Genesis 20

NEW JERUSALEM	NEW AMERICAN BIBLE
1 Abraham left there for the region of the Negeb, and settled between Kadesh and Shur. While stayingin Gerar,	1 Abraham journeyed on to the region of the Negeb, where he settled between Kadesh and Shur. While he stayed in Gerar,
2 Abraham said of his wife Sarah, 'She is my sister,' and Abimelech the king of Gerar had Sarahbrought to him.	2 he said of his wife Sarah, "She is my sister." So Abimelech, king of Gerar, sent and took Sarah.
3 But God visited Abimelech in a dream one night. 'You are to die,' he told him, 'because of the womanyou have taken, for she is a married woman.'	3 But God came to Abimelech in a dream one night and said to him, "You are about to die because of the woman you have taken, for she has a husband."
4 Abimelech, however, had not gone near her; so he said, 'Lord, would you kil someone even if he isupright?	4 Abimelech, who had not approached her, said: "O Lord, would you slay a man even though he is innocent?
5 Did he not tel me himself, "She is my sister"? And she herself said, "He is my brother." I did this with a clear conscience and clean hands.'	5 He himself told me, 'She is my sister,' and she herself also stated, 'He is my brother.' I did it in good faith and with clean hands."
6 'Yes, I know,' God replied in the dream, 'that you did this with a clear conscience and I myselfprevented you from sinning against me. That was why I did not let you touch her.	6 God answered him in the dream: "Yes, I know you did it in good faith. In fact, it was I who kept you from sinning against me; that is why I did not let you touch her.
7 Now send the man's wife back; for he is a prophet and can intercede on your behalf for your life. Butunderstand that if you do not send her back, this means death for you and al yours.'	7 Therefore, return the man's wife--as a spokesman he will intercede for you--that your life may be saved. If you do not return her, you can be sure that you and all who are yours will certainly die."
8 Early next morning, Abimelech summoned his ful court and told them the whole story, at which thepeople were very much afraid.	8 Early the next morning Abimelech called all his court officials and informed them of everything that had happened, and the men were horrified.
9 Then summoning Abraham, Abimelech said to him, 'What have you done to us? What wrong have Idone you, for you to bring such guilt on me and on my kingdom? You had no right to treat me like this.'	9 Then Abimelech summoned Abraham and said to him: "How could you do this to us! What wrong did I do to you that you should have brought such monstrous guilt on me and my kingdom? You have treated me in an intolerable way.
10 Abimelech then said to Abraham, 'What possessed you to do such a thing?'	10 What were you afraid of," he asked him, "that you should have done such a thing?"
11 'Because', Abraham replied, 'I thought there would be no fear of God here and that I should be kil edfor the sake of my wife.	11 "I was afraid," answered Abraham, "because I thought there would surely be no fear of God in this place, and so they would kill me on account of my wife.
12 Anyway, she real y is my sister, my father's daughter though not my mother's, besides being my wife.	12 Besides, she is in truth my sister, but only my father's daughter, not my mother's; and so she became my wife.
13 So when God made me wander far from my father's home I said to her, "There is an act of love youcan do me: everywhere we go, say of me that I am your brother." '	13 When God sent me wandering from my father's house, I asked her: 'Would you do me this favor? In whatever place we come to, say that I am your brother.'"
14 Abimelech took sheep, cattle, men and women slaves, and presented them to Abraham, and gavehim back his wife Sarah.	14 Then Abimelech took flocks and herds and male and female slaves and gave them to Abraham; and after he restored his wife Sarah to him,
15 And Abimelech said, 'Look, my land is open to you. Settle wherever you please.'	15 he said, "Here, my land lies at your disposal; settle wherever you please."
16 To Sarah he said, 'Look, I am giving your brother a thousand pieces of silver. This wil al aysuspicions about you, as far as al the people round you are concerned; you have been completely vindicated.'	16 To Sarah he said: "See, I have given your brother a thousand shekels of silver. Let that serve you as a vindication before all who are with you; your honor has been preserved with everyone."
17 Abraham then interceded with God, and God healed Abimelech, his wife and his slave-girls, so thatthey could have children,	17 Abraham then interceded with God, and God restored health to Abimelech, that is, to his wife and his maidservants, so that they could bear children;
18 for Yahweh had made al the women of Abimelech's household barren on account of Sarah,Abraham's wife.	18 for God had tightly closed every womb in Abimelech's household on account of Abraham's wife Sarah.