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1 In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth.

2 The earth didn't have any shape. And it was empty. Darkness was over the surface of the ocean. At that time, the ocean covered the earth. The Spirit of God was hovering over the waters.

3 God said, "Let there be light." And there was light.

4 God saw that the light was good. He separated the light from the darkness.

5 God called the light "day." He called the darkness "night." There was evening, and there was morning. It was day one.

6 God said, "Let there be a huge space between the waters. Let it separate water from water."

7 And that's exactly what happened. God made the huge space between the waters. He separated the water that was under the space from the water that was above it.

8 God called the huge space "sky." There was evening, and there was morning. It was day two.

9 God said, "Let the water under the sky be gathered into one place. Let dry ground appear." And that's exactly what happened.

10 God called the dry ground "land." He called the waters that were gathered together "oceans." And God saw that it was good.

11 Then God said, "Let the land produce plants. Let them bear their own seeds. And let there be trees on the land that bear fruit with seeds in it. Let each kind of plant or tree have its own kind of seeds." And that's exactly what happened.

12 The land produced plants. Each kind of plant had its own kind of seeds. The land produced trees that bore fruit with seeds in it. Each kind of tree had its own kind of seeds.

13 And there was evening, and there was morning. It was day three.

14 God said, "Let there be lights in the huge space of the sky. Let them separate the day from the night. Let them serve as signs to mark off the seasons and the days and the years.

15 Let them serve as lights in the huge space of the sky to give light on the earth." And that's exactly what happened.

16 God made two great lights. He made the larger light to rule over the day. He made the smaller light to rule over the night. He also made the stars.

17 God put the lights in the huge space of the sky to give light on the earth.

18 He put them there to rule over the day and the night. He put them there to separate light from darkness.

19 And there was evening, and there was morning. It was day four.

20 God said, "Let the waters be filled with living things. Let birds fly above the earth across the huge space of the sky."

21 So God created the great creatures of the ocean. He created every living and moving thing that fills the waters. He created all kinds of them. He created every kind of bird that flies. And God saw that it was good.

22 God blessed them. He said, "Have little ones and increase your numbers. Fill the water in the oceans. Let there be more and more birds on the earth."

23 There was evening, and there was morning. It was day five.

24 God said, "Let the land produce all kinds of living creatures. Let there be livestock, and creatures that move along the ground, and wild animals. Let there be all kinds of them." And that's exactly what happened.

25 God made all kinds of wild animals. He made all kinds of livestock. He made all kinds of creatures that move along the ground. And God saw that it was good.

26 Then God said, "Let us make man in our likeness. Let them rule over the fish in the waters and the birds of the air. Let them rule over the livestock and over the whole earth. Let them rule over all of the creatures that move along the ground."

27 So God created man in his own likeness. He created him in the likeness of God. He created them as male and female.

28 God blessed them. He said to them, "Have children and increase your numbers. Fill the earth and bring it under your control. Rule over the fish in the waters and the birds of the air. Rule over every living creature that moves on the ground."

29 Then God said, "I am giving you every plant on the face of the whole earth that bears its own seeds. I am giving you every tree that has fruit with seeds in it. All of them will be given to you for food.

30 "I am giving every green plant to all of the land animals and the birds of the air for food. I am also giving the plants to all of the creatures that move on the ground. I am giving them to every living thing that breathes." And that's exactly what happened.

31 God saw everything he had made. And it was very good. There was evening, and there was morning. It was day six.

1 So the heavens and the earth and everything in them were completed.

2 By the seventh day God had finished the work he had been doing. So on the seventh day he rested from all of his work.

3 God blessed the seventh day and made it holy. He rested on it. After he had created everything, he rested from all of the work he had done.

4 Here is the story of the heavens and the earth when they were created. The LORD God made the earth and the heavens.

5 At that time, bushes had not appeared on the earth. Plants had not come up in the fields. The LORD God had not sent rain on the earth. And there wasn't any man to work the ground.

6 But streams came up from the earth. They watered the whole surface of the ground.

7 Then the LORD God formed a man. He made him out of the dust of the ground. He breathed the breath of life into him. And the man became a living person.

8 The LORD God had planted a garden in the east. It was in Eden. There he put the man he had formed.

9 The LORD God made all kinds of trees grow out of the ground. Their fruit was pleasing to look at and good to eat. The tree that gives life forever was in the middle of the garden. The tree that gives the ability to tell the difference between good and evil was also there.

10 A river watered the garden. It flowed from Eden. From there it separated into four other rivers.

11 The name of the first river is the Pishon. It winds through the whole land of Havilah. Gold is found there.

12 The gold of that land is good. Onyx and sweet-smelling resin are also found there.

13 The name of the second river is the Gihon. It winds through the whole land of Cush.

14 The name of the third river is the Tigris. It runs along the east side of Asshur. And the fourth river is the Euphrates.

15 The LORD God put the man in the Garden of Eden. He put him there to work its ground and to take care of it.

16 The LORD God gave the man a command. He said, "You can eat the fruit of any tree that is in the garden.

17 But you must not eat the fruit of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. If you do, you can be sure that you will die."

18 The LORD God said, "It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper who is just right for him."

19 The LORD God had formed all of the wild animals. He had also formed all of the birds of the air. He had made all of them out of the ground. He brought them to the man to see what names he would give them. And the name the man gave each living creature became its name.

20 So the man gave names to all of the livestock. He gave names to all of the birds of the air. And he gave names to all of the wild animals. But Adam didn't find a helper that was right for him.

21 So the LORD God caused him to fall into a deep sleep. While the man was sleeping, the LORD God took out one of his ribs. He closed up the opening that was in his side.

22 Then the LORD God made a woman. He made her from the rib he had taken out of the man. And he brought her to him.

23 The man said, "Her bones have come from my bones. Her body has come from my body. She will be named 'woman,' because she was taken out of a man."

24 That's why a man will leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife. The two of them will become one.

25 The man and his wife were both naked. They didn't feel any shame.

1 The serpent was more clever than any of the wild animals the LORD God had made. The serpent said to the woman, "Did God really say, 'You must not eat the fruit of any tree that is in the garden'?"

2 The woman said to the serpent, "We can eat the fruit of the trees that are in the garden.

3 But God did say, 'You must not eat the fruit of the tree that is in the middle of the garden. Do not even touch it. If you do, you will die.' "

4 "You can be sure that you won't die," the serpent said to the woman.

5 "God knows that when you eat the fruit of that tree, you will know things you have never known before. You will be able to tell the difference between good and evil. You will be like God."

6 The woman saw that the fruit of the tree was good to eat. It was also pleasing to look at. And it would make a person wise. So she took some of the fruit and ate it. She also gave some to her husband, who was with her. And he ate it.

7 Then both of them knew things they had never known before. They realized they were naked. So they sewed fig leaves together and made clothes for themselves.

8 Then the man and his wife heard the LORD God walking in the garden. It was the coolest time of the day. They hid from the LORD God among the trees of the garden.

9 But the LORD God called out to the man. "Where are you?" he asked.

10 "I heard you in the garden," the man answered. "I was afraid. I was naked, so I hid."

11 The LORD God said, "Who told you that you were naked? Have you eaten the fruit of the tree I commanded you not to eat?"

12 The man said, "It was the woman you put here with me. She gave me some fruit from the tree. And I ate it."

13 Then the LORD God said to the woman, "What have you done?" The woman said, "The serpent tricked me. That's why I ate the fruit."

14 So the LORD God spoke to the serpent. He said, "Because you have done this, "I am putting a curse on you. You are cursed more than all of the livestock and all of the wild animals. You will crawl on the ground. You will eat dust all of the days of your life.

15 I will put hatred between you and the woman. Your children and her children will be enemies. Her son will crush your head. And you will crush his heel."

16 The LORD God said to the woman, "I will greatly increase your pain when you give birth. You will be in pain when you have children. You will long for your husband. And he will rule over you."

17 The LORD God said to Adam, "You listened to your wife. You ate the fruit of the tree that I commanded you about. I said, 'You must not eat its fruit.' "So I am putting a curse on the ground because of what you did. All the days of your life you will have to work hard to get food from the ground.

18 You will eat the plants of the field, even though the ground produces thorns and thistles.

19 You will have to work hard and sweat a lot to produce the food you eat. You were made out of the ground. And you will return to it. You are dust. So you will return to it."

20 Adam named his wife Eve. She would become the mother of every living person.

21 The LORD God made clothes out of animal skins for Adam and his wife to wear.

22 The LORD God said, "The man has become like one of us. He can now tell the difference between good and evil. He must not be allowed to reach out his hand and pick fruit from the tree of life and eat it. If he does, he will live forever."

23 So the LORD God drove the man out of the Garden of Eden to work the ground he had been made out of.

24 The LORD God drove him out and then placed cherubim on the east side of the Garden of Eden. He also placed a flaming sword there. It flashed back and forth. The cherubim and the sword guarded the way to the tree of life.

1 Adam made love to his wife Eve. She became pregnant and gave birth to Cain. She said, "With the LORD's help I have had a baby boy."

2 Later she gave birth to his brother Abel. Abel took care of sheep. Cain worked the ground.

3 After some time, Cain gathered some of the things he had grown. He brought them as an offering to the Lord.

4 But Abel brought the fattest parts of some of the lambs from his flock. They were the male animals that were born first to their mothers. The LORD was pleased with Abel and his offering.

5 But he wasn't pleased with Cain and his offering. So Cain became very angry. His face was sad.

6 Then the LORD said to Cain, "Why are you angry? Why are you looking so sad?

7 Do what is right. Then you will be accepted. If you don't do what is right, sin is waiting at your door to grab you. It longs to have you. But you must rule over it."

8 Cain said to his brother Abel, "Let's go out to the field." So they went out. There Cain attacked his brother Abel and killed him.

9 Then the LORD said to Cain, "Where is your brother Abel?" "I don't know," he replied. "Am I supposed to look after my brother?"

10 The LORD said, "What have you done? Listen! Your brother's blood is crying out to me from the ground.

11 "So I am putting a curse on you. I am driving you away from the ground. It has opened its mouth to receive your brother's blood from your hand.

12 When you work the ground, it will not produce its crops for you anymore. You will be a restless person who wanders around on the earth."

13 Cain said to the Lord, "You are punishing me more than I can take.

14 Today you are driving me away from the land. I will be hidden from you. I'll be a restless person who wanders around on the earth. Anyone who finds me will kill me."

15 But the LORD said to him, "No. Anyone who kills you will be paid back seven times." The LORD put a mark on Cain. Then anyone who found him wouldn't kill him.

16 So Cain went away from the LORD. He lived in the land of Nod. It was east of Eden.

17 Cain made love to his wife. She became pregnant and gave birth to Enoch. At that time Cain was building a city. He named it after his son Enoch.

18 Enoch had a son named Irad. Irad was the father of Mehujael. Mehujael was the father of Methushael. And Methushael was the father of Lamech.

19 Lamech married two women. One was named Adah, and the other was named Zillah.

20 Adah gave birth to Jabal. He was the father of those who live in tents and raise livestock.

21 His brother's name was Jubal. He was the father of everyone who plays the harp and flute.

22 Zillah also had a son. His name was Tubal-Cain. He made all kinds of tools out of bronze and iron. Tubal-Cain's sister was Naamah.

23 Lamech said to his wives, "Adah and Zillah, listen to me. You wives of Lamech, hear my words. I have killed a man because he wounded me. I have killed a young man because he hurt me.

24 Anyone who would have killed Cain would have been paid back seven times. But anyone who hurts me will be paid back 77 times."

25 Adam made love to his wife again. She gave birth to a son and named him Seth. She said, "God has given me another child. The child will take the place of Abel, because Cain killed him."

26 Seth also had a son. He named him Enosh. At that time people began to worship the Lord.

1 Here is the written story of Adam's family line. When God created man, he made him in his own likeness.

2 He created them as male and female. He blessed them. And he called them "man" when they were created.

3 When Adam was 130 years old, he had a son in his own likeness. He named him Seth.

4 Adam lived 800 years after Seth was born. He also had other sons and daughters.

5 Adam lived a total of 930 years. Then he died.

6 Seth lived 105 years. Then he became the father of Enosh.

7 Seth lived 807 years after Enosh was born. He also had other sons and daughters.

8 Seth lived a total of 912 years. Then he died.

9 Enosh lived 90 years. Then he became the father of Kenan.

10 Enosh lived 815 years after Kenan was born. He also had other sons and daughters.

11 Enosh lived a total of 905 years. Then he died.

12 Kenan lived 70 years. Then he became the father of Mahalalel.

13 Kenan lived 840 years after Mahalalel was born. He also had other sons and daughters.

14 Kenan lived a total of 910 years. Then he died.

15 Mahalalel lived 65 years. Then he became the father of Jared.

16 Mahalalel lived 830 years after Jared was born. He also had other sons and daughters.

17 Mahalalel lived a total of 895 years. Then he died.

18 Jared lived 162 years. Then he became the father of Enoch.

19 Jared lived 800 years after Enoch was born. He also had other sons and daughters.

20 Jared lived a total of 962 years. Then he died.

21 Enoch lived 65 years. Then he became the father of Methuselah.

22 Enoch walked with God 300 years after Methuselah was born. He also had other sons and daughters.

23 Enoch lived a total of 365 years.

24 Enoch walked with God. Then he couldn't be found, because God took him from this life.

25 Methuselah lived 187 years. Then he became the father of Lamech.

26 Methuselah lived 782 years after Lamech was born. He also had other sons and daughters.

27 Methuselah lived a total of 969 years. Then he died.

28 Lamech lived 182 years. Then he had a son.

29 He named him Noah. Lamech said, "He will comfort us when we are working. He'll comfort us when our hands work so hard they hurt. We have to work hard. That's because the LORD has put a curse on the ground."

30 Lamech lived 595 years after Noah was born. He also had other sons and daughters.

31 Lamech lived a total of 777 years. Then he died.

32 After Noah was 500 years old, he became the father of Shem, Ham and Japheth.

1 Men began to increase their numbers on the earth, and daughters were born to them.

2 The sons of God saw that the daughters of men were beautiful. So they married any of them they chose.

3 Then the LORD said, "My Spirit will not struggle with man forever. He will die. He will have only 120 years to live until I judge him."

4 The Nephilim were on the earth in those days. That was when the sons of God went to the daughters of men and had children by them. The Nephilim were the heroes of long ago. They were famous men. Nephilim were also on the earth later on.

5 The LORD saw how bad the sins of man had become on the earth. All of the thoughts in his heart were always directed only toward what was evil.

6 The LORD was very sad that he had made man on the earth. His heart was filled with pain.

7 So the LORD said, "I created man on the earth. But I will wipe them out. I will destroy people and animals alike. I will also destroy the creatures that move along the ground and the birds of the air. I am very sad that I have made man."

8 But the LORD was pleased with Noah.

9 Here is the story of Noah. Noah was a godly man. He was without blame among the people of his time. He walked with God.

10 Noah had three sons. Their names were Shem, Ham and Japheth.

11 The earth was very sinful in God's eyes. It was full of mean and harmful acts.

12 God saw how sinful the earth had become. All of the people on earth were leading very sinful lives.

13 So God said to Noah, "I am going to put an end to all people. They have filled the earth with their harmful acts. You can be sure that I am going to destroy both them and the earth.

14 "So make yourself an ark out of cypress wood. Make rooms in it. Cover it with tar inside and out.

15 Here is how I want you to build it. The ark has to be 450 feet long. It has to be 75 feet wide and 45 feet high.

16 Make a roof for it. Leave the sides of the ark open a foot and a half from the top. Put a door in one side of the ark. Make lower, middle and upper decks.

17 "I am going to bring a flood on the earth. It will destroy all life under the sky. It will destroy every living creature that breathes. Everything on earth will die.

18 "But I will make my covenant with you. You will enter the ark. Your sons and your wife and your sons' wives will enter it with you.

19 "Bring two of every living thing into the ark. Bring male and female of them into it. They will be kept alive with you.

20 Two of every kind of bird will come to you. Two of every kind of animal will come to you. And two of every kind of creature that moves along the ground will come to you. All of them will be kept alive with you.

21 "Take every kind of food that you will need. Store it away. It will be food for you and for them."

22 Noah did everything exactly as God commanded him.

1 Then the LORD said to Noah, "Go into the ark with your whole family. I know that you are a godly man among the people of today.

2 "Take seven of every kind of 'clean' animal with you. Take male and female of them. Take two of every kind of animal that is not 'clean.' Take male and female of them.

3 Also take seven of every kind of bird. Take male and female of them. That will keep every kind alive. Then they can spread out again over the whole earth.

4 "Seven days from now I will send rain on the earth. It will rain for 40 days and 40 nights. I will destroy from the face of the earth every living thing I have made."

5 Noah did everything the LORD commanded him to do.

6 Noah was 600 years old when the flood came on the earth.

7 He and his sons entered the ark. His wife and his sons' wives went with them. They entered the ark to escape the waters of the flood.

8 Pairs of "clean" animals and pairs of animals that were not "clean" came to Noah. So did pairs of birds and pairs of all of the creatures that move along the ground.

9 Male and female of all of them came to Noah and entered the ark. Everything happened exactly as God had commanded Noah.

10 After seven days the flood came on the earth.

11 Noah was 600 years old. It was the 17th day of the second month of the year. On that day all of the springs at the bottom of the oceans burst open. God opened the windows of the skies.

12 Rain fell on the earth for 40 days and 40 nights.

13 On that same day Noah entered the ark together with Shem, Ham and Japheth. Noah's wife and the wives of his three sons also entered it.

14 They had every kind of wild animal with them. They had every kind of livestock. They had every kind of creature that moves along the ground. And they had every kind of bird that flies.

15 Pairs of all living creatures that breathe came to Noah and entered the ark.

16 The animals going in were male and female of every living thing. Everything happened exactly as God had commanded Noah. Then the LORD shut him in.

17 For 40 days the flood kept coming on the earth. As the waters rose higher, they lifted the ark high above the earth.

18 The waters rose higher and higher on the earth. And the ark floated on the water.

19 The waters rose on the earth until all of the high mountains under the entire sky were covered.

20 The waters continued to rise until they covered the mountains by more than 20 feet.

21 Every living thing that moved on the earth died. The birds, the livestock and the wild animals died. All of the creatures that fill the earth also died. And so did every human being.

22 Everything on dry land that had the breath of life in it died.

23 Every living thing on the earth was wiped out. People and animals were destroyed. The creatures that move along the ground and the birds of the air were wiped out. Everything was destroyed from the earth. Only Noah and those who were with him in the ark were left.

24 The waters flooded the earth for 150 days.

1 But God showed concern for Noah. He also showed concern for all of the wild animals and livestock that were with Noah in the ark. So God sent a wind over the earth. And the waters began to go down.

2 The springs at the bottom of the oceans had been closed. The windows of the skies had been closed. And the rain had stopped falling from the sky.

3 The water continued to go down from the earth. At the end of the 150 days the water had gone down.

4 On the 17th day of the seventh month, the ark came to rest on the mountains of Ararat.

5 The waters continued to go down until the tenth month. On the first day of the month, the tops of the mountains could be seen.

6 After 40 days Noah opened the window he had made in the ark.

7 He sent a raven out. It kept flying back and forth until the water had dried up from the earth.

8 Then Noah sent a dove out. He wanted to see if the water had gone down from the surface of the ground.

9 But the dove couldn't find any place to put its feet down. There was still water over the whole surface of the earth. So the dove returned to Noah in the ark. Noah reached out his hand and took the dove in. He brought it back to himself in the ark.

10 He waited seven more days. Then he sent the dove out from the ark again.

11 In the evening the dove returned to him. There in its beak was a freshly picked olive leaf! So Noah knew that the water on the earth had gone down.

12 He waited seven more days. Then he sent the dove out again. But that time it didn't return to him.

13 It was the first day of the first month of Noah's 601st year. The water had dried up from the earth. Then Noah removed the covering from the ark. He saw that the surface of the ground was dry.

14 By the 27th day of the second month the earth was completely dry.

15 Then God said to Noah,

16 "Come out of the ark. Bring your wife and your sons and their wives with you.

17 "Bring out every kind of living thing that is with you. Bring the birds, the animals, and all of the creatures that move along the ground. Then they can multiply on the earth. They can have little ones and increase their numbers."

18 So Noah came out of the ark. His sons and his wife and his sons' wives were with him.

19 All of the animals came out of the ark. The creatures that move along the ground also came out. So did all of the birds. Everything that moves on the earth came out of the ark. One kind after another came out.

20 Then Noah built an altar to honor the Lord. He took some of all of the "clean" animals and birds. He sacrificed burnt offerings to the LORD on the altar.

21 Their smell was pleasant to the Lord. He said to himself, "I will never put a curse on the ground again because of man. I will not do it even though his heart is always directed toward what is evil. His thoughts are evil from the time he is young. I will never destroy all living things again, as I have just done.

22 "As long as the earth lasts, there will always be a time to plant and a time to gather the crops. As long as the earth lasts, there will always be cold and heat. There will always be summer and winter, day and night."

1 Then God gave his blessing to Noah and his sons. He said to them, "Have children and increase your numbers. Fill the earth.

2 "All of the land animals will be afraid of you. All of the birds of the air will fear you. Every creature that moves along the ground will fear you. Every fish in the oceans will also be afraid of you. Every living thing is put under your control.

3 "Everything that lives and moves will be food for you. I have already given you the green plants for food. Now I am giving you everything.

4 "But you must not eat meat that still has blood in it.

5 You can be sure that I will hold someone accountable if you are murdered. I will even hold animals accountable if they kill you. I will also hold anyone accountable who murders another person.

6 "Anyone who murders man will be killed by man. That is because I have made man in my own likeness.

7 "Have children and increase your numbers. Multiply on the earth and increase your numbers on it."

8 Then God spoke to Noah and to his sons who were with him. He said,

9 "I am now making my covenant with you and with all of your children who will be born after you.

10 I am making it also with every living thing that was with you in the ark. I am making my covenant with the birds, the livestock and all of the wild animals. I am making it with all of the creatures that came out of the ark with you. I am making it with every living thing on earth.

11 "Here is my covenant that I am making with you. The waters of a flood will never destroy all life again. A flood will never destroy the earth again."

12 God continued, "My covenant is between me and you and every living thing with you. It is a covenant for all time to come. "Here is the sign of the covenant I am making.

13 I have put my rainbow in the clouds. It will be the sign of the covenant between me and the earth.

14 Sometimes when I bring clouds over the earth, a rainbow will appear in them.

15 Then I will remember my covenant between me and you and every kind of living thing. The waters will never become a flood to destroy all life again.

16 "When the rainbow appears in the clouds, I will see it. I will remember that my covenant will last forever. It is a covenant between me and every kind of living thing on earth."

17 So God said to Noah, "The rainbow is the sign of my covenant. I have made my covenant between me and all life on earth."

18 The sons of Noah who came out of the ark were Shem, Ham and Japheth. Ham was the father of Canaan.

19 The people who were scattered over the earth came from Noah's three sons.

20 Noah was a man who worked the ground. He decided to plant a vineyard.

21 He drank some of its wine. It made him drunk. Then he lay down inside his tent without any clothes on.

22 Ham saw his father's naked body. Ham was the father of Canaan. Ham went outside and told his two brothers.

23 But Shem and Japheth took a piece of clothing. They laid it across their shoulders. Then they walked backward into the tent. They covered their father's body. They turned their faces away. They didn't want to see their father's naked body.

24 Then Noah woke up from his sleep that was caused by the wine. He found out what his youngest son had done to him.

25 He said, "May a curse be put on Canaan. He will be the lowest of slaves to his brothers."

26 Noah also said, "May the Lord, the God of Shem, be blessed. May Canaan be the slave of Shem.

27 May God add land to Japheth's territory. May Japheth live in the tents of Shem. And may Canaan be their slave."

28 After the flood Noah lived 350 years.

29 Noah lived a total of 950 years. Then he died.

1 Here is the story of Shem, Ham and Japheth. They were Noah's sons. After the flood, they too had sons.

2 The sons of Japheth were Gomer, Magog, Madai, Javan, Tubal, Meshech and Tiras.

3 The sons of Gomer were Ashkenaz, Riphath and Togarmah.

4 The sons of Javan were Elishah, Tarshish, the Kittim and the Rodanites.

5 The people who lived by the sea came from all of them. Their tribes and nations spread out into their own territories. Each tribe and nation had its own language.

6 The sons of Ham were Cush, Egypt, Put and Canaan.

7 The sons of Cush were Seba, Havilah, Sabtah, Raamah and Sabteca. The sons of Raamah were Sheba and Dedan.

8 Cush was the father of Nimrod. Nimrod grew up to be a mighty hero on the earth.

9 He was a mighty hunter in the LORD's eyes. That's why people sometimes compare others with Nimrod. They say, "They are like Nimrod, who is a mighty hunter in the LORD's eyes."

10 At first Nimrod's kingdom was made up of Babylon, Erech, Akkad and Calneh. Those cities were in the land of Babylonia.

11 From that land he went to Assyria. There he built Nineveh, Rehoboth Ir and Calah.

12 He also built Resen. It is between Nineveh and Calah. Nineveh is the great city.

13 Egypt was the father of the Ludites, Anamites, Lehabites and Naphtuhites.

14 He was also the father of the Pathrusites, Casluhites and Caphtorites. The Philistines came from the Casluhites.

15 Canaan was the father of Sidon. Sidon was his oldest son. Canaan was also the father of the Hittites,

16 Jebusites, Amorites and Girgashites.

17 And he was the father of the Hivites, Arkites, Sinites,

18 Arvadites, Zemarites and Hamathites. Later the Canaanite tribes scattered.

19 The borders of Canaan went from Sidon toward Gerar all the way to Gaza. Then they went toward Sodom, Gomorrah, Admah and Zeboiim all the way to Lasha.

20 Those are the sons of Ham. They are listed by their tribes and languages in their territories and nations.

21 Sons were also born to Shem. Shem was Japheth's younger brother. All of the sons of Eber came from Shem.

22 The sons of Shem were Elam, Asshur, Arphaxad, Lud and Aram.

23 The sons of Aram were Uz, Hul, Gether and Meshech.

24 Arphaxad was the father of Shelah. Shelah was the father of Eber.

25 Eber was the father of two sons. One was named Peleg. That's because the earth was divided up in his time. His brother was named Joktan.

26 Joktan was the father of Almodad, Sheleph, Hazarmaveth and Jerah.

27 He was also the father of Hadoram, Uzal, Diklah,

28 Obal, Abimael, Sheba,

29 Ophir, Havilah and Jobab. All of them were sons of Joktan.

30 The area where they lived stretched from Mesha toward Sephar. It was in the eastern hill country.

31 Those are the sons of Shem. They are listed by their tribes and languages in their territories and nations.

32 Those are the tribes of Noah's sons. They are listed by their family lines within their nations. From them the nations spread out over the earth after the flood.

1 The whole world had only one language. All people spoke it.

2 They moved to the east and found a broad valley in Babylonia. There they settled down.

3 They said to each other, "Come. Let's make bricks and bake them well." They used bricks instead of stones. They used tar to hold the bricks together.

4 Then they said, "Come. Let's build a city for ourselves. Let's build a tower that reaches to the sky. We'll make a name for ourselves. Then we won't be scattered over the face of the whole earth."

5 But the LORD came down to see the city and the tower the people were building.

6 The LORD said, "They are one people. And all of them speak the same language. That is why they can do this. Now they will be able to do anything they plan to.

7 Come. Let us go down and mix up their language. Then they will not understand each other."

8 So the LORD scattered them from there over the whole earth. And they stopped building the city.

9 The LORD mixed up the language of the whole world there. That's why the city was named Babel. From there the LORD scattered them over the face of the whole earth.

10 Here is the story of Shem. It was two years after the flood. When Shem was 100 years old, he became the father of Arphaxad.

11 After Arphaxad was born, Shem lived 500 years. And he had other sons and daughters.

12 When Arphaxad had lived 35 years, he became the father of Shelah.

13 After Shelah was born, Arphaxad lived 403 years. And he had other sons and daughters.

14 When Shelah had lived 30 years, he became the father of Eber.

15 After Eber was born, Shelah lived 403 years. And he had other sons and daughters.

16 When Eber had lived 34 years, he became the father of Peleg.

17 After Peleg was born, Eber lived 430 years. And he had other sons and daughters.

18 When Peleg had lived 30 years, he became the father of Reu.

19 After Reu was born, Peleg lived 209 years. And he had other sons and daughters.

20 When Reu had lived 32 years, he became the father of Serug.

21 After Serug was born, Reu lived 207 years. And he had other sons and daughters.

22 When Serug had lived 30 years, he became the father of Nahor.

23 After Nahor was born, Serug lived 200 years. And he had other sons and daughters.

24 When Nahor had lived 29 years, he became the father of Terah.

25 After Terah was born, Nahor lived 119 years. And he had other sons and daughters.

26 Terah lived for 70 years. Then he became the father of Abram, Nahor and Haran.

27 Here is the story of Terah. Terah became the father of Abram, Nahor and Haran. And Haran became the father of Lot.

28 Haran died in Ur in Babylonia. That was the land where he had been born. Haran died while his father Terah was still alive.

29 Abram and Nahor both got married. The name of Abram's wife was Sarai. The name of Nahor's wife was Milcah. She was the daughter of Haran. Haran was the father of Milcah and Iscah.

30 But Sarai wasn't able to have children.

31 Terah started out from Ur in Babylonia. He took his son Abram with him. He also took his grandson Lot. Lot was the son of Haran. And Terah took his daughter-in-law Sarai. She was the wife of his son Abram. All of them left together to go to Canaan. But when they came to Haran, they settled down.

32 Terah lived for 205 years. He died in Haran.

1 The LORD had said to Abram, "Leave your country and your people. Leave your father's family. Go to the land I will show you.

2 "I will make you into a great nation. I will bless you. I will make your name great. You will be a blessing to others.

3 I will bless those who bless you. I will put a curse on anyone who calls down a curse on you. All nations on earth will be blessed because of you."

4 So Abram left, just as the LORD had told him. Lot went with him. Abram was 75 years old when he left Haran.

5 He took his wife Sarai and his nephew Lot. They took all of the things they had gotten in Haran. They also took the workers they had gotten there. They set out for the land of Canaan. And they arrived there.

6 Abram traveled through the land. He went as far as the large tree of Moreh at Shechem. At that time the people of Canaan were living in the land.

7 The LORD appeared to Abram at Shechem. He said, "I will give this land to your children after you." So Abram built an altar there to honor the Lord, who had appeared to him.

8 From there, Abram went on toward the hills east of Bethel. He set up his tent there. Bethel was to the west, and Ai was to the east. Abram built an altar there and worshiped the Lord.

9 Then Abram left and continued toward the Negev Desert.

10 At that time there wasn't enough food in the land. So Abram went down to Egypt to live there for a while.

11 As he was about to enter Egypt, he spoke to his wife Sarai. He said, "I know what a beautiful woman you are.

12 The people of Egypt will see you. They will say, 'This is his wife.' And they will kill me. But they will let you live.

13 Say you are my sister. Then I'll be treated well because of you. My life will be spared because of you."

14 Abram arrived in Egypt. The people of Egypt saw that Sarai was a very beautiful woman.

15 When Pharaoh's officials saw her, they bragged to Pharaoh about her. Sarai was taken into his palace.

16 Pharaoh treated Abram well because of her. So Abram gained more sheep and cattle. He also got more male and female donkeys. And he gained more male and female servants and some camels.

17 But the LORD sent terrible sicknesses on Pharaoh and everyone in his palace. He did it because of Abram's wife Sarai.

18 So Pharaoh sent for Abram. "What have you done to me?" he said. "Why didn't you tell me she was your wife?

19 Why did you say, 'She's my sister'? That's why I took her to be my wife. Now then, here's your wife. Take her and go!"

20 Then Pharaoh gave orders about Abram to his men. They sent him on his way. He left with his wife and everything he had.

1 Abram went up from Egypt to the Negev Desert. He took his wife and everything he had. Lot went with him.

2 Abram had become very rich. He had a lot of livestock and silver and gold.

3 From the Negev Desert, he went from place to place until he came to Bethel. He came to a place between Bethel and Ai. That's where his tent had been earlier.

4 He had also built an altar there. He worshiped the LORD there.

5 Lot was moving around with Abram. Lot also had flocks and herds and tents.

6 But the land didn't have enough food for both of them. They had large herds and many servants. So they weren't able to stay together.

7 The people who took care of Abram's herds and those who took care of Lot's herds began to argue. The Canaanites and Perizzites were also living in the land at that time.

8 So Abram said to Lot, "Let's not argue with each other. The people who take care of your herds and those who take care of mine shouldn't argue with one another. After all, we're part of the same family.

9 "Isn't the whole land in front of you? Let's separate. If you go to the left, I'll go to the right. If you go to the right, I'll go to the left."

10 Lot looked up. He saw that the whole Jordan River valley had plenty of water. It was like the garden of the Lord. It was like the land of Egypt near Zoar. That was before the LORD destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah.

11 So Lot chose the whole Jordan River valley for himself. Then he started out toward the east. The two men separated.

12 Abram lived in the land of Canaan. Lot lived among the cities of the Jordan River valley. He set up his tents near Sodom.

13 The men of Sodom were evil. They were sinning greatly against the Lord.

14 The LORD spoke to Abram after Lot had left him. He said, "Look up from where you are. Look north and south. Look east and west.

15 I will give you all of the land that you see. I will give it to you and your children after you forever.

16 "I will make your children like the dust of the earth. Can dust be counted? If it can, then your children can be counted.

17 Go. Walk through the land. See how long and wide it is. I am giving it to you."

18 So Abram moved his tents. He went to live near the large trees of Mamre at Hebron. There he built an altar to honor the Lord.

1 At that time Amraphel was the king of Babylonia. Arioch was the king of Ellasar. Kedorlaomer was the king of Elam. And Tidal was the king of Goiim.

2 They went to war against five kings. The kings were Bera king of Sodom, Birsha king of Gomorrah, Shinab king of Admah, Shemeber king of Zeboiim, and the king of Bela. Bela was also called Zoar.

3 Those five kings all gathered their armies together in the Valley of Siddim. It was the valley of the Dead Sea.

4 For 12 years they had been under the rule of Kedorlaomer. But in the 13th year they opposed him.

5 In the 14th year, Kedorlaomer and the kings who helped him went to war. They won the battle against the Rephaites in Ashteroth Karnaim. They also won the battle against the Zuzites in Ham and the Emites in Shaveh Kiriathaim.

6 They did the same thing to the Horites in the hill country of Seir. They marched all the way to El Paran near the desert.

7 Then they turned back. They went to En Mishpat. En Mishpat was also called Kadesh. They took over the whole territory of the Amalekites. They also won the battle against the Amorites who were living in Hazazon Tamar.

8 Then the king of Sodom and the king of Gomorrah marched out. The kings of Admah, Zeboiim and Bela went with them. Bela was also called Zoar. They lined up their armies for battle in the Valley of Siddim.

9 They got ready to fight against Kedorlaomer king of Elam, Tidal king of Goiim, Amraphel king of Babylonia, and Arioch king of Ellasar. There were four kings against five.

10 The Valley of Siddim was full of tar pits. The kings of Sodom and Gomorrah ran away from the battle. Some of their men fell into the pits. The rest escaped to the hills.

11 The four kings took all of the things that belonged to Sodom and Gomorrah. They also took all of their food. Then they went away.

12 They carried away Lot, Abram's nephew, and the things he owned. Lot was living in Sodom at that time.

13 One man escaped. He came and reported everything to Abram. Abram was a Hebrew. He was living near the large trees of Mamre the Amorite. Mamre was a brother of Eshcol and Aner. All of them helped Abram.

14 Abram heard that Lot had been captured. So he called out his 318 trained men. All of them were sons of his servants. They chased the enemy as far as Dan.

15 During the night Abram separated his men into groups. They attacked the enemy and drove them away. They chased them north of Damascus as far as Hobah.

16 Abram took back all of the things the kings had taken. He brought back his nephew Lot and the things Lot owned. He also brought back the women and the other people.

17 After Abram won the battle over Kedorlaomer and the kings who helped him, he returned. The king of Sodom came out to meet him in the Valley of Shaveh. The Valley of Shaveh was also called the King's Valley.

18 Melchizedek was the king of Jerusalem. He brought out bread and wine. He was the priest of God Most High.

19 He gave a blessing to Abram. He said, "May God Most High bless Abram. May the Creator of heaven and earth bless him.

20 Give praise to God Most High. He gave your enemies into your hand." Then Abram gave Melchizedek a tenth of everything.

21 The king of Sodom said to Abram, "Give me the people. Keep everything else for yourself."

22 But Abram said to the king of Sodom, "I have raised my hand to the Lord. He is God Most High. He is the Creator of heaven and earth. I have taken an oath.

23 I have said that I won't accept anything that belongs to you. I won't take even a thread or the strap of a sandal. You will never be able to say, 'I made Abram rich.'

24 "I'll accept only what my men have eaten and what belongs to Aner, Eshcol and Mamre. Those three men went with me. Let them have their share."

1 Some time later, Abram had a vision. The LORD said to him, "Abram, do not be afraid. I am like a shield to you. I am your very great reward."

2 But Abram said, "LORD and King, what can you give me? I still don't have any children. My servant Eliezer comes from Damascus. When I die, he will get everything I own."

3 Abram continued, "You haven't given me any children. So a servant in my house will get everything I own."

4 Then a message came to Abram from the LORD. He said, "This man will not get what belongs to you. A son will come from your own body. He will get everything you own."

5 The LORD took Abram outside and said, "Look up at the sky. Count the stars, if you can." Then he said to him, "That is how many children you will have."

6 Abram believed the Lord. The LORD accepted Abram because he believed. So his faith made him right with the Lord.

7 He also said to Abram, "I am the Lord. I brought you out of Ur in Babylonia. I wanted to give you this land to take as your very own."

8 But Abram said, "LORD and King, how can I know I will take this land as my own?"

9 So the LORD said to him, "Bring me a young cow. Also bring a goat and a ram. All of them must be three years old. Bring a dove and a young pigeon along with them."

10 Abram brought all of them to the Lord. Abram cut them in two. He placed the halves opposite each other. But he didn't cut the birds in half.

11 Then large birds came down to eat the dead bodies of the animals and birds. But Abram chased the large birds away.

12 As the sun was going down, Abram fell into a deep sleep. A thick and terrible darkness covered him.

13 Then the LORD said to him, "You can be sure of what I am about to tell you. Your children who live after you will be strangers in a country that does not belong to them. They will become slaves. They will be treated badly for 400 years.

14 But I will punish the nation that makes them slaves. After that, they will leave with all kinds of valuable things.

15 "But you will die in peace. You will join the members of your family who have already died. You will be buried when you are very old.

16 "Your children's grandchildren will come back here. That is because the sin of the Amorites has not yet reached the point where I must judge them."

17 The sun set and darkness fell. Then a burning torch and a fire pot filled with smoke appeared. They passed between the pieces of the animals.

18 On that day the LORD made a covenant with Abram. He said, "I am giving this land to your children after you. It reaches from the river of Egypt to the great river Euphrates.

19 It includes the land of the Kenites, Kenizzites, Kadmonites,

20 Hittites, Perizzites and Rephaites.

21 The Amorites, Canaanites, Girgashites and Jebusites also live there."

1 Abram's wife Sarai had never had any children by him. But she had a female servant from Egypt named Hagar.

2 So she said to Abram, "The LORD has kept me from having children. Go and make love to my servant. Maybe I can have a family through her." Abram agreed to what Sarai had said.

3 After he had been living in Canaan for ten years, his wife Sarai gave him her servant Hagar to be his wife.

4 He made love to Hagar. And she became pregnant. When Hagar knew she was pregnant, she began to look down on the woman who owned her.

5 Then Sarai said to Abram, "It's your fault that I'm suffering like this. I put my servant in your arms. Now that she knows she's pregnant, she looks down on me. May the LORD judge between you and me. May he decide which of us is right."

6 "Your servant belongs to you," Abram said. "Do with her what you think is best." Then Sarai treated Hagar badly. So Hagar ran away from her.

7 The angel of the LORD found Hagar near a spring of water in the desert. The spring was beside the road to Shur.

8 He said, "Hagar, you are the servant of Sarai. Where have you come from? Where are you going?" "I'm running away from my owner Sarai," she answered.

9 Then the angel of the LORD told her, "Go back to the woman who owns you. Obey her."

10 The angel continued, "I will greatly increase the number of your children after you. You will have more of them than anyone can count."

11 The angel of the LORD also said to her, "You are now pregnant. You will have a son. You will name him Ishmael. That is because the LORD has heard about your suffering.

12 He will be like a wild donkey. He will use his power against everyone. And everyone will be against him. He will not be friendly toward any of his relatives."

13 She gave a name to the LORD who spoke to her. She called him "You are the God who sees me." That's because she said, "I have now seen the One who sees me."

14 That's why the well was named Beer Lahai Roi. It's still there, between Kadesh and Bered.

15 So Hagar had a son by Abram. And Abram gave the name Ishmael to the son she had by him.

16 Abram was 86 years old when Hagar had Ishmael by him.

1 When Abram was 99 years old, the LORD appeared to him. He said, "I am the Mighty God. Walk with me and live without any blame.

2 I will now put into practice my covenant between me and you. I will greatly increase your numbers."

3 Abram fell with his face to the ground. God said to him,

4 "As for me, this is my covenant with you. You will be the father of many nations.

5 "You will not be called Abram anymore. Your name will be Abraham, because I have made you a father of many nations.

6 I will give you many children. Nations will come from you. And kings will come from you.

7 "I will make my covenant with you. It will last forever. It will be between me and you and your children after you for all time to come. I will be your God. And I will be the God of all of your family after you.

8 "You are now living in Canaan as an outsider. But I will give you the whole land of Canaan. You will own it forever. So will your children after you. And I will be their God."

9 Then God said to Abraham, "As for you, you must keep my covenant. You and your children after you for all time to come must keep it.

10 "Here is my covenant that you and your children after you must keep. Every male among you must be circumcised.

11 You must be circumcised. That will be the sign of the covenant between me and you.

12 It must be done for all time to come. "Every male among you who is eight days old must be circumcised. That includes those who are born in your house. It also includes those who are bought with money from a stranger. Even those who are not your own children must be included.

13 Any male who is born in your house or bought with your money must be circumcised. "My covenant will last forever. Your body will have the mark of my covenant on it.

14 "Any male who has not been circumcised will be cut off from his people. He has broken my covenant."

15 God also said to Abraham, "As for Sarai your wife, do not call her Sarai anymore. Her name will be Sarah.

16 I will give her my blessing. You can be sure that I will give you a son by her. I will bless her so that she will be the mother of nations. Kings of nations will come from her."

17 Abraham fell with his face to the ground. He laughed and said to himself, "Will a son be born to a man who is 100 years old? Will Sarah have a child at the age of 90?"

18 Abraham said to God, "I wish Ishmael could receive your blessing!"

19 Then God said, "I will bless Ishmael. But your wife Sarah will have a son by you. And you will name him Isaac. I will establish my covenant with him. It will be a covenant that lasts forever. It will be for Isaac and for his family after him.

20 "As for Ishmael, I have heard you. You can be sure that I will bless him. I will give him children. I will greatly increase his numbers. He will be the father of 12 rulers. And I will make him into a great nation.

21 "But I will establish my covenant with Isaac. By this time next year, Sarah will have a son by you."

22 When he had finished speaking with Abraham, God left him.

23 On that very day Abraham circumcised his son Ishmael. He also circumcised every male who was born in his house or bought with his money. He did exactly as God had told him.

24 Abraham was 99 years old when he was circumcised.

25 His son Ishmael was 13.

26 Abraham and his son Ishmael were both circumcised on that same day.

27 And every male in Abraham's house was circumcised along with him. That included those who were born in his house or bought from a stranger.

1 The LORD appeared to Abraham near the large trees of Mamre. Abraham was sitting at the entrance to his tent. It was the hottest time of the day.

2 Abraham looked up and saw three men standing nearby. He quickly left the entrance to his tent to meet them. He bowed low to the ground.

3 He said, "My lord, if you are pleased with me, don't pass me by.

4 Let a little water be brought. All of you can wash your feet and rest under this tree.

5 "Let me get you something to eat to give you strength. Then you can go on your way. I want to do this for you now that you have come to me." "All right," they answered. "Go ahead and do it."

6 So Abraham hurried into the tent to Sarah. "Quick!" he said. "Get about half a bushel of fine flour. Mix it and bake some bread."

7 Then he ran to the herd. He picked out a choice, tender calf. He gave it to a servant, who hurried to prepare it.

8 Then he brought some butter and milk and the calf that had been prepared. He served them to the three men. While they ate, he stood near them under a tree.

9 "Where is your wife Sarah?" they asked him. "Over there, in the tent," he said.

10 Then the LORD said, "You can be sure that I will return to you about this time next year. Your wife Sarah will have a son." Sarah was listening at the entrance to the tent behind him.

11 Abraham and Sarah were already very old. Sarah was too old to have a baby.

12 So she laughed to herself. She thought, "I'm worn out, and my husband is old. Can I really know the joy of having a baby?"

13 Then the LORD said to Abraham, "Why did Sarah laugh? Why did she say, 'Will I really have a baby, now that I am old?'

14 Is anything too hard for me? I will return to you at the appointed time next year. Sarah will have a son."

15 Sarah was afraid. So she lied and said, "I didn't laugh." But the LORD said, "Yes, you did."

16 The men got up to leave. They looked down toward Sodom. Abraham walked along with them to see them on their way.

17 Then the LORD said, "Should I hide from Abraham what I am about to do?

18 He will certainly become a great and powerful nation. All nations on earth will be blessed because of him.

19 "I have chosen him. He must direct his children. He must see that the members of his family after him live the way I want them to. So he must direct them to do what is right and fair. Then I, the Lord, will do for Abraham what I have promised him."

20 The LORD said, "The cries against Sodom and Gomorrah are very great. Their sin is so bad

21 that I will go down and see for myself. I want to see if what they have done is as bad as the cries that have reached me. If it is not, then I will know."

22 The men turned away. They went toward Sodom. But Abraham remained standing in front of the Lord.

23 Then Abraham came up to him. He said, "Will you sweep away godly people along with those who are evil?

24 What if there are 50 godly people in the city? Will you really sweep it away? Won't you spare the place because of the 50 godly people in it?

25 "You would never kill godly people along with those who are evil, would you? You wouldn't treat godly and evil people alike. You would never do anything like that! Won't the Judge of the whole earth do what is right?"

26 The LORD said, "If I find 50 godly people in the city of Sodom, I will save it. I will spare the whole place because of them."

27 Then Abraham spoke up again. He said, "I have been very bold to speak to the Lord. After all, I'm only dust and ashes.

28 What if the number of godly people is five less than 50? Will you destroy the whole city because of five people?" "If I find 45 there," he said, "I will not destroy it."

29 Once again Abraham spoke to him. He asked, "What if only 40 are found there?" He said, "If there are 40, I will not do it."

30 Then Abraham said, "Lord, don't let your anger burn against me. Let me speak. What if only 30 can be found there?" He answered, "If there are 30, I will not do it."

31 Abraham said, "I have been very bold to speak to the Lord. What if only 20 are found there?" He said, "If there are 20, I will not destroy it."

32 Then he said, "Lord, don't let your anger burn against me. Let me speak just one more time. What if only ten are found there?" He answered, "If there are ten, I will not destroy it."

33 When the LORD had finished speaking with Abraham, he left. And Abraham returned home.

1 The two angels arrived at Sodom in the evening. Lot was sitting near the gate of the city. When Lot saw them, he got up to meet them. He bowed down with his face to the ground.

2 "My lords," he said, "please come to my house. You can wash your feet and spend the night here. Then you can go on your way early in the morning." "No," they answered. "We'll spend the night in the street."

3 But Lot wouldn't give up. So they went with him and entered his house. He prepared a meal for them. He baked bread without using yeast. And they ate.

4 Before Lot and his guests had gone to bed, all of the men came from every part of the city of Sodom. Young and old men alike surrounded the house.

5 They called out to Lot. They said, "Where are the men who came to you tonight? Bring them out to us. We want to have sex with them."

6 Lot went outside to meet them. He shut the door behind him.

7 He said, "No, my friends. Don't do such an evil thing.

8 Look, I have two daughters. No man has ever made love to them. I'll bring them out to you now. Then do to them what you want to. But don't do anything to these men. I've brought them inside so they can be safe."

9 "Get out of our way!" the men of Sodom replied. They said, "This fellow came here as an outsider. Now he wants to act like a judge! We'll treat you worse than them." They kept trying to force Lot to open the door. Then they moved forward to break it down.

10 But the men inside reached out and pulled Lot back into the house. They shut the door.

11 Then they made the men who were at the door of the house blind. They blinded young and old men alike. So the men couldn't find the door.

12 The two men said to Lot, "Do you have anyone else here? Do you have sons-in-law, sons or daughters? Does anyone else in the city belong to you? Get them out of here.

13 We are going to destroy this place. There has been a great cry to the LORD against the people of this city. So he has sent us to destroy it."

14 Then Lot went out and spoke to his sons-in-law. They had promised to get married to his daughters. He said, "Hurry up! Get out of this place! The LORD is about to destroy the city!" But his sons-in-law thought he was joking.

15 The sun was coming up. So the angels tried to get Lot to leave. They said, "Hurry up! Take your wife and your two daughters who are here. Get out! If you don't, you will be swept away when the city is punished."

16 Lot didn't move right away. So the men grabbed him by the hand. They also took hold of the hands of his wife and two daughters. They led all of them safely out of the city. The LORD had mercy on them.

17 As soon as the angels had brought them out, one of them spoke. He said, "Run for your lives! Don't look back! Don't stop anywhere in the valley! Run to the mountains! If you don't, you will be swept away!"

18 But Lot said to them, "No, my lords! Please!

19 You have done me a big favor. You have been very kind to me by sparing my life. But I can't run to the mountains. This horrible thing that's going to happen will catch up with me. And then I'll die.

20 "Look, here's a town near enough to run to. It's small. Let me run to it. It's very small, isn't it? Then my life will be spared."

21 The LORD said to Lot, "All right. I will also give you what you are asking for. I will not destroy the town you are talking about.

22 But run there quickly. I can't do anything until you reach it." The town was named Zoar. Zoar means "small."

23 By the time Lot reached Zoar, the sun had risen over the land.

24 Then the LORD sent down burning sulfur. It came down like rain on Sodom and Gomorrah. It came from the LORD out of the sky.

25 He destroyed those cities and the whole valley. All of the people who were living in the cities were wiped out. So were the plants in the land.

26 But Lot's wife looked back. When she did, she became a pillar made out of salt.

27 Early the next morning Abraham got up. He returned to the place where he had stood in front of the Lord.

28 He looked down toward Sodom and Gomorrah and the whole valley. He saw thick smoke rising from the land. It looked like smoke from a furnace.

29 So when God destroyed the cities of the valley, he showed concern for Abraham. He brought Lot out safely when he destroyed the cities where Lot had lived.

30 Lot and his two daughters left Zoar. They went to settle down in the mountains. Lot was afraid to stay in Zoar. So he and his daughters lived in a cave.

31 One day the older daughter spoke to the younger one. She said, "Our father is old. There aren't any other men around here to make love to, as people all over the earth do.

32 So let's get our father to drink wine. Then we can make love to him. We can use our father to continue our family line."

33 That night they got their father to drink wine. Then the older daughter went in and made love to him. He didn't know when she lay down or when she got up.

34 The next day the older daughter spoke to the younger one again. She said, "Last night I made love to my father. Let's get him to drink wine again tonight. Then you go in and make love to him. In that way, we can use our father to continue our family line."

35 So they got their father to drink wine that night also. Then the younger daughter went and made love to him. Again he didn't know when she lay down or when she got up.

36 So both of Lot's daughters became pregnant by their father.

37 The older daughter had a son. She named him Moab. He's the father of the Moabites of today.

38 The younger daughter also had a son. She named him Ben-Ammi. He's the father of the Ammonites of today.

1 Abraham moved away from there into the Negev Desert. He lived between Kadesh and Shur. For a while he stayed in Gerar.

2 There Abraham said about his wife Sarah, "She's my sister." Then Abimelech sent for Sarah and took her. He was the king of Gerar.

3 God came to Abimelech in a dream one night. He said to him, "You are as good as dead because of the woman you have taken. She is already married."

4 But Abimelech hadn't gone near her. So he said, "Lord, will you destroy a nation that hasn't done anything wrong?

5 Didn't Abraham say to me, 'She's my sister'? And didn't she also say, 'He's my brother'? I had no idea I was doing anything wrong. I'm not guilty."

6 Then God spoke to him in the dream. He said, "Yes, I know you had no idea you were doing anything wrong. So I have kept you from sinning against me. That is why I did not let you touch her.

7 "Now return the man's wife to him. He is a prophet. He will pray for you, and you will live. But what if you do not return her? Then you can be sure that you and all of your people will die."

8 Early the next morning Abimelech sent for all of his officials. He told them everything that had happened. They were really afraid.

9 Then Abimelech called Abraham in. He said, "What have you done to us? Have I done something wrong to you? Why have you brought so much guilt on me and my kingdom? You have done things to me that shouldn't be done."

10 Abimelech also asked Abraham, "Why did you do this?"

11 Abraham replied, "I thought, 'There isn't any respect for God in this place at all. They will kill me because of my wife.'

12 Besides, she really is my sister. She's the daughter of my father, but not the daughter of my mother. And she became my wife.

13 "God had me wander away from my father's house. So I said to her, 'Here is how you can show your love to me. Everywhere we go, say about me, "He's my brother." ' "

14 Then Abimelech gave Abraham sheep and cattle and male and female slaves. He also returned his wife Sarah to him.

15 Abimelech said, "Here is my land. Live anywhere you want to."

16 He said to Sarah, "I'm giving your brother 25 pounds of silver. It will take care of the problem we caused you. And all those who are with you will know that you aren't guilty of doing anything wrong."

17 Then Abraham prayed to God. And God healed Abimelech. He also healed his wife and his female slaves so they could have children again.

18 The LORD had kept the women in Abimelech's house from having children. He had done it because of Abraham's wife Sarah.

1 The LORD was gracious to Sarah, just as he had said he would be. He did for Sarah what he had promised to do.

2 Sarah became pregnant. She had a son by Abraham when he was old. He was born at the exact time God had promised him.

3 Abraham gave the name Isaac to the son Sarah had by him.

4 When his son Isaac was eight days old, Abraham circumcised him. He did it exactly as God had commanded him.

5 Abraham was 100 years old when his son Isaac was born to him.

6 Sarah said, "God has given laughter to me. Everyone who hears about this will laugh with me."

7 She continued, "Who would have said to Abraham that Sarah would nurse children? But I've had a son by him when he is old."

8 Isaac grew. The time came for his mother to stop nursing him. On that day Abraham had a big dinner prepared.

9 But Sarah saw Ishmael making fun of Isaac. Ishmael was the son Hagar had by Abraham. Hagar was Sarah's servant from Egypt.

10 Sarah said to Abraham, "Get rid of that slave woman. Get rid of her son. The slave woman's son will never have a share of the family's property with my son Isaac."

11 What Sarah said upset Abraham very much. After all, Ishmael was his son.

12 But God said to him, "Do not be so upset about the boy and your servant Hagar. Listen to what Sarah tells you, because your family line will continue through Isaac.

13 I will make the son of your servant into a nation also. I will do it because he is your child."

14 Early the next morning Abraham got some food and a bottle of water. The bottle was made out of animal skin. He gave the food and water to Hagar. He placed them on her shoulders. Then he sent her away with the boy. She went on her way and wandered in the desert of Beersheba.

15 When the water in the bottle was gone, she put the boy under a bush.

16 Then she went off and sat down nearby. She was about as far away as a person can shoot an arrow. She thought, "I can't stand to watch the boy die." As she sat nearby, she began to sob.

17 God heard the boy crying. Then the angel of God called out to Hagar from heaven. He said to her, "What is the matter, Hagar? Do not be afraid. God has heard the boy crying as he lies there.

18 Lift the boy up. Take him by the hand. I will make him into a great nation."

19 Then God opened Hagar's eyes. She saw a well of water. So she went and filled the bottle with water. And she gave the boy a drink.

20 God was with the boy as he grew up. He lived in the desert and learned to shoot with a bow.

21 While he was living in the Desert of Paran, his mother got him a wife from Egypt.

22 At that time Abimelech and Phicol spoke to Abraham. Phicol was the commander of Abimelech's army. They said, "God is with you in everything you do.

23 Now make a promise to me here while God is watching. Take an oath that you will treat me fairly. Promise that you will treat my children and their children the same way. "I've been kind to you. Now you be kind to me. And be kind to the country where you are living as an outsider."

24 Abraham said, "I promise with an oath that I'll do it."

25 Then Abraham objected to Abimelech about what Abimelech's servants had done. They had taken over a well of water.

26 But Abimelech said, "I don't know who has done this. You didn't tell me. Today is the first time I heard about it."

27 So Abraham gave Abimelech sheep and cattle. The two men made a peace treaty.

28 Then Abraham took out seven female lambs from his flock.

29 Abimelech asked Abraham, "What's the meaning of these seven female lambs? Why have you taken them out and put them by themselves?"

30 Abraham replied, "Accept the seven lambs from me. They will be a witness that I dug this well."

31 That place was named Beersheba. That's because there the two men made a promise with an oath.

32 After the peace treaty had been made at Beersheba, Abimelech went back to the land of the Philistines. His army commander Phicol went with him.

33 Abraham planted a tamarisk tree in Beersheba. There he worshiped the Lord, the God who lives forever.

34 Abraham stayed in the land of the Philistines for a long time.

1 Some time later God put Abraham to the test. He said to him, "Abraham!" "Here I am," Abraham replied.

2 Then God said, "Take your son, your only son. He is the one you love. Take Isaac. Go to Moriah. Give him to me there as a burnt offering. Sacrifice him on one of the mountains I will tell you about."

3 Early the next morning Abraham got up. He put a saddle on his donkey. He took two of his servants and his son Isaac with him. He cut enough wood for the burnt offering. Then he started out for the place God had told him about.

4 On the third day Abraham looked up. He saw the place a long way off.

5 He said to his servants, "Stay here with the donkey. The boy and I will go over there and worship. Then we'll come back to you."

6 Abraham put the wood for the burnt offering on his son Isaac. He himself carried the fire and the knife. The two of them walked on together.

7 Then Isaac spoke up. He said to his father Abraham, "Father?" "Yes, my son?" Abraham replied. "The fire and wood are here," Isaac said. "But where is the lamb for the burnt offering?"

8 Abraham answered, "God himself will provide the lamb for the burnt offering, my son." The two of them walked on together.

9 They reached the place God had told Abraham about. There Abraham built an altar. He arranged the wood on it. He tied up his son Isaac. He placed him on the altar, on top of the wood.

10 Then he reached out his hand. He took the knife to kill his son.

11 But the angel of the LORD called out to him from heaven. He said, "Abraham! Abraham!" "Here I am," Abraham replied.

12 "Do not lay a hand on the boy," he said. "Do not do anything to him. Now I know that you have respect for God. You have not held back from me your son, your only son."

13 Abraham looked up. There in a bush he saw a ram. It was caught by its horns. He went over and took the ram. He sacrificed it as a burnt offering instead of his son.

14 So Abraham named that place The LORD Will Provide. To this day people say, "It will be provided on the mountain of the Lord."

15 The angel of the LORD called out to Abraham from heaven a second time.

16 He said, "I am taking an oath in my own name. I will bless you because of what you have done," announces the Lord. "You have not held back your son, your only son.

17 "So I will certainly bless you. I will make your children after you as many as the stars in the sky. I will make them as many as the grains of sand on the seashore. Your children will take over the cities of their enemies.

18 All nations on earth will be blessed because of your children. All of that will happen because you have obeyed me."

19 Then Abraham returned to his servants. They started out together for Beersheba. And Abraham stayed in Beersheba.

20 Some time later Abraham was told, "Milcah has become a mother. She has had sons by your brother Nahor.

21 Uz was born first. Then came his brother Buz. Next came Kemuel, the father of Aram.

22 The other sons are Kesed, Hazo, Pildash, Jidlaph and Bethuel."

23 Bethuel became the father of Rebekah. Milcah had the eight sons by Abraham's brother Nahor.

24 Nahor had a concubine named Reumah. She also had sons. They were Tebah, Gaham, Tahash and Maacah.

1 Sarah lived to be 127 years old.

2 She died at Kiriath Arba. Kiriath Arba is also called Hebron. It's in the land of Canaan. Sarah's death filled Abraham with sorrow. He went to the place where her body was lying. There he sobbed over her.

3 Then Abraham got up from beside his dead wife. He spoke to the Hittites. He said,

4 "I'm an outsider. I'm a stranger among you. Sell me some property here as a place for a family tomb. Then I can bury my wife's body.

5 The Hittites replied to Abraham,

6 "Sir, listen to us. You are a mighty prince among us. Bury your dead wife in the best of our tombs. None of us will refuse to sell you his tomb for burying her."

7 Then Abraham bowed down in front of the Hittites, the people of the land.

8 He said to them, "If you are willing to let me bury my dead wife, then listen to me. Speak to Zohar's son Ephron for me.

9 Ask him to sell me the cave of Machpelah. It belongs to him and is at the end of his field. Ask him to sell it to me for the full price. I want it as a place to bury my dead wife among you."

10 Ephron the Hittite was sitting there among his people. He replied to Abraham. All of the Hittites who had come to the gate of his city heard him.

11 "No, sir," Ephron said. "Listen to me. I will sell you the field. I'll also sell you the cave that's in the field. I will sell it to you in front of my people. Bury your wife."

12 Again Abraham bowed down in front of the people of the land.

13 He spoke to Ephron so they could hear him. He said, "Please listen to me. I'll pay the price of the field. Accept it from me. Then I can bury my dead wife there."

14 Ephron answered Abraham

15 "Sir, listen to me. The land is worth ten pounds of silver. But what is that between you and me? Bury your wife."

16 Abraham agreed to Ephron's offer. He weighed out for him the price he had named. The Hittites there had heard it. The price was ten pounds of silver. Abraham measured it by the weights that were used by those who bought and sold.

17 So Ephron sold his field in Machpelah near Mamre to Abraham. He bought the field and the cave that was in it. He also bought all of the trees that were inside the borders of the field. Everything was sold

18 to Abraham as his property. He bought it in front of all of the Hittites who had come to the gate of the city.

19 Then Abraham buried the body of his wife Sarah. He buried her in the cave in the field of Machpelah near Mamre in the land of Canaan. Mamre is at Hebron

20 So the field and the cave that was in it were sold to Abraham by the Hittites. The property became a place for his family tomb.

1 By that time Abraham was very old. The LORD had blessed him in every way.

2 The best servant in his house was in charge of everything he had. Abraham said to him, "Put your hand under my thigh.

3 The LORD is the God of heaven and the God of earth. I want you to make a promise with an oath in his name. "I'm living among the people of Canaan. But I want you to promise me that you won't get a wife for my son from their daughters.

4 Instead, promise me that you will go to my country and to my own relatives. Get a wife for my son Isaac from there."

5 The servant asked him, "What if the woman doesn't want to come back with me to this land? Then should I take your son back to the country you came from?"

6 "Make sure you don't take my son back there," Abraham said.

7 "The Lord, the God of heaven, took me away from my father's family. He brought me out of my own land. And he made me a promise with an oath. He said, 'I will give this land to your family after you.' The LORD will send his angel ahead of you. So you will be able to get a wife for my son from there.

8 "The woman may not want to come back with you. If she doesn't, you will be free from your oath. But don't take my son back there."

9 So the servant put his hand under Abraham's thigh. He promised with an oath to do what his master wanted.

10 The servant took ten of his master's camels and left. He took with him all kinds of good things from his master. He started out for Aram Naharaim. He made his way to the town of Nahor.

11 He stopped near the well outside the town. There he made the camels get down on their knees. It was almost evening. It was the time when women go out to get water.

12 Then he prayed, "Lord, you are the God of my master Abraham. Give me success today. Be kind to my master Abraham.

13 I'm standing beside this spring. The daughters of the people who live in the town are coming out here to get water.

14 "I will speak to a young woman. I'll say, 'Please lower your jar so I can have a drink.' Suppose she says, 'Have a drink of water. And I'll get some for your camels too.' Then let her be the one you have chosen for your servant Isaac. That's how I'll know you have been kind to my master."

15 Before he had finished praying, Rebekah came out. She had a jar on her shoulder. She was the daughter of Bethuel, the son of Milcah. Milcah was the wife of Abraham's brother Nahor.

16 The young woman was very beautiful. She was a virgin. No man had made love to her. She went down to the spring. She filled her jar and came up again.

17 The servant hurried to meet her. He said, "Please give me a little water from your jar."

18 "Have a drink, sir," she said. She quickly lowered the jar to her hands. And she gave him a drink.

19 After she had given him a drink, she said, "I'll get water for your camels too. I'll keep doing it until they finish drinking."

20 So she quickly emptied her jar into the stone tub. Then she ran back to the well to get more water. She got enough for all of his camels.

21 The man didn't say a word. He watched her closely. He wanted to learn whether the LORD had given him success on the journey he had made.

22 The camels finished drinking. Then the man took out a gold nose ring. It weighed a fifth of an ounce. He also took out two gold bracelets. They weighed four ounces.

23 Then he asked, "Whose daughter are you? And please tell me something else. Is there room in your father's house for us? Can we spend the night there?"

24 She answered, "I'm the daughter of Bethuel. He's the son Milcah had by Nahor."

25 She continued, "We have plenty of straw and feed for your camels. We also have room for you to spend the night."

26 Then the man bowed down and worshiped the Lord.

27 He said, "I praise the Lord, the God of my master Abraham. He hasn't stopped being kind and faithful to my master. The LORD has led me on this journey. He has brought me to the house of my master's relatives."

28 The young woman ran home. She told her mother's family what had happened.

29 Rebekah had a brother named Laban. He hurried out to the spring to meet the man.

30 Laban had seen the nose ring. He had seen the bracelets on his sister's arms. And he had heard Rebekah tell what the man had said to her. So he went out to the man. He found him standing by the camels near the spring.

31 "The LORD has given you his blessing," he said. "So come. Why are you standing out here? I've prepared my house for you. I also have a place for the camels."

32 So the man went to the house. The camels were unloaded. Straw and feed were brought for the camels. And water was brought for him and his men to wash their feet.

33 Then food was placed in front of him. But he said, "I won't eat until I've told you what I have to say." "Then tell us," Laban said.

34 So he said, "I am Abraham's servant.

35 The LORD has blessed my master greatly. He has become wealthy. The LORD has given him sheep and cattle. He has given him silver and gold. He has also given him male and female servants, and camels and donkeys.

36 "My master's wife Sarah had a son by him when she was old. He has given that son everything he owns.

37 My master made me take an oath. He said, 'I'm living in the land of the people of Canaan. But promise me that you won't get a wife for my son from their daughters.

38 Instead, go to my father's family and to my own relatives. Get a wife for my son there.'

39 "Then I asked my master, 'What if the woman won't come back with me?'

40 "He replied, 'I have walked with the Lord. He will send his angel with you. He will give you success on your journey. So you will be able to get a wife for my son. You will get her from my own relatives and from my father's family.

41 " 'When you go to my relatives, suppose they refuse to give her to you. Then you will be free from your oath.'

42 "Today I came to the spring. I said, 'Lord, you are the God of my master Abraham. Please give me success on this journey I've made.

43 " 'I'm standing beside this spring. A young woman will come out to get water. I will speak to her. I'll say, "Please let me drink a little water from your jar."

44 Suppose she says, "Have a drink of water. And I'll get some for your camels too." Then let her be the one the LORD has chosen for my master's son.'

45 "Before I finished praying in my heart, Rebekah came out. She had a jar on her shoulder. She went down to the spring and got water. I said to her, 'Please give me a drink.'

46 "She quickly lowered her jar from her shoulder. She said, 'Have a drink. And I'll get water for your camels too.' So I drank. She also got water for the camels.

47 "I asked her, 'Whose daughter are you?' "She said, 'The daughter of Bethuel. He's the son Milcah had by Nahor.' "Then I put the ring in her nose. I put the bracelets on her arms.

48 And I bowed down and worshiped the Lord. I praised the Lord, the God of my master Abraham. He had led me on the right road. He had led me to get for my master's son the granddaughter of my master's brother.

49 "Now will you be kind and faithful to my master? If you will, tell me. And if you won't, tell me. Then I'll know which way to turn."

50 Laban and Bethuel answered, "The LORD has done all of this. We can't say anything to you one way or the other.

51 Here is Rebekah. Take her and go. Let her become the wife of your master's son, just as the LORD has said."

52 Abraham's servant heard what they said. So he bowed down to the LORD with his face to the ground.

53 He brought out gold and silver jewelry. He brought out articles of clothing. He gave all of it to Rebekah. He also gave expensive gifts to her brother and her mother.

54 Then Abraham's servant and the men who were with him ate and drank. They spent the night there. They got up the next morning. Abraham's servant said, "Send me back to my master."

55 But her brother and her mother replied, "Let the young woman stay with us ten days or so. Then you can go."

56 But he said to them, "Don't make me wait. The LORD has given me success on my journey. Send me on my way so I can go to my master."

57 Then they said, "Let's get Rebekah. We'll ask her about it."

58 So they sent for her. They asked her, "Will you go with this man?" "Yes," she said.

59 So they sent their sister Rebekah on her way with Abraham's servant and his men. They also sent Rebekah's attendant with her.

60 And they gave Rebekah their blessing. They said to her, "Dear sister, may your family grow by thousands and thousands. May your children after you take over the cities of their enemies."

61 Then Rebekah and her female servants got ready. They got on their camels to go with the man. So the servant took Rebekah and left.

62 By that time Isaac had come from Beer Lahai Roi. He was living in the Negev Desert.

63 One evening he went out to the field. He wanted to spend some time thinking. When he looked up, he saw camels approaching.

64 Rebekah also looked up and saw Isaac. She got down from her camel.

65 She asked the servant, "Who is that man in the field coming to meet us?" "He's my master," the servant answered. So she took her veil and covered her face.

66 Then the servant told Isaac everything he had done.

67 Isaac brought Rebekah into the tent that had belonged to his mother Sarah. And he married Rebekah. She became his wife, and he loved her. So Isaac was comforted after his mother died.

1 Abraham married another woman. Her name was Keturah.

2 She had Zimran, Jokshan, Medan, Midian, Ishbak and Shuah by Abraham.

3 Jokshan was the father of Sheba and Dedan. The children of Dedan were the Asshurites, the Letushites and the Leummites.

4 The sons of Midian were Ephah, Epher, Hanoch, Abida and Eldaah. All of them came from Keturah.

5 Abraham left everything he owned to Isaac.

6 But while he was still living, he gave gifts to the sons of his concubines. Then he sent them away from his son Isaac. He sent them to the land of the east.

7 Abraham lived a total of 175 years.

8 He took his last breath and died when he was very old. He had lived a very long time. Then he joined the members of his family who had already died.

9 Abraham's sons Isaac and Ishmael buried his body. They put it in the cave of Machpelah near Mamre. It was in the field of Ephron, the son of Zohar the Hittite.

10 Abraham had bought it from the Hittites. He was buried there with his wife Sarah.

11 After Abraham died, God blessed his son Isaac. At that time Isaac lived near Beer Lahai Roi.

12 Here is the story of Abraham's son Ishmael. Hagar had Ishmael by Abraham. She was Sarah's servant from Egypt.

13 Here are the names of the sons of Ishmael. They are listed in the order they were born. Nebaioth was Ishmael's oldest son. Then came Kedar, Adbeel, Mibsam,

14 Mishma, Dumah, Massa,

15 Hadad, Tema, Jetur, Naphish and Kedemah.

16 All of them were Ishmael's sons. They were rulers of 12 tribes. They all lived in their own settlements and camps.

17 Ishmael lived a total of 137 years. Then he took his last breath and died. He joined the members of his family who had already died.

18 His children settled in the area between Havilah and Shur. It was near the eastern border of Egypt, as you go toward Asshur. Ishmael's children weren't friendly toward any of the tribes that were related to them.

19 Here is the story of Abraham's son Isaac. Abraham was the father of Isaac.

20 Isaac was 40 years old when he married Rebekah. She was the daughter of Bethuel the Aramean from Paddan Aram. She was also the sister of Laban the Aramean.

21 Rebekah couldn't have children. So Isaac prayed to the LORD for her. And the LORD answered his prayer. His wife Rebekah became pregnant.

22 The babies struggled with each other inside her. She said, "Why is this happening to me?" So she went to ask the LORD what she should do.

23 The LORD said to her, "Two nations are in your body. Two tribes that are now inside you will be separated. One nation will be stronger than the other. The older son will serve the younger one."

24 The time came for Rebekah to have her babies. There were twin boys in her body.

25 The first one to come out was red. His whole body was covered with hair. So they named him Esau.

26 Then his brother came out. His hand was holding onto Esau's heel. So he was named Jacob. Isaac was 60 years old when Rebekah had them.

27 The boys grew up. Esau became a skillful hunter. He was a man who liked the open country. But Jacob was a quiet man. He stayed at home among the tents.

28 Isaac liked the meat of wild animals. So Esau was his favorite son. But Rebekah's favorite was Jacob.

29 One day Jacob was cooking some stew. Esau came in from the open country. He was very hungry.

30 He said to Jacob, "Quick! Let me have some of that red stew! I'm very hungry!" That's why he was also named Edom.

31 Jacob replied, "First sell me the rights that belong to you as the oldest son in the family."

32 "Look, I'm dying of hunger," Esau said. "What good are those rights to me?"

33 But Jacob said, "First promise me with an oath that you are selling me your rights." So Esau promised to do it. He sold Jacob all of the rights that belonged to him as the oldest son.

34 Jacob gave Esau some bread and some lentil stew. Esau ate and drank. Then he got up and left. So Esau didn't care anything at all about the rights that belonged to him as the oldest son.

1 There was very little food in the land. The same thing had been true earlier, in Abraham's time. Isaac went to Abimelech in Gerar. Abimelech was the king of the Philistines.

2 The LORD appeared to Isaac. He said, "Do not go down to Egypt. Live in the land where I tell you to live.

3 Stay here for a while. I will be with you and give you my blessing. I will give all of these lands to you and your children after you. And I will keep the promise I made with an oath to your father Abraham.

4 I will make your children after you as many as the stars in the sky. And I will give them all these lands. All nations on earth will be blessed because of your children.

5 "I will do all of those things because Abraham obeyed me. He did what I required. He kept my commands, my rules and my laws."

6 So Isaac stayed in Gerar.

7 The men of that place asked him about his wife. He said, "She's my sister." He was afraid to say, "She's my wife." He thought, "The men of this place might kill me because of Rebekah. She's a beautiful woman."

8 Isaac had been there a long time. One day Abimelech, the king of the Philistines, looked down from a window. He saw Isaac hugging and kissing his wife Rebekah.

9 So Abimelech sent for Isaac. He said, "She's really your wife, isn't she? Why did you say, 'She's my sister'?" Isaac answered him, "I thought I might lose my life because of her."

10 Then Abimelech said, "What have you done to us? What if one of the men had sex with your wife? Then you would have made us guilty."

11 So Abimelech gave orders to all of the people. He said, "You can be sure that anyone who harms this man or his wife will be put to death."

12 Isaac planted crops in that land. That same year he gathered 100 times more than he planted. That was because the LORD blessed him.

13 Isaac became rich. His wealth continued to grow until he became very rich.

14 He had many flocks and herds and servants. Isaac had so much that the Philistines became jealous of him.

15 So they stopped up all of the wells the servants of his father Abraham had dug. They filled them with dirt.

16 Then Abimelech said to Isaac, "Move away from us. You have become too powerful for us."

17 So Isaac moved away from there. He camped in the Valley of Gerar and settled there.

18 Isaac opened up the wells again. They had been dug in the time of his father Abraham. The Philistines had stopped them up after Abraham died. Isaac gave the wells the same names his father had given them.

19 Isaac's servants dug for wells in the valley. There they discovered a well of fresh water.

20 But the people of Gerar who took care of their herds argued with the people who took care of Isaac's herds. "The water is ours!" the people of Gerar said. So Isaac named the well Esek. That's because they argued with him.

21 Then Isaac's servants dug another well. They argued about that one too. So he named it Sitnah.

22 He moved on from there and dug another well. But no one argued about that one. So he named it Rehoboth. He said, "Now the LORD has given us room. Now we will do well in the land."

23 From there Isaac went up to Beersheba.

24 That night the LORD appeared to him. He said, "I am the God of your father Abraham. Do not be afraid. I am with you. I will bless you. I will increase the number of your children because of my servant Abraham."

25 Isaac built an altar there and worshiped the Lord. There he set up his tent. And there his servants dug a well.

26 During that time, Abimelech had come to him from Gerar. Ahuzzath had come with him. So had Phicol, Abimelech's army commander. Ahuzzath was Abimelech's personal adviser.

27 Isaac asked them, "Why have you come to me? You were angry with me and sent me away."

28 They answered, "We saw clearly that the LORD was with you. So we said, 'We should make an agreement by taking an oath.' The agreement should be between us and you. We want to make a peace treaty with you.

29 Promise that you won't harm us. We didn't harm you. We always treated you well. We sent you away in peace. Now the LORD has blessed you."

30 Then Isaac had a big dinner prepared for them. They ate and drank.

31 Early the next morning the men made an agreement with an oath. Then Isaac sent the men of Gerar on their way. And they left in peace.

32 That day Isaac's servants came to him. They told him about the well they had dug. They said, "We've found water!"

33 So he named it Shibah. To this day the name of the town has been Beersheba.

34 When Esau was 40 years old, he got married to Judith. She was the daughter of Beeri the Hittite. He also married Basemath. She was the daughter of Elon the Hittite.

35 Isaac and Rebekah became very upset because Esau had married Hittite women.

1 Isaac had become old. His eyes were so weak he couldn't see anymore. One day he called for his older son Esau. He said to him, "My son." "Here I am," he answered.

2 Isaac said, "I'm an old man now. And I don't know when I'll die.

3 Now then, get your weapons. Get your bow and arrows. Go out to the open country. Hunt some wild animals for me.

4 Prepare for me the kind of tasty food I like. Bring it to me to eat. Then I'll give you my blessing before I die."

5 Rebekah was listening when Isaac spoke to his son Esau. Esau left for the open country. He went to hunt for a wild animal and bring it back.

6 Then Rebekah said to her son Jacob, "Look, I heard your father speaking to your brother Esau.

7 He said, 'Bring me a wild animal. Prepare some tasty food for me to eat. Then I'll give you my blessing before I die. The LORD will be my witness.' "

8 Rebekah continued, "My son, listen carefully. Do what I tell you.

9 Go out to the flock. Bring me two of the finest young goats. I will prepare tasty food for your father. I'll make it just the way he likes it.

10 I want you to take it to your father to eat. Then he'll give you his blessing before he dies."

11 Jacob said to his mother Rebekah, "My brother Esau's body is covered with hair. But my skin is smooth.

12 What if my father touches me? He would know I was trying to trick him. That would bring a curse down on me instead of a blessing."

13 His mother said to him, "My son, let the curse fall on me. Just do what I say. Go and get the goats for me."

14 So he went and got the goats. He brought them to his mother. And she prepared some tasty food. She made it just the way his father liked it.

15 The clothes of her older son Esau were in her house. She took the best of them and put them on her younger son Jacob.

16 She covered his hands with the skins of the goats. She also covered the smooth part of his neck with them.

17 Then she handed to her son Jacob the tasty food and the bread she had made.

18 He went to his father and said, "My father." "Yes, my son," Isaac answered. "Who is it?"

19 Jacob said to his father, "I'm your oldest son Esau. I've done as you told me. Please sit up. Eat some of my wild meat. Then give me your blessing."

20 Isaac asked his son, "How did you find it so quickly, my son?" "The LORD your God gave me success," he replied.

21 Then Isaac said to Jacob, "Come near so I can touch you, my son. I want to know whether you really are my son Esau."

22 Jacob went close to his father. Isaac touched him and said, "The voice is the voice of Jacob. But the hands are the hands of Esau."

23 Isaac didn't recognize him. His hands were covered with hair like those of his brother Esau. So Isaac blessed him.

24 "Are you really my son Esau?" he asked. "I am," Jacob replied.

25 Isaac said, "My son, bring me some of your wild meat to eat. Then I'll give you my blessing." Jacob brought it to him. So Isaac ate. Jacob also brought some wine. And Isaac drank.

26 Then Jacob's father Isaac said to him, "Come here, my son. Kiss me."

27 So Jacob went to him and kissed him. When Isaac smelled the clothes, he gave Jacob his blessing. He said, "It really is the smell of my son. It's like the smell of a field that the LORD has blessed.

28 May God give you dew from heaven. May he give you the richness of the earth. May he give you plenty of grain and fresh wine.

29 May nations serve you. May they bow down to you. Rule over your brothers. May the sons of your mother bow down to you. May those who call down curses on you be cursed. And may those who bless you be blessed."

30 When Isaac finished blessing him, Jacob left his father. Just then his brother Esau came in from hunting.

31 He too prepared some tasty food. He brought it to his father. Then Esau said to him, "My father, sit up. Eat some of my wild meat. Then give me your blessing."

32 His father Isaac asked him, "Who are you?" "I'm your son," he answered. "I'm your oldest son. I'm Esau."

33 Isaac was shaking all over. He said, "Then who was it that hunted a wild animal and brought it to me? I ate it just before you came. I gave him my blessing. And he will certainly be blessed!"

34 Esau heard his father's words. Then he began crying loudly and bitterly. He said to his father, "Bless me! Bless me too, my father!"

35 But Isaac said, "Your brother came and tricked me. He took your blessing."

36 Esau said, "Isn't Jacob just the right name for him? He has cheated me two times. First, he took my rights as the oldest son. And now he's taken my blessing!" Then Esau asked, "Haven't you saved any blessing for me?"

37 Isaac answered Esau, "I've made him ruler over you. I've made all of his relatives serve him. And I've provided him with grain and fresh wine. So what can I possibly do for you, my son?"

38 Esau said to his father, "Do you have only one blessing, my father? Bless me too, my father!" Then Esau sobbed loudly.

39 His father Isaac answered him, "You will live far away from the richness of the earth. You will live far away from the dew of heaven above.

40 You will live by the sword. And you will serve your brother. But you will grow restless. Then you will throw off the heavy load he put on your shoulders."

41 Esau was angry with Jacob. He was angry because of the blessing his father had given to Jacob. He said to himself, "My father will soon die. The days of sorrow over him are near. Then I'll kill my brother Jacob."

42 Rebekah was told what her older son Esau had said. So she sent for her younger son Jacob. She said to him, "Your brother Esau is comforting himself with the thought of killing you.

43 "Now then, my son, do what I say. Go at once to my brother Laban in Haran.

44 Stay with him until your brother's anger calms down.

45 Stay until your brother isn't angry with you anymore. When he forgets what you did to him, I'll let you know. Then you can come back from there. Why should I lose both of you in one day?"

46 Then Rebekah spoke to Isaac. She said, "I'm sick of living because of Esau's Hittite wives. Suppose Jacob also marries a Hittite woman. If he does, my life won't be worth living."

1 So Isaac called for Jacob and blessed him. He commanded him, "Don't get married to a woman from Canaan.

2 Go at once to Paddan Aram. Go to the house of your mother's father Bethuel. Find a wife for yourself there. Take her from among the daughters of your mother's brother Laban.

3 "May the Mighty God bless you. May he give you children. May he increase your numbers until you become a community of nations.

4 May he give you and your children after you the blessing he gave to Abraham. Then you can take over the land where you now live as an outsider. It's the land God gave to Abraham."

5 Isaac sent Jacob on his way. Jacob went to Paddan Aram. He went to Laban, the son of Bethuel the Aramean. Laban was the brother of Rebekah. And Rebekah was the mother of Jacob and Esau.

6 Esau found out that Isaac had blessed Jacob and had sent him to Paddan Aram. Isaac wanted him to get a wife from there. Esau heard that when Isaac blessed Jacob, he commanded him, "Don't get married to a woman from Canaan."

7 Esau also learned that Jacob had obeyed his father and mother and had gone to Paddan Aram.

8 Then Esau realized how much his father Isaac disliked the women of Canaan.

9 So he went to Ishmael and married Mahalath. She was the sister of Nebaioth and the daughter of Abraham's son Ishmael. Esau added her to the wives he already had.

10 Jacob left Beersheba and started out for Haran.

11 He reached a certain place and stopped for the night. The sun had already set. He took one of the stones there and placed it under his head. Then he lay down to sleep.

12 In a dream he saw a stairway standing on the earth. Its top reached to heaven. The angels of God were going up and coming down on it.

13 The LORD stood above the stairway. He said, "I am the Lord. I am the God of your grandfather Abraham and the God of Isaac. I will give you and your children after you the land on which you are lying.

14 They will be like the dust of the earth that can't be counted. They will spread out to the west and to the east. They will spread out to the north and to the south. All nations on earth will be blessed because of you and your children after you.

15 "I am with you. I will watch over you everywhere you go. And I will bring you back to this land. I will not leave you until I have done what I have promised you."

16 Jacob woke up from his sleep. Then he thought, "The LORD is certainly in this place. And I didn't even know it."

17 Jacob was afraid. He said, "How holy this place is! This must be the house of God. This is the gate of heaven."

18 Early the next morning Jacob took the stone he had placed under his head. He set it up as a pillar. And he poured oil on top of it.

19 He named that place Bethel. But the city used to be called Luz.

20 Then Jacob made a promise. He said, "May God be with me. May he watch over me on this journey I'm taking. May he give me food to eat and clothes to wear.

21 May he do as he has promised so that I can return safely to my father's home. Then you, Lord, will be my God.

22 This stone I've set up as a pillar will be God's house. And I'll give you a tenth of everything you give me."

1 Then Jacob continued on his journey. He came to the land where the eastern tribes lived.

2 There he saw a well in the field. Three flocks of sheep were lying near it. The flocks were given water from the well. The stone over the opening of the well was large.

3 All of the flocks would gather there. The shepherds would roll the stone away from the well's opening. They would give water to the sheep. Then they would put the stone back in its place over the opening of the well.

4 Jacob asked the shepherds, "My friends, where are you from?" "We're from Haran," they replied.

5 He said to them, "Do you know Nahor's grandson Laban?" "Yes, we know him," they answered.

6 Then Jacob asked them, "How is he?" "He's fine," they said. "Here comes his daughter Rachel with the sheep now."

7 "Look," he said, "the sun is still high in the sky. It's not time for the flocks to be brought together. Give water to the sheep and take them back to the grasslands."

8 "We can't," they replied. "We have to wait until all of the flocks are brought together. The stone has to be rolled away from the opening of the well. Then we'll give water to the sheep."

9 He was still talking with them when Rachel came with her father's sheep. It was her job to take care of the flock.

10 Rachel was the daughter of Laban. He was the brother of Jacob's mother. When Jacob saw Rachel with Laban's sheep, he went over to the well. He rolled the stone away from the opening. He gave water to his uncle's sheep.

11 Jacob kissed Rachel. Then he began to sob loudly.

12 He had told Rachel he was a relative of her father. He had also said he was Rebekah's son. Rachel ran and told her father what Jacob had said.

13 As soon as Laban heard the news about his sister's son Jacob, he hurried to meet him. Laban hugged Jacob and kissed him. Then he brought him to his home. There Jacob told him everything.

14 Then Laban said to him, "You are my own flesh and blood." Jacob stayed with Laban for a whole month.

15 Then Laban said to him, "You are one of my relatives. But is that any reason for you to work for me for nothing? Tell me what your pay should be."

16 Laban had two daughters. The name of the older one was Leah. And the name of the younger one was Rachel.

17 Leah had weak eyes. But Rachel was beautiful. She had a nice figure.

18 Jacob was in love with Rachel. He said to Laban, "I'll work for you for seven years to get your younger daughter Rachel."

19 Laban said, "It's better for me to give her to you than to some other man. Stay here with me."

20 So Jacob worked for seven years to get Rachel. But they seemed like only a few days to him because he loved her so much.

21 Then Jacob said to Laban, "Give me my wife. I've completed my time. I want to make love to her."

22 So Laban brought all of the people of the place together and had a big dinner prepared.

23 But when evening came, he gave his daughter Leah to Jacob. And Jacob made love to her.

24 Laban gave his female servant Zilpah to his daughter as her servant.

25 When Jacob woke up the next morning, there was Leah next to him! So he said to Laban, "What have you done to me? I worked for you to get Rachel, didn't I? Why did you trick me?"

26 Laban replied, "It isn't our practice here to give the younger daughter to be married before the older one.

27 Complete this daughter's wedding week. Then we'll give you the younger one also. But you will have to work for another seven years."

28 So Jacob did it. He completed the week with Leah. Then Laban gave him his daughter Rachel to be his wife.

29 Laban gave his female servant Bilhah to his daughter Rachel as her servant.

30 Jacob made love to Rachel also. He loved Rachel more than he loved Leah. And he worked for Laban for another seven years.

31 The LORD saw that Jacob didn't love Leah as much as he loved Rachel. So he let Leah have children. But Rachel wasn't able to have children.

32 Leah became pregnant. She had a son. She named him Reuben. She said, "The LORD has seen me suffer. Certainly my husband will love me now."

33 She became pregnant again. She had a son. Then she said, "The LORD heard that Jacob doesn't love me very much. That's why the LORD gave me this one too." So she named him Simeon.

34 She became pregnant again. She had a son. Then she said, "Now at last my husband will want me. I have had three sons by him." So the boy was named Levi.

35 She became pregnant again. She had a son. Then she said, "This time I'll praise the Lord." So she named him Judah. Then she stopped having children.

1 Rachel saw that she couldn't have any children by Jacob. So she became jealous of her sister. She said to Jacob, "Give me children, or I'll die!"

2 Jacob became angry with her. He said, "Do you think I'm God? He's the one who has kept you from having children."

3 Then she said, "Here's my servant Bilhah. Make love to her so that she can have children for me. Then I too can have a family through her."

4 So she gave him her servant Bilhah as a wife. Jacob made love to her.

5 And Bilhah became pregnant. She had a son by him.

6 Then Rachel said, "God has stood up for my rights. He has listened to my prayer and given me a son." So she named him Dan.

7 Rachel's servant Bilhah became pregnant again. She had a second son by Jacob.

8 Then Rachel said, "I've had a great struggle with my sister. Now I've won." So she named him Naphtali.

9 Leah saw that she had stopped having children. So she gave her servant Zilpah to Jacob as a wife.

10 Leah's servant Zilpah had a son by Jacob.

11 Then Leah said, "What good fortune!" So she named him Gad.

12 Leah's servant Zilpah had a second son by Jacob.

13 Then Leah said, "I'm so happy! The women will call me happy." So she named him Asher.

14 While the wheat harvest was being gathered, Reuben went out into the fields. He found some mandrake plants. He brought them to his mother Leah. Rachel said to Leah, "Please give me some of your son's mandrakes."

15 But Leah said to her, "Isn't it enough that you took my husband away? Are you going to take my son's mandrakes too?" Rachel said, "All right. Jacob can make love to you tonight if you give me your son's mandrakes."

16 Jacob came in from the fields that evening. Leah went out to meet him. "You have to sleep with me tonight," she said. "I've bought you with my son's mandrakes." So he made love to her that night.

17 God listened to Leah. She became pregnant and had a fifth son by Jacob.

18 Then Leah said, "God has rewarded me because I gave my female servant to my husband." So she named the boy Issachar.

19 Leah became pregnant again. She had a sixth son by Jacob.

20 Then Leah said, "God has given me a priceless gift. This time my husband will treat me with honor. I've had six sons by him." So she named the boy Zebulun.

21 Some time later she had a daughter. She named her Dinah.

22 Then God listened to Rachel. He showed concern for her. He made it possible for her to have children.

23 She became pregnant. She had a son. She said, "God has taken my shame away."

24 She continued, "May the LORD give me another son." So she named him Joseph.

25 After Rachel had Joseph, Jacob spoke to Laban. He said, "Send me on my way. I want to go back to my own home and country.

26 Give me my wives and children. I worked for you to get them. So I'll be on my way. You know how much work I've done for you."

27 But Laban said to him, "If you are pleased with me, stay here. I've discovered that the LORD has blessed me because of you."

28 He continued, "Name your pay. I'll give it to you."

29 Jacob said to him, "You know how hard I've worked for you. You know that your livestock has done better under my care.

30 You had only a little before I came. But that little has become a lot. The LORD has blessed you everywhere I've been. But when can I do something for my own family?"

31 "What should I give you?" Laban asked. "Don't give me anything," Jacob replied. "Just do one thing for me. Then I'll go on taking care of your flocks and watching over them.

32 "Let me go through all of your flocks today. Let me remove every sheep that has speckles or spots on it. Let me remove every dark-colored lamb. Let me remove every goat that has spots or speckles on it. They will be my pay.

33 "My honesty will give witness about me in days to come. It will give witness every time you check on what you have paid me. Suppose I have a goat that doesn't have speckles or spots. Or suppose I have a lamb that isn't dark-colored. Then it will be considered stolen."

34 "I agree," said Laban. "Let's do what you have said."

35 That same day Laban removed all of the male goats that had stripes or spots. He removed all of the female goats that had speckles or spots. They were the ones that had white on them. He also removed all of the dark-colored lambs. He had his sons take care of them.

36 Then he put a journey of three days between himself and Jacob. But Jacob continued to take care of the rest of Laban's flocks.

37 Jacob took branches that were freshly cut from poplar, almond and plane trees. He made white stripes on them by peeling off the bark. He uncovered the white wood inside the branches.

38 Then he placed the peeled branches in all of the stone tubs where the animals drank water. He placed them so they would be right in front of the flocks when they came to drink. The flocks were ready to mate when they came to drink.

39 So they mated in front of the branches. And they had little ones that were striped or speckled or spotted.

40 Jacob put the little ones of the flock to one side by themselves. But he made the older ones face the striped and dark-colored animals that belonged to Laban. In that way, he made separate flocks for himself. He didn't put them with Laban's animals.

41 Every time the stronger females were ready to mate, Jacob would place the branches in the stone tubs. He would place them in front of the animals so they would mate near the branches.

42 But if the animals were weak, he wouldn't place the branches there. So the weak animals went to Laban. And the strong ones went to Jacob.

43 In this way, Jacob became very rich. He became the owner of large flocks. He also had many male and female servants. And he had many camels and donkeys.

1 Jacob heard what Laban's sons were saying. "Jacob has taken everything our father owned," they said. "He has gained all of this wealth from what belonged to our father."

2 Jacob noticed that Laban's feelings toward him had changed.

3 Then the LORD spoke to Jacob. He said, "Go back to your father's land and to your relatives. I will be with you."

4 So Jacob sent word to Rachel and Leah. He told them to come out to the fields where his flocks were.

5 He said to them, "I see that your father's feelings toward me have changed. But the God of my father has been with me.

6 You know that I've worked for your father with all of my strength.

7 "But your father has cheated me. He has changed my pay ten times. In spite of everything that's happened, God hasn't let him harm me.

8 Sometimes Laban would say, 'The speckled ones will be your pay.' Then all the flocks had little ones with speckles. At other times he would say, 'The striped ones will be your pay.' Then all the flocks had little ones with stripes.

9 So God has taken away your father's livestock and given it to me.

10 "Once during the mating season I had a dream. In my dream I looked up and saw male goats mating with the flock. The goats had stripes, speckles or spots.

11 "The angel of God said to me in the dream, 'Jacob.' I answered, 'Here I am.'

12 He said, 'Look up. See the male goats mating with the flock. All of them have stripes, speckles or spots. That is because I have seen everything that Laban has been doing to you.

13 " 'I am the God of Bethel. That is where you poured oil on a pillar. There you made a promise to me. Now leave this land. Go back to your own land.' "

14 Rachel and Leah replied, "Do we still have any share in our father's property?

15 Doesn't our father think of us as strangers? First he sold us. Now he has used up what he was paid for us.

16 All of the wealth God took away from our father really belongs to us and our children. So do what God has told you to do."

17 Then Jacob put his children and wives on camels.

18 He drove all of his livestock ahead of him. He also took with him everything he had gotten in Paddan Aram. He left to go to his father Isaac in the land of Canaan.

19 Laban had gone to clip the wool from his sheep. While he was gone, Rachel stole the statues of family gods that belonged to her father.

20 And that's not all. Jacob tricked Laban the Aramean. He didn't tell him he was running away.

21 So Jacob ran off with everything he had. He crossed the Euphrates River. And he headed for the hill country of Gilead.

22 On the third day Laban was told that Jacob had run away.

23 He took his relatives with him and went after Jacob. Seven days later he caught up with him in the hill country of Gilead.

24 Then God came to Laban the Aramean in a dream at night. He said to him, "Be careful. Do not say anything to Jacob, whether it is good or bad."

25 Jacob had set up his tent in the hill country of Gilead. That's where Laban caught up with him. Laban and his relatives camped there too.

26 Laban said to Jacob, "What have you done? You have tricked me. You have taken my daughters away like prisoners of war.

27 Why did you run away in secret and trick me? Why didn't you tell me? Then I could have sent you away happily. We could have sung to the music of tambourines and harps.

28 You didn't even let me kiss my grandchildren and my daughters good-by. You have done a foolish thing.

29 "I have the power to harm you. But last night the God of your father spoke to me. He said, 'Be careful. Do not say anything to Jacob, whether it is good or bad.'

30 "Now you have run away. You longed to go back to your father's home. But why did you have to steal my gods?"

31 Jacob answered Laban, "I was afraid. I thought you would take your daughters away from me by force.

32 "But if you find anyone who has your gods, he will not remain alive. While our relatives are watching, look for yourself. See if there's anything of yours here with me. If you find anything belonging to you, take it." But Jacob didn't know that Rachel had stolen the gods.

33 So Laban went into Jacob's tent and Leah's tent. He went into the tent of their two female servants. But he didn't find anything. After he came out of Leah's tent, he entered Rachel's tent.

34 Rachel was the one who had taken his family gods. She had put them inside her camel's saddle. She was sitting on them. Laban searched the whole tent. But he didn't find anything.

35 Rachel said to her father, "I'm sorry, sir. I can't get up for you right now. But don't be angry with me. I'm having my monthly period." So he searched everywhere but couldn't find his family gods.

36 Jacob was very angry with Laban. "What have I done wrong?" he asked. "What sin have I committed to make you hunt me down like this?

37 You have searched through all of my things. What have you found that belongs to your family? Put it here in front of your relatives and mine. Let them decide between the two of us.

38 "I've been with you for 20 years now. The little ones of your sheep and goats were not dead when they were born. I haven't eaten rams from your flocks.

39 I didn't bring you animals that were torn apart by wild beasts. I made up for the loss myself. Also, you made me pay for anything that was stolen by day or night.

40 "And what was my life like? The heat burned me in the daytime. And it was so cold at night that I froze. I couldn't sleep.

41 That's what it was like for the 20 years I was living with you. "I worked for 14 years to get your two daughters. I worked for six years to get my share of your flocks. You changed my pay ten times.

42 "But the God of my father was with me. He is the God of Abraham and the God Isaac worshiped. If he hadn't been with me, you would certainly have sent me away without anything to show for all of my work. But God has seen my hard times. He has seen all of the work my hands have done. So last night he warned you."

43 Laban answered Jacob, "The women are my daughters. The children are my children. The flocks are my flocks. Everything you see is mine. But what can I do today about these daughters of mine? What can I do about the children they've had?

44 "Come now. Let's make a covenant, you and I. Let it be a witness between us."

45 So Jacob took a stone. He set it up as a pillar.

46 He said to his relatives, "Get some stones." So they took stones and put them in a pile. And they ate there by it.

47 Laban named the pile of stones Jegar Sahadutha. Jacob named it Galeed.

48 Laban said, "This pile of stones is a witness between you and me today." That's why it was named Galeed.

49 It was also called Mizpah. That's because Laban said, "May the LORD keep watch between you and me when we are away from each other.

50 Don't treat my daughters badly. Don't get married to any women besides my daughters. There isn't anyone here to see what we're doing. But remember that God is a witness between you and me."

51 Laban also said to Jacob, "Here is this pile of stones. And here is this pillar. I've set them up between you and me.

52 This pile is a witness. And this pillar is a witness. They give witness that I won't go past this pile to harm you. And they give witness that you won't go past this pile and pillar to harm me.

53 "The God of Abraham and Nahor is also the God of their father. May their God decide which of us is right." So Jacob took an oath in the name of the God his father Isaac worshiped.

54 He offered a sacrifice there in the hill country. And he invited his relatives to a meal. After they had eaten, they spent the night there.

55 Early the next morning Laban kissed his grandchildren and his daughters. He gave them his blessing. Then he left and returned home.

1 Jacob also went on his way. The angels of God met him.

2 Jacob saw them. He said, "This is the army of God!" So he named that place Mahanaim.

3 Jacob sent messengers ahead of him to his brother Esau. Esau lived in the land of Seir. It was also called the country of Edom.

4 Jacob told the messengers what to do. He said, "Here's what you must tell my master Esau. 'Your servant Jacob says, "I've been staying with Laban. I've remained there until now.

5 I have cattle and donkeys and sheep and goats. I also have male and female servants. Now I'm sending this message to you. I hope I can please you." ' "

6 The messengers came back to Jacob. They said, "We went to your brother Esau. He's coming now to meet you. He has 400 men with him."

7 Jacob was very worried and afraid. So he separated the people who were with him into two groups. He also separated the flocks and herds and camels.

8 He thought, "Esau may come and attack one group. If he does, the group that's left can escape."

9 Then Jacob prayed, "You are the God of my grandfather Abraham. You are the God of my father Isaac. "Lord, you are the one who said to me, 'Go back to your country and your relatives. Then I will give you success.'

10 You have been very kind and faithful to me. But I'm not worthy of any of this. When I crossed this Jordan River, all I had was my walking stick. But now I've become two groups.

11 "Please save me from the hand of my brother Esau. I'm afraid he'll come and attack me and the mothers with their children.

12 But you have said, 'I will certainly give you success. I will make your children as many as the grains of sand on the seashore. People will not be able to count them.' "

13 Jacob spent the night there. He chose a gift for his brother Esau from what he had with him.

14 He chose 200 female goats and 20 male goats. He chose 200 female sheep and 20 male sheep.

15 He chose 30 female camels with their little ones. He chose 40 cows and ten bulls. And he chose 20 female donkeys and ten male donkeys.

16 He put each herd by itself. Then he put his servants in charge of them. He said to his servants, "Go on ahead of me. Keep some space between the herds."

17 Jacob spoke to his servant who was leading the way. He said, "My brother Esau will meet you. He'll ask, 'Who is your master? Where are you going? And who owns all of these animals in front of you?'

18 "Then say to Esau, 'They belong to your servant Jacob. They are a gift to you from him. And he is coming behind us.' "

19 He also spoke to the second and third servants. He told them and all of the others who followed the herds what to do. He said, "Say the same thing to Esau when you meet him.

20 Make sure you say, 'Your servant Jacob is coming behind us.' " Jacob was thinking, "I'll make peace with him with these gifts I'm sending on ahead. When I see him later, maybe he'll welcome me."

21 So Jacob's gifts went on ahead of him. But he himself spent the night in the camp.

22 That night Jacob got up. He took his two wives, his two female servants and his 11 sons and sent them across the Jabbok River.

23 After they had crossed the stream, he sent over everything he owned.

24 So Jacob was left alone. A man struggled with him until morning.

25 The man saw that he couldn't win. So he touched the inside of Jacob's hip. As Jacob struggled with the man, Jacob's hip was twisted.

26 Then the man said, "Let me go. It is morning." But Jacob replied, "I won't let you go unless you bless me."

27 The man asked him, "What is your name?" "Jacob," he answered.

28 Then the man said, "Your name will not be Jacob anymore. Instead, it will be Israel. You have struggled with God and with men. And you have won."

29 Jacob said, "Please tell me your name." But he replied, "Why do you want to know my name?" Then he blessed Jacob there.

30 So Jacob named the place Peniel. He said, "I saw God face to face. But I'm still alive!"

31 The sun rose above Jacob as he passed by Peniel. He was limping because of his hip.

32 That's why the people of Israel don't eat the meat attached to the inside of the hip. They don't eat it to this very day. It's because the inside of Jacob's hip was touched.

1 Jacob looked up. And there was Esau, coming with his 400 men! So Jacob separated the children. He put them with Leah, Rachel and the two female servants.

2 He put the servants and their children in front. He put Leah and her children next. And he put Rachel and Joseph last.

3 He himself went on ahead. As he came near his brother, he bowed down to the ground seven times.

4 But Esau ran to meet Jacob. He hugged him and threw his arms around his neck. He kissed him, and they cried.

5 Then Esau looked up and saw the women and children. "Who are these people with you?" he asked. Jacob answered, "They are the children God has so kindly given to me."

6 Then the female servants and their children came near and bowed down.

7 Next, Leah and her children came and bowed down. Last of all came Joseph and Rachel. They bowed down too.

8 Esau asked, "Why did you send all of those herds I saw?" "I hoped I could do something to please you," Jacob replied.

9 But Esau said, "I already have plenty, my brother. Keep what you have for yourself."

10 "No, please!" said Jacob. "If I've pleased you, accept this gift from me. Seeing your face is like seeing the face of God. You have welcomed me so kindly.

11 Please accept the present that was brought to you. God has been gracious to me. I have everything I need." Jacob wouldn't give in. So Esau accepted it.

12 Then Esau said, "Let's be on our way. I'll go with you."

13 But Jacob said to him, "You know that the children are young. You also know that I have to take care of the cows and female sheep that are nursing their little ones. If the animals are driven hard for just one day, all of them will die.

14 "So you go on ahead of me. I'll move along only as fast as the herds and the children can go. I'll go slowly until I come to you in Seir."

15 Esau said, "Then let me leave some of my men with you." "Why do that?" Jacob asked. "I just hope I've pleased you."

16 So that day Esau started on his way back to Seir.

17 But Jacob went to Succoth. There he built a place for himself. He also made shelters for his livestock. That's why the place is named Succoth.

18 After Jacob came from Paddan Aram, he arrived safely at the city of Shechem in Canaan. He camped where he could see the city.

19 For 100 pieces of silver he bought a piece of land. He got it from the sons of Hamor. Hamor was the father of Shechem. Jacob set up his tent on that piece of land.

20 He also set up an altar there. He named it El Elohe Israel.

1 Dinah was the daughter Leah had by Jacob. Dinah went out to visit the women of the land.

2 Hamor the Hivite was the ruler of that area. When his son Shechem saw Dinah, he took her and raped her.

3 Then his heart longed for Jacob's daughter Dinah. He fell in love with her and spoke tenderly to her.

4 Shechem said to his father Hamor, "Get me that woman. I want her to be my wife."

5 Jacob heard that his daughter Dinah had been made "unclean." His sons were in the fields with his livestock. So he kept quiet about it until they came home.

6 Then Shechem's father Hamor went out to talk with Jacob.

7 Jacob's sons had come in from the fields. They came as soon as they heard what had happened. They were filled with sadness and anger. Shechem had done a very terrible thing. He had forced Jacob's daughter to have sex with him. He had done something that should never be done in Israel.

8 But Hamor said to them, "My son Shechem wants your daughter. Please give her to him to be his wife.

9 "Let your people and ours get married to each other. Give us your daughters as our wives. You can have our daughters as your wives.

10 You can settle among us. Here is the land. Live in it. Trade in it. Buy property in it."

11 Then Shechem spoke to Dinah's father and brothers. He said, "I want to please you. I'll give you anything you ask.

12 Make the price for the bride as high as you want to. I'll pay anything you ask me. Just give me the woman. I want to get married to her."

13 Their sister Dinah had been made "unclean." So Jacob's sons lied to Shechem and his father Hamor.

14 They said to them, "We can't do it. We can't give our sister to a man who isn't circumcised. That would bring shame on us.

15 We'll agree, but only on one condition. You will have to become like us. You will have to circumcise all of your males.

16 "Then we'll give you our daughters as your wives. And we'll take your daughters as our wives. We'll settle among you and become one people with you.

17 But if you won't agree to it, then we'll take our sister and go."

18 Their offer seemed good to Hamor and his son Shechem.

19 The young man was the most honored of all of the men in his father's family. He didn't lose any time in doing what they said, because he was delighted with Jacob's daughter.

20 Hamor and his son Shechem went to the city gate. They spoke to the other men in town.

21 "These men are friendly toward us," they said. "Let them live in our land. Let them trade in it. The land has plenty of room for them. We can get married to their daughters. And they can marry ours.

22 "But they will agree to live with us as one people only on one condition. All of our males must be circumcised, just as they are.

23 "Won't their livestock and their property belong to us? Won't all of their animals become ours? So let's say yes to them. Then they'll settle among us."

24 All of the men who went out through the city gate agreed with Hamor and his son Shechem. So every male in the city was circumcised.

25 Three days later, all of them were still in pain. Then Simeon and Levi took their swords. They were Jacob's sons and Dinah's brothers. They attacked the city when the people didn't expect it. They killed every male.

26 They also killed Hamor and his son Shechem with their swords. Then they took Dinah from Shechem's house and left.

27 Jacob's other sons found the dead bodies. They robbed the city where their sister had been made "unclean."

28 They took the flocks and herds and donkeys. They took everything that was in the city and out in the fields.

29 They carried everything away. And they took all of the women and children. They took away everything that was in the houses.

30 Then Jacob said to Simeon and Levi, "You have brought trouble on me. Now I'm like a very bad smell to the Canaanites and Perizzites who live in this land. There aren't many of us. They may join together against me and attack me. Then I and my family will be destroyed."

31 But they replied, "Should he have treated our sister like a prostitute?"

1 Then God said to Jacob, "Go up to Bethel and settle there. Build an altar there to honor me. That's where I appeared to you when you were running away from your brother Esau."

2 So Jacob spoke to his family and to everyone who was with him. He said, "Get rid of the strange gods you have with you. Make yourselves pure, and change your clothes.

3 Come, let's go up to Bethel. There I'll build an altar to honor God. He answered me when I was in trouble. He's been with me everywhere I've gone."

4 So they gave Jacob all of the strange gods they had. They also gave him their earrings. Jacob buried them under the oak tree at Shechem.

5 Then Jacob and everyone who was with him started out. The terror of God fell on the towns all around them. So no one chased them.

6 Jacob and all of the people who were with him came to Luz. Luz is also called Bethel. It's in the land of Canaan.

7 Jacob built an altar at Luz. He named the place El Bethel. There God made himself known to Jacob when he was running away from his brother.

8 Rebekah's attendant Deborah died. They buried her body under the oak tree below Bethel. So it was called Allon Bacuth.

9 After Jacob returned from Paddan Aram, God appeared to him again. And God blessed him.

10 God said to him, "Your name is Jacob. But you will not be called Jacob anymore. Your name will be Israel." So he named him Israel.

11 God said to him, "I am the Mighty God. Have children and increase your numbers. A nation and a community of nations will come from you. Kings will come from your body.

12 I am giving you the land I gave to Abraham and Isaac. I will also give it to your children after you."

13 Then God left him at the place where he had talked with him.

14 Jacob set up a stone pillar at the place where God had talked with him. He poured out a drink offering on it. He also poured oil on it.

15 Jacob named the place Bethel. That's where God had talked with him.

16 They moved on from Bethel. Ephrath wasn't very far away when Rachel began to have a baby. She was having a very hard time of it.

17 The woman who helped her saw that she was having problems. So she said to her, "Don't be afraid. You have another son."

18 But Rachel was dying. As she took her last breath, she named her son Ben-Oni. But his father named him Benjamin.

19 So Rachel died. Her body was buried beside the road to Ephrath. Ephrath was also called Bethlehem.

20 Jacob set up a pillar over her tomb. The pillar marks the place of Rachel's tomb to this very day.

21 Israel moved on again. He set up his tent beyond Migdal Eder.

22 While Israel was living in that area, Reuben went in and made love to Bilhah. She was the concubine of Reuben's father. And Israel heard about it. Here are the 12 sons Jacob had.

23 Leah was the mother of Reuben, Jacob's oldest son. Her other sons were Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar and Zebulun.

24 The sons of Rachel were Joseph and Benjamin.

25 The sons of Rachel's female servant Bilhah were Dan and Naphtali.

26 The sons of Leah's female servant Zilpah were Gad and Asher. Those were Jacob's sons. They were born in Paddan Aram.

27 Jacob came home to his father Isaac in Mamre. Mamre is near Kiriath Arba, where Abraham and Isaac had stayed. The place is also called Hebron.

28 Isaac lived 180 years.

29 Then he took his last breath and died. He was very old when he joined the members of his family who had already died. His sons Esau and Jacob buried his body.

1 Here is the story of Esau. Esau was also called Edom.

2 Esau got his wives from among the women of Canaan. He married Adah, the daughter of Elon the Hittite. He also married Oholibamah, the daughter of Anah and the granddaughter of Zibeon the Hivite.

3 And he married Basemath, the daughter of Ishmael and the sister of Nebaioth.

4 Adah had Eliphaz by Esau. Basemath had Reuel.

5 Oholibamah had Jeush, Jalam and Korah. All of them were Esau's sons. They were born in Canaan.

6 Esau moved to a land far away from his brother Jacob. He took with him his wives, his sons and daughters, and all of the people who lived with him. He also took his livestock and all of his other animals. He took everything he had gotten in Canaan.

7 Jacob and Esau owned so much that they couldn't remain together. There wasn't enough land for both of them. They had too much livestock.

8 So Esau settled in the hill country of Seir. Esau was also called Edom.

9 Here is the story of Esau. He's the father of the people of Edom. They live in the hill country of Seir.

10 Here are the names of Esau's sons. They are Eliphaz, the son of Esau's wife Adah, and Reuel, the son of Esau's wife Basemath.

11 The sons of Eliphaz were Teman, Omar, Zepho, Gatam and Kenaz.

12 Esau's son Eliphaz also had a concubine named Timna. She had Amalek by Eliphaz. They were grandsons of Esau's wife Adah.

13 The sons of Reuel were Nahath, Zerah, Shammah and Mizzah. They were grandsons of Esau's wife Basemath.

14 Esau's wife Oholibamah was the daughter of Anah and the granddaughter of Zibeon. She had Jeush, Jalam and Korah by Esau.

15 Here are the chiefs who were among Esau's sons. Eliphaz was Esau's oldest son. The sons of Eliphaz were Chiefs Teman, Omar, Zepho, Kenaz,

16 Korah, Gatam and Amalek. They were the chiefs in Edom who were sons of Eliphaz. They were Adah's grandsons.

17 The sons of Esau's son Reuel were Chiefs Nahath, Zerah, Shammah and Mizzah. They were the chiefs in Edom who were sons of Reuel. They were grandsons of Esau's wife Basemath.

18 The sons of Esau's wife Oholibamah were Chiefs Jeush, Jalam and Korah. They were the chiefs who were sons of Esau's wife Oholibamah. She was Anah's daughter.

19 That was the family line of Esau. And those were the chiefs. Esau was also called Edom.

20 Seir the Horite had sons living in the same area. They were Lotan, Shobal, Zibeon, Anah,

21 Dishon, Ezer and Dishan. The sons of Seir in Edom were Horite chiefs.

22 The sons of Lotan were Hori and Homam. Timna was Lotan's sister.

23 The sons of Shobal were Alvan, Manahath, Ebal, Shepho and Onam.

24 The sons of Zibeon were Aiah and Anah. He was the Anah who discovered the hot springs of water in the desert. He found them while he was taking care of the donkeys that belonged to his father Zibeon.

25 The children of Anah were Dishon and Oholibamah. Oholibamah was the daughter of Anah.

26 The sons of Dishon were Hemdan, Eshban, Ithran and Keran.

27 The sons of Ezer were Bilhan, Zaavan and Akan.

28 The sons of Dishan were Uz and Aran.

29 The Horite chiefs were Lotan, Shobal, Zibeon, Anah,

30 Dishon, Ezer and Dishan. They were the Horite chiefs in the land of Seir. They are listed tribe by tribe.

31 Before Israel had a king, there were kings who ruled in Edom.

32 Bela became the king of Edom. Bela was the son of Beor. Bela's city was called Dinhabah.

33 When Bela died, Jobab became the next king. Jobab was the son of Zerah from Bozrah.

34 When Jobab died, Husham became the next king. Husham was from the land of the Temanites.

35 When Husham died, Hadad became the next king. Hadad was the son of Bedad. Hadad had won the battle over Midian in the country of Moab. Hadad's city was called Avith.

36 When Hadad died, Samlah became the next king. Samlah was from Masrekah.

37 When Samlah died, Shaul became the next king. Shaul was from Rehoboth on the river.

38 When Shaul died, Baal-Hanan became the next king. Baal-Hanan was the son of Acbor.

39 When Baal-Hanan died, Hadad became the next king. Hadad's city was called Pau. His wife's name was Mehetabel. She was the daughter of Matred. Matred was the daughter of Me-Zahab.

40 Here are the chiefs who were in the family line of Esau. They are listed by name as chiefs in charge of their tribes and territories. They are Timna, Alvah, Jetheth,

41 Oholibamah, Elah, Pinon,

42 Kenaz, Teman, Mibzar,

43 Magdiel and Iram. They were the chiefs of Edom. They ruled over their settlements in the land where they lived. That's the end of the story of Esau. He was the father of the people of Edom.

1 Jacob lived in the land of Canaan. It's the land where his father had stayed.

2 Here is the story of Jacob. Joseph was a young man. He was 17 years old. He was taking care of the flocks with some of his brothers. They were the sons of Bilhah and the sons of Zilpah, his father's wives. Joseph brought their father a bad report about them.

3 Israel loved Joseph more than any of his other sons. Joseph had been born to him when he was old. Israel made him a beautiful robe.

4 Joseph's brothers saw that their father loved him more than any of them. So they hated Joseph. They couldn't even speak one kind word to him.

5 Joseph had a dream. When he told it to his brothers, they hated him even more.

6 He said to them, "Listen to the dream I had.

7 We were tying up bundles of grain out in the field. Suddenly my bundle rose and stood up straight. Your bundles gathered around my bundle and bowed down to it."

8 His brothers said to him, "Do you plan to be king over us? Will you really rule over us?" So they hated him even more because of his dream. They didn't like what he had said.

9 Then Joseph had another dream. He told it to his brothers. "Listen," he said. "I had another dream. This time the sun and moon and 11 stars were bowing down to me."

10 He told his father as well as his brothers. Then his father objected. He said, "What about this dream you had? Will your mother and I and your brothers really do that? Will we really come and bow down to the ground in front of you?"

11 His brothers were jealous of him. But his father kept the matter in mind.

12 Joseph's brothers had gone to take care of their father's flocks near Shechem.

13 Israel said to Joseph, "As you know, your brothers are taking care of the flocks near Shechem. Come. I'm going to send you to them." "All right," Joseph replied.

14 So Israel said to him, "Go to your brothers. See how they are doing. Also see how the flocks are doing. Then come back and tell me." So he sent him away from the Hebron Valley. Joseph arrived at Shechem.

15 A man found him wandering around in the fields. He asked Joseph, "What are you looking for?"

16 He replied, "I'm looking for my brothers. Can you tell me where they are taking care of their flocks?"

17 "They've moved on from here," the man answered. "I heard them say, 'Let's go to Dothan.' " So Joseph went to look for his brothers. He found them near Dothan.

18 But they saw him a long way off. Before he reached them, they made plans to kill him.

19 "Here comes that dreamer!" they said to one another.

20 "Come. Let's kill him. Let's throw him into one of these empty wells. Let's say that a wild animal ate him up. Then we'll see whether his dreams will come true."

21 Reuben heard them. He tried to save Joseph from them. "Let's not take his life," he said.

22 "Let's not spill any blood. Throw him into this empty well here in the desert. But don't harm him yourselves." Reuben said that to save Joseph from them. He was hoping he could take him back to his father.

23 When Joseph came to his brothers, he was wearing his beautiful robe. They took it away from him.

24 And they threw him into the well. The well was empty. There wasn't any water in it.

25 Then they sat down to eat their meal. As they did, they saw some Ishmaelite traders coming from Gilead. Their camels were loaded with spices, lotion and myrrh. They were on their way to take them down to Egypt.

26 Judah said to his brothers, "What will we gain if we kill our brother and try to cover up what we've done?

27 Come. Let's sell him to these traders. Let's not harm him ourselves. After all, he's our brother. He's our own flesh and blood." Judah's brothers agreed with him.

28 The traders from Midian came by. Joseph's brothers pulled him up out of the well. They sold him to the Ishmaelite traders for eight ounces of silver. Then the traders took him to Egypt.

29 Later, Reuben came back to the empty well. He saw that Joseph wasn't there. He was so upset that he tore his clothes.

30 He went back to his brothers and said, "The boy isn't there! Now what should I do?"

31 Then they got Joseph's beautiful robe. They killed a goat and dipped the robe in the blood.

32 They took it back to their father. They said, "We found this. Take a look at it. See if it's your son's robe."

33 Jacob recognized it. He said, "It's my son's robe! A wild animal has eaten him up. Joseph must have been torn to pieces."

34 Jacob tore his clothes. He put on black clothes. Then he sobbed over his son for many days.

35 All of Jacob's other sons and daughters came to comfort him. But they weren't able to. He said, "I'll be full of sorrow when I go down into the grave to be with my son." So Joseph's father sobbed over him.

36 But the traders from Midian sold Joseph to Potiphar in Egypt. Potiphar was one of Pharaoh's officials. He was the captain of the palace guard.

1 At that time, Judah left his brothers. He went down to stay with a man named Hirah. Hirah was from the town of Adullam.

2 There Judah met the daughter of a man from Canaan. His name was Shua. Judah married her and made love to her.

3 She became pregnant. She had a son. They named him Er.

4 She became pregnant again and had another son. She named him Onan.

5 She had still another son. She named him Shelah. He was born at Kezib.

6 Judah got a wife for his oldest son Er. Her name was Tamar.

7 But Judah's oldest son Er was evil in the LORD's eyes. So the LORD put him to death.

8 Then Judah said to Onan, "Make love to your brother's wife. After all, you are her brother-in-law. So carry out your duty to her. Produce children for your brother."

9 But Onan knew that the children wouldn't belong to him. So every time he made love to his brother's wife, he spilled his semen on the ground. He did it so he wouldn't produce children for his brother.

10 What he did was evil in the LORD's eyes. So the LORD put him to death also.

11 Then Judah spoke to his daughter-in-law Tamar. He said, "Live as a widow in your father's home. Wait there until my son Shelah grows up." Judah was thinking, "Shelah might die too, just like his brothers." So Tamar went to live in her father's home.

12 After a long time Judah's wife died. She was the daughter of Shua. When Judah got over his sadness, he went up to Timnah. His friend Hirah from Adullam went with him. Men were clipping the wool from Judah's sheep at Timnah.

13 Tamar was told, "Your father-in-law is on his way to Timnah to clip the wool from his sheep."

14 So she took off her widow's clothes. She covered her face with a veil so people wouldn't know who she was. Then she sat down at the entrance to Enaim. Enaim is on the road to Timnah. Tamar knew that Shelah had grown up. But she hadn't been given to him as his wife.

15 Judah saw her. He thought she was a prostitute because she had covered her face with a veil.

16 He didn't realize that she was his daughter-in-law. He went over to her by the side of the road. He said, "Come. Let me make love to you." "What will you give me to make love to you?" she asked.

17 "I'll send you a young goat from my flock," he said. "Will you give me something that belongs to you?" she asked. "I'll keep it until you send the goat."

18 He said, "What should I give you?" "Give me your seal and its string," she answered. "And give me your walking stick." So he gave them to her. Then he had sex with her. And she became pregnant by him.

19 After she left, she took off her veil. She put on her widow's clothes again.

20 Judah sent his friend Hirah with the young goat he had promised. He wanted to get back what he had given to the woman. But his friend Hirah couldn't find her.

21 He asked the men who lived at Enaim, "Where's the temple prostitute? She used to sit beside the road here." "There hasn't been any temple prostitute here," they said.

22 So Hirah went back to Judah. He said, "I couldn't find her. Besides, the men who lived there didn't know anything about her. They said, 'There hasn't been any temple prostitute here.' "

23 Then Judah said, "Let her keep what she has. I don't want people making fun of us. After all, I did send her this young goat. We can't help it if you couldn't find her."

24 About three months later people brought word to Judah. They said, "Your daughter-in-law Tamar is guilty of being a prostitute. Now she's pregnant." Judah said, "Bring her out! Have her burned to death!"

25 As Tamar was being brought out, she sent a message to her father-in-law. She said, "I am pregnant by the man who owns these." She continued, "Do you recognize this seal and string and walking stick? Do you know who they belong to?"

26 Judah recognized them. He said, "She's a better person than I am. I should have given her to my son Shelah, but I didn't." Judah never had sex with Tamar again.

27 The time came for Tamar to have her baby. There were twin boys inside her.

28 As the babies were being born, one of them stuck out his hand. So the woman who was helping Tamar took a bright red thread. The woman tied it on the baby's wrist. She said, "This one came out first."

29 But he pulled his hand back, and his brother came out first instead. She said, "Just look at how you have broken out!" So he was called Perez.

30 Then his brother, who had the red thread on his wrist, came out. So he was named Zerah.

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