New American Bible, Revised Edition

1 Kings 21:7-25 New American Bible, Revised Edition (NABRE)

7. Jezebel his wife said to him, “What a king of Israel you are! Get up! Eat and be cheerful. I will give you the vineyard of Naboth the Jezreelite.”

8. So she wrote letters in Ahab’s name and, having sealed them with his seal, sent them to the elders and to the nobles who lived in the same city with Naboth.

9. This is what she wrote in the letters: “Proclaim a fast and set Naboth at the head of the people.

10. Next, set two scoundrels opposite him to accuse him: ‘You have cursed God and king.’ Then take him out and stone him to death.”

11. His fellow citizens—the elders and the nobles who dwelt in his city—did as Jezebel had ordered in the letters she sent them.

12. They proclaimed a fast and set Naboth at the head of the people.

13. Two scoundrels came in and sat opposite Naboth, and the scoundrels accused him in the presence of the people, “Naboth has cursed God and king.” And they led him out of the city and stoned him to death.

14. Then they sent word to Jezebel: “Naboth has been stoned to death.”

15. When Jezebel learned that Naboth had been stoned to death, she said to Ahab, “Go, take possession of the vineyard of Naboth the Jezreelite which he refused to sell you, because Naboth is not alive, but dead.”

16. When Ahab heard that Naboth was dead, he started on his way down to the vineyard of Naboth the Jezreelite, to take possession of it.

17. Then the word of the Lord came to Elijah the Tishbite:

18. Go down to meet Ahab, king of Israel, who is in Samaria. He will be in the vineyard of Naboth, where he has gone to take possession.

19. Tell him: “Thus says the Lord: After murdering, do you also take possession?” And tell him, “Thus says the Lord: In the place where the dogs licked up the blood of Naboth, the dogs shall lick up your blood, too.”

20. Ahab said to Elijah, “Have you found me out, my enemy?” He said, “I have found you. Because you have given yourself up to doing evil in the Lord’s sight,

21. I am bringing evil upon you: I will consume you and will cut off every male belonging to Ahab, whether bond or free, in Israel.

22. I will make your house like that of Jeroboam, son of Nebat, and like the house of Baasha, son of Ahijah, because you have provoked me by leading Israel into sin.”

23. Against Jezebel, too, the Lord declared: The dogs shall devour Jezebel in the confines of Jezreel.

24. Anyone of Ahab’s line who dies in the city,dogs will devour;Anyone who dies in the field,the birds of the sky will devour.

25. Indeed, no one gave himself up to the doing of evil in the sight of the Lord as did Ahab, urged on by his wife Jezebel.