Genesis 20

1 And Abraham went on his way from there to the land of the South, and was living between Kadesh and Shur, in Gerar.

Abraham journeyed from there toward the land of the Negev, and lived between Kadesh and Shur. He was a foreigner living in Gerar.

2 And Abraham said of Sarah, his wife, She is my sister: and Abimelech, king of Gerar, sent and took Sarah.

Abraham said concerning Sarah his wife, “She is my sister.” So Abimelech king of Gerar sent for Sarah and took her.

3 But God came to Abimelech in a dream in the night, and said to him, Truly you are a dead man because of the woman whom you have taken; for she is a man's wife.

But God came to Abimelech in a dream in the 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.”

4 Now Abimelech had not come near her; and he said, Lord, will you put to death an upright nation?

Now Abimelech had not come near her and he said, “Lord, would you kill even a righteous nation?

5 Did he not say to me himself, She is my sister? and she herself said, He is my brother: with an upright heart and clean hands have I done this.

Did he not himself say to me, 'She is my sister?' Even she herself said, 'He is my brother.' I have done this in the integrity of my heart and the innocence of my hands.”

6 And God said to him in the dream, I see that you have done this with an upright heart, and I have kept you from sinning against me: for this reason I did not let you come near her.

Then God said to him in the dream, “Yes, I also know that in the integrity of your heart you did this, and I also kept you from sinning against me. Therefore I did not allow you to touch her.

7 So now, give the man back his wife, for he is a prophet, and let him say a prayer for you, so your life may be safe: but if you do not give her back, be certain that death will come to you and all your house.

Therefore, 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, know that you and all who are yours will surely die.”

8 So Abimelech got up early in the morning and sent for all his servants and gave them word of these things, and they were full of fear.

Abimelech rose early in the morning and called all of his servants to himself. He told all these things to them, and the men were very afraid.

9 Then Abimelech sent for Abraham, and said, What have you done to us? what wrong have I done you that you have put on me and on my kingdom so great a sin? You have done to me things which are not to be done.

Then Abimelech called for Abraham and said to him, “What have you done to us? How have I sinned against you, that you have brought on me and on my kingdom a great sin? You have done to me that which ought not to be done.”

10 And Abimelech said to Abraham, Why did you do this thing?

Abimelech said to Abraham, “What prompted you to do this thing?”

11 And Abraham said, Because it seemed to me that there was no fear of God in this place, and that they might put me to death because of my wife.

Abraham said, “Because I thought, 'Surely there is no fear of God in this place, and they will kill me because of my wife.'

12 And, in fact, she is my sister, the daughter of my father, but not the daughter of my mother; and she became my wife:

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 sent me wandering from my father's house, I said to her, Let this be the sign of your love for me; wherever we go, say of me, He is my brother.

When God caused me to leave my father's house and travel from place to place, I said to her, 'You must show me this faithfulness as my wife: At every place where we go, say about me, “He is my brother.”'”

14 Then Abimelech gave to Abraham sheep and oxen and men-servants and women-servants, and gave him back his wife Sarah.

Then Abimelech took sheep and oxen, and male and female slaves, and gave them to Abraham. Then he returned Sarah, Abraham's wife, to him.

15 And Abimelech said, See, all my land is before you; take whatever place seems good to you.

Abimelech said, “Look, my land is before you. Settle wherever it pleases you.”

16 And he said to Sarah, See, I have given to your brother a thousand bits of silver so that your wrong may be put right; now your honour is clear in the eyes of all.

To Sarah he said, “Look, I have given your brother a thousand pieces of silver. It is to cover any offense against you in the eyes of all that are with you, and before everyone, you are completely made right.”

17 Then Abraham made prayer to God, and God made Abimelech well again, and his wife and his women-servants, so that they had children.

Then Abraham prayed to God, and God healed Abimelech, his wife, and his female slaves so that they were able to have children.

18 For the Lord had kept all the women of the house of Abimelech from having children, because of Sarah, Abraham's wife.

For Yahweh had caused all the women of the household of Abimelech to be completely infertile, because of Sarah, Abraham's wife.