Genesis 12

Now the LORD had said unto Abram, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father’s house, unto a land that I will shew thee:

1The LORD had spoken to a man named Abram. He said, "Leave your country. Leave your relatives and your father's house. Go to a land I will show you."

2And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing:

2"I will grow your family into a great nation. I will be good to you and make your name famous. You will bring good things to other people."

3And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed.

3"I will be good to anyone who is good to you. I will curse anyone who curses you. Every family on earth will be blessed because of you."

4So Abram departed, as the LORD had spoken unto him; and Lot went with him: and Abram was seventy and five years old when he departed out of Haran.

4So Abram left, just as the LORD had told him. His nephew Lot went with him. Abram was seventy-five years old when he left the town of Haran.

5And Abram took Sarai his wife, and Lot his brother’s son, and all their substance that they had gathered, and the souls that they had gotten in Haran; and they went forth to go into the land of Canaan; and into the land of Canaan they came.

5Abram took his wife Sarai and his nephew Lot. They took everything they owned. They also took the workers they had gained in Haran. They set out for the land of Canaan, and they got there.

6And Abram passed through the land unto the place of Sichem, unto the plain of Moreh. And the Canaanite was then in the land.

6Abram traveled through the land to a place called Sichem. He came to the big tree of Moreh. The people called Canaanites lived in that land then.

NoteThe KJV says "the plain of Moreh," but the old word means a large tree, not flat ground. The names Sichem and Hai are the same places other Bibles call Shechem and Ai.

7And the LORD appeared unto Abram, and said, Unto thy seed will I give this land: and there builded he an altar unto the LORD, who appeared unto him.

7The LORD let Abram see him. He said, "I will give this land to your children and their children." So Abram built an altar there for the LORD, who had shown himself to him. An altar is a stone place where gifts were given to God.

NoteThe KJV says "thy seed." Here "seed" does not mean a plant seed. It means the children and grandchildren who come after a person.

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.

8Then Abram moved to the hills east of a town called Bethel. He put up his tent there. Bethel was to the west and Hai was to the east. He built another altar there and prayed to the LORD.

9And Abram journeyed, going on still toward the south.

9Then Abram traveled on again, going 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.

10Food ran out in that land, and people went hungry. So Abram went down to Egypt to live there for a while. The hunger in his land was very bad.

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:

11When they were almost in Egypt, Abram talked to his wife Sarai. He said, "Look, I know you are a beautiful woman."

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.

12"When the Egyptians see you, they will say, 'She is his wife.' Then they will kill me, but they will let you live."

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.

13"Please say that you are my sister. Then they will treat me well because of you. My life will be saved because of you."

14And it came to pass, that, when Abram was come into Egypt, the Egyptians beheld the woman that she was very fair.

14So Abram came into Egypt. The Egyptians looked at Sarai and saw she was very beautiful.

15The princes also of Pharaoh saw her, and commended her before Pharaoh: and the woman was taken into Pharaoh’s house.

15Pharaoh's leaders saw her too. Pharaoh was the king of Egypt. They told the king how lovely she was. So Sarai was taken to 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.

16Pharaoh treated Abram well because of her. Abram was given sheep, cows, donkeys, camels, and servants, both men and women.

NoteThe KJV says Pharaoh "entreated Abram well." That does not mean he begged Abram. It means he treated Abram well.

17And the LORD plagued Pharaoh and his house with great plagues because of Sarai Abram’s wife.

17But the LORD sent terrible sicknesses on Pharaoh and everyone in his house. This happened 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?

18So Pharaoh sent for Abram. He said, "What have you done to me? Why didn't you tell me she was your 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.

19"Why did you say, 'She is my sister'? I took her to be my own wife. Here is your wife. Take her and go."

20And Pharaoh commanded his men concerning him: and they sent him away, and his wife, and all that he had.

20Then Pharaoh gave orders to his men about Abram. They sent Abram away with his wife and everything he owned.