Elijah

1Then Elijah arose, a prophet like fire,

and his word burned like a torch.

2He brought a famine upon them,

and by his zeal he made them few in number.

3By the word of the Lord he shut up the heavens,

and also three times brought down fire.

4How glorious you were, Elijah, in your wondrous deeds!

Whose glory is equal to yours?

5You raised a corpse from death

and from Hades, by the word of the Most High.

6You sent kings down to destruction,

and famous men, from their sickbeds.

7You heard rebuke at Sinai

and judgements of vengeance at Horeb.

8You anointed kings to inflict retribution,

and prophets to succeed you.48.8 Heb: Gk him

9You were taken up by a whirlwind of fire,

in a chariot with horses of fire.

10At the appointed time, it is written, you are destined48.10 Heb: Gk are for reproofs

to calm the wrath of God before it breaks out in fury,

to turn the hearts of parents to their children,

and to restore the tribes of Jacob.

11Happy are those who saw you

and were adorned48.11 Other ancient authorities read and have died with your love!

For we also shall surely live.48.11 Text and meaning of Gk uncertain

Elisha

12When Elijah was enveloped in the whirlwind,

Elisha was filled with his spirit.

He performed twice as many signs,

and marvels with every utterance of his mouth.48.12 Heb: Gk lacks He performed…mouth

Never in his lifetime did he tremble before any ruler,

nor could anyone intimidate him at all.

13Nothing was too hard for him,

and when he was dead, his body prophesied.

14In his life he did wonders,

and in death his deeds were marvellous.

15Despite all this the people did not repent,

nor did they forsake their sins,

until they were carried off as plunder from their land,

and were scattered over all the earth.

The people were left very few in number,

but with a ruler from the house of David.

16Some of them did what was right,

but others sinned more and more.

Hezekiah

17Hezekiah fortified his city,

and brought water into its midst;

he tunnelled the rock with iron tools,

and built cisterns for the water.

18In his days Sennacherib invaded the country;

he sent his commander48.18 Other ancient authorities add from Lachish and departed;

he shook his fist against Zion,

and made great boasts in his arrogance.

19Then their hearts were shaken and their hands trembled,

and they were in anguish, like women in labour.

20But they called upon the Lord who is merciful,

spreading out their hands towards him.

The Holy One quickly heard them from heaven,

and delivered them through Isaiah.

21The Lord48.21 Gk He struck down the camp of the Assyrians,

and his angel wiped them out.

22For Hezekiah did what was pleasing to the Lord,

and he kept firmly to the ways of his ancestor David,

as he was commanded by the prophet Isaiah,

who was great and trustworthy in his visions.

Isaiah

23In Isaiah's48.23 Gk his days the sun went backwards,

and he prolonged the life of the king.

24By his dauntless spirit he saw the future,

and comforted the mourners in Zion.

25He revealed what was to occur to the end of time,

and the hidden things before they happened.