Genesis 23

New International Version

The Death of Sarah

23 Sarah lived to be a hundred and twenty-seven years old. ²She died at Kiriath Arba^(A) (that is, Hebron)^(B) in the land of Canaan, and Abraham went to mourn for Sarah and to weep over her.^(C)

³Then Abraham rose from beside his dead wife and spoke to the Hittites.^[a]^(D) He said, ⁴“I am a foreigner and stranger^(E) among you. Sell me some property for a burial site here so I can bury my dead.^(F)”

⁵The Hittites replied to Abraham, ⁶“Sir, listen to us. You are a mighty prince^(G) among us. Bury your dead in the choicest of our tombs. None of us will refuse you his tomb for burying your dead.”

⁷Then Abraham rose and bowed down before the people of the land, the Hittites. ⁸He said to them, “If you are willing to let me bury my dead, then listen to me and intercede with Ephron son of Zohar^(H) on my behalf ⁹so he will sell me the cave of Machpelah,^(I) which belongs to him and is at the end of his field. Ask him to sell it to me for the full price as a burial site among you.”

¹⁰Ephron the Hittite was sitting among his people and he replied to Abraham in the hearing of all the Hittites^(J) who had come to the gate^(K) of his city. ¹¹“No, my lord,” he said. “Listen to me; I give^[b]^(L) you the field, and I give^[c] you the cave that is in it. I give^[d] it to you in the presence of my people. Bury your dead.”

¹²Again Abraham bowed down before the people of the land ¹³and he said to Ephron in their hearing, “Listen to me, if you will. I will pay the price of the field. Accept it from me so I can bury my dead there.”

¹⁴Ephron answered Abraham, ¹⁵“Listen to me, my lord; the land is worth four hundred shekels^[e] of silver,^(M) but what is that between you and me? Bury your dead.”

¹⁶Abraham agreed to Ephron’s terms and weighed out for him the price he had named in the hearing of the Hittites: four hundred shekels of silver,^(N) according to the weight current among the merchants.^(O)

¹⁷So Ephron’s field in Machpelah^(P) near Mamre^(Q)—both the field and the cave in it, and all the trees within the borders of the field—was deeded ¹⁸to Abraham as his property^(R) in the presence of all the Hittites^(S) who had come to the gate^(T) of the city. ¹⁹Afterward Abraham buried his wife Sarah in the cave in the field of Machpelah^(U) near Mamre (which is at Hebron^(V)) in the land of Canaan.^(W) ²⁰So the field and the cave in it were deeded^(X) to Abraham by the Hittites as a burial site.^(Y)

Footnotes

Genesis 23:3 Or the descendants of Heth; also in verses 5, 7, 10, 16, 18 and 20
Genesis 23:11 Or sell
Genesis 23:11 Or sell
Genesis 23:11 Or sell
Genesis 23:15 That is, about 10 pounds or about 4.6 kilograms

Psalm 89:1-18

New International Version

Psalm 89^[a]

A maskil^[b] of Ethan the Ezrahite.

¹I will sing^(A) of the Lord’s great love forever;
    with my mouth I will make your faithfulness known^(B)
    through all generations.
²I will declare that your love stands firm forever,
    that you have established your faithfulness in heaven itself.^(C)
³You said, “I have made a covenant with my chosen one,
    I have sworn to David my servant,
⁴‘I will establish your line forever
    and make your throne firm through all generations.’”^[c]^(D)

⁵The heavens^(E) praise your wonders, Lord,
    your faithfulness too, in the assembly^(F) of the holy ones.
⁶For who in the skies above can compare with the Lord?
    Who is like the Lord among the heavenly beings?^(G)
⁷In the council^(H) of the holy ones^(I) God is greatly feared;
    he is more awesome than all who surround him.^(J)
⁸Who is like you,^(K) Lord God Almighty?^(L)
    You, Lord, are mighty, and your faithfulness surrounds you.

⁹You rule over the surging sea;
    when its waves mount up, you still them.^(M)
¹⁰You crushed Rahab^(N) like one of the slain;
    with your strong arm you scattered^(O) your enemies.
¹¹The heavens are yours,^(P) and yours also the earth;^(Q)
    you founded the world and all that is in it.^(R)
¹²You created the north and the south;
    Tabor^(S) and Hermon^(T) sing for joy^(U) at your name.
¹³Your arm is endowed with power;
    your hand is strong, your right hand exalted.^(V)

¹⁴Righteousness and justice are the foundation of your throne;^(W)
    love and faithfulness go before you.^(X)
¹⁵Blessed are those who have learned to acclaim you,
    who walk^(Y) in the light^(Z) of your presence, Lord.
¹⁶They rejoice in your name^(AA) all day long;
    they celebrate your righteousness.
¹⁷For you are their glory and strength,^(AB)
    and by your favor you exalt our horn.^[d]^(AC)
¹⁸Indeed, our shield^[e]^(AD) belongs to the Lord,
    our king^(AE) to the Holy One of Israel.

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Footnotes

Psalm 89:1 In Hebrew texts 89:1-52 is numbered 89:2-53.
Psalm 89:1 Title: Probably a literary or musical term
Psalm 89:4 The Hebrew has Selah (a word of uncertain meaning) here and at the end of verses 37, 45 and 48.
Psalm 89:17 Horn here symbolizes strong one.
Psalm 89:18 Or sovereign