Genesis 15

1 After these things the LORD’s word came to Abram in a vision, saying, “Do not be afraid, Abram. I am your shield, your exceedingly great reward.”

After these things the word of the LORD came unto Abram in a vision, saying: 'Fear not, Abram, I am thy shield, thy reward shall be exceeding great.'

2 Abram said, “Lord GOD, what will you give me, since I go childless, and he who will inherit my estate is Eliezer of Damascus?”

And Abram said: 'O Lord GOD, what wilt Thou give me, seeing I go hence childless, and he that shall be possessor of my house is Eliezer of Damascus?'

3 Abram said, “Behold, you have given no children to me: and, behold, one born in my house is my heir.”

And Abram said: 'Behold, to me Thou hast given no seed, and, lo, one born in my house is to be mine heir.'

4 Behold, the LORD’s word came to him, saying, “This man will not be your heir, but he who will come out of your own body will be your heir.”

And, behold, the word of the LORD came unto him, saying: 'This man shall not be thine heir; but he that shall come forth out of thine own bowels shall be thine heir.'

5 The LORD brought him outside, and said, “Look now toward the sky, and count the stars, if you are able to count them.” He said to Abram, “So your offspring will be.”

And He brought him forth abroad, and said: 'Look now toward heaven, and count the stars, if thou be able to count them'; and He said unto him: 'So shall thy seed be.'

6 He believed in the LORD, who credited it to him for righteousness.

And he believed in the LORD; and He counted it to him for righteousness.

7 He said to Abram, “I am the LORD who brought you out of Ur of the Chaldees, to give you this land to inherit it.”

And He said unto him: 'I am the LORD that brought thee out of Ur of the Chaldees, to give thee this land to inherit it.'

8 He said, “Lord GOD, how will I know that I will inherit it?”

And he said: 'O Lord GOD, whereby shall I know that I shall inherit it?'

9 He said to him, “Bring me a heifer three years old, a female goat three years old, a ram three years old, a turtledove, and a young pigeon.”

And He said unto him: 'Take Me a heifer of three years old, and a she-goat of three years old, and a ram of three years old, and a turtle-dove, and a young pigeon.'

10 He brought him all these, and divided them in the middle, and laid each half opposite the other; but he did not divide the birds.

And he took him all these, and divided them in the midst, and laid each half over against the other; but the birds divided he not.

11 The birds of prey came down on the carcasses, and Abram drove them away.

And the birds of prey came down upon the carcasses, and Abram drove them away.

12 When the sun was going down, a deep sleep fell on Abram. Now terror and great darkness fell on him.

And it came to pass, that, when the sun was going down, a deep sleep fell upon Abram; and, lo, a dread, even a great darkness, fell upon him.

13 He said to Abram, “Know for sure that your offspring will live as foreigners in a land that is not theirs, and will serve them. They will afflict them four hundred years.

And He said unto Abram: 'Know of a surety that thy seed shall be a stranger in a land that is not theirs, and shall serve them; and they shall afflict them four hundred years;

14 I will also judge that nation, whom they will serve. Afterward they will come out with great wealth;

and also that nation, whom they shall serve, will I judge; and afterward shall they come out with great substance.

15 but you will go to your fathers in peace. You will be buried at a good old age.

But thou shalt go to thy fathers in peace; thou shalt be buried in a good old age.

16 In the fourth generation they will come here again, for the iniquity of the Amorite is not yet full.”

And in the fourth generation they shall come back hither; for the iniquity of the Amorite is not yet full.'

17 It came to pass that, when the sun went down, and it was dark, behold, a smoking furnace and a flaming torch passed between these pieces.

And it came to pass, that, when the sun went down, and there was thick darkness, behold a smoking furnace, and a flaming torch that passed between these pieces.

18 In that day the LORD made a covenant with Abram, saying, “I have given this land to your offspring, from the river of Egypt to the great river, the river Euphrates:

In that day the LORD made a covenant with Abram, saying: 'Unto thy seed have I given this land, from the river of Egypt unto the great river, the river Euphrates;

19 the land of the Kenites, the Kenizzites, the Kadmonites,

the Kenite, and the Kenizzite, and the Kadmonite,

20 the Hittites, the Perizzites, the Rephaim,

and the Hittite, and the Perizzite, and the Rephaim,

21 the Amorites, the Canaanites, the Girgashites, and the Jebusites.”

and the Amorite, and the Canaanite, and the Girgashite, and the Jebusite.'