| Chapter 16 |
1 |
Now Sarai the wife of Abram, had brought forth no children; having a handmaid, an Egyptian, named Agar, --
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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, --
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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. --
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4 |
And he went in to her. But she, perceiving that she was with child, despised her mistress. --
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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. --
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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. --
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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, --
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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. --
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9 |
And the angel of the Lord said to her: Return to thy mistress, and humble thyself under her hand. --
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10 |
And again he said: I will multiply thy seed exceedingly, and it shall not be numbered for multitude. --
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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. --
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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. --
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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. --
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14 |
Therefore she called that well, The well of him that liveth and seeth me. The same is between Cades and Bared. --
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15 |
And Agar brought forth a son to Abram: who called his name Ismael. --
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16 |
Abram was fourscore and six years old when Agar brought him forth Ismael. --
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