The Bible in Basic English BBE
Good News Translation GNT
1 Now the years of Sarah's life were a hundred and twenty-seven.
1
Sarah lived to be 127 years old.
2 And Sarah's death took place in Kiriath-arba, that is, Hebron, in the land of Canaan: and Abraham went into his house, weeping and sorrowing for Sarah.
2
She died in Hebron in the land of Canaan, and Abraham mourned her death.
3 And Abraham came from his dead and said to the children of Heth,
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He left the place where his wife's body was lying, went to the Hittites, and said,
4 I am living among you as one from a strange country: give me some land here as my property, so that I may put my dead to rest
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"I am a foreigner living here among you; sell me some land, so that I can bury my wife."
5 And in answer the children of Heth said to Abraham,
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They answered,
6 My lord, truly you are a great chief among us; take the best of our resting-places for your dead; not one of us will keep back from you a place where you may put your dead to rest.
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"Listen to us, sir. We look upon you as a mighty leader; bury your wife in the best grave that we have. Any of us would be glad to give you a grave, so that you can bury her."
7 And Abraham got up and gave honour to the children of Heth, the people of that land.
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Then Abraham bowed before them
8 And he said to them, If you will let me put my dead to rest here, make a request for me to Ephron, the son of Zohar,
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and said, "If you are willing to let me bury my wife here, please ask Ephron son of Zohar
9 That he will give me the hollow in the rock named Machpelah, which is his property at the end of his field; let him give it to me for its full price as a resting-place for my dead among you.
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to sell me Machpelah Cave, which is near the edge of his field. Ask him to sell it to me for its full price, here in your presence, so that I can own it as a burial ground."
10 Now Ephron was seated among the children of Heth: and Ephron the Hittite gave Abraham his answer in the hearing of the children of Heth, and of all those who came into his town, saying,
10
Ephron himself was sitting with the other Hittites at the meeting place at the city gate; he answered in the hearing of everyone there,
11 No, my lord, I will give you the field with the hollow in the rock; before all the children of my people will I give it to you for a resting-place for your dead.
11
"Listen, sir; I will give you the whole field and the cave that is in it. Here in the presence of my own people, I will give it to you, so that you can bury your wife."
12 And Abraham went down on his face before the people of the land.
12
But Abraham bowed before the Hittites
13 And Abraham said to Ephron, in the hearing of the people of the land, If only you will give ear to me, I will give you the price of the field; take it, and let me put my dead to rest there.
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and said to Ephron, so that everyone could hear, "May I ask you, please, to listen. I will buy the whole field. Accept my payment, and I will bury my wife there."
14 So Ephron said to Abraham
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Ephron answered
15 My lord, give ear to me: the value of the land is four hundred shekels; what is that between me and you? so put your dead to rest there.
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"Sir, land worth only four hundred pieces of silver - what is that between us? Bury your wife in it."
16 And Abraham took note of the price fixed by Ephron in the hearing of the children of Heth, and gave him four hundred shekels in current money.
16
Abraham agreed and weighed out the amount that Ephron had mentioned in the hearing of the people - four hundred pieces of silver, according to the standard weights used by the merchants.
17 So Ephron's field at Machpelah near Mamre, with the hollow in the rock and all the trees in the field and round it,
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That is how the property which had belonged to Ephron at Machpelah east of Mamre, became Abraham's. It included the field, the cave which was in it, and all the trees in the field up to the edge of the property.
18 Became the property of Abraham before the eyes of the children of Heth and of all who came into the town.
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It was recognized as Abraham's property by all the Hittites who were there at the meeting.
19 Then Abraham put Sarah his wife to rest in the hollow rock in the field of Machpelah near Mamre, that is, Hebron in the land of Canaan
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Then Abraham buried his wife Sarah in that cave in the land of Canaan
20 And the field and the hollow rock were handed over to Abraham as his property by the children of Heth.
20
So the field which had belonged to the Hittites, and the cave in it, became the property of Abraham for a burial ground.
The Bible in Basic English is in the public domain.
Scripture taken from the Good News Translation - Second Edition, Copyright 1992 by American Bible Society. Used by Permission.