Genesis 15:1–9

The Lord’s Covenant With Abram

15 After this, the word of the Lord came to Abramp in a vision:q

“Do not be afraid,r Abram.

I am your shield,a s

your very great reward.b t”

2 But Abram said, “Sovereign Lord,u what can you give me since I remain childlessv and the one who will inheritc my estate is Eliezer of Damascus?w” 3 And Abram said, “You have given me no children; so a servantx in my householdy will be my heir.”

4 Then the word of the Lord came to him: “This man will not be your heir, but a son who is your own flesh and blood will be your heir.z” 5 He took him outside and said, “Look up at the sky and count the starsa—if indeed you can count them.” Then he said to him, “So shall your offspringd be.”b

6 Abram believed the Lord, and he credited it to him as righteousness.c

7 He also said to him, “I am the Lord, who brought you outd of Ur of the Chaldeanse to give you this land to take possession of it.”f

8 But Abram said, “Sovereign Lord,g how can I knowh that I will gain possession of it?”i

9 So the Lord said to him, “Bring me a heifer,j a goat and a ram, each three years old,k along with a dove and a young pigeon.l”