Genesis 15

1 After these things, came the word of Yahweh unto Abram, in a vision saying, —Do not fear Abram, I am a shield to thee, thine exceeding great reward.

And so, these things having been transacted, the word of the Lord came to Abram by a vision, saying: “Do not be afraid, Abram, I am your protector, and your reward is exceedingly great.”

2 And Abram said My Lord Yahweh, what canst thou give me, when, I, am going on childless, —and the heir of my house, is Eliezer, of Damascus,

And Abram said: “Lord God, what will you give to me? I may go without children. And the son of the steward of my house is this Eliezer of Damascus.”

3 And Abram said—Lo, to me, hast thou not given seed, —And lo! a son of my household, is mine heir!

And Abram added: “Yet to me you have not given offspring. And behold, my servant born in my house will be my heir.”

4 And lo! the word of Yahweh [came] unto him, saying, This one, shall not be thine heir: But one who cometh forth of thy body—he shall be thine heir.

And immediately the word of the Lord came to him, saying: “This one will not be your heir. But he who will come from your loins, the same will you have for your heir.”

5 And he brought him forth abroad and said—Look steadfastly. I pray thee towards the heavens, and number the stars, if thou be able to number, them, And he said to him, Thus, shall be thy seed.

And he brought him outside, and he said to him, “Take in the heavens, and number the stars, if you can.” And he said to him, “So also will your offspring be.”

6 And he had faith in Yahweh, —so he reckoned it to him as righteousness.

Abram believed God, and it was reputed to him unto justice.

7 And he said unto him, —I, am Yahweh, who brought thee forth out of Ur of the Chaldees, to give thee this land to inherit it.

And he said to him, “I am the Lord who led you away from Ur of the Chaldeans, so as to give you this land, and so that you would possess it.”

8 And he said, My Lord Yahweh, whereby, can I know that I shall inherit it?

But he said, “Lord God, in what way may I be able to know that I will possess it?”

9 And he said unto him, Take for me a heifer three years old, and a she-goat three years old, and a ram three years old, and a turtle-dove and a young pigeon.

And the Lord responded by saying: “Take for me a cow of three years, and a she-goat of three years, and a ram of three years, also a turtle-dove and a pigeon.”

10 So he took for him all these, and divided them, in the midst, and placed each piece over against its fellow, but the birds, divided he not.

Taking all these, he divided them through the middle, and placed both parts opposite one another. But the birds he did not divide.

11 Then came down the birds of prey upon the carcass, and Abram drove them away.

And birds descended upon the carcasses, but Abram drove them away.

12 And it came to pass when, the sun, was about to go in, and, a deep sleep, had fallen upon Abram, lo! a terror a great darkness, was falling upon him.

And when the sun was setting, a deep sleep fell upon Abram, and a dread, great and dark, invaded him.

13 And he said to Abram—Thou must surely know, that, sojourners, will thy seed become in a land not theirs, and shall serve them and they will humble them, four hundred years;

And it was said to him: “Know beforehand that your future offspring will be sojourners in a land not their own, and they will subjugate them in servitude and afflict them for four hundred years.

14 moreover also, the nation whom they will serve, I, am going to judge, and after that, shall they come forth with great substance.

Yet truly, I will judge the nation that they will serve, and after this they will depart with great substance.

15 But, thou, shalt go in unto thy fathers in peace, thou shalt be buried in a good old age.

But you will go to your fathers in peace and be buried at a good old age.

16 And, in the fourth generation, shall they return hither, —for not complete, is the iniquity of the Amorites, as yet,

But in the fourth generation, they will return here. For the iniquities of the Amorites are not yet completed, even to this present time.”

17 So it came to pass when, the sun, had gone in, and, a thick darkness, had come on, that lo there was a smoking hearth and torch of fire, which passed through between these pieces.

Then, when the sun had set, there came a dark mist, and there appeared a smoking furnace and a lamp of fire passing between those divisions.

18 In that day, did Yahweh solemnise with Abram a covenant, saying, —To thy seed, have I given this land, from the river of Egypt as far as the great river—the river Euphrates:

On that day, God formed a covenant with Abram, saying: “To your offspring I will give this land, from the river of Egypt, even to the great river Euphrates:

19 the Kenite, and the Kenizzite, and the Kadmonite;

the land of the Kenites and the Kenizzites, the Kadmonites

20 and the Hittite and the Perizzite, and the Rephaim;

and the Hittites, and the Perizzites, likewise the Rephaim,

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

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