New International Version | International Standard Version |
1Jacob looked up and there was Esau, coming with his four hundred men; so he divided the children among Leah, Rachel and the two female servants. | 1When Jacob looked off in the distance, there was Esau coming toward him, accompanied by 400 men! So Jacob divided Leah's children, Rachel, and the children of the two servants into separate groups. |
2He put the female servants and their children in front, Leah and her children next, and Rachel and Joseph in the rear. | 2Then he positioned the women servants and their children first, then Leah and her children next, and then Rachel and Joseph after them. |
3He himself went on ahead and bowed down to the ground seven times as he approached his brother. | 3Then he went out to meet Esau, passing in front of all of them, and bowed low to the ground seven times as he approached his brother. |
4But Esau ran to meet Jacob and embraced him; he threw his arms around his neck and kissed him. And they wept. | 4Esau ran to meet Jacob and embraced him. Then he fell on his neck and kissed him. And they wept. |
5Then Esau looked up and saw the women and children. "Who are these with you?" he asked. Jacob answered, "They are the children God has graciously given your servant." | 5When Esau eventually looked around, he saw the women and the children. "Who are these people with you?" he asked. "The children, whom God has graciously given your servant," he answered. |
6Then the female servants and their children approached and bowed down. | 6Then the women servants approached, accompanied by their children, and bowed low. |
7Next, Leah and her children came and bowed down. Last of all came Joseph and Rachel, and they too bowed down. | 7Leah also approached, and she and her children bowed low. After this, Joseph and Rachel approached and bowed low. |
8Esau asked, "What's the meaning of all these flocks and herds I met?" "To find favor in your eyes, my lord," he said. | 8Then Esau asked, "What are all these livestock for?" "To solicit favor from you, sir," Jacob answered. |
9But Esau said, "I already have plenty, my brother. Keep what you have for yourself." | 9But Esau replied, "I already have so much, my brother, so keep what belongs to you." |
10"No, please!" said Jacob. "If I have found favor in your eyes, accept this gift from me. For to see your face is like seeing the face of God, now that you have received me favorably. | 10"Please," Jacob implored him, "don't refuse. If I'm to receive favor from you, then receive this gift from me, because seeing your face is like seeing the face of God, since you have favorably accepted me. |
11Please accept the present that was brought to you, for God has been gracious to me and I have all I need." And because Jacob insisted, Esau accepted it. | 11So receive my blessing, which has been sent to you, since God has been gracious to me. Besides, I have enough." Because Jacob kept pressing him, Esau accepted the gifts. |
12Then Esau said, "Let us be on our way; I'll accompany you." | 12Then Esau suggested, "Let's set out and travel together, but let me go in front of you." |
13But Jacob said to him, "My lord knows that the children are tender and that I must care for the ewes and cows that are nursing their young. If they are driven hard just one day, all the animals will die. | 13"Sir, you know that the children are frail," Jacob suggested, "and the ewes and cows with me are still nursing their young. If they're driven even for a day, the entire flock will die. |
14So let my lord go on ahead of his servant, while I move along slowly at the pace of the flocks and herds before me and the pace of the children, until I come to my lord in Seir." | 14So allow yourself to go ahead of your servant while I travel more slowly, letting the herds set their own pace with the children until I arrive to see my lord in Seir." |
15Esau said, "Then let me leave some of my men with you." "But why do that?" Jacob asked. "Just let me find favor in the eyes of my lord." | 15Esau said, "Let me leave with you some of the people who are with me." "Why do that?" Jacob asked. "I've already found favor in your sight, sir." |
16So that day Esau started on his way back to Seir. | 16So Esau set out that very day back on his way to Seir, |
17Jacob, however, went to Sukkoth, where he built a place for himself and made shelters for his livestock. That is why the place is called Sukkoth. | 17but Jacob set out for Succoth, built a house there, and constructed some cattle shelters. He named the place Succoth. |
18After Jacob came from Paddan Aram, he arrived safely at the city of Shechem in Canaan and camped within sight of the city. | 18After Jacob had arrived safely from Paddan-aram, he entered the city of Shechem, which was located in the territory of Canaan, and encamped facing that city. |
19For a hundred pieces of silver, he bought from the sons of Hamor, the father of Shechem, the plot of ground where he pitched his tent. | 19Then he bought a parcel of land for 100 pieces of silver from the descendants of Hamor, Shechem's father. He pitched his tent there, |
20There he set up an altar and called it El Elohe Israel. | 20set up an altar, and named it El-elohe-israel. |
New International Version (NIV) Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide. | The Holy Bible: International Standard Version® Release 2.1 Copyright © 1996-2012 The ISV Foundation ALL RIGHTS RESERVED INTERNATIONALLY. |
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