Genesis, 20

1. Abraham left there for the region of the Negeb, and settled between Kadesh and Shur. While staying in Gerar,

1. From there Abraham journeyed toward the territory of the Negeb, and dwelt between Kadesh and Shur; and he sojourned in Gerar.

2. Abraham said of his wife Sarah, 'She is my sister,' and Abimelech the king of Gerar had Sarah brought to him.

2. And Abraham said of Sarah his wife, "She is my sister." And Abim'elech king of Gerar sent and took Sarah.

3. But God visited Abimelech in a dream one night. 'You are to die,' he told him, 'because of the woman you have taken, for she is a married woman.'

3. But God came to Abim'elech in a dream by 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. Abimelech, however, had not gone near her; so he said, 'Lord, would you kill someone even if he is upright?

4. Now Abim'elech had not approached her; so he said, "Lord, wilt thou slay an innocent people?

5. Did he not tell me himself, "She is my sister"? And she herself said, "He is my brother." I did this with a clear conscience and clean hands.'

5. Did he not himself say to me, `She is my sister'? And she herself said, `He is my brother.' In the integrity of my heart and the innocence of my hands I have done this."

6. 'Yes, I know,' God replied in the dream, 'that you did this with a clear conscience and I myself prevented you from sinning against me. That was why I did not let you touch her.

6. Then God said to him in the dream, "Yes, I know that you have done this in the integrity of your heart, and it was I who kept you from sinning against me; therefore I did not let you touch her.

7. Now send the man's wife back; for he is a prophet and can intercede on your behalf for your life. But understand that if you do not send her back, this means death for you and all yours.'

7. Now then restore the man's wife; for he is a prophet, and he will pray for you, and you shall live. But if you do not restore her, know that you shall surely die, you, and all that are yours."

8. Early next morning, Abimelech summoned his full court and told them the whole story, at which the people were very much afraid.

8. So Abim'elech rose early in the morning, and called all his servants, and told them all these things; and the men were very much afraid.

9. Then summoning Abraham, Abimelech said to him, 'What have you done to us? What wrong have I done you, for you to bring such guilt on me and on my kingdom? You had no right to treat me like this.'

9. Then Abim'elech called Abraham, and said to him, "What have you done to us? And how have I sinned against you, that you have brought on me and my kingdom a great sin? You have done to me things that ought not to be done."

10. Abimelech then said to Abraham, 'What possessed you to do such a thing?'

10. And Abim'elech said to Abraham, "What were you thinking of, that you did this thing?"

11. 'Because', Abraham replied, 'I thought there would be no fear of God here and that I should be killed for the sake of my wife.

11. Abraham said, "I did it because I thought, There is no fear of God at all in this place, and they will kill me because of my wife.

12. Anyway, she really is my sister, my father's daughter though not my mother's, besides being my wife.

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

13. So when God made me wander far from my father's home I said to her, "There is an act of love you can do me: everywhere we go, say of me that I am your brother." '

13. And when God caused me to wander from my father's house, I said to her, `This is the kindness you must do me: at every place to which we come, say of me, He is my brother.'"

14. Abimelech took sheep, cattle, men and women slaves, and presented them to Abraham, and gave him back his wife Sarah.

14. Then Abim'elech took sheep and oxen, and male and female slaves, and gave them to Abraham, and restored Sarah his wife to him.

15. And Abimelech said, 'Look, my land is open to you. Settle wherever you please.'

15. And Abim'elech said, "Behold, my land is before you; dwell where it pleases you."

16. To Sarah he said, 'Look, I am giving your brother a thousand pieces of silver. This will allay suspicions about you, as far as all the people round you are concerned; you have been completely vindicated.'

16. To Sarah he said, "Behold, I have given your brother a thousand pieces of silver; it is your vindication in the eyes of all who are with you; and before every one you are righted."

17. Abraham then interceded with God, and God healed Abimelech, his wife and his slave-girls, so that they could have children,

17. Then Abraham prayed to God; and God healed Abim'elech, and also healed his wife and female slaves so that they bore children.

18. for Yahweh had made all the women of Abimelech's household barren on account of Sarah, Abraham's wife.

18. For the LORD had closed all the wombs of the house of Abim'elech because of Sarah, Abraham's wife.