he has wandered away; or maybe he’s on the road. Perhaps he’s sleeping and will wake up!"
28They shouted loudly, and cut themselves with knives and spears, according to their custom, until blood gushed over them.
29All afternoon they kept on raving until the offering of the evening sacrifice, but there was no sound; no one answered, no one paid attention.
30Then Elijah said to all the people, "Come near me." So all the people approached him. Then he repaired the Lord’s altar that had been torn down:
31Elijah took twelve stones—according to the number of the tribes of the sons of Jacob, to whom the word of the Lord had come, saying, "Israel will be your name" —
32and he built an altar with the stones in the name of the Lord. Then he made a trench around the altar large enough to hold about four gallons.
New Living Translation
16So Obadiah went to tell Ahab that Elijah had come, and Ahab went out to meet Elijah.
17When Ahab saw him, he exclaimed, 'So, is it really you, you troublemaker of Israel?'
18I have made no trouble for Israel,' Elijah replied. 'You and your family are the troublemakers, for you have refused to obey the commands of the Lord and have worshiped the images of Baal instead.
19Now summon all Israel to join me at Mount Carmel, along with the 450 prophets of Baal and the 400 prophets of Asherah who are supported by Jezebel. '
20So Ahab summoned all the people of Israel and the prophets to Mount Carmel.
21Then Elijah stood in front of them and said, 'How much longer will you waver, hobbling between two opinions? If the Lord is God, follow him! But if Baal is God, then follow him!' But the people were completely silent.
22Then Elijah said to them, 'I am the only prophet of the Lord who is left, but Baal has 450 prophets.
23Now bring two bulls. The prophets of Baal may choose whichever one they wish and cut it into pieces and lay it on the wood of their altar, but without setting fire to it. I will prepare the other bull and lay it on the wood on the altar, but not set fire to it.
24Then call on the name of your god, and I will call on the name of the Lord. The god who answers by setting fire to the wood is the true God!' And all the people agreed.
28So they shouted louder, and following their normal custom, they cut themselves with knives and swords until the blood gushed out.
29They raved all afternoon until the time of the evening sacrifice, but still there was no sound, no reply, no response.
30Then Elijah called to the people, 'Come over here!' They all crowded around him as he repaired the altar of the Lord that had been torn down.
31He took twelve stones, one to represent each of the tribes of Israel,
32and he used the stones to rebuild the altar in the name of the Lord. Then he dug a trench around the altar large enough to hold about three gallons.
English Standard Version
Chapter 18
15And Elijah said, "As the Lord of hosts 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 it you, you troubler of Israel?"
18And he answered, "I have not troubled Israel, but you have, and your father 's house, because you have abandoned the commandments of the Lord and followed the Baals.
19Now therefore send and gather all Israel to me at Mount Carmel, and the 450 prophets of Baal and the 400 prophets of Asherah, who eat at Jezebel 's table."
20So Ahab sent to all the people of Israel and gathered the prophets together at Mount Carmel.
21And Elijah came near to all the people and said, "How long will you go limping between two different opinions? If the Lord is God, follow him; but if Baal, then follow him." And the people did not answer him a word.
22Then Elijah said to the people, "I, even I only, am left a prophet of the Lord, but Baal 's prophets are 450 men.
23Let 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.
24And you call upon the name of your god, and I will call upon the name of the Lord, and the God who answers by fire, he is God." And all the people answered, "It is well spoken."
25Then Elijah said to the prophets of Baal, "Choose for yourselves one bull and prepare it first, for you are many, and call upon the name of your god, but put no fire to it."
26And they took the bull that was given them, and they prepared it and called upon the name of Baal from morning until noon, saying, "O Baal, answer us!" But there was no voice, and no one answered. And they limped around the altar that they had made.
27And at noon Elijah mocked them, saying, "Cry aloud, for he is a god. Either he is musing, or he is relieving himself, or he is on a journey, or perhaps he is asleep and must be awakened."
28And they cried aloud and cut themselves after their custom with swords and lances, until the blood gushed out upon them.
29And 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 paid attention.
30Then Elijah 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.
31Elijah 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,"
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 seahs of seed.
New International Version
16So Obadiah went to meet Ahab and told him, and Ahab went to meet Elijah.
17When he saw Elijah, he said to him, "Is that you, you troubler of Israel?"
18"I have not made trouble for Israel," Elijah replied. "But you and your father’s family have. You have abandoned the Lord’s commands and have followed the Baals.
19Now summon the people from all over Israel to meet me on Mount Carmel. And bring the four hundred and fifty prophets of Baal and the four hundred prophets of Asherah, who eat at Jezebel’s table."
22Then Elijah said to them, "I am the only one of the Lord’s prophets left, but Baal has four hundred and fifty prophets.
23Get two bulls for us. Let Baal’s prophets choose one for themselves, and let them cut it into pieces and put it on the wood but not set fire to it. I will prepare the other bull and put it on the wood but not set fire to it.
27At noon Elijah began to taunt them. "Shout louder!" he said. "Surely he is a god! Perhaps he is deep in thought, or busy, or traveling. Maybe he is sleeping and must be awakened."
28So they shouted louder and slashed themselves with swords and spears, as was their custom, until their blood flowed.
29Midday passed, and they continued their frantic prophesying until the time for the evening sacrifice. But there was no response, no one answered, no one paid attention.
30Then Elijah said to all the people, "Come here to me." They came to him, and he repaired the altar of the Lord, which had been torn down.
31Elijah took twelve stones, one for each of the tribes descended from Jacob, to whom the word of the Lord had come, saying, "Your name shall be Israel."
32With the stones he built an altar in the name of the Lord, and he dug a trench around it large enough to hold two seahs of seed.
New King James Version
18And he answered, “I have not troubled Israel, but you and your father’s house have, in that you have forsaken the commandments of the Lord and have followed the Baals.
19Now therefore, send and gather all Israel to me on Mount Carmel, the four hundred and fifty prophets of Baal, and the four hundred prophets of Asherah, who eat at Jezebel’s table.”
20So Ahab sent for all the children of Israel, and gathered the prophets together on Mount Carmel.
21And Elijah came to all the people, and said, “How long will you falter between two opinions? If the Lord is God, follow Him; but if Baal, follow him.” But the people answered him not a word.
22Then Elijah said to the people, “I alone am left a prophet of the Lord; but Baal’s prophets are four hundred and fifty men.
23Therefore let them give us two bulls; and let them choose one bull for themselves, cut it in pieces, and lay it on the wood, but put no fire under it; and I will prepare the other bull, and lay it on the wood, but put no fire under it.
27And so it was, at noon, that Elijah mocked them and said, “Cry aloud, for he is a god; either he is meditating, or he is busy, or he is on a journey, or perhaps he is sleeping and must be awakened.”
28So they cried aloud, and cut themselves, as was their custom, with knives and lances, until the blood gushed out on them.
29And when midday was past, they prophesied until the time of the offering of the evening sacrifice. But there was no voice; no one answered, no one paid attention.
30Then Elijah said to all the people, “Come near to me.” So all the people came near to 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, to whom the word of the Lord had come, saying, “Israel shall be your name.”
32Then with the stones he built an altar in the name of the Lord; and he made a trench around the altar large enough to hold two seahs of seed.
