Genesis 13

NEW JERUSALEM	NEW AMERICAN BIBLE
1 From Egypt Abram returned to the Negeb with his wife and al he possessed, and Lot with him.	1 From Egypt Abram went up to the Negeb with his wife and all that belonged to him, and Lot accompanied him.
2 Abram was very rich in livestock, silver and gold.	2 Now Abram was very rich in livestock, silver, and gold.
3 By stages he went from the Negeb to Bethel, where he had first pitched his tent, between Bethel andAi,	3 From the Negeb he traveled by stages toward Bethel, to the place between Bethel and Ai where his tent had formerly stood,
4 at the place where he had formerly erected the altar. There Abram invoked the name of Yahweh.	4 the site where he had first built the altar; and there he invoked the LORD by name.
5 Lot, who was travelling with Abram, had flocks and cattle of his own, and tents too.	5 Lot, who went with Abram, also had flocks and herds and tents,
6 The land was not sufficient to accommodate them both at once, for they had too many possessions tobe able to live together.	6 so that the land could not support them if they stayed together; their possessions were so great that they could not dwell together.
7 Dispute broke out between the herdsmen of Abram's livestock and those of Lot. (The Canaanites andPerizzites were living in the country at the time.)	7 There were quarrels between the herdsmen of Abram's livestock and those of Lot's. (At this time the Canaanites and the Perizzites were occupying the land.)
8 Accordingly Abram said to Lot, 'We do not want discord between us or between my herdsmen andyours, for we are kinsmen.	8 So Abram said to Lot: "Let there be no strife between you and me, or between your herdsmen and mine, for we are kinsmen.
9 Is not the whole land open before you? Go in the opposite direction to me: if you take the left, I shalgo right; if you take the right, I shal go left.'	9 Is not the whole land at your disposal? Please separate from me. If you prefer the left, I will go to the right; if you prefer the right, I will go to the left."
10 Looking round, Lot saw all the Jordan plain, irrigated everywhere -- this was before Yahwehdestroyed Sodom and Gomorrah-like the garden of Yahweh or the land of Egypt, as far as Zoar.	10 Lot looked about and saw how well watered the whole Jordan Plain was as far as Zoar, like the LORD'S own garden, or like Egypt. (This was before the LORD had destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah.)
11 So Lot chose all the Jordan plain for himself and moved off eastwards. Thus they parted company:	11 Lot, therefore, chose for himself the whole Jordan Plain and set out eastward. Thus they separated from each other;
12 Abram settled in the land of Canaan; Lot settled among the cities of the plain, pitching his tents onthe outskirts of Sodom.	12 Abram stayed in the land of Canaan, while Lot settled among the cities of the Plain, pitching his tents near Sodom.
13 Now the people of Sodom were vicious and great sinners against Yahweh.	13 Now the inhabitants of Sodom were very wicked in the sins they committed against the LORD.
14 Yahweh said to Abram after Lot had parted company from him, 'Look al round from where you are,to north and south, to east and west,	14 After Lot had left, the LORD said to Abram: "Look about you, and from where you are, gaze to the north and south, east and west;
15 for al the land within sight I shal give to you and your descendants for ever.	15 all the land that you see I will give to you and your descendants forever.
16 I shal make your descendants like the dust on the ground; when people succeed in counting thespecks of dust on the ground, then they wil be able to count your descendants too!	16 I will make your descendants like the dust of the earth; if anyone could count the dust of the earth, your descendants too might be counted.
17 On your feet! Travel the length and breadth of the country, for I mean to give it to you.'	17 Set forth and walk about in the land, through its length and breadth, for to you I will give it."
18 So Abram moved his tent and went to settle at the Oak of Mamre, at Hebron, and there he built analtar to Yahweh.	18 Abram moved his tents and went on to settle near the terebinth of Mamre, which is at Hebron. There he built an altar to the LORD.