| International Standard Version | New International Version |
| 1Abraham traveled from there to the Negev and settled between Kadesh and Shur. While he was living in Gerar as an outsider, | 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, |
| 2because Abraham kept saying about his wife Sarah, "She is my sister," King Abimelech of Gerar summoned them and took Sarah into his household. | 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 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 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 yet come near her, so he asked, "LORD, will you destroy an innocent nation? | 4Now Abimelek had not gone near her, so he said, "Lord, will you destroy 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 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 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 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 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." | 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." |
| 8So Abimelech got up early the next morning, summoned all his servants, and told them all these things. The men became 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 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." | 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 asked Abraham, "What could you have been thinking when you did this?" | 10And Abimelek asked Abraham, "What was your reason for doing this?" |
| 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, "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—she's my father's daughter, but not my mother's daughter—so she could become my wife. | 12Besides, she really is my sister, the daughter of my father though not of my mother; and 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.'" | 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."'" |
| 14So Abimelech took some sheep and oxen, and some male and female servants, gave them to Abraham, 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. |
| 15and said, "Look! My land is available to you, so settle wherever you please." | 15And Abimelek said, "My land is before you; live wherever you like." |
| 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, "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 interceded with God, and God healed Abimelech, his wife, and his female servants so 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, |
| 18since the LORD had made all the women barren in Abimelech's household on account of Abraham's wife Sarah. | 18for the LORD had kept all the women in Abimelek's household from conceiving because of Abraham's wife Sarah. |
The Holy Bible: International Standard Version® Release 2.1 Copyright © 1996-2012 The ISV Foundation
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED INTERNATIONALLY. | 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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