Abraham and Sarah at Gerar
1 Abraham moved to the Southern Desert, where he settled between Kadesh and Shur. Later he went to Gerar, and while there 2 he told everyone that his wife Sarah was his sister. So King Abimelech of Gerar had Sarah brought to him. 3 But God came to Abimelech in a dream and said, “You have taken a married woman into your home, and for this you will die!”
4-5 Abimelech said to the Lord, “Don't kill me! I haven't slept with Sarah. Didn't they say they were brother and sister? I am completely innocent.”
6 Then God continued:
I know you are innocent. That's why I kept you from sleeping with Sarah and doing anything wrong. 7 Her husband is a prophet. Let her go back to him, and his prayers will save you from death. But if you don't return her, you and all your people will die.
8 Early the next morning Abimelech sent for his officials, and when he told them what had happened, they were frightened. 9 Abimelech then called in Abraham and said:
Look what you've done to us! What have I ever done to you? Why did you make me and my nation guilty of such a terrible sin? 10 What were you thinking when you did this?
11 Abraham answered:
I did it because I didn't think any of you respected God, and I was sure that someone would kill me to get my wife. 12 Besides, she is my half sister. We have the same father, but different mothers. 13 When God made us leave my father's home and start wandering, I told her, “If you really love me, then tell everyone that I am your brother.”
14 After Abimelech had given Abraham some sheep, cattle, and slaves, he sent Sarah back 15 and told Abraham he could settle anywhere in his country. 16 Then he said to Sarah, “I have given your brother 1,000 pieces of silver as proof to everyone that you have done nothing wrong.”
17-18 Meanwhile, God had kept Abimelech's wife and slaves from having children. But Abraham prayed, and God let them start having children again.
Abhurahama na Abimeleki
1 Kudwa ikoko Abhurahama kayendila ku ntuthu we Negebu kanogala pakati kwe Kadeshi ne Shuri, kayenda ku Gera kanogalako kwe tjibakana. 2 Abhurahama kati ngekwe nkadzi uwe Sara, “I hazwadzi yangu.” Ndizo Abimeleki mambo we Gera katuma bathu bakanontolela Sara. 3 Koga Ndzimu ukazha kuna Abimeleki mu kuwolota busiku ukati, “Bona, u nkwinya we nthu wakafa ngekwe nkadzi wawatola, ngoti nkadzi una mweni.”
4 Koga Abimeleki wakabe asathu kasedzela panli, ndizo kati, “She, apa mungabulaya itjaba tjisina nlandu kene? 5 Apa ate ali iye wakandidwa kati, ‘Iwoyu i hazwadzi yangu kene?’ We tjikadzi naiyebo kati, ‘I hazwadzi yangu.’ Ndakathama ikoku nge hana mbuyanana kusina tjibiibi tjandakabe ndakumbula.”
6 Ipapo Ndzimu ukati kunli mu kuwolota, “Ndoziba kuti wakakuthama ikoku mu kusaziba kusina tjakabipa tjawakumbula, ndizo wali ndimi ndakudziba kuti usinditjinyile. Ndizo ndisakuletja ukankutha. 7 Ngono ngwenu wali bgwiliza nkadzi una mweni, nlume uwe nlebesambeli unowokutembezelela ukatjila. Koga ha usingambgwilize, unowofa ne bathu babo bose.”
8 Kukati tjimuka mangwanana Abimeleki kadana makulukota awe, ngono kababudza zwithu zose izwezwi, ngono bakazhigwa ngotja kukulu. 9 Ipapo Abimeleki kadana Abhurahama ngono kati kunli, “Watithamilani kene? Ini tjandakutjinyila tjathama kuti imi ne bushe gwangu utithamise nlandu nngapa kene? Wandithamila zwithu zwisakafanila kube zwingathamwa.” 10 Abimeleki kabhuzwa Abhurahama kati, “Wakabe wakumbulani tjakayita kuti uthame ikoku kuthu kene?”
11 Abhurahama kashandula eti, “Ndakathama ikoku ngoti ndakumbula kuti, Ndzimu autotjiwa tjoselele mu magalo iyawa, ndizo bathu banowondibulaya be ndibulayila nkadzi wangu. 12 Pezhugwi kwa ikoku iye nge malebeswa i hazwadzi yangu, ali nkololokadzi wa tate, tisi bana be nkadzi, ngono anlobola. 13 Ngono kwakati Ndzimu undidusa mu nsha wa tate bangu kuyenda yenda, andwa ati, ‘Buthu gwaunowondithamila hwogu, bugalo gumwe ne gumwe gwatingaswika uti nge kwangu, “I hazwadzi yangu.” ’ ”
14 Ipapo Abimeleki katola pkhwizi ne ng'ombe ne balandakadzi ne balandalume kapa Abhurahama, kabe ebgwiliza Sara ku nlume uwe. 15 Abimeleki kabe eti, “Bona shango yangu ndiyo iyeyi, wakailinga, ungabaka pawada.” 16 Kabe edwa Sara eti, “Bona, ndapa hazwadzi iyo tjiwulu tje mari e siliva (1 000) kukusuka mu mesho e bathu bose baunabo kuti auna nlandu.”
17 Ipapo Abhurahama katembezela Ndzimu, ngono Ndzimu ukapodza Abimeleki ne nkadzi uwe ne balandakadzi babe kuti babe ne mbeleko kakale, 18 ngoti Yahwe bakabe bamisa mbeleko dzose mu nsha wa Abimeleki kuti dzisitongo wana bana ngekwa Sara nkadzi wa Abhurahama.