Genesis 23

NEW AMERICAN BIBLE	NEW JERUSALEM
1 The span of Sarah's life was one hundred and twenty-seven years.	1 The length of Sarah's life was a hundred and twenty-seven years.
2 She died in Kiriatharba (that is, Hebron) in the land of Canaan, and Abraham performed the customary mourning rites for her.	2 She died at Kiriath-Arba -- now Hebron -- in the land of Canaan, and Abraham proceeded to mournand bewail her.
3 Then he left the side of his dead one and addressed the Hittites:	3 Then rising from beside his dead, Abraham spoke to the Hittites,
4 "Although I am a resident alien among you, sell me from your holdings a piece of property for a burial ground, that I may bury my dead wife."	4 'I am a stranger resident here,' he said. 'Let me have a burial site of my own here, so that I canremove my dead for burial.'
5 The Hittites answered Abraham: "Please, sir,	5 The Hittites replied to Abraham,
6 listen to us! You are an elect of God among us. Bury your dead in the choicest of our burial sites. None of us would deny you his burial ground for the burial of your dead."	6 'Please listen to us, my lord, we regard you as a prince of God; bury your dead in the best of ourtombs; not one of us would refuse you his tomb for you to bury your dead.'
7 Abraham, however, began to bow low before the local citizens, the Hittites,	7 At this, Abraham rose and bowed low to the local people, the Hittites,
8 while he appealed to them: "If you will allow me room for burial of my dead, listen to me! Intercede for me with Ephron, son of Zohar, asking him	8 and pleaded with them as fol ows, 'If you consent to my removing my dead for burial, you must agreeto intercede for me with Ephron son of Zohar,
9 to sell me the cave of Machpelah that he owns; it is at the edge of his field. Let him sell it to me in your presence, at its full price, for a burial place."	9 for him to let me have the cave he owns at Machpelah, which is on the edge of his field. Let him sel itto me in your presence at its ful price, for a burial site of my own.'
10 Now Ephron was present with the Hittites. So Ephron the Hittite replied to Abraham in the hearing of the Hittites who sat on his town council:	10 Now Ephron was sitting among the Hittites, and Ephron the Hittite answered Abraham in the hearingof the Hittites, of al the inhabitants of his town.
11 "Please, sir, listen to me! I give you both the field and the cave in it; in the presence of my kinsmen I make this gift. Bury your dead!"	11 'No, my lord, listen to me,' he said. 'I give you the field and the cave in it; I make this gift in thepresence of my kinsmen. Bury your dead.'
12 But Abraham, after bowing low before the local citizens, addressed Ephron in the hearing of these men:	12 Abraham bowed low to the local people
13 "Ah, if only you would please listen to me! I will pay you the price of the field. Accept it from me, that I may bury my dead there."	13 and, in the hearing of the local people, replied to Ephron as fol ows, 'Be good enough to listen to me.I shal pay the price of the field; accept it from me and I shal bury my dead there.'
14 Ephron replied to Abraham, "Please,	14 Ephron replied to Abraham,
15 sir, listen to me! A piece of land worth four hundred shekels of silver--what is that between you and me, as long as you can bury your dead?"	15 'Please listen to me, my lord. What is a plot of land for four hundred shekels of silver between meand you? Bury your dead.'
16 Abraham accepted Ephron's terms; he weighed out to him the silver that Ephron had stipulated in the hearing of the Hittites, four hundred shekels of silver at the current market value.	16 Abraham agreed to Ephron's terms, and Abraham weighed out for Ephron the silver he hadstipulated in the hearing of the Hittites, namely four hundred shekels of silver, according to the currentcommercial rate.
17 Thus Ephron's field in Machpelah, facing Mamre, together with its cave and all the trees anywhere within its limits, was conveyed	17 Thus Ephron's field at Machpelah, facing Mamre -- the field and the cave in it and al the treesanywhere within the boundaries of the field -- passed
18 to Abraham by purchase in the presence of all the Hittites who sat on Ephron's town council.	18 into Abraham's possession in the sight of the Hittites, of al the inhabitants of his town.
19 After this transaction, Abraham buried his wife Sarah in the cave of the field of Machpelah, facing Mamre (that is, Hebron) in the land of Canaan.	19 And after this, Abraham buried his wife Sarah in the cave of the field of Machpelah, facing Mamre --now Hebron -- in the land of Canaan.
20 Thus the field with its cave was transferred from the Hittites to Abraham as a burial place.	20 And so the field and the cave in it passed from the Hittites into Abraham's possession as a burial siteof his own.