1 A fter these things, the word of the Lord came to Abram in a vision, saying, Fear not, Abram, I am your Shield, your abundant compensation, and your reward shall be exceedingly great.

After these things Yahweh’s word came to Abram in a vision, saying, “Don’t be afraid, Abram. I am your shield, your exceedingly great reward.”

2 A nd Abram said, Lord God, what can You give me, since I am going on childless and he who shall be the owner and heir of my house is this Eliezer of Damascus?

Abram said, “Lord Yahweh, what will you give me, since I go childless, and he who will inherit my estate is Eliezer of Damascus?”

3 A nd Abram continued, Look, You have given me no child; and born in my house is my heir.

Abram said, “Behold, to me you have given no children: and, behold, one born in my house is my heir.”

4 A nd behold, the word of the Lord came to him, saying, This man shall not be your heir, but he who shall come from your own body shall be your heir.

Behold, Yahweh’s word came to him, saying, “This man will not be your heir, but he who will come out of your own body will be your heir.”

5 A nd He brought him outside and said, Look now toward the heavens and count the stars—if you are able to number them. Then He said to him, So shall your descendants be.

Yahweh brought him outside, and said, “Look now toward the sky, and count the stars, if you are able to count them.” He said to Abram, “So will your offspring be.”

6 A nd he believed in (trusted in, relied on, remained steadfast to) the Lord, and He counted it to him as righteousness (right standing with God).

He believed in Yahweh, who credited it to him for righteousness.

7 A nd He said to him, I am the Lord, Who brought you out of Ur of the Chaldees to give you this land as an inheritance.

He said to Abram, “I am Yahweh who brought you out of Ur of the Chaldees, to give you this land to inherit it.”

8 B ut he said, Lord God, by what shall I know that I shall inherit it?

He said, “Lord Yahweh, how will I know that I will inherit it?”

9 A nd He said to him, Bring to Me a heifer three years old, a she-goat three years old, a ram three years old, a turtledove, and a young pigeon.

He said to him, “Bring me a heifer three years old, a female goat three years old, a ram three years old, a turtledove, and a young pigeon.”

10 A nd he brought Him all these and cut them down the middle and laid each half opposite the other; but the birds he did not divide.

He brought him all these, and divided them in the middle, and laid each half opposite the other; but he didn’t divide the birds.

11 A nd when the birds of prey swooped down upon the carcasses, Abram drove them away.

The birds of prey came down on the carcasses, and Abram drove them away.

12 W hen the sun was setting, a deep sleep overcame Abram, and a horror (a terror, a shuddering fear) of great darkness assailed and oppressed him.

When the sun was going down, a deep sleep fell on Abram. Now terror and great darkness fell on him.

13 A nd said to Abram, Know positively that your descendants will be strangers dwelling as temporary residents in a land that is not theirs, and they will be slaves there and will be afflicted and oppressed for 400 years.

He said to Abram, “Know for sure that your offspring will live as foreigners in a land that is not theirs, and will serve them. They will afflict them four hundred years.

14 B ut I will bring judgment on that nation whom they will serve, and afterward they will come out with great possessions.

I will also judge that nation, whom they will serve. Afterward they will come out with great wealth,

15 A nd you shall go to your fathers in peace; you shall be buried at a good old (hoary) age.

but you will go to your fathers in peace. You will be buried at a good old age.

16 A nd in the fourth generation they shall come back here again, for the iniquity of the Amorites is not yet full and complete.

In the fourth generation they will come here again, for the iniquity of the Amorite is not yet full.”

17 W hen the sun had gone down and a darkness had come on, behold, a smoking oven and a flaming torch passed between those pieces.

It came to pass that, when the sun went down, and it was dark, behold, a smoking furnace, and a flaming torch passed between these pieces.

18 O n the same day the Lord made a covenant (promise, pledge) with Abram, saying, To your descendants I have given this land, from the river of Egypt to the great river Euphrates—the land of

In that day Yahweh made a covenant with Abram, saying, “I have given this land to your offspring, from the river of Egypt to the great river, the river Euphrates:

19 T he Kenites, the Kenizzites, the Kadmonites,

the Kenites, the Kenizzites, the Kadmonites,

20 T he Hittites, the Perizzites, the Rephaim,

the Hittites, the Perizzites, the Rephaim,

21 T he Amorites, the Canaanites, the Girgashites, and the Jebusites.

the Amorites, the Canaanites, the Girgashites, and the Jebusites.”