Genesis, 20

1. Abraham journeyed on to the region of the Negeb, where he settled between Kadesh and Shur. While he stayed in Gerar,

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

2. he said of his wife Sarah, "She is my sister." So Abimelech, king of Gerar, sent and took Sarah.

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

3. But God came to Abimelech in a dream one night and said to him, "You are about to die because of the woman you have taken, for she has a husband."

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.'

4. Abimelech, who had not approached her, said: "O Lord, would you slay a man even though he is innocent?

4. Abimelech, however, had not gone near her; so he said, 'Lord, would you kill someone even if he is upright?

5. He himself told me, 'She is my sister,' and she herself also stated, 'He is my brother.' I did it in good faith and with clean hands."

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.'

6. God answered him in the dream: "Yes, I know you did it in good faith. In fact, it was I who kept you from sinning against me; that is why I did not let you touch her.

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.

7. Therefore, return the man's wife--as a spokesman he will intercede for you--that your life may be saved. If you do not return her, you can be sure that you and all who are yours will certainly die."

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.'

8. Early the next morning Abimelech called all his court officials and informed them of everything that had happened, and the men were horrified.

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

9. Then Abimelech summoned Abraham and said to him: "How could you do this to us! What wrong did I do to you that you should have brought such monstrous guilt on me and my kingdom? You have treated me in an intolerable way.

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.'

10. What were you afraid of," he asked him, "that you should have done such a thing?"

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

11. "I was afraid," answered Abraham, "because I thought there would surely be no fear of God in this place, and so they would kill me on account of my wife.

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.

12. Besides, she is in truth my sister, but only my father's daughter, not my mother's; and so she became my wife.

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

13. When God sent me wandering from my father's house, I asked her: 'Would you do me this favor? In whatever place we come to, say that I am your brother.'"

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." '

14. Then Abimelech took flocks and herds and male and female slaves and gave them to Abraham; and after he restored his wife Sarah to him,

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

15. he said, "Here, my land lies at your disposal; settle wherever you please."

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

16. To Sarah he said: "See, I have given your brother a thousand shekels of silver. Let that serve you as a vindication before all who are with you; your honor has been preserved with everyone."

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.'

17. Abraham then interceded with God, and God restored health to Abimelech, that is, to his wife and his maidservants, so that they could bear children;

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

18. for God had tightly closed every womb in Abimelech's household on account of Abraham's wife Sarah.

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