Genesis 13

NEW JERUSALEM	CATHOLIC PUBLIC DOMAIN
1 From Egypt Abram returned to the Negeb with his wife and al he possessed, and Lot with him.	1 Therefore, Abram ascended from Egypt, he and his wife, and all that he had, and Lot with him, toward the southern region.
2 Abram was very rich in livestock, silver and gold.	2 But he was very wealthy by the possession of gold and silver.
3 By stages he went from the Negeb to Bethel, where he had first pitched his tent, between Bethel andAi,	3 And he returned by the way that he came, from the meridian into Bethel, all the way to the place where before he had pitched his tent, between Bethel and Hai.
4 at the place where he had formerly erected the altar. There Abram invoked the name of Yahweh.	4 There, at the place of the altar he had made before, he again called upon the name of the Lord.
5 Lot, who was travelling with Abram, had flocks and cattle of his own, and tents too.	5 But Lot also, who was with Abram, had flocks of sheep, and cattle, 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 Neither was the land able to contain them, so that they might dwell together. Indeed, their substance was so great that they could not live in common.
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 And then there also arose a conflict between the shepherds of Abram and of Lot. Now at that time the Canaanite and the Perizzite lived in that land.
8 Accordingly Abram said to Lot, 'We do not want discord between us or between my herdsmen andyours, for we are kinsmen.	8 Therefore, Abram said to Lot: “I ask you, let there be no quarrel between me and you, and between my shepherds and your shepherds. For we are brothers.
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 Behold, the entire land is before your eyes. Withdraw from me, I beg you. If you will go to the left, I will take the right. If you choose the right, I will pass 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 And so Lot, lifting up his eyes, saw all the region around the Jordan, which was thoroughly irrigated, before the Lord overthrew Sodom and Gomorrah. It was like the Paradise of the Lord, and it was like Egypt, approaching toward Zoar.
11 So Lot chose all the Jordan plain for himself and moved off eastwards. Thus they parted company:	11 And Lot chose for himself the region around the Jordan, and he withdrew by way of the east. And they were divided, one brother from the 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 dwelt in the land of Canaan. In truth, Lot stayed in the towns that were around the Jordan, and he lived in Sodom.
13 Now the people of Sodom were vicious and great sinners against Yahweh.	13 But the men of Sodom were very wicked, and they were sinners before the Lord beyond measure.
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 And the Lord said to Abram, after Lot was divided from him: “Lift up your eyes, and gaze out from the place where you are now, to the north and to the meridian, to the east and to the 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 to your offspring even 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 And I will make your offspring like the dust of the earth. If any man is able to number the dust of the earth, he will be able to number your offspring as well.
17 On your feet! Travel the length and breadth of the country, for I mean to give it to you.'	17 Arise and walk through the land in its length, and breadth. For I will give it to you.”
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 Therefore, moving his tent, Abram went and dwelt by the steep valley of Mamre, which is in Hebron. And he built an altar there to the Lord.