19. The men of the city said to Elisha, “Look, master, this city is a nice place to live. You can see that. But the water is bad. That’s why the land cannot grow crops.”
20. Elisha said, “Bring me a new bowl and put salt in it.” So they brought it to him.
21. Then Elisha went out to the spring of water and threw the salt in it. He said, “This is what the Lord says: ‘I have healed this water. From now on it won’t cause death. And it won’t keep the land from growing crops.’”
22. The water was healed. It is still good today. It happened just as Elisha had said.
23. From there Elisha went up to Bethel. On the way some young men came out of the city. They made fun of Elisha. They said to him, “Go up, you baldhead! Go up, you baldhead!”
24. Elisha turned around and looked at them. He put a curse on them in the name of the Lord. Then two female bears came out of the woods. They tore to pieces 42 of the young men.
25. Then Elisha left and went on to Mount Carmel. From there he went back to Samaria.