9 He entered a caveak there and spent the night.

ELIJAH’S ENCOUNTER WITH THE LORD

Suddenly, the word of the Lord came to him, and he said to him, “What are you doing here, Elijah?”al

10 He replied, “I have been very zealousam for the Lord God of Armies, but the Israelites have abandoned your covenant,an torn down your altars,ao and killed your prophetsa with the sword. I alone am left,b and they are looking for me to take my life.”c

11 Then he said, “Go out and stand on the mountain in the Lord’s presence.”d

At that moment, the Lord passed by.e A great and mighty windf was tearing at the mountains and was shattering cliffs before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake,g but the Lord was not in the earthquake. 12 After the earthquake there was a fire,h but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire there was a voice, a soft whisper.i 13 When Elijah heard it, he wrapped his face in his mantlej and went out and stood at the entrance of the cave.

Suddenly, a voice came to him and said, “What are you doing here, Elijah?”

14 “I have been very zealous for the Lord God of Armies,” he replied, “but the Israelites have abandoned your covenant, torn down your altars, and killed your prophets with the sword. I alone am left, and they’re looking for me to take my life.”k