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Venerdi, 29 marzo 2024 - Santi Simplicio e Costantino ( Letture di oggi)

1 Kings 19


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1When Ahab told Jezebel everything that Elijah had done, and how he had put all the prophets to thesword,2Jezebel sent a messenger to Elijah to say, 'May the gods bring unnameable il s on me and worse il stoo, if by this time tomorrow I have not made your life like one of theirs!'3He was afraid and fled for his life. He came to Beersheba, a town of Judah, where he left his servant.4He himself went on into the desert, a day's journey, and sitting under a furze bush wished he weredead. 'Yahweh,' he said, 'I have had enough. Take my life; I am no better than my ancestors.'5Then he lay down and went to sleep. Then al of a sudden an angel touched him and said, 'Get up andeat.'6He looked round, and there at his head was a scone baked on hot stones, and a jar of water. He ateand drank and then lay down again.7But the angel of Yahweh came back a second time and touched him and said, 'Get up and eat, or thejourney will be too long for you.'8So he got up and ate and drank, and strengthened by that food he walked for forty days and fortynights until he reached Horeb, God's mountain.9There he went into a cave and spent the night there. Then the word of Yahweh came to him saying,'What are you doing here, Elijah?'10He replied, 'I am ful of jealous zeal for Yahweh Sabaoth, because the Israelites have abandoned yourcovenant, have torn down your altars and put your prophets to the sword. I am the only one left, and now theywant to kil me.'11Then he was told, 'Go out and stand on the mountain before Yahweh.' For at that moment Yahwehwas going by. A mighty hurricane split the mountains and shattered the rocks before Yahweh. But Yahweh wasnot in the hurricane. And after the hurricane, an earthquake. But Yahweh was not in the earthquake.12And after the earthquake, fire. But Yahweh was not in the fire. And after the fire, a light murmuring sound.13And when Elijah heard this, he covered his face with his cloak and went out and stood at the entranceof the cave. Then a voice came to him, which said, 'What are you doing here, Elijah?'14He replied, 'I am ful of jealous zeal for Yahweh, God Sabaoth, because the Israelites haveabandoned your covenant, have torn down your altars and put your prophets to the sword. I am the only one leftand now they want to kil me.'15'Go,' Yahweh said, 'go back by the same way to the desert of Damascus. You must go and anointHazael as king of Aram.16You must anoint Jehu son of Nimshi as king of Israel, and anoint Elisha son of Shaphat, of Abel-Meholah, as prophet to succeed you.17Anyone who escapes the sword of Hazael wil be put to death by Jehu; and anyone who escapes thesword of Jehu wil be put to death by Elisha.18But I shal spare seven thousand in Israel; all the knees that have not bent before Baal, al the mouthsthat have not kissed him.'19Leaving there, he came on Elisha son of Shaphat as he was ploughing behind twelve yoke of oxen,he himself being with the twelfth. Elijah passed near to him and threw his cloak over him.20Elisha left his oxen and ran after Elijah. 'Let me kiss my father and mother, then I wil fol ow you,' hesaid. Elijah answered, 'Go, go back; for have I done anything to you?'21Elisha turned away, took a yoke of oxen and slaughtered them. He used the oxen's tackle for cookingthe meat, which he gave the people to eat. He then rose and, following Elijah, became his servant.