Parallel Bible results for "genesis 32:1-21"

Genesis 32:1-21

The Message Bible MSG

1 And Jacob went his way. Angels of God met him.

2 When Jacob saw them he said, "Oh! God's Camp!" And he named the place Mahanaim (Campground).

3 Then Jacob sent messengers on ahead to his brother Esau in the land of Seir in Edom.

4 He instructed them: "Tell my master Esau this, 'A message from your servant Jacob: I've been staying with Laban and couldn't get away until now.

5 I've acquired cattle and donkeys and sheep; also men and women servants. I'm telling you all this, my master, hoping for your approval.'"

6 The messengers came back to Jacob and said, "We talked to your brother Esau and he's on his way to meet you. But he has four hundred men with him."

7 Jacob was scared. Very scared. Panicked, he divided his people, sheep, cattle, and camels into two camps.

8 He thought, "If Esau comes on the first camp and attacks it, the other camp has a chance to get away."

9 And then Jacob prayed, "God of my father Abraham, God of my father Isaac, God who told me, 'Go back to your parents' homeland and I'll treat you well.'

10 I don't deserve all the love and loyalty you've shown me. When I left here and crossed the Jordan I only had the clothes on my back, and now look at me - two camps!

11 Save me, please, from the violence of my brother, my angry brother! I'm afraid he'll come and attack us all, me, the mothers and the children.

12 You yourself said, 'I will treat you well; I'll make your descendants like the sands of the sea, far too many to count.'"

13 He slept the night there. Then he prepared a present for his brother Esau from his possessions:

14 two hundred female goats, twenty male goats, two hundred ewes and twenty rams,

15 thirty camels with their nursing young, forty cows and ten bulls, twenty female donkeys and ten male donkeys.

16 He put a servant in charge of each herd and said, "Go ahead of me and keep a healthy space between each herd."

17 Then he instructed the first one out: "When my brother Esau comes close and asks, 'Who is your master? Where are you going? Who owns these?'

18 - answer him like this, 'Your servant Jacob. They are a gift to my master Esau. He's on his way.'"

19 He gave the same instructions to the second servant and to the third - to each in turn as they set out with their herds:

20 "Say 'Your servant Jacob is on his way behind us.'" He thought, "I will soften him up with the succession of gifts. Then when he sees me face-to-face, maybe he'll be glad to welcome me."

21 So his gifts went before him while he settled down for the night in the camp.

New International Version NIV

1 Jacob also went on his way, and the angels of God met him.

2 When Jacob saw them, he said, “This is the camp of God!” So he named that place Mahanaim.

3 Jacob sent messengers ahead of him to his brother Esau in the land of Seir, the country of Edom.

4 He instructed them: “This is what you are to say to my lord Esau: ‘Your servant Jacob says, I have been staying with Laban and have remained there till now.

5 I have cattle and donkeys, sheep and goats, male and female servants. Now I am sending this message to my lord, that I may find favor in your eyes.’ ”

6 When the messengers returned to Jacob, they said, “We went to your brother Esau, and now he is coming to meet you, and four hundred men are with him.”

7 In great fear and distress Jacob divided the people who were with him into two groups, and the flocks and herds and camels as well.

8 He thought, “If Esau comes and attacks one group, the group that is left may escape.”

9 Then Jacob prayed, “O God of my father Abraham, God of my father Isaac, LORD, you who said to me, ‘Go back to your country and your relatives, and I will make you prosper,’

10 I am unworthy of all the kindness and faithfulness you have shown your servant. I had only my staff when I crossed this Jordan, but now I have become two camps.

11 Save me, I pray, from the hand of my brother Esau, for I am afraid he will come and attack me, and also the mothers with their children.

12 But you have said, ‘I will surely make you prosper and will make your descendants like the sand of the sea, which cannot be counted.’ ”

13 He spent the night there, and from what he had with him he selected a gift for his brother Esau:

14 two hundred female goats and twenty male goats, two hundred ewes and twenty rams,

15 thirty female camels with their young, forty cows and ten bulls, and twenty female donkeys and ten male donkeys.

16 He put them in the care of his servants, each herd by itself, and said to his servants, “Go ahead of me, and keep some space between the herds.”

17 He instructed the one in the lead: “When my brother Esau meets you and asks, ‘Who do you belong to, and where are you going, and who owns all these animals in front of you?’

18 then you are to say, ‘They belong to your servant Jacob. They are a gift sent to my lord Esau, and he is coming behind us.’ ”

19 He also instructed the second, the third and all the others who followed the herds: “You are to say the same thing to Esau when you meet him.

20 And be sure to say, ‘Your servant Jacob is coming behind us.’ ” For he thought, “I will pacify him with these gifts I am sending on ahead; later, when I see him, perhaps he will receive me.”

21 So Jacob’s gifts went on ahead of him, but he himself spent the night in the camp.