Genesis 33

NEW JERUSALEM	Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition
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 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 He put the slave-girls and their children in front, with Leah and her children fol owing, and Rachel andJoseph behind.	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 ahead of them and bowed 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 But Esau ran to meet him, took him in his arms, threw himself on his neck and wept as he kissed him.	4 But Esau ran to meet him, and embraced him, and fell on his neck and kissed him, and they 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 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 The slave-girls then came up with their children, and they al bowed low.	6 Then the maids drew near, they and their children, 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 Leah likewise and her children drew near and bowed down; and last Joseph and Rachel drew near, and they bowed down.
8 Esau asked, 'What was the purpose of that whole camp I just met?' 'To win my lord's favour,' hereplied.	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 'Brother, I have plenty,' Esau answered, 'keep what is yours.'	9 But Esau said, "I have enough, my brother; keep what you have 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 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 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 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 Esau said, 'Let us break camp and move off; I shal go beside you.'	12 Then Esau said, "Let us journey on our way, and I will go before you."
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 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 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 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 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 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 that day Esau turned back towards Seir,	16 So Esau returned that day on his way 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 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 Jacob arrived safely at the town of Shechem in Canaanite territory, on his return from Paddan-Aram.He encamped opposite the town	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 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 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 There he erected an altar which he cal ed 'El, God of Israel'.	20 There he erected an altar and called it El-Elohe-Israel.