16 Now Sarai the wife of Abram, had brought forth no children; but having a handmaid, an Egyptian, named Agar,

² She said to her husband: Behold, the Lord hath restrained me from bearing: go in unto my handmaid, it may be I may have children of her at least. And when he agreed to her request,

³ She took Agar the Egyptian her handmaid, ten years after they first dwelt in the land of Chanaan, and gave her to her husband to wife.

⁴ And he went in to her. But she, perceiving that she was with child, despised her mistress.

⁵ And Sarai said to Abram: Thou dost unjustly with me: I gave my handmaid into thy bosom, and she perceiving herself to be with child, despiseth me. The Lord judge between me and thee.

⁶ And Abram made answer, and said to her: Behold thy handmaid is in thy own hand, use her as it pleaseth thee. And when Sarai afflicted her, she ran away.

⁸ And the child grew and was weaned: and Abraham made a great feast on the day of his weaning.

⁹ And when Sara had seen the son of Agar the Egyptian playing with Isaac her son, she said to Abraham:

¹⁰ Cast out this bondwoman, and her son: for the son of the bondwoman shall not be heir with my son Isaac.

¹¹ Abraham took this grievously for his son.

¹² And God said to him: Let it not seem grievous to thee for the boy, and for thy bondwoman: in all that Sara hath said to thee, hearken to her voice: for in Isaac shall thy seed be called.

¹³ But I will make the son also of the bondwoman a great nation, because he is thy seed.