1 Kings 18:26-28

International Standard Version

²⁶ So they took the ox that was given to them, prepared it, and called on the name of Baal from early morning until noon. “Baal! Answer us!” they cried. But there was no response. Nobody answered. So they kept on dancing^[a] around the altar that they had made.

²⁷ Starting about noon, Elijah began to tease them:

“Shout louder!

“He’s a god, so maybe he’s busy.

“Maybe he’s relieving himself.

“Maybe he’s busy someplace.

“Maybe he’s taking a nap and somebody needs to wake him up.”

²⁸ So the prophets of Baal^[b] cried even louder and slashed themselves with swords and lances until their blood gushed out all over them, as was their custom.