Common English Bible CEB
The Message Bible MSG
1 Abram went up from Egypt toward the arid southern plain with his wife, with everything he had, and with Lot.
1
So Abram left Egypt and went back to the Negev, he and his wife and everything he owned, and Lot still with him.
2 Abram was very wealthy in livestock, silver, and gold.
2
By now Abram was very rich, loaded with cattle and silver and gold.
3 Abram traveled, making and breaking camp, from the arid southern plain to Bethel and to the sacred place there, where he had first pitched his tent between Bethel and Ai,
3
He moved on from the Negev, camping along the way, to Bethel, the place he had first set up his tent between Bethel and Ai
4 that is, to the place at which he had earlier built the altar. There he worshipped in the LORD's name.
4
and built his first altar. Abram prayed there to God.
5 Now Lot, who traveled with Abram, also had flocks, cattle, and tents.
5
Lot, who was traveling with Abram, was also rich in sheep and cattle and tents.
6 They had so many possessions between them that the land couldn't support both of them. They could no longer live together.
6
But the land couldn't support both of them; they had too many possessions. They couldn't both live there -
7 Conflicts broke out between those herding Abram's livestock and those herding Lot's livestock. At that time the Canaanites and the Perizzites lived in the land.
7
quarrels broke out between Abram's shepherds and Lot's shepherds. The Canaanites and Perizzites were also living on the land at the time.
8 Abram said to Lot, "Let's not have disputes between me and you and between our herders since we are relatives.
8
Abram said to Lot, "Let's not have fighting between us, between your shepherds and my shepherds. After all, we're family.
9 Isn't the whole land in front of you? Let's separate. If you go north, I will go south; and if you go south, I will go north."
9
Look around. Isn't there plenty of land out there? Let's separate. If you go left, I'll go right; if you go right, I'll go left."
10 Lot looked up and saw the entire Jordan Valley. All of it was well irrigated, like the garden of the LORD, like the land of Egypt, as far as Zoar (this was before the LORD destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah).
10
Lot looked. He saw the whole plain of the Jordan spread out, well watered (this was before God destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah), like God's garden, like Egypt, and stretching all the way to Zoar.
11 So Lot chose for himself the entire Jordan Valley. Lot set out toward the east, and they separated from each other.
11
Lot took the whole plain of the Jordan. Lot set out to the east.
12 Abram settled in the land of Canaan, and Lot settled near the cities of the valley and pitched his tent close to Sodom.
12
Abram settled in Canaan; Lot settled in the cities of the plain and pitched his tent near Sodom.
13 The citizens of Sodom were very evil and sinful against the LORD.
13
The people of Sodom were evil - flagrant sinners against God.
14 After Lot separated from him, the LORD said to Abram, "From the place where you are standing, look up and gaze to the north, south, east, and west,
14
After Lot separated from him, God said to Abram, "Open your eyes, look around. Look north, south, east, and west.
15 because all the land that you see I give you and your descendants forever.
15
Everything you see, the whole land spread out before you, I will give to you and your children forever.
16 I will make your descendants like the dust of the earth. If someone could count the bits of dust on the earth, then they could also count your descendants.
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I'll make your descendants like dust - counting your descendants will be as impossible as counting the dust of the Earth.
17 Stand up and walk around through the length and breadth of the land because I am giving it to you."
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So - on your feet, get moving! Walk through the country, its length and breadth; I'm giving it all to you."
18 So Abram packed his tent and went and settled by the oaks of Mamre in Hebron. There he built an altar to the LORD.
18
Abram moved his tent. He went and settled by the Oaks of Mamre in Hebron. There he built an altar to God.