1 N ow Abraham journeyed from there toward the South country (the Negeb) and dwelt between Kadesh and Shur; and he lived temporarily in Gerar.

Abraham traveled from there toward the land of the South, and lived between Kadesh and Shur. He lived as a foreigner in Gerar.

2 A nd Abraham said of Sarah his wife, She is my sister. And Abimelech king of Gerar sent and took Sarah.

Abraham said about Sarah his wife, “She is my sister.” Abimelech king of Gerar sent, and took Sarah.

3 B ut God came to Abimelech in a dream by night and said, Behold, you are a dead man because of the woman whom you have taken, for she is a man’s wife.

But God came to Abimelech in a dream of the night, and said to him, “Behold, you are a dead man, because of the woman whom you have taken. For she is a man’s wife.”

4 B ut Abimelech had not come near her, so he said, Lord, will you slay a people who are just and innocent?

Now Abimelech had not come near her. He said, “Lord, will you kill even a righteous nation?

5 D id not the man tell me, She is my sister? And she herself said, He is my brother. In integrity of heart and innocency of hands I have done this.

Didn’t he tell me, ‘She is my sister?’ She, even she herself, said, ‘He is my brother.’ In the integrity of my heart and the innocence of my hands have I done this.”

6 T hen God said to him in the dream, Yes, I know you did this in the integrity of your heart, for it was I Who kept you back and spared you from sinning against Me; therefore I did not give you occasion to touch her.

God said to him in the dream, “Yes, I know that in the integrity of your heart you have done this, and I also withheld you from sinning against me. Therefore I didn’t allow you to touch her.

7 S o now restore to the man his wife, for he is a prophet, and he will pray for you and you will live. But if you do not restore her, know that you shall surely die, you and all who are yours.

Now therefore, restore the man’s wife. For he is a prophet, and he will pray for you, and you will live. If you don’t restore her, know for sure that you will die, you, and all who are yours.”

8 S o Abimelech rose early in the morning and called all his servants and told them all these things; and the men were exceedingly filled with reverence and fear.

Abimelech rose early in the morning, and called all his servants, and told all these things in their ear. The men were very scared.

9 T hen Abimelech called Abraham and said to him, What have you done to us? And how have I offended you that you have brought on me and my kingdom a great sin? You have done to me what ought not to be done.

Then Abimelech called Abraham, and said to him, “What have you done to us? How have I sinned against you, that you have brought on me and on my kingdom a great sin? You have done deeds to me that ought not to be done!”

10 A nd Abimelech said to Abraham, What did you see that you in doing such a thing as this?

Abimelech said to Abraham, “What did you see, that you have done this thing?”

11 A nd Abraham said, Because I thought, Surely there is no reverence or fear of God at all in this place, and they will slay me because of my wife.

Abraham said, “Because I thought, ‘Surely the fear of God is not in this place. They will kill me for my wife’s sake.’

12 B ut truly, she is my sister; she is the daughter of my father but not of my mother; and she became my wife.

Besides, she is indeed my sister, the daughter of my father, but not the daughter of my mother; and she became my wife.

13 W hen God caused me to wander from my father’s house, I said to her, This kindness you can show me: at every place we stop, say of me, He is my brother.

When God caused me to wander from my father’s house, I said to her, ‘This is your kindness which you shall show to me. Everywhere that we go, say of me, “He is my brother.”’”

14 T hen Abimelech took sheep and oxen and male and female slaves and gave them to Abraham and restored to him Sarah his wife.

Abimelech took sheep and cattle, male servants and female servants, and gave them to Abraham, and restored Sarah, his wife, to him.

15 A nd Abimelech said, Behold, my land is before you; dwell wherever it pleases you.

Abimelech said, “Behold, my land is before you. Dwell where it pleases you.”

16 A nd to Sarah he said, Behold, I have given this brother of yours a thousand pieces of silver; see, it is to compensate you and to vindicate your honor before all who are with you; before all men you are cleared and compensated.

To Sarah he said, “Behold, I have given your brother a thousand pieces of silver. Behold, it is for you a covering of the eyes to all that are with you. In front of all you are vindicated.”

17 S o Abraham prayed to God, and God healed Abimelech and his wife and his female slaves, and they bore children,

Abraham prayed to God. God healed Abimelech, and his wife, and his female servants, and they bore children.

18 F or the Lord had closed fast the wombs of all in Abimelech’s household because of Sarah, Abraham’s wife.

For Yahweh had closed up tight all the wombs of the house of Abimelech, because of Sarah, Abraham’s wife.