1 Kings 18:36-46

New International Version

³⁶ At the time^(A) of sacrifice, the prophet Elijah stepped forward and prayed: “Lord, the God of Abraham,^(B) Isaac and Israel, let it be known^(C) today that you are God in Israel and that I am your servant and have done all these things at your command.^{(D) 37} Answer me, Lord, answer me, so these people will know^(E) that you, Lord, are God, and that you are turning their hearts back again.”

³⁸ Then the fire^(F) of the Lord fell and burned up the sacrifice, the wood, the stones and the soil, and also licked up the water in the trench.

³⁹ When all the people saw this, they fell prostrate^(G) and cried, “The Lord—he is God! The Lord—he is God!”^(H)

⁴⁰ Then Elijah commanded them, “Seize the prophets of Baal. Don’t let anyone get away!” They seized them, and Elijah had them brought down to the Kishon Valley^(I) and slaughtered^(J) there.

⁴¹ And Elijah said to Ahab, “Go, eat and drink, for there is the sound of a heavy rain.” ⁴² So Ahab went off to eat and drink, but Elijah climbed to the top of Carmel, bent down to the ground and put his face between his knees.^(K)

⁴³ “Go and look toward the sea,” he told his servant. And he went up and looked.

“There is nothing there,” he said.

Seven times Elijah said, “Go back.”

⁴⁴ The seventh time^(L) the servant reported, “A cloud^(M) as small as a man’s hand is rising from the sea.”

So Elijah said, “Go and tell Ahab, ‘Hitch up your chariot and go down before the rain stops you.’”

⁴⁵ Meanwhile, the sky grew black with clouds, the wind rose, a heavy rain^(N) started falling and Ahab rode off to Jezreel.^{(O) 46} The power^(P) of the Lord came on Elijah and, tucking his cloak into his belt,^(Q) he ran ahead of Ahab all the way to Jezreel.