²⁶ So they took the bull given them and prepared it.

Then they called^(A) on the name of Baal from morning till noon. “Baal, answer us!” they shouted. But there was no response;^(B) no one answered. And they danced around the altar they had made.

²⁷ At 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.”^{(C) 28} So they shouted louder and slashed^(D) themselves with swords and spears, as was their custom, until their blood flowed. ²⁹ Midday passed, and they continued their frantic prophesying until the time for the evening sacrifice.^(E) But there was no response, no one answered, no one paid attention.^(F)