| Chapter 16 |
1 |
Now Sarai the wife of Abram, had brought forth no children; 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 its it pleaseth thee. And when Sarai afflicted her, she ran away. |
7 |
And the angel of the Lord having found her, by a fountain of water in the wilderness, which is in the way to Sur in the desert, |
8 |
He said to her: Agar, handmaid of Sarai, whence comest thou? and whither goest thou? And she answered: I flee from the face of Sarai, my mistress. |
9 |
And the angel of the Lord said to her: Return to thy mistress, and humble thyself under her hand. |
10 |
And again he said: I will multiply thy seed exceedingly, and it shall not be numbered for multitude. |
11 |
And again: Behold, said he, thou art with child, and thou shalt bring forth a son: and thou shalt call his name Ismael, because the Lord hath heard thy affliction. |
12 |
He shall be a wild man: his hand will be against all men, and all men's hands against him: and he shall pitch his tents over against all his brethren. |
13 |
And she called the name of the Lord that spoke unto her: Thou the God who hast seen me. For she said: Verily here have I seen the hinder parts of him that seeth me. |
14 |
Therefore she called that well, The well of him that liveth and seeth me. The same is between Cades and Bared. |
15 |
And Agar brought forth a son to Abram: who called his name Ismael. |
16 |
Abram was fourscore and six years old when Agar brought him forth Ismael. |
