| English Standard Version | Christian Standard Bible |
| 1From there Abraham journeyed toward the territory of the Negeb and lived between Kadesh and Shur; and he sojourned in Gerar. | 1From there Abraham traveled to the region of the Negev and settled between Kadesh and Shur. While he was staying in Gerar, |
| 2And Abraham said of Sarah his wife, “She is my sister.” And Abimelech king of Gerar sent and took Sarah. | 2Abraham said about his wife Sarah, "She is my sister." So King Abimelech of Gerar had Sarah brought to him. |
| 3But God came to Abimelech 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.” | 3But God came to Abimelech in a dream by night and said to him, "You are about to die because of the woman you have taken, for she is a married woman." |
| 4Now Abimelech had not approached her. So he said, “Lord, will you kill an innocent people? | 4Now Abimelech had not approached her, so he said, "Lord, would you destroy a nation even though it is innocent? |
| 5Did 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.” | 5Didn't he himself say to me, 'She is my sister'? And she herself said, 'He is my brother.' I did this with a clear conscience and clean hands." |
| 6Then 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. | 6Then God said to him in the dream, "Yes, I know that you did this with a clear conscience. I have also kept you from sinning against me. Therefore I have not let you touch her. |
| 7Now then, return the man’s wife, for he is a prophet, so that he will pray for you, and you shall live. But if you do not return her, know that you shall surely die, you and all who are yours.” | 7Now return the man's wife, for he is a prophet, and he will pray for you and you will live. But if you do not return her, know that you will certainly die, you and all who are yours." |
| 8So Abimelech rose early in the morning and called all his servants and told them all these things. And the men were very much afraid. | 8Early in the morning Abimelech got up, called all his servants together, and personally told them all these things, and the men were terrified. |
| 9Then Abimelech 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.” | 9Then Abimelech called Abraham in and said to him, "What have you done to us? How did I sin against you that you have brought such enormous guilt on me and on my kingdom? You have done things to me that should never be done." |
| 10And Abimelech said to Abraham, “What did you see, that you did this thing?” | 10Abimelech also asked Abraham, "What made you do this?" |
| 11Abraham 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.’ | 11Abraham replied, "I thought, 'There is absolutely no fear of God in this place. They will kill me because of my wife.' |
| 12Besides, she is indeed my sister, the daughter of my father though not the daughter of my mother, and she became my wife. | 12Besides, she really is my sister, the daughter of my father though not the daughter of my mother, and she became my wife. |
| 13And 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.”’” | 13So when God had me wander from my father's house, I said to her: Show your loyalty to me wherever we go and say about me: 'He's my brother.'" |
| 14Then Abimelech took sheep and oxen, and male servants and female servants, and gave them to Abraham, and returned Sarah his wife to him. | 14Then Abimelech took flocks and herds and male and female slaves, gave them to Abraham, and returned his wife Sarah to him. |
| 15And Abimelech said, “Behold, my land is before you; dwell where it pleases you.” | 15Abimelech said, "Look, my land is before you. Settle wherever you want." |
| 16To Sarah he said, “Behold, I have given your brother a thousand pieces of silver. It is a sign of your innocence in the eyes of all who are with you, and before everyone you are vindicated.” | 16And he said to Sarah, "Look, I am giving your brother one thousand pieces of silver. It is a verification of your honor to all who are with you. You are fully vindicated." |
| 17Then Abraham prayed to God, and God healed Abimelech, and also healed his wife and female slaves so that they bore children. | 17Then Abraham prayed to God, and God healed Abimelech, his wife, and his female slaves so that they could bear children, |
| 18For the LORD had closed all the wombs of the house of Abimelech because of Sarah, Abraham’s wife. | 18for the LORD had completely closed all the wombs in Abimelech's household on account of Sarah, Abraham's wife. |
| ESV Text Edition: 2016. The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®) copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. The ESV® text has been reproduced in cooperation with and by permission of Good News Publishers. Unauthorized reproduction of this publication is prohibited. All rights reserved. | The Christian Standard Bible. Copyright © 2017 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission. |
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