Genesis 14

1 It happened in the days of Amraphel, king of Shinar, Arioch, king of Ellasar, Kedorlaomer, king of Elam, and Tidal, king of Goiim,

At that time Amraphel was king of Shinar, and he allied himself with Arioch, king of Ellasar, Chedorlaomer, king of Elam, and Tidal, king of Goiim.

2 that they made war with Bera, king of Sodom, and with Birsha, king of Gomorrah, Shinab, king of Admah, and Shemeber, king of Zeboiim, and the king of Bela (that is, Zoar).

They attacked Bera, king of Sodom, Birsha, king of Gomorrah, Shinab, king of Admah, Shemeber, king of Zeboiim, and the king of Bela (otherwise known as Zoar).

3 All these joined together in the Valley of Siddim (that is, the Salt Sea).

All these in the second group joined forces in the Valley of Siddim (the Dead Sea valley).

4 Twelve years they served Kedorlaomer, and in the thirteenth year, they rebelled.

They had been under the rule of Chedorlaomer for twelve years, but in the thirteenth year they rebelled against him.

5 In the fourteenth year, Kedorlaomer and the kings allied with him came and attacked the Rephaim in Ashteroth Karnaim, and the Zuzim in Ham, and the Emim in Shaveh Kiriathaim,

In the fourteenth year Chedorlaomer invaded, along with the kings in his alliance. They defeated the Rephaites in Ashteroth-karnaim, the Zuzites in Ham, the Emites in Shaveh-kiriathaim,

6 and the Horite, in the hills of Seir, to El Paran, which is near the desert.

and the Horites in their hill country of Seir, all the way to El-paran, near the desert.

7 They returned, and came to En Mishpat (that is, Kadesh), and attacked all the country of the Amalekites, and also the Amorites, that lived in Hazazon Tamar.

Then they swung back through and attacked En-mishpat (otherwise known as Kadesh) and conquered the whole country belonging to the Amalekites, as well as the Amorites who lived in Hazazon-tamar.

8 The king of Sodom, and the king of Gomorrah, and the king of Admah, and the king of Zeboiim, and the king of Bela (that is, Zoar) came out; and they took up battle positions in the Valley of Siddim

Then the king of Sodom, the king of Gomorrah, the king of Admah, the king of Zeboiim, and the king of Bela (otherwise known as Zoar) marched out and prepared for battle in the Valley of Siddim.

9 against Kedorlaomer king of Elam, and Tidal king of Goiim, and Amraphel king of Shinar, and Arioch king of Ellasar; four kings against the five.

They fought Chedorlaomer, king of Elam, Tidal, king of Goiim, Amraphel, king of Shinar, and Arioch, king of Ellasar—four kings on one side against five on the other.

10 Now the Valley of Siddim was full of tar pits; and the king of Sodom and the king of Gomorrah fled, and they fell there, and those who remained fled to the hills.

There were many tar pits in the Valley of Siddim, and as the defeated kings of Sodom and Gomorrah ran away, some of their men fell into them while the rest ran to the hills.

11 They took all the possessions of Sodom and Gomorrah, and all their food, and left.

The invaders took from Sodom and Gomorrah all their possessions and food and left.

12 They also took Lot, Abram's brother's son, who lived in Sodom, and his possessions, and departed.

They also captured Lot, Abram's nephew, and his possessions, because he was living in Sodom.

13 One who had escaped came and told Abram, the Hebrew. Now he lived by the oaks of Mamre, the Amorite, brother of Eshcol, and brother of Aner; and these were allies of Abram.

But one of those captured escaped and went and told Abram the Hebrew what had happened. Abram was living by the oaks of Mamre the Amorite, whose brothers were Eshcol and Aner. All of them were Abram's allies.

14 When Abram heard that his relative was taken captive, he mobilized his trained men, born in his house, three hundred and eighteen, and pursued as far as Dan.

When Abram found out that his nephew had been captured, he called together 318 fighting men who had been born in his household and chased after them all the way to Dan.

15 He divided his forces against them at night, he and his servants, and attacked them, and pursued them to Hobah, which is north of Damascus.

There he divided his men into groups and attacked at night, defeating the enemy and chasing them as far as Hobah, north of Damascus.

16 He brought back all the possessions, and also brought back his relative, Lot, and his possessions, as well as the women and the other people.

Abram recovered all that had been taken, including Lot and his possessions, and also brought back the women and others who had been captured.

17 The king of Sodom went out to meet him, after his return from the defeat of Kedorlaomer and the kings who were with him, at the valley of Shaveh (that is, the King's Valley).

When Abram returned after defeating Chedorlaomer and his allies, the king of Sodom came out to meet him at the Valley of Shaveh (or Valley of the King).

18 Melchizedek king of Salem brought out bread and wine; now he was priest of God Most High.

Melchizedek, king of Salem, brought out bread and wine. He was a priest of the Most High God.

19 He blessed him, and said, "Blessed be Abram by God Most High, Maker of heaven and earth:

He blessed Abram, telling him, “May Abram be blessed by the Most High God, Creator of heaven and earth.

20 and blessed be God Most High, who has delivered your enemies into your hand." And he gave him a tenth of everything.

May the Most High God be praised, who handed your enemies over to you.” Then Abram gave Melchizedek one tenth of everything.

21 Now the king of Sodom said to Abram, "Give me the people, and take the possessions for yourself."

The king of Sodom told Abram, “Let me have the people back, and you can keep everything else for yourself.”

22 Abram said to the king of Sodom, "I have lifted up my hand to God Most High, Maker of heaven and earth,

But Abram replied to the king of Sodom, “I raise my hand, making a solemn promise to the Lord, the Most High God, Creator of heaven and earth,

23 that I will not take a thread nor a sandal strap nor anything that is yours, lest you should say, 'I have made Abram rich.'

that I refuse to take anything belonging to you, not a single thread or a sandal strap. Otherwise you might claim, ‘It was me who made Abram rich!’

24 I will accept nothing from you except that which the young men have eaten, and the portion of the men who went with me: Aner, Eshcol, and Mamre. Let them take their portion."

I won't take anything except what my men have eaten, and the share for those who accompanied me—Aner, Eshcol, and Mamre. Let them have their share.”