²⁶ Then they took the ox which ^[a]was given them and they prepared it and called on the name of Baal from morning until noon saying, “O Baal, answer us.” But there was ^(A)no voice and no one answered. And they ^[b]leaped about the altar which ^[c]they made. ²⁷ It came about at noon, that Elijah mocked them and said, “Call out with a loud voice, for he is a god; either he is occupied or gone aside, or is on a journey, or perhaps he is asleep and needs to be awakened.” ²⁸ So they cried with a loud voice and ^(B)cut themselves according to their custom with swords and lances until the blood gushed out on them. ²⁹ When midday was past, they ^[d]raved ^(C)until the time of the offering of the evening sacrifice; but there was no voice, no one answered, and no ^[e]one paid attention.

³⁰ Then Elijah said to all the people, “Come near to me.” So all the people came near to him. And ^(D)he repaired the altar of the Lord which had been torn down. ³¹ 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, “^(E)Israel shall be your name.” ³² So with the stones he built an altar in ^(F)the name of the Lord, and he made a trench around the altar, large enough to hold two ^[f]measures of seed. ^33 (G)Then he arranged the wood and cut the ox in pieces and laid it on the wood. ³⁴ And he said, “Fill four pitchers with water and pour it on the burnt offering and on the wood.” And he said, “Do it a second time,” and they did it a second time. And he said, “Do it a third time,” and they did it a third time. ³⁵ The water flowed around the altar and he also filled the trench with water.

Elijah’s Prayer

^36 (H)At the time of the offering of the evening sacrifice, Elijah the prophet came near and said, “^(I)O Lord, the God of Abraham, Isaac and Israel, today let it be known that ^(J)You are God in Israel and that I am Your servant and ^(K)I have done all these things at Your word. ³⁷ Answer me, O Lord, answer me, that this people may know that You, O Lord, are God, and that You have turned their heart back again.” ³⁸ Then the ^(L)fire of the Lord fell and consumed the burnt offering and the wood and the stones and the dust, and licked up the water that was in the trench. ³⁹ When all the people saw it, they fell on their faces; and they said, “^(M)The Lord, He is God; the Lord, He is God.” ⁴⁰ Then Elijah said to them, “Seize the prophets of Baal; do not let one of them escape.” So they seized them; and Elijah brought them down to ^(N)the brook Kishon, ^(O)and slew them there.

⁴¹ Now Elijah said to Ahab, “Go up, eat and drink; for there is the sound of the roar of a heavy shower.” ⁴² So Ahab went up to eat and drink. But Elijah went up to the top of ^(P)Carmel; and he ^(Q)crouched down on the earth and put his face between his knees. ⁴³ He said to his servant, “Go up now, look toward the sea.” So he went up and looked and said, “There is nothing.” And he said, “Go back” seven times. ⁴⁴ It came about at the seventh time, that he said, “Behold, ^(R)a cloud as small as a man’s hand is coming up from the sea.” And he said, “Go up, say to Ahab, ‘^[g]Prepare your chariot and go down, so that the heavy shower does not stop you.’” ⁴⁵ In a little while the sky grew black with clouds and wind, and there was a heavy shower. And Ahab rode and went to ^(S)Jezreel. ⁴⁶ Then ^(T)the hand of the Lord was on Elijah, and ^(U)he girded up his loins and ^[h]outran Ahab ^[i]to Jezreel.