| New International Version | English Standard Version |
| 1Now Abraham moved on from there into the region of the Negev and lived between Kadesh and Shur. For a while he stayed in Gerar, | 1From there Abraham journeyed toward the territory of the Negeb and lived between Kadesh and Shur; and he sojourned in Gerar. |
| 2and there Abraham said of his wife Sarah, "She is my sister." Then Abimelek king of Gerar sent for Sarah and took her. | 2And Abraham said of Sarah his wife, “She is my sister.” And Abimelech king of Gerar sent and took Sarah. |
| 3But God came to Abimelek in a dream one night and said to him, "You are as good as dead because of the woman you have taken; she is a married woman." | 3But God came to Abimelech in a dream by night and said to him, “Behold, you are a dead man because of the woman whom you have taken, for she is a man’s wife.” |
| 4Now Abimelek had not gone near her, so he said, "Lord, will you destroy an innocent nation? | 4Now Abimelech had not approached her. So he said, “Lord, will you kill an innocent people? |
| 5Did he not say to me, 'She is my sister,' and didn't she also say, 'He is my brother'? I have done this with a clear conscience and clean hands." | 5Did he not himself say to me, ‘She is my sister’? And she herself said, ‘He is my brother.’ In the integrity of my heart and the innocence of my hands I have done this.” |
| 6Then God said to him in the dream, "Yes, I know you did this with a clear conscience, and so I have kept you from sinning against me. That is why I did not let you touch her. | 6Then God said to him in the dream, “Yes, I know that you have done this in the integrity of your heart, and it was I who kept you from sinning against me. Therefore I did not let you touch her. |
| 7Now return the man's wife, for he is a prophet, and he will pray for you and you will live. But if you do not return her, you may be sure that you and all who belong to you will die." | 7Now then, return the man’s wife, for he is a prophet, so that he will pray for you, and you shall live. But if you do not return her, know that you shall surely die, you and all who are yours.” |
| 8Early the next morning Abimelek summoned all his officials, and when he told them all that had happened, they were very much afraid. | 8So Abimelech rose early in the morning and called all his servants and told them all these things. And the men were very much afraid. |
| 9Then Abimelek called Abraham in and said, "What have you done to us? How have I wronged you that you have brought such great guilt upon me and my kingdom? You have done things to me that should never be done." | 9Then Abimelech called Abraham and said to him, “What have you done to us? And how have I sinned against you, that you have brought on me and my kingdom a great sin? You have done to me things that ought not to be done.” |
| 10And Abimelek asked Abraham, "What was your reason for doing this?" | 10And Abimelech said to Abraham, “What did you see, that you did this thing?” |
| 11Abraham replied, "I said to myself, 'There is surely no fear of God in this place, and they will kill me because of my wife.' | 11Abraham said, “I did it because I thought, ‘There is no fear of God at all in this place, and they will kill me because of my wife.’ |
| 12Besides, she really is my sister, the daughter of my father though not of my mother; and she became my wife. | 12Besides, she is indeed my sister, the daughter of my father though not the daughter of my mother, and she became my wife. |
| 13And when God had me wander from my father's household, I said to her, 'This is how you can show your love to me: Everywhere we go, say of me, "He is my brother."'" | 13And when God caused me to wander from my father’s house, I said to her, ‘This is the kindness you must do me: at every place to which we come, say of me, “He is my brother.”’” |
| 14Then Abimelek brought sheep and cattle and male and female slaves and gave them to Abraham, and he returned Sarah his wife to him. | 14Then Abimelech took sheep and oxen, and male servants and female servants, and gave them to Abraham, and returned Sarah his wife to him. |
| 15And Abimelek said, "My land is before you; live wherever you like." | 15And Abimelech said, “Behold, my land is before you; dwell where it pleases you.” |
| 16To Sarah he said, "I am giving your brother a thousand shekels of silver. This is to cover the offense against you before all who are with you; you are completely vindicated." | 16To Sarah he said, “Behold, I have given your brother a thousand pieces of silver. It is a sign of your innocence in the eyes of all who are with you, and before everyone you are vindicated.” |
| 17Then Abraham prayed to God, and God healed Abimelek, his wife and his female slaves so they could have children again, | 17Then Abraham prayed to God, and God healed Abimelech, and also healed his wife and female slaves so that they bore children. |
| 18for the LORD had kept all the women in Abimelek's household from conceiving because of Abraham's wife Sarah. | 18For the LORD had closed all the wombs of the house of Abimelech because of Sarah, Abraham’s wife. |
| New International Version (NIV) Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide. | ESV Text Edition: 2016. The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®) copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. The ESV® text has been reproduced in cooperation with and by permission of Good News Publishers. Unauthorized reproduction of this publication is prohibited. All rights reserved. |
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