1. When Abram was 99 years old, the Lord appeared to him. He said, “I am God All-Powerful. Obey me and live the right way.
2. If you do this, I will prepare an agreement between us. I will promise to make your people a great nation.”
3. Then Abram bowed down before God. God said to him,
4. “This is my part of our agreement: I will make you the father of many nations.
5. I will change your name from Abram to Abraham, because I am making you the father of many nations.
6. I will give you many descendants. New nations and kings will come from you.
7. And I will prepare an agreement between me and you. This agreement will also be for all your descendants. It will continue forever. I will be your God and the God of all your descendants.
8. And I will give this land to you and to all your descendants. I will give you the land you are traveling through—the land of Canaan. I will give you this land forever, and I will be your God.”
9. Then God said to Abraham, “Now, this is your part of the agreement: You and all your descendants will obey my agreement.
10. This is my agreement that all of you must obey. This is the agreement between me and you and all your descendants. Every male must be circumcised.
11. You will cut the skin to show that you follow the agreement between me and you.
12. When the baby boy is eight days old, you will circumcise him. Every boy born among your people and every boy who is a slave of your people must be circumcised.
13. So every baby boy in your nation will be circumcised. Every boy who is born from your family or bought as a slave will be circumcised.