The Bible (Old and New Testaments)

Said he not unto me, She is my sister? and she, even she herself said, He is my brother: in the integrity of my heart and innocency of my hands have I done this.

And God said unto him in a dream, Yea, I know that thou didst this in the integrity of thy heart; for I also withheld thee from sinning against me: therefore suffered I thee not to touch her.

Plain English · paraphraseAnd God spoke to him in a dream: "I know you did this with an honest heart. I also stopped you from sinning against me. That is why I did not let you touch her."

Now therefore restore the man his wife; for he is a prophet, and he shall pray for thee, and thou shalt live: and if thou restore her not, know thou that thou shalt surely die, thou, and all that are thine.

Plain English · paraphraseNow then, give back the man his wife. He is a prophet, and he will pray for you, and you will live. But if you do not give her back, know for certain that you and all who belong to you will surely die.

Therefore Abimelech rose early in the morning, and called all his servants, and told all these things in their ears: and the men were sore afraid.

Plain English · paraphraseTherefore Abimelech got up early in the morning and called all his servants. He told them all these things, and the men were very afraid.

Then Abimelech called Abraham, and said unto him, What hast thou done unto us? and what have I offended thee, that thou hast brought on me and on my kingdom a great sin? thou hast done deeds unto me that ought not to be done.

Plain English · paraphraseThen Abimelech called for Abraham and said to him, "What have you done to us? What have I done to you that you have brought a great sin on me and my kingdom? You have done things to me that should not be done."

And Abimelech said unto Abraham, What sawest thou, that thou hast done this thing?

Plain English · paraphraseAbimelech said to Abraham, "What made you do this?"

And Abraham said, Because I thought, Surely the fear of God is not in this place; and they will slay me for my wife’s sake.

Plain English · paraphraseAnd Abraham said, “I thought that surely the fear of God is not in this place, and they will kill me because of my wife.”

And yet indeed she is my sister; she is the daughter of my father, but not the daughter of my mother; and she became my wife.

And it came to pass, when God caused me to wander from my father’s house, that I said unto her, This is thy kindness which thou shalt shew unto me; at every place whither we shall come, say of me, He is my brother.

Plain English · paraphraseWhen God made me leave my father’s house, I told her, “This is the kindness you must show me: wherever we go, say about me, He is my brother.”

And Abimelech took sheep, and oxen, and menservants, and womenservants, and gave them unto Abraham, and restored him Sarah his wife.

Plain English · paraphraseAbimelech took sheep, oxen, male servants, and female servants. He gave them to Abraham. He returned Sarah, Abraham's wife, to him.

And Abimelech said, Behold, my land is before thee: dwell where it pleaseth thee.

Plain English · paraphraseAbimelech said, "Look, my land is open to you. Dwell wherever you choose."

And unto Sarah he said, Behold, I have given thy brother a thousand pieces of silver: behold, he is to thee a covering of the eyes, unto all that are with thee, and with all other: thus she was reproved.

Plain English · paraphraseAnd to Sarah he said, "Look, I have given your brother a thousand pieces of silver. He is to you a covering for the eyes, for all who are with you and for all others." In this way she was reproved.

So Abraham prayed unto God: and God healed Abimelech, and his wife, and his maidservants; and they bare children.

Plain English · paraphraseAbraham prayed to God. God healed Abimelech, his wife, and his servant girls. They had children.

For the LORD had fast closed up all the wombs of the house of Abimelech, because of Sarah Abraham’s wife.

And the LORD visited Sarah as he had said, and the LORD did unto Sarah as he had spoken.

For Sarah conceived, and bare Abraham a son in his old age, at the set time of which God had spoken to him.

Plain English · paraphraseSarah became pregnant and gave Abraham a son in his old age, at the time God had told him about.

And Abraham called the name of his son that was born unto him, whom Sarah bare to him, Isaac.

Plain English · paraphraseAbraham named his son, the one born to him from Sarah, Isaac.

And Abraham circumcised his son Isaac being eight days old, as God had commanded him.

Plain English · paraphraseAbraham circumcised his son Isaac when he was eight days old, as God had commanded him.

And Abraham was an hundred years old, when his son Isaac was born unto him.

And Sarah said, God hath made me to laugh, so that all that hear will laugh with me.

Plain English · paraphraseAnd Sarah said, "God has made me laugh, so that everyone who hears will laugh with me."

And she said, Who would have said unto Abraham, that Sarah should have given children suck? for I have born him a son in his old age.

Plain English · paraphraseAnd she said, "Who would have told Abraham that Sarah would nurse children? For I have given him a son in his old age."

And the child grew, and was weaned: and Abraham made a great feast the same day that Isaac was weaned.

Plain English · paraphraseThe child grew and was weaned. On the day Isaac was weaned, Abraham held a great feast.

And Sarah saw the son of Hagar the Egyptian, which she had born unto Abraham, mocking.

Plain English · paraphraseAnd Sarah saw the son of Hagar the Egyptian, whom she had borne to Abraham, mocking.

Wherefore she said unto Abraham, Cast out this bondwoman and her son: for the son of this bondwoman shall not be heir with my son, even with Isaac.

Plain English · paraphraseTherefore she said to Abraham, Drive out this servant woman and her son, because the son of this servant woman will not be an heir with my son, even with Isaac.

And the thing was very grievous in Abraham’s sight because of his son.

And God said unto Abraham, Let it not be grievous in thy sight because of the lad, and because of thy bondwoman; in all that Sarah hath said unto thee, hearken unto her voice; for in Isaac shall thy seed be called.

Plain English · paraphraseAnd God said to Abraham, Let it not be hard in your eyes because of the boy and because of your servant woman. In all that Sarah has said to you, listen to her voice. For through Isaac will your descendants be named.

And also of the son of the bondwoman will I make a nation, because he is thy seed.

Plain English · paraphraseAnd I will make the son of the servant a nation, because he is your child.

And Abraham rose up early in the morning, and took bread, and a bottle of water, and gave it unto Hagar, putting it on her shoulder, and the child, and sent her away: and she departed, and wandered in the wilderness of Beersheba.

Plain English · paraphraseAbraham got up early in the morning. He took some bread and a bottle of water. He gave them to Hagar. He put them on her shoulder, along with the child. Then he sent her away. She left and wandered in the wilderness of Beersheba.

And the water was spent in the bottle, and she cast the child under one of the shrubs.

Plain English · paraphraseThe water in the jar ran out, and she left the child under one of the bushes.

And she went, and sat her down over against him a good way off, as it were a bow shot: for she said, Let me not see the death of the child. And she sat over against him, and lift up her voice, and wept.

Plain English · paraphraseAnd she went and sat down across from him, a good distance away, about the distance of an arrow's shot. She said, "I do not want to see the child die." And she sat across from him, raised her voice, and wept.

And God heard the voice of the lad; and the angel of God called to Hagar out of heaven, and said unto her, What aileth thee, Hagar? fear not; for God hath heard the voice of the lad where he is.

Plain English · paraphraseAnd God heard the boy's voice. The angel of God called to Hagar from heaven and said to her, "What is wrong, Hagar? Do not be afraid. God has heard the boy's voice where he is."

Arise, lift up the lad, and hold him in thine hand; for I will make him a great nation.

Plain English · paraphraseGet up, take the boy, and hold him in your arms. I will make him into a great nation.

And God opened her eyes, and she saw a well of water; and she went, and filled the bottle with water, and gave the lad drink.

Plain English · paraphraseAnd God opened her eyes, and she saw a well of water. She went to it, filled the bottle with water, and gave the boy something to drink.

And God was with the lad; and he grew, and dwelt in the wilderness, and became an archer.

Plain English · paraphraseAnd God was with the boy. He grew up and lived in the wilderness. He became an archer.

And he dwelt in the wilderness of Paran: and his mother took him a wife out of the land of Egypt.

Plain English · paraphraseHe lived in the wilderness of Paran. His mother got him a wife from Egypt.

And it came to pass at that time, that Abimelech and Phichol the chief captain of his host spake unto Abraham, saying, God is with thee in all that thou doest:

Plain English · paraphraseAt that time, Abimelech and Phichol, the commander of his army, spoke to Abraham. They said, "God is with you in everything you do."

Now therefore swear unto me here by God that thou wilt not deal falsely with me, nor with my son, nor with my son’s son: but according to the kindness that I have done unto thee, thou shalt do unto me, and to the land wherein thou hast sojourned.

Plain English · paraphraseNow, then, swear to me here by God that you will not deal falsely with me, nor with my son, nor with my son’s son. But according to the kindness that I have done to you, you shall do to me and to the land where you have sojourned.

And Abraham said, I will swear.

And Abraham reproved Abimelech because of a well of water, which Abimelech’s servants had violently taken away.

Plain English · paraphraseAnd Abraham confronted Abimelech about a well of water that Abimelech’s servants had taken by force.

And Abimelech said, I wot not who hath done this thing; neither didst thou tell me, neither yet heard I of it, but to day.

And Abraham took sheep and oxen, and gave them unto Abimelech; and both of them made a covenant.

Plain English · paraphraseAbraham gave Abimelech sheep and oxen. Abraham and Abimelech made a covenant.

And Abraham set seven ewe lambs of the flock by themselves.

Plain English · paraphraseAnd Abraham set aside seven female lambs from the flock.

And Abimelech said unto Abraham, What mean these seven ewe lambs which thou hast set by themselves?

Plain English · paraphraseAbimelech asked Abraham, "What do these seven female lambs mean that you have set apart by themselves?"

And he said, For these seven ewe lambs shalt thou take of my hand, that they may be a witness unto me, that I have digged this well.

Plain English · paraphraseAnd he said, Take these seven young female sheep from my hand, so they will be a witness for me that I dug this well.

Wherefore he called that place Beersheba; because there they sware both of them.

Plain English · paraphraseSo he named that place Beersheba, because there they both took an oath.

Thus they made a covenant at Beersheba: then Abimelech rose up, and Phichol the chief captain of his host, and they returned into the land of the Philistines.

Plain English · paraphraseSo they made a covenant at Beersheba. Then Abimelech got up, along with Phichol, the chief captain of his army, and they went back to the land of the Philistines.

And Abraham planted a grove in Beersheba, and called there on the name of the LORD, the everlasting God.

And Abraham sojourned in the Philistines’ land many days.

Plain English · paraphraseAbraham lived in the land of the Philistines for many days.

And it came to pass after these things, that God did tempt Abraham, and said unto him, Abraham: and he said, Behold, here I am.

Plain English · paraphraseAfter these things, God tested Abraham. He called, "Abraham!" Abraham answered, "Here I am."

And he said, Take now thy son, thine only son Isaac, whom thou lovest, and get thee into the land of Moriah; and offer him there for a burnt offering upon one of the mountains which I will tell thee of.

Plain English · paraphraseAnd he said, Take your son, your only son Isaac, whom you love, and go to the land of Moriah. Offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains I will tell you about.

And Abraham rose up early in the morning, and saddled his ass, and took two of his young men with him, and Isaac his son, and clave the wood for the burnt offering, and rose up, and went unto the place of which God had told him.

Plain English · paraphraseAbraham rose early in the morning. He saddled his donkey. He took two of his young men with him, and Isaac his son. He cut the wood for the burnt offering. Then he got up and went to the place God had told him about.

Then on the third day Abraham lifted up his eyes, and saw the place afar off.

Plain English · paraphraseThen on the third day, Abraham looked up and saw the place in the distance.

And Abraham said unto his young men, Abide ye here with the ass; and I and the lad will go yonder and worship, and come again to you.

Plain English · paraphraseAnd Abraham said to his young men, "Stay here with the donkey. I and the boy will go over there to worship. Then we will come back to you."

And Abraham took the wood of the burnt offering, and laid it upon Isaac his son; and he took the fire in his hand, and a knife; and they went both of them together.

Plain English · paraphraseAbraham took the wood for the burnt offering and placed it on Isaac his son. He took the fire in his hand and a knife. They both went together.

And Isaac spake unto Abraham his father, and said, My father: and he said, Here am I, my son. And he said, Behold the fire and the wood: but where is the lamb for a burnt offering?

Plain English · paraphraseIsaac spoke to his father Abraham and said, "My father." He answered, "I am here, my son." Isaac said, "I see the fire and the wood, but where is the lamb for the burnt offering?"

And Abraham said, My son, God will provide himself a lamb for a burnt offering: so they went both of them together.

And they came to the place which God had told him of; and Abraham built an altar there, and laid the wood in order, and bound Isaac his son, and laid him on the altar upon the wood.

Plain English · paraphraseThey came to the place that God had told him about. Abraham built an altar there. He arranged the wood. He tied up Isaac, his son, and placed him on the altar on top of the wood.

And Abraham stretched forth his hand, and took the knife to slay his son.

And the angel of the LORD called unto him out of heaven, and said, Abraham, Abraham: and he said, Here am I.

Plain English · paraphraseAnd the angel of the Lord called to him from heaven and said, Abraham, Abraham. And he said, Here I am.

And he said, Lay not thine hand upon the lad, neither do thou any thing unto him: for now I know that thou fearest God, seeing thou hast not withheld thy son, thine only son from me.

Plain English · paraphraseAnd he said, Do not lay your hand on the young man, and do nothing to him. For now I know that you fear God, because you have not withheld your son, your only son, from me.

And Abraham lifted up his eyes, and looked, and behold behind him a ram caught in a thicket by his horns: and Abraham went and took the ram, and offered him up for a burnt offering in the stead of his son.

Plain English · paraphraseAnd Abraham looked up and saw a ram caught in a thicket by its horns. Abraham went and took the ram and offered it as a burnt offering instead of his son.

And Abraham called the name of that place Jehovahjireh: as it is said to this day, In the mount of the LORD it shall be seen.

And the angel of the LORD called unto Abraham out of heaven the second time,

Plain English · paraphraseAnd the angel of the Lord called to Abraham from heaven a second time,

And said, By myself have I sworn, saith the LORD, for because thou hast done this thing, and hast not withheld thy son, thine only son:

Plain English · paraphraseAnd said, "I have sworn by myself," says the Lord, "because you have done this thing and have not withheld your son, your only son:"

That in blessing I will bless thee, and in multiplying I will multiply thy seed as the stars of the heaven, and as the sand which is upon the sea shore; and thy seed shall possess the gate of his enemies;

Plain English · paraphraseI will bless you with blessings, and I will multiply your descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and as countless as the sand on the seashore. Your descendants will conquer the gates of their enemies.

And in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed; because thou hast obeyed my voice.

Plain English · paraphraseAnd in your descendant all the nations of the earth will be blessed, because you have obeyed my voice.

So Abraham returned unto his young men, and they rose up and went together to Beersheba; and Abraham dwelt at Beersheba.

Plain English · paraphraseSo Abraham went back to his young men. They got up and went together to Beersheba. Abraham lived in Beersheba.

And it came to pass after these things, that it was told Abraham, saying, Behold, Milcah, she hath also born children unto thy brother Nahor;

Plain English · paraphraseAfter this, someone told Abraham, "Milcah has also given birth to children for your brother Nahor."

Huz his firstborn, and Buz his brother, and Kemuel the father of Aram,

And Chesed, and Hazo, and Pildash, and Jidlaph, and Bethuel.

And Bethuel begat Rebekah: these eight Milcah did bear to Nahor, Abraham’s brother.

And his concubine, whose name was Reumah, she bare also Tebah, and Gaham, and Thahash, and Maachah.

Plain English · paraphraseAnd his concubine, whose name was Reumah, gave birth to Tebah, Gaham, Thahash, and Maachah.

And Sarah was an hundred and seven and twenty years old: these were the years of the life of Sarah.

Plain English · paraphraseSarah was one hundred and twenty-seven years old. These were the years of Sarah's life.

And Sarah died in Kirjatharba; the same is Hebron in the land of Canaan: and Abraham came to mourn for Sarah, and to weep for her.

And Abraham stood up from before his dead, and spake unto the sons of Heth, saying,

Plain English · paraphraseAbraham stood up from before his dead. He spoke to the sons of Heth, saying,

I am a stranger and a sojourner with you: give me a possession of a buryingplace with you, that I may bury my dead out of my sight.

Plain English · paraphraseI am a stranger and a guest among you. Give me a piece of land where I can bury my dead, so I can put them out of my sight.

And the children of Heth answered Abraham, saying unto him,

Hear us, my lord: thou art a mighty prince among us: in the choice of our sepulchres bury thy dead; none of us shall withhold from thee his sepulchre, but that thou mayest bury thy dead.

Plain English · paraphraseHear us, my lord. You are a great leader among us. When it comes to choosing burial places, let us bury your dead. No one among us will keep you from a burial place, so that you may bury your dead.

And Abraham stood up, and bowed himself to the people of the land, even to the children of Heth.

And he communed with them, saying, If it be your mind that I should bury my dead out of my sight; hear me, and intreat for me to Ephron the son of Zohar,

Plain English · paraphraseAnd he spoke to them, saying, "If it is your intention that I should bury my dead away from my sight, listen to me and ask Ephron the son of Zohar for me."

That he may give me the cave of Machpelah, which he hath, which is in the end of his field; for as much money as it is worth he shall give it me for a possession of a buryingplace amongst you.

Plain English · paraphraseHe may give me the cave of Machpelah, which he owns, at the end of his field. For as much money as it is worth, he shall give it to me as a possession for a burial place among you.

And Ephron dwelt among the children of Heth: and Ephron the Hittite answered Abraham in the audience of the children of Heth, even of all that went in at the gate of his city, saying,

Plain English · paraphraseEphron lived among the children of Heth. Ephron the Hittite answered Abraham in front of the children of Heth, including all who entered the gate of his city. He said,

Nay, my lord, hear me: the field give I thee, and the cave that is therein, I give it thee; in the presence of the sons of my people give I it thee: bury thy dead.

And Abraham bowed down himself before the people of the land.

And he spake unto Ephron in the audience of the people of the land, saying, But if thou wilt give it, I pray thee, hear me: I will give thee money for the field; take it of me, and I will bury my dead there.

Plain English · paraphraseAnd he spoke to Ephron in the presence of the people of the land, saying, "But if you are willing to give it, please listen to me: I will pay you for the field. Take the money from me, and I will bury my dead there."

And Ephron answered Abraham, saying unto him,

My lord, hearken unto me: the land is worth four hundred shekels of silver; what is that betwixt me and thee? bury therefore thy dead.

Plain English · paraphraseMy lord, listen to me: the land is worth four hundred shekels of silver; what is that between me and you? Bury therefore thy dead.

And Abraham hearkened unto Ephron; and Abraham weighed to Ephron the silver, which he had named in the audience of the sons of Heth, four hundred shekels of silver, current money with the merchant.

And the field of Ephron which was in Machpelah, which was before Mamre, the field, and the cave which was therein, and all the trees that were in the field, that were in all the borders round about, were made sure

Plain English · paraphraseAnd the field of Ephron, which was in Machpelah, before Mamre, the field and the cave in it, and all the trees in the field, in all the borders around, were made sure.

Unto Abraham for a possession in the presence of the children of Heth, before all that went in at the gate of his city.

And after this, Abraham buried Sarah his wife in the cave of the field of Machpelah before Mamre: the same is Hebron in the land of Canaan.

And the field, and the cave that is therein, were made sure unto Abraham for a possession of a buryingplace by the sons of Heth.

Plain English · paraphraseAnd the field and the cave in it were given to Abraham by the sons of Heth as a burial place.

And Abraham was old, and well stricken in age: and the LORD had blessed Abraham in all things.

Plain English · paraphraseAbraham was old, very old. The Lord had blessed Abraham in every way.

And Abraham said unto his eldest servant of his house, that ruled over all that he had, Put, I pray thee, thy hand under my thigh:

Plain English · paraphraseAnd Abraham said to his eldest servant in charge of all his household, "Please place your hand under my thigh:"

And I will make thee swear by the LORD, the God of heaven, and the God of the earth, that thou shalt not take a wife unto my son of the daughters of the Canaanites, among whom I dwell:

Plain English · paraphraseAnd I will make you swear by the Lord, the God of heaven, and the God of the earth, that you will not take a wife for my son from the daughters of the Canaanites, among whom I live:

But thou shalt go unto my country, and to my kindred, and take a wife unto my son Isaac.

Plain English · paraphraseBut you will go to my country and to my family, and get a wife for my son Isaac.

And the servant said unto him, Peradventure the woman will not be willing to follow me unto this land: must I needs bring thy son again unto the land from whence thou camest?

Plain English · paraphraseAnd the servant said to him, Maybe the woman will not want to come with me to this land. Must I take your son back to the land from where you came?

And Abraham said unto him, Beware thou that thou bring not my son thither again.

Plain English · paraphraseAnd Abraham said to him, Be careful that you do not bring my son there again.

The LORD God of heaven, which took me from my father’s house, and from the land of my kindred, and which spake unto me, and that sware unto me, saying, Unto thy seed will I give this land; he shall send his angel before thee, and thou shalt take a wife unto my son from thence.

Plain English · paraphraseThe Lord God of heaven, who brought me away from my father’s house and from the land of my family, who spoke to me and made a promise to me, saying, "I will give this land to your descendants," he will send his angel ahead of you, and you will get a wife for my son from there.

And if the woman will not be willing to follow thee, then thou shalt be clear from this my oath: only bring not my son thither again.

Plain English · paraphraseAnd if the woman is not willing to follow you, then you will be free from this my oath: just do not bring my son there again.