1 Now Abraham moved on from there into the region of the Negev and lived between Kadesh and Shur. For a while he stayed in Gerar,
1 From there Abraham journeyed toward the territory of the Negeb, and dwelt between Kadesh and Shur; and he sojourned in Gerar.
2 and there Abraham said of his wife Sarah, "She is my sister." Then Abimelech king of Gerar sent for Sarah and took her.
2 And Abraham said of Sarah his wife, "She is my sister." And Abimelech king of Gerar sent and took Sarah.
3 But God came to Abimelech 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."
3 But 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 mans wife."
4 Now Abimelech had not gone near her, so he said, "Lord, will you destroy an innocent nation?
4 Now Abimelech had not approached her; so he said, "Lord, wilt thou slay an innocent people?
5 Did he not say to me, She is my sister, and didnt she also say, He is my brother? I have done this with a clear conscience and clean hands."
5 Did 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."
6 Then 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.
6 Then 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.
7 Now return the mans 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 yours will die."
7 Now then restore the mans 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 that are yours."
8 Early the next morning Abimelech summoned all his officials, and when he told them all that had happened, they were very much afraid.
8 So Abimelech rose early in the morning, and called all his servants, and told them all these things; and the men were very much afraid.
9 Then Abimelech 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 not be done."
9 Then 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."
10 And Abimelech asked Abraham, "What was your reason for doing this?"
10 And Abimelech said to Abraham, "What were you thinking of, that you did this thing?"
11 Abraham replied, "I said to myself, There is surely no fear of God in this place, and they will kill me because of my wife.
11 Abraham 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.
12 Besides, she really is my sister, the daughter of my father though not of my mother; and she became my wife.
12 Besides she is indeed my sister, the daughter of my father but not the daughter of my mother; and she became my wife.
13 And when God had me wander from my fathers 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." "
13 And when God caused me to wander from my fathers 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."
14 Then Abimelech brought sheep and cattle and male and female slaves and gave them to Abraham, and he returned Sarah his wife to him.
14 Then Abimelech took sheep and oxen, and male and female slaves, and gave them to Abraham, and restored Sarah his wife to him.
15 And Abimelech said, "My land is before you; live wherever you like."
15 And Abimelech said, "Behold, my land is before you; dwell where it pleases you."
16 To 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."
16 To Sarah he said, "Behold, I have given your brother a thousand pieces of silver; it is your vindication in the eyes of all who are with you; and before every one you are righted."
17 Then Abraham prayed to God, and God healed Abimelech, his wife and his slave girls so they could have children again,
17 Then Abraham prayed to God; and God healed Abimelech, and also healed his wife and female slaves so that they bore children.
18 for the LORD had closed up every womb in Abimelechs household because of Abrahams wife Sarah.
18 For the LORD had closed all the wombs of the house of Abimelech because of Sarah, Abrahams wife.