| International Standard Version | NET Bible |
| 1Abraham traveled from there to the Negev and settled between Kadesh and Shur. While he was living in Gerar as an outsider, | 1Abraham journeyed from there to the Negev region and settled between Kadesh and Shur. While he lived as a temporary resident in Gerar, |
| 2because Abraham kept saying about his wife Sarah, "She is my sister," King Abimelech of Gerar summoned them and took Sarah into his household. | 2Abraham said about his wife Sarah, "She is my sister." So Abimelech, king of Gerar, sent for Sarah and took her. |
| 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!" | 3But God appeared to Abimelech in a dream at night and said to him, "You are as good as dead because of the woman you have taken, for she is someone else's wife." |
| 4Now Abimelech had not yet come near her, so he asked, "LORD, will you destroy an innocent nation? | 4Now Abimelech had not gone near her. He said, "Lord, would you really slaughter an innocent nation? |
| 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." | 5Did Abraham not say to me, 'She is my sister'? And she herself said, 'He is my brother.' I have done this with a clear conscience and with innocent hands!" |
| 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. | 6Then in the dream God replied to him, "Yes, I know that you have done this with a clear conscience. That is why I have kept you from sinning against me and why I did not allow you to touch her. |
| 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." | 7But now give back the man's wife. Indeed he is a prophet and he will pray for you; thus you will live. But if you don't give her back, know that you will surely die along with all who belong to you." |
| 8So Abimelech got up early the next morning, summoned all his servants, and told them all these things. The men became terrified. | 8Early in the morning Abimelech summoned all his servants. When he told them about all these things, they were terrified. |
| 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." | 9Abimelech summoned Abraham and said to him, "What have you done to us? What sin did I commit against you that would cause you to bring such great guilt on me and my kingdom? You have done things to me that should not be done!" |
| 10Abimelech also asked Abraham, "What could you have been thinking when you did this?" | 10Then Abimelech asked Abraham, "What prompted you to do this thing?" |
| 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. | 11Abraham replied, "Because I thought, 'Surely no one fears God in this place. They will kill me because of 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. | 12What's more, she is indeed my sister, my father's daughter, but not my mother's daughter. She became my wife. |
| 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.'" | 13When God made me wander from my father's house, I told her, 'This is what you can do to show your loyalty to me: Every place we go, say about me, "He is my brother."'" |
| 14So Abimelech took some sheep and oxen, and some male and female servants, gave them to Abraham, returned his wife Sarah to him, | 14So Abimelech gave sheep, cattle, and male and female servants to Abraham. He also gave his wife Sarah back to him. |
| 15and said, "Look! My land is available to you, so settle wherever you please." | 15Then Abimelech said, "Look, my land is before you; live wherever you please." |
| 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." | 16To Sarah he said, "Look, I have given a thousand pieces of silver to your 'brother.' This is compensation for you so that you will stand vindicated before all who are with you." |
| 17Then Abraham interceded with God, and God healed Abimelech, his wife, and his female servants so they could bear children, | 17Abraham prayed to God, and God healed Abimelech, as well as his wife and female slaves so that they were able to have children. |
| 18since the LORD had made all the women barren in Abimelech's household on account of Abraham's wife Sarah. | 18For the LORD had caused infertility to strike every woman in the household of Abimelech because he took Sarah, Abraham's wife. |
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