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New International Version (NIV) |
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1 And Abraham went on his way from there to the land of the South, and was living between Kadesh and Shur, in Gerar.
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1 Now Abraham moved on from there into the region of the Negev and lived between Kadesh and Shur. For a while he stayed in Gerar,
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2 And Abraham said of Sarah, his wife, She is my sister: and Abimelech, king of Gerar, sent and took Sarah.
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2 and there Abraham said of his wife Sarah, "She is my sister." Then Abimelech king of Gerar sent for Sarah and took her.
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3 But God came to Abimelech in a dream in the night, and said to him, Truly you are a dead man because of the woman whom you have taken; for she is a man's wife.
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3 But God came to Abimelech in a dream one night and said to him, "You are as good as dead because of the woman you have taken; she is a married woman."
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4 Now Abimelech had not come near her; and he said, Lord, will you put to death an upright nation?
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4 Now Abimelech had not gone near her, so he said, "Lord, will you destroy an innocent nation?
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5 Did he not say to me himself, She is my sister? and she herself said, He is my brother: with an upright heart and clean hands have I done this.
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5 Did he not say to me, 'She is my sister,' and didn't she also say, 'He is my brother'? I have done this with a clear conscience and clean hands."
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6 And God said to him in the dream, I see that you have done this with an upright heart, and I have kept you from sinning against me: for this reason I did not let you come near her.
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6 Then God said to him in the dream, "Yes, I know 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.
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7 So now, give the man back his wife, for he is a prophet, and let him say a prayer for you, so your life may be safe: but if you do not give her back, be certain that death will come to you and all your house.
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7 Now return the man's wife, for he is a prophet, and he will pray for you and you will live. But if you do not return her, you may be sure that you and all yours will die."
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8 So Abimelech got up early in the morning and sent for all his servants and gave them word of these things, and they were full of fear.
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8 Early the next morning Abimelech summoned all his officials, and when he told them all that had happened, they were very much afraid.
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9 Then Abimelech sent for Abraham, and said, What have you done to us? what wrong have I done you that you have put on me and on my kingdom so great a sin? You have done to me things which are not to be done.
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9 Then Abimelech called Abraham in and said, "What have you done to us? How have I wronged you that you have brought such great guilt upon me and my kingdom? You have done things to me that should not be done."
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10 And Abimelech said to Abraham, Why did you do this thing?
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10 And Abimelech asked Abraham, "What was your reason for doing this?"
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11 And Abraham said, Because it seemed to me that there was no fear of God in this place, and that they might put me to death because of my wife.
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11 Abraham replied, "I said to myself, 'There is surely no fear of God in this place, and they will kill me because of my wife.'
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12 And, in fact, she is my sister, the daughter of my father, but not the daughter of my mother; and she became my wife:
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12 Besides, she really is my sister, the daughter of my father though not of my mother; and she became my wife.
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13 And when God sent me wandering from my father's house, I said to her, Let this be the sign of your love for me; wherever we go, say of me, He is my brother.
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13 And when God had me wander from my father's household, I said to her, 'This is how you can show your love to me: Everywhere we go, say of me, "He is my brother." ' "
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14 Then Abimelech gave to Abraham sheep and oxen and men-servants and women-servants, and gave him back his wife Sarah.
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14 Then Abimelech brought sheep and cattle and male and female slaves and gave them to Abraham, and he returned Sarah his wife to him.
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15 And Abimelech said, See, all my land is before you; take whatever place seems good to you.
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15 And Abimelech said, "My land is before you; live wherever you like."
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16 And he said to Sarah, See, I have given to your brother a thousand bits of silver so that your wrong may be put right; now your honour is clear in the eyes of all.
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16 To Sarah he said, "I am giving your brother a thousand shekels of silver. This is to cover the offense against you before all who are with you; you are completely vindicated."
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17 Then Abraham made prayer to God, and God made Abimelech well again, and his wife and his women-servants, so that they had children.
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17 Then Abraham prayed to God, and God healed Abimelech, his wife and his slave girls so they could have children again,
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18 For the Lord had kept all the women of the house of Abimelech from having children, because of Sarah, Abraham's wife.
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18 for the LORD had closed up every womb in Abimelech's household because of Abraham's wife Sarah.
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| The Bible in Basic English is in the public domain. (The Bible in Basic English Version Online) |
Scripture quoted by permission. Quotations designated (NIV) are from THE HOLY BIBLE: NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®. NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by Biblica. All rights reserved worldwide. (New International Version Bible Online) |
