Still Small Voice Amid Storm and Conflict

1. Ahab told Jezebel all that Elijah had done, and how he had killed all the prophets with the sword. 2. Then Jezebel sent a messenger to Elijah, saying, “So let the gods do to me, and more also, if I don’t make your life as the life of one of them by tomorrow about this time!” 3. When he saw that, he arose, and ran for his life, and came to Beersheba, which belongs to Judah, and left his servant there. 4. But he himself went a day’s journey into the wilderness, and came and sat down under a juniper tree. Then he requested for himself that he might die, and said, “It is enough. Now, O Yahweh, take away my life; for I am not better than my fathers.” 5. He lay down and slept under a juniper tree; and behold, an angel touched him, and said to him, “Arise and eat!” 6. He looked, and behold, there was at his head a cake baked on the coals, and a jar of water. He ate and drank, and lay down again. 7. Yahweh’s angel came again the second time, and touched him, and said, “Arise and eat, because the journey is too great for you.” 8. He arose, and ate and drank, and went in the strength of that food forty days and forty nights to Horeb, God’s Mountain. 9. He came to a cave there, and camped there; and behold, Yahweh’s word came to him, and he said to him, “What are you doing here, Elijah?” 10. He said, “I have been very jealous for Yahweh, the God of Armies; for the children of Israel have forsaken your covenant, thrown down your altars, and killed your prophets with the sword. I, even I only, am left; and they seek my life, to take it away.” 11. He said, “Go out, and stand on the mountain before Yahweh.” Behold, Yahweh passed by, and a great and strong wind tore the mountains, and broke in pieces the rocks before Yahweh; but Yahweh was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake; but Yahweh was not in the earthquake. 12. After the earthquake a fire passed; but Yahweh was not in the fire. After the fire, there was a still small voice. 13. When Elijah heard it, he wrapped his face in his mantle, went out, and stood in the entrance of the cave. Behold, a voice came to him, and said, “What are you doing here, Elijah?” 14. He said, “I have been very jealous for Yahweh, the God of Armies; for the children of Israel have forsaken your covenant, thrown down your altars, and killed your prophets with the sword. I, even I only, am left; and they seek my life, to take it away.” 15. Yahweh said to him, “Go, return on your way to the wilderness of Damascus. When you arrive, anoint Hazael to be king over Syria. 16. Anoint Jehu the son of Nimshi to be king over Israel; and anoint Elisha the son of Shaphat of Abel Meholah to be prophet in your place. 17. He who escapes from the sword of Hazael, Jehu will kill; and he who escapes from the sword of Jehu, Elisha will kill. 18. Yet I reserved seven thousand in Israel, all the knees of which have not bowed to Baal, and every mouth which has not kissed him.” 19. So he departed from there, and found Elisha the son of Shaphat, who was plowing with twelve yoke of oxen before him, and he with the twelfth. Elijah went over to him, and put his mantle on him. 20. Elisha left the oxen, and ran after Elijah, and said, “Let me please kiss my father and my mother, and then I will follow you.” He said to him, “Go back again; for what have I done to you?” 21. He returned from following him, and took the yoke of oxen, and killed them, and boiled their meat with the instruments of the oxen, and gave to the people, and they ate. Then he arose, and went after Elijah, and served him. 1. Ben Hadad the king of Syria gathered all his army together; and there were thirty-two kings with him, with horses and chariots. He went up and besieged Samaria, and fought against it. 2. He sent messengers to Ahab king of Israel, into the city, and said to him, “Thus says Ben Hadad, 3. ‘Your silver and your gold is mine. Your wives also and your children, even the best, are mine.’” 4. The king of Israel answered, “It is according to your saying, my lord, O king. I am yours, and all that I have.” 5. The messengers came again, and said, “Ben Hadad says, ‘I sent indeed to you, saying, “You shall deliver me your silver, and your gold, and your wives, and your children; 6. but I will send my servants to you tomorrow about this time, and they will search your house, and the houses of your servants; whatever is pleasant in your eyes, they will put it in their hand, and take it away.”’” 7. Then the king of Israel called all the elders of the land, and said, “Please notice how this man seeks mischief; for he sent to me for my wives, and for my children, and for my silver, and for my gold; and I didn’t deny him.” 8. All the elders and all the people said to him, “Don’t listen, and don’t consent.” 9. Therefore he said to the messengers of Ben Hadad, “Tell my lord the king, ‘All that you sent for to your servant at the first I will do; but this thing I cannot do.’” The messengers departed, and brought him back the message. 10. Ben Hadad sent to him, and said, “The gods do so to me, and more also, if the dust of Samaria will be enough for handfuls for all the people who follow me.” 11. The king of Israel answered, “Tell him, ‘Don’t let him who puts on his armor brag like he who takes it off.’” 12. When Ben Hadad heard this message, as he was drinking, he and the kings, in the pavilions, he said to his servants, “Prepare to attack!” They prepared to attack the city. 13. Behold, a prophet came near to Ahab king of Israel, and said, “Yahweh says, ‘Have you seen all this great multitude? Behold, I will deliver it into your hand today. Then you will know that I am Yahweh.’” 14. Ahab said, “By whom?” He said, “Yahweh says, ‘By the young men of the princes of the provinces.’” Then he said, “Who shall begin the battle?” He answered, “You.” 15. Then he mustered the young men of the princes of the provinces, and they were two hundred and thirty-two. After them, he mustered all the people, even all the children of Israel, being seven thousand. 16. They went out at noon. But Ben Hadad was drinking himself drunk in the pavilions, he and the kings, the thirty-two kings who helped him. 17. The young men of the princes of the provinces went out first; and Ben Hadad sent out, and they told him, saying, “Men are coming out from Samaria.” 18. He said, “If they have come out for peace, take them alive; or if they have come out for war, take them alive.” 19. So these went out of the city, the young men of the princes of the provinces, and the army which followed them. 20. They each killed his man. The Syrians fled, and Israel pursued them. Ben Hadad the king of Syria escaped on a horse with horsemen. 21. The king of Israel went out, and struck the horses and chariots, and killed the Syrians with a great slaughter. 22. The prophet came near to the king of Israel, and said to him, “Go, strengthen yourself, and mark, and see what you do; for at the return of the year the king of Syria will come up against you.” 23. The servants of the king of Syria said to him, “Their god is a god of the hills; therefore they were stronger than we. But let us fight against them in the plain, and surely we will be stronger than they. 24. Do this thing: take the kings away, every man out of his place, and put captains in their place. 25. Muster an army, like the army that you have lost, horse for horse, and chariot for chariot. We will fight against them in the plain, and surely we will be stronger than them.” He listened to their voice, and did so. 26. At the return of the year, Ben Hadad mustered the Syrians, and went up to Aphek, to fight against Israel. 27. The children of Israel were mustered and given provisions, and went against them. The children of Israel encamped before them like two little flocks of young goats; but the Syrians filled the country. 28. A man of God came near and spoke to the king of Israel, and said, “Yahweh says, ‘Because the Syrians have said, “Yahweh is a god of the hills, but he is not a god of the valleys”; therefore I will deliver all this great multitude into your hand, and you shall know that I am Yahweh.’” 29. They encamped opposite each other for seven days. So it was, that in the seventh day the battle was joined; and the children of Israel killed one hundred thousand footmen of the Syrians in one day. 30. But the rest fled to Aphek, into the city; and the wall fell on twenty-seven thousand men who were left. Ben Hadad fled, and came into the city, into an inner room. 31. His servants said to him, “See now, we have heard that the kings of the house of Israel are merciful kings. Please let us put sackcloth on our bodies, and ropes on our heads, and go out to the king of Israel. Maybe he will save your life.” 32. So they put sackcloth on their bodies and ropes on their heads, and came to the king of Israel, and said, “Your servant Ben Hadad says, ‘Please let me live.’” He said, “Is he still alive? He is my brother.” 33. Now the men observed diligently, and hurried to take this phrase; and they said, “Your brother Ben Hadad.” Then he said, “Go, bring him.” Then Ben Hadad came out to him; and he caused him to come up into the chariot. 34. Ben Hadad said to him, “The cities which my father took from your father I will restore. You shall make streets for yourself in Damascus, as my father made in Samaria.” “I”, said Ahab, “will let you go with this covenant.” So he made a covenant with him, and let him go. 35. A certain man of the sons of the prophets said to his fellow by Yahweh’s word, “Please strike me!” The man refused to strike him. 36. Then he said to him, “Because you have not obeyed Yahweh’s voice, behold, as soon as you have departed from me, a lion will kill you.” As soon as he had departed from him, a lion found him and killed him. 37. Then he found another man, and said, “Please strike me.” The man struck him and wounded him. 38. So the prophet departed, and waited for the king by the way, and disguised himself with his headband over his eyes. 39. As the king passed by, he cried to the king; and he said, “Your servant went out into the middle of the battle; and behold, a man came over, and brought a man to me, and said, ‘Guard this man! If by any means he is missing, then your life shall be for his life, or else you shall pay a talent of silver.’ 40. As your servant was busy here and there, he was gone.” The king of Israel said to him, “So shall your judgment be. You yourself have decided it.” 41. He hurried, and took the headband away from his eyes; and the king of Israel recognized that he was one of the prophets. 42. He said to him, “Yahweh says, ‘Because you have let go out of your hand the man whom I had devoted to destruction, therefore your life will take the place of his life, and your people take the place of his people.’” 43. The king of Israel went to his house sullen and angry, and came to Samaria.

1. At that time, Jesus went on the Sabbath day through the grain fields. His disciples were hungry and began to pluck heads of grain and to eat. 2. But the Pharisees, when they saw it, said to him, “Behold, your disciples do what is not lawful to do on the Sabbath.” 3. But he said to them, “Haven’t you read what David did, when he was hungry, and those who were with him; 4. how he entered into God’s house, and ate the show bread, which was not lawful for him to eat, neither for those who were with him, but only for the priests? 5. Or have you not read in the law, that on the Sabbath day, the priests in the temple profane the Sabbath, and are guiltless? 6. But I tell you that one greater than the temple is here. 7. But if you had known what this means, ‘I desire mercy, and not sacrifice,’ you wouldn’t have condemned the guiltless. 8. For the Son of Man is Lord of the Sabbath.” 9. He departed there, and went into their synagogue. 10. And behold there was a man with a withered hand. They asked him, “Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath day?” that they might accuse him. 11. He said to them, “What man is there among you, who has one sheep, and if this one falls into a pit on the Sabbath day, won’t he grab on to it, and lift it out? 12. Of how much more value then is a man than a sheep! Therefore it is lawful to do good on the Sabbath day.” 13. Then he told the man, “Stretch out your hand.” He stretched it out; and it was restored whole, just like the other. 14. But the Pharisees went out, and conspired against him, how they might destroy him. 15. Jesus, perceiving that, withdrew from there. Great multitudes followed him; and he healed them all, 16. and commanded them that they should not make him known: 17. that it might be fulfilled which was spoken through Isaiah the prophet, saying, 18. “Behold, my servant whom I have chosen; my beloved in whom my soul is well pleased: I will put my Spirit on him. He will proclaim justice to the nations. 19. He will not strive, nor shout; neither will anyone hear his voice in the streets. 20. He won’t break a bruised reed. He won’t quench a smoking flax, until he leads justice to victory. 21. In his name, the nations will hope.” 22. Then one possessed by a demon, blind and mute, was brought to him and he healed him, so that the blind and mute man both spoke and saw. 23. All the multitudes were amazed, and said, “Can this be the son of David?” 24. But when the Pharisees heard it, they said, “This man does not cast out demons, except by Beelzebul, the prince of the demons.” 25. Knowing their thoughts, Jesus said to them, “Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation, and every city or house divided against itself will not stand. 26. If Satan casts out Satan, he is divided against himself. How then will his kingdom stand? 27. If I by Beelzebul cast out demons, by whom do your children cast them out? Therefore they will be your judges. 28. But if I by the Spirit of God cast out demons, then God’s Kingdom has come upon you. 29. Or how can one enter into the house of the strong man, and plunder his goods, unless he first bind the strong man? Then he will plunder his house. 30. “He who is not with me is against me, and he who doesn’t gather with me, scatters. 31. Therefore I tell you, every sin and blasphemy will be forgiven men, but the blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven men. 32. Whoever speaks a word against the Son of Man, it will be forgiven him; but whoever speaks against the Holy Spirit, it will not be forgiven him, neither in this age, nor in that which is to come. 33. “Either make the tree good, and its fruit good, or make the tree corrupt, and its fruit corrupt; for the tree is known by its fruit. 34. You offspring of vipers, how can you, being evil, speak good things? For out of the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaks. 35. The good man out of his good treasure brings out good things, and the evil man out of his evil treasure brings out evil things. 36. I tell you that every idle word that men speak, they will give account of it in the day of judgment. 37. For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.” 38. Then certain of the scribes and Pharisees answered, “Teacher, we want to see a sign from you.” 39. But he answered them, “An evil and adulterous generation seeks after a sign, but no sign will be given to it but the sign of Jonah the prophet. 40. For as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the whale, so will the Son of Man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth. 41. The men of Nineveh will stand up in the judgment with this generation, and will condemn it, for they repented at the preaching of Jonah; and behold, someone greater than Jonah is here. 42. The queen of the south will rise up in the judgment with this generation, and will condemn it, for she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon; and behold, someone greater than Solomon is here. 43. When an unclean spirit has gone out of a man, he passes through waterless places, seeking rest, and doesn’t find it. 44. Then he says, ‘I will return into my house from which I came out,’ and when he has come back, he finds it empty, swept, and put in order. 45. Then he goes, and takes with himself seven other spirits more evil than he is, and they enter in and dwell there. The last state of that man becomes worse than the first. Even so will it be also to this evil generation.” 46. While he was yet speaking to the multitudes, behold, his mother and his brothers stood outside, seeking to speak to him. 47. One said to him, “Behold, your mother and your brothers stand outside, seeking to speak to you.” 48. But he answered him who spoke to him, “Who is my mother? Who are my brothers?” 49. He stretched out his hand towards his disciples, and said, “Behold, my mother and my brothers! 50. For whoever does the will of my Father who is in heaven, he is my brother, and sister, and mother.” 1. On that day Jesus went out of the house, and sat by the seaside. 2. Great multitudes gathered to him, so that he entered into a boat, and sat, and all the multitude stood on the beach. 3. He spoke to them many things in parables, saying, “Behold, a farmer went out to sow. 4. As he sowed, some seeds fell by the roadside, and the birds came and devoured them. 5. Others fell on rocky ground, where they didn’t have much soil, and immediately they sprang up, because they had no depth of earth. 6. When the sun had risen, they were scorched. Because they had no root, they withered away. 7. Others fell among thorns. The thorns grew up and choked them. 8. Others fell on good soil, and yielded fruit: some one hundred times as much, some sixty, and some thirty. 9. He who has ears to hear, let him hear.” 10. The disciples came, and said to him, “Why do you speak to them in parables?” 11. He answered them, “To you it is given to know the mysteries of the Kingdom of Heaven, but it is not given to them. 12. For whoever has, to him will be given, and he will have abundance, but whoever doesn’t have, from him will be taken away even that which he has. 13. Therefore I speak to them in parables, because seeing they don’t see, and hearing, they don’t hear, neither do they understand. 14. In them the prophecy of Isaiah is fulfilled, which says, ‘By hearing you will hear, and will in no way understand; Seeing you will see, and will in no way perceive: 15. for this people’s heart has grown callous, their ears are dull of hearing, they have closed their eyes; or else perhaps they might perceive with their eyes, hear with their ears, understand with their heart, and would turn again; and I would heal them.’ 16. “But blessed are your eyes, for they see; and your ears, for they hear. 17. For most certainly I tell you that many prophets and righteous men desired to see the things which you see, and didn’t see them; and to hear the things which you hear, and didn’t hear them. 18. “Hear, then, the parable of the farmer. 19. When anyone hears the word of the Kingdom, and doesn’t understand it, the evil one comes, and snatches away that which has been sown in his heart. This is what was sown by the roadside. 20. What was sown on the rocky places, this is he who hears the word, and immediately with joy receives it; 21. yet he has no root in himself, but endures for a while. When oppression or persecution arises because of the word, immediately he stumbles. 22. What was sown among the thorns, this is he who hears the word, but the cares of this age and the deceitfulness of riches choke the word, and he becomes unfruitful. 23. What was sown on the good ground, this is he who hears the word, and understands it, who most certainly bears fruit, and produces, some one hundred times as much, some sixty, and some thirty.” 24. He set another parable before them, saying, “The Kingdom of Heaven is like a man who sowed good seed in his field, 25. but while people slept, his enemy came and sowed darnel weeds also among the wheat, and went away. 26. But when the blade sprang up and produced fruit, then the darnel weeds appeared also. 27. The servants of the householder came and said to him, ‘Sir, didn’t you sow good seed in your field? Where did these darnel weeds come from?’ 28. “He said to them, ‘An enemy has done this.’ “The servants asked him, ‘Do you want us to go and gather them up?’ 29. “But he said, ‘No, lest perhaps while you gather up the darnel weeds, you root up the wheat with them. 30. Let both grow together until the harvest, and in the harvest time I will tell the reapers, “First, gather up the darnel weeds, and bind them in bundles to burn them; but gather the wheat into my barn.”’” 31. He set another parable before them, saying, “The Kingdom of Heaven is like a grain of mustard seed, which a man took, and sowed in his field; 32. which indeed is smaller than all seeds. But when it is grown, it is greater than the herbs, and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air come and lodge in its branches.” 33. He spoke another parable to them. “The Kingdom of Heaven is like yeast, which a woman took, and hid in three measures of meal, until it was all leavened.” 34. Jesus spoke all these things in parables to the multitudes; and without a parable, he didn’t speak to them, 35. that it might be fulfilled which was spoken through the prophet, saying, “I will open my mouth in parables; I will utter things hidden from the foundation of the world.” 36. Then Jesus sent the multitudes away, and went into the house. His disciples came to him, saying, “Explain to us the parable of the darnel weeds of the field.” 37. He answered them, “He who sows the good seed is the Son of Man, 38. the field is the world; and the good seed, these are the children of the Kingdom; and the darnel weeds are the children of the evil one. 39. The enemy who sowed them is the devil. The harvest is the end of the age, and the reapers are angels. 40. As therefore the darnel weeds are gathered up and burned with fire; so will it be at the end of this age. 41. The Son of Man will send out his angels, and they will gather out of his Kingdom all things that cause stumbling, and those who do iniquity, 42. and will cast them into the furnace of fire. There will be weeping and the gnashing of teeth. 43. Then the righteous will shine like the sun in the Kingdom of their Father. He who has ears to hear, let him hear. 44. “Again, the Kingdom of Heaven is like treasure hidden in the field, which a man found, and hid. In his joy, he goes and sells all that he has, and buys that field. 45. “Again, the Kingdom of Heaven is like a man who is a merchant seeking fine pearls, 46. who having found one pearl of great price, he went and sold all that he had, and bought it. 47. “Again, the Kingdom of Heaven is like a dragnet, that was cast into the sea, and gathered some fish of every kind, 48. which, when it was filled, they drew up on the beach. They sat down, and gathered the good into containers, but the bad they threw away. 49. So will it be in the end of the world. The angels will come and separate the wicked from among the righteous, 50. and will cast them into the furnace of fire. There will be the weeping and the gnashing of teeth.” 51. Jesus said to them, “Have you understood all these things?” They answered him, “Yes, Lord.” 52. He said to them, “Therefore every scribe who has been made a disciple in the Kingdom of Heaven is like a man who is a householder, who brings out of his treasure new and old things.” 53. When Jesus had finished these parables, he departed from there. 54. Coming into his own country, he taught them in their synagogue, so that they were astonished, and said, “Where did this man get this wisdom, and these mighty works? 55. Isn’t this the carpenter’s son? Isn’t his mother called Mary, and his brothers, James, Joses, Simon, and Judas? 56. Aren’t all of his sisters with us? Where then did this man get all of these things?” 57. They were offended by him. But Jesus said to them, “A prophet is not without honor, except in his own country, and in his own house.” 58. He didn’t do many mighty works there because of their unbelief. 1. At that time, Herod the tetrarch heard the report concerning Jesus, 2. and said to his servants, “This is John the Baptizer. He is risen from the dead. That is why these powers work in him.” 3. For Herod had laid hold of John, and bound him, and put him in prison for the sake of Herodias, his brother Philip’s wife. 4. For John said to him, “It is not lawful for you to have her.” 5. When he would have put him to death, he feared the multitude, because they counted him as a prophet. 6. But when Herod’s birthday came, the daughter of Herodias danced among them and pleased Herod. 7. Whereupon he promised with an oath to give her whatever she should ask. 8. She, being prompted by her mother, said, “Give me here on a platter the head of John the Baptizer.” 9. The king was grieved, but for the sake of his oaths, and of those who sat at the table with him, he commanded it to be given, 10. and he sent and beheaded John in the prison. 11. His head was brought on a platter, and given to the young lady: and she brought it to her mother. 12. His disciples came, and took the body, and buried it; and they went and told Jesus. 13. Now when Jesus heard this, he withdrew from there in a boat, to a deserted place apart. When the multitudes heard it, they followed him on foot from the cities. 14. Jesus went out, and he saw a great multitude. He had compassion on them, and healed their sick. 15. When evening had come, his disciples came to him, saying, “This place is deserted, and the hour is already late. Send the multitudes away, that they may go into the villages, and buy themselves food.” 16. But Jesus said to them, “They don’t need to go away. You give them something to eat.” 17. They told him, “We only have here five loaves and two fish.” 18. He said, “Bring them here to me.” 19. He commanded the multitudes to sit down on the grass; and he took the five loaves and the two fish, and looking up to heaven, he blessed, broke and gave the loaves to the disciples, and the disciples gave to the multitudes. 20. They all ate, and were filled. They took up twelve baskets full of that which remained left over from the broken pieces. 21. Those who ate were about five thousand men, besides women and children. 22. Immediately Jesus made the disciples get into the boat, and to go ahead of him to the other side, while he sent the multitudes away. 23. After he had sent the multitudes away, he went up into the mountain by himself to pray. When evening had come, he was there alone. 24. But the boat was now in the middle of the sea, distressed by the waves, for the wind was contrary. 25. In the fourth watch of the night, Jesus came to them, walking on the sea. 26. When the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were troubled, saying, “It’s a ghost!” and they cried out for fear. 27. But immediately Jesus spoke to them, saying, “Cheer up! It is I! Don’t be afraid.” 28. Peter answered him and said, “Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the waters.” 29. He said, “Come!” Peter stepped down from the boat, and walked on the waters to come to Jesus. 30. But when he saw that the wind was strong, he was afraid, and beginning to sink, he cried out, saying, “Lord, save me!” 31. Immediately Jesus stretched out his hand, took hold of him, and said to him, “You of little faith, why did you doubt?” 32. When they got up into the boat, the wind ceased. 33. Those who were in the boat came and worshiped him, saying, “You are truly the Son of God!” 34. When they had crossed over, they came to the land of Gennesaret. 35. When the people of that place recognized him, they sent into all that surrounding region, and brought to him all who were sick; 36. and they begged him that they might just touch the fringe of his garment. As many as touched it were made whole.

1. Yahweh reigns! Let the earth rejoice! Let the multitude of islands be glad! 2. Clouds and darkness are around him. Righteousness and justice are the foundation of his throne. 3. A fire goes before him, and burns up his adversaries on every side. 4. His lightning lights up the world. The earth sees, and trembles. 5. The mountains melt like wax at the presence of Yahweh, at the presence of the Lord of the whole earth. 6. The heavens declare his righteousness. All the peoples have seen his glory. 7. Let all them be shamed who serve engraved images, who boast in their idols. Worship him, all you gods! 8. Zion heard and was glad. The daughters of Judah rejoiced, because of your judgments, Yahweh. 9. For you, Yahweh, are most high above all the earth. You are exalted far above all gods. 10. You who love Yahweh, hate evil. He preserves the souls of his saints. He delivers them out of the hand of the wicked. 11. Light is sown for the righteous, and gladness for the upright in heart. 12. Be glad in Yahweh, you righteous people! Give thanks to his holy Name.