| GOD'S WORD Translation (GW) |
New International Version (NIV) |
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1 Abraham moved to the Negev and settled between Kadesh and Shur. While he was living 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 Abraham told everyone that his wife Sarah was his sister. So King Abimelech of Gerar sent men to take 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 God came to Abimelech in a dream one night and said to him, "You're going to die because of the woman that you've taken! She's a married woman!"
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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 Abimelech hadn't come near her, so he asked, "Lord, will you destroy a nation even if it's innocent?
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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 Didn't he tell me himself, 'She's my sister,' and didn't she even say, 'He's my brother'? I did this in all innocence and with a clear conscience."
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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 "Yes, I know that you did this with a clear conscience," God said to him in the dream. "In fact, I kept you from sinning against me. That's why I didn't let you touch 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 Give the man's wife back to him now, because he's a prophet. He will pray for you, and you will live. But if you don't give her back, you and all who belong to you are doomed to die."
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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 Early in the morning Abimelech called together all his officials. He told them about all of this, and they were terrified.
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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 called for Abraham and asked him, "What have you done to us? How have I sinned against you that you would bring such a serious sin on me and my kingdom? You shouldn't have done this to me."
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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 Abimelech also asked Abraham, "What were you thinking when you did this?"
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10 And Abimelech asked Abraham, "What was your reason for doing this?"
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11 Abraham said, "I thought that because there are no God-fearing people in this place, I'd be killed 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 Besides, she is my sister--my father's daughter but not my mother's. She is also 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 When God had me leave my father's home and travel around, I said to her, 'Do me a favor: Wherever we go, say that I'm your 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 took sheep, cattle, and male and female slaves and gave them to Abraham. He also gave his wife Sarah back to him.
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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 Abimelech said, "Look, here's my land. Live anywhere you like."
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15 And Abimelech said, "My land is before you; live wherever you like."
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16 He said to Sarah, "Don't forget, I've given your brother 25 pounds of silver. This is to silence any criticism against you from everyone with you. You're completely cleared."
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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 Abraham prayed to God, and God healed Abimelech, his wife, and his female slaves so that they could have 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 (The LORD had made it impossible for any woman in Abimelech's household to have children because of Abraham's wife Sarah.)
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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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| GOD'S WORD® is a copyrighted work of God's Word to the Nations. Copyright © 1995 by God's Word to the Nations. All rights reserved. Used by permission. (God's Word Translation -Online Bible) |
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) |
