¹⁹ And the Lord said, “I will cause all my goodness to pass^(A) in front of you, and I will proclaim my name,^(B) the Lord, in your presence. I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion.^{(C) 20} But,” he said, “you cannot see my face, for no one may see^(D) me and live.”

²¹ Then the Lord said, “There is a place near me where you may stand on a rock. ²² When my glory passes by, I will put you in a cleft in the rock^(E) and cover you with my hand^(F) until I have passed by. ²³ Then I will remove my hand and you will see my back; but my face must not be seen.”

¹¹ The Lord said, “Go out and stand on the mountain^(A) in the presence of the Lord, for the Lord is about to pass by.”^(B)

Then a great and powerful wind^(C) tore the mountains apart and shattered^(D) the rocks before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake. ¹² After the earthquake came a fire,^(E) but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire came a gentle whisper.^{(F) 13} When Elijah heard it, he pulled his cloak over his face^(G) and went out and stood at the mouth of the cave.

Then a voice said to him, “What are you doing here, Elijah?”