| NET Bible | New International Version |
| 1Abraham journeyed from there to the Negev region and settled between Kadesh and Shur. While he lived as a temporary resident in Gerar, | 1Now Abraham moved on from there into the region of the Negev and lived between Kadesh and Shur. For a while he stayed in Gerar, |
| 2Abraham said about his wife Sarah, "She is my sister." So Abimelech, king of Gerar, sent for Sarah and took her. | 2and there Abraham said of his wife Sarah, "She is my sister." Then Abimelek king of Gerar sent for Sarah and took her. |
| 3But God appeared to Abimelech in a dream at night and said to him, "You are as good as dead because of the woman you have taken, for she is someone else's wife." | 3But God came to Abimelek in a dream one night and said to him, "You are as good as dead because of the woman you have taken; she is a married woman." |
| 4Now Abimelech had not gone near her. He said, "Lord, would you really slaughter an innocent nation? | 4Now Abimelek had not gone near her, so he said, "Lord, will you destroy an innocent nation? |
| 5Did Abraham not say to me, 'She is my sister'? And she herself said, 'He is my brother.' I have done this with a clear conscience and with innocent hands!" | 5Did he not say to me, 'She is my sister,' and didn't she also say, 'He is my brother'? I have done this with a clear conscience and clean hands." |
| 6Then in the dream God replied to him, "Yes, I know that you have done this with a clear conscience. That is why I have kept you from sinning against me and why I did not allow you to touch her. | 6Then God said to him in the dream, "Yes, I know you did this with a clear conscience, and so I have kept you from sinning against me. That is why I did not let you touch her. |
| 7But now give back the man's wife. Indeed he is a prophet and he will pray for you; thus you will live. But if you don't give her back, know that you will surely die along with all who belong to you." | 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, you may be sure that you and all who belong to you will die." |
| 8Early in the morning Abimelech summoned all his servants. When he told them about all these things, they were terrified. | 8Early the next morning Abimelek summoned all his officials, and when he told them all that had happened, they were very much afraid. |
| 9Abimelech summoned Abraham and said to him, "What have you done to us? What sin did I commit against you that would cause you to bring such great guilt on me and my kingdom? You have done things to me that should not be done!" | 9Then Abimelek called Abraham in and said, "What have you done to us? How have I wronged you that you have brought such great guilt upon me and my kingdom? You have done things to me that should never be done." |
| 10Then Abimelech asked Abraham, "What prompted you to do this thing?" | 10And Abimelek asked Abraham, "What was your reason for doing this?" |
| 11Abraham replied, "Because I thought, 'Surely no one fears God in this place. They will kill me because of my wife.' | 11Abraham replied, "I said to myself, 'There is surely no fear of God in this place, and they will kill me because of my wife.' |
| 12What's more, she is indeed my sister, my father's daughter, but not my mother's daughter. She became my wife. | 12Besides, she really is my sister, the daughter of my father though not of my mother; and she became my wife. |
| 13When God made me wander from my father's house, I told her, 'This is what you can do to show your loyalty to me: Every place we go, say about me, "He is my brother."'" | 13And when God had me wander from my father's household, I said to her, 'This is how you can show your love to me: Everywhere we go, say of me, "He is my brother."'" |
| 14So Abimelech gave sheep, cattle, and male and female servants to Abraham. He also gave his wife Sarah back to him. | 14Then Abimelek brought sheep and cattle and male and female slaves and gave them to Abraham, and he returned Sarah his wife to him. |
| 15Then Abimelech said, "Look, my land is before you; live wherever you please." | 15And Abimelek said, "My land is before you; live wherever you like." |
| 16To Sarah he said, "Look, I have given a thousand pieces of silver to your 'brother.' This is compensation for you so that you will stand vindicated before all who are with you." | 16To Sarah he said, "I am giving your brother a thousand shekels of silver. This is to cover the offense against you before all who are with you; you are completely vindicated." |
| 17Abraham prayed to God, and God healed Abimelech, as well as his wife and female slaves so that they were able to have children. | 17Then Abraham prayed to God, and God healed Abimelek, his wife and his female slaves so they could have children again, |
| 18For the LORD had caused infertility to strike every woman in the household of Abimelech because he took Sarah, Abraham's wife. | 18for the LORD had kept all the women in Abimelek's household from conceiving because of Abraham's wife Sarah. |
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