| 1Jacob looked up and saw that Esau was coming along with four hundred men. So he divided the children among Leah, Rachel, and the two female servants. | 1Jacob looked up and saw that Esau was coming along with four hundred men. So he divided the children among Leah, Rachel, and the two female servants. |
| 2He put the servants and their children in front, with Leah and her children behind them, and Rachel and Joseph behind them. | 2He put the servants and their children in front, with Leah and her children behind them, and Rachel and Joseph behind them. |
| 3But Jacob himself went on ahead of them, and he bowed toward the ground seven times as he approached his brother. | 3But Jacob himself went on ahead of them, and he bowed toward the ground seven times as he approached his brother. |
| 4But Esau ran to meet him, embraced him, hugged his neck, and kissed him. Then they both wept. | 4But Esau ran to meet him, embraced him, hugged his neck, and kissed him. Then they both wept. |
| 5When Esau looked up and saw the women and the children, he asked, "Who are these people with you?" Jacob replied, "The children whom God has graciously given your servant." | 5When Esau looked up and saw the women and the children, he asked, "Who are these people with you?" Jacob replied, "The children whom God has graciously given your servant." |
| 6The female servants came forward with their children and bowed down. | 6The female servants came forward with their children and bowed down. |
| 7Then Leah came forward with her children and they bowed down. Finally Joseph and Rachel came forward and bowed down. | 7Then Leah came forward with her children and they bowed down. Finally Joseph and Rachel came forward and bowed down. |
| 8Esau then asked, "What did you intend by sending all these herds to meet me?" Jacob replied, "To find favor in your sight, my lord." | 8Esau then asked, "What did you intend by sending all these herds to meet me?" Jacob replied, "To find favor in your sight, my lord." |
| 9But Esau said, "I have plenty, my brother. Keep what belongs to you." | 9But Esau said, "I have plenty, my brother. Keep what belongs to you." |
| 10"No, please take them," Jacob said. "If I have found favor in your sight, accept my gift from my hand. Now that I have seen your face and you have accepted me, it is as if I have seen the face of God. | 10"No, please take them," Jacob said. "If I have found favor in your sight, accept my gift from my hand. Now that I have seen your face and you have accepted me, it is as if I have seen the face of God. |
| 11Please take my present that was brought to you, for God has been generous to me and I have all I need." When Jacob urged him, he took it. | 11Please take my present that was brought to you, for God has been generous to me and I have all I need." When Jacob urged him, he took it. |
| 12Then Esau said, "Let's be on our way! I will go in front of you." | 12Then Esau said, "Let's be on our way! I will go in front of you." |
| 13But Jacob said to him, "My lord knows that the children are young, and that I have to look after the sheep and cattle that are nursing their young. If they are driven too hard for even a single day, all the animals will die. | 13But Jacob said to him, "My lord knows that the children are young, and that I have to look after the sheep and cattle that are nursing their young. If they are driven too hard for even a single day, all the animals will die. |
| 14Let my lord go on ahead of his servant. I will travel more slowly, at the pace of the herds and the children, until I come to my lord at Seir." | 14Let my lord go on ahead of his servant. I will travel more slowly, at the pace of the herds and the children, until I come to my lord at Seir." |
| 15So Esau said, "Let me leave some of my men with you." "Why do that?" Jacob replied. "My lord has already been kind enough to me." | 15So Esau said, "Let me leave some of my men with you." "Why do that?" Jacob replied. "My lord has already been kind enough to me." |
| 16So that same day Esau made his way back to Seir. | 16So that same day Esau made his way back to Seir. |
| 17But Jacob traveled to Succoth where he built himself a house and made shelters for his livestock. That is why the place was called Succoth. | 17But Jacob traveled to Succoth where he built himself a house and made shelters for his livestock. That is why the place was called Succoth. |
| 18After he left Paddan Aram, Jacob came safely to the city of Shechem in the land of Canaan, and he camped near the city. | 18After he left Paddan Aram, Jacob came safely to the city of Shechem in the land of Canaan, and he camped near the city. |
| 19Then he purchased the portion of the field where he had pitched his tent; he bought it from the sons of Hamor, Shechem's father, for a hundred pieces of money. | 19Then he purchased the portion of the field where he had pitched his tent; he bought it from the sons of Hamor, Shechem's father, for a hundred pieces of money. |
| 20There he set up an altar and called it "The God of Israel is God." | 20There he set up an altar and called it "The God of Israel is God." |
|
