GodsWord - Genesis - 17

17:1  When Abram was 99 years old, the LORD appeared to him. He said to Abram, "I am God Almighty. Live in my presence with integrity.

17:2  I will give you my promise, and I will give you very many descendants."

17:3  Immediately, Abram bowed with his face touching the ground, and again God spoke to him,

17:4  "My promise is still with you. You will become the father of many nations.

17:5  So your name will no longer be Abram Exalted Father, but Abraham Father of Many because I have made you a father of many nations.

17:6  I will give you many descendants. Many nations and kings will come from you.

17:7  I will make my promise to you and your descendants for generations to come as an everlasting promise. I will be your God and the God of your descendants.

17:8  I am also giving this land where you are living--all of Canaan--to you and your descendants as your permanent possession. And I will be your God."

17:9  God also said to Abraham, "You and your descendants in generations to come are to be faithful to my promise.

17:10  This is how you are to be faithful to my promise: Every male among you is to be circumcised.

17:11  All of you must be circumcised. That will be the sign of the promise from me to you.

17:12  For generations to come every male child who is eight days old must be circumcised, whether he is born in your household or bought with money from a foreigner who's not related to you.

17:13  Every male born in your household or bought with your money is to be circumcised without exception. So my promise will be a sign on your flesh, an everlasting promise.

17:14  Any uncircumcised male must be excluded from his people because he has rejected my promise."

17:15  God said to Abraham, "Don't call your wife by the name Sarai anymore. Instead, her name is Sarah Princess.

17:16  I will bless her, and I will also give you a son by her. I will bless her, and she will become a mother of nations, and kings will come from her."

17:17  Immediately, Abraham bowed with his face touching the ground. He laughed as he thought to himself, "Can a son be born to a hundred-year-old man? Can Sarah, a ninety-year-old woman, have a child?"

17:18  Then Abraham said to God, "Why not let Ishmael be my heir?"

17:19  God replied, "No! Your wife Sarah will give you a son, and you will name him Isaac He Laughs. I will make an everlasting promise to him and his descendants.

17:20  I have heard your request about Ishmael. Yes, I will bless him, make him fertile, and increase the number of his descendants. He will be the father of 12 princes, and I will make him a great nation.

17:21  But I will make my promise to Isaac. Sarah will give birth to him at this time next year."

17:22  When God finished speaking with Abraham, he left him.

17:23  So Abraham took his son Ishmael, everyone born in his household, and everyone bought with money--every male in his household--and circumcised them that day, as God had told him.

17:24  Abraham was 99 years old when he was circumcised.

17:25  His son Ishmael was 13 years old when he was circumcised.

17:26  That same day Abraham and his son Ishmael were circumcised.

17:27  All the men of his household, whether born in the household or bought with money from a foreigner, were circumcised with him.