1After these things the word of the LORD came to Abram in a vision: "Fear not, Abram! I am your shield and the one who will reward you in great abundance." | 1After these things the word of the LORD came to Abram in a vision: "Fear not, Abram! I am your shield and the one who will reward you in great abundance." |
2But Abram said, "O sovereign LORD, what will you give me since I continue to be childless, and my heir is Eliezer of Damascus?" | 2But Abram said, "O sovereign LORD, what will you give me since I continue to be childless, and my heir is Eliezer of Damascus?" |
3Abram added, "Since you have not given me a descendant, then look, one born in my house will be my heir!" | 3Abram added, "Since you have not given me a descendant, then look, one born in my house will be my heir!" |
4But look, the word of the LORD came to him: "This man will not be your heir, but instead a son who comes from your own body will be your heir." | 4But look, the word of the LORD came to him: "This man will not be your heir, but instead a son who comes from your own body will be your heir." |
5The LORD took him outside and said, "Gaze into the sky and count the stars--if you are able to count them!" Then he said to him, "So will your descendants be." | 5The LORD took him outside and said, "Gaze into the sky and count the stars--if you are able to count them!" Then he said to him, "So will your descendants be." |
6Abram believed the LORD, and the LORD considered his response of faith as proof of genuine loyalty. | 6Abram believed the LORD, and the LORD considered his response of faith as proof of genuine loyalty. |
7The LORD said to him, "I am the LORD who brought you out from Ur of the Chaldeans to give you this land to possess." | 7The LORD said to him, "I am the LORD who brought you out from Ur of the Chaldeans to give you this land to possess." |
8But Abram said, "O sovereign LORD, by what can I know that I am to possess it?" | 8But Abram said, "O sovereign LORD, by what can I know that I am to possess it?" |
9The LORD said to him, "Take for me a heifer, a goat, and a ram, each three years old, along with a dove and a young pigeon." | 9The LORD said to him, "Take for me a heifer, a goat, and a ram, each three years old, along with a dove and a young pigeon." |
10So Abram took all these for him and then cut them in two and placed each half opposite the other, but he did not cut the birds in half. | 10So Abram took all these for him and then cut them in two and placed each half opposite the other, but he did not cut the birds in half. |
11When birds of prey came down on the carcasses, Abram drove them away. | 11When birds of prey came down on the carcasses, Abram drove them away. |
12When the sun went down, Abram fell sound asleep, and great terror overwhelmed him. | 12When the sun went down, Abram fell sound asleep, and great terror overwhelmed him. |
13Then the LORD said to Abram, "Know for certain that your descendants will be strangers in a foreign country. They will be enslaved and oppressed for four hundred years. | 13Then the LORD said to Abram, "Know for certain that your descendants will be strangers in a foreign country. They will be enslaved and oppressed for four hundred years. |
14But I will execute judgment on the nation that they will serve. Afterward they will come out with many possessions. | 14But I will execute judgment on the nation that they will serve. Afterward they will come out with many possessions. |
15But as for you, you will go to your ancestors in peace and be buried at a good old age. | 15But as for you, you will go to your ancestors in peace and be buried at a good old age. |
16In the fourth generation your descendants will return here, for the sin of the Amorites has not yet reached its limit." | 16In the fourth generation your descendants will return here, for the sin of the Amorites has not yet reached its limit." |
17When the sun had gone down and it was dark, a smoking firepot with a flaming torch passed between the animal parts. | 17When the sun had gone down and it was dark, a smoking firepot with a flaming torch passed between the animal parts. |
18That day the LORD made a covenant with Abram: "To your descendants I give this land, from the river of Egypt to the great river, the Euphrates River-- | 18That day the LORD made a covenant with Abram: "To your descendants I give this land, from the river of Egypt to the great river, the Euphrates River-- |
19the land of the Kenites, Kenizzites, Kadmonites, | 19the land of the Kenites, Kenizzites, Kadmonites, |
20Hittites, Perizzites, Rephaites, | 20Hittites, Perizzites, Rephaites, |
21Amorites, Canaanites, Girgashites, and Jebusites." | 21Amorites, Canaanites, Girgashites, and Jebusites." |
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