| New International Version | Berean Study Bible |
| 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, | 1Now Abraham journeyed from there to the region of the Negev and settled between Kadesh and Shur. While he was staying in Gerar, |
| 2and there Abraham said of his wife Sarah, "She is my sister." Then Abimelek king of Gerar sent for Sarah and took her. | 2Abraham said of his wife Sarah, “She is my sister.” So Abimelech king of Gerar had Sarah brought to him. |
| 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." | 3One night, however, God came to Abimelech in a dream and told him, “You are as good as dead because of the woman you have taken, for she is a married woman.” |
| 4Now Abimelek had not gone near her, so he said, "Lord, will you destroy an innocent nation? | 4Now Abimelech had not gone near her, so he replied, “Lord, would You destroy a nation even though it is innocent? |
| 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." | 5Didn’t Abraham tell me, ‘She is my sister’? And she herself said, ‘He is my brother.’ I have done this in the integrity of my heart and the innocence of my hands.” |
| 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. | 6Then God said to Abimelech in the dream, “Yes, I know that 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. |
| 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." | 7Now return the man’s wife, for he is a prophet; he will pray for you and you will live. But if you do not restore her, be aware that you will surely die—you and all who belong to you.” |
| 8Early the next morning Abimelek summoned all his officials, and when he told them all that had happened, they were very much afraid. | 8Early the next morning Abimelech got up and summoned all his servants; and when he described to them all that had happened, the men were terrified. |
| 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." | 9Then Abimelech called Abraham and asked, “What have you done to us? How have I sinned against you, that you have brought such tremendous guilt upon me and my kingdom? You have done things to me that should not be done.” |
| 10And Abimelek asked Abraham, "What was your reason for doing this?" | 10Abimelech also asked Abraham, “What prompted you to do such a thing?” |
| 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.' | 11Abraham replied, “I thought to myself, ‘Surely there is no fear of God in this place. They will kill me on account of my wife.’ |
| 12Besides, she really is my sister, the daughter of my father though not 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 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."'" | 13So when God had me journey from my father’s house, I said to Sarah, ‘This is how you can show your loyalty to me: Wherever we go, say of me, “He is my brother.” ’ ” |
| 14Then Abimelek brought sheep and cattle and male and female slaves and gave them to Abraham, and he returned Sarah his wife to him. | 14So Abimelech brought sheep and cattle, menservants and maidservants, and he gave them to Abraham and restored his wife Sarah to him. |
| 15And Abimelek said, "My land is before you; live wherever you like." | 15And Abimelech said, “Look, my land is before you. Settle wherever you please.” |
| 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." | 16And he said to Sarah, “See, I am giving your brother a thousand pieces of silver. It is your vindication before all who are with you; you are completely cleared.” |
| 17Then Abraham prayed to God, and God healed Abimelek, his wife and his female slaves so they could have children again, | 17Then Abraham prayed to God, and God healed Abimelech and his wife and his maidservants, so that they could again bear children— |
| 18for the LORD had kept all the women in Abimelek's household from conceiving because of Abraham's wife Sarah. | 18for on account of Abraham’s wife Sarah, the LORD had completely closed all the wombs in Abimelech’s household. |
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