Genesis 20

NEW JERUSALEM	CATHOLIC PUBLIC DOMAIN
1 Abraham left there for the region of the Negeb, and settled between Kadesh and Shur. While stayingin Gerar,	1 Abraham advanced from there into the southern land, and he lived between Kadesh and Shur. And he sojourned in Gerar.
2 Abraham said of his wife Sarah, 'She is my sister,' and Abimelech the king of Gerar had Sarahbrought to him.	2 And he said about his wife Sarah: “She is my sister.” Therefore, Abimelech, the king of Gerar, sent for her and took her.
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 Then God came to Abimelech through a dream in the night, and he said to him: “Lo, you shall die because of the woman that 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 In truth, Abimelech had not touched her, and so he said: “Lord, would you put to death a people, ignorant and just?
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 Did he not say to me, ‘She is my sister,’ and did she not say, ‘He is my brother?’ In the sincerity of my heart and the purity of my hands, I have done this.”
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 And God said to him: “And I know that you have acted with a sincere heart. And therefore I kept you from sinning against me, and I did not release you to 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 Now therefore, return his wife to the man, for he is a prophet. And he will pray for you, and you will live. But if you are not willing to return her, know this: you shall die a death, you and all that is yours.”
8 Early next morning, Abimelech summoned his ful court and told them the whole story, at which thepeople were very much afraid.	8 And immediately Abimelech, rising up in the night, called all his servants. And he spoke all these words in their hearing, and all the men were very afraid.
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 called also for Abraham, and he said to him: “What have you done to us? How have we sinned against you, so that you would bring so great a sin upon me and upon my kingdom? You have done to us what you ought not to have done.”
10 Abimelech then said to Abraham, 'What possessed you to do such a thing?'	10 And remonstrating him again, he said, “What did you see, so that you would do this?”
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 Abraham responded: “I thought to myself, saying: Perhaps there is no fear of God in this place. And they will put me to death because 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 Yet, in another way, she is also truly my sister, the daughter of my father, and not the daughter of my mother, and I took her as a 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 Then, after God led me out of my father’s house, I said to her: ‘You will show this mercy to me. In every place, to which we will travel, you will 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 Therefore, Abimelech took sheep and oxen, and men servants and women servants, and he gave them to Abraham. And he returned his wife Sarah to him.
15 And Abimelech said, 'Look, my land is open to you. Settle wherever you please.'	15 And he said, “The land is in your sight. Dwell wherever it will please you.”
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 Then to Sarah he said: “Behold, I have given your brother one thousand silver coins. This will be for you as a veil for your eyes, to all who are with you and wherever you will travel. And so, remember that you were taken.”
17 Abraham then interceded with God, and God healed Abimelech, his wife and his slave-girls, so thatthey could have children,	17 Then when Abraham prayed, God healed Abimelech and his wife, and his handmaids, and they gave birth.
18 for Yahweh had made al the women of Abimelech's household barren on account of Sarah,Abraham's wife.	18 For the Lord had closed every womb of the house of Abimelech, because of Sarah, the wife of Abraham.