Elijah’s Message to Ahab

¹After a long time, in the third year of the drought,the word of the LORD came to Elijah: “Go and present yourself to Ahab, and I will send rain upon the face of the earth.”

²So Elijah went to present himself to Ahab. The famine was severe in Samaria,

³and Ahab summoned Obadiah, who was in charge of the palace.(Now Obadiah greatly feared the LORD,

⁴for when Jezebel had slaughtered the prophets of the LORD, Obadiah had taken a hundred prophets and hidden them, fifty men per cave, providing them with food and water.)

⁵Then Ahab said to Obadiah, “Go throughout the land to every spring and every valley. Perhaps we will find grass to keep the horses and mules alive so that we will not have to destroy any livestock.”

⁶So they divided the land to explore. Ahab went one way by himself, and Obadiah went the other way by himself.

⁷Now as Obadiah went on his way, Elijah suddenly met him. When Obadiah recognized him, he fell facedown and said, “Is it you, my lord Elijah?”

⁸“It is I,” he answered. “Go tell your master, ‘Elijah is here!’”

⁹But Obadiah replied, “How have I sinned, that you are handing your servant over to Ahab to put me to death?

¹⁰As surely as the LORD your God lives, there is no nation or kingdom where my lord has not sent someone to search for you. When they said, ‘He is not here,’ he made that kingdom or nation swear that they had not found you.

¹¹And now you say, ‘Go tell your master that Elijah is here!’

¹²I do not know where the Spirit of the LORD may carry you off when I leave you. Then when I go and tell Ahab and he does not find you, he will kill me. But I, your servant, have feared the LORD from my youth.

¹³Was it not reported to my lord what I did when Jezebel slaughtered the prophets of the LORD? I hid a hundred prophets of the LORD, fifty men per cave, and I provided them with food and water.

¹⁴And now you say, ‘Go tell your lord that Elijah is here!’ He will kill me!”

¹⁵Then Elijah said, “As surely as the LORD of Hosts lives, before whom I stand, I will present myself to Ahab today.”

Elijah on Mount Carmel

¹⁶So Obadiah went to inform Ahab, who went to meet Elijah.

¹⁷When Ahab saw Elijah, he said to him, “Is that you, O troubler of Israel?”

¹⁸“I have not troubled Israel,” Elijah replied, “but you and your father’s house have, for you have forsaken the commandments of the LORD and have followed the Baals.

¹⁹Now summon all Israel to meet me on Mount Carmel, along with the four hundred and fifty prophets of Baal and the four hundred prophets of Asherah who eat at Jezebel’s table.”

²⁰So Ahab summoned all the Israelites and assembled the prophets on 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 is God, follow him.”But the people did not answer a word.

²²Then Elijah said to the people, “I am the only remaining prophet of the LORD, but Baal has four hundred and fifty prophets.

²³Get two bulls for us. Let the prophets of Baal choose one bull for themselves, cut it into pieces, and place it on the wood but not light the fire. And I will prepare the other bull and place it on the wood but not light the fire.

²⁴Then you may call on the name of your god, and I will call on the name of the LORD. The God who answers by fire, He is God.”And all the people answered, “What you say is good.”

²⁵Then Elijah said to the prophets of Baal, “Since you are so numerous, choose for yourselves one bull and prepare it first. Then call on the name of your god, but do not light the fire.”

²⁶And they took the bull that was given them, prepared it, and called on the name of Baal from morning until noon, shouting, “O Baal, answer us!”But there was no sound, and no one answered as they leaped around the altar they had made.

²⁷At noon Elijah began to taunt them, saying, “Shout louder, for he is a god! Perhaps he is deep in thought, or occupied, or on a journey. Perhaps he is sleeping and must be awakened!”

²⁸So they shouted louder and cut themselves with knives and lances, as was their custom, until the blood gushed over them.

²⁹Midday passed, and they kept on raving until the time of the evening sacrifice. But there was no response; no one answered, no one paid attention.

³⁰Then Elijah said to all the people, “Come near to me.” So all the people approached him, and he repaired the altar of the LORD that had been torn down.

³¹And Elijah took twelve stones, one for each tribe of the sons of Jacob, to whom the word of the LORD had come and said, “Israel shall be your name.”

³²And with the stones, Elijah built an altar in the name of the LORD. Then he dug a trench around the altar large enough to hold two seahs of seed.

³³Next, he arranged the wood, cut up the bull, placed it on the wood,

³⁴and said, “Fill four waterpots and pour the water on the offering and on the wood.”“Do it a second time,” he said, and they did it a second time.“Do it a third time,” he said, and they did it a third time.

³⁵So the water ran down around the altar and even filled the trench.

Elijah’s Prayer

³⁶At the time of the evening sacrifice, Elijah the prophet approached the altar and said, “O LORD, God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, let it be known this day that You are God in Israel and that I am Your servant and have done all these things at Your command.

³⁷Answer me, O LORD! Answer me, so that this people will know that You, the LORD, are God, and that You have turned their hearts back again.”

³⁸Then the fire of the LORD fell and consumed the sacrifice, the wood, the stones, and the dust, and it licked up the water in the trench.

³⁹When all the people saw this, they fell facedown and said, “The LORD, He is God! The LORD, He is God!”

⁴⁰Then Elijah ordered them, “Seize the prophets of Baal! Do not let a single one escape.” So they seized them, and Elijah brought them down to the Kishon Valley and slaughtered them there.

The LORD Sends Rain

⁴¹And Elijah said to Ahab, “Go up, eat and drink, for there is the sound of a heavy rain.”

⁴²So Ahab went up to eat and drink. But Elijah climbed to the summit of Carmel, bent down on the ground, and put his face between his knees.

⁴³“Go and look toward the sea,” he said to his servant.So the servant went and looked, and he said, “There is nothing there.”Seven times Elijah said, “Go back.”

⁴⁴On the seventh time the servant reported, “There is a cloud as small as a man’s hand rising from the sea.”And Elijah replied, “Go and tell Ahab, ‘Prepare your chariot and go down before the rain stops you.’”

⁴⁵Meanwhile, the sky grew dark with clouds and wind, and a heavy rain began to fall. So Ahab rode away and went to Jezreel.

⁴⁶And the hand of the LORD came upon Elijah, and he tucked his cloak into his beltand ran ahead of Ahab all the way to Jezreel.

Babylon’s Idols

¹Bel crouches; Nebo cowers.Their idols weigh down beasts and cattle.The images you carry are burdensome,a load to the weary animal.

²The gods cower; they crouch together,unable to relieve the burden;but they themselves go into captivity.

³“Listen to Me, O house of Jacob,all the remnant of the house of Israel,who have been sustained from the womb,carried along since birth.

⁴Even to your old age, I will be the same,and I will bear you up when you turn gray.I have made you, and I will carry you;I will sustain you and deliver you.

⁵To whom will you liken Me or count Me equal?To whom will you compare Me, that we should be alike?

⁶They pour out their bags of goldand weigh out silver on scales;they hire a goldsmith to fashion it into a god,so they can bow down and worship.

⁷They lift it to their shoulderand carry it along;they set it in its place, and there it stands,not budging from that spot.They cry out to it, but it does not answer;it saves no one from his troubles.

⁸Remember this and be brave;take it to heart, you transgressors!

⁹Remember what happened long ago,for I am God, and there is no other;I am God, and there is none like Me.

¹⁰I declare the end from the beginning,and from ancient times what is still to come.I say, ‘My purpose will stand,and all My good pleasure I will accomplish.’

¹¹I summon a bird of prey from the east,a man for My purpose from a far-off land.Truly I have spoken,and truly I will bring it to pass.I have planned it,and I will surely do it.

¹²Listen to Me, you stubborn people,far removed from righteousness:

¹³I am bringing My righteousness near;it is not far away, and My salvation will not be delayed.I will grant salvation to Zionand adorn Israel with My splendor.

David Flees to Adullam and Mizpeh

¹So David left Gath and took refuge in the cave of Adullam. When his brothers and the rest of his father’s household heard about it, they went down to him there.

²And all who were distressed or indebted or discontented rallied around him, and he became their leader. About four hundred men were with him.

³From there David went to Mizpeh of Moab, where he said to the king of Moab, “Please let my father and mother staywith you until I learn what God will do for me.”

⁴So he left them in the care of the king of Moab, and they stayed with him the whole time David was in the stronghold.

⁵Then the prophet Gad said to David, “Do not stay in the stronghold. Depart and go into the land of Judah.” So David left and went to the forest of Hereth.

Saul Slays the Priests of Nob

⁶Soon Saul learned that David and his men had been discovered. At that time Saul was sitting under the tamarisk tree on the hill at Gibeah, with his spear in hand and all his servants standing around him.

⁷Then Saul said to his servants, “Listen, men of Benjamin! Is the son of Jesse giving all of you fields and vineyards and making you commanders of thousands or hundreds?

⁸Is that why all of you have conspired against me? Not one of you told me that my own son had made a covenant with the son of Jesse. Not one of you has shown concern for me or revealed to me that my son has stirred up my own servant to lie in wait against me, as is the case today.”

⁹But Doeg the Edomite, who had stationed himself with Saul’s servants, answered: “I saw the son of Jesse come to Ahimelech son of Ahitub at Nob.

¹⁰Ahimelech inquired of the LORD for him and gave him provisions. He also gave him the sword of Goliath the Philistine.”

¹¹Then the king sent messengers to summon Ahimelech the priest, the son of Ahitub, and his father’s whole family, who were priests at Nob. And all of them came to the king.

¹²“Listen now, son of Ahitub,” said Saul.“Here I am, my lord,” he replied.

¹³And Saul asked him, “Why have you and the son of Jesse conspired against me? You gave him bread and a sword and inquired of God for him so that he could rise up against me to lie in wait, as he is doing today.”

¹⁴Ahimelech answered the king, “Who among all your servants is as faithful as David, the king’s son-in-law, the captain of your bodyguard and honored in your house?

¹⁵Was that day the first time I inquired of God for him? Far be it from me! Let not the king accuse your servant or any of my father’s household, for your servant knew nothing of this whole affair—not in part or in whole.”

¹⁶But the king replied, “You will surely die, Ahimelech, you and all your father’s house!”

¹⁷Then the king ordered the guards at his side, “Turn and kill the priests of the LORD, because they too sided with David. For they knew he was fleeing, but they did not tell me.”But the king’s servants would not lift a hand to strike the priests of the LORD.

¹⁸So the king ordered Doeg, “You turn and strike down the priests!”And Doeg the Edomite turned and struck down the priests himself. On that day he killed eighty-five men who wore the linen ephod.

¹⁹He also put to the sword Nob, the city of the priests, with its men and women, children and infants, oxen, donkeys, and sheep.

²⁰But one of the sons of Ahimelech son of Ahitub escaped. His name was Abiathar, and he fled to David.

²¹And Abiathar told David that Saul had killed the priests of the LORD.

²²Then David said to Abiathar, “I knew that Doeg the Edomite was there that day, and that he was sure to tell Saul. I myself am responsible for the lives of everyone in your father’s house.

²³Stay with me; do not be afraid, for he who seeks your life is seeking mine as well. You will be safe with me.”

The Waters Are up to My Neck

¹Save me, O God,for the waters are up to my neck.

²I have sunk into the miry depths,where there is no footing;I have drifted into deep waters,where the flood engulfs me.

³I am weary from my crying;my throat is parched.My eyes fail,looking for my God.

⁴Those who hate me without causeoutnumber the hairs of my head;many are those who would destroy me—my enemies for no reason.Though I did not steal,I must repay.

⁵You know my folly, O God,and my guilt is not hidden from You.

⁶May those who hope in You not be ashamed through me,O Lord GOD of Hosts;may those who seek You not be dishonored through me,O God of Israel.

⁷For I have endured scorn for Your sake,and shame has covered my face.

⁸I have become a stranger to my brothersand a foreigner to my mother’s sons,

⁹because zeal for Your house has consumed me,and the insults of those who insult You have fallen on me.

¹⁰I wept and fasted,but it brought me reproach.

¹¹I made sackcloth my clothing,and I was sport to them.

¹²Those who sit at the gate mock me,and I am the song of drunkards.

¹³But my prayer to You, O LORD,is for a time of favor.In Your abundant loving devotion, O God,answer me with Your sure salvation.

¹⁴Rescue me from the mireand do not let me sink;deliver me from my foesand out of the deep waters.

¹⁵Do not let the floods engulf meor the depths swallow me up;let not the Pit close its mouth over me.

¹⁶Answer me, O LORD,for Your loving devotion is good;turn to me in keeping with Your great compassion.

¹⁷Hide not Your face from Your servant,for I am in distress.Answer me quickly!

¹⁸Draw near to my soul and redeem me;ransom me because of my foes.

¹⁹You know my reproach, my shame and disgrace.All my adversaries are before You.

²⁰Insults have broken my heart,and I am in despair.I looked for sympathy, but there was none,for comforters, but I found no one.

²¹They poisoned my food with galland gave me vinegar to quench my thirst.

²²May their table become a snare;may it be a retribution and a trap.

²³May their eyes be darkened so they cannot see,and their backs be bent forever.

²⁴Pour out Your wrath upon them,and let Your burning anger overtake them.

²⁵May their place be deserted;let there be no one to dwell in their tents.

²⁶For they persecute the one You struckand recount the pain of those You wounded.

²⁷Add iniquity to their iniquity;let them not share in Your righteousness.

²⁸May they be blotted out of the Book of Lifeand not listed with the righteous.

²⁹But I am in pain and distress;let Your salvation protect me, O God.

³⁰I will praise God’s name in songand exalt Him with thanksgiving.

³¹And this will please the LORD more than an ox,more than a bull with horns and hooves.

³²The humble will see and rejoice.You who seek God, let your hearts be revived!

³³For the LORD listens to the needyand does not despise His captive people.

³⁴Let heaven and earth praise Him,the seas and everything that moves in them.

³⁵For God will save Zionand rebuild the cities of Judah,that they may dwell there and possess it.

³⁶The descendants of His servants will inherit it,and those who love His name will settle in it.