Genesis 15

1 After these things the word of the LORD came to Abram in a vision, saying, "Do not be afraid, Abram. I am your shield; your reward will be very great."

After these events, the word of the LORD came to Abram in a vision: “Do not be afraid, Abram. I am your shield, your very great reward.”

2 Abram said, "Lord, what will you give me, seeing I go childless, and the heir of my estate is Eliezer of Damascus?"

But Abram replied, “O Lord GOD, what can You give me, since I remain childless, and the heir of my house is Eliezer of Damascus?”

3 Then Abram said, "Look, to me you have given no offspring, and look, one born in my house is my heir."

Abram continued, “Behold, You have given me no offspring, so a servant in my household will be my heir.”

4 And look, the word of God came to him, saying, "This man will not be your heir, but he who will come forth out of your own body will be your heir."

Then the word of the LORD came to Abram, saying, “This one will not be your heir, but one who comes from your own body will be your heir.”

5 And he brought him outside, and said, "Look now toward the sky, and count the stars, if you are able to count them." And he said to him, "So will your descendants be."

And the LORD took him outside and said, “Now look to the heavens and count the stars, if you are able.” Then He told him, “So shall your offspring be.”

6 And he believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness.

Abram believed the LORD, and it was credited to him as righteousness.

7 And he said to him, "I am God, who brought you out of Ur Kasdim to give you this land to possess."

The LORD also told him, “I am the LORD, who brought you out of Ur of the Chaldeans to give you this land to possess.”

8 But he said, "Lord, how can I know that I will possess it?"

But Abram replied, “Lord GOD, how can I know that I will possess it?”

9 And he said to him, "Bring me a heifer three years old, a female goat three years old, a ram three years old, a turtledove, and a young pigeon."

And the LORD said to him, “Bring Me a heifer, a goat, and a ram, each three years old, along with a turtledove and a young pigeon.”

10 He brought him all of these, and divided them in the middle, and placed each half opposite the other; but he did not divide the birds.

So Abram brought all these to Him, split each of them down the middle, and laid the halves opposite each other. The birds, however, he did not cut in half.

11 And the birds of prey came down on the carcasses, but Abram drove them away.

And the birds of prey descended on the carcasses, but Abram drove them away.

12 When the sun was going down, a deep sleep fell on Abram. And look, a terror of great darkness fell on him.

As the sun was setting, Abram fell into a deep sleep, and suddenly great terror and darkness overwhelmed him.

13 And he said to Abram, "Know for certain that your descendants will live as foreigners in a land that is not theirs; and they will be enslaved there. And they will oppress them four hundred years.

Then the LORD said to Abram, “Know for certain that your descendants will be strangers in a land that is not their own, and they will be enslaved and mistreated four hundred years.

14 But I will also judge that nation whom they will serve. And afterward they will come out with many possessions.

But I will judge the nation they serve as slaves, and afterward they will depart with many possessions.

15 But you will go to your fathers in peace. You will be buried in a good old age.

You, however, will go to your fathers in peace and be buried at a ripe old age.

16 In the fourth generation they will come here again, for the iniquity of the Amorites is not yet complete."

In the fourth generation your descendants will return here, for the iniquity of the Amorites is not yet complete.”

17 It came to pass that, when the sun went down, and it was dark, look, a smoking fire pot and a flaming torch passed between these pieces.

When the sun had set and darkness had fallen, behold, a smoking firepot and a flaming torch appeared and passed between the halves of the carcasses.

18 On that day God made a covenant with Abram, saying, "To your descendants I have given this land, from the river of Egypt to the great river, the river Perath:

On that day the LORD made a covenant with Abram, saying, “To your descendants I have given this land—from the river of Egypt to the great River Euphrates—

19 the Kenites, the Kenizzites, the Kadmonites,

the land of the Kenites, Kenizzites, Kadmonites,

20 the Hethites, the Perizzites, the Rephaim,

Hittites, Perizzites, Rephaites,

21 the Amorites, the Canaanites, the Hivites, the Girgashites, and the Jebusites."

Amorites, Canaanites, Girgashites, and Jebusites.”