1. And behold, by the word of the Lord, a man of God went from Judah to Bethel, when Jeroboam was standing over the altar, and burning incense.
2. And by the word of the Lord, he cried out against the altar. And he said: "O altar, O altar! Thus says the Lord: 'Behold, a son will be born to the house of David, Josiah by name. And upon you, he will immolate the priests of the high places, who now burn incense upon you. And upon you, he will burn up the bones of men.' "
3. And he gave a sign on the same day, saying: "This will be the sign that the Lord has spoken. Behold, the altar shall be torn apart, and the ashes that are upon it shall be poured out."
4. And when the king had heard the word of the man of God, which he had cried out against the altar at Bethel, he extended his hand from the altar, saying, "Apprehend him!" But his hand, which he had extended against him, withered. And he was unable to draw it back to himself.
5. Also, the altar was torn apart, and the ashes were poured out from the altar, in accord with the sign that the man of God had predicted by the word of the Lord.
6. And the king said to the man of God, "Entreat the face of the Lord your God, and pray for me, so that my hand may be restored to me." And the man of God prayed before the face of the Lord, and the hand of the king was restored to him, and it became as it had been before.
7. Then the king said to the man of God: "Come home with me, so that you may dine. And I will give you gifts."
8. And the man of God responded to the king: "Even if you will give me one half part of your house, I will not go with you, nor eat bread, nor drink water in this place.
9. For so it was commanded to me by the word of the Lord, ordering: 'You shall not eat bread, and you shall not drink water, nor shall you return by the way that you came.' "