Genesis 33

NEW AMERICAN BIBLE	NEW JERUSALEM
1 Jacob looked up and saw Esau coming, accompanied by four hundred men. So he divided his children among Leah, Rachel and the two maidservants,	1 Looking up, Jacob saw Esau coming and with him four hundred men. He then divided the childrenbetween Leah, Rachel and the two slave-girls.
2 putting the maids and their children first, Leah and her children next, and Rachel and Joseph last.	2 He put the slave-girls and their children in front, with Leah and her children fol owing, and Rachel andJoseph behind.
3 He himself went on ahead of them, bowing to the ground seven times, until he reached his brother.	3 He himself went ahead of them and bowed to the ground seven times, until he reached his brother.
4 Esau ran to meet him, embraced him, and flinging himself on his neck, kissed him as he wept.	4 But Esau ran to meet him, took him in his arms, threw himself on his neck and wept as he kissed him.
5 When Esau looked about, he saw the women and children. "Who are these with you?" he asked. Jacob answered, "They are the children whom God has graciously bestowed on your servant."	5 Then looking up he saw the women and children. 'Who are these with you?' he asked. Jacobanswered, 'The children whom God has bestowed on your servant.'
6 Then the maidservants and their children came forward and bowed low;	6 The slave-girls then came up with their children, and they al bowed low.
7 next, Leah and her children came forward and bowed low; lastly, Rachel and her children came forward and bowed low.	7 Then Leah too came up with her children, and they al bowed low. Finally Rachel and Joseph came upand bowed low.
8 Then Esau asked, "What did you intend with all those droves that I encountered?" Jacob answered, "It was to gain my lord's favor."	8 Esau asked, 'What was the purpose of that whole camp I just met?' 'To win my lord's favour,' hereplied.
9 "I have plenty," replied Esau; "you should keep what is yours, brother."	9 'Brother, I have plenty,' Esau answered, 'keep what is yours.'
10 "No, I beg you!" said Jacob. "If you will do me the favor, please accept this gift from me, since to come into your presence is for me like coming into the presence of God, now that you have received me so kindly.	10 Jacob protested, 'No, if I have won your favour, please accept the gift I offer, for in fact I have comeinto your presence as into the presence of God, since you have received me kindly.
11 Do accept the present I have brought you; God has been generous toward me, and I have an abundance." Since he so urged him, Esau accepted.	11 So accept the gift I have brought for you, since God has been generous to me and I have al I need.'And he urged him, and Esau accepted.
12 Then Esau said, "Let us break camp and be on our way; I will travel alongside you."	12 Esau said, 'Let us break camp and move off; I shal go beside you.'
13 But Jacob replied: "As my lord can see, the children are frail. Besides, I am encumbered with the flocks and herds, which now have sucklings; if overdriven for a single day, the whole flock will die.	13 But Jacob replied, 'As my lord knows, the children are weak, and the sheep and cows which havecalved make it hard for me. If they are driven too hard, even for one day, the whole drove will die.
14 Let my lord, then, go on ahead of me, while I proceed more slowly at the pace of the livestock before me and at the pace of my children, until I join my lord in Seir."	14 May it please my lord to go on ahead of his servant. For my part, I shal move at a slower pace, tosuit the flock I am driving and the children, until I join my lord in Seir.'
15 Esau replied, "Let me at least put at your disposal some of the men who are with me." But Jacob said, "For what reason? Please indulge me in this, my lord."	15 Esau then said, 'At least let me leave you some of the people who are with me.' 'What for?' Jacobasked. 'Please indulge me, my lord!'
16 So on the same day that Esau began his journey back to Seir,	16 So that day Esau turned back towards Seir,
17 Jacob journeyed to Succoth. There he built a home for himself and made booths for his livestock. That is why the place was called Succoth.	17 but Jacob made his way to Succoth, where he built himself a house and made shelters for hislivestock; that is why the place was given the name of Succoth.
18 Having thus come from Paddan-aram, Jacob arrived safely at the city of Shechem, which is in the land of Canaan, and he encamped in sight of the city.	18 Jacob arrived safely at the town of Shechem in Canaanite territory, on his return from Paddan-Aram.He encamped opposite the town
19 The plot of ground on which he had pitched his tent he bought for a hundred pieces of bullion from the descendants of Hamor, the founder of Shechem.	19 and for one hundred pieces of silver he bought from the sons of Hamor father of Shechem the pieceof land on which he had pitched his tent.
20 He set up a memorial stone there and invoked "El, the God of Israel."	20 There he erected an altar which he cal ed 'El, God of Israel'.