1 Kings 22:19-28

New International Version

¹⁹ Micaiah continued, “Therefore hear the word of the Lord: I saw the Lord sitting on his throne^(A) with all the multitudes^(B) of heaven standing around him on his right and on his left. ²⁰ And the Lord said, ‘Who will entice Ahab into attacking Ramoth Gilead and going to his death there?’

“One suggested this, and another that. ²¹ Finally, a spirit came forward, stood before the Lord and said, ‘I will entice him.’

²² “‘By what means?’ the Lord asked.

“‘I will go out and be a deceiving^(C) spirit in the mouths of all his prophets,’ he said.

“‘You will succeed in enticing him,’ said the Lord. ‘Go and do it.’

²³ “So now the Lord has put a deceiving^(D) spirit in the mouths of all these prophets^(E) of yours. The Lord has decreed disaster^(F) for you.”

²⁴ Then Zedekiah^(G) son of Kenaanah went up and slapped^(H) Micaiah in the face. “Which way did the spirit from^[a] the Lord go when he went from me to speak^(I) to you?” he asked.

²⁵ Micaiah replied, “You will find out on the day you go to hide^(J) in an inner room.”

²⁶ The king of Israel then ordered, “Take Micaiah and send him back to Amon the ruler of the city and to Joash the king’s son ²⁷ and say, ‘This is what the king says: Put this fellow in prison^(K) and give him nothing but bread and water until I return safely.’”

²⁸ Micaiah declared, “If you ever return safely, the Lord has not spoken^(L) through me.” Then he added, “Mark my words, all you people!”