Genesis 17

1When Abram was 99 years old, the LORD appeared to Abram and said: I am God Almighty. Walk with Me and live a blameless life.

2I will make My agreement with you. I will give you a great many descendants.

3Abram bowed down with his face to the ground. Then God spoke to him.

4God said: This is My agreement with you. You will be the father of many nations.

5Your name will no longer be Abram. Your name will be Abraham. I have made you the father of many nations.

6I will give you very many descendants. Nations will come from you. Kings will come from you.

7I will make My agreement with you and with your descendants after you. It will last for all time. I will be your God and the God of your descendants.

8I will give you and your descendants the land where you now live as a stranger. All the land of Canaan will be yours forever. I will be their God.

9God said to Abraham: You must keep My agreement. You and your descendants after you must keep it through all time.

10This is My agreement with you and your descendants. You must keep it. Every male among you must be circumcised.

11You must circumcise every male, which means cutting off the foreskin. This will be the sign of the agreement between Me and you.

12Every baby boy must be circumcised when he is 8 days old. This includes boys born in your house and boys you bought from foreigners. It includes every generation.

13Every male born in your house or bought with your money must be circumcised. My agreement will be marked on your bodies. It will last forever.

14Any male who is not circumcised will be cut off from his people. He has broken My agreement.

15God said to Abraham: Do not call your wife Sarai any longer. Her name will be Sarah.

16I will bless her. I will give you a son by her. I will bless her, and she will be the mother of nations. Kings of peoples will come from her.

17Abraham bowed down with his face to the ground, and he laughed. He said to himself: Can a man who is 100 years old have a child? Can Sarah, who is 90 years old, have a baby?

18Abraham said to God: I wish Ishmael could live under Your blessing.

19God said: No, your wife Sarah will have a son for you. You will name him Isaac. I will make My agreement with Isaac. It will last forever for him and his descendants.

20As for Ishmael, I have heard you. I have blessed him. I will give him many descendants. He will father 12 princes. I will make him a great nation.

21But I will make My agreement with Isaac. Sarah will give birth to him about this time next year.

22When God finished speaking with Abraham, God went up from him.

23On that same day, Abraham took his son Ishmael and every male in his house. This included those born in his house and those he had bought. Abraham circumcised them, as God had told him.

24Abraham was 99 years old when he was circumcised.

25Ishmael was 13 years old when he was circumcised.

26Abraham and his son Ishmael were circumcised on that same day.

27All the men of Abraham's house were circumcised with him. This included those born in his house and those bought from foreigners.