| Holman Christian Standard Bible | Christian Standard Bible |
| 1From there Abraham traveled to the region of the Negev and settled between Kadesh and Shur. While he lived in Gerar, | 1From there Abraham traveled to the region of the Negev and settled between Kadesh and Shur. While he was staying in Gerar, |
| 2Abraham said about his wife Sarah, "She is my sister." So Abimelech king of Gerar had Sarah brought to him. | 2Abraham said about his wife Sarah, "She is my sister." So King Abimelech of Gerar had Sarah brought to him. |
| 3But God came to Abimelech in a dream by night and said to him, "You are about to die because of the woman you have taken, for she is a married woman." | 3But God came to Abimelech in a dream by night and said to him, "You are about to die because of the woman you have taken, for she is a married woman." |
| 4Now Abimelech had not approached her, so he said, "Lord, would You destroy a nation even though it is innocent? | 4Now Abimelech had not approached her, so he said, "Lord, would you destroy a nation even though it is innocent? |
| 5Didn't he himself say to me, 'She is my sister? And she herself said, 'He is my brother.' I did this with a clear conscience and clean hands." | 5Didn't he himself say to me, 'She is my sister'? And she herself said, 'He is my brother.' I did this with a clear conscience and clean hands." |
| 6Then God said to him in the dream, "Yes, I know that you did this with a clear conscience. I have also kept you from sinning against Me. Therefore I have not let you touch her. | 6Then God said to him in the dream, "Yes, I know that you did this with a clear conscience. I have also kept you from sinning against me. Therefore I have 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, know that you will certainly die, you and all who are yours." | 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, know that you will certainly die, you and all who are yours." |
| 8Early in the morning Abimelech got up, called all his servants together, and personally told them all these things, and the men were terrified. | 8Early in the morning Abimelech got up, called all his servants together, and personally told them all these things, and the men were terrified. |
| 9Then Abimelech called Abraham in and said to him, "What have you done to us? How did I sin against you that you have brought such enormous guilt on me and on my kingdom? You have done things to me that should never be done." | 9Then Abimelech called Abraham in and said to him, "What have you done to us? How did I sin against you that you have brought such enormous guilt on me and on my kingdom? You have done things to me that should never be done." |
| 10Abimelech also said to Abraham, "What did you intend when you did this thing?" | 10Abimelech also asked Abraham, "What made you do this?" |
| 11Abraham replied, "I thought, 'There is absolutely no fear of God in this place. They will kill me because of my wife.' | 11Abraham replied, "I thought, 'There is absolutely no fear of God in this place. They will kill me because of my wife.' |
| 12Besides, she really is my sister, the daughter of my father though not the daughter of my mother, and she became my wife. | 12Besides, she really is my sister, the daughter of my father though not the daughter of my mother, and she became my wife. |
| 13So when God had me wander from my father's house, I said to her: Show your loyalty to me wherever we go and say about me: 'He's my brother.'" | 13So when God had me wander from my father's house, I said to her: Show your loyalty to me wherever we go and say about me: 'He's my brother.'" |
| 14Then Abimelech took sheep and cattle and male and female slaves, gave them to Abraham, and returned his wife Sarah to him. | 14Then Abimelech took flocks and herds and male and female slaves, gave them to Abraham, and returned his wife Sarah to him. |
| 15Abimelech said, "Look, my land is before you. Settle wherever you want." | 15Abimelech said, "Look, my land is before you. Settle wherever you want." |
| 16And he said to Sarah, "Look, I am giving your brother 1,000 pieces of silver. It is a verification of your honor to all who are with you. You are fully vindicated." | 16And he said to Sarah, "Look, I am giving your brother one thousand pieces of silver. It is a verification of your honor to all who are with you. You are fully vindicated." |
| 17Then Abraham prayed to God, and God healed Abimelech, his wife, and his female slaves so that they could bear children, | 17Then Abraham prayed to God, and God healed Abimelech, his wife, and his female slaves so that they could bear children, |
| 18for the LORD had completely closed all the wombs in Abimelech's household on account of Sarah, Abraham's wife. | 18for the LORD had completely closed all the wombs in Abimelech's household on account of Sarah, Abraham's wife. |
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