Genesis 20

1 profectus inde Abraham in terram australem habitavit inter Cades et Sur et peregrinatus est in Geraris

Now Abraham journeyed from there to the region of the Negev and settled between Kadesh and Shur. While he was staying in Gerar,

2 dixitque de Sarra uxore sua soror mea est misit ergo Abimelech rex Gerarae et tulit eam

Abraham said of his wife Sarah, “She is my sister.” So Abimelech king of Gerar had Sarah brought to him.

3 venit autem Deus ad Abimelech per somnium noctis et ait ei en morieris propter mulierem quam tulisti habet enim virum

One night, however, God came to Abimelech in a dream and told him, “You are as good as dead because of the woman you have taken, for she is a married woman.”

4 Abimelech vero non tetigerat eam et ait Domine num gentem ignorantem et iustam interficies

Now Abimelech had not gone near her, so he replied, “Lord, would You destroy a nation even though it is innocent?

5 nonne ipse dixit mihi soror mea est et ipsa ait frater meus est in simplicitate cordis mei et munditia manuum mearum feci hoc

Didn’t Abraham tell me, ‘She is my sister’? And she herself said, ‘He is my brother.’ I have done this in the integrity of my heart and the innocence of my hands.”

6 dixitque ad eum Deus et ego scio quod simplici corde feceris et ideo custodivi te ne peccares in me et non dimisi ut tangeres eam

Then God said to Abimelech in the dream, “Yes, I know that you did this with a clear conscience, and so I have kept you from sinning against Me. That is why I did not let you touch her.

7 nunc igitur redde uxorem viro suo quia propheta est et orabit pro te et vives si autem nolueris reddere scito quod morte morieris tu et omnia quae tua sunt

Now 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, be aware that you will surely die—you and all who belong to you.”

8 statimque de nocte consurgens Abimelech vocavit omnes servos suos et locutus est universa verba haec in auribus eorum timueruntque omnes viri valde

Early the next morning Abimelech got up and summoned all his servants; and when he described to them all that had happened, the men were terrified.

9 vocavit autem Abimelech etiam Abraham et dixit ei quid fecisti nobis quid peccavimus in te quia induxisti super me et super regnum meum peccatum grande quae non debuisti facere fecisti nobis

Then Abimelech called Abraham and asked, “What have you done to us? How have I sinned against you, that you have brought such tremendous guilt upon me and my kingdom? You have done things to me that should not be done.”

10 rursusque expostulans ait quid vidisti ut hoc faceres

Abimelech also asked Abraham, “What prompted you to do such a thing?”

11 respondit Abraham cogitavi mecum dicens forsitan non est timor Dei in loco isto et interficient me propter uxorem meam

Abraham replied, “I thought to myself, ‘Surely there is no fear of God in this place. They will kill me on account of my wife.’

12 alias autem et vere soror mea est filia patris mei et non filia matris meae et duxi eam uxorem

Besides, she really is my sister, the daughter of my father—though not the daughter of my mother—and she became my wife.

13 postquam autem eduxit me Deus de domo patris mei dixi ad eam hanc misericordiam facies mecum in omni loco ad quem ingrediemur dices quod frater tuus sim

So when God had me journey from my father’s house, I said to Sarah, ‘This is how you can show your loyalty to me: Wherever we go, say of me, “He is my brother.”’”

14 tulit igitur Abimelech oves et boves et servos et ancillas et dedit Abraham reddiditque illi Sarram uxorem suam

So Abimelech brought sheep and cattle, menservants and maidservants, and he gave them to Abraham and restored his wife Sarah to him.

15 et ait terra coram vobis est ubicumque tibi placuerit habita

And Abimelech said, “Look, my land is before you. Settle wherever you please.”

16 Sarrae autem dixit ecce mille argenteos dedi fratri tuo hoc erit tibi in velamen oculorum ad omnes qui tecum sunt et quocumque perrexeris mementoque te deprehensam

And he said to Sarah, “See, I am giving your brother a thousand pieces of silver. It is your vindication before all who are with you; you are completely cleared.”

17 orante autem Abraham sanavit Deus Abimelech et uxorem ancillasque eius et pepererunt

Then Abraham prayed to God, and God healed Abimelech and his wife and his maidservants, so that they could again bear children—

18 concluserat enim Deus omnem vulvam domus Abimelech propter Sarram uxorem Abraham

for on account of Abraham’s wife Sarah, the LORD had completely closed all the wombs in Abimelech’s household.