(ll. 2338-2347) Then Abraham laid his face upon the ground and
pondered these sayings in his heart with scorn. For he deemed
that never the day would come when Sarah, his greyhaired wife,
would bear a son. Full well he knew that she had lived an
hundred winters in the world. And full of years he spake unto
the Lord:
(ll. 2348-2352) "May Ishmael live according to Thy laws, O Lord,
and render Thee a thankful and a steadfast spirit, an earnest
heart to do Thy will, by night and day, in word and deed."
(ll. 2353-2354) And graciously Eternal God, Almighty Lord, made
answer:
(ll. 2355-2369) "Yet shall Sarah bear a son, though old in
winters, and fate shall be fulfilled according to My word. I
will bless Ishmael, thy firstborn, with My blessing as thou dost
ask, that his days may be long in the land, and his race may
multiply. This will I grant thee. So also will I prosper Isaac,
thy younger son, who is not yet born, with every good and
pleasant thing all the days of his life. And I will surely keep
My covenant with him and holy faith, and show him favour."
(ll. 2370-2381) And Abraham did even as Eternal God commanded,
and, in accordance with his Lord's behest, he set the sign of the
covenant upon his son, and bade his bondmen also bear that holy
token. He was wise of heart, and mindful of the covenant and
pledge which God had given him, and he himself received the
glorious sign. God, the Mighty King, increased his glory in the
world. And he strove in all his ways to work the will of his
Lord....
((LACUNA--One leaf missing))
(ll. 2382-2389) But the woman laughed at the Lord of hosts with
derision; full of years, she pondered those sayings in her heart
with scorn. She had no faith that His words would be fulfilled.
And when the Lord of heaven heard that in her bower the wife of
Abraham laughed in unbelief, then spake the Holy God:
(ll. 2390-2398) "Lo! Sarah trusteth not My word. Yet all shall
be fulfilled according as I promised thee in the beginning. I
tell thee truly, at this self-same season thy wife shall bear a
son. And when I come again unto this dwelling My word shall be
fulfilled, and thine eyes shall behold thy son, dear Abraham."