Genesis 33 in good news bible
Here is Genesis 33 in the Good News Bible (GNB):
Genesis 33
Jacob Meets Esau
1 Jacob sent messengers ahead of him to his brother Esau in the land of Seir, the country of Edom. 2 He instructed them, "Tell my lord Esau, 'This is what Jacob says: I have been living with Laban and have stayed there until now. 3 I have oxen, donkeys, sheep, and goats, as well as men and women servants. I am sending this message to tell you that I am coming to meet you. 4 I hope to show my kindness to you by giving you some of the gifts I have brought.'" 5 So the messengers returned to Jacob and said, "We went to your brother Esau, and he is coming to meet you with 400 men." 6 Jacob was very afraid and divided his people into two groups. He thought, "If Esau comes to one group and attacks it, the other group will be able to escape." 7 Then Jacob said to his servants, "You must tell Esau that I am coming to meet him, but also tell him that this is what I have brought with me: 200 female goats, 20 male goats, 200 ewes, 20 rams, 8 30 female camels, 40 male camels, 10 female donkeys, and 10 male donkeys. 9 Tell him, 'I am coming to meet you with my children. I have the flocks you see before me.'" 10 When Jacob had finished giving his servants these instructions, he sent them on their way to meet Esau. 11 Jacob himself stayed behind for the night, and he took his two wives, Mahalath and Bilhah, and his two female servants, along with his 11 sons. 12 Jacob sent his servants on ahead, and they went on ahead of him, with the flocks and herds, and the children, at a distance of about a day's journey between them and Esau. 13 Jacob was left alone, and a man wrestled with him until dawn. 14 When the man saw that he could not defeat Jacob, he struck Jacob's hip and left him limping. 15 Then the man said, "Let me go, for the dawn is breaking." But Jacob replied, "I will not let you go until you bless me." 16 The man asked, "What is your name?" Jacob replied, "Jacob." 17 The man said, "You shall no longer be called Jacob, but Israel, because you have wrestled with God and with men and have prevailed." 18 Then Jacob asked, "What is your name?" The man replied, "Why do you ask my name?" And Jacob said, "I want to worship you." 19 The man replied, "Why do you ask my name? You have not been able to see my face. So why do you want to worship me?" 20 Jacob said, "I have seen God face to face, and I am still alive." 21 The man said, "Do not say 'I have seen God face to face.' You have seen a place where God is not, but you have seen God and have been able to live." 22 So Jacob named the place Peniel, saying, "It is because I saw God face to face, and I am still alive." 23 From that day on, Jacob was called Israel.
Jacob Meets Esau
24 Jacob looked up and saw Esau coming with his 400 men. So he divided his people into two groups, thinking, "If Esau comes to one group and attacks it, the other group will be able to escape." 25 But Esau ran to meet Jacob and hugged him, and he fell on his neck and kissed him. And they wept. 26 When Esau looked up and saw the women and children, he asked, "Who are these with you?" 27 Jacob replied, "These are the children God has given me, born to me by Rachel and Leah. And there are these two female servants, Bilhah and Mahalath." 28 Then Esau said, "What do you mean by all these flocks and herds I see before me?" 29 Jacob replied, "They are a gift for you, my brother. I have sent them ahead to you, but I have kept some for myself to make sure you have enough to live on." 30 Esau replied, "I have enough, Jacob. You can keep what is yours and yours alone."
Jacob and Esau Reconcile
31 Jacob said, "No, if I have pleased you, accept this gift from me. For I have seen your face, and you have accepted me as one who has pleased God." 32 Esau replied, "I will accept your gift, but you must also accept my gift. Let us make a treaty, and let us be friends." 33 So Jacob said, "Let us make a treaty. If I have pleased you, you will accept my gift from me." 34 Esau replied, "Your gift is acceptable to me, as long as you agree to make a treaty with me." 35 So Jacob agreed to make a treaty with Esau. And Esau gave Jacob a kiss and hugged him, and they wept. 36 When Esau looked up and saw the women and children, he asked, "Who are these with you?" 37 Jacob replied, "These are the children God has given me, born to me by Rachel and Leah. And there are these two female servants, Bilhah and Mahalath." 38 Esau replied, "I have enough, Jacob. You can keep what is yours and yours alone."
Jacob Returns to Bethel
39 Jacob and Esau parted company, and Jacob went on to Succoth. 40 Jacob built a house for himself and made booths for his cattle. That is why the place was called Succoth. 41 Jacob sent messengers ahead of him to his brother Laban, the Aramean, to the land of Canaan. 42 Jacob said to Laban, "Give me permission to leave, for I want to go back to my own land." 43 Laban replied, "Let me ask you something, Jacob. What is your wages for working for me all these years?" 44 Jacob replied, "You know how I have worked for you all these years, and your flocks and herds have grown. 45 It was little that I had before I came, but now God has blessed you abundantly. I want to make a treaty with you, and let us make a covenant. 46 I will work for you for seven more years, and then I will give you all my animals, which will be born during these seven years, as a sign of our treaty. 47 But let me also keep the sheep and goats that are speckled or spotted, and let me keep all the males that are not speckled or spotted. 48 And in the future, when the flocks and herds multiply, you can take from them all the speckled or spotted animals, but let all the rest belong to me. 49 So Laban agreed to Jacob's proposal. 50 Jacob made a treaty with Laban, and Jacob worked for him seven more years. 51 When the seven years were over, Jacob said to Laban, "Give me permission to leave, for God has blessed me abundantly in this land. 52 Give me my wives and children, and let me go, for I want to return to my own land." 53 Laban replied, "You know that I am a fair man. I have treated you fairly and given you a good wage. 54 But God has blessed you abundantly, and you have become rich. Why should I send you away empty-handed?" 55 So Jacob replied, "You know how I have worked for you, and how your flocks and herds have grown under my care. 56 The Lord has blessed you abundantly, and I want to make a treaty with you, and let us make a covenant. 57 I will work for you for seven more years, and then I will give you all my animals, which will be born during these seven years, as a sign of our treaty. 58 But let me also keep the sheep and goats that are speckled or spotted, and let me keep all the males that are not speckled or spotted. 59 And in the future, when the flocks and herds multiply, you can take from them all the speckled or spotted animals, but let all the rest belong to me. 60 So Laban agreed to Jacob's proposal again. 61 And Jacob made a treaty with Laban, and Jacob worked for him seven more years. 62 And Jacob had 12 sons and a daughter by his wives Leah, Rachel, and the two female servants, Bilhah and Mahalath. 63 And these are the names of Jacob's sons: Reuben, Simeon, Levi, Judah, Dan, Naphtali, Gad, Asher, Issachar, Zebulun, Joseph, and Benjamin. 64 And Jacob's daughter was Dinah. 65 These are the names of Jacob's sons and daughters, born to him in Paddan Aram.
Jacob Returns to Bethel
66 Jacob went on to Bethel, where he had built an altar many years before. There he offered sacrifices to God, who had spoken to him there when he was a young man. 67 Jacob called the place Bethel, saying, "It is because God is in this place that I have seen God face to face, and I am still alive." 68 And Jacob returned to his father Isaac in Hebron.