World English Bible

1 Kings 20:35-43 World English Bible (WEB)

35. A certain man of the sons of the prophets said to his fellow by Yahweh’s word, “Please strike me!” The man refused to strike him.

36. Then he said to him, “Because you have not obeyed Yahweh’s voice, behold, as soon as you have departed from me, a lion will kill you.” As soon as he had departed from him, a lion found him and killed him.

37. Then he found another man, and said, “Please strike me.” The man struck him and wounded him.

38. So the prophet departed, and waited for the king by the way, and disguised himself with his headband over his eyes.

39. As the king passed by, he cried to the king; and he said, “Your servant went out into the middle of the battle; and behold, a man turned aside, and brought a man to me, and said, ‘Guard this man! If by any means he is missing, then your life shall be for his life, or else you shall pay a talent of silver.’

40. As your servant was busy here and there, he was gone.” The king of Israel said to him, “So shall your judgment be. You yourself have decided it.”

41. He hurried, and took the headband away from his eyes; and the king of Israel recognized that he was one of the prophets.

42. He said to him, “Yahweh says, ‘Because you have let go out of your hand the man whom I had devoted to destruction, therefore your life will take the place of his life, and your people take the place of his people.’”

43. The king of Israel went to his house sullen and angry, and came to Samaria.