A reading from the book of first kings.

After many days, the word of the Lord came to Elijah, and the third year sang,

Go, show yourself to Ahab, and I will send rain upon the earth. So Elijah went to show himself to

Ahab. Now the famine was severe in Samaria, and Ahab called Obadiah, who was over the household.

Now Obadiah feared the Lord greatly, and when Jezebel cut off the prophets of the Lord,

Obadiah took a hundred prophets and hit them by 50s in a cave and fed them with bread and water.

And Ahab said to Obadiah,

Go through the land to all the springs of water and to all the valleys. Perhaps we may

find grass and save the horses and mules alive, and not lose some of the animals. So they

divided the land between them to pass through it. Ahab went in one direction by himself, and Obadiah went

in another direction by himself. And as Obadiah was on the way, behold, Elijah met him.

And Obadiah recognized him and fell on his face and said,

Is it you, my Lord, Elijah? And he answered him, it is I. Go, tell your Lord. Behold, Elijah is here.

And he said, How have I sin that you would give your servant into the hand of

Ahab to kill me? As the Lord your God lives, there is no nation or kingdom where my lord has not sent to

seek you. And when they would say, he is not here, he would take an oath of the kingdom or nation

that they had not found you. And now you say, go, tell your Lord, behold, Elijah is here.

And as soon as I have gone from you, the spirit of the Lord will carry you, I know not where.

And so when I come and tell Ahab and he cannot find you, he will kill me, although I your servant

have feared the Lord from my youth, has it not been told my Lord what I

did when Jezebel killed the prophets of the Lord, how I hid a hundred men of the Lord's prophets

by 50s in a cave, and fed them with bread and water? And now you say, go, tell your Lord,

...