Then he said,"I have beenveryzealousfor the LORD,the Godof hosts;for the sonsof Israelhave forsakenYour covenant,torndownYour altarsand killedYour prophetswith the sword.And I aloneam left;and they seekmy life,to takeit away."
Then Elijahsaidto the people,"I aloneam lefta prophetof the LORD,but Baal'sprophetsare 450men.
Then Elijahsaidto allthe people,"Comenearto me." So allthe peoplecamenearto him. And he repairedthe altarof the LORDwhich had been torndown.
For their heartwas not steadfasttowardHim, Norwere they faithfulin His covenant.
Alas,sinfulnation,Peopleweigheddownwith iniquity,Offspringof evildoers,Sonswho actcorruptly!They have abandonedthe LORD,They have despisedthe HolyOneof Israel,They have turnedawayfrom Him.
For Zion'ssakeI will not keepsilent,And for Jerusalem'ssakeI will not keepquiet,Untilher righteousnessgoesforthlike brightness,And her salvationlike a torchthat is burning.
"Then they will answer,'Becausethey forsookthe covenantof the LORDtheir Godand boweddownto othergodsand servedthem.'"
"For shipsof Kittimwill comeagainst him; therefore he will be disheartenedand will returnand becomeenragedat the holycovenantand takeaction;so he will comebackand showregardfor those who forsakethe holycovenant.
"But [even] if[He does] not, let it be knownto you, O king,that we are not going to serveyour godsor worshipthe goldenimagethat you have setup."
But like Adamthey have transgressedthe covenant;Therethey have dealttreacherouslyagainst Me.
"Lord,THEY HAVE KILLEDYOUR PROPHETS,THEY HAVE TORN DOWNYOUR ALTARS,AND I ALONEAM LEFT,AND THEY ARE SEEKINGMY LIFE."
"Then [men] will say,Becausethey forsookthe covenantof the LORD,the Godof their fathers,whichHe madewith them when He broughtthem out of the landof Egypt.
"For when I bringthem into the landflowingwith milkand honey,whichI sworeto their fathers,and they have eatenand are satisfiedand becomeprosperous,then they will turnto othergodsand servethem, and spurnMe and breakMy covenant.
NOT LIKETHE COVENANTWHICHI MADEWITH THEIR FATHERSON THE DAYWHEN I TOOKTHEM BY THE HANDTO LEADTHEM OUT OF THE LANDOF EGYPT;FOR THEY DID NOT CONTINUEIN MY COVENANT,AND I DID NOT CAREFOR THEM, SAYSTHE LORD.
