以利亞被接到天上

耶和華用旋風接以利亞升天之前,以利亞和以利沙正在離開吉甲的路上。 以利亞對以利沙說:「你留在這裡吧,耶和華吩咐我去伯特利。」以利沙說:「我憑永活的耶和華和你的性命起誓,我決不離開你。」於是二人前往伯特利。 伯特利的眾先知出來見以利沙,問他:「你知道耶和華今天要接走你師傅嗎?」他說:「我知道,請不要作聲。」

以利亞對以利沙說:「你留在這裡吧,耶和華差遣我去耶利哥。」以利沙說:「我憑永活的耶和華和你的性命起誓,我決不離開你。」於是二人前往耶利哥。 耶利哥的眾先知來見以利沙,問他:「你知道耶和華今天要接走你師傅嗎?」他說:「我知道,請不要作聲。」

以利亞對以利沙說:「你留在這裡吧,耶和華差遣我去約旦河。」以利沙說:「我憑永活的耶和華和你的性命起誓,我決不離開你。」於是二人繼續前行。 先知中有五十人跟他們來到約旦河,遠遠地站著,他們二人則站在河邊。 以利亞脫下外衣捲起來,用它擊打河水,水立即左右分開,二人腳踏乾地而過。

到對岸後,以利亞對以利沙說:「在我被接走之前,你要我為你做什麼?」以利沙說:「請將你的靈加倍地給我。」 10 以利亞說:「這是個很難的要求。不過,我被接走的時候,如果你看得見我,就可以得到,否則就得不到。」 11 他們邊走邊談,忽然有火馬拉的火車把他們二人隔開,以利亞乘著旋風升上了天。 12 以利沙見此情景,便喊道:「我父啊!我父啊!以色列的戰車和騎兵啊!」以利沙見以利亞消失在天空中,就悲傷地把自己的衣服撕成兩半。

13 他拿起以利亞身上掉下來的外衣,回到約旦河邊, 14 用它擊打河水,說:「以利亞的上帝耶和華在哪裡呢?」河水就左右分開,以利沙便過了河。

15 耶利哥的先知們從遠處看見他,就說:「以利亞的靈降在以利沙身上了。」他們就上前迎接,俯伏在他面前, 16 說:「僕人們這裡有五十個壯士,請讓他們去尋找你師傅吧,或許耶和華的靈把他放在某座山上或某個山谷裡了。」以利沙說:「你們不要派人去找了。」 17 他們再三懇求,以利沙難以推辭,就讓他們派人去了。他們派去了五十人,找了三天也沒有找到。 18 他們回來的時候,以利沙仍在耶利哥。他對他們說:「我不是早就告訴你們不要去嗎?」

以利沙行神蹟

19 耶利哥城的人對以利沙說:「我主,你看這城地勢很好,只是水不好,地裡長不出莊稼。」 20 以利沙說:「拿一個新碗裝些鹽給我。」他們就去照辦。 21 以利沙走到水源那裡,把鹽倒在水中說:「耶和華說,『我潔淨了這水,從此它不會再使人死亡,也不會再使土地貧瘠。』」 22 果然如以利沙所說,那裡的水變好了,直到如今。

23 以利沙從那裡去伯特利,正在趕路的時候,從城裡出來一群少年譏笑他說:「禿頭,上去吧!禿頭,上去吧!」 24 以利沙轉身看著他們,奉耶和華的名咒詛他們。林中隨即走出來兩隻母熊,咬死了其中的四十二個少年。 25 以利沙從伯特利上了迦密山,又從迦密山回到撒瑪利亞。

Elijah Taken Up to Heaven

When the Lord was about to take(A) Elijah up to heaven in a whirlwind,(B) Elijah and Elisha(C) were on their way from Gilgal.(D) Elijah said to Elisha, “Stay here;(E) the Lord has sent me to Bethel.”

But Elisha said, “As surely as the Lord lives and as you live, I will not leave you.”(F) So they went down to Bethel.

The company(G) of the prophets at Bethel came out to Elisha and asked, “Do you know that the Lord is going to take your master from you today?”

“Yes, I know,” Elisha replied, “so be quiet.”

Then Elijah said to him, “Stay here, Elisha; the Lord has sent me to Jericho.(H)

And he replied, “As surely as the Lord lives and as you live, I will not leave you.” So they went to Jericho.

The company(I) of the prophets at Jericho went up to Elisha and asked him, “Do you know that the Lord is going to take your master from you today?”

“Yes, I know,” he replied, “so be quiet.”

Then Elijah said to him, “Stay here;(J) the Lord has sent me to the Jordan.”(K)

And he replied, “As surely as the Lord lives and as you live, I will not leave you.”(L) So the two of them walked on.

Fifty men from the company of the prophets went and stood at a distance, facing the place where Elijah and Elisha had stopped at the Jordan. Elijah took his cloak,(M) rolled it up and struck(N) the water with it. The water divided(O) to the right and to the left, and the two of them crossed over on dry(P) ground.

When they had crossed, Elijah said to Elisha, “Tell me, what can I do for you before I am taken from you?”

“Let me inherit a double(Q) portion of your spirit,”(R) Elisha replied.

10 “You have asked a difficult thing,” Elijah said, “yet if you see me when I am taken from you, it will be yours—otherwise, it will not.”

11 As they were walking along and talking together, suddenly a chariot of fire(S) and horses of fire appeared and separated the two of them, and Elijah went up to heaven(T) in a whirlwind.(U) 12 Elisha saw this and cried out, “My father! My father! The chariots(V) and horsemen of Israel!” And Elisha saw him no more. Then he took hold of his garment and tore(W) it in two.

13 Elisha then picked up Elijah’s cloak that had fallen from him and went back and stood on the bank of the Jordan. 14 He took the cloak(X) that had fallen from Elijah and struck(Y) the water with it. “Where now is the Lord, the God of Elijah?” he asked. When he struck the water, it divided to the right and to the left, and he crossed over.

15 The company(Z) of the prophets from Jericho, who were watching, said, “The spirit(AA) of Elijah is resting on Elisha.” And they went to meet him and bowed to the ground before him. 16 “Look,” they said, “we your servants have fifty able men. Let them go and look for your master. Perhaps the Spirit(AB) of the Lord has picked him up(AC) and set him down on some mountain or in some valley.”

“No,” Elisha replied, “do not send them.”

17 But they persisted until he was too embarrassed(AD) to refuse. So he said, “Send them.” And they sent fifty men, who searched for three days but did not find him. 18 When they returned to Elisha, who was staying in Jericho, he said to them, “Didn’t I tell you not to go?”

Healing of the Water

19 The people of the city said to Elisha, “Look, our lord, this town is well situated, as you can see, but the water is bad and the land is unproductive.”

20 “Bring me a new bowl,” he said, “and put salt in it.” So they brought it to him.

21 Then he went out to the spring and threw(AE) the salt into it, saying, “This is what the Lord says: ‘I have healed this water. Never again will it cause death or make the land unproductive.’” 22 And the water has remained pure(AF) to this day, according to the word Elisha had spoken.

Elisha Is Jeered

23 From there Elisha went up to Bethel. As he was walking along the road, some boys came out of the town and jeered(AG) at him. “Get out of here, baldy!” they said. “Get out of here, baldy!” 24 He turned around, looked at them and called down a curse(AH) on them in the name(AI) of the Lord. Then two bears came out of the woods and mauled forty-two of the boys. 25 And he went on to Mount Carmel(AJ) and from there returned to Samaria.

Lorsque l'Éternel fit monter Élie au ciel dans un tourbillon, Élie partait de Guilgal avec Élisée.

Élie dit à Élisée: Reste ici, je te prie, car l'Éternel m'envoie jusqu'à Béthel. Élisée répondit: L'Éternel est vivant et ton âme est vivante! je ne te quitterai point. Et ils descendirent à Béthel.

Les fils des prophètes qui étaient à Béthel sortirent vers Élisée, et lui dirent: Sais-tu que l'Éternel enlève aujourd'hui ton maître au-dessus de ta tête? Et il répondit: Je le sais aussi; taisez-vous.

Élie lui dit: Élisée, reste ici, je te prie, car l'Éternel m'envoie à Jéricho. Il répondit: L'Éternel est vivant et ton âme est vivante! je ne te quitterai point. Et ils arrivèrent à Jéricho.

Les fils des prophètes qui étaient à Jéricho s'approchèrent d'Élisée, et lui dirent: Sais-tu que l'Éternel enlève aujourd'hui ton maître au-dessus de ta tête? Et il répondit: Je le sais aussi; taisez-vous.

Élie lui dit: Reste ici, je te prie, car l'Éternel m'envoie au Jourdain. Il répondit: L'Éternel est vivant et ton âme est vivante! je ne te quitterai point. Et ils poursuivirent tous deux leur chemin.

Cinquante hommes d'entre les fils des prophètes arrivèrent et s'arrêtèrent à distance vis-à-vis, et eux deux s'arrêtèrent au bord du Jourdain.

Alors Élie prit son manteau, le roula, et en frappa les eaux, qui se partagèrent çà et là, et ils passèrent tous deux à sec.

Lorsqu'ils eurent passé, Élie dit à Élisée: Demande ce que tu veux que je fasse pour toi, avant que je sois enlevé d'avec toi. Élisée répondit: Qu'il y ait sur moi, je te prie, une double portion de ton esprit!

10 Élie dit: Tu demandes une chose difficile. Mais si tu me vois pendant que je serai enlevé d'avec toi, cela t'arrivera ainsi; sinon, cela n'arrivera pas.

11 Comme ils continuaient à marcher en parlant, voici, un char de feu et des chevaux de feu les séparèrent l'un de l'autre, et Élie monta au ciel dans un tourbillon.

12 Élisée regardait et criait: Mon père! mon père! Char d'Israël et sa cavalerie! Et il ne le vit plus. Saisissant alors ses vêtements, il les déchira en deux morceaux,

13 et il releva le manteau qu'Élie avait laissé tomber. Puis il retourna, et s'arrêta au bord du Jourdain;

14 il prit le manteau qu'Élie avait laissé tomber, et il en frappa les eaux, et dit: Où est l'Éternel, le Dieu d'Élie? Lui aussi, il frappa les eaux, qui se partagèrent çà et là, et Élisée passa.

15 Les fils des prophètes qui étaient à Jéricho, vis-à-vis, l'ayant vu, dirent: L'esprit d'Élie repose sur Élisée! Et ils allèrent à sa rencontre, et se prosternèrent contre terre devant lui.

16 Ils lui dirent: Voici, il y a parmi tes serviteurs cinquante hommes vaillants; veux-tu qu'ils aillent chercher ton maître? Peut-être que l'esprit de l'Éternel l'a emporté et l'a jeté sur quelque montagne ou dans quelque vallée. Il répondit: Ne les envoyez pas.

17 Mais ils le pressèrent longtemps; et il dit: Envoyez-les. Ils envoyèrent les cinquante hommes, qui cherchèrent Élie pendant trois jours et ne le trouvèrent point.

18 Lorsqu'ils furent de retour auprès d'Élisée, qui était à Jéricho, il leur dit: Ne vous avais-je pas dit: N'allez pas?

19 Les gens de la ville dirent à Élisée: Voici, le séjour de la ville est bon, comme le voit mon seigneur; mais les eaux sont mauvaises, et le pays est stérile.

20 Il dit: Apportez-moi un plat neuf, et mettez-y du sel. Et ils le lui apportèrent.

21 Il alla vers la source des eaux, et il y jeta du sel, et dit: Ainsi parle l'Éternel: J'assainis ces eaux; il n'en proviendra plus ni mort, ni stérilité.

22 Et les eaux furent assainies, jusqu'à ce jour, selon la parole qu'Élisée avait prononcée.

23 Il monta de là à Béthel; et comme il cheminait à la montée, des petits garçons sortirent de la ville, et se moquèrent de lui. Ils lui disaient: Monte, chauve! monte, chauve!

24 Il se retourna pour les regarder, et il les maudit au nom de l'Éternel. Alors deux ours sortirent de la forêt, et déchirèrent quarante-deux de ces enfants.

25 De là il alla sur la montagne du Carmel, d'où il retourna à Samarie.

Elijah Ascends to Heaven

And it came to pass, when the Lord was about to (A)take up Elijah into heaven by a whirlwind, that Elijah went with (B)Elisha from Gilgal. Then Elijah said to Elisha, (C)“Stay here, please, for the Lord has sent me on to Bethel.”

But Elisha said, “As the Lord lives, and (D)as your soul lives, I will not leave you!” So they went down to Bethel.

Now (E)the sons of the prophets who were at Bethel came out to Elisha, and said to him, “Do you know that the Lord will take away your master [a]from over you today?”

And he said, “Yes, I know; keep silent!”

Then Elijah said to him, “Elisha, stay here, please, for the Lord has sent me on to Jericho.”

But he said, “As the Lord lives, and as your soul lives, I will not leave you!” So they came to Jericho.

Now the sons of the prophets who were at Jericho came to Elisha and said to him, “Do you know that the Lord will take away your master from over you today?”

So he answered, “Yes, I know; keep silent!”

Then Elijah said to him, “Stay here, please, for the Lord has sent me on to the Jordan.”

But he said, “As the Lord lives, and as your soul lives, I will not leave you!” So the two of them went on. And fifty men of the sons of the prophets went and stood facing them at a distance, while the two of them stood by the Jordan. Now Elijah took his mantle, rolled it up, and struck the water; and (F)it was divided this way and that, so that the two of them crossed over on dry (G)ground.

And so it was, when they had crossed over, that Elijah said to Elisha, “Ask! What may I do for you, before I am taken away from you?”

Elisha said, “Please let a double portion of your spirit be upon me.”

10 So he said, “You have asked a hard thing. Nevertheless, if you see me when I am taken from you, it shall be so for you; but if not, it shall not be so. 11 Then it happened, as they continued on and talked, that suddenly (H)a chariot of fire appeared with horses of fire, and separated the two of them; and Elijah (I)went up by a whirlwind into heaven.

12 And Elisha saw it, and he cried out, (J)“My father, my father, the chariot of Israel and its horsemen!” So he saw him no more. And he took hold of his own clothes and tore them into two pieces. 13 He also took up the mantle of Elijah that had fallen from him, and went back and stood by the bank of the Jordan. 14 Then he took the mantle of Elijah that had fallen from him, and struck the water, and said, “Where is the Lord God of Elijah?” And when he also had struck the water, (K)it was divided this way and that; and Elisha crossed over.

15 Now when the sons of the prophets who were (L)from[b] Jericho saw him, they said, “The spirit of Elijah rests on Elisha.” And they came to meet him, and bowed to the ground before him. 16 Then they said to him, “Look now, there are fifty strong men with your servants. Please let them go and search for your master, (M)lest perhaps the Spirit of the Lord has taken him up and cast him upon some mountain or into some valley.”

And he said, “You shall not send anyone.”

17 But when they urged him till he was (N)ashamed, he said, “Send them!” Therefore they sent fifty men, and they searched for three days but did not find him. 18 And when they came back to him, for he had stayed in Jericho, he said to them, “Did I not say to you, ‘Do not go’?”

Elisha Performs Miracles

19 Then the men of the city said to Elisha, “Please notice, the situation of this city is pleasant, as my lord sees; but the water is bad, and the ground barren.”

20 And he said, “Bring me a new bowl, and put salt in it.” So they brought it to him. 21 Then he went out to the source of the water, and (O)cast in the salt there, and said, “Thus says the Lord: ‘I have [c]healed this water; from it there shall be no more death or barrenness.’ ” 22 So the water remains (P)healed to this day, according to the word of Elisha which he spoke.

23 Then he went up from there to Bethel; and as he was going up the road, some youths came from the city and mocked him, and said to him, “Go up, you baldhead! Go up, you baldhead!”

24 So he turned around and looked at them, and (Q)pronounced a curse on them in the name of the Lord. And two female bears came out of the woods and mauled forty-two of the youths.

25 Then he went from there to (R)Mount Carmel, and from there he returned to Samaria.

Footnotes

  1. 2 Kings 2:3 Lit. from your head
  2. 2 Kings 2:15 Or at Jericho opposite him saw
  3. 2 Kings 2:21 purified