Genesis 33

NEW JERUSALEM	CATHOLIC PUBLIC DOMAIN
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.	1 Then Jacob, lifting up his eyes, saw Esau arriving, and with him four hundred men. And he divided the sons of Leah and Rachel, and of both the handmaids.
2 He put the slave-girls and their children in front, with Leah and her children fol owing, and Rachel andJoseph behind.	2 And he placed the two handmaids and their children at the beginning. Truly, Leah and her sons were in the second place. Then Rachel and Joseph were last.
3 He himself went ahead of them and bowed to the ground seven times, until he reached his brother.	3 And advancing, he reverenced prostrate on the ground seven times, until his brother approached.
4 But Esau ran to meet him, took him in his arms, threw himself on his neck and wept as he kissed him.	4 And so Esau ran to meet his brother, and he embraced him. And drawing him by his neck and kissing him, he wept.
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.'	5 And lifting up his eyes, he saw the women and their little ones, and he said: “What do these want for themselves?” and “Are they related to you?” He responded, “These are the little ones that God has given as a gift to me, your servant.”
6 The slave-girls then came up with their children, and they al bowed low.	6 Then the handmaids and their sons approached and bowed down.
7 Then Leah too came up with her children, and they al bowed low. Finally Rachel and Joseph came upand bowed low.	7 Likewise Leah, with her sons, came near. And when they had reverenced similarly, last of all, Joseph and Rachel reverenced.
8 Esau asked, 'What was the purpose of that whole camp I just met?' 'To win my lord's favour,' hereplied.	8 And Esau said, “What are these companies that I have been meeting?” He responded, “So may I find favor before my lord.”
9 'Brother, I have plenty,' Esau answered, 'keep what is yours.'	9 But he said, “I have plenty, my brother; let these be for yourself.”
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.	10 And Jacob said: “I beg you, let it not be so. But if I have found favor in your eyes, receive a small present from my hands. For I have looked upon your face as I would look upon the countenance of God. Be gracious to me,
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.	11 and take the blessing which I have brought to you, and which God, who bestows all things, has given as a gift to me.” Accepting it reluctantly, at the insistence of his brother,
12 Esau said, 'Let us break camp and move off; I shal go beside you.'	12 he said, “Let us go on together, and I will accompany you on your journey.”
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.	13 And Jacob said: “My lord, you know that I have with me tender little ones, and sheep, and cows with young. If I cause these to labor too much in walking, all the flocks will die in one day.
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.'	14 May it please my lord to go before his servant. And I will follow gradually in his steps, as much as I see my little ones to be able, until I arrive to my lord in Seir.”
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!'	15 Esau responded, “I beg you, that at least some of the people who are with me may remain to accompany you on the way.” But he said, “There is no need. I have need of one thing only: to find favor in your sight, my lord.”
16 So that day Esau turned back towards Seir,	16 And so Esau returned that day, by the way that he had arrived, to Seir.
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.	17 And Jacob went to Succoth, where, having built a house and pitched tents, he called the name of that place Succoth, that is, ‘Tents.’
18 Jacob arrived safely at the town of Shechem in Canaanite territory, on his return from Paddan-Aram.He encamped opposite the town	18 And he crossed over to Salem, a city of the Shechemites, which is in the land of Canaan, after he returned from Mesopotamia of Syria. And he lived near the town.
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.	19 And he bought the part of the field in which he had pitched his tents from the sons of Hamor, the father of Shechem, for one hundred lambs.
20 There he erected an altar which he cal ed 'El, God of Israel'.	20 And erecting an altar there, he invoked upon it the most strong God of Israel.