The Bible (Old and New Testaments)

And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing:

Plain English · paraphraseAnd I will make you into a great nation. I will bless you and make your name great. You will be a blessing.

And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed.

Plain English · paraphraseAnd I will bless those who bless you, and curse the one who curses you. And through you, all the families of the earth will be blessed.

So Abram departed, as the LORD had spoken unto him; and Lot went with him: and Abram was seventy and five years old when he departed out of Haran.

Plain English · paraphraseAbram left, as the LORD had told him. Lot went with him. Abram was seventy-five years old when he left Haran.

And Abram took Sarai his wife, and Lot his brother’s son, and all their substance that they had gathered, and the souls that they had gotten in Haran; and they went forth to go into the land of Canaan; and into the land of Canaan they came.

Plain English · paraphraseAbram took Sarai his wife, and Lot his brother’s son, and all the things they had gathered, and the people they had gained in Haran. They went out to go to the land of Canaan. They came into the land of Canaan.

And Abram passed through the land unto the place of Sichem, unto the plain of Moreh. And the Canaanite was then in the land.

Plain English · paraphraseAbram traveled through the land to the area of Sichem, to the plain of Moreh. The Canaanites were living in the land at that time.

And the LORD appeared unto Abram, and said, Unto thy seed will I give this land: and there builded he an altar unto the LORD, who appeared unto him.

Plain English · paraphraseAnd the Lord appeared to Abram. He said, "I will give this land to your descendants." And Abram built an altar to the Lord who had appeared to him.

And he removed from thence unto a mountain on the east of Bethel, and pitched his tent, having Bethel on the west, and Hai on the east: and there he builded an altar unto the LORD, and called upon the name of the LORD.

Plain English · paraphraseHe left from there and went to a mountain east of Bethel, where he set up his tent. Bethel was to the west, and Hai to the east. There he built an altar to the Lord and called on the name of the Lord.

And Abram journeyed, going on still toward the south.

Plain English · paraphraseAnd Abram traveled, continuing toward the south.

And there was a famine in the land: and Abram went down into Egypt to sojourn there; for the famine was grievous in the land.

Plain English · paraphraseAnd there was a famine in the land. Abram went down to Egypt to stay there, because the famine was very bad in the land.

And it came to pass, when he was come near to enter into Egypt, that he said unto Sarai his wife, Behold now, I know that thou art a fair woman to look upon:

Plain English · paraphraseAnd it came to pass, when he was coming near to enter Egypt, that he said to Sarai his wife, "Look, I know that you are a beautiful woman to look at:"

Therefore it shall come to pass, when the Egyptians shall see thee, that they shall say, This is his wife: and they will kill me, but they will save thee alive.

Plain English · paraphraseTherefore, it will happen that when the Egyptians see you, they will say, "This is his wife," and they will kill me, but they will let you live.

Say, I pray thee, thou art my sister: that it may be well with me for thy sake; and my soul shall live because of thee.

Plain English · paraphraseSay, please, that you are my sister, so that it may go well with me because of you, and my soul will live because of you.

And it came to pass, that, when Abram was come into Egypt, the Egyptians beheld the woman that she was very fair.

Plain English · paraphraseWhen Abram arrived in Egypt, the Egyptians saw that his wife was very beautiful.

The princes also of Pharaoh saw her, and commended her before Pharaoh: and the woman was taken into Pharaoh’s house.

And he entreated Abram well for her sake: and he had sheep, and oxen, and he asses, and menservants, and maidservants, and she asses, and camels.

Plain English · paraphraseAnd he treated Abram well because of her. He gave him sheep, oxen, donkeys, male servants, female servants, female donkeys, and camels.

And the LORD plagued Pharaoh and his house with great plagues because of Sarai Abram’s wife.

Plain English · paraphraseAnd the Lord struck Pharaoh and his household with serious diseases because of Sarai, Abram’s wife.

And Pharaoh called Abram and said, What is this that thou hast done unto me? why didst thou not tell me that she was thy wife?

Why saidst thou, She is my sister? so I might have taken her to me to wife: now therefore behold thy wife, take her, and go thy way.

Plain English · paraphrase"Why did you say, 'She is my sister'? I could have taken her as my wife. Now then, here is your wife. Take her and go."

And Pharaoh commanded his men concerning him: and they sent him away, and his wife, and all that he had.

Plain English · paraphraseAnd Pharaoh gave orders to his men about him. They sent him away, along with his wife and everything he owned.

And Abram went up out of Egypt, he, and his wife, and all that he had, and Lot with him, into the south.

Plain English · paraphraseAbram went up from Egypt. He went with his wife, everything he had, and Lot. They went into the south.

And Abram was very rich in cattle, in silver, and in gold.

Plain English · paraphraseAbram had many cattle, silver, and gold.

And he went on his journeys from the south even to Bethel, unto the place where his tent had been at the beginning, between Bethel and Hai;

Plain English · paraphraseAnd he continued his travels from the south all the way to Bethel, to the place where his tent had been at the beginning, between Bethel and Hai;

Unto the place of the altar, which he had made there at the first: and there Abram called on the name of the LORD.

Plain English · paraphraseTo the place of the altar, which he had built there at first, Abram went. And there he called on the name of the LORD.

And Lot also, which went with Abram, had flocks, and herds, and tents.

Plain English · paraphraseAnd Lot, who went with Abram, had flocks, herds, and tents.

And the land was not able to bear them, that they might dwell together: for their substance was great, so that they could not dwell together.

Plain English · paraphraseThe land could not support them living together, because their possessions were so great that they could not live together.

And there was a strife between the herdmen of Abram’s cattle and the herdmen of Lot’s cattle: and the Canaanite and the Perizzite dwelled then in the land.

Plain English · paraphraseThere was a conflict between Abram’s herders and Lot’s herders. At that time, the Canaanites and Perizzites were living in the land.

And Abram said unto Lot, Let there be no strife, I pray thee, between me and thee, and between my herdmen and thy herdmen; for we be brethren.

Plain English · paraphraseAnd Abram said to Lot, "Let there be no conflict between me and you, and between my herders and your herders, for we are brothers."

Is not the whole land before thee? separate thyself, I pray thee, from me: if thou wilt take the left hand, then I will go to the right; or if thou depart to the right hand, then I will go to the left.

Plain English · paraphraseIs not the whole land before you? Separate yourself from me, I beg you. If you take the left side, then I will go to the right. Or if you go to the right side, then I will go to the left.

And Lot lifted up his eyes, and beheld all the plain of Jordan, that it was well watered every where, before the LORD destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah, even as the garden of the LORD, like the land of Egypt, as thou comest unto Zoar.

Plain English · paraphraseLot looked up and saw the whole Jordan plain. It was well watered everywhere, before the Lord destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah. It looked like the garden of the Lord, like the land of Egypt, as he came toward Zoar.

Then Lot chose him all the plain of Jordan; and Lot journeyed east: and they separated themselves the one from the other.

Plain English · paraphraseThen Lot chose the whole plain of Jordan. Lot traveled east, and they separated from each other.

Abram dwelled in the land of Canaan, and Lot dwelled in the cities of the plain, and pitched his tent toward Sodom.

Plain English · paraphraseAbram lived in the land of Canaan, and Lot lived in the cities of the plain, and he set up his tent near Sodom.

But the men of Sodom were wicked and sinners before the LORD exceedingly.

Plain English · paraphraseBut the people of Sodom were wicked and sinned greatly before the Lord.

And the LORD said unto Abram, after that Lot was separated from him, Lift up now thine eyes, and look from the place where thou art northward, and southward, and eastward, and westward:

For all the land which thou seest, to thee will I give it, and to thy seed for ever.

Plain English · paraphraseI will give you all the land you see, and to your children forever.

And I will make thy seed as the dust of the earth: so that if a man can number the dust of the earth, then shall thy seed also be numbered.

Plain English · paraphraseAnd I will make your descendants as numerous as the dust of the earth. So that if someone can count the dust of the earth, then your descendants can also be counted.

Arise, walk through the land in the length of it and in the breadth of it; for I will give it unto thee.

Plain English · paraphraseGet up, walk through the land from end to end; for I will give it to you.

Then Abram removed his tent, and came and dwelt in the plain of Mamre, which is in Hebron, and built there an altar unto the LORD.

Plain English · paraphraseThen Abram moved his tent and came to live in the plain of Mamre, which is in Hebron. There he built an altar to the Lord.

And it came to pass in the days of Amraphel king of Shinar, Arioch king of Ellasar, Chedorlaomer king of Elam, and Tidal king of nations;

That these made war with Bera king of Sodom, and with Birsha king of Gomorrah, Shinab king of Admah, and Shemeber king of Zeboiim, and the king of Bela, which is Zoar.

All these were joined together in the vale of Siddim, which is the salt sea.

Twelve years they served Chedorlaomer, and in the thirteenth year they rebelled.

Plain English · paraphraseThey served Chedorlaomer for twelve years, and in the thirteenth year they rebelled.

And in the fourteenth year came Chedorlaomer, and the kings that were with him, and smote the Rephaims in Ashteroth Karnaim, and the Zuzims in Ham, and the Emins in Shaveh Kiriathaim,

Plain English · paraphraseAnd in the fourteenth year, Chedorlaomer and the kings with him came and defeated the Rephaims at Ashteroth Karnaim, the Zuzims at Ham, and the Emins at Shaveh Kiriathaim.

And the Horites in their mount Seir, unto Elparan, which is by the wilderness.

Plain English · paraphraseAnd the Horites in their Mount Seir, as far as Elparan, which is by the wilderness.

And they returned, and came to Enmishpat, which is Kadesh, and smote all the country of the Amalekites, and also the Amorites, that dwelt in Hazezontamar.

Plain English · paraphraseAnd they returned and came to Enmishpat, which is Kadesh. They attacked all the land of the Amalekites, and also the Amorites who lived in Hazezontamar.

And there went out the king of Sodom, and the king of Gomorrah, and the king of Admah, and the king of Zeboiim, and the king of Bela (the same is Zoar;) and they joined battle with them in the vale of Siddim;

Plain English · paraphraseAnd the king of Sodom, the king of Gomorrah, the king of Admah, the king of Zeboiim, and the king of Bela (which is the same as Zoar) went out. They fought against them in the valley of Siddim.

With Chedorlaomer the king of Elam, and with Tidal king of nations, and Amraphel king of Shinar, and Arioch king of Ellasar; four kings with five.

And the vale of Siddim was full of slimepits; and the kings of Sodom and Gomorrah fled, and fell there; and they that remained fled to the mountain.

And they took all the goods of Sodom and Gomorrah, and all their victuals, and went their way.

And they took Lot, Abram’s brother’s son, who dwelt in Sodom, and his goods, and departed.

Plain English · paraphraseAnd they took Lot, Abram’s brother’s son, who lived in Sodom, and his belongings, and they left.

And there came one that had escaped, and told Abram the Hebrew; for he dwelt in the plain of Mamre the Amorite, brother of Eshcol, and brother of Aner: and these were confederate with Abram.

Plain English · paraphraseAnd someone who had escaped came and told Abram the Hebrew. Abram lived in the plain of Mamre the Amorite, who was the brother of Eshcol and the brother of Aner. These men were allies with Abram.

And when Abram heard that his brother was taken captive, he armed his trained servants, born in his own house, three hundred and eighteen, and pursued them unto Dan.

And he divided himself against them, he and his servants, by night, and smote them, and pursued them unto Hobah, which is on the left hand of Damascus.

Plain English · paraphraseAnd he turned against them, he and his servants, by night, and attacked them, and chased them to Hobah, which is on the left side of Damascus.

And he brought back all the goods, and also brought again his brother Lot, and his goods, and the women also, and the people.

And the king of Sodom went out to meet him after his return from the slaughter of Chedorlaomer, and of the kings that were with him, at the valley of Shaveh, which is the king’s dale.

And Melchizedek king of Salem brought forth bread and wine: and he was the priest of the most high God.

And he blessed him, and said, Blessed be Abram of the most high God, possessor of heaven and earth:

Plain English · paraphraseAnd he blessed him. He said, "May Abram be blessed by the Most High God, the possessor of heaven and earth."

And blessed be the most high God, which hath delivered thine enemies into thy hand. And he gave him tithes of all.

Plain English · paraphraseAnd blessed be the most high God, who has delivered your enemies into your hand. And he gave him tithes of all.

And the king of Sodom said unto Abram, Give me the persons, and take the goods to thyself.

Plain English · paraphraseAnd the king of Sodom said to Abram, Give me the people, and keep the goods for yourself.

And Abram said to the king of Sodom, I have lift up mine hand unto the LORD, the most high God, the possessor of heaven and earth,

Plain English · paraphraseAnd Abram said to the king of Sodom, "I have raised my hand to the Lord, the Most High God, the owner of heaven and earth,

That I will not take from a thread even to a shoelatchet, and that I will not take any thing that is thine, lest thou shouldest say, I have made Abram rich:

Plain English · paraphraseI will not take even a thread or a shoelace from you. I will not take anything that belongs to you, so that you might not say, "We have made Abram rich."

Save only that which the young men have eaten, and the portion of the men which went with me, Aner, Eshcol, and Mamre; let them take their portion.

After these things the word of the LORD came unto Abram in a vision, saying, Fear not, Abram: I am thy shield, and thy exceeding great reward.

Plain English · paraphraseAfter these things, the word of the LORD came to Abram in a vision. He said, "Do not fear, Abram. I am your shield, and your very great reward."

And Abram said, LORD God, what wilt thou give me, seeing I go childless, and the steward of my house is this Eliezer of Damascus?

And Abram said, Behold, to me thou hast given no seed: and, lo, one born in my house is mine heir.

Plain English · paraphraseAnd Abram said, "Look, you have not given me any children. And now, the one born in my house is my heir."

And, behold, the word of the LORD came unto him, saying, This shall not be thine heir; but he that shall come forth out of thine own bowels shall be thine heir.

Plain English · paraphraseAnd the message from the Lord came to him, saying, This man will not be your heir. Instead, the one who comes from your own body will be your heir.

And he brought him forth abroad, and said, Look now toward heaven, and tell the stars, if thou be able to number them: and he said unto him, So shall thy seed be.

Plain English · paraphraseHe took him outside and said, "Look up at the sky and count the stars, if you can count them." He said to him, "Your descendants will be like this."

And he believed in the LORD; and he counted it to him for righteousness.

And he said unto him, I am the LORD that brought thee out of Ur of the Chaldees, to give thee this land to inherit it.

And he said, LORD God, whereby shall I know that I shall inherit it?

Plain English · paraphraseAnd he said, "Lord God, by what sign will I know that I will inherit it?"

And he said unto him, Take me an heifer of three years old, and a she goat of three years old, and a ram of three years old, and a turtledove, and a young pigeon.

Plain English · paraphraseAnd he said to him, Take for me a three-year-old heifer, and a three-year-old she-goat, and a three-year-old ram, and a turtledove, and a young pigeon.

And he took unto him all these, and divided them in the midst, and laid each piece one against another: but the birds divided he not.

Plain English · paraphraseHe took all these and cut them in half, placing each piece opposite the other. But he did not cut up the birds.

And when the fowls came down upon the carcases, Abram drove them away.

Plain English · paraphraseAnd when the birds came down on the bodies, Abram drove them away.

And when the sun was going down, a deep sleep fell upon Abram; and, lo, an horror of great darkness fell upon him.

And he said unto Abram, Know of a surety that thy seed shall be a stranger in a land that is not theirs, and shall serve them; and they shall afflict them four hundred years;

Plain English · paraphraseAnd he said to Abram, Know for certain that your descendants will be strangers in a land that is not theirs, and they will serve the people there. And they will be oppressed by them for four hundred years.

And also that nation, whom they shall serve, will I judge: and afterward shall they come out with great substance.

Plain English · paraphraseAnd also that nation, whom they shall serve, I will judge: and afterward they shall come out with great substance.

And thou shalt go to thy fathers in peace; thou shalt be buried in a good old age.

Plain English · paraphraseAnd you will go to your fathers in peace; you will be buried in a good old age.

But in the fourth generation they shall come hither again: for the iniquity of the Amorites is not yet full.

Plain English · paraphraseBut in the fourth generation they will come back here. The sin of the Amorites is not yet complete.

And it came to pass, that, when the sun went down, and it was dark, behold a smoking furnace, and a burning lamp that passed between those pieces.

In the same day the LORD made a covenant with Abram, saying, Unto thy seed have I given this land, from the river of Egypt unto the great river, the river Euphrates:

Plain English · paraphraseOn that same day, the Lord made a covenant with Abram. He said, "I have given this land to your descendants, from the river of Egypt to the great river, the Euphrates River."

The Kenites, and the Kenizzites, and the Kadmonites,

And the Hittites, and the Perizzites, and the Rephaims,

And the Amorites, and the Canaanites, and the Girgashites, and the Jebusites.

Now Sarai Abram’s wife bare him no children: and she had an handmaid, an Egyptian, whose name was Hagar.

Plain English · paraphraseSarai, Abram’s wife, had no children for him. She had a servant girl, an Egyptian woman named Hagar.

And Sarai said unto Abram, Behold now, the LORD hath restrained me from bearing: I pray thee, go in unto my maid; it may be that I may obtain children by her. And Abram hearkened to the voice of Sarai.

Plain English · paraphraseSarai said to Abram, "The Lord has kept me from having children. Please, go to my servant girl. Maybe I can have children through her." Abram listened to Sarai.

And Sarai Abram’s wife took Hagar her maid the Egyptian, after Abram had dwelt ten years in the land of Canaan, and gave her to her husband Abram to be his wife.

Plain English · paraphraseSarai, Abram’s wife, took Hagar, her Egyptian servant, after Abram had lived in the land of Canaan for ten years. She gave Hagar to her husband Abram to be his wife.

And he went in unto Hagar, and she conceived: and when she saw that she had conceived, her mistress was despised in her eyes.

Plain English · paraphraseAnd he went to Hagar, and she became pregnant. When she realized she was pregnant, she looked down on her mistress.

And Sarai said unto Abram, My wrong be upon thee: I have given my maid into thy bosom; and when she saw that she had conceived, I was despised in her eyes: the LORD judge between me and thee.

Plain English · paraphraseAnd Sarai said to Abram, "My wrong is on you. I gave my servant girl to you, and when she saw that she had become pregnant, I was looked down on in her eyes. Let the Lord decide between you and me."

But Abram said unto Sarai, Behold, thy maid is in thine hand; do to her as it pleaseth thee. And when Sarai dealt hardly with her, she fled from her face.

Plain English · paraphraseBut Abram said to Sarai, "Your servant girl is under your control; treat her however you wish." And when Sarai treated her harshly, she ran away from her.

And the angel of the LORD found her by a fountain of water in the wilderness, by the fountain in the way to Shur.

And he said, Hagar, Sarai’s maid, whence camest thou? and whither wilt thou go? And she said, I flee from the face of my mistress Sarai.

Plain English · paraphraseAnd he said, "Hagar, Sarai’s servant, where have you come from? And where are you going?" And she said, "I am fleeing from my mistress Sarai."

And the angel of the LORD said unto her, Return to thy mistress, and submit thyself under her hands.

Plain English · paraphraseAnd the angel of the Lord said to her, Go back to your mistress, and let yourself be under her authority.

And the angel of the LORD said unto her, I will multiply thy seed exceedingly, that it shall not be numbered for multitude.

Plain English · paraphraseAnd the angel of the Lord said to her, I will make your descendants very numerous, so many that they cannot be counted.

And the angel of the LORD said unto her, Behold, thou art with child and shalt bear a son, and shalt call his name Ishmael; because the LORD hath heard thy affliction.

Plain English · paraphraseAnd the angel of the Lord said to her, "You are pregnant and will give birth to a son. You will name him Ishmael, because the Lord has heard your suffering."

And he will be a wild man; his hand will be against every man, and every man’s hand against him; and he shall dwell in the presence of all his brethren.

And she called the name of the LORD that spake unto her, Thou God seest me: for she said, Have I also here looked after him that seeth me?

Plain English · paraphraseAnd she named the name of the Lord who spoke to her, "You are the God who sees me," because she said, "Have I also here looked after the one who sees me?"

Wherefore the well was called Beerlahairoi; behold, it is between Kadesh and Bered.

And Hagar bare Abram a son: and Abram called his son’s name, which Hagar bare, Ishmael.

Plain English · paraphraseHagar gave Abram a son. Abram named his son, the one Hagar gave birth to, Ishmael.

And Abram was fourscore and six years old, when Hagar bare Ishmael to Abram.

Plain English · paraphraseAbram was eighty-six years old when Hagar gave birth to Ishmael for Abram.

And when Abram was ninety years old and nine, the LORD appeared to Abram, and said unto him, I am the Almighty God; walk before me, and be thou perfect.

Plain English · paraphraseWhen Abram was ninety-nine years old, God appeared to him and said, "I am the Almighty. Walk with me and be blameless."

And I will make my covenant between me and thee, and will multiply thee exceedingly.

Plain English · paraphraseAnd I will make my covenant between me and you, and I will multiply you exceedingly.