Genesis 12:8-20
New American Standard Bible
Chapter 12
8Then he proceeded from there to the mountain on the east of Bethel, and pitched his tent with Bethel on the west and Ai on the east; and there he built an altar to the Lord and called upon the name of the Lord. 9Then Abram journeyed on, continuing toward the Negev.
10Now there was a famine in the land; so Abram went down to Egypt to live there for a time, because the famine was severe in the land.
11It came about, when he was approaching Egypt, that he said to his wife Sarai, 'See now, I know that you are a beautiful woman;
12and when the Egyptians see you, they will say, ‘This is his wife’; and they will kill me, but they will let you live.
13Please say that you are my sister so that it may go well for me because of you, and that I may live on account of you.'
14Now it came about, when Abram entered Egypt, that the Egyptians saw that the woman was very beautiful.
15Pharaoh’s officials saw her and praised her to Pharaoh; and the woman was taken into Pharaoh’s house.
16Therefore he treated Abram well for her sake; and he gave him sheep, oxen, male donkeys, male servants and female servants, female donkeys, and camels.
17But the Lord struck Pharaoh and his house with great plagues because of Sarai, Abram’s wife.
18Then Pharaoh called Abram and said, 'What is this that you have done to me? Why did you not tell me that she was your wife?
19Why did you say, ‘She is my sister,’ so that I took her for myself as a wife? Now then, here is your wife, take her and go!'
20And Pharaoh commanded his men concerning him; and they escorted him away, with his wife and all that belonged to him.
King James Version
Chapter 12
8And he removed from thence unto a mountain on the east of Bethel, and pitched his tent, having Bethel on the west, and Hai on the east: and there he builded an altar unto the Lord, and called upon the name of the Lord. 9And Abram journeyed, going on still toward the south. 10And there was a famine in the land: and Abram went down into Egypt to sojourn there; for the famine was grievous in the land. 11And it came to pass, when he was come near to enter into Egypt, that he said unto Sarai his wife, Behold now, I know that thou art a fair woman to look upon: 12Therefore it shall come to pass, when the Egyptians shall see thee, that they shall say, This is his wife: and they will kill me, but they will save thee alive. 13Say, I pray thee, thou art my sister: that it may be well with me for thy sake; and my soul shall live because of thee.
14And it came to pass, that, when Abram was come into Egypt, the Egyptians beheld the woman that she was very fair.
15The princes also of Pharaoh saw her, and commended her before Pharaoh: and the woman was taken into Pharaoh's house.
16And he entreated Abram well for her sake: and he had sheep, and oxen, and he asses, and menservants, and maidservants, and she asses, and camels.
17And the Lord plagued Pharaoh and his house with great plagues because of Sarai Abram's wife.
18And Pharaoh called Abram, and said, What is this that thou hast done unto me? why didst thou not tell me that she was thy wife?
19Why saidst thou, She is my sister? so I might have taken her to me to wife: now therefore behold thy wife, take her, and go thy way.
20And Pharaoh commanded his men concerning him: and they sent him away, and his wife, and all that he had.
Christian Standard Bible
Chapter 12
8From there he moved on to the hill country east of Bethel and pitched his tent, with Bethel on the west and Ai on the east. He built an altar to the Lord there, and he called on the name of the Lord. 9Then Abram journeyed by stages to the Negev.
10There was a famine in the land, so Abram went down to Egypt to stay there for a while because the famine in the land was severe.
11When he was about to enter Egypt, he said to his wife Sarai, "Look, I know what a beautiful woman you are.
12When the Egyptians see you, they will say, ‘This is his wife.’ They will kill me but let you live.
13Please say you’re my sister so it will go well for me because of you, and my life will be spared on your account."
14When Abram entered Egypt, the Egyptians saw that the woman was very beautiful.
15Pharaoh’s officials saw her and praised her to Pharaoh, so the woman was taken to Pharaoh’s household.
16He treated Abram well because of her, and Abram acquired flocks and herds, male and female donkeys, male and female slaves, and camels.
17But the Lord struck Pharaoh and his household with severe plagues because of Abram’s wife Sarai.
18So Pharaoh sent for Abram and said, "What have you done to me? Why didn’t you tell me she was your wife?
19Why did you say, ‘She’s my sister,’ so that I took her as my wife? Now, here is your wife. Take her and go!"
20Then Pharaoh gave his men orders about him, and they sent him away with his wife and all he had.
New Living Translation
Chapter 12
8After that, Abram traveled south and set up camp in the hill country, with Bethel to the west and Ai to the east. There he built another altar and dedicated it to the Lord, and he worshiped the Lord. 9Then Abram continued traveling south by stages toward the Negev.
10At that time a severe famine struck the land of Canaan, forcing Abram to go down to Egypt, where he lived as a foreigner.
11As he was approaching the border of Egypt, Abram said to his wife, Sarai, 'Look, you are a very beautiful woman.
12When the Egyptians see you, they will say, ‘This is his wife. Let’s kill him; then we can have her!’
13So please tell them you are my sister. Then they will spare my life and treat me well because of their interest in you.'
14And sure enough, when Abram arrived in Egypt, everyone noticed Sarai’s beauty.
15When the palace officials saw her, they sang her praises to Pharaoh, their king, and Sarai was taken into his palace.
16Then Pharaoh gave Abram many gifts because of her — sheep, goats, cattle, male and female donkeys, male and female servants, and camels.
17But the Lord sent terrible plagues upon Pharaoh and his household because of Sarai, Abram’s wife.
18So Pharaoh summoned Abram and accused him sharply. 'What have you done to me?' he demanded. 'Why didn’t you tell me she was your wife?
19Why did you say, ‘She is my sister,’ and allow me to take her as my wife? Now then, here is your wife. Take her and get out of here!'
20Pharaoh ordered some of his men to escort them, and he sent Abram out of the country, along with his wife and all his possessions.
English Standard Version
Chapter 12
8From there he moved to the hill country on the east of Bethel and pitched his tent, with Bethel on the west and Ai on the east. And there he built an altar to the Lord and called upon the name of the Lord. 9And Abram journeyed on, still going toward the Negeb.
10Now there was a famine in the land. So Abram went down to Egypt to sojourn there, for the famine was severe in the land.
11When he was about to enter Egypt, he said to Sarai his wife, "I know that you are a woman beautiful in appearance,
12and when the Egyptians see you, they will say, ‘This is his wife.’ Then they will kill me, but they will let you live.
13Say you are my sister, that it may go well with me because of you, and that my life may be spared for your sake."
14When Abram entered Egypt, the Egyptians saw that the woman was very beautiful.
15And when the princes of Pharaoh saw her, they praised her to Pharaoh. And the woman was taken into Pharaoh 's house.
16And for her sake he dealt well with Abram; and he had sheep, oxen, male donkeys, male servants, female servants, female donkeys, and camels.
17But the Lord afflicted Pharaoh and his house with great plagues because of Sarai, Abram 's wife.
18So Pharaoh called Abram and said, "What is this you have done to me? Why did you not tell me that she was your wife?
19Why did you say, ‘She is my sister,’ so that I took her for my wife? Now then, here is your wife; take her, and go."
20And Pharaoh gave men orders concerning him, and they sent him away with his wife and all that he had.
New International Version
10Now there was a famine in the land, and Abram went down to Egypt to live there for a while because the famine was severe.
11As he was about to enter Egypt, he said to his wife Sarai, "I know what a beautiful woman you are.
12When the Egyptians see you, they will say, ‘This is his wife.’ Then they will kill me but will let you live.
13Say you are my sister, so that I will be treated well for your sake and my life will be spared because of you."
14When Abram came to Egypt, the Egyptians saw that Sarai was a very beautiful woman.
15And when Pharaoh’s officials saw her, they praised her to Pharaoh, and she was taken into his palace.
16He treated Abram well for her sake, and Abram acquired sheep and cattle, male and female donkeys, male and female servants, and camels.
17But the Lord inflicted serious diseases on Pharaoh and his household because of Abram’s wife Sarai.
18So Pharaoh summoned Abram. "What have you done to me?" he said. "Why didn’t you tell me she was your wife?
19Why did you say, ‘She is my sister,’ so that I took her to be my wife? Now then, here is your wife. Take her and go!"
20Then Pharaoh gave orders about Abram to his men, and they sent him on his way, with his wife and everything he had.
New King James Version
Chapter 12
8And he moved from there to the mountain east of Bethel, and he pitched his tent with Bethel on the west and Ai on the east; there he built an altar to the Lord and called on the name of the Lord. 9So Abram journeyed, going on still toward the South.
10Now there was a famine in the land, and Abram went down to Egypt to dwell there, for the famine was severe in the land.
11And it came to pass, when he was close to entering Egypt, that he said to Sarai his wife, “Indeed I know that you are a woman of beautiful countenance.
12Therefore it will happen, when the Egyptians see you, that they will say, ‘This is his wife’; and they will kill me, but they will let you live.
13Please say you are my sister, that it may be well with me for your sake, and that I may live because of you.”
14So it was, when Abram came into Egypt, that the Egyptians saw the woman, that she was very beautiful.
15The princes of Pharaoh also saw her and commended her to Pharaoh. And the woman was taken to Pharaoh’s house.
16He treated Abram well for her sake. He had sheep, oxen, male donkeys, male and female servants, female donkeys, and camels.
17But the Lord plagued Pharaoh and his house with great plagues because of Sarai, Abram’s wife.
18And Pharaoh called Abram and said, “What is this you have done to me? Why did you not tell me that she was your wife?
19Why did you say, ‘She is my sister’? I might have taken her as my wife. Now therefore, here is your wife; take her and go your way.”
20So Pharaoh commanded his men concerning him; and they sent him away, with his wife and all that he had.
