[1] Sarai, Abram’s wife, had not been able to have children. Since she had an Egyptian servant named Hagar, [2] Sarai said to Abram, “The LORD has kept me from giving birth, so go to my servant. Maybe she will provide me with children.” Abram did just as Sarai said. [3] After Abram had lived ten years in the land of Canaan, Abram’s wife Sarai took her Egyptian servant Hagar and gave her to her husband Abram as his wife. [4] He slept with Hagar, and she became pregnant. But when she realized that she was pregnant, she no longer respected her mistress. [5] Sarai said to Abram, “This harassment is your fault. I allowed you to embrace my servant, but when she realized she was pregnant, I lost her respect. Let the LORD decide who is right, you or me.” [6] Abram said to Sarai, “Since she’s your servant, do whatever you wish to her.” So Sarai treated her harshly, and she ran away from Sarai. [7] The LORD’s messenger found Hagar at a spring in the desert, the spring on the road to Shur, [8] and said, “Hagar! Sarai’s servant! Where did you come from and where are you going?” She said, “From Sarai my mistress. I’m running away.” [9] The LORD’s messenger said to her, “Go back to your mistress. Put up with her harsh treatment of you.” [10] The LORD’s messenger also said to her, “I will give you many children, so many they can’t be counted!” [11] The LORD’s messenger said to her, “You are now pregnant and will give birth to a son. You will name him Ishmael because the LORD has heard about your harsh treatment. [12] He will be a wild mule of a man; he will fight everyone, and they will fight him. He will live at odds with all his relatives.” [13] Hagar named the LORD who spoke to her, “You are El Roi” because she said, “Can I still see after he saw me?” [14] Therefore, that well is called Beer-lahai-roi; it’s the well between Kadesh and Bered. [15] Hagar gave birth to a son for Abram, and Abram named him Ishmael. [16] Abram was 86 years old when Hagar gave birth to Ishmael for Abram.
