New International Reader's Version

1 Kings 19:2-10 New International Reader's Version (NIRV)

2. So Jezebel sent a message to Elijah. She said, "You can be sure that I will kill you, just as I killed the other prophets. I'll do it by this time tomorrow. If I don't, may the gods punish me greatly."

3. Elijah was afraid. So he ran for his life. He came to Beersheba in Judah. He left his servant there.

4. Then he traveled for one day into the desert. He came to a small tree. He sat down under it. He prayed that he would die. "Lord, I've had enough," he said. "Take my life. I'm no better than my people of long ago."

5. Then he lay down under the tree. And he fell asleep. Suddenly an angel touched him. The angel said, "Get up and eat."

6. Elijah looked around. Near his head he saw a flat cake of bread. It had been baked over hot coals. A jar of water was also there. So Elijah ate and drank. Then he lay down again.

7. The angel of the Lord came to him a second time. He touched him and said, "Get up and eat. Your journey will be long and hard."

8. So he got up. He ate and drank. The food gave him new strength. He traveled for 40 days and 40 nights. He kept going until he arrived at Horeb. It was the mountain of God.

9. There he went into a cave and spent the night. A message came to Elijah from the Lord. He said, "Elijah, what are you doing here?"

10. He replied, "Lord God who rules over all, I've been very committed to you. The people of Israel have turned their backs on your covenant. They have torn down your altars. They've put your prophets to death with their swords. I'm the only one left. And they are trying to kill me."