| Holman Christian Standard Bible | New International Version |
| 1From there Abraham traveled to the region of the Negev and settled between Kadesh and Shur. While he lived in Gerar, | 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, |
| 2Abraham said about his wife Sarah, "She is my sister." So Abimelech king of Gerar had Sarah brought to him. | 2and there Abraham said of his wife Sarah, "She is my sister." Then Abimelek king of Gerar sent for Sarah and took her. |
| 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 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." |
| 4Now Abimelech had not approached her, so he said, "Lord, would You destroy a nation even though it is innocent? | 4Now Abimelek had not gone near her, so he said, "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." | 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." |
| 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 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. |
| 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, you may be sure that you and all who belong to you will 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. | 8Early the next morning Abimelek summoned all his officials, and when he told them all that had happened, they were very much afraid. |
| 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 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." |
| 10Abimelech also said to Abraham, "What did you intend when you did this thing?" | 10And Abimelek asked Abraham, "What was your reason for doing 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 said to myself, 'There is surely no fear of God 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 the daughter of my mother, and she became my wife. | 12Besides, she really is my sister, the daughter of my father though not 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.'" | 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."'" |
| 14Then Abimelech took sheep and cattle and male and female slaves, gave them to Abraham, and returned his wife Sarah to him. | 14Then Abimelek brought sheep and cattle and male and female slaves and gave them to Abraham, and he returned Sarah his wife to him. |
| 15Abimelech said, "Look, my land is before you. Settle wherever you want." | 15And Abimelek said, "My land is before you; live wherever you like." |
| 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." | 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." |
| 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 Abimelek, his wife and his female slaves so they could have children again, |
| 18for the LORD had completely closed all the wombs in Abimelech's household on account of Sarah, Abraham's wife. | 18for the LORD had kept all the women in Abimelek's household from conceiving because of Abraham's wife Sarah. |
| Holman Christian Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2009 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission. | 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. |
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