^{10 (J)} Now there was a famine in the land. So Abram went down to Egypt to sojourn there, for the famine was severe in the land. ^{11 (J)} When he was about to enter Egypt, he said to Sarai his wife, "I know that you are a woman beautiful in appearance, ^{12 (J)} and when the Egyptians see you, they will say, 'This is his wife.' Then they will kill me, but they will let you live. ^{13 (J)} Say you are my sister, that it may go well with me because of you, and that my life may be spared for your sake." ^{14 (J)} When Abram entered Egypt, the Egyptians saw that the woman was very beautiful. ^{15 (J)} And when the princes of Pharaoh saw her, they praised her to Pharaoh. And the woman was taken into Pharaoh's house. ^{16 (J)} And for her sake he dealt well with Abram; and he had sheep, oxen, male donkeys, male servants, female servants, female donkeys, and camels.

^{17 (J)} But the Lord afflicted Pharaoh and his house with great plagues because of Sarai, Abram's wife. ^{18 (J)} So Pharaoh called Abram and said, "What is this you have done to me? Why did you not tell me that she was your wife? ^{19 (J)} Why did you say, 'She is my sister,' so that I took her for my wife? Now then, here is your wife; take her, and go." ^{20 (J)} And Pharaoh gave men orders concerning him, and they sent him away with his wife and all that he had.