Elijah Taken to Heaven

2 Now it came about, when the Lord was about to ^(A)bring Elijah up by a ^[a]whirlwind to heaven, that Elijah left ^(B)Gilgal with ^(C)Elisha. ² And Elijah said to Elisha, “^(D)Stay here please, for the Lord has sent me as far as ^(E)Bethel.” But Elisha said, “^(F)As surely as the Lord lives and as you yourself live, I will not leave you.” So they went down to Bethel. ³ Then ^(G)the sons of the prophets who were at Bethel went out to Elisha and said to him, “Are you aware that the Lord will take away your master from over ^[b]you today?” And he said, “Yes, I am aware; say nothing about it.”

⁴ And Elijah said to him, “Elisha, please ^(H)stay here, for the Lord has sent me to ^(I)Jericho.” But he said, “^(J)As surely as the Lord lives, and as you yourself live, I will not leave you.” So they came to Jericho. ⁵ Then ^(K)the sons of the prophets who were at Jericho approached Elisha and said to him, “^(L)Do you know that the Lord will take away your master from over ^[c]you today?” And he ^[d]answered, “Yes, I know; say nothing about it.” ⁶ And Elijah said to him, “Please ^(M)stay here, for the Lord has sent me to ^(N)the Jordan.” But he said, “As surely as the Lord lives, and as you yourself live, I will not leave you.” So the two of them went on.

⁷ Now ^(O)fifty men of the sons of the prophets went and stood opposite them at a distance, while the two of them stood by the Jordan. ⁸ And Elijah ^(P)took his coat, folded it, and ^(Q)struck the waters, and they were divided here and there, so that the two of them crossed over on dry ground.

⁹ When they had crossed over, Elijah said to Elisha, “Ask me what I should do for you before I am taken from you.” And Elisha said, “Please let a ^(R)double portion of your spirit be upon me.” ¹⁰ He said, “You have asked a hard thing. Nevertheless, if you ^(S)see me when I am taken from you, it shall be so for you; but if not, it shall not be so.” ¹¹ And as they were walking along and talking, behold, ^(T)a chariot of fire appeared with horses of fire, and they separated the two of them. Then Elijah went up by a ^[e]whirlwind to heaven. ¹² And Elisha was watching it and he was crying out, “^(U)My father, my father, the chariot of Israel and its horsemen!” And he did not see ^[f]Elijah again. Then ^(V)he took hold of his own clothes and tore them in two pieces. ¹³ He also took up the coat of Elijah that had fallen from him, and he went back and stood by the bank of the Jordan. ¹⁴ Then he took the coat of Elijah that had fallen from him and struck the waters, and said, “Where is the Lord, the God of Elijah?” And when he also had ^(W)struck the waters, they were divided here and there; and Elisha crossed over.

¹⁹ for I know that this will turn out for my ^[a]deliverance ^(A)through your ^[b]prayers and the provision of ^(B)the Spirit of Jesus Christ, ²⁰ according to my ^(C)eager expectation and ^(D)hope, that I will not be put to shame in anything, but that with ^(E)all boldness, Christ will even now, as always, be ^(F)exalted in my body, ^(G)whether by life or by death.

To Live Is Christ

²¹ For to me, ^(H)to live is Christ, and to die is gain. ^22 [c]But if I am to live on in the flesh, this will mean ^(I)fruitful labor for me; and I do not know ^[d]which to choose. ²³ But I am hard-pressed from both directions, having the ^(J)desire to depart and ^(K)be with Christ, for that is very much better; ²⁴ yet to remain on in the flesh is more necessary for your sakes. ^25 (L)Convinced of this, I know that I will remain and continue with you all for your progress and joy ^[e]in the faith, ²⁶ so that your ^(M)pride in Christ Jesus may be abundant because of me by my coming to you again.