| NET Bible | New Living Translation |
| 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. | 1Then Jacob looked up and saw Esau coming with his 400 men. So he divided the children among Leah, Rachel, and his two servant wives. |
| 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 servant wives and their children at the front, Leah and her children next, and Rachel and Joseph last. |
| 3But Jacob himself went on ahead of them, and he bowed toward the ground seven times as he approached his brother. | 3Then Jacob went on ahead. As he approached his brother, he bowed to the ground seven times before him. |
| 4But Esau ran to meet him, embraced him, hugged his neck, and kissed him. Then they both wept. | 4Then Esau ran to meet him and embraced him, threw his arms around his neck, and kissed him. And 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." | 5Then Esau looked at the women and children and asked, “Who are these people with you?” “These are the children God has graciously given to me, your servant,” Jacob replied. |
| 6The female servants came forward with their children and bowed down. | 6Then the servant wives came forward with their children and bowed before him. |
| 7Then Leah came forward with her children and they bowed down. Finally Joseph and Rachel came forward and bowed down. | 7Next came Leah with her children, and they bowed before him. Finally, Joseph and Rachel came forward and bowed before him. |
| 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." | 8“And what were all the flocks and herds I met as I came?” Esau asked. Jacob replied, “They are a gift, my lord, to ensure your friendship.” |
| 9But Esau said, "I have plenty, my brother. Keep what belongs to you." | 9“My brother, I have plenty,” Esau answered. “Keep what you have for yourself.” |
| 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. | 10But Jacob insisted, “No, if I have found favor with you, please accept this gift from me. And what a relief to see your friendly smile. It is like seeing 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 this gift I have brought you, for God has been very gracious to me. I have more than enough.” And because Jacob insisted, Esau finally accepted the gift. |
| 12Then Esau said, "Let's be on our way! I will go in front of you." | 12“Well,” Esau said, “let’s be going. I will lead the way.” |
| 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 replied, “You can see, my lord, that some of the children are very young, and the flocks and herds have their young, too. If they are driven too hard, even for one day, all the animals could 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." | 14Please, my lord, go ahead of your servant. We will follow slowly, at a pace that is comfortable for the livestock and the children. I will meet you 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." | 15“All right,” Esau said, “but at least let me assign some of my men to guide and protect you.” Jacob responded, “That’s not necessary. It’s enough that you’ve received me warmly, my lord!” |
| 16So that same day Esau made his way back to Seir. | 16So Esau turned around and started back to Seir that same day. |
| 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. | 17Jacob, on the other hand, traveled on to Succoth. There he built himself a house and made shelters for his livestock. That is why the place was named Succoth (which means “shelters”). |
| 18After he left Paddan Aram, Jacob came safely to the city of Shechem in the land of Canaan, and he camped near the city. | 18Later, having traveled all the way from Paddan-aram, Jacob arrived safely at the town of Shechem, in the land of Canaan. There he set up camp outside the town. |
| 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. | 19Jacob bought the plot of land where he camped from the family of Hamor, the father of Shechem, for 100 pieces of silver. |
| 20There he set up an altar and called it "The God of Israel is God." | 20And there he built an altar and named it El-Elohe-Israel. |
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