Genesis 33

NEW AMERICAN BIBLE	Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition
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 And Jacob lifted up his eyes and looked, and behold, Esau was coming, and four hundred men with him. So he divided the children among Leah and Rachel and the two maids.
2 putting the maids and their children first, Leah and her children next, and Rachel and Joseph last.	2 And he put the maids with their children in front, then Leah with her children, and Rachel and Joseph last of all.
3 He himself went on ahead of them, bowing to the ground seven times, until he reached his brother.	3 He himself went on before them, bowing himself to the ground seven times, until he came near to 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, and embraced him, and fell on his neck and kissed him, and they wept.
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 And when Esau raised his eyes and saw the women and children, he said, "Who are these with you?" Jacob said, "The children whom God has graciously given your servant."
6 Then the maidservants and their children came forward and bowed low;	6 Then the maids drew near, they and their children, and bowed down;
7 next, Leah and her children came forward and bowed low; lastly, Rachel and her children came forward and bowed low.	7 Leah likewise and her children drew near and bowed down; and last Joseph and Rachel drew near, and they bowed down.
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 said, "What do you mean by all this company which I met?" Jacob answered, "To find favor in the sight of my lord."
9 "I have plenty," replied Esau; "you should keep what is yours, brother."	9 But Esau said, "I have enough, my brother; keep what you have for yourself."
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 said, "No, I pray you, if I have found favor in your sight, then accept my present from my hand; for truly to see your face is like seeing the face of God, with such favor have you received me.
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 Accept, I pray you, my gift that is brought to you, because God has dealt graciously with me, and because I have enough." Thus he urged him, and he took it.
12 Then Esau said, "Let us break camp and be on our way; I will travel alongside you."	12 Then Esau said, "Let us journey on our way, and I will go before 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 said to him, "My lord knows that the children are frail, and that the flocks and herds giving suck are a care to me; and if they are overdriven for one day, all the flocks 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 Let my lord pass on before his servant, and I will lead on slowly, according to the pace of the cattle which are before me and according to the pace of the children, until I come to 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 So Esau said, "Let me leave with you some of the men who are with me." But he said, "What need is there? Let me find favor in the sight of my lord."
16 So on the same day that Esau began his journey back to Seir,	16 So Esau returned that day on his way to 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 journeyed to Succoth, and built himself a house, and made booths for his cattle; therefore the name of the place is called 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 And Jacob came safely to the city of Shechem, which is in the land of Canaan, on his way from Paddan-aram; and he camped before the city.
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 from the sons of Hamor, Shechem's father, he bought for a hundred pieces of money the piece of 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 and called it El-Elohe-Israel.