| Holman Christian Standard Bible | International Standard Version |
| 1From there Abraham traveled to the region of the Negev and settled between Kadesh and Shur. While he lived in Gerar, | 1Abraham traveled from there to the Negev and settled between Kadesh and Shur. While he was living in Gerar as an outsider, |
| 2Abraham said about his wife Sarah, "She is my sister." So Abimelech king of Gerar had Sarah brought to him. | 2because Abraham kept saying about his wife Sarah, "She is my sister," King Abimelech of Gerar summoned them and took Sarah into his household. |
| 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 during the night and spoke to him, "Pay attention! You're about to die, because the woman you have taken is a man's wife!" |
| 4Now Abimelech had not approached her, so he said, "Lord, would You destroy a nation even though it is innocent? | 4Now Abimelech had not yet come near her, so he asked, "LORD, will you destroy an innocent nation? |
| 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 say to me, 'She's my sister'? And she also said, 'He's my brother.' I did this with pure intentions 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 replied to him in the dream, "I know that you did this with pure intentions, and it was I who kept you from sinning against me. Therefore, I didn't allow you to 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 then, return the man's wife. As a matter of fact, he's a prophet and can intercede for you so you'll live. But if you don't return her, be aware that you and all who are yours will certainly die." |
| 8Early in the morning Abimelech got up, called all his servants together, and personally told them all these things, and the men were terrified. | 8So Abimelech got up early the next morning, summoned all his servants, and told them all these things. The men became 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 and asked him, "What have you done to us? How have I sinned against you, that you have brought such great sin against me and my kingdom? You've done things to me that ought not to have been done." |
| 10Abimelech also said to Abraham, "What did you intend when you did this thing?" | 10Abimelech also asked Abraham, "What could you have been thinking when you did this?" |
| 11Abraham replied, "I thought, 'There is absolutely no fear of God in this place. They will kill me because of my wife.' | 11"I thought that there's no fear of God in this place," Abraham replied, "and that they would 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—she's my father's daughter, but not my mother's daughter—so she could become 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.'" | 13When God caused me to journey from my father's house, I asked her to do me this favor and say, '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. | 14So Abimelech took some sheep and oxen, and some male and female servants, gave them to Abraham, returned his wife Sarah to him, |
| 15Abimelech said, "Look, my land is before you. Settle wherever you want." | 15and said, "Look! My land is available to you, so settle wherever you please." |
| 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." | 16Abimelech also told Sarah, "Look! I am giving your brother 1,000 pieces of silver to vindicate you in the eyes of all who are with you. As a result, you will be completely vindicated." |
| 17Then Abraham prayed to God, and God healed Abimelech, his wife, and his female slaves so that they could bear children, | 17Then Abraham interceded with God, and God healed Abimelech, his wife, and his female servants so they could bear children, |
| 18for the LORD had completely closed all the wombs in Abimelech's household on account of Sarah, Abraham's wife. | 18since the LORD had made all the women barren in Abimelech's household on account of Abraham's wife Sarah. |
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