< Genesis 20 >
1 And Abraam removed thence to the southern country, and dwelt between Cades and Sur, and sojourned in Gerara.
Abraham [Father of a multitude] traveled from there toward the land of the South, and lived between Kadesh and Shur. He lived as a foreigner in Gerar.
2 And Abraam said concerning Sarrha his wife, She is my sister, for he feared to say, She is my wife, lest at any time the men of the city should kill him for her sake. So Abimelech king of Gerara sent and took Sarrha.
Abraham [Father of a multitude] said about Sarah [Princess] his wife, “She is my sister.” Abimelech [My father king] king of Gerar sent, and took Sarah [Princess].
3 And God came to Abimelech by night in sleep, and said, Behold, thou diest for the woman, whom thou hast taken, whereas she has lived with a husband.
But God came to Abimelech [My father king] in a dream of 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 But Abimelech had not touched her, and he said, Lord, wilt thou destroy an ignorantly [sinning] and just nation?
Now Abimelech [My father king] had not come near her. He said, “Lord, will you kill even a upright nation?
5 Said he not to me, She is my sister, and said she not to me, He is my brother? with a pure heart and in the righteousness of my hands have I done this.
Didn’t he tell me, ‘She is my sister?’ She, even she herself, said, ‘He is my brother.’ In the integrity of my heart and the innocence of my hands have I done this.”
6 And God said to him in sleep, Yea, I knew that thou didst this with a pure heart, and I spared thee, so that thou shouldest not sin against me, therefore I suffered thee not to touch her.
God said to him in the dream, “Yes, I know that in the integrity of your heart you have done this, and I also withheld you from sinning ·deviating (from the standard goal)· against me. Therefore I didn’t allow you to touch her.
7 But now return the man his wife; for he is a prophet, and shall pray for thee, and thou shalt live; but if thou restore her not, know that thou shalt die and all thine.
Now therefore, restore the man’s wife. For he is a prophet, and he will pray for you, and you will live. If you don’t restore her, know for sure that you will die, you, and all who are yours.”
8 And Abimelech rose early in the morning, and called all his servants, and he spoke all these words in their ears, and all the men feared exceedingly.
Abimelech [My father king] rose early in the morning, and called all his servants, and told all these things in their ear. The men were very scared.
9 And Abimelech called Abraam and said to him, What is this that thou hast done to us? Have we sinned against thee, that thou hast brought upon me and upon my kingdom a great sin? Thou hast done to me a deed, which no one ought to do.
Then Abimelech [My father king] called Abraham [Father of a multitude], and said to him, “What have you done to us? How have I committed crime deserving penalty, sin ·missing the goal· against you, that you have brought on me and on my kingdom a great cause for sacrifice for sin ·missing the goal·? You have done deeds to me that ought not to be done!”
10 And Abimelech said to Abraam, What hast thou seen in [me] that thou hast done this?
Abimelech [My father king] said to Abraham [Father of a multitude], “What did you see, that you have done this thing?”
11 And Abraam said, Why I said, Surely there is not the worship of God in this place, and they will slay me because of my wife.
Abraham [Father of a multitude] said, “Because I thought, ‘Surely the fear of God is not in this place. They will kill me for my wife’s sake.’
12 For truly she is my sister by my father, but not by 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 it came to pass when God brought me forth out of the house of my father, that I said to her, This righteousness thou shalt perform to me, in every place into which we may enter, say of me, He is my brother.
When God caused me to wander from my father’s house, I said to her, ‘This is your chesed ·loving-kindness· which you shall show to me. Everywhere that we go, say of me, “He is my brother.”’”
14 And Abimelech took a thousand pieces of silver, and sheep, and calves, and servants, and maid-servants, and gave them to Abraam, and he returned him Sarrha his wife.
Abimelech [My father king] took sheep and cattle, male servants and female servants, and gave them to Abraham [Father of a multitude], and restored Sarah [Princess], his wife, to him.
15 And Abimelech said to Abraam, Behold, my land is before thee, dwell wheresoever it may please thee.
Abimelech [My father king] said, “Behold, my land is before you. Dwell where it pleases you.”
16 And to Sarrha he said, Behold, I have given thy brother a thousand pieces of silver, those shall be to thee for the price of thy countenance, and to all the women with thee, and speak the truth in all things.
To Sarah [Princess] he said, “Behold, I have given your brother a thousand pieces of silver. Behold, it is for you a covering of the eyes to all that are with you. In front of all you are vindicated.”
17 And Abraam prayed to God, and God healed Abimelech, and his wife, and his women servants, and they bore children.
Abraham [Father of a multitude] prayed to God. God healed Abimelech [My father king], and his wife, and his female servants, and they bore children.
18 Because the Lord had fast closed from without every womb in the house of Abimelech, because of Sarrha Abraam's wife.
For Adonai had closed up tight all the wombs of the house of Abimelech [My father king], because of Sarah [Princess], Abraham [Father of a multitude]’s wife.