Revised Standard Version RSV
New International Version NIV
17 He instructed the foremost, "When Esau my brother meets you, and asks you, 'To whom do you belong? Where are you going? And whose are these before you?'
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 shall say, 'They belong to your servant Jacob; they are a present sent to my lord Esau; and moreover he is behind us.'"
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 likewise instructed the second and the third and all who followed the droves, "You shall say the same thing to Esau when you meet him,
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 you shall say, 'Moreover your servant Jacob is behind us.'" For he thought, "I may appease him with the present that goes before me, and afterwards I shall see his face; perhaps he will accept me."
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 the present passed on before him; and he himself lodged that night in the camp.
21
So Jacob’s gifts went on ahead of him, but he himself spent the night in the camp.
22 The same night he arose and took his two wives, his two maids, and his eleven children, and crossed the ford of the Jabbok.
22
That night Jacob got up and took his two wives, his two female servants and his eleven sons and crossed the ford of the Jabbok.
23 He took them and sent them across the stream, and likewise everything that he had.
23
After he had sent them across the stream, he sent over all his possessions.
24 And Jacob was left alone; and a man wrestled with him until the breaking of the day.
24
So Jacob was left alone, and a man wrestled with him till daybreak.
25 When the man saw that he did not prevail against Jacob, he touched the hollow of his thigh; and Jacob's thigh was put out of joint as he wrestled with him.
25
When the man saw that he could not overpower him, he touched the socket of Jacob’s hip so that his hip was wrenched as he wrestled with the man.
26 Then he said, "Let me go, for the day is breaking." But Jacob said, "I will not let you go, unless you bless me."
26
Then the man said, “Let me go, for it is daybreak.” But Jacob replied, “I will not let you go unless you bless me.”
27 And he said to him, "What is your name?" And he said, "Jacob."
27
The man asked him, “What is your name?” “Jacob,” he answered.
Revised Standard Version of the Bible, copyright 1952 [2nd edition, 1971] by the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quoted by permission. Quotations designated (NIV) are from THE HOLY BIBLE: NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®. NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica. All rights reserved worldwide.