24. You call on the name of your god, and I will call on The LORD's name. The God who answers by fire, let him be God."All the people answered, "What you say is good."

25. ELIJAH said to the prophets of Baal, "Choose one bull for yourselves, and dress it first; for you are many; and call on the name of your god, but put no fire under it."

26. They took the bull which was given them, and they dressed it, and called on the name of Baal from morning even until noon, saying, "Baal, hear us!" But there was no voice, and nobody answered. They leaped about the altar which was made.

27. At noon, ELIJAH mocked them, and said, "Cry aloud; for he is a god. Either he is deep in thought, or he has gone somewhere, or he is on a journey, or perhaps he sleeps and must be awakened."

28. They cried aloud, and cut themselves in their way with knives and lances, until the blood gushed out on them.

29. When midday was past, they prophesied until the time of the evening offering; but there was no voice, no answer, and nobody paid attention.

30. ELIJAH said to all the people, "Come near to me!"; and all the people came near to him. He repaired The LORD's altar that had been thrown down.

31. ELIJAH took twelve stones, according to the number of the tribes of the sons of Jacob, to whom The LORD's word came, saying, "Israel shall be your name."

32. With the stones he built an altar in The LORD's name. He made a trench around the altar, large enough to contain two seahs of seed.

33. He put the wood in order, and cut the bull in pieces, and laid it on the wood. He said, "Fill four jars with water, and pour it on the burnt offering, and on the wood."

34. He said, "Do it a second time"; and they did it the second time. He said, "Do it a third time"; and they did it the third time.

35. The water ran around the altar; and he also filled the trench with water.

36. At the time of the evening offering, ELIJAH the prophet came near, and said, "The LORD, the God of Abraham, of Isaac, and of Israel, let it be known today that you are God in Israel, and that I am your servant, and that I have done all these things at your word.

37. Hear me, The LORD, hear me, that this people may know that you, The LORD, are God, and that you have turned their heart back again."

38. Then The LORD's fire fell, and consumed the burnt offering, the wood, the stones, and the dust, and licked up the water that was in the trench.