The Bible (Old and New Testaments)

And Abram fell on his face: and God talked with him, saying,

Plain English · paraphraseAbram lay face down. God spoke to him, saying,

As for me, behold, my covenant is with thee, and thou shalt be a father of many nations.

Plain English · paraphraseAs for me, look, my covenant is with you, and you will be a father of many nations.

Neither shall thy name any more be called Abram, but thy name shall be Abraham; for a father of many nations have I made thee.

Plain English · paraphraseYour name will no longer be Abram. Your name will be Abraham. I have made you the father of many nations.

And I will make thee exceeding fruitful, and I will make nations of thee, and kings shall come out of thee.

Plain English · paraphraseAnd I will make you very fruitful, and I will make nations from you. Kings will come from you.

And I will establish my covenant between me and thee and thy seed after thee in their generations for an everlasting covenant, to be a God unto thee, and to thy seed after thee.

Plain English · paraphraseAnd I will make my covenant between me and you and your descendants after you, generation after generation, as an everlasting covenant, to be your God and the God of your descendants after you.

And I will give unto thee, and to thy seed after thee, the land wherein thou art a stranger, all the land of Canaan, for an everlasting possession; and I will be their God.

Plain English · paraphraseAnd I will give to you and to your children after you the land where you are a stranger, all the land of Canaan, as a forever possession. And I will be their God.

And God said unto Abraham, Thou shalt keep my covenant therefore, thou, and thy seed after thee in their generations.

Plain English · paraphraseAnd God said to Abraham, You must keep my covenant, therefore, you and your descendants after you in their generations.

This is my covenant, which ye shall keep, between me and you and thy seed after thee; Every man child among you shall be circumcised.

Plain English · paraphraseThis is my agreement with you, which you must keep, between me and you and your descendants after you: Every male child among you must be circumcised.

And ye shall circumcise the flesh of your foreskin; and it shall be a token of the covenant betwixt me and you.

And he that is eight days old shall be circumcised among you, every man child in your generations, he that is born in the house, or bought with money of any stranger, which is not of thy seed.

Plain English · paraphraseAnd any male child who is eight days old shall be circumcised among you, in every generation. This includes any child born in the house or bought with money from any foreigner who is not of your own people.

He that is born in thy house, and he that is bought with thy money, must needs be circumcised: and my covenant shall be in your flesh for an everlasting covenant.

And the uncircumcised man child whose flesh of his foreskin is not circumcised, that soul shall be cut off from his people; he hath broken my covenant.

And God said unto Abraham, As for Sarai thy wife, thou shalt not call her name Sarai, but Sarah shall her name be.

Plain English · paraphraseAnd God said to Abraham, As for Sarai your wife, you must not call her name Sarai, but Sarah will be her name.

And I will bless her, and give thee a son also of her: yea, I will bless her, and she shall be a mother of nations; kings of people shall be of her.

Plain English · paraphraseAnd I will bless her and give you a son from her. Yes, I will bless her, and she will be the mother of many nations. Kings of people will come from her.

Then Abraham fell upon his face, and laughed, and said in his heart, Shall a child be born unto him that is an hundred years old? and shall Sarah, that is ninety years old, bear?

Plain English · paraphraseThen Abraham fell face down and laughed. He said to himself, "Will a child be born to a man who is a hundred years old? And will Sarah, who is ninety years old, have a child?"

And Abraham said unto God, O that Ishmael might live before thee!

And God said, Sarah thy wife shall bear thee a son indeed; and thou shalt call his name Isaac: and I will establish my covenant with him for an everlasting covenant, and with his seed after him.

Plain English · paraphraseAnd God said, Sarah your wife will give birth to a son for you. You will name him Isaac. I will make my covenant with him as an everlasting covenant, and with his descendants after him.

And as for Ishmael, I have heard thee: Behold, I have blessed him, and will make him fruitful, and will multiply him exceedingly; twelve princes shall he beget, and I will make him a great nation.

Plain English · paraphraseAnd as for Ishmael, I have heard you. Look, I have blessed him. I will make him fruitful and multiply him greatly. He will father twelve rulers, and I will make him into a great nation.

But my covenant will I establish with Isaac, which Sarah shall bear unto thee at this set time in the next year.

Plain English · paraphraseBut I will make my covenant with Isaac, whom Sarah will bear to you at this time next year.

And he left off talking with him, and God went up from Abraham.

Plain English · paraphraseAnd he stopped speaking with him, and God went up from Abraham.

And Abraham took Ishmael his son, and all that were born in his house, and all that were bought with his money, every male among the men of Abraham’s house; and circumcised the flesh of their foreskin in the selfsame day, as God had said unto him.

And Abraham was ninety years old and nine, when he was circumcised in the flesh of his foreskin.

Plain English · paraphraseAbraham was ninety-nine years old when he was circumcised in the flesh of his foreskin.

And Ishmael his son was thirteen years old, when he was circumcised in the flesh of his foreskin.

In the selfsame day was Abraham circumcised, and Ishmael his son.

Plain English · paraphraseOn the same day, Abraham was circumcised, and Ishmael his son.

And all the men of his house, born in the house, and bought with money of the stranger, were circumcised with him.

And the LORD appeared unto him in the plains of Mamre: and he sat in the tent door in the heat of the day;

Plain English · paraphraseAnd the Lord appeared to him in the plains of Mamre. He was sitting at the tent door in the heat of the day.

And he lift up his eyes and looked, and, lo, three men stood by him: and when he saw them, he ran to meet them from the tent door, and bowed himself toward the ground,

And said, My LORD, if now I have found favour in thy sight, pass not away, I pray thee, from thy servant:

Let a little water, I pray you, be fetched, and wash your feet, and rest yourselves under the tree:

And I will fetch a morsel of bread, and comfort ye your hearts; after that ye shall pass on: for therefore are ye come to your servant. And they said, So do, as thou hast said.

And Abraham hastened into the tent unto Sarah, and said, Make ready quickly three measures of fine meal, knead it, and make cakes upon the hearth.

Plain English · paraphraseAbraham hurried into the tent to Sarah and said, "Quickly, prepare three measures of fine flour. Knead it and make cakes on the hearth."

And Abraham ran unto the herd, and fetcht a calf tender and good, and gave it unto a young man; and he hasted to dress it.

Plain English · paraphraseAnd Abraham ran to the herd, took a young and good calf, and gave it to a young man. He hurried to prepare it.

And he took butter, and milk, and the calf which he had dressed, and set it before them; and he stood by them under the tree, and they did eat.

Plain English · paraphraseHe took butter, milk, and the calf he had cooked, and placed them in front of them. He stood by them under the tree, and they ate.

And they said unto him, Where is Sarah thy wife? And he said, Behold, in the tent.

Plain English · paraphraseThey asked him, "Where is Sarah, your wife?" He said, "She is in the tent."

And he said, I will certainly return unto thee according to the time of life; and, lo, Sarah thy wife shall have a son. And Sarah heard it in the tent door, which was behind him.

Plain English · paraphraseAnd he said, I will surely return to you at the time of life, and Sarah your wife will have a son. Sarah was listening to this at the tent door, behind him.

Now Abraham and Sarah were old and well stricken in age; and it ceased to be with Sarah after the manner of women.

Therefore Sarah laughed within herself, saying, After I am waxed old shall I have pleasure, my lord being old also?

Plain English · paraphraseTherefore Sarah laughed to herself and said, "After I have grown old, will I have pleasure? My lord is old too."

And the LORD said unto Abraham, Wherefore did Sarah laugh, saying, Shall I of a surety bear a child, which am old?

Plain English · paraphraseAnd the Lord said to Abraham, "Why did Sarah laugh, saying, 'Shall I for sure bear a child, when I am old?'

Is any thing too hard for the LORD? At the time appointed I will return unto thee, according to the time of life, and Sarah shall have a son.

Then Sarah denied, saying, I laughed not; for she was afraid. And he said, Nay; but thou didst laugh.

Plain English · paraphraseThen Sarah denied it, saying, "I didn't laugh," because she was afraid. He said, "No, you did laugh."

And the men rose up from thence, and looked toward Sodom: and Abraham went with them to bring them on the way.

And the LORD said, Shall I hide from Abraham that thing which I do;

Plain English · paraphraseAnd the Lord said, Should I hide from Abraham what I am doing?

Seeing that Abraham shall surely become a great and mighty nation, and all the nations of the earth shall be blessed in him?

Plain English · paraphraseBecause Abraham will certainly become a great and powerful nation, and all the nations of the earth will be blessed through him?

For I know him, that he will command his children and his household after him, and they shall keep the way of the LORD, to do justice and judgment; that the LORD may bring upon Abraham that which he hath spoken of him.

And the LORD said, Because the cry of Sodom and Gomorrah is great, and because their sin is very grievous;

I will go down now, and see whether they have done altogether according to the cry of it, which is come unto me; and if not, I will know.

Plain English · paraphraseI will go down now and see if they have done completely what the outcry says they have done, which has come to me. And if they have not, I will know.

And the men turned their faces from thence, and went toward Sodom: but Abraham stood yet before the LORD.

Plain English · paraphraseAnd the men turned away and went toward Sodom, but Abraham remained standing before the Lord.

And Abraham drew near, and said, Wilt thou also destroy the righteous with the wicked?

Plain English · paraphraseAbraham came close and asked, Will you also destroy the righteous along with the wicked?

Peradventure there be fifty righteous within the city: wilt thou also destroy and not spare the place for the fifty righteous that are therein?

Plain English · paraphraseWhat if there are fifty righteous people in the city? Will you destroy it and not spare the place because of the fifty righteous people there?

That be far from thee to do after this manner, to slay the righteous with the wicked: and that the righteous should be as the wicked, that be far from thee: Shall not the Judge of all the earth do right?

Plain English · paraphraseThat must be far from you to do this, to kill the righteous with the wicked. The righteous should not be treated like the wicked. That must be far from you. Will the judge of all the earth not do what is right?

And the LORD said, If I find in Sodom fifty righteous within the city, then I will spare all the place for their sakes.

Plain English · paraphraseAnd the Lord said, If I find fifty righteous people in Sodom, then I will spare the whole place for their sake.

And Abraham answered and said, Behold now, I have taken upon me to speak unto the LORD, which am but dust and ashes:

Peradventure there shall lack five of the fifty righteous: wilt thou destroy all the city for lack of five? And he said, If I find there forty and five, I will not destroy it.

Plain English · paraphrase"What if there are five fewer than fifty righteous people? Will you destroy the whole city just because of five missing?" He answered, "If I find forty-five, I will not destroy it."

And he spake unto him yet again, and said, Peradventure there shall be forty found there. And he said, I will not do it for forty’s sake.

Plain English · paraphraseAnd he spoke to him again, saying, "What if forty are found there?" And he said, "I will not do it for the sake of forty."

And he said unto him, Oh let not the LORD be angry, and I will speak: Peradventure there shall thirty be found there. And he said, I will not do it, if I find thirty there.

Plain English · paraphraseAnd he said to him, "Do not be angry, Lord. Let me speak. Maybe thirty can be found there." He replied, "I will not do it if I find thirty there."

And he said, Behold now, I have taken upon me to speak unto the LORD: Peradventure there shall be twenty found there. And he said, I will not destroy it for twenty’s sake.

Plain English · paraphraseAnd he said, "Look, I have spoken to the LORD. Maybe twenty can be found there." And he said, "I will not destroy it because of twenty."

And he said, Oh let not the LORD be angry, and I will speak yet but this once: Peradventure ten shall be found there. And he said, I will not destroy it for ten’s sake.

Plain English · paraphraseAnd he said, "Do not be angry, Lord. Let me speak once more. Perhaps ten good people can be found there." And he said, "I will not destroy the city for the sake of ten."

And the LORD went his way, as soon as he had left communing with Abraham: and Abraham returned unto his place.

Plain English · paraphraseAnd the Lord went his way, as soon as he had finished speaking with Abraham. And Abraham returned to his place.

And there came two angels to Sodom at even; and Lot sat in the gate of Sodom: and Lot seeing them rose up to meet them; and he bowed himself with his face toward the ground;

Plain English · paraphraseTwo angels came to Sodom at evening. Lot was sitting in the gate of Sodom. When Lot saw them, he got up to meet them. He bowed with his face to the ground.

And he said, Behold now, my lords, turn in, I pray you, into your servant’s house, and tarry all night, and wash your feet, and ye shall rise up early, and go on your ways. And they said, Nay; but we will abide in the street all night.

And he pressed upon them greatly; and they turned in unto him, and entered into his house; and he made them a feast, and did bake unleavened bread, and they did eat.

Plain English · paraphraseHe urged them strongly, and they went to him and entered his house. He prepared a meal for them, baked unleavened bread, and they ate.

But before they lay down, the men of the city, even the men of Sodom, compassed the house round, both old and young, all the people from every quarter:

And they called unto Lot, and said unto him, Where are the men which came in to thee this night? bring them out unto us, that we may know them.

Plain English · paraphraseAnd they called to Lot and said to him, "Where are the men who came to you tonight? Bring them out to us so that we may know them."

And Lot went out at the door unto them, and shut the door after him,

And said, I pray you, brethren, do not so wickedly.

Plain English · paraphraseAnd said, "I ask you, brothers, do not act so wickedly."

Behold now, I have two daughters which have not known man; let me, I pray you, bring them out unto you, and do ye to them as is good in your eyes: only unto these men do nothing; for therefore came they under the shadow of my roof.

And they said, Stand back. And they said again, This one fellow came in to sojourn, and he will needs be a judge: now will we deal worse with thee, than with them. And they pressed sore upon the man, even Lot, and came near to break the door.

But the men put forth their hand, and pulled Lot into the house to them, and shut to the door.

Plain English · paraphraseBut the men reached out and pulled Lot into the house with them and shut the door.

And they smote the men that were at the door of the house with blindness, both small and great: so that they wearied themselves to find the door.

Plain English · paraphraseAnd they struck the men who were at the door of the house with blindness, both young and old, so that they tired themselves trying to find the door.

And the men said unto Lot, Hast thou here any besides? son in law, and thy sons, and thy daughters, and whatsoever thou hast in the city, bring them out of this place:

For we will destroy this place, because the cry of them is waxen great before the face of the LORD; and the LORD hath sent us to destroy it.

Plain English · paraphraseWe will destroy this place because their cries have become very loud before the Lord. The Lord has sent us to destroy it.

And Lot went out, and spake unto his sons in law, which married his daughters, and said, Up, get you out of this place; for the LORD will destroy this city. But he seemed as one that mocked unto his sons in law.

Plain English · paraphraseLot went out and spoke to his sons-in-law, who had married his daughters. He said, "Get up and leave this place, because the Lord is going to destroy this city." But to his sons-in-law, he seemed to be mocking.

And when the morning arose, then the angels hastened Lot, saying, Arise, take thy wife, and thy two daughters, which are here; lest thou be consumed in the iniquity of the city.

Plain English · paraphraseWhen morning came, the angels hurried Lot and said, "Get up, take your wife and your two daughters who are here. Don’t be destroyed with the wickedness of the city."

And while he lingered, the men laid hold upon his hand, and upon the hand of his wife, and upon the hand of his two daughters; the LORD being merciful unto him: and they brought him forth, and set him without the city.

And it came to pass, when they had brought them forth abroad, that he said, Escape for thy life; look not behind thee, neither stay thou in all the plain; escape to the mountain, lest thou be consumed.

Plain English · paraphraseAnd it came to pass, when they had brought them out, that he said, Run for your life. Do not look back, and do not stop anywhere in the plain. Run to the mountains, or you will be destroyed.

And Lot said unto them, Oh, not so, my LORD:

Plain English · paraphraseAnd Lot said to them, "No, not like this, my lord:"

Behold now, thy servant hath found grace in thy sight, and thou hast magnified thy mercy, which thou hast shewed unto me in saving my life; and I cannot escape to the mountain, lest some evil take me, and I die:

Plain English · paraphraseLook, your servant has found favor with you, and you have shown great mercy to me by saving my life. I cannot run to the mountain, for some disaster may find me there and I will die.

Behold now, this city is near to flee unto, and it is a little one: Oh, let me escape thither, (is it not a little one?) and my soul shall live.

And he said unto him, See, I have accepted thee concerning this thing also, that I will not overthrow this city, for the which thou hast spoken.

Plain English · paraphraseAnd he said to him, "I have accepted you in this matter as well. I will not destroy this city, as you have said."

Haste thee, escape thither; for I cannot do anything till thou be come thither. Therefore the name of the city was called Zoar.

Plain English · paraphraseGo quickly, escape there; for I cannot do anything until you arrive there. Therefore, the name of the city was called Zoar.

The sun was risen upon the earth when Lot entered into Zoar.

Plain English · paraphraseThe sun had risen over the earth when Lot entered Zoar.

Then the LORD rained upon Sodom and upon Gomorrah brimstone and fire from the LORD out of heaven;

Plain English · paraphraseThen the Lord rained down brimstone and fire on Sodom and Gomorrah from the Lord out of heaven.

And he overthrew those cities, and all the plain, and all the inhabitants of the cities, and that which grew upon the ground.

Plain English · paraphraseHe destroyed those cities, and the whole plain, and everyone living in the cities, and everything that was growing on the ground.

But his wife looked back from behind him, and she became a pillar of salt.

And Abraham gat up early in the morning to the place where he stood before the LORD:

And he looked toward Sodom and Gomorrah, and toward all the land of the plain, and beheld, and, lo, the smoke of the country went up as the smoke of a furnace.

Plain English · paraphraseAnd he looked toward Sodom and Gomorrah, and toward all the land of the plain. He saw, and there was the smoke of the country rising like the smoke of a furnace.

And it came to pass, when God destroyed the cities of the plain, that God remembered Abraham, and sent Lot out of the midst of the overthrow, when he overthrew the cities in the which Lot dwelt.

Plain English · paraphraseWhen God destroyed the cities of the plain, he remembered Abraham and brought Lot out from the middle of the destruction. He had overthrown the cities where Lot lived.

And Lot went up out of Zoar, and dwelt in the mountain, and his two daughters with him; for he feared to dwell in Zoar: and he dwelt in a cave, he and his two daughters.

Plain English · paraphraseLot went up from Zoar and lived in the mountains, with his two daughters. He was afraid to live in Zoar. He and his two daughters lived in a cave.

And the firstborn said unto the younger, Our father is old, and there is not a man in the earth to come in unto us after the manner of all the earth:

Plain English · paraphraseAnd the firstborn said to the younger, Our father is old, and there is no man on earth to come to us as is the custom everywhere else:

Come, let us make our father drink wine, and we will lie with him, that we may preserve seed of our father.

Plain English · paraphraseCome, let us get our father drunk with wine, and then lie with him, so that we may have children from him.

And they made their father drink wine that night: and the firstborn went in, and lay with her father; and he perceived not when she lay down, nor when she arose.

And it came to pass on the morrow, that the firstborn said unto the younger, Behold, I lay yesternight with my father: let us make him drink wine this night also; and go thou in, and lie with him, that we may preserve seed of our father.

Plain English · paraphraseAnd it came to pass the next day that the firstborn said to the younger, "Look, I lay with our father last night. Let us make him drink wine tonight as well. Go in and lie with him, so that we may preserve our father's seed."

And they made their father drink wine that night also: and the younger arose, and lay with him; and he perceived not when she lay down, nor when she arose.

Plain English · paraphraseAnd they made their father drink wine that night also. The younger daughter got up and lay with him. He did not know when she lay down or when she got up.

Thus were both the daughters of Lot with child by their father.

Plain English · paraphraseBoth of Lot's daughters became pregnant by their father.

And the first born bare a son, and called his name Moab: the same is the father of the Moabites unto this day.

Plain English · paraphraseThe firstborn had a son and named him Moab. He is the father of the Moabites to this day.

And the younger, she also bare a son, and called his name Benammi: the same is the father of the children of Ammon unto this day.

Plain English · paraphraseAnd the younger one also had a son and named him Benammi. He is the father of the children of Ammon to this day.

And Abraham journeyed from thence toward the south country, and dwelled between Kadesh and Shur, and sojourned in Gerar.

Plain English · paraphraseAbraham traveled from there toward the southern region and lived between Kadesh and Shur. He stayed in Gerar.

And Abraham said of Sarah his wife, She is my sister: and Abimelech king of Gerar sent, and took Sarah.

But God came to Abimelech in a dream by night, and said to him, Behold, thou art but a dead man, for the woman which thou hast taken; for she is a man’s wife.

Plain English · paraphraseBut God came to Abimelech in a dream at night and said to him, "Look, you are going to die because of the woman you took, because she is another man’s wife."

But Abimelech had not come near her: and he said, LORD, wilt thou slay also a righteous nation?

Plain English · paraphraseBut Abimelech had not touched her. He said, "Lord, will you also destroy a righteous people?"