20:1 From there Abraham journeyed toward the territory of the Negeb, and dwelt between Kadesh and Shur; and he sojourned in Gerar.
20:1 From there Abraham journeyed toward the region of the Negeb, and settled between Kadesh and Shur. While residing in Gerar as an alien,

20:2 And Abraham said of Sarah his wife, "She is my sister." And Abim'elech king of Gerar sent and took Sarah.
20:2 Abraham said of his wife Sarah, "She is my sister." And King Abimelech of Gerar sent and took Sarah.

20:3 But God came to Abim'elech in a dream by night, and said to him, "Behold, you are a dead man, because of the woman whom you have taken; for she is a man's wife."
20:3 But God came to Abimelech in a dream by night, and said to him, "You are about to die because of the woman whom you have taken; for she is a married woman."

20:4 Now Abim'elech had not approached her; so he said, "Lord, wilt thou slay an innocent people?
20:4 Now Abimelech had not approached her; so he said, "Lord, will you destroy an innocent people?

20:5 Did he not himself say to me, `She is my sister'? And she herself said, `He is my brother.' In the integrity of my heart and the innocence of my hands I have done this."
20:5 Did he not himself say to me, 'She is my sister'? And she herself said, 'He is my brother.' I did this in the integrity of my heart and the innocence of my hands."

20:6 Then God said to him in the dream, "Yes, I know that you have done this in the integrity of your heart, and it was I who kept you from sinning against me; therefore I did not let you touch her.
20:6 Then God said to him in the dream, "Yes, I know that you did this in the integrity of your heart; furthermore it was I who kept you from sinning against me. Therefore I did not let you touch her.

20:7 Now then restore the man's wife; for he is a prophet, and he will pray for you, and you shall live. But if you do not restore her, know that you shall surely die, you, and all that are yours."
20:7 Now then, return the man's wife; for he is a prophet, and he will pray for you and you shall live. But if you do not restore her, know that you shall surely die, you and all that are yours."

20:8 So Abim'elech rose early in the morning, and called all his servants, and told them all these things; and the men were very much afraid.
20:8 So Abimelech rose early in the morning, and called all his servants and told them all these things; and the men were very much afraid.

20:9 Then Abim'elech called Abraham, and said to him, "What have you done to us? And how have I sinned against you, that you have brought on me and my kingdom a great sin? You have done to me things that ought not to be done."
20:9 Then Abimelech called Abraham, and said to him, "What have you done to us? How have I sinned against you, that you have brought such great guilt on me and my kingdom? You have done things to me that ought not to be done."

20:10 And Abim'elech said to Abraham, "What were you thinking of, that you did this thing?"
20:10 And Abimelech said to Abraham, "What were you thinking of, that you did this thing?"

20:11 Abraham said, "I did it because I thought, There is no fear of God at all in this place, and they will kill me because of my wife.
20:11 Abraham said, "I did it because I thought, There is no fear of God at all in this place, and they will kill me because of my wife.

20:12 Besides she is indeed my sister, the daughter of my father but not the daughter of my mother; and she became my wife.
20:12 Besides, she is indeed my sister, the daughter of my father but not the daughter of my mother; and she became my wife.

20:13 And when God caused me to wander from my father's house, I said to her, `This is the kindness you must do me: at every place to which we come, say of me, He is my brother.'"
20:13 And when God caused me to wander from my father's house, I said to her, 'This is the kindness you must do me: at every place to which we come, say of me, He is my brother.'"

20:14 Then Abim'elech took sheep and oxen, and male and female slaves, and gave them to Abraham, and restored Sarah his wife to him.
20:14 Then Abimelech took sheep and oxen, and male and female slaves, and gave them to Abraham, and restored his wife Sarah to him.

20:15 And Abim'elech said, "Behold, my land is before you; dwell where it pleases you."
20:15 Abimelech said, "My land is before you; settle where it pleases you."

20:16 To Sarah he said, "Behold, I have given your brother a thousand pieces of silver; it is your vindication in the eyes of all who are with you; and before every one you are righted."
20:16 To Sarah he said, "Look, I have given your brother a thousand pieces of silver; it is your exoneration before all who are with you; you are completely vindicated."

20:17 Then Abraham prayed to God; and God healed Abim'elech, and also healed his wife and female slaves so that they bore children.
20:17 Then Abraham prayed to God; and God healed Abimelech, and also healed his wife and female slaves so that they bore children.

20:18 For the LORD had closed all the wombs of the house of Abim'elech because of Sarah, Abraham's wife.
20:18 For the LORD had closed fast all the wombs of the house of Abimelech because of Sarah, Abraham's wife.