New Revised Standard NRS
The Message Bible MSG
1 So Abram went up from Egypt, he and his wife, and all that he had, and Lot with him, into the Negeb.
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 Now Abram was very rich in livestock, in silver, and in gold.
2
By now Abram was very rich, loaded with cattle and silver and gold.
3 He journeyed on by stages from the Negeb as far as Bethel, to the place where his tent had been at the beginning, 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 to the place where he had made an altar at the first; and there Abram called on the name of the Lord.
4
and built his first altar. Abram prayed there to God.
5 Now Lot, who went with Abram, also had flocks and herds and tents,
5
Lot, who was traveling with Abram, was also rich in sheep and cattle and tents.
6 so that the land could not support both of them living together; for their possessions were so great that they could not live together,
6
But the land couldn't support both of them; they had too many possessions. They couldn't both live there -
7 and there was strife between the herders of Abram's livestock and the herders of 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 Then Abram said to Lot, "Let there be no strife between you and me, and between your herders and my herders; for we are kindred.
8
Abram said to Lot, "Let's not have fighting between us, between your shepherds and my shepherds. After all, we're family.
9 Is not the whole land before you? Separate yourself from me. If you take the left hand, then I will go to the right; or if you take the right hand, then I will go to the left."
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 about him, and saw that the plain of the Jordan was well watered everywhere like the garden of the Lord, like the land of Egypt, in the direction of Zoar; this was before the Lord had 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 all the plain of the Jordan, and Lot journeyed eastward; thus they separated from each other.
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Lot took the whole plain of the Jordan. Lot set out to the east.
12 Abram settled in the land of Canaan, while Lot settled among the cities of the Plain and moved his tent as far as Sodom.
12
Abram settled in Canaan; Lot settled in the cities of the plain and pitched his tent near Sodom.
13 Now the people of Sodom were wicked, great sinners against the Lord.
13
The people of Sodom were evil - flagrant sinners against God.
14 The Lord said to Abram, after Lot had separated from him, "Raise your eyes now, and look from the place where you are, northward and southward and eastward and westward;
14
After Lot separated from him, God said to Abram, "Open your eyes, look around. Look north, south, east, and west.
15 for all the land that you see I will give to you and to your offspring 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 offspring like the dust of the earth; so that if one can count the dust of the earth, your offspring also can be counted.
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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 Rise up, walk through the length and the breadth of the land, for I will give 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 moved his tent, and came and settled by the oaks of Mamre, which are at Hebron; and 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.
New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright 1989, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Published by permission. Originally published by NavPress in English as THE MESSAGE: The Bible in Contemporary Language copyright 2002 by Eugene Peterson. All rights reserved.