Abram in Egypt^(A)

¹⁰ Now there was a famine in the land,^(B) and Abram went down to Egypt to live there for a while because the famine was severe.^{(C) 11} As he was about to enter Egypt, he said to his wife Sarai,^(D) “I know what a beautiful woman^(E) you are. ¹² When the Egyptians see you, they will say, ‘This is his wife.’ Then they will kill me but will let you live. ¹³ Say you are my sister,^(F) so that I will be treated well for your sake and my life will be spared because of you.”

¹⁴ When Abram came to Egypt, the Egyptians saw that Sarai was a very beautiful woman.^{(G) 15} And when Pharaoh’s officials saw her, they praised her to Pharaoh, and she was taken into his palace. ¹⁶ He treated Abram well for her sake, and Abram acquired sheep and cattle, male and female donkeys, male and female servants, and camels.^(H)

¹⁷ But the Lord inflicted^(I) serious diseases on Pharaoh and his household^(J) because of Abram’s wife Sarai. ¹⁸ So Pharaoh summoned Abram. “What have you done to me?”^(K) he said. “Why didn’t you tell me she was your wife?^{(L) 19} Why did you say, ‘She is my sister,’^(M) so that I took her to be my wife? Now then, here is your wife. Take her and go!” ²⁰ Then Pharaoh gave orders about Abram to his men, and they sent him on his way, with his wife and everything he had.

Abraham and Abimelek^(A)

20 Now Abraham moved on from there^(B) into the region of the Negev^(C) and lived between Kadesh^(D) and Shur.^(E) For a while^(F) he stayed in Gerar,^{(G) 2} and there Abraham said of his wife Sarah, “She is my sister.^(H)” Then Abimelek^(I) king of Gerar sent for Sarah and took her.^(J)

³ But God came to Abimelek^(K) in a dream^(L) one night and said to him, “You are as good as dead^(M) because of the woman you have taken; she is a married woman.”^(N)

⁴ Now Abimelek had not gone near her, so he said, “Lord, will you destroy an innocent nation?^{(O) 5} Did he not say to me, ‘She is my sister,^(P)’ and didn’t she also say, ‘He is my brother’? I have done this with a clear conscience^(Q) and clean hands.^(R)”

⁶ Then God said to him in the dream, “Yes, I know you did this with a clear conscience, and so I have kept^(S) you from sinning against me.^(T) That is why I did not let you touch her. ⁷ Now return the man’s wife, for he is a prophet,^(U) and he will pray for you^(V) and you will live. But if you do not return her, you may be sure that you and all who belong to you will die.”^(W)

⁸ Early the next morning Abimelek summoned all his officials, and when he told them all that had happened, they were very much afraid. ⁹ Then Abimelek 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 never be done.^(X)” ¹⁰ And Abimelek asked Abraham, “What was your reason for doing this?”

¹¹ Abraham replied, “I said to myself, ‘There is surely no fear of God^(Y) in this place, and they will kill me because of my wife.’^{(Z) 12} Besides, she really is my sister,^(AA) the daughter of my father though not of my mother; and she became my wife. ¹³ And when God had me wander^(AB) from my father’s household,^(AC) I said to her, ‘This is how you can show your love to me: Everywhere we go, say of me, “He is my brother.”’”

¹⁴ Then Abimelek^(AD) brought sheep and cattle and male and female slaves and gave them to Abraham,^(AE) and he returned Sarah his wife to him. ¹⁵ And Abimelek said, “My land is before you; live wherever you like.”^(AF)

¹⁶ To Sarah he said, “I am giving your brother a thousand shekels^[a] of silver. This is to cover the offense against you before all who are with you; you are completely vindicated.”

¹⁷ Then Abraham prayed to God,^(AG) and God healed Abimelek, his wife and his female slaves so they could have children again, ¹⁸ for the Lord had kept all the women in Abimelek’s household from conceiving because of Abraham’s wife Sarah.^(AH)