Genesis — Chapter 20

Passage

Abraham removed from there to the south country, and dwelt between Cades and Sur, and sojourned in Gerara. And he said of Sara his wife: She is my sister. So Abimelech the king of Gerara sent, and took her. And God came to Abimelech in a dream by night, and he said to him: Lo you will die for the woman that you have taken: for she has a husband. Now Abimelech had not touched her, and he said: Lord, will you slay a nation that is ignorant and just? Did not he say to me: She is my sister: and she say, He is my brother? in the simplicity of my heart, and cleanness of my hands have I done this. And God said to him: And I know that you didst it with a sincere heart: and therefore I withheld you from sinning against me, and I suffered you not to touch her. Now therefore restore the man his wife, for he is a prophet: and he shall pray for you, and you will live: but if you will not restore her, know that you will surely die, you and all that are your. And Abimelech forthwith rising up in the night, called all his servants: and spoke all these words in their hearing, and all the men were exceedingly afraid. And Abimelech called also for Abraham, and said to him: What hast you done to us? what have we offended you in, that you have brought upon me and upon my kingdom a great sin? you have done to us what you oughtest not to do. And again he expostulated with him, and said: What sawest you, that you have done this? Abraham answered: I thought with myself, saying: Perhaps there is not the fear of God in this place: and they will kill me for the sake of my wife: Howbeit, otherwise also she is truly my sister, the daughter of my father, and not the daughter of my mother, and I took her to wife. And after God brought me out of my father's house, I said to her: You will do me this kindness: In every place, to which we shall come, you will say that I am your brother. And Abimelech took sheep and oxen, and servants and handmaids, and gave to Abraham: and restored to him Sara his wife, And said: The land is before you, dwell wheresoever it shall please you. And to Sara he said: See I have given your brother a thousand pieces of silver, this shall serve you for a covering of your eyes to all that are with you, and whithersoever you will go: and remember you wast taken. And when Abraham prayed, God healed Abimelech and his wife, and his handmaids, and they bore children: For the Lord had closed up every womb of the house of Abimelech, on account of Sara, Abraham's wife.