Genesis 16

1 Now Sarai the wife of Abram, had brought forth no children; but having a handmaid, an Egyptian, named Agar,

But Sarai, Abram’s wife, had borne him no children, —she had, however, an Egyptian handmaid, whose name was Hagar.

2 She said to her husband: Behold, the Lord hath restrained me from bearing: go in unto my handmaid, it may be I may have children of her at least. And when he agreed to her request,

So then Sarai said unto Abram Behold, I pray thee, Yahweh hath restrained me, from bearing, go in I pray thee unto, my handmaid, peradventure I may be built up from, her, And Abram hearkened to the voice of Sarai.

3 She took Agar the Egyptian her handmaid, ten years after they first dwelt in the land of Chanaan, and gave her to her husband to wife.

So Sarai, Abram’s wife, took Hagar the Egyptian. her handmaid, at the end of ten years of Abram’s dwelling in the land of Canaan, and gave her to Abram her husband, to be to him as a wife.

4 And he went in to her. But she, perceiving that she was with child, despised her mistress.

And he went in unto Hagar and she conceived, —and when she saw that she had conceived, lightly esteemed, was her lady, in her eyes.

5 And Sarai said to Abram: Thou dost unjustly with me: I gave my handmaid into thy bosom, and she perceiving herself to be with child, despiseth me. The Lord judge between me and thee.

Then said Sarai unto Abram: My wrong, is, on thee! I, gave my handmaid into thy bosom, and when she seeth that she hath conceived, then am I lightly esteemed in her eyes Yahweh judge betwixt me and her.

6 And Abram made answer, and said to her: Behold thy handmaid is in thy own hand, use her as it pleaseth thee. And when Sarai afflicted her, she ran away.

And Abram said unto Sarai, Lo! thy handmaid, is in thy hand, do to her what is good in thine eyes. So Sarai humbled her, and she fled from her face.

7 And the angel of the Lord having found her, by a fountain of water in the wilderness, which is in the way to Sur in the desert,

And the messenger of Yahweh found her by the fountain of water in the desert, —by the fountain in the way to Shur.

8 He said to her: Agar, handmaid of Sarai, whence comest thou? and whither goest thou? And she answered: I flee from the face of Sarai, my mistress.

So he said Hagar! handmaid of Sarai! Whence hast thou come, and whither wouldst thou go? And she said, From the face of Sarai, my lady, am, I, fleeing.

9 And the angel of the Lord said to her: Return to thy mistress, and humble thyself under her hand.

And the messenger of Yahweh said to her, Return unto thy lady, —and humble thyself under her hands.

10 And again he said: I will multiply thy seed exceedingly, and it shall not be numbered for multitude.

And the messenger of Yahweh said to her, I will, greatly multiply, thy seed—so that it shall not be numbered for multitude.

11 And again: Behold, said he, thou art with child, and thou shalt bring forth a son: and thou shalt call his name Ismael, because the Lord hath heard thy affliction.

And the messenger of Yahweh said to her, Behold thee! with child, and about bearing a son—and thou shalt call his name Ishmael ["God hearkeneth"] for Yahweh hath hearkened unto thy humiliation.

12 He shall be a wild man: his hand will be against all men, and all men’s hands against him: and he shall pitch his tents over against all his brethren.

But, he, will be a wild ass of a man, his hand, against every one, and every one’s hand against him—yet, in presence of all his brethren, shall he have his habitation.

13 And she called the name of the Lord that spoke unto her: Thou the God who hast seen me. For she said: Verily here have I seen the hinder parts of him that seeth me.

And she called the name of Yahweh, who had spoken unto her, Thou GOD of vision! For she said. Do I even here, retain my vision after a vision?

14 Therefore she called that well, The well of him that liveth and seeth me. The same is between Cades and Barad.

On this account, is the well called, the well of the life of vision, lo! it is between Kadesh and Bered.

15 And Agar brought forth a son to Abram: who called his name Ismael.

So Hagar bare to Abram a son, —and Abram called the name of his son, whom Hagar bare, Ishmael.

16 Abram was four score and six years old when Agar brought him forth Ismael.

Now, Abram, was eighty—six years old, —when Hagar bare Ishmael to Abram.