The Message Bible MSG
New International Version NIV
2 God then told Elijah,
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Then the word of the LORD came to Elijah:
3 "Get out of here, and fast. Head east and hide out at the Kerith Ravine on the other side of the Jordan River.
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“Leave here, turn eastward and hide in the Kerith Ravine, east of the Jordan.
4 You can drink fresh water from the brook; I've ordered the ravens to feed you."
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You will drink from the brook, and I have directed the ravens to supply you with food there.”
5 Elijah obeyed God's orders. He went and camped in the Kerith canyon on the other side of the Jordan.
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So he did what the LORD had told him. He went to the Kerith Ravine, east of the Jordan, and stayed there.
6 And sure enough, ravens brought him his meals, both breakfast and supper, and he drank from the brook.
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The ravens brought him bread and meat in the morning and bread and meat in the evening, and he drank from the brook.
7 Eventually the brook dried up because of the drought.
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Some time later the brook dried up because there had been no rain in the land.
8 Then God spoke to him:
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Then the word of the LORD came to him:
9 "Get up and go to Zarephath in Sidon and live there. I've instructed a woman who lives there, a widow, to feed you."
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“Go at once to Zarephath in the region of Sidon and stay there. I have directed a widow there to supply you with food.”
10 So he got up and went to Zarephath. As he came to the entrance of the village he met a woman, a widow, gathering firewood. He asked her, "Please, would you bring me a little water in a jug? I need a drink."
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So he went to Zarephath. When he came to the town gate, a widow was there gathering sticks. He called to her and asked, “Would you bring me a little water in a jar so I may have a drink?”
11 As she went to get it, he called out, "And while you're at it, would you bring me something to eat?"
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As she was going to get it, he called, “And bring me, please, a piece of bread.”
12 She said, "I swear, as surely as your God lives, I don't have so much as a biscuit. I have a handful of flour in a jar and a little oil in a bottle; you found me scratching together just enough firewood to make a last meal for my son and me. After we eat it, we'll die."
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“As surely as the LORD your God lives,” she replied, “I don’t have any bread—only a handful of flour in a jar and a little olive oil in a jug. I am gathering a few sticks to take home and make a meal for myself and my son, that we may eat it—and die.”
Published by permission. Originally published by NavPress in English as THE MESSAGE: The Bible in Contemporary Language copyright 2002 by Eugene Peterson. All rights reserved.
Scripture quoted by permission. Quotations designated (NIV) are from THE HOLY BIBLE: NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®. NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica. All rights reserved worldwide.