Giving to the Needy

6 “Be careful not to practice your righteousness in front of others to be seen by them.^(A) If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven.

² “So when you give to the needy, do not announce it with trumpets, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and on the streets, to be honored by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. ³ But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, ⁴ so that your giving may be in secret. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.^(B)

Prayer^(C)

⁵ “And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing^(D) in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. ⁶ But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father,^(E) who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. ⁷ And when you pray, do not keep on babbling^(F) like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words.^{(G) 8} Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need^(H) before you ask him.

⁹ “This, then, is how you should pray:

¹⁴ For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you.^{(P) 15} But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.^(Q)

Fasting

¹⁶ “When you fast,^(R) do not look somber^(S) as the hypocrites do, for they disfigure their faces to show others they are fasting. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. ¹⁷ But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face, ¹⁸ so that it will not be obvious to others that you are fasting, but only to your Father, who is unseen; and your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.^(T)

Treasures in Heaven^(U)

¹⁹ “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth,^(V) where moths and vermin destroy,^(W) and where thieves break in and steal. ²⁰ But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven,^(X) where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal.^{(Y) 21} For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.^(Z)

²² “The eye is the lamp of the body. If your eyes are healthy,^[c] your whole body will be full of light. ²³ But if your eyes are unhealthy,^[d] your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light within you is darkness, how great is that darkness!

²⁴ “No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.^(AA)

Do Not Worry^(AB)

²⁵ “Therefore I tell you, do not worry^(AC) about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? ²⁶ Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them.^(AD) Are you not much more valuable than they?^{(AE) 27} Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life^[e]?^(AF)

²⁸ “And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. ²⁹ Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor^(AG) was dressed like one of these. ³⁰ If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith?^{(AH) 31} So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ ³² For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them.^{(AI) 33} But seek first his kingdom^(AJ) and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.^{(AK) 34} Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.

Judging Others^(AL)

7 “Do not judge, or you too will be judged.^{(AM) 2} For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.^(AN)

³ “Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? ⁴ How can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when all the time there is a plank in your own eye? ⁵ You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.

⁶ “Do not give dogs what is sacred; do not throw your pearls to pigs. If you do, they may trample them under their feet, and turn and tear you to pieces.

Ask, Seek, Knock^(AO)

⁷ “Ask and it will be given to you;^(AP) seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. ⁸ For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds;^(AQ) and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.

⁹ “Which of you, if your son asks for bread, will give him a stone? ¹⁰ Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? ¹¹ If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts^(AR) to those who ask him! ¹² So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you,^(AS) for this sums up the Law and the Prophets.^(AT)

The Narrow and Wide Gates

¹³ “Enter through the narrow gate.^(AU) For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. ¹⁴ But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.

True and False Prophets

¹⁵ “Watch out for false prophets.^(AV) They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves.^{(AW) 16} By their fruit you will recognize them.^(AX) Do people pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles?^{(AY) 17} Likewise, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. ¹⁸ A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit.^{(AZ) 19} Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.^{(BA) 20} Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them.

True and False Disciples

²¹ “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’^(BB) will enter the kingdom of heaven,^(BC) but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.^{(BD) 22} Many will say to me on that day,^(BE) ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and in your name perform many miracles?’^{(BF) 23} Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’^(BG)

The Wise and Foolish Builders^(BH)

²⁴ “Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice^(BI) is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. ²⁵ The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. ²⁶ But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. ²⁷ The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash.”

²⁸ When Jesus had finished saying these things,^(BJ) the crowds were amazed at his teaching,^{(BK) 29} because he taught as one who had authority, and not as their teachers of the law.

Jesus Heals a Man With Leprosy^(BL)

8 When Jesus came down from the mountainside, large crowds followed him. ² A man with leprosy^[f](BM) came and knelt before him^(BN) and said, “Lord, if you are willing, you can make me clean.”

³ Jesus reached out his hand and touched the man. “I am willing,” he said. “Be clean!” Immediately he was cleansed of his leprosy. ⁴ Then Jesus said to him, “See that you don’t tell anyone.^(BO) But go, show yourself to the priest^(BP) and offer the gift Moses commanded,^(BQ) as a testimony to them.”

The Faith of the Centurion^(BR)

⁵ When Jesus had entered Capernaum, a centurion came to him, asking for help. ⁶ “Lord,” he said, “my servant lies at home paralyzed,^(BS) suffering terribly.”

⁷ Jesus said to him, “Shall I come and heal him?”

⁸ The centurion replied, “Lord, I do not deserve to have you come under my roof. But just say the word, and my servant will be healed.^{(BT) 9} For I myself am a man under authority, with soldiers under me. I tell this one, ‘Go,’ and he goes; and that one, ‘Come,’ and he comes. I say to my servant, ‘Do this,’ and he does it.”

¹⁰ When Jesus heard this, he was amazed and said to those following him, “Truly I tell you, I have not found anyone in Israel with such great faith.^{(BU) 11} I say to you that many will come from the east and the west,^(BV) and will take their places at the feast with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven.^{(BW) 12} But the subjects of the kingdom^(BX) will be thrown outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.”^(BY)

¹³ Then Jesus said to the centurion, “Go! Let it be done just as you believed it would.”^(BZ) And his servant was healed at that moment.

Jesus Heals Many^(CA)

¹⁴ When Jesus came into Peter’s house, he saw Peter’s mother-in-law lying in bed with a fever. ¹⁵ He touched her hand and the fever left her, and she got up and began to wait on him.

¹⁶ When evening came, many who were demon-possessed were brought to him, and he drove out the spirits with a word and healed all the sick.^{(CB) 17} This was to fulfill^(CC) what was spoken through the prophet Isaiah:

The Cost of Following Jesus^(CE)

¹⁸ When Jesus saw the crowd around him, he gave orders to cross to the other side of the lake.^{(CF) 19} Then a teacher of the law came to him and said, “Teacher, I will follow you wherever you go.”

²⁰ Jesus replied, “Foxes have dens and birds have nests, but the Son of Man^(CG) has no place to lay his head.”

²¹ Another disciple said to him, “Lord, first let me go and bury my father.”

²² But Jesus told him, “Follow me,^(CH) and let the dead bury their own dead.”

Jesus Calms the Storm^(CI)(CJ)

²³ Then he got into the boat and his disciples followed him. ²⁴ Suddenly a furious storm came up on the lake, so that the waves swept over the boat. But Jesus was sleeping. ²⁵ The disciples went and woke him, saying, “Lord, save us! We’re going to drown!”

²⁶ He replied, “You of little faith,^(CK) why are you so afraid?” Then he got up and rebuked the winds and the waves, and it was completely calm.^(CL)

²⁷ The men were amazed and asked, “What kind of man is this? Even the winds and the waves obey him!”

Jesus Restores Two Demon-Possessed Men^(CM)

²⁸ When he arrived at the other side in the region of the Gadarenes,^[h] two demon-possessed^(CN) men coming from the tombs met him. They were so violent that no one could pass that way. ²⁹ “What do you want with us,^(CO) Son of God?” they shouted. “Have you come here to torture us before the appointed time?”^(CP)

³⁰ Some distance from them a large herd of pigs was feeding. ³¹ The demons begged Jesus, “If you drive us out, send us into the herd of pigs.”

³² He said to them, “Go!” So they came out and went into the pigs, and the whole herd rushed down the steep bank into the lake and died in the water. ³³ Those tending the pigs ran off, went into the town and reported all this, including what had happened to the demon-possessed men. ³⁴ Then the whole town went out to meet Jesus. And when they saw him, they pleaded with him to leave their region.^(CQ)

Jesus Forgives and Heals a Paralyzed Man^(CR)

9 Jesus stepped into a boat, crossed over and came to his own town.^{(CS) 2} Some men brought to him a paralyzed man,^(CT) lying on a mat. When Jesus saw their faith,^(CU) he said to the man, “Take heart,^(CV) son; your sins are forgiven.”^(CW)

³ At this, some of the teachers of the law said to themselves, “This fellow is blaspheming!”^(CX)

⁴ Knowing their thoughts,^(CY) Jesus said, “Why do you entertain evil thoughts in your hearts? ⁵ Which is easier: to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Get up and walk’? ⁶ But I want you to know that the Son of Man^(CZ) has authority on earth to forgive sins.” So he said to the paralyzed man, “Get up, take your mat and go home.” ⁷ Then the man got up and went home. ⁸ When the crowd saw this, they were filled with awe; and they praised God,^(DA) who had given such authority to man.

The Calling of Matthew^(DB)

⁹ As Jesus went on from there, he saw a man named Matthew sitting at the tax collector’s booth. “Follow me,”^(DC) he told him, and Matthew got up and followed him.

¹⁰ While Jesus was having dinner at Matthew’s house, many tax collectors and sinners came and ate with him and his disciples. ¹¹ When the Pharisees saw this, they asked his disciples, “Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?”^(DD)

¹² On hearing this, Jesus said, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. ¹³ But go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice.’^[i](DE) For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.”^(DF)

Jesus Questioned About Fasting^(DG)

¹⁴ Then John’s^(DH) disciples came and asked him, “How is it that we and the Pharisees fast often,^(DI) but your disciples do not fast?”

¹⁵ Jesus answered, “How can the guests of the bridegroom mourn while he is with them?^(DJ) The time will come when the bridegroom will be taken from them; then they will fast.^(DK)

¹⁶ “No one sews a patch of unshrunk cloth on an old garment, for the patch will pull away from the garment, making the tear worse. ¹⁷ Neither do people pour new wine into old wineskins. If they do, the skins will burst; the wine will run out and the wineskins will be ruined. No, they pour new wine into new wineskins, and both are preserved.”

Jesus Raises a Dead Girl and Heals a Sick Woman^(DL)

¹⁸ While he was saying this, a synagogue leader came and knelt before him^(DM) and said, “My daughter has just died. But come and put your hand on her,^(DN) and she will live.” ¹⁹ Jesus got up and went with him, and so did his disciples.

²⁰ Just then a woman who had been subject to bleeding for twelve years came up behind him and touched the edge of his cloak.^{(DO) 21} She said to herself, “If I only touch his cloak, I will be healed.”

²² Jesus turned and saw her. “Take heart,^(DP) daughter,” he said, “your faith has healed you.”^(DQ) And the woman was healed at that moment.^(DR)

²³ When Jesus entered the synagogue leader’s house and saw the noisy crowd and people playing pipes,^{(DS) 24} he said, “Go away. The girl is not dead^(DT) but asleep.”^(DU) But they laughed at him. ²⁵ After the crowd had been put outside, he went in and took the girl by the hand, and she got up.^{(DV) 26} News of this spread through all that region.^(DW)

Jesus Heals the Blind and the Mute

²⁷ As Jesus went on from there, two blind men followed him, calling out, “Have mercy on us, Son of David!”^(DX)

²⁸ When he had gone indoors, the blind men came to him, and he asked them, “Do you believe that I am able to do this?”

“Yes, Lord,” they replied.^(DY)

²⁹ Then he touched their eyes and said, “According to your faith let it be done to you”;^{(DZ) 30} and their sight was restored. Jesus warned them sternly, “See that no one knows about this.”^{(EA) 31} But they went out and spread the news about him all over that region.^(EB)

³² While they were going out, a man who was demon-possessed^(EC) and could not talk^(ED) was brought to Jesus. ³³ And when the demon was driven out, the man who had been mute spoke. The crowd was amazed and said, “Nothing like this has ever been seen in Israel.”^(EE)

³⁴ But the Pharisees said, “It is by the prince of demons that he drives out demons.”^(EF)

The Workers Are Few

³⁵ Jesus went through all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom and healing every disease and sickness.^{(EG) 36} When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them,^(EH) because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.^{(EI) 37} Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest^(EJ) is plentiful but the workers are few.^{(EK) 38} Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.”

Jesus Sends Out the Twelve^{(EL)(EM)(EN)(EO)(EP)}

10 Jesus called his twelve disciples to him and gave them authority to drive out impure spirits^(EQ) and to heal every disease and sickness.^(ER)

² These are the names of the twelve apostles: first, Simon (who is called Peter) and his brother Andrew; James son of Zebedee, and his brother John; ³ Philip and Bartholomew; Thomas and Matthew the tax collector; James son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus; ⁴ Simon the Zealot and Judas Iscariot, who betrayed him.^(ES)

⁵ These twelve Jesus sent out with the following instructions: “Do not go among the Gentiles or enter any town of the Samaritans.^{(ET) 6} Go rather to the lost sheep of Israel.^{(EU) 7} As you go, proclaim this message: ‘The kingdom of heaven^(EV) has come near.’ ⁸ Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those who have leprosy,^[j] drive out demons. Freely you have received; freely give.

⁹ “Do not get any gold or silver or copper to take with you in your belts^(EW)— ¹⁰ no bag for the journey or extra shirt or sandals or a staff, for the worker is worth his keep.^{(EX) 11} Whatever town or village you enter, search there for some worthy person and stay at their house until you leave. ¹² As you enter the home, give it your greeting.^{(EY) 13} If the home is deserving, let your peace rest on it; if it is not, let your peace return to you. ¹⁴ If anyone will not welcome you or listen to your words, leave that home or town and shake the dust off your feet.^{(EZ) 15} Truly I tell you, it will be more bearable for Sodom and Gomorrah^(FA) on the day of judgment^(FB) than for that town.^(FC)

¹⁶ “I am sending you out like sheep among wolves.^(FD) Therefore be as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves.^{(FE) 17} Be on your guard; you will be handed over to the local councils^(FF) and be flogged in the synagogues.^{(FG) 18} On my account you will be brought before governors and kings^(FH) as witnesses to them and to the Gentiles. ¹⁹ But when they arrest you, do not worry about what to say or how to say it.^(FI) At that time you will be given what to say, ²⁰ for it will not be you speaking, but the Spirit of your Father^(FJ) speaking through you.

²¹ “Brother will betray brother to death, and a father his child; children will rebel against their parents^(FK) and have them put to death.^{(FL) 22} You will be hated by everyone because of me,^(FM) but the one who stands firm to the end will be saved.^{(FN) 23} When you are persecuted in one place, flee to another. Truly I tell you, you will not finish going through the towns of Israel before the Son of Man comes.^(FO)

²⁴ “The student is not above the teacher, nor a servant above his master.^{(FP) 25} It is enough for students to be like their teachers, and servants like their masters. If the head of the house has been called Beelzebul,^(FQ) how much more the members of his household!

²⁶ “So do not be afraid of them, for there is nothing concealed that will not be disclosed, or hidden that will not be made known.^{(FR) 27} What I tell you in the dark, speak in the daylight; what is whispered in your ear, proclaim from the roofs. ²⁸ Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather, be afraid of the One^(FS) who can destroy both soul and body in hell. ²⁹ Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground outside your Father’s care.^{[k] 30} And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered.^{(FT) 31} So don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.^(FU)

³² “Whoever acknowledges me before others,^(FV) I will also acknowledge before my Father in heaven. ³³ But whoever disowns me before others, I will disown before my Father in heaven.^(FW)

³⁴ “Do not suppose that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I did not come to bring peace, but a sword. ³⁵ For I have come to turn

³⁷ “Anyone who loves their father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; anyone who loves their son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me.^{(FZ) 38} Whoever does not take up their cross and follow me is not worthy of me.^{(GA) 39} Whoever finds their life will lose it, and whoever loses their life for my sake will find it.^(GB)

⁴⁰ “Anyone who welcomes you welcomes me,^(GC) and anyone who welcomes me welcomes the one who sent me.^{(GD) 41} Whoever welcomes a prophet as a prophet will receive a prophet’s reward, and whoever welcomes a righteous person as a righteous person will receive a righteous person’s reward. ⁴² And if anyone gives even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones who is my disciple, truly I tell you, that person will certainly not lose their reward.”^(GE)

The Tower of Babel

11 Now the whole world had one language^(A) and a common speech. ² As people moved eastward,^[a] they found a plain in Shinar^[b](B) and settled there.

³ They said to each other, “Come, let’s make bricks^(C) and bake them thoroughly.” They used brick instead of stone,^(D) and tar^(E) for mortar. ⁴ Then they said, “Come, let us build ourselves a city, with a tower that reaches to the heavens,^(F) so that we may make a name^(G) for ourselves; otherwise we will be scattered^(H) over the face of the whole earth.”^(I)

⁵ But the Lord came down^(J) to see the city and the tower the people were building. ⁶ The Lord said, “If as one people speaking the same language^(K) they have begun to do this, then nothing they plan to do will be impossible for them. ⁷ Come, let us^(L) go down^(M) and confuse their language so they will not understand each other.”^(N)

⁸ So the Lord scattered them from there over all the earth,^(O) and they stopped building the city. ⁹ That is why it was called Babel^[c](P)—because there the Lord confused the language^(Q) of the whole world.^(R) From there the Lord scattered^(S) them over the face of the whole earth.

From Shem to Abram^(T)

¹⁰ This is the account^(U) of Shem’s family line.

Two years after the flood, when Shem was 100 years old, he became the father^[d] of Arphaxad.^{(V) 11} And after he became the father of Arphaxad, Shem lived 500 years and had other sons and daughters.

¹² When Arphaxad had lived 35 years, he became the father of Shelah.^{(W) 13} And after he became the father of Shelah, Arphaxad lived 403 years and had other sons and daughters.^[e]

¹⁴ When Shelah had lived 30 years, he became the father of Eber.^{(X) 15} And after he became the father of Eber, Shelah lived 403 years and had other sons and daughters.

¹⁶ When Eber had lived 34 years, he became the father of Peleg.^{(Y) 17} And after he became the father of Peleg, Eber lived 430 years and had other sons and daughters.

¹⁸ When Peleg had lived 30 years, he became the father of Reu.^{(Z) 19} And after he became the father of Reu, Peleg lived 209 years and had other sons and daughters.

²⁰ When Reu had lived 32 years, he became the father of Serug.^{(AA) 21} And after he became the father of Serug, Reu lived 207 years and had other sons and daughters.

²² When Serug had lived 30 years, he became the father of Nahor.^{(AB) 23} And after he became the father of Nahor, Serug lived 200 years and had other sons and daughters.

²⁴ When Nahor had lived 29 years, he became the father of Terah.^{(AC) 25} And after he became the father of Terah, Nahor lived 119 years and had other sons and daughters.

²⁶ After Terah had lived 70 years, he became the father of Abram,^(AD) Nahor^(AE) and Haran.^(AF)

Abram’s Family

²⁷ This is the account^(AG) of Terah’s family line.

Terah became the father of Abram, Nahor^(AH) and Haran. And Haran became the father of Lot.^{(AI) 28} While his father Terah was still alive, Haran died in Ur of the Chaldeans,^(AJ) in the land of his birth. ²⁹ Abram and Nahor^(AK) both married. The name of Abram’s wife was Sarai,^(AL) and the name of Nahor’s wife was Milkah;^(AM) she was the daughter of Haran, the father of both Milkah and Iskah. ³⁰ Now Sarai was childless because she was not able to conceive.^(AN)

³¹ Terah took his son Abram, his grandson Lot^(AO) son of Haran, and his daughter-in-law^(AP) Sarai, the wife of his son Abram, and together they set out from Ur of the Chaldeans^(AQ) to go to Canaan.^(AR) But when they came to Harran,^(AS) they settled there.

³² Terah^(AT) lived 205 years, and he died in Harran.

The Call of Abram

12 The Lord had said to Abram, “Go from your country, your people and your father’s household^(AU) to the land^(AV) I will show you.^(AW)

⁴ So Abram went, as the Lord had told him; and Lot^(BC) went with him. Abram was seventy-five years old^(BD) when he set out from Harran.^{(BE) 5} He took his wife Sarai,^(BF) his nephew Lot, all the possessions they had accumulated^(BG) and the people^(BH) they had acquired in Harran, and they set out for the land of Canaan,^(BI) and they arrived there.

⁶ Abram traveled through the land^(BJ) as far as the site of the great tree of Moreh^(BK) at Shechem.^(BL) At that time the Canaanites^(BM) were in the land. ⁷ The Lord appeared to Abram^(BN) and said, “To your offspring^[h] I will give this land.^(BO)”^(BP) So he built an altar there to the Lord,^(BQ) who had appeared to him.

⁸ From there he went on toward the hills east of Bethel^(BR) and pitched his tent,^(BS) with Bethel on the west and Ai^(BT) on the east. There he built an altar to the Lord and called on the name of the Lord.^(BU)

⁹ Then Abram set out and continued toward the Negev.^(BV)

Abram in Egypt^(BW)

¹⁰ Now there was a famine in the land,^(BX) and Abram went down to Egypt to live there for a while because the famine was severe.^{(BY) 11} As he was about to enter Egypt, he said to his wife Sarai,^(BZ) “I know what a beautiful woman^(CA) you are. ¹² When the Egyptians see you, they will say, ‘This is his wife.’ Then they will kill me but will let you live. ¹³ Say you are my sister,^(CB) so that I will be treated well for your sake and my life will be spared because of you.”

¹⁴ When Abram came to Egypt, the Egyptians saw that Sarai was a very beautiful woman.^{(CC) 15} And when Pharaoh’s officials saw her, they praised her to Pharaoh, and she was taken into his palace. ¹⁶ He treated Abram well for her sake, and Abram acquired sheep and cattle, male and female donkeys, male and female servants, and camels.^(CD)

¹⁷ But the Lord inflicted^(CE) serious diseases on Pharaoh and his household^(CF) because of Abram’s wife Sarai. ¹⁸ So Pharaoh summoned Abram. “What have you done to me?”^(CG) he said. “Why didn’t you tell me she was your wife?^{(CH) 19} Why did you say, ‘She is my sister,’^(CI) so that I took her to be my wife? Now then, here is your wife. Take her and go!” ²⁰ Then Pharaoh gave orders about Abram to his men, and they sent him on his way, with his wife and everything he had.

Abram and Lot Separate

13 So Abram went up from Egypt^(CJ) to the Negev,^(CK) with his wife and everything he had, and Lot^(CL) went with him. ² Abram had become very wealthy^(CM) in livestock^(CN) and in silver and gold.

³ From the Negev^(CO) he went from place to place until he came to Bethel,^(CP) to the place between Bethel and Ai^(CQ) where his tent had been earlier ⁴ and where he had first built an altar.^(CR) There Abram called on the name of the Lord.^(CS)

⁵ Now Lot,^(CT) who was moving about with Abram, also had flocks and herds and tents. ⁶ But the land could not support them while they stayed together, for their possessions were so great that they were not able to stay together.^{(CU) 7} And quarreling^(CV) arose between Abram’s herders and Lot’s. The Canaanites^(CW) and Perizzites^(CX) were also living in the land^(CY) at that time.

⁸ So Abram said to Lot,^(CZ) “Let’s not have any quarreling between you and me,^(DA) or between your herders and mine, for we are close relatives.^{(DB) 9} Is not the whole land before you? Let’s part company. If you go to the left, I’ll go to the right; if you go to the right, I’ll go to the left.”^(DC)

¹⁰ Lot looked around and saw that the whole plain^(DD) of the Jordan toward Zoar^(DE) was well watered, like the garden of the Lord,^(DF) like the land of Egypt.^(DG) (This was before the Lord destroyed Sodom^(DH) and Gomorrah.)^{(DI) 11} So Lot chose for himself the whole plain of the Jordan and set out toward the east. The two men parted company: ¹² Abram lived in the land of Canaan,^(DJ) while Lot^(DK) lived among the cities of the plain^(DL) and pitched his tents near Sodom.^{(DM) 13} Now the people of Sodom^(DN) were wicked and were sinning greatly against the Lord.^(DO)

¹⁴ The Lord said to Abram after Lot had parted from him, “Look around from where you are, to the north and south, to the east and west.^{(DP) 15} All the land that you see I will give to you and your offspring^[i] forever.^{(DQ) 16} I will make your offspring like the dust of the earth, so that if anyone could count the dust, then your offspring could be counted.^{(DR) 17} Go, walk through the length and breadth of the land,^(DS) for I am giving it to you.”^(DT)

¹⁸ So Abram went to live near the great trees of Mamre^(DU) at Hebron,^(DV) where he pitched his tents. There he built an altar to the Lord.^(DW)

Abram Rescues Lot

14 At the time when Amraphel was king of Shinar,^[j](DX) Arioch king of Ellasar, Kedorlaomer^(DY) king of Elam^(DZ) and Tidal king of Goyim, ² these kings went to war against Bera king of Sodom, Birsha king of Gomorrah, Shinab king of Admah, Shemeber king of Zeboyim,^(EA) and the king of Bela (that is, Zoar).^{(EB) 3} All these latter kings joined forces in the Valley of Siddim^(EC) (that is, the Dead Sea Valley^(ED)).