New King James Version

New Living Translation

Abraham and Abimelech

And Abraham journeyed from there to the South, and dwelt between Kadesh and Shur, and stayed in Gerar.

1

Abraham Deceives Abimelech

Abraham moved south to the Negev and lived for a while between Kadesh and Shur, and then he moved on to Gerar. While living there as a foreigner,

2

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

2

Abraham introduced his wife, Sarah, by saying, “She is my sister.” So King Abimelech of Gerar sent for Sarah and had her brought to him at his palace.

3

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

3

But that night God came to Abimelech in a dream and told him, “You are a dead man, for that woman you have taken is already married!”

4

But Abimelech had not come near her; and he said, “Lord, will You slay a righteous nation also?

4

But Abimelech had not slept with her yet, so he said, “Lord, will you destroy an innocent nation?

5

Did he not say to me, ‘She is my sister’? And she, even she herself said, ‘He is my brother.’ In the [b]integrity of my heart and innocence of my hands I have done this.”

5

Didn’t Abraham tell me, ‘She is my sister’? And she herself said, ‘Yes, he is my brother.’ I acted in complete innocence! My hands are clean.”

6

And God said to him in a dream, “Yes, I know that you did this in the integrity of your heart. For I also withheld you from sinning against Me; therefore I did not let you touch her.

6

In the dream God responded, “Yes, I know you are innocent. That’s why I kept you from sinning against me, and why I did not let you touch her.

7

Now therefore, 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 who are yours.”

7

Now return the woman to her husband, and he will pray for you, for he is a prophet. Then you will live. But if you don’t return her to him, you can be sure that you and all your people will die.”

8

So Abimelech rose early in the morning, called all his servants, and told all these things in their hearing; and the men were very much afraid.

8

Abimelech got up early the next morning and quickly called all his servants together. When he told them what had happened, his men were terrified.

9

And Abimelech called Abraham and said to him, “What have you done to us? How have I [c]offended 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.”

9

Then Abimelech called for Abraham. “What have you done to us?” he demanded. “What crime have I committed that deserves treatment like this, making me and my kingdom guilty of this great sin? No one should ever do what you have done!

10

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

10

Whatever possessed you to do such a thing?”

11

And Abraham said, “Because I thought, surely the fear of God is not in this place; and they will kill me on account of my wife.

11

Abraham replied, “I thought, ‘This is a godless place. They will want my wife and will kill me to get her.’

12

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

12

And she really is my sister, for we both have the same father, but different mothers. And I married her.

13

And it came to pass, when God caused me to wander from my father’s house, that I said to her, ‘This is your kindness that you should do for me: in every place, wherever we go, say of me, “He is my brother.” ’ ”

13

When God called me to leave my father’s home and to travel from place to place, I told her, ‘Do me a favor. Wherever we go, tell the people that I am your brother.’”

14

Then Abimelech took sheep, oxen, and male and female servants, and gave them to Abraham; and he restored Sarah his wife to him.

14

Then Abimelech took some of his sheep and goats, cattle, and male and female servants, and he presented them to Abraham. He also returned his wife, Sarah, to him.

15

And Abimelech said, “See, my land is before you; dwell where it pleases you.”

15

Then Abimelech said, “Look over my land and choose any place where you would like to live.”

16

Then to Sarah he said, “Behold, I have given your brother a thousand pieces of silver; indeed this [d]vindicates you before all who are with you and before everybody.” Thus she was [e]rebuked.

16

And he said to Sarah, “Look, I am giving your ‘brother’ 1,000 pieces of silvera in the presence of all these witnesses. This is to compensate you for any wrong I may have done to you. This will settle any claim against me, and your reputation is cleared.”

17

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

17

Then Abraham prayed to God, and God healed Abimelech, his wife, and his female servants, so they could have children.

18

for the Lord had closed up all the wombs of the house of Abimelech because of Sarah, Abraham’s wife.

18

For the LORD had caused all the women to be infertile because of what happened with Abraham’s wife, Sarah.

Parallel

New King James Version

New Living Translation

Genesis 20

Genesis 20