_________________________________________________________________ Title: World English Bible Creator(s): Anonymous Johnson, Michael Paul (Translator) Rights: Public Domain CCEL Subjects: All; Bible; Old Testament; New Testament _________________________________________________________________ The World English Bible Translated by Michael Paul Johnson Based on the ASV 1901 and original language versions Public Domain _________________________________________________________________ The World English Bible (WEB) FAQ This Frequently Asked Questions document covers the following about the World English Bible (WEB): * [1]Why create yet another English translation of the Holy Bible? * [2]Why is the copyright such a big deal? * [3]Isn't it dangerous not to copyright the WEB? * [4]What is the WEB Revision? * [5]Who is behind the WEB Revision work? * [6]Is the WEB a one-man translation? * [7]What are your qualifications to do translation work? * [8]What is the WEB Translation Philosophy? * [9]What original language texts are you using? * [10]How does the WEB compare to other translations? * [11]What about the King James Only movement? * [12]What makes you think that you can compete with multi-million dollar publishers? * [13]What kind of editing help do you want? * [14]How do you publish draft portions of the WEB? * [15]How do I join the WEB mailing list? * [16]How do I get off of the WEB mailing list? * [17]How do I change my address on the WEB mailing list? * [18]Is anyone else working on a public domain, Modern English translation? * [19]When will the WEB be completed? * [20]Can I get a printed copy of the WEB? * [21]Why the name WEB? * [22]Will any major publishers be interested in the WEB? * [23]Why do you use "Yahweh" for God's name in the Old Testament? * [24]Why don't you capitalize pronouns referring to God? * [25]Why do you use contractions? * [26]Where can I get the WEB? * [27]How can I help support the WEB work? * [28]Who Maintains this FAQ? Why create yet another English translation of the Holy Bible? That is a good question. There are many good English translations of the Holy Bible. Unfortunately, all of them are either (1) archaic (like the KJV and ASV of 1901), or (2) covered by copyright restrictions that prevent unrestricted free posting on the internet or other media (like the NIV and NASB). The Bible in Basic English (BBE) was in the Public Domain in the USA (but not all countries) for a while, but its copyrighted status was restored by GATT. (The BBE used a rather restricted subset of English, anyway, limiting its accuracy and readability.) In other words, there is NO OTHER complete translation of the Holy Bible in normal Modern English that can be freely copied (except for some limited "fair use") without written permission from the publisher and (usually) payment of royalties. This is the vacuum that the World English Bible is filling. [29][Contents] Why is the copyright such a big deal? The copyright laws of most nations and the international treaties that support them are a mixed blessing. By granting authors and translators a legal monopoly (for a limited, but very long, time) on the right of copying and "first sale" of their works, the law makers have made writing and translating very profitable for some people whose works are in great demand. This has, no doubt, been a factor in the creation of many of the good Modern English translations of the Holy Bible that we now enjoy. The problem with this system, with respect to the Holy Bible, is that it has had the effect of limiting distribution of God's Word in modern languages. For example, I cannot legally post copies of the entire New International Version of the Holy Bible on my web site in a downloadable, searchable, and readily copyable format without the permission of the International Bible Society and Zondervan (copyright owner and publisher). Zondervan won't grant such permission unless they get a significant royalty (they quoted me $10,000 + $10/copy distributed) and unless I convince them that my Bible search software is "good enough" for them. Needless to say, the Bible search software that I am writing with the intention of distributing as donorware will not come with the NIV. The problem of copyright protection of Modern English translations of the Holy Bible is not just significant on the Internet and various electronic information services. It also affects people who want to quote significant portions of Scripture in books, audio tapes, and other media. This drives up the price of preaching the Gospel. Basic economics tells us that this is not a good thing when our goal is to fulfill the Great Commission (Matthew 28:18-20). For example, the "free" Bibles that the Gideons place cost more if they use a modern version, like Thomas-Nelson's New King James Version, than if they use the (more difficult to read) King James Version. Naturally, I'm not suggesting that we abolish the copyright law or that existing Modern English translations be immediately released to the Public Domain. I understand the way that the profits from the sales of the NIV, for example, help fund other language translations at the International Bible Society (as well as helping to enrich some folks at Zondervan). I also understand that the business of Bible sales has helped establish a good supply of Bibles in many parts of the world, in a variety of formats, sizes, styles, and colors. What we are doing is liberating at least one Modern English translation of the Holy Bible from all copyright restrictions -- a translation that is trustworthy, accurate, and useful for evangelism and discipleship. Another concern where copyright restrictions come into play is in translation and creating derivative works. For example, the copyright notice of the NASB expressly forbids making translations or derivative works based on the NASB without getting permission from the Lockman Foundation. I don't know if they would make this easy or hard, expensive or cheap, but I do know that there will be no need to even ask when using the WEB. Isn't it dangerous not to copyright the WEB? No. Copyright protection is intended to protect the income of the copyright holder's sales of a work, but we are planning to GIVE AWAY the right to make copies of this version of the Holy Bible to anyone who wants it, so we have nothing to lose that way. There is some argument for copyrighting a Bible translation just to retain some legal control against some evil, cultic revision of a translation. The God's Living Word translations of John's Gospel and John's letters are copyrighted only for this reason, for example, even though blanket permission to make unlimited copies of that translation is published with them. This legal leverage is so much weaker than God's protection of His own Word that it is of questionable value. (See Revelation 22:18-19.) One other major concern is that somebody might later claim a copyright on the WEB and remove it from the Public Domain. Because there is a timely and public declaration of the Public Domain status of the WEB by those who are working on it, that would not work, and they would not be able to defend such a bogus copyright claim. With a Public Domain work, there is a hazard of confusion if many people start revising it or making derivative works from it and call it the same thing. For that reason, the name "World English Bible" is a trademark that may only be used to identify the World English Bible as published by Rainbow Missions, Inc., and faithful copies of that work. In addition, official distributions of the World English Bible are often digitally signed to provide a tamper-evident seal. [30][Contents] What is the WEB Revision? The WEB Revision is an update of the [31]American Standard Version of 1901, which is in the Public Domain. The revision is also in the Public Domain, which sets it apart from other revisions of the American Standard Version, like the New American Standard Bible and the Revised Standard Version. The first pass of the translation, which has already been done, was to convert about 1,000 archaic words and word forms to modern equivalents using a custom computer program. The second through seventh phases consist of manual editing and proofreading. The initial manual pass is to add quotation marks (the ASV of 1901 had none), update other punctuation, update usage, and spot check the translation against the original languages in places where the meaning is unclear or significant textual variants exist. The subsequent passes are to review of the results of the previous pass. In each pass, volunteers read the current draft, looking for typos, unclear passages, etc., then report back to the senior editor (Michael Paul Johnson <[32]mpj@ebible.org>), who checks the suggestions and merges the best suggestions into the master draft. As this is going on, the draft at the [33]WEB web page is updated. [34][Contents] Who is behind the WEB Revision work? Rainbow Missions, Inc., a Colorado nonprofit corporation -- and many volunteers who are born again and seeking to daily follow the leading of the Holy Spirit. If the Lord so moves you, tax-deductible financial gifts to help pay for WEB publishing and other costs associated with this project may be made to: Rainbow Missions, Inc. PO Box 1151 Longmont CO 80502-1151 USA Rainbow Missions gets its name from the rainbow that is a sign of the covenant between God and Noah, the rainbow around God's throne, and the rainbow that suddenly appeared in the clear blue sky right after I asked God what to name this ministry. [35][Contents] Is the WEB a one-man translation? Many people have been involved in the production and editing of the World English Bible from a variety of backgrounds. Because this is a revision of the American Standard Version of the Revised Bible, we start with the over 50 Evangelical scholars who worked on that project. They, in turn, relied on the work of those who had gone before them. We also rely on the work of many scholars who have found, compiled, combined, and published the excellent and highly accurate Hebrew and Greek texts from which we work. We also rely on the excellent lexicons of Hebrew, Chaldee, and Greek that are available to us. In addition to these excellent references that represent literally hundreds of years of combined labor by many committed Christian men and women, we have access to the United Bible Society handbooks on Bible translation and a large number of other English translations to compare and consult. Among the volunteers who have contributed to this project, we have people who attend various churches, including Baptist, Methodist, Pentecostal, non-denominational, and many more. This broad representation helps guard against introducing sectarian bias into the work. In addition, the novel technique of publishing draft copies of the World English Bible on the Internet provides additional protection against bias, because all serious comments are carefully considered and the wording compared to the original language. Although we don't demand credentials from people who comment on the translation by email, we do validate their comments before deciding what to do with them. We do have one senior editor who is responsible for decisions regarding the text, but he is also accountable to several other Christians. Everyone who has authority to decide on the wording in the World English Bible believes in the inspiration by the Holy Spirit of the text as recorded by the original authors. In addition, we also believe that the Holy Spirit is still active in preserving the text and helps us in our work to the extent that we let Him. [36][Contents] What are your qualifications to do translation work? Standing on the shoulders of giants - those mighty men of God who provided the critically edited original language texts, translated other English versions (especially the ASV), wrote the great translation guides available from the American Bible Society, and the writers of the Greek & Hebrew study materials I use - is the most obvious. Others include having studied the Bible for years, studying several languages, and earning a Master's degree. None of those matter as much as the next reason. God called me to do this, and I willingly answered His call. God would not call me to do something without enabling me to do so. Without God's call, I would drop this project like a hot rock. Although many people contribute suggestions and typo reports, they are all checked before editing the master copy of the [37]World English Bible. [38][Contents] What is the WEB Translation Philosophy? The WEB must * be done with prayer -- specifically prayer for inspiration by the Holy Spirit. * be accurate and reliable (Revelation 22:18-19). * be understandable to the majority of the world's English-speaking population (and therefore should avoid locale-specific usage). * be kept in the Public Domain (and therefore be done by volunteers). * be made available in a short time, because we don't know the exact time of our Lord's return. * preserve the essential character of the original 1901 publication. * use language that is not faddish, but likely to retain its meaning for some time. * render God's proper Name in the Old Testament as "Yahweh." * resolve unclear passages by referring to the original Hebrew and Greek. * be done with utmost respect for God and His Word. * be done by Christians from a variety of denominations and backgrounds. * retain (at least for now) the ASV 1901's pronoun capitalization rules (lower case "he" referring to God). * retain (in most cases) the ASV 1901's use of "he" when that word might mean ("he and/or she"). * restrict footnotes to those which clarify the translation or provide significant alternate readings Bible translation (as with any natural language translation) is a balancing act, where the translators seek to preserve the following: * The meaning of each thought or sentence. * The meanings of individual words in their context. * The shades of meaning implied by word forms, tense, etc. * The impact and tone of each passage. * The style of the original authors who were inspired by the Holy Spirit. * Faithfulness to the target language (English, in this case). Note that some of the above goals are at odds with one another, like preservation of the original style vs. faithfulness to the target language, and expressing the last bit of the shades of meaning vs. preserving the impact. Still, it is possible to retain a good balance. Different balance points are chosen by different translation committees. Indeed, many translations can be characterized by the weight the translators gave to each of the above items. For example, The Amplified Bible excels at getting the meaning across, but falls down hard on impact, style preservation, and faithfulness to the target language. The New Living Translation excels at preserving the meanings of entire thoughts, impact, and faithfulness to the target language, but loses some of the style and shades of meaning. The New International Version excels at most of the above, but loses some elements of style and some of the subtleties of wording. The World English Bible attempts to balance all of the above with a fairly literal translation. Some people like to use the terms "formal equivalent" and "dynamic equivalent." Neither of these exactly describe what we are doing, since we have borrowed ideas from both, but I suppose that we are closer to formal equivalence than dynamic equivalence. [39][Contents] What original language texts are you using? Since this is primarily an update of the 1901 edition, the choices made by the original 50 or so Evangelical scholars that made this translation hold unless reference is made to the original languages to help with places where the Elizabethan English is not clear, or where major textual variants are known to exist. In this case, we are using the Biblia Hebraica Stuttgartensia, also called The Stuttgart Bible, in the Old Testament, and the Byzantine Majority Text as published for use with The Online Bible in the New Testament (M-Text). This choice of Greek text is very close to what the KJV translators used, but does take advantage of some more recently discovered manuscripts. Although there are good scholarly arguments both for and against using the Byzantine Majority Text over the "Alexandrian" text based on the dating and critical editing work of Nestle and Aland and published by the United Bible Societies (UBS), we find the following to be compelling reasons: * The UBS text has a lot of "dropout" errors relative to the M-Text. Diligent scribes with a respect for God's Word are more likely to miss copying something (i.e. by skipping a line, etc.) than to make up a line to add in. * Different scribes copying the same passage aren't all likely to make the same mistakes at the same places, even though some mistakes are likely to be copied over many times. * When a scribe had a choice of manuscripts to copy, he would normally copy the one that he trusted the most, thus causing the most trusted text to be copied more often. * The UBS text relies heavily on the dating of the media upon which the text was written, but those texts that are used more and trusted more would both be copied more often and worn out from use sooner. * The UBS text is heavily weighted to a small number of manuscripts relative to those available to us, and relies heavily on one manuscript that was pulled from a trash can at a monastery. * The Holy Spirit takes an active interest in preserving what He has inspired. * In those few sections where the M-Text and UBS text differ significantly, I have taken my question of textual choice directly to God, and God chose to answer me by confirming in several different ways that reading which the M-Text rendered. The main passage in question is in Mark 16, but there are others, too. While I certainly don't claim to be infallible, I do know when to say, "Yes, Sir" and follow the direction I see the Lord pointing me in. [40][Contents] How does the WEB compare to other translations? The WEB is different enough to avoid copyright infringement, but similar enough to avoid incurring the wrath of God. By "different enough," I mean that the wording is about as different from any one Modern English translation as the current translations differ from each other. By "similar enough," I mean that the meaning is preserved and that the Gospel still cuts to the very soul. It is most similar to the ASV of 1901, of course, but I suppose that similarities will be found with other translations. The WEB doesn't capitalize pronouns pertaining to God. This is similar to the NRSV and NIV, and the same as the original ASV of 1901. Note that this is an English style decision, because Hebrew has no such thing as upper and lower case, and the oldest Greek manuscripts were all upper case. I kind of prefer the approach of the KJV, NKJV, and NASB of capitalizing these pronouns, because I write that way most of the time and because it is a way of offering greater honor to God. I admit that it is kind of a throw-back to the Olde English practice of capitalizing pronouns referring to the king. This is archaic, because we don't capitalize pronouns that refer to our president. It is also true that chosing to capitalize pronouns relating to God causes some difficulties in translating the coronation psalms, where the psalm was initially written for the coronation of an earthly king, but which also can equally well be sung or recited to the praise of the King of Kings. Capitalizing pronouns relating to God also makes for some strange reading where people were addressing Jesus with anything but respect. In any case, in the presence of good arguments both ways, we have decided to leave these as they were in the ASV 1901 (which also gives us fewer opportunities to make mistakes). The WEB, like the ASV of 1901, breaks the KJV tradition by printing God's proper Name in the Old Testament with a spelling closest to what we think it was pronounced like, instead of rendering that Name as "LORD" or "GOD" (with all caps or small caps). The current scholarly consensus has shifted from spelling this Name as "Jehovah" to spelling it as "Yahweh." There are a couple of other English translations that use "Yahweh," so this is not new, per se, but it does set it off a little from other translations. Because World English Bible (WEB) uses the Majority Text as the basis for the New Testament, you may notice the following differences in comparing the WEB to other translations: * The order of Matthew 23:13 and 14 is reversed in some translations. * Luke 17:36 and Acts 15:34, which are not found in the majority of the Greek Manuscripts (and are relegated to footnotes in the WEB) may be included in some other translations. Romans 14:24-26 in the WEB may appear as Romans 16:25-27 in other translations. * 1 John 5:7-8 may read differently in some translations. [41][Contents] What about the King James Only movement? May God open their eyes and give them a sound understanding. If you prefer the King James Version of the Holy Bible, then, by all means, read it and do what it teaches. I think that the KJV was a wonderful Contemporary English translation of the Holy Bible when it came out. It has been mightily used by God and has had (and continues to have) a profoundly good impact. Unfortunately, the evolution of the English language continually erodes its value as time goes on. It is now outsold by the excellent New International Version, for many good reasons. I guess that there are a few people that seem to believe that the KJV is more accurate than the original Hebrew and Greek of the Holy Bible, and that all the other versions are tainted with heresy and conspiracy. I've read some of their literature. I found it to be some of the most non-Christian and illogical literature that I have endured, thus further proving the claim that the KJV is the only valid Bible to be wrong, at least in my mind. I guess I've now put myself on record as being a heretic in their eyes, but I must follow God, rather than men. [42][Contents] What makes you think that you can compete with multi-million dollar publishers? Indeed, throwing another Modern English translation into the "market" to "compete" with solid translations like the NIV and publishing giants like Zondervan sounds as silly. It sounds like that, perhaps, until you consider that the primary target for the WEB is royalty-free distribution of the Holy Bible in unlimited copies made by many people using many computers, tape recorders, photocopiers, and presses all over the world. This is a "market" that the "giants" have excluded themselves from. Indeed, if they change that policy (don't hold your breath waiting for them to), we win, anyway. If we win this area, that is enough to justify this effort. If we do an excellent job, the WEB might possibly start competing in more conventional areas (like printed Bibles in bookstores), but not because of any significant effort or marketing on our part. After all, the bookstores have lots of Bibles in Modern English, already. Once you look at the whole picture of what is going on, the multi-million dollar publishers and Bible translators really don't have much of an effect on us, nor do we have much of an effect on them. The result of the combined efforts of both is simply more complete availability of the Holy Bible in Modern English. Of course, it does take considerable effort to pull off a decent Bible translation -- even a language update like the WEB. Fortunately, there are lots of people willing to volunteer some time to help with this cause, and the Internet helps bring those people together. The real bottom line, though, is that this is God's project, and He is fully capable of providing everything that we need to accomplish His goals. [43][Contents] What kind of editing help do you want? Specifically, we need people who will read drafts of WEB chapters carefully, checking the following things, and email suggestions for improvements in the following areas: * Typos & spelling errors. * Punctuation errors. * Grammar & usage errors. * Unclear wording or wording that may be misunderstood. * Wording that varies in meaning from other good Bible translations (realizing that some will vary due to "textual variants" in the underlying original languages). * Wording that may inadvertently be "too close" to any copyrighted Modern English translation for too many verses in a row (thus risking charges of copyright infringement). * Questions that come up with respect to specific portions of the translation. * Inconsistencies in style, usage, or translation. Note that all suggestions made in line with the above mentioned translation philosophy will be seriously considered. There is no guarantee, of course, that any suggestion will result in a change, especially in those areas that involve judgment calls, because we are likely to get conflicting suggestions for the same passage. If in doubt, suggest or ask, anyway. We want to eradicate as many of the above distractions as possible, so that the meaning and message of the Holy Bible come through clearly. [44][Contents] How do you publish draft portions of the WEB? Draft portions of the WEB are published in the WEB mailing list and at [45]http://ebible.org/bible/web, and in the unmoderated Usenet news groups alt.bible and alt.christnet.bible. Once the WEB translation is done, we plan to continue it as a daily Bible reading list. [46][Contents] How do I join the WEB mailing list? There are actually three mailing lists that can properly be called the WEB mailing list: bible Daily World English Bible readings and some announcements hnv Daily HNV readings and some announcements webnews News about status of World English Bible translation and publication. The easy way (if you have access to the World Wide Web) is to visit [47]http://ebible.org/subscribe.htm and follow the instructions there. If you can't do the above, send mail to majordomo@ebible.org with the single line in the body of the message (not the subject) with "subscribe" followed by the list name, like: subscribe bible Expect somewhere around 4 chapters of the Holy Bible per day, along with related material (like this FAQ, the glossary, and announcements). [48][Contents] How do I get off of the WEB mailing list? Visit http://ebible.org/subscribe.htm and follow the instructions there, or send mail to [49]majordomo@ebible.org with the single line in the body of the message (not the subject) saying "unsubscribe" followed by the list name, like: unsubscribe bible If you don't have access to the account you are unsubscribing from, then add your old email address to the line, like unsubscribe bible user@host.domain but substitute your own email address for user@host.domain. If that doesn't work, email [50]mpj@ebible.org for help from a real person. [51][Contents] How do I change my address on the WEB mailing list? Just unsubscribe from the old address and subscribe from the new address, using the instructions, above. [52][Contents] Is anyone else working on a public domain, Modern English translation? Yes. Dr. Maurice Robinson is overseeing another project to revise the ASV into what he is calling the Modern American Standard Version (MASV). That project is not on quite as ambitious schedule, but it should be worth looking at when it is done. There are now some other works, too, like the Updated King James Version at [53]http://www.geocities.com/updatedkjv/. People often ask if we are aware of the [54]New English Translation, and we are, but it is not Public Domain. They do allow free downloads for personal use, though, and there is a lot of scholarly work that went into that translation. [55][Contents] When will the WEB be completed? The New Testament, Psalms, and Proverbs are finished (but we will still consider well-justified edits and typo corrections). We have no estimate of the completion date of the Old Testament, yet. [56][Contents] Can I get a printed copy of the WEB? You can get a bound, printed copy of of the New Testament plus Psalms and Proverbs of the World English Bible by ordering it on line at https://www12.secure-website.net/~ebible/buy.htm or by ordering it from a book store. Order ISBN 0-9703344-0-0. [57][Contents] Why the name WEB? World: because God's Word is to the whole world, and this translation is to be read by English-speaking people all over the world. English: a language spoken by about 10% of the people in the world. Bible: God's Holy Book. WEB: This translation of the Holy Bible travels by way of the World-Wide Web, aided by its copyright-free status. [58][Contents] Will any major publishers be interested in the WEB? Several publishers that don't already own rights to another modern English translation of the Holy Bible are likely to be interested. Ask them. [59][Contents] Why do you use "Yahweh" for God's name in the Old Testament? "Yahweh" is the most probable best transliteration of this most holy proper name from the Hebrew consonants YOD HE WAW HE, or YHWH. This holy name is sometimes rendered "Jehovah" based on the mixture of the vowels for "Adonai" (Lord) with the consonants "YHWH" as it is written in some later Hebrew manuscripts. The original Hebrew manuscripts had no vowels, and we believe that the vowels for "adonai" were added to reflect the tradition of avoiding pronouncing God's name, and saying "Lord" instead, and was not an indication of how the name should be pronounced by those so bold as to actually utter God's name. This is a break from the tradition of the KJV and others that use "LORD" or "GOD" with all caps or small caps to translate "YHWH", and use "Lord" (normal mixed case) to translate "Adonai" and "God" (normal mixed case) to translate "Elohim." That tradition gets really confusing in some places, especially since "Yahweh" is used in conjunction with "Lord" and "God" in many places in the Old Testament. Since God's proper name really is separate from the titles "Lord" and "God" in the original Hebrew, we wanted the English translation to reflect that fact, even when read aloud. As a concession to strong tradition, the Hebrew Names Version of the World English Bible uses "LORD" or "GOD" (all capital letters) for "Yahweh." In some places, "Yah," a shortened version of God's Name is used. This is how it is written in the Hebrew manuscripts in those places. As a concession to strong tradition, the Hebrew Names Version of the World English Bible uses "LORD" or "GOD" (all capital letters) for "Yahweh." [60][Contents] Why don't you capitalize pronouns referring to God? In Hebrew, there is no such thing as upper and lower case. The original Greek manuscripts were written in all upper case letters. Therefore, this is mostly a question of English style more than a question of conforming to the original language texts. English style is a moving target, and there is not widespread agreement on capitalization of pronouns referring to God. In the time of the King James Version, it was common practice to capitalize pronouns pertaining to any king or other national leader. Since God is the King of Kings, it only made sense to capitalize pronouns referring to God. In modern English, we don't do that, even when writing very respectfully. In modern English, it is considered correct to either capitalize or not capitalize pronouns referring to God, but the practice should be consistent within a book. Other contemporary translations of the Holy Bible into English are pretty much evenly split between capitalizing and not capitalizing these pronouns. There are three other translational issues involved. One is that it seems rather awkward to translate quotations of people who were deriding Jesus Christ, and who at that point didn't believe that He was the spotless Son of God, capitalizing the pronouns they used to refer to Him. The New American Standard Bible handles this by putting in a footnote to explain that they capitalized the pronouns because of who Jesus Christ is, not who the speaker thought He was. Another issue is that in some of the coronation psalms, it was clear that the psalm was originally written for the coronation of an earthly king (i. e. King Solomon), but the psalm applies and is used more often to sing praises to the King of Kings. In that case, it is difficult to choose which case to use for the pronouns. By not capitalizing pronouns pertaining to God, we as translators preserve the ambiguity of the original Scriptures and leave the application to the Holy Spirit and the reader. The third translational issue is a more practical one. Because the World English Bible is an update of the American Standard Version of 1901, which does not capitalize pronouns referring to God, it would have required reviewing all pronouns in the Bible for capitalization, determining from the context which referred to God and which did not. Even when done carefully, there is a risk of making errors in the process, and in some cases (such as those mentioned above), footnotes would be in order to explain the ambiguities that would be totally unnecessary without the capitalization. Therefore, we have decided to retain the ASV's capitalization rules in the Bible text. [61][Contents] Why do you use contractions? Because the Greek New Testament was written not in the formal written register of the language, but in the informal register of the language used by common people, we have decided to use the less formal spoken register of the English language. This sounds much more natural when read aloud. The primary difference noticeable between spoken or informal written English and formal written English is the greater use of contractions. [62][Contents] Where can I get the WEB? At [63]http://ebible.org/bible/web or [64]http://worldenglishbible.org/. [65][Contents] How can I help support the WEB work? 1. You can pray for everyone who works on it, that they would be sensitive to the Holy Spirit and correctly handle God's Holy Word, and that God would abundantly provide everything needed for this work. 2. You can partner with us, helping us to make the World English Bible freely available by sending tax-deductible donations to: Rainbow Missions PO BOX 1151 LONGMONT CO 80502-1151 USA [66][Contents] Who Maintains this FAQ? This FAQ is maintained by [67]Michael Paul Johnson. Please mail comments or suggestions to [68]mpj@ebible.org. This page is kept at [69]http://ebible.org/bible/web/webfaq.htm. [70][Contents] _________________________________________________________________ Old Testament _________________________________________________________________ Genesis _________________________________________________________________ Chapter 1 ^1In the beginning God [1] created the heavens and the earth. ^2Now the earth was formless and empty. Darkness was on the surface of the deep. God’s Spirit was hovering over the surface of the waters. ^3God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light. ^4God saw the light, and saw that it was good. God divided the light from the darkness. ^5God called the light Day, and the darkness he called Night. There was evening and there was morning, one day. ^6God said, “Let there be an expanse in the midst of the waters, and let it divide the waters from the waters.” ^7God made the expanse, and divided the waters which were under the expanse from the waters which were above the expanse, and it was so. ^8God called the expanse sky. There was evening and there was morning, a second day. ^9God said, “Let the waters under the sky be gathered together to one place, and let the dry land appear,” and it was so. ^10God called the dry land Earth, and the gathering together of the waters he called Seas. God saw that it was good. ^11God said, “Let the earth put forth grass, herbs yielding seed, and fruit trees bearing fruit after their kind, with its seed in it, on the earth,” and it was so. ^12The earth brought forth grass, herbs yielding seed after their kind, and trees bearing fruit, with its seed in it, after their kind: and God saw that it was good. ^13There was evening and there was morning, a third day. ^14God said, “Let there be lights in the expanse of sky to divide the day from the night; and let them be for signs, and for seasons, and for days and years; ^15and let them be for lights in the expanse of sky to give light on the earth,” and it was so. ^16God made the two great lights: the greater light to rule the day, and the lesser light to rule the night. He also made the stars. ^17God set them in the expanse of sky to give light to the earth, ^18and to rule over the day and over the night, and to divide the light from the darkness. God saw that it was good. ^19There was evening and there was morning, a fourth day. ^20God said, “Let the waters swarm with swarms of living creatures, and let birds fly above the earth in the open expanse of sky.” ^21God created the large sea creatures, and every living creature that moves, with which the waters swarmed, after their kind, and every winged bird after its kind. God saw that it was good. ^22God blessed them, saying, “Be fruitful, and multiply, and fill the waters in the seas, and let birds multiply on the earth.” ^23There was evening and there was morning, a fifth day. ^24God said, “Let the earth bring forth living creatures after their kind, livestock, creeping things, and animals of the earth after their kind,” and it was so. ^25God made the animals of the earth after their kind, and the livestock after their kind, and everything that creeps on the ground after its kind. God saw that it was good. ^26God said, “Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the birds of the sky, and over the livestock, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.” ^27God created man in his own image. In God’s image he created him; male and female he created them. ^28God blessed them. God said to them, “Be fruitful, multiply, fill the earth, and subdue it. Have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the sky, and over every living thing that moves on the earth.” ^29God said, “Behold, I have given you every herb yielding seed, which is on the surface of all the earth, and every tree, which bears fruit yielding seed. It will be your food. ^30To every animal of the earth, and to every bird of the sky, and to everything that creeps on the earth, in which there is life, I have given every green herb for food.” And it was so. ^31God saw everything that he had made, and, behold, it was very good. There was evening and there was morning, a sixth day. _________________________________________________________________ [1] After “God,” the Hebrew has the two letters “Aleph Tav” (the first and last letters of the Hebrew alphabet) as a grammatical marker. _________________________________________________________________ Chapter 2 ^1The heavens and the earth were finished, and all their vast array. ^2On the seventh day God finished his work which he had made; and he rested on the seventh day from all his work which he had made. ^3God blessed the seventh day, and made it holy, because he rested in it from all his work which he had created and made. ^4This is the history of the generations of the heavens and of the earth when they were created, in the day that Yahweh God made the earth and the heavens. ^5No plant of the field was yet in the earth, and no herb of the field had yet sprung up; for Yahweh God had not caused it to rain on the earth. There was not a man to till the ground, ^6but a mist went up from the earth, and watered the whole surface of the ground. ^7Yahweh God formed man from the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul. ^8Yahweh God planted a garden eastward, in Eden, and there he put the man whom he had formed. ^9Out of the ground Yahweh God made every tree to grow that is pleasant to the sight, and good for food; the tree of life also in the midst of the garden, and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. ^10A river went out of Eden to water the garden; and from there it was parted, and became four heads. ^11The name of the first is Pishon: this is the one which flows through the whole land of Havilah, where there is gold; ^12and the gold of that land is good. There is aromatic resin and the onyx stone. ^13The name of the second river is Gihon: the same river that flows through the whole land of Cush. ^14The name of the third river is Hiddekel: this is the one which flows in front of Assyria. The fourth river is the Euphrates. ^15Yahweh God took the man, and put him into the garden of Eden to dress it and to keep it. ^16Yahweh God commanded the man, saying, “Of every tree of the garden you may freely eat; ^17but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, you shall not eat of it; for in the day that you eat of it you will surely die.” ^18Yahweh God said, “It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him a helper suitable for him.” ^19Out of the ground Yahweh God formed every animal of the field, and every bird of the sky, and brought them to the man to see what he would call them. Whatever the man called every living creature, that was its name. ^20The man gave names to all livestock, and to the birds of the sky, and to every animal of the field; but for man there was not found a helper suitable for him. ^21Yahweh God caused a deep sleep to fall on the man, and he slept; and he took one of his ribs, and closed up the flesh in its place. ^22He made the rib, which Yahweh God had taken from the man, into a woman, and brought her to the man. ^23The man said, “This is now bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh. She will be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man.” ^24Therefore a man will leave his father and his mother, and will join with his wife, and they will be one flesh. ^25They were both naked, the man and his wife, and were not ashamed. _________________________________________________________________ Chapter 3 ^1Now the serpent was more subtle than any animal of the field which Yahweh God had made. He said to the woman, “Has God really said, ‘You shall not eat of any tree of the garden?’” ^2The woman said to the serpent, “Of the fruit of the trees of the garden we may eat, ^3but of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God has said, ‘You shall not eat of it, neither shall you touch it, lest you die.’” ^4The serpent said to the woman, “You won’t surely die, ^5for God knows that in the day you eat it, your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” ^6When the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit of it, and ate; and she gave some to her husband with her, and he ate. ^7The eyes of both them were opened, and they knew that they were naked. They sewed fig leaves together, and made themselves aprons. ^8They heard the voice of Yahweh God walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and the man and his wife hid themselves from the presence of Yahweh God among the trees of the garden. ^9Yahweh God called to the man, and said to him, “Where are you?” ^10The man said, “I heard your voice in the garden, and I was afraid, because I was naked; and I hid myself.” ^11God said, “Who told you that you were naked? Have you eaten from the tree that I commanded you not to eat from?” ^12The man said, “The woman whom you gave to be with me, she gave me of the tree, and I ate.” ^13Yahweh God said to the woman, “What is this you have done?” The woman said, “The serpent deceived me, and I ate.” ^14Yahweh God said to the serpent, “Because you have done this, cursed are you above all livestock, and above every animal of the field. On your belly shall you go, and you shall eat dust all the days of your life. ^15I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and her offspring. He will bruise your head, and you will bruise his heel.” ^16To the woman he said, “I will greatly multiply your pain in childbirth. In pain you will bring forth children. Your desire will be for your husband, and he will rule over you.” ^17To Adam he said, “Because you have listened to your wife’s voice, and have eaten of the tree, of which I commanded you, saying, ‘You shall not eat of it,’ cursed is the ground for your sake. In toil you will eat of it all the days of your life. ^18Thorns also and thistles will it bring forth to you; and you will eat the herb of the field. ^19By the sweat of your face will you eat bread until you return to the ground, for out of it you were taken. For you are dust, and to dust you shall return.” ^20The man called his wife Eve, because she was the mother of all living. ^21Yahweh God made coats of skins for Adam and for his wife, and clothed them. ^22Yahweh God said, “Behold, the man has become like one of us, knowing good and evil. Now, lest he put forth his hand, and also take of the tree of life, and eat, and live forever...” ^23Therefore Yahweh God sent him forth from the garden of Eden, to till the ground from which he was taken. ^24So he drove out the man; and he placed Cherubs at the east of the garden of Eden, and the flame of a sword which turned every way, to guard the way to the tree of life. _________________________________________________________________ Chapter 4 ^1The man knew Eve his wife. She conceived, and gave birth to Cain, and said, “I have gotten a man with Yahweh’s help.” ^2Again she gave birth, to Cain’s brother Abel. Abel was a keeper of sheep, but Cain was a tiller of the ground. ^3As time passed, it happened that Cain brought an offering to Yahweh from the fruit of the ground. ^4Abel also brought some of the firstborn of his flock and of the fat of it. Yahweh respected Abel and his offering, ^5but he didn’t respect Cain and his offering. Cain was very angry, and the expression on his face fell. ^6Yahweh said to Cain, “Why are you angry? Why has the expression of your face fallen? ^7If you do well, will it not be lifted up? If you don’t do well, sin crouches at the door. Its desire is for you, but you are to rule over it.” ^8Cain said to Abel, his brother, “Let’s go into the field.” It happened when they were in the field, that Cain rose up against Abel, his brother, and killed him. ^9Yahweh said to Cain, “Where is Abel, your brother?” He said, “I don’t know. Am I my brother’s keeper?” ^10Yahweh said, “What have you done? The voice of your brother’s blood cries to me from the ground. ^11Now you are cursed because of the ground, which has opened its mouth to receive your brother’s blood from your hand. ^12From now on, when you till the ground, it won’t yield its strength to you. You shall be a fugitive and a wanderer in the earth.” ^13Cain said to Yahweh, “My punishment is greater than I can bear. ^14Behold, you have driven me out this day from the surface of the ground. I will be hidden from your face, and I will be a fugitive and a wanderer in the earth. It will happen that whoever finds me will kill me.” ^15Yahweh said to him, “Therefore whoever slays Cain, vengeance will be taken on him sevenfold.” Yahweh appointed a sign for Cain, lest any finding him should strike him. ^16Cain went out from Yahweh’s presence, and lived in the land of Nod, east of Eden. ^17Cain knew his wife. She conceived, and gave birth to Enoch. He built a city, and called the name of the city, after the name of his son, Enoch. ^18To Enoch was born Irad. Irad became the father of Mehujael. Mehujael became the father of Methushael. Methushael became the father of Lamech. ^19Lamech took two wives: the name of the one was Adah, and the name of the other Zillah. ^20Adah gave birth to Jabal, who was the father of those who dwell in tents and have livestock. ^21His brother’s name was Jubal, who was the father of all who handle the harp and pipe. ^22Zillah also gave birth to Tubal Cain, the forger of every cutting instrument of brass and iron. Tubal Cain’s sister was Naamah. ^23Lamech said to his wives, “Adah and Zillah, hear my voice, You wives of Lamech, listen to my speech, For I have slain a man for wounding me, A young man for bruising me. ^24If Cain will be avenged seven times, Truly Lamech seventy-seven times.” ^25Adam knew his wife again. She gave birth to a son, and named him Seth, “for God has appointed me another child instead of Abel, for Cain killed him.” ^26There was also born a son to Seth, and he named him Enosh. Then men began to call on Yahweh’s name. _________________________________________________________________ Chapter 5 ^1This is the book of the generations of Adam. In the day that God created man, he made him in God’s likeness. ^2He created them male and female, and blessed them, and called their name Adam, [2] in the day when they were created. ^3Adam lived one hundred thirty years, and became the father of a son in his own likeness, after his image, and named him Seth. ^4The days of Adam after he became the father of Seth were eight hundred years, and he became the father of sons and daughters. ^5All the days that Adam lived were nine hundred thirty years, then he died. ^6Seth lived one hundred five years, and became the father of Enosh. ^7Seth lived after he became the father of Enosh eight hundred seven years, and became the father of sons and daughters. ^8All the days of Seth were nine hundred twelve years, then he died. ^9Enosh lived ninety years, and became the father of Kenan. ^10Enosh lived after he became the father of Kenan, eight hundred fifteen years, and became the father of sons and daughters. ^11All the days of Enosh were nine hundred five years, then he died. ^12Kenan lived seventy years, and became the father of Mahalalel. ^13Kenan lived after he became the father of Mahalalel eight hundred forty years, and became the father of sons and daughters ^14and all the days of Kenan were nine hundred ten years, then he died. ^15Mahalalel lived sixty-five years, and became the father of Jared. ^16Mahalalel lived after he became the father of Jared eight hundred thirty years, and became the father of sons and daughters. ^17All the days of Mahalalel were eight hundred ninety-five years, then he died. ^18Jared lived one hundred sixty-two years, and became the father of Enoch. ^19Jared lived after he became the father of Enoch eight hundred years, and became the father of sons and daughters. ^20All the days of Jared were nine hundred sixty-two years, then he died. ^21Enoch lived sixty-five years, and became the father of Methuselah. ^22Enoch walked with God after he became the father of Methuselah three hundred years, and became the father of sons and daughters. ^23All the days of Enoch were three hundred sixty-five years. ^24Enoch walked with God, and he was not, for God took him. ^25Methuselah lived one hundred eighty-seven years, and became the father of Lamech. ^26Methuselah lived after he became the father of Lamech seven hundred eighty-two years, and became the father of sons and daughters. ^27All the days of Methuselah were nine hundred sixty-nine years, then he died. ^28Lamech lived one hundred eighty-two years, and became the father of a son, ^29and he named him Noah, saying, “This same will comfort us in our work and in the toil of our hands, because of the ground which Yahweh has cursed.” ^30Lamech lived after he became the father of Noah five hundred ninety-five years, and became the father of sons and daughters. ^31All the days of Lamech were seven hundred seventy-seven years, then he died. ^32Noah was five hundred years old, and Noah became the father of Shem, Ham, and Japheth. _________________________________________________________________ [2] “Adam” and “Man” are spelled with the exact same consonants in Hebrew, so this can be correctly translated either way. _________________________________________________________________ Chapter 6 ^1It happened, when men began to multiply on the surface of the ground, and daughters were born to them, ^2that God’s sons saw that men’s daughters were beautiful, and they took for themselves wives of all that they chose. ^3Yahweh said, “My Spirit will not strive with man forever, because he also is flesh; yet will his days be one hundred twenty years.” ^4The Nephilim were in the earth in those days, and also after that, when God’s sons came in to men’s daughters. They bore children to them. Those were the mighty men who were of old, men of renown. ^5Yahweh saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. ^6Yahweh was sorry that he had made man on the earth, and it grieved him in his heart. ^7Yahweh said, “I will destroy man whom I have created from the surface of the ground; man, along with animals, creeping things, and birds of the sky; for I am sorry that I have made them.” ^8But Noah found favor in Yahweh’s eyes. ^9This is the history of the generations of Noah. Noah was a righteous man, blameless among the people of his time. Noah walked with God. ^10Noah became the father of three sons: Shem, Ham, and Japheth. ^11The earth was corrupt before God, and the earth was filled with violence. ^12God saw the earth, and saw that it was corrupt, for all flesh had corrupted their way on the earth. ^13God said to Noah, “The end of all flesh has come before me, for the earth is filled with violence through them. Behold, I will destroy them with the earth. ^14Make an ark of gopher wood. You shall make rooms in the ark, and shall seal it inside and outside with pitch. ^15This is how you shall make it. The length of the ark will be three hundred cubits, the breadth of it fifty cubits, and the height of it thirty cubits. ^16You shall make a roof in the ark, and to a cubit shall you finish it upward. You shall set the door of the ark in the side of it. You shall make it with lower, second, and third levels. ^17I, even I, do bring the flood of waters on this earth, to destroy all flesh having the breath of life from under the sky. Everything that is in the earth will die. ^18But I will establish my covenant with you. You shall come into the ark, you, your sons, your wife, and your sons’ wives with you. ^19Of every living thing of all flesh, you shall bring two of every sort into the ark, to keep them alive with you. They shall be male and female. ^20Of the birds after their kind, of the livestock after their kind, of every creeping thing of the ground after its kind, two of every sort shall come to you, to keep them alive. ^21Take with you of all food that is eaten, and gather it to you; and it will be for food for you, and for them.” ^22Thus Noah did. According to all that God commanded him, so he did. _________________________________________________________________ Chapter 7 ^1Yahweh said to Noah, “Come with all of your household into the ark, for I have seen your righteousness before me in this generation. ^2You shall take seven pairs of every clean animal with you, the male and his female. Of the animals that are not clean, take two, the male and his female. ^3Also of the birds of the sky, seven and seven, male and female, to keep seed alive on the surface of all the earth. ^4In seven days, I will cause it to rain on the earth for forty days and forty nights. Every living thing that I have made, I will destroy from the surface of the ground.” ^5Noah did everything that Yahweh commanded him. ^6Noah was six hundred years old when the flood of waters came on the earth. ^7Noah went into the ark with his sons, his wife, and his sons’ wives, because of the waters of the flood. ^8Clean animals, animals that are not clean, birds, and everything that creeps on the ground ^9went by pairs to Noah into the ark, male and female, as God commanded Noah. ^10It happened after the seven days, that the waters of the flood came on the earth. ^11In the six hundredth year of Noah’s life, in the second month, on the seventeenth day of the month, on the same day all the fountains of the great deep were burst open, and the sky’s windows were opened. ^12The rain was on the earth forty days and forty nights. ^13In the same day Noah, and Shem, Ham, and Japheth, the sons of Noah, and Noah’s wife, and the three wives of his sons with them, entered into the ark; ^14they, and every animal after its kind, all the livestock after their kind, every creeping thing that creeps on the earth after its kind, and every bird after its kind, every bird of every sort. ^15They went to Noah into the ark, by pairs of all flesh with the breath of life in them. ^16Those who went in, went in male and female of all flesh, as God commanded him; and Yahweh shut him in. ^17The flood was forty days on the earth. The waters increased, and lifted up the ark, and it was lifted up above the earth. ^18The waters prevailed, and increased greatly on the earth; and the ark floated on the surface of the waters. ^19The waters prevailed exceedingly on the earth. All the high mountains that were under the whole sky were covered. ^20The waters prevailed fifteen cubits upward, and the mountains were covered. ^21All flesh died that moved on the earth, including birds, livestock, animals, every creeping thing that creeps on the earth, and every man. ^22All in whose nostrils was the breath of the spirit of life, of all that was on the dry land, died. ^23Every living thing was destroyed that was on the surface of the ground, including man, livestock, creeping things, and birds of the sky. They were destroyed from the earth. Only Noah was left, and those who were with him in the ark. ^24The waters prevailed on the earth one hundred fifty days. _________________________________________________________________ Chapter 8 ^1God remembered Noah, all the animals, and all the livestock that were with him in the ark; and God made a wind to pass over the earth. The waters subsided. ^2The deep’s fountains and the sky’s windows were also stopped, and the rain from the sky was restrained. ^3The waters receded from the earth continually. After the end of one hundred fifty days the waters decreased. ^4The ark rested in the seventh month, on the seventeenth day of the month, on Ararat’s mountains. ^5The waters receded continually until the tenth month. In the tenth month, on the first day of the month, the tops of the mountains were seen. ^6It happened at the end of forty days, that Noah opened the window of the ark which he had made, ^7and he sent forth a raven. It went back and forth, until the waters were dried up from the earth. ^8He sent forth a dove from him, to see if the waters were abated from the surface of the ground, ^9but the dove found no place to rest her foot, and she returned to him into the ark; for the waters were on the surface of the whole earth. He put forth his hand, and took her, and brought her to him into the ark. ^10He stayed yet another seven days; and again he sent forth the dove out of the ark. ^11The dove came back to him at evening, and, behold, in her mouth was an olive leaf plucked off. So Noah knew that the waters were abated from the earth. ^12He stayed yet another seven days, and sent forth the dove; and she didn’t return to him any more. ^13It happened in the six hundred first year, in the first month, the first day of the month, the waters were dried up from the earth. Noah removed the covering of the ark, and looked. He saw that the surface of the ground was dried. ^14In the second month, on the twenty-seventh day of the month, the earth was dry. ^15God spoke to Noah, saying, ^16“Go forth from the ark, you, and your wife, and your sons, and your sons’ wives with you. ^17Bring forth with you every living thing that is with you of all flesh, including birds, livestock, and every creeping thing that creeps on the earth, that they may breed abundantly in the earth, and be fruitful, and multiply on the earth.” ^18Noah went forth, with his sons, his wife, and his sons’ wives with him. ^19Every animal, every creeping thing, and every bird, whatever moves on the earth, after their families, went forth out of the ark. ^20Noah built an altar to Yahweh, and took of every clean animal, and of every clean bird, and offered burnt offerings on the altar. ^21Yahweh smelled the sweet savor. Yahweh said in his heart, “I will not again curse the ground any more for man’s sake, because the imagination of man’s heart is evil from his youth; neither will I ever again strike everything living, as I have done. ^22While the earth remains, seed time and harvest, and cold and heat, and summer and winter, and day and night shall not cease.” _________________________________________________________________ Chapter 9 ^1God blessed Noah and his sons, and said to them, “Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth. ^2The fear of you and the dread of you will be on every animal of the earth, and on every bird of the sky. Everything that the ground teems with, and all the fish of the sea are delivered into your hand. ^3Every moving thing that lives will be food for you. As the green herb, I have given everything to you. ^4But flesh with the life of it, the blood of it, you shall not eat. ^5I will surely require your blood of your lives. At the hand of every animal I will require it. At the hand of man, even at the hand of every man’s brother, I will require the life of man. ^6Whoever sheds man’s blood, his blood will be shed by man, for God made man in his own image. ^7Be fruitful and multiply. Bring forth abundantly in the earth, and multiply in it.” ^8God spoke to Noah and to his sons with him, saying, ^9“As for me, behold, I establish my covenant with you, and with your offspring after you, ^10and with every living creature that is with you: the birds, the livestock, and every animal of the earth with you, of all that go out of the ark, even every animal of the earth. ^11I will establish my covenant with you: all flesh will not be cut off any more by the waters of the flood, neither will there ever again be a flood to destroy the earth.” ^12God said, “This is the token of the covenant which I make between me and you and every living creature that is with you, for perpetual generations: ^13I set my rainbow in the cloud, and it will be for a sign of a covenant between me and the earth. ^14It will happen, when I bring a cloud over the earth, that the rainbow will be seen in the cloud, ^15and I will remember my covenant, which is between me and you and every living creature of all flesh, and the waters will no more become a flood to destroy all flesh. ^16The rainbow will be in the cloud. I will look at it, that I may remember the everlasting covenant between God and every living creature of all flesh that is on the earth.” ^17God said to Noah, “This is the token of the covenant which I have established between me and all flesh that is on the earth.” ^18The sons of Noah who went forth from the ark were Shem, Ham, and Japheth. Ham is the father of Canaan. ^19These three were the sons of Noah, and from these, the whole earth was populated. ^20Noah began to be a farmer, and planted a vineyard. ^21He drank of the wine and got drunk. He was uncovered within his tent. ^22Ham, the father of Canaan, saw the nakedness of his father, and told his two brothers outside. ^23Shem and Japheth took a garment, and laid it on both their shoulders, went in backwards, and covered the nakedness of their father. Their faces were backwards, and they didn’t see their father’s nakedness. ^24Noah awoke from his wine, and knew what his youngest son had done to him. ^25He said, “Canaan is cursed. He will be servant of servants to his brothers.” ^26He said, “Blessed be Yahweh, the God of Shem; Let Canaan be his servant. ^27God enlarge Japheth, Let him dwell in the tents of Shem; Let Canaan be his servant.” ^28Noah lived three hundred fifty years after the flood. ^29All the days of Noah were nine hundred fifty years, then he died. _________________________________________________________________ Chapter 10 ^1Now this is the history of the generations of the sons of Noah and of Shem, Ham, and Japheth. Sons were born to them after the flood. ^2The sons of Japheth: Gomer, Magog, Madai, Javan, Tubal, Meshech, and Tiras. ^3The sons of Gomer: Ashkenaz, Riphath, and Togarmah. ^4The sons of Javan: Elishah, Tarshish, Kittim, and Dodanim. ^5Of these were the islands of the nations divided in their lands, everyone after his language, after their families, in their nations. ^6The sons of Ham: Cush, Mizraim, Put, and Canaan. ^7The sons of Cush: Seba, Havilah, Sabtah, Raamah, and Sabteca. The sons of Raamah: Sheba and Dedan. ^8Cush became the father of Nimrod. He began to be a mighty one in the earth. ^9He was a mighty hunter before Yahweh. Therefore it is said, “Like Nimrod, a mighty hunter before Yahweh.” ^10The beginning of his kingdom was Babel, Erech, Accad, and Calneh, in the land of Shinar. ^11Out of that land he went forth into Assyria, and built Nineveh, Rehoboth Ir, Calah, ^12and Resen between Nineveh and Calah (the same is the great city). ^13Mizraim became the father of Ludim, Anamim, Lehabim, Naphtuhim, ^14Pathrusim, Casluhim (which the Philistines descended from), and Caphtorim. ^15Canaan became the father of Sidon (his firstborn), Heth, ^16the Jebusite, the Amorite, the Girgashite, ^17the Hivite, the Arkite, the Sinite, ^18the Arvadite, the Zemarite, and the Hamathite. Afterward the families of the Canaanites were spread abroad. ^19The border of the Canaanites was from Sidon, as you go toward Gerar, to Gaza; as you go toward Sodom, Gomorrah, Admah, and Zeboiim, to Lasha. ^20These are the sons of Ham, after their families, after their languages, in their lands, in their nations. ^21To Shem, the father of all the children of Eber, the elder brother of Japheth, to him also were children born. ^22The sons of Shem: Elam, Asshur, Arpachshad, Lud, and Aram. ^23The sons of Aram: Uz, Hul, Gether, and Mash. ^24Arpachshad became the father of Shelah. Shelah became the father of Eber. ^25To Eber were born two sons. The name of the one was Peleg, for in his days the earth was divided. His brother’s name was Joktan. ^26Joktan became the father of Almodad, Sheleph, Hazarmaveth, Jerah, ^27Hadoram, Uzal, Diklah, ^28Obal, Abimael, Sheba, ^29Ophir, Havilah, and Jobab. All these were the sons of Joktan. ^30Their dwelling was from Mesha, as you go toward Sephar, the mountain of the east. ^31These are the sons of Shem, after their families, after their languages, in their lands, after their nations. ^32These are the families of the sons of Noah, after their generations, in their nations. Of these were the nations divided in the earth after the flood. _________________________________________________________________ Chapter 11 ^1The whole earth was of one language and of one speech. ^2It happened, as they traveled east, that they found a plain in the land of Shinar, and they lived there. ^3They said one to another, “Come, let’s make bricks, and burn them thoroughly.” They had brick for stone, and they used tar for mortar. ^4They said, “Come, let’s build ourselves a city, and a tower whose top reaches to the sky, and let’s make ourselves a name, lest we be scattered abroad on the surface of the whole earth.” ^5Yahweh came down to see the city and the tower, which the children of men built. ^6Yahweh said, “Behold, they are one people, and they have all one language, and this is what they begin to do. Now nothing will be withheld from them, which they intend to do. ^7Come, let’s go down, and there confuse their language, that they may not understand one another’s speech.” ^8So Yahweh scattered them abroad from there on the surface of all the earth. They stopped building the city. ^9Therefore the name of it was called Babel, because there Yahweh confused the language of all the earth. From there, Yahweh scattered them abroad on the surface of all the earth. ^10This is the history of the generations of Shem. Shem was one hundred years old and became the father of Arpachshad two years after the flood. ^11Shem lived five hundred years after he became the father of Arpachshad, and became the father of sons and daughters. ^12Arpachshad lived thirty-five years and became the father of Shelah. ^13Arpachshad lived four hundred three years after he became the father of Shelah, and became the father of sons and daughters. ^14Shelah lived thirty years, and became the father of Eber: ^15and Shelah lived four hundred three years after he became the father of Eber, and became the father of sons and daughters. ^16Eber lived thirty-four years, and became the father of Peleg. ^17Eber lived four hundred thirty years after he became the father of Peleg, and became the father of sons and daughters. ^18Peleg lived thirty years, and became the father of Reu. ^19Peleg lived two hundred nine years after he became the father of Reu, and became the father of sons and daughters. ^20Reu lived thirty-two years, and became the father of Serug. ^21Reu lived two hundred seven years after he became the father of Serug, and became the father of sons and daughters. ^22Serug lived thirty years, and became the father of Nahor. ^23Serug lived two hundred years after he became the father of Nahor, and became the father of sons and daughters. ^24Nahor lived twenty-nine years, and became the father of Terah. ^25Nahor lived one hundred nineteen years after he became the father of Terah, and became the father of sons and daughters. ^26Terah lived seventy years, and became the father of Abram, Nahor, and Haran. ^27Now this is the history of the generations of Terah. Terah became the father of Abram, Nahor, and Haran. Haran became the father of Lot. ^28Haran died before his father Terah in the land of his birth, in Ur of the Chaldees. ^29Abram and Nahor took wives. The name of Abram’s wife was Sarai, and the name of Nahor’s wife, Milcah, the daughter of Haran who was also the father of Iscah. ^30Sarai was barren. She had no child. ^31Terah took Abram his son, Lot the son of Haran, his son’s son, and Sarai his daughter-in-law, his son Abram’s wife. They went forth from Ur of the Chaldees, to go into the land of Canaan. They came to Haran and lived there. ^32The days of Terah were two hundred five years. Terah died in Haran. _________________________________________________________________ Chapter 12 ^1Now Yahweh said to Abram, “Get out of your country, and from your relatives, and from your father’s house, to the land that I will show you. ^2I will make of you a great nation. I will bless you and make your name great. You will be a blessing. ^3I will bless those who bless you, and I will curse him who curses you. In you will all of the families of the earth be blessed.” ^4So Abram went, as Yahweh had spoken to him. Lot went with him. Abram was seventy-five years old when he departed out of Haran. ^5Abram took Sarai his wife, Lot his brother’s son, all their substance that they had gathered, and the souls whom they had gotten in Haran, and they went forth to go into the land of Canaan. Into the land of Canaan they came. ^6Abram passed through the land to the place of Shechem, to the oak of Moreh. The Canaanite was then in the land. ^7Yahweh appeared to Abram and said, “I will give this land to your seed [3] .” He built an altar there to Yahweh, who appeared to him. ^8He left from there to the mountain on the east of Bethel, and pitched his tent, having Bethel on the west, and Ai on the east. There he built an altar to Yahweh and called on the name of Yahweh. ^9Abram traveled, going on still toward the South. ^10There was a famine in the land. Abram went down into Egypt to live as a foreigner there, for the famine was severe in the land. ^11It happened, when he had come near to enter Egypt, that he said to Sarai his wife, “See now, I know that you are a beautiful woman to look at. ^12It will happen, when the Egyptians will see you, that they will say, ‘This is his wife.’ They will kill me, but they will save you alive. ^13Please say that you are my sister, that it may be well with me for your sake, and that my soul may live because of you.” ^14It happened that when Abram had come into Egypt, the Egyptians saw that the woman was very beautiful. ^15The princes of Pharaoh saw her, and praised her to Pharaoh; and the woman was taken into Pharaoh’s house. ^16He dealt well with Abram for her sake. He had sheep, oxen, male donkeys, male servants, female servants, female donkeys, and camels. ^17Yahweh plagued Pharaoh and his house with great plagues because of Sarai, Abram’s wife. ^18Pharaoh called Abram and said, “What is this that you have done to me? Why didn’t you tell me that she was your wife? ^19Why did you say, ‘She is my sister,’ so that I took her to be my wife? Now therefore, see your wife, take her, and go your way.” ^20Pharaoh gave men charge concerning him, and they brought him on the way with his wife and all that he had. _________________________________________________________________ [3] or, offspring _________________________________________________________________ Chapter 13 ^1Abram went up out of Egypt: he, his wife, all that he had, and Lot with him, into the South. ^2Abram was very rich in livestock, in silver, and in gold. ^3He went on his journeys from the South even to Bethel, to the place where his tent had been at the beginning, between Bethel and Ai, ^4to the place of the altar, which he had made there at the first. There Abram called on the name of Yahweh. ^5Lot also, who went with Abram, had flocks, and herds, and tents. ^6The land was not able to bear them, that they might live together: for their substance was great, so that they could not live together. ^7There was a strife between the herdsmen of Abram’s livestock and the herdsmen of Lot’s livestock: and the Canaanite and the Perizzite lived in the land at that time. ^8Abram said to Lot, “Please, let there be no strife between me and you, and between my herdsmen and your herdsmen; for we are relatives. ^9Isn’t the whole land before you? Please separate yourself from me. If you go to the left hand, then I will go to the right. Or if you go to the right hand, then I will go to the left.” ^10Lot lifted up his eyes, and saw all the plain of the Jordan, that it was well-watered everywhere, before Yahweh destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah, like the garden of Yahweh, like the land of Egypt, as you go to Zoar. ^11So Lot chose the Plain of the Jordan for himself. Lot traveled east, and they separated themselves the one from the other. ^12Abram lived in the land of Canaan, and Lot lived in the cities of the plain, and moved his tent as far as Sodom. ^13Now the men of Sodom were exceedingly wicked and sinners against Yahweh. ^14Yahweh said to Abram, after Lot was separated from him, “Now, lift up your eyes, and look from the place where you are, northward and southward and eastward and westward, ^15for all the land which you see, I will give to you, and to your offspring forever. ^16I will make your offspring as the dust of the earth, so that if a man can number the dust of the earth, then your seed may also be numbered. ^17Arise, walk through the land in the length of it and in the breadth of it; for I will give it to you.” ^18Abram moved his tent, and came and lived by the oaks of Mamre, which are in Hebron, and built an altar there to Yahweh. _________________________________________________________________ Chapter 14 ^1It happened in the days of Amraphel, king of Shinar, Arioch, king of Ellasar, Chedorlaomer, king of Elam, and Tidal, king of Goiim, ^2that they 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 (the same is Zoar). ^3All these joined together in the valley of Siddim (the same is the Salt Sea). ^4Twelve years they served Chedorlaomer, and in the thirteenth year, they rebelled. ^5In the fourteenth year Chedorlaomer came, and the kings who were with him, and struck the Rephaim in Ashteroth Karnaim, and the Zuzim in Ham, and the Emim in Shaveh Kiriathaim, ^6and the Horites in their Mount Seir, to Elparan, which is by the wilderness. ^7They returned, and came to En Mishpat (the same is Kadesh), and struck all the country of the Amalekites, and also the Amorites, that lived in Hazazon Tamar. ^8The 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) went out; and they set the battle in array against them in the valley of Siddim; ^9against Chedorlaomer king of Elam, and Tidal king of Goiim, and Amraphel king of Shinar, and Arioch king of Ellasar; four kings against the five. ^10Now the valley of Siddim was full of tar pits; and the kings of Sodom and Gomorrah fled, and they fell there, and those who remained fled to the hills. ^11They took all the goods of Sodom and Gomorrah, and all their food, and went their way. ^12They took Lot, Abram’s brother’s son, who lived in Sodom, and his goods, and departed. ^13One who had escaped came and told Abram, the Hebrew. Now he lived by the oaks of Mamre, the Amorite, brother of Eshcol, and brother of Aner; and these were allies of Abram. ^14When Abram heard that his relative was taken captive, he led forth his trained men, born in his house, three hundred and eighteen, and pursued as far as Dan. ^15He divided himself against them by night, he and his servants, and struck them, and pursued them to Hobah, which is on the left hand of Damascus. ^16He brought back all the goods, and also brought back his relative, Lot, and his goods, and the women also, and the people. ^17The king of Sodom went out to meet him, after his return from the slaughter of Chedorlaomer and the kings who were with him, at the valley of Shaveh (that is, the King’s Valley). ^18Melchizedek king of Salem brought out bread and wine: and he was priest of God Most High. ^19He blessed him, and said, “Blessed be Abram of God Most High, possessor of heaven and earth: ^20and blessed be God Most High, who has delivered your enemies into your hand.” Abram gave him a tenth of all. ^21The king of Sodom said to Abram, “Give me the people, and take the goods to yourself.” ^22Abram said to the king of Sodom, “I have lifted up my hand to Yahweh, God Most High, possessor of heaven and earth, ^23that I will not take a thread nor a sandal strap nor anything that is yours, lest you should say, ‘I have made Abram rich.’ ^24I will accept nothing from you except that which the young men have eaten, and the portion of the men who went with me: Aner, Eshcol, and Mamre. Let them take their portion.” _________________________________________________________________ Chapter 15 ^1After these things the word of Yahweh came to Abram in a vision, saying, “Don’t be afraid, Abram. I am your shield, your exceedingly great reward.” ^2Abram said, “Lord Yahweh, what will you give me, seeing I go childless, and he who will inherit my estate is Eliezer of Damascus?” ^3Abram said, “Behold, to me you have given no seed: and, behold, one born in my house is my heir.” ^4Behold, the word of Yahweh came to him, saying, “This man will not be your heir, but he who will come forth out of your own body will be your heir.” ^5Yahweh brought him outside, and said, “Look now toward the sky, and count the stars, if you are able to count them.” He said to Abram, “So shall your seed be.” ^6He believed in Yahweh; and he reckoned it to him for righteousness. ^7He said to him, “I am Yahweh who brought you out of Ur of the Chaldees, to give you this land to inherit it.” ^8He said, “Lord Yahweh, how will I know that I will inherit it?” ^9He said to him, “Bring me a heifer three years old, a female goat three years old, a ram three years old, a turtledove, and a young pigeon.” ^10He brought him all of these, and divided them in the middle, and laid each half opposite the other; but he didn’t divide the birds. ^11The birds of prey came down on the carcasses, and Abram drove them away. ^12When the sun was going down, a deep sleep fell on Abram. Now terror and great darkness fell on him. ^13He said to Abram, “Know for sure that your seed will live as foreigners in a land that is not theirs, and will serve them. They will afflict them four hundred years. ^14I will also judge that nation, whom they will serve. Afterward they will come out with great wealth, ^15but you will go to your fathers in peace. You will be buried in a good old age. ^16In the fourth generation they will come here again, for the iniquity of the Amorite is not yet full.” ^17It came to pass that, when the sun went down, and it was dark, behold, a smoking furnace, and a flaming torch passed between these pieces. ^18In that day Yahweh made a covenant with Abram, saying, “To your seed I have given this land, from the river of Egypt to the great river, the river Euphrates: ^19the Kenites, the Kenizzites, the Kadmonites, ^20the Hittites, the Perizzites, the Rephaim, ^21the Amorites, the Canaanites, the Girgashites, and the Jebusites.” _________________________________________________________________ Chapter 16 ^1Now Sarai, Abram’s wife, bore him no children. She had a handmaid, an Egyptian, whose name was Hagar. ^2Sarai said to Abram, “See now, Yahweh has restrained me from bearing. Please go in to my handmaid. It may be that I will obtain children by her.” Abram listened to the voice of Sarai. ^3Sarai, Abram’s wife, took Hagar the Egyptian, her handmaid, after Abram had lived ten years in the land of Canaan, and gave her to Abram her husband to be his wife. ^4He went in to Hagar, and she conceived. When she saw that she had conceived, her mistress was despised in her eyes. ^5Sarai said to Abram, “This wrong is your fault. I gave my handmaid into your bosom, and when she saw that she had conceived, I was despised in her eyes. Yahweh judge between me and you.” ^6But Abram said to Sarai, “Behold, your maid is in your hand. Do to her whatever is good in your eyes.” Sarai dealt harshly with her, and she fled from her face. ^7The angel of Yahweh found her by a fountain of water in the wilderness, by the fountain in the way to Shur. ^8He said, “Hagar, Sarai’s handmaid, where did you come from? Where are you going?” She said, “I am fleeing from the face of my mistress Sarai.” ^9The angel of Yahweh said to her, “Return to your mistress, and submit yourself under her hands.” ^10The angel of Yahweh said to her, “I will greatly multiply your seed, that they will not be numbered for multitude.” ^11The angel of Yahweh said to her, “Behold, you are with child, and will bear a son. You shall call his name Ishmael, because Yahweh has heard your affliction. ^12He will be like a wild donkey among men. His hand will be against every man, and every man’s hand against him. He will live opposite all of his brothers.” ^13She called the name of Yahweh who spoke to her, “You are a God who sees,” for she said, “Have I even stayed alive after seeing him?” ^14Therefore the well was called Beer Lahai Roi. [4] Behold, it is between Kadesh and Bered. ^15Hagar bore a son for Abram. Abram called the name of his son, whom Hagar bore, Ishmael. ^16Abram was eighty-six years old when Hagar bore Ishmael to Abram. _________________________________________________________________ [4] Beer Lahai Roi means “well of the one who lives and sees me.” _________________________________________________________________ Chapter 17 ^1When Abram was ninety-nine years old, Yahweh appeared to Abram, and said to him, “I am God Almighty. Walk before me, and be blameless. ^2I will make my covenant between me and you, and will multiply you exceedingly.” ^3Abram fell on his face. God talked with him, saying, ^4“As for me, behold, my covenant is with you. You will be the father of a multitude of nations. ^5Neither will your name any more be called Abram, but your name will be Abraham; for I have made you the father of a multitude of nations. ^6I will make you exceedingly fruitful, and I will make nations of you. Kings will come out of you. ^7I will establish my covenant between me and you and your seed after you throughout their generations for an everlasting covenant, to be a God to you and to your seed after you. ^8I will give to you, and to your seed after you, the land where you are traveling, all the land of Canaan, for an everlasting possession. I will be their God.” ^9God said to Abraham, “As for you, you will keep my covenant, you and your seed after you throughout their generations. ^10This is my covenant, which you shall keep, between me and you and your seed after you. Every male among you shall be circumcised. ^11You shall be circumcised in the flesh of your foreskin. It will be a token of the covenant between me and you. ^12He who is eight days old will be circumcised among you, every male throughout your generations, he who is born in the house, or bought with money from any foreigner who is not of your seed. ^13He who is born in your house, and he who is bought with your money, must be circumcised. My covenant will be in your flesh for an everlasting covenant. ^14The uncircumcised male who is not circumcised in the flesh of his foreskin, that soul shall be cut off from his people. He has broken my covenant.” ^15God said to Abraham, “As for Sarai your wife, you shall not call her name Sarai, but her name will be Sarah. ^16I will bless her, and moreover I will give you a son by her. Yes, I will bless her, and she will be a mother of nations. Kings of peoples will come from her.” ^17Then Abraham fell on his face, and laughed, and said in his heart, “Will a child be born to him who is one hundred years old? Will Sarah, who is ninety years old, give birth?” ^18Abraham said to God, “Oh that Ishmael might live before you!” ^19God said, “No, but Sarah, your wife, will bear you a son. You shall call his name Isaac. [5] I will establish my covenant with him for an everlasting covenant for his seed after him. ^20As for Ishmael, I have heard you. Behold, I have blessed him, and will make him fruitful, and will multiply him exceedingly. He will become the father of twelve princes, and I will make him a great nation. ^21But my covenant I establish with Isaac, whom Sarah will bear to you at this set time next year.” ^22When he finished talking with him, God went up from Abraham. ^23Abraham took Ishmael his son, all who were born in his house, and all who were bought with his money; every male among the men of Abraham’s house, and circumcised the flesh of their foreskin in the same day, as God had said to him. ^24Abraham was ninety-nine years old, when he was circumcised in the flesh of his foreskin. ^25Ishmael, his son, was thirteen years old when he was circumcised in the flesh of his foreskin. ^26In the same day both Abraham and Ishmael, his son, were circumcised. ^27All the men of his house, those born in the house, and those bought with money of a foreigner, were circumcised with him. _________________________________________________________________ [5] Isaac means “he laughs.” _________________________________________________________________ Chapter 18 ^1Yahweh appeared to him by the oaks of Mamre, as he sat in the tent door in the heat of the day. ^2He lifted up his eyes and looked, and saw that three men stood opposite him. When he saw them, he ran to meet them from the tent door, and bowed himself to the earth, ^3and said, “My lord, if now I have found favor in your sight, please don’t go away from your servant. ^4Now let a little water be fetched, wash your feet, and rest yourselves under the tree. ^5I will get a morsel of bread so you can refresh your heart. After that you may go your way, now that you have come to your servant.” They said, “Very well, do as you have said.” ^6Abraham hurried into the tent to Sarah, and said, “Quickly make ready three measures of fine meal, knead it, and make cakes.” ^7Abraham ran to the herd, and fetched a tender and good calf, and gave it to the servant. He hurried to dress it. ^8He took butter, milk, and the calf which he had dressed, and set it before them. He stood by them under the tree, and they ate. ^9They said to him, “Where is Sarah, your wife? He said, “See, in the tent.” ^10He said, “I will certainly return to you when the season comes round. Behold, Sarah your wife will have a son.” Sarah heard in the tent door, which was behind him. ^11Now Abraham and Sarah were old, well advanced in age. It had ceased to be with Sarah after the manner of women. ^12Sarah laughed within herself, saying, “After I have grown old will I have pleasure, my lord being old also?” ^13Yahweh said to Abraham, “Why did Sarah laugh, saying, ‘Will I really bear a child, yet I am old?’ ^14Is anything too hard for Yahweh? At the set time I will return to you, when the season comes round, and Sarah will have a son.” ^15Then Sarah denied, saying, “I didn’t laugh,” for she was afraid. He said, “No, but you did laugh.” ^16The men rose up from there, and looked toward Sodom. Abraham went with them to see them on their way. ^17Yahweh said, “Will I hide from Abraham what I do, ^18seeing that Abraham has surely become a great and mighty nation, and all the nations of the earth will be blessed in him? ^19For I have known him, to the end that he may command his children and his household after him, that they may keep the way of Yahweh, to do righteousness and justice; to the end that Yahweh may bring on Abraham that which he has spoken of him.” ^20Yahweh said, “Because the cry of Sodom and Gomorrah is great, and because their sin is very grievous, ^21I will go down now, and see whether their deeds are as bad as the reports which have come to me. If not, I will know.” ^22The men turned from there, and went toward Sodom, but Abraham stood yet before Yahweh. ^23Abraham drew near, and said, “Will you consume the righteous with the wicked? ^24What if there are fifty righteous within the city? Will you consume and not spare the place for the fifty righteous who are in it? ^25Be it far from you to do things like that, to kill the righteous with the wicked, so that the righteous should be like the wicked. May that be far from you. Shouldn’t the Judge of all the earth do right?” ^26Yahweh said, “If I find in Sodom fifty righteous within the city, then I will spare all the place for their sake.” ^27Abraham answered, “See now, I have taken it on myself to speak to the Lord, who am but dust and ashes. ^28What if there will lack five of the fifty righteous? Will you destroy all the city for lack of five?” He said, “I will not destroy it, if I find forty-five there.” ^29He spoke to him yet again, and said, “What if there are forty found there?” He said, “I will not do it for the forty’s sake.” ^30He said, “Oh don’t let the Lord be angry, and I will speak. What if there are thirty found there?” He said, “I will not do it, if I find thirty there.” ^31He said, “See now, I have taken it on myself to speak to the Lord. What if there are twenty found there?” He said, “I will not destroy it for the twenty’s sake.” ^32He said, “Oh don’t let the Lord be angry, and I will speak just once more. What if ten are found there?” He said, “I will not destroy it for the ten’s sake.” ^33Yahweh went his way, as soon as he had finished communing with Abraham, and Abraham returned to his place. _________________________________________________________________ Chapter 19 ^1The two angels came to Sodom at evening. Lot sat in the gate of Sodom. Lot saw them, and rose up to meet them. He bowed himself with his face to the earth, ^2and he said, “See now, my lords, please turn aside into your servant’s house, stay all night, wash your feet, and you will rise up early, and go on your way.” They said, “No, but we will stay in the street all night.” ^3He urged them greatly, and they came in with him, and entered into his house. He made them a feast, and baked unleavened bread, and they ate. ^4But before they lay down, the men of the city, the men of Sodom, surrounded the house, both young and old, all the people from every quarter. ^5They called to Lot, and said to him, “Where are the men who came in to you this night? Bring them out to us, that we may have sex with them.” ^6Lot went out to them to the door, and shut the door after him. ^7He said, “Please, my brothers, don’t act so wickedly. ^8See now, I have two virgin daughters. Please let me bring them out to you, and you may do to them what seems good to you. Only don’t do anything to these men, because they have come under the shadow of my roof.” ^9They said, “Stand back!” They said, “This one fellow came in to live as a foreigner, and he appoints himself a judge. Now will we deal worse with you, than with them!” They pressed hard on the man Lot, and drew near to break the door. ^10But the men put forth their hand, and brought Lot into the house to them, and shut the door. ^11They struck the men who were at the door of the house with blindness, both small and great, so that they wearied themselves to find the door. ^12The men said to Lot, “Do you have anybody else here? Sons-in-law, your sons, your daughters, and whoever you have in the city, bring them out of the place: ^13for we will destroy this place, because the outcry against them has grown great before Yahweh that Yahweh has sent us to destroy it.” ^14Lot went out, and spoke to his sons-in-law, who were pledged to marry his daughters, and said, “Get up! Get out of this place, for Yahweh will destroy the city.” But he seemed to his sons-in-law to be joking. ^15When the morning came, then the angels hurried Lot, saying, “Get up! Take your wife, and your two daughters who are here, lest you be consumed in the iniquity of the city.” ^16But he lingered; and the men grabbed his hand, his wife’s hand, and his two daughters’ hands, Yahweh being merciful to him; and they took him out, and set him outside of the city. ^17It came to pass, when they had taken them out, that he said, “Escape for your life! Don’t look behind you, and don’t stay anywhere in the plain. Escape to the mountains, lest you be consumed!” ^18Lot said to them, “Oh, not so, my lord. ^19See now, your servant has found favor in your sight, and you have magnified your loving kindness, which you have shown to me in saving my life. I can’t escape to the mountain, lest evil overtake me, and I die. ^20See now, this city is near to flee to, and it is a little one. Oh let me escape there (isn’t it a little one?), and my soul will live.” ^21He said to him, “Behold, I have granted your request concerning this thing also, that I will not overthrow the city of which you have spoken. ^22Hurry, escape there, for I can’t do anything until you get there.” Therefore the name of the city was called Zoar. [6] ^23The sun had risen on the earth when Lot came to Zoar. ^24Then Yahweh rained on Sodom and on Gomorrah sulfur and fire from Yahweh out of the sky. ^25He overthrew those cities, all the plain, all the inhabitants of the cities, and that which grew on the ground. ^26But his wife looked back from behind him, and she became a pillar of salt. ^27Abraham got up early in the morning to the place where he had stood before Yahweh. ^28He looked toward Sodom and Gomorrah, and toward all the land of the plain, and looked, and saw that the smoke of the land went up as the smoke of a furnace. ^29It happened, 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 which Lot lived. ^30Lot went up out of Zoar, and lived in the mountain, and his two daughters with him; for he was afraid to live in Zoar. He lived in a cave with his two daughters. ^31The firstborn said to the younger, “Our father is old, and there is not a man in the earth to come in to us after the manner of all the earth. ^32Come, let’s make our father drink wine, and we will lie with him, that we may preserve our father’s seed.” ^33They made their father drink wine that night: and the firstborn went in, and lay with her father. He didn’t know when she lay down, nor when she arose. ^34It came to pass on the next day, that the firstborn said to the younger, “Behold, I lay last night with my father. Let us make him drink wine again, tonight. You go in, and lie with him, that we may preserve our father’s seed.” ^35They made their father drink wine that night also. The younger went and lay with him. He didn’t know when she lay down, nor when she got up. ^36Thus both of Lot’s daughters were with child by their father. ^37The firstborn bore a son, and named him Moab. He is the father of the Moabites to this day. ^38The younger also bore a son, and called his name Ben Ammi. He is the father of the children of Ammon to this day. _________________________________________________________________ [6] Zoar means “little.” _________________________________________________________________ Chapter 20 ^1Abraham traveled from there toward the land of the South, and lived between Kadesh and Shur. He lived as a foreigner in Gerar. ^2Abraham said about Sarah his wife, “She is my sister.” Abimelech king of Gerar sent, and took Sarah. ^3But God came to Abimelech in a dream of the 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.” ^4Now Abimelech had not come near her. He said, “Lord, will you kill even a righteous nation? ^5Didn’t he tell me, ‘She is my sister?’ She, even she herself, said, ‘He is my brother.’ In the integrity of my heart and the innocence of my hands have I done this.” ^6God said to him in the dream, “Yes, I know that in the integrity of your heart you have done this, and I also withheld you from sinning against me. Therefore I didn’t allow you to touch her. ^7Now therefore, restore the man’s wife. For he is a prophet, and he will pray for you, and you will live. If you don’t restore her, know for sure that you will die, you, and all who are yours.” ^8Abimelech rose early in the morning, and called all his servants, and told all these things in their ear. The men were very scared. ^9Then Abimelech called Abraham, and said to him, “What have you done to us? How have I sinned against you, that you have brought on me and on my kingdom a great sin? You have done deeds to me that ought not to be done!” ^10Abimelech said to Abraham, “What did you see, that you have done this thing?” ^11Abraham said, “Because I thought, ‘Surely the fear of God is not in this place. They will kill me for my wife’s sake.’ ^12Besides, she is indeed my sister, the daughter of my father, but not the daughter of my mother; and she became my wife. ^13It happened, when God caused me to wander from my father’s house, that I said to her, ‘This is your kindness which you shall show to me. Everywhere that we go, say of me, “He is my brother.”’” ^14Abimelech took sheep and oxen, male servants and womale servants, and gave them to Abraham, and restored Sarah, his wife, to him. ^15Abimelech said, “Behold, my land is before you. Dwell where it pleases you.” ^16To Sarah he said, “Behold, I have given your brother a thousand pieces of silver. Behold, it is for you a covering of the eyes to all that are with you. In front of all you are vindicated.” ^17Abraham prayed to God. God healed Abimelech, and his wife, and his female servants, and they bore children. ^18For Yahweh had closed up tight all the wombs of the house of Abimelech, because of Sarah, Abraham’s wife. _________________________________________________________________ Chapter 21 ^1Yahweh visited Sarah as he had said, and Yahweh did to Sarah as he had spoken. ^2Sarah conceived, and bore Abraham a son in his old age, at the set time of which God had spoken to him. ^3Abraham called his son who was born to him, whom Sarah bore to him, Isaac. [7] ^4Abraham circumcised his son, Isaac, when he was eight days old, as God had commanded him. ^5Abraham was one hundred years old when his son, Isaac, was born to him. ^6Sarah said, “God has made me laugh. Everyone who hears will laugh with me.” ^7She said, “Who would have said to Abraham, that Sarah would nurse children? For I have borne him a son in his old age.” ^8The child grew, and was weaned. Abraham made a great feast on the day that Isaac was weaned. ^9Sarah saw the son of Hagar the Egyptian, whom she had borne to Abraham, mocking. ^10Therefore she said to Abraham, “Cast out this handmaid and her son! For the son of this handmaid will not be heir with my son, Isaac.” ^11The thing was very grievous in Abraham’s sight on account of his son. ^12God said to Abraham, “Don’t let it be grievous in your sight because of the boy, and because of your handmaid. In all that Sarah says to you, listen to her voice. For from Isaac will your seed be called. ^13I will also make a nation of the son of the handmaid, because he is your seed.” ^14Abraham rose up early in the morning, and took bread and a bottle of water, and gave it to Hagar, putting it on her shoulder; and gave her the child, and sent her away. She departed, and wandered in the wilderness of Beersheba. ^15The water in the bottle was spent, and she cast the child under one of the shrubs. ^16She went and sat down opposite him, a good way off, about a bow shot away. For she said, “Don’t let me see the death of the child.” She sat over against him, and lifted up her voice, and wept. ^17God heard the voice of the boy. The angel of God called to Hagar out of the sky, and said to her, “What ails you, Hagar? Don’t be afraid. For God has heard the voice of the boy where he is. ^18Get up, lift up the boy, and hold him in your hand. For I will make him a great nation.” ^19God opened her eyes, and she saw a well of water. She went, filled the bottle with water, and gave the boy drink. ^20God was with the boy, and he grew. He lived in the wilderness, and became, as he grew up, an archer. ^21He lived in the wilderness of Paran. His mother took a wife for him out of the land of Egypt. ^22It happened at that time, that Abimelech and Phicol the captain of his army spoke to Abraham, saying, “God is with you in all that you do. ^23Now, therefore, 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 in which you have lived as a foreigner.” ^24Abraham said, “I will swear.” ^25Abraham complained to Abimelech because of a water well, which Abimelech’s servants had violently taken away. ^26Abimelech said, “I don’t know who has done this thing. Neither did you tell me, neither did I hear of it, until today.” ^27Abraham took sheep and oxen, and gave them to Abimelech. Those two made a covenant. ^28Abraham set seven ewe lambs of the flock by themselves. ^29Abimelech said to Abraham, “What do these seven ewe lambs which you have set by themselves mean?” ^30He said, “You shall take these seven ewe lambs from my hand, that it may be a witness to me, that I have dug this well.” ^31Therefore he called that place Beersheba, [8] because they both swore there. ^32So they made a covenant at Beersheba. Abimelech rose up with Phicol, the captain of his army, and they returned into the land of the Philistines. ^33Abraham planted a tamarisk tree in Beersheba, and called there on the name of Yahweh, the Everlasting God. ^34Abraham lived as a foreigner in the land of the Philistines many days. _________________________________________________________________ [7] Isaac means “He laughs.” [8] Beersheba can mean “well of the oath” or “well of seven.” _________________________________________________________________ Chapter 22 ^1It happened after these things, that God tested Abraham, and said to him, “Abraham!” He said, “Here I am.” ^2He said, “Now take your son, your only son, whom you love, even Isaac, and go into the land of Moriah. Offer him there for a burnt offering on one of the mountains which I will tell you of.” ^3Abraham rose early in the morning, and saddled his donkey, and took two of his young men with him, and Isaac his son. He split the wood for the burnt offering, and rose up, and went to the place of which God had told him. ^4On the third day Abraham lifted up his eyes, and saw the place far off. ^5Abraham said to his young men, “Stay here with the donkey. The boy and I will go yonder. We will worship, and come back to you. ^6Abraham took the wood of the burnt offering and laid it on Isaac his son. He took in his hand the fire and the knife. They both went together. ^7Isaac spoke to Abraham his father, and said, “My father?” He said, “Here I am, my son.” He said, “Here is the fire and the wood, but where is the lamb for a burnt offering?” ^8Abraham said, “God will provide himself the lamb for a burnt offering, my son.” So they both went together. ^9They came to the place which God had told him of. Abraham built the altar there, and laid the wood in order, bound Isaac his son, and laid him on the altar, on the wood. ^10Abraham stretched forth his hand, and took the knife to kill his son. ^11The angel of Yahweh called to him out of the sky, and said, “Abraham, Abraham!” He said, “Here I am.” ^12He said, “Don’t lay your hand on the boy, neither do anything to him. For now I know that you fear God, seeing you have not withheld your son, your only son, from me.” ^13Abraham lifted up his eyes, and looked, and saw that behind him was a ram caught in the thicket by his horns. Abraham went and took the ram, and offered him up for a burnt offering instead of his son. ^14Abraham called the name of that place Yahweh Will Provide [9] . As it is said to this day, “On Yahweh’s mountain, it will be provided. ^15The angel of Yahweh called to Abraham a second time out of the sky, ^16and said, “I have sworn by myself, says Yahweh, because you have done this thing, and have not withheld your son, your only son, ^17that I will bless you greatly, and I will multiply your seed greatly like the stars of the heavens, and like the sand which is on the seashore. Your seed will possess the gate of his enemies. ^18In your seed will all the nations of the earth be blessed, because you have obeyed my voice.” ^19So Abraham returned to his young men, and they rose up and went together to Beersheba. Abraham lived at Beersheba. ^20It happened after these things, that it was told Abraham, saying, “Behold, Milcah, she also has borne children to your brother Nahor: ^21Uz his firstborn, Buz his brother, Kemuel the father of Aram, ^22Chesed, Hazo, Pildash, Jidlaph, and Bethuel.” ^23Bethuel became the father of Rebekah. These eight Milcah bore to Nahor, Abraham’s brother. ^24His concubine, whose name was Reumah, also bore Tebah, Gaham, Tahash, and Maacah. _________________________________________________________________ [9] or, Yahweh-Jireh, or, Yahweh-Seeing _________________________________________________________________ Chapter 23 ^1Sarah lived one hundred twenty-seven years. This was the length of Sarah’s life. ^2Sarah died in Kiriath Arba (the same is Hebron), in the land of Canaan. Abraham came to mourn for Sarah, and to weep for her. ^3Abraham rose up from before his dead, and spoke to the children of Heth, saying, ^4“I am a stranger and a foreigner living with you. Give me a possession of a burying-place with you, that I may bury my dead out of my sight.” ^5The children of Heth answered Abraham, saying to him, ^6“Hear us, my lord. You are a prince of God among us. Bury your dead in the best of our tombs. None of us will withhold from you his tomb. Bury your dead.” ^7Abraham rose up, and bowed himself to the people of the land, even to the children of Heth. ^8He talked with them, saying, “If it be your mind that I should bury my dead out of my sight, hear me, and entreat for me to Ephron the son of Zohar, ^9that he may give me the cave of Machpelah, which he has, which is in the end of his field. For the full price let him give it to me in the midst of you for a possession of a burying-place.” ^10Now Ephron was sitting in the midst of the children of Heth. Ephron the Hittite answered Abraham in the hearing of the children of Heth, even of all who went in at the gate of his city, saying, ^11“No, my lord, hear me. I give you the field, and I give you the cave that is in it. In the presence of the children of my people I give it to you. Bury your dead.” ^12Abraham bowed himself down before the people of the land. ^13He spoke to Ephron in the audience of the people of the land, saying, “But if you will, please hear me. I will give the price of the field. Take it from me, and I will bury my dead there.” ^14Ephron answered Abraham, saying to him, ^15“My lord, listen to me. What is a piece of land worth four hundred shekels of silver between me and you? Therefore bury your dead.” ^16Abraham listened to Ephron. Abraham weighed to Ephron the silver which he had named in the audience of the children of Heth, four hundred shekels of silver, according to the current merchants’ standard. ^17So the field of Ephron, which was in Machpelah, which was before Mamre, the field, the cave which was in it, and all the trees that were in the field, that were in all of its borders, were deeded ^18to Abraham for a possession in the presence of the children of Heth, before all who went in at the gate of his city. ^19After this, Abraham buried Sarah his wife in the cave of the field of Machpelah before Mamre (that is, Hebron), in the land of Canaan. ^20The field, and the cave that is in it, were deeded to Abraham for a possession of a burying place by the children of Heth. _________________________________________________________________ Chapter 24 ^1Abraham was old, and well stricken in age. Yahweh had blessed Abraham in all things. ^2Abraham said to his servant, the elder of his house, who ruled over all that he had, “Please put your hand under my thigh. ^3I will make you swear by Yahweh, the God of heaven and the God of the earth, that you shall not take a wife for my son of the daughters of the Canaanites, among whom I live. ^4But you shall go to my country, and to my relatives, and take a wife for my son Isaac.” ^5The servant said to him, “What if the woman isn’t willing to follow me to this land? Must I bring your son again to the land you came from?” ^6Abraham said to him, “Beware that you don’t bring my son there again. ^7Yahweh, the God of heaven, who took me from my father’s house, and from the land of my birth, who spoke to me, and who swore to me, saying, ‘I will give this land to your seed [10] .’ He will send his angel before you, and you shall take a wife for my son from there. ^8If the woman isn’t willing to follow you, then you shall be clear from this my oath. Only you shall not bring my son there again.” ^9The servant put his hand under the thigh of Abraham his master, and swore to him concerning this matter. ^10The servant took ten camels, of his master’s camels, and departed, having a variety of good things of his master’s with him. He arose, and went to Mesopotamia, to the city of Nahor. ^11He made the camels kneel down outside the city by the well of water at the time of evening, the time that women go out to draw water. ^12He said, “Yahweh, the God of my master Abraham, please give me success this day, and show kindness to my master Abraham. ^13Behold, I am standing by the spring of water. The daughters of the men of the city are coming out to draw water. ^14Let it happen, that the young lady to whom I will say, ‘Please let down your pitcher, that I may drink,’ and she will say, ‘Drink, and I will also give your camels a drink,’„let her be the one you have appointed for your servant Isaac. By this I will know that you have shown kindness to my master.” ^15It happened, before he had finished speaking, that behold, Rebekah came out, who was born to Bethuel the son of Milcah, the wife of Nahor, Abraham’s brother, with her pitcher on her shoulder. ^16The young lady was very beautiful to look at, a virgin, neither had any man known her. She went down to the spring, filled her pitcher, and came up. ^17The servant ran to meet her, and said, “Please give me a drink, a little water from your pitcher.” ^18She said, “Drink, my lord.” She hurried, and let down her pitcher on her hand, and gave him drink. ^19When she had done giving him drink, she said, “I will also draw for your camels, until they have done drinking.” ^20She hurried, and emptied her pitcher into the trough, and ran again to the well to draw, and drew for all his camels. ^21The man looked steadfastly at her, remaining silent, to know whether Yahweh had made his journey prosperous or not. ^22It happened, as the camels had done drinking, that the man took a golden ring of half a shekel weight, and two bracelets for her hands of ten shekels weight of gold, ^23and said, “Whose daughter are you? Please tell me. Is there room in your father’s house for us to lodge in?” ^24She said to him, “I am the daughter of Bethuel the son of Milcah, whom she bore to Nahor.” ^25She said moreover to him, “We have both straw and provender enough, and room to lodge in.” ^26The man bowed his head, and worshiped Yahweh. ^27He said, “Blessed be Yahweh, the God of my master Abraham, who has not forsaken his loving kindness and his truth toward my master. As for me, Yahweh has led me in the way to the house of my master’s relatives.” ^28The young lady ran, and told her mother’s house about these words. ^29Rebekah had a brother, and his name was Laban. Laban ran out to the man, to the spring. ^30It happened, when he saw the ring, and the bracelets on his sister’s hands, and when he heard the words of Rebekah his sister, saying, “This is what the man said to me,” that he came to the man. Behold, he was standing by the camels at the spring. ^31He said, “Come in, you blessed of Yahweh. Why do you stand outside? For I have prepared the house, and room for the camels.” ^32The man came into the house, and he unloaded the camels. He gave straw and provender for the camels, and water to wash his feet and the feet of the men who were with him. ^33Food was set before him to eat, but he said, “I will not eat until I have told my message.” He said, “Speak on.” ^34He said, “I am Abraham’s servant. ^35Yahweh has blessed my master greatly. He has become great. He has given him flocks and herds, silver and gold, male servants and female servants, and camels and donkeys. ^36Sarah, my master’s wife, bore a son to my master when she was old. He has given all that he has to him. ^37My master made me swear, saying, ‘You shall not take a wife for my son of the daughters of the Canaanites, in whose land I live, ^38but you shall go to my father’s house, and to my relatives, and take a wife for my son.’ ^39I said to my master, ‘What if the woman will not follow me?’ ^40He said to me, ‘Yahweh, before whom I walk, will send his angel with you, and prosper your way. You shall take a wife for my son of my relatives, and of my father’s house. ^41Then will you be clear from my oath, when you come to my relatives. If they don’t give her to you, you shall be clear from my oath.’ ^42I came this day to the spring, and said, ‘Yahweh, the God of my master Abraham, if now you do prosper my way which I go„ ^43behold, I am standing by this spring of water. Let it happen, that the maiden who comes forth to draw, to whom I will say, “Give me, I pray you, a little water from your pitcher to drink,” ^44and she will tell me, “Drink, and I will also draw for your camels,”„let her be the woman whom Yahweh has appointed for my master’s son.’ ^45Before I had done speaking in my heart, behold, Rebekah came forth with her pitcher on her shoulder. She went down to the spring, and drew. I said to her, ‘Please let me drink.’ ^46She hurried and let down her pitcher from her shoulder, and said, ‘Drink, and I will also give your camels a drink.’ So I drank, and she made the camels drink also. ^47I asked her, and said, ‘Whose daughter are you?’ She said, ‘The daughter of Bethuel, Nahor’s son, whom Milcah bore to him.’ I put the ring on her nose, and the bracelets on her hands. ^48I bowed my head, and worshiped Yahweh, and blessed Yahweh, the God of my master Abraham, who had led me in the right way to take my master’s brother’s daughter for his son. ^49Now if you will deal kindly and truly with my master, tell me. If not, tell me, that I may turn to the right hand, or to the left.” ^50Then Laban and Bethuel answered, “The thing proceeds from Yahweh. We can’t speak to you bad or good. ^51Behold, Rebekah is before you. Take her, and go, and let her be your master’s son’s wife, as Yahweh has spoken.” ^52It happened that when Abraham’s servant heard their words, he bowed himself down to the earth to Yahweh. ^53The servant brought forth jewels of silver, and jewels of gold, and clothing, and gave them to Rebekah. He also gave precious things to her brother and her mother. ^54They ate and drank, he and the men who were with him, and stayed all night. They rose up in the morning, and he said, “Send me away to my master.” ^55Her brother and her mother said, “Let the young lady stay with us a few days, at least ten. After that she will go.” ^56He said to them, “Don’t hinder me, seeing Yahweh has prospered my way. Send me away that I may go to my master.” ^57They said, “We will call the young lady, and ask her.” ^58They called Rebekah, and said to her, “Will you go with this man?” She said, “I will go.” ^59They sent away Rebekah, their sister, with her nurse, Abraham’s servant, and his men. ^60They blessed Rebekah, and said to her, “Our sister, may you be the mother of thousands of ten thousands, and let your seed possess the gate of those who hate them.” ^61Rebekah arose with her ladies. They rode on the camels, and followed the man. The servant took Rebekah, and went his way. ^62Isaac came from the way of Beer Lahai Roi, for he lived in the land of the South. ^63Isaac went out to meditate in the field at the evening. He lifted up his eyes, and saw, and, behold, there were camels coming. ^64Rebekah lifted up her eyes, and when she saw Isaac, she dismounted from the camel. ^65She said to the servant, “Who is the man who is walking in the field to meet us?” The servant said, “It is my master.” She took her veil, and covered herself. ^66The servant told Isaac all the things that he had done. ^67Isaac brought her into his mother Sarah’s tent, and took Rebekah, and she became his wife. He loved her. Isaac was comforted after his mother’s death. _________________________________________________________________ [10] or, offspring _________________________________________________________________ Chapter 25 ^1Abraham took another wife, and her name was Keturah. ^2She bore him Zimran, Jokshan, Medan, Midian, Ishbak, and Shuah. ^3Jokshan became the father of Sheba, and Dedan. The sons of Dedan were Asshurim, Letushim, and Leummim. ^4The sons of Midian: Ephah, Epher, Hanoch, Abida, and Eldaah. All these were the children of Keturah. ^5Abraham gave all that he had to Isaac, ^6but to the sons of Abraham’s concubines, Abraham gave gifts. He sent them away from Isaac his son, while he yet lived, eastward, to the east country. ^7These are the days of the years of Abraham’s life which he lived: one hundred seventy-five years. ^8Abraham gave up the spirit, and died in a good old age, an old man, and full of years, and was gathered to his people. ^9Isaac and Ishmael, his sons, buried him in the cave of Machpelah, in the field of Ephron, the son of Zohar the Hittite, which is before Mamre, ^10the field which Abraham purchased of the children of Heth. Abraham was buried there with Sarah, his wife. ^11It happened after the death of Abraham that God blessed Isaac, his son. Isaac lived by Beer Lahai Roi. ^12Now this is the history of the generations of Ishmael, Abraham’s son, whom Hagar the Egyptian, Sarah’s handmaid, bore to Abraham. ^13These are the names of the sons of Ishmael, by their names, according to the order of their birth: the firstborn of Ishmael, Nebaioth, then Kedar, Adbeel, Mibsam, ^14Mishma, Dumah, Massa, ^15Hadad, Tema, Jetur, Naphish, and Kedemah. ^16These are the sons of Ishmael, and these are their names, by their villages, and by their encampments: twelve princes, according to their nations. ^17These are the years of the life of Ishmael: one hundred thirty-seven years. He gave up the spirit and died, and was gathered to his people. ^18They lived from Havilah to Shur that is before Egypt, as you go toward Assyria. He lived opposite all his relatives. ^19This is the history of the generations of Isaac, Abraham’s son. Abraham became the father of Isaac. ^20Isaac was forty years old when he took Rebekah, the daughter of Bethuel the Syrian of Paddan Aram, the sister of Laban the Syrian, to be his wife. ^21Isaac entreated Yahweh for his wife, because she was barren. Yahweh was entreated by him, and Rebekah his wife conceived. ^22The children struggled together within her. She said, “If it be so, why do I live?” She we