以撒為兒子祝福

27 以撒年老的時候,眼睛昏花,幾乎看不見。他把大兒子以掃叫來,說:「我兒啊!」以掃說:「我在這裡。」 以撒說:「我年老了,不知道還能活多久。 現在,帶著你的弓箭去田野為我打些野味來, 照我喜歡的口味,做成美食給我吃,以便我在死前給你祝福。」

利百加聽見了以撒跟兒子以掃說的話。以掃出去打獵後, 利百加就對她兒子雅各說:「我聽見你父親對你哥哥以掃說, 『你去打些野味回來,做成美食給我吃,以便我死之前在耶和華面前給你祝福。』 現在,孩子,你要聽我的話,照我的吩咐去做。 你到羊群裡選兩頭上好的山羊羔,我好照你父親喜愛的口味做成美食, 10 由你拿去給他吃,讓他死前為你祝福。」

11 雅各對母親利百加說:「哥哥以掃渾身是毛,我的皮膚光滑。 12 如果父親用手摸我,一定會發覺我騙他,那時候我不但得不到祝福,反會招來咒詛。」 13 他母親利百加對他說:「孩子啊,有咒詛,我來承擔。你只管聽我的話,把羊羔牽來。」

14 於是,雅各把羊牽來交給母親,他母親就照他父親喜愛的口味做成美食。 15 利百加又拿了大兒子以掃留在家裡最好的衣服,給小兒子雅各穿上, 16 再用山羊皮把雅各光滑的手和脖子都包起來, 17 然後把做好的美味和餅交給雅各。

18 雅各來到父親跟前,叫了一聲:「父親。」以撒回答說:「我在這裡,孩子,你是誰?」 19 雅各對父親說:「我是你的大兒子以掃,你吩咐我的事,我已經辦好了。請你坐起來,吃我打的野味,然後給我祝福。」 20 以撒對他說:「孩子,你怎麼這麼快就打到野味了?」雅各回答說:「因為你的上帝耶和華讓我碰見好機會。」 21 以撒說:「孩子,過來,讓我摸摸看你是不是我兒以掃。」 22 雅各挨到父親跟前,以撒摸著他說:「聲音是雅各的聲音,手卻是以掃的手。」 23 因為雅各手上有毛,與他哥哥以掃的手一樣,以撒分辨不出來,就給他祝福。 24 以撒又問:「你真是我的兒子以掃嗎?」雅各回答說:「是。」 25 以撒便說:「把野味拿給我,我吃了你打的野味就為你祝福。」雅各遞上野味,以撒吃了;雅各又拿酒給他喝,他也喝了。 26 以撒對他說:「孩子,你過來親吻我。」 27 雅各就挨上前去親了父親。以撒聞到他衣服上的氣味,就祝福他說:

「我兒子的香氣就像蒙耶和華賜福之田地的香氣。
28 願上帝賜你天上的甘霖、肥沃的土地並豐富的五穀和新酒。
29 願萬民都臣服於你,
萬國都向你下拜。
願你成為你弟兄的主人,
願你母親的兒子向你下拜。
咒詛你的,願他受咒詛;
祝福你的,願他蒙祝福。」

以掃求父親祝福

30 雅各接受了以撒的祝福才剛離開,他的哥哥以掃就打獵回來了。 31 以掃把野味煮好,拿到父親跟前,說:「父親,請起來吃你兒子煮的野味,然後給我祝福。」 32 他父親以撒問道:「你是誰?」以掃回答說:「我是你的長子以掃。」 33 以撒大為震驚,說:「你沒有來之前,拿野味來給我吃的是誰呢?我已經吃了,也給那人祝福了,他將來必蒙祝福。」

34 以掃聽了放聲痛哭,說:「父親啊,求你也為我祝福!」 35 以撒說:「你弟弟已經用詭計把你的福分奪去了。」 36 以掃說:「怪不得他叫雅各,他已經騙了我兩次,先前把我長子的名分奪去,現在又奪去我的福分!」接著他對父親說:「難道你沒有留下別的祝福可以給我嗎?」

37 以撒對以掃說:「我已經立他做你的主人,使他的眾弟兄做他的僕人,並給他五穀和新酒。孩子啊,我還能為你做什麼呢?」 38 以掃對父親說:「父親啊,你只有一個祝福嗎?父親啊,求你也為我祝福!」以掃又放聲大哭。 39 以撒對他說:

「你住的地方必遠離肥沃的土地,
也不會有天上的甘霖。
40 你必倚靠刀劍生活,
又必服侍你的弟弟。
到你無法忍受的時候,
你必掙脫頸上的重軛。」

雅各逃往舅父家

41 以掃因為父親把祝福給了雅各,就對雅各懷恨在心,暗自思量說:「父親已經不久人世,他死後,我要把雅各殺掉!」 42 以掃的計謀傳到利百加耳中。她就派人把雅各叫來,對他說:「你哥哥以掃想要殺你洩憤! 43 孩子,聽我的話,現在就逃到哈蘭你舅舅拉班那裡, 44 與他住些日子,一直住到你哥哥的氣消了。 45 等他氣消了,忘了你對他所做的事,我會派人接你回來。我何必在一天之內失去你們兩個呢?」 46 利百加對以撒說:「我被這些赫人女子煩死了。如果雅各也像以掃一樣娶那些赫人女子為妻,我活著還有什麼意思呢?」

27 And it came to pass, that when Yitzchak was zaken (old),and his eyes were dim, so that he could not see, he called Esav bno hagadol and said unto him, Beni: and he said unto him, Hineni.

And he said, Hinei now, I am old, I know not my yom mot:

Therefore take, now, thy kelim (weapons), thy quiver and thy keshet (bow), and go out to the sadeh, and hunt me some wild game;

And make me matamim (savory meat, tasty food), such as I love, and bring it to me, that I may eat; that my nefesh may make a brocha upon thee before I die.

And Rivkah heard when Yitzchak spoke to Esav bno. And Esav went to the sadeh to hunt for wild game, and to bring it

And Rivkah spoke unto Ya’akov her ben, saying, Hinei, I heard avicha speak unto Esav achicha, saying,

Bring me wild game, and make me matamim, that I may eat, and make a brocha upon thee before Hashem before my mot.

Now therefore, beni (my son), obey my kol (voice) according to that which I command thee.

Go now to the tzon, and bring me from there two gedayei izzim tovim (good kids of goats); and I will make them matamim for avicha, such as he loveth:

10 And thou shalt bring it to avicha, that he may eat, and that he may make a brocha upon thee before his mot.

11 And Ya’akov said to Rivkah immo, Look, Esav achi is an ish sa’ir (hairy man), and I am an ish chalak (smooth man)

12 What if avi will touch me, and I shall seem to him as a meta’te’a (mocker); and I shall bring a kelalah upon me, and not a brocha.

13 And immo said unto him, Upon me be thy kelalah, beni; only obey my kol (voice), and go bring me them.

14 And he went, and got, and brought them to immo: and immo made matamim, such as aviv loved.

15 And Rivkah took begadim of Esav her ben hagadol, the chamudot (best ones) which were with her in the bais, and dressed Ya’akov her ben hakatan;

16 And with orot gedayei haizzim (skins of the kids of the goats) she dressed and covered his hands, and also upon the smooth of his tzavar (neck);

17 And she gave the matamim and the lechem, which she had prepared, into the yad Ya’akov her ben.

18 And he came unto aviv, and said, Avi; and he said, Hineni; who art thou, beni?

19 And Ya’akov said unto aviv, I am Esav thy bechor; I have done according as thou told me; arise, now, sit up and eat of my wild game, that thy nefesh may make a brocha upon me.

20 And Yitzchak said unto bno, How is it that thou hast found it so quickly, beni? And he said, Hashem Eloheicha worked it out for me.

21 And Yitzchak said unto Ya’akov, Come near, now, that I may touch thee, beni, indeed, whether thou be beni Esav or not.

22 And Ya’akov went near unto Yitzchak aviv; and he touched him, and said, The kol is kol Ya’akov, but the yadayim are the yedei Esav.

23 And he discerned him not, for his hands were se’irot, as yedei Esav achiv; so he made a brocha upon him

24 And he said, Art thou indeed beni Esav? And he said, I am.

25 And he said, Bring it near to me, and I will eat of the wild game of beni, that my nefesh may make a brocha upon thee. And he brought it near to him, and he did eat; and he brought him yayin and he drank.

26 And aviv Yitzchak said unto him, Come near now, and kiss me beni.

27 And he came near, and kissed him: and he smelled the reiach (smell) of his begadim, and made a brocha upon him, and said, See, the reiach of beni is as the reiach of a sadeh upon which Hashem hath made a brocha;

28 Therefore HaElohim give thee of the tal haShomayim, and the fatness of ha’aretz, and plenty of dagan and tirosh;

29 Let people serve thee, and amim bow down to thee: be gevir over thy achim, and let bnei immecha bow down to thee: arur be every one that curseth thee, and baruch be he that blesseh thee.

30 And as soon as Yitzchak had completed making on Ya’akov a brocha, and Ya’akov had hardly gone out from the presence of Yitzchak aviv, that Esav achiv came in from his hunt.

31 And he also had prepared matamim, and brought it unto aviv and said unto aviv, Let avi arise, and eat of the wild game of bno, that thy nefesh may make a brocha upon me.

32 And Yitzchak aviv said unto him, Mi atah? (Who art thou?) And he said, I am binecha, thy bechor Esav.

33 And Yitzchak trembled with charadah gedolah ad me’od (exceedingly great trembling), and said, Who? Where is he that hath hunted wild game, and brought it me, and I have eaten of all of it before thou camest, and have made a brocha upon him? And indeed he shall be baruch (blessed)!

34 And when Esav heard the words of aviv, he cried with tzeakah gedolah umarah ad me’od (a great and exceeding bitter cry), and said unto aviv, Make a brocha on me, even me also, O avi.

35 And he said, Achicha came with mirmah (deceit), and hath taken away thy brocha.

36 And he said, Is not he rightly called shmo Ya’akov? for vaya’keveni (now he deceived/outwitted me) these two times he took away my bechorah (birthright); and, hinei, now he hath taken away my brocha (blessing). And he asked, Hast thou not reserved a brocha for me?

37 And Yitzchak answered and said unto Esav, See, I have made him gevir over you, and all his achim have I given to him for avadim; and with dagan and tirosh have I sustained him; and what shall I do now unto thee, beni?

38 And Esav said unto aviv, Hast thou but one brocha, avi? Make a brocha on me, even me also, O avi. And Esav lifted up his kol (voice), and wept.

39 And Yitzchak aviv answered and said unto him, Hinei, thy moshav (dwelling) shall be the fatness of ha’aretz, and of the tal HaShomayim from above;

40 And by thy cherev shalt thou live, and shalt serve achicha; and it shall come to pass when thou shalt become restless, that thou shalt break his ol (yoke) from off thy tzavar (neck).

41 And Esav hated Ya’akov because of the brocha wherewith aviv made a brocha upon him: and Esav said in his lev, The yemei evel (days of mourning) for avi are at hand; then will I slay Ya’akov achi.

42 And these words of Esav her ben hagadol were told to Rivkah; and she sent and called Ya’akov her ben hakatan, and said unto him, Hinei, Esav achicha, as touching thee, doth console himself, purposing to kill thee.

43 Now therefore, beni, shema bekoli (listen to my voice)! Arise, flee thou to Lavan achi to Charan;

44 And tarry with him a few days, until chamat achicha subsides;

45 And when af achicha subsides from thee, and he forget that which thou hast done to him; then I will send, and get thee from there. Why should I be bereaved also of you both in yom echad (one day, the same day)?

46 And Rivkah said to Yitzchak, I am weary of my life because of the Banot Chet: if Ya’akov take an isha of the Banot Chet (Hittite women) such as these which are of the banot ha’aretz, what will chayyim to me be?

雅各谋夺祝福

27 以撒年老,眼睛昏花,看不见东西了;他把他的大儿子以扫叫了来,对他说:“我儿啊!”以扫回答他:“我在这里。” 以撒说:“现在我已经老了,不知道甚么时候会死。 你现在拿你打猎的用具,就是你的箭囊和弓,出到田野去为我打猎。 照我所喜欢的,给我预备美味的食物,拿来给我吃;好让我在未死以前给你祝福。”

以撒对他儿子以扫说话的时候,利百加也听见。以扫到田野去打猎,要带些野味回来。 利百加就对她儿子雅各说:“我听见你父亲对你的哥哥以扫这样说: ‘你去为我打些猎物回来,给我预备美味的食物,让我吃了,在我未死以前可以在耶和华面前给你祝福。’ 我儿啊,现在你要听我的话,照着我吩咐你的去作。 你快到羊群那里去,给我牵两只肥嫩的小山羊来,我要照你父亲所喜欢的,给他预备美味的食物。 10 然后你要拿去给你父亲吃,好让他在未死以前给你祝福。” 11 雅各对他的母亲利百加说:“但是哥哥以扫浑身是毛,而我却是个皮肤光滑的人。 12 万一我父亲摸着我,必以为我是骗子,那时我就必自招咒诅,而不是祝福了。” 13 他母亲对他说:“我儿啊,愿你所招的咒诅归到我身上吧,你只管听我的话,去把羊牵来给我。” 14 他就去把羊羔牵来,交给他母亲,他母亲就照他父亲所喜欢的,预备美味的食物。 15 利百加又把大儿子以扫留在家里最好的衣服拿来,给她小儿子雅各穿上。 16 又用小山羊的皮,包在雅各的手上和他颈上光滑的地方。 17 然后,她把自己所预备美味的食物和饼,放在她儿子雅各的手里。

18 雅各来到他父亲那里,说:“我父啊!”以撒说:“我在这里,我儿啊,你是谁?” 19 雅各对他父亲说:“我就是你的长子以扫,你吩咐我作的,我已经照样作了。请坐起来,吃我的猎物,好给我祝福。” 20 以撒问他的儿子:“我儿啊,你怎么这样快就猎到了呢?”雅各回答:“因为耶和华你的 神叫我碰着好机会。” 21 以撒对雅各说:“我儿啊,你上前来,让我摸摸你,看看你是不是我的儿子以扫。” 22 雅各就走近他父亲以撒身边,以撒摸着他,说:“声音是雅各的声音,手却是以扫的手。” 23 以撒认不出他来,因为他的手上有毛,好象他哥哥以扫的手一样,于是给他祝福。 24 以撒问:“你真是我的儿子以扫吗?”他回答:“我是。” 25 以撒说:“把食物递给我,好让我吃我儿子的猎物,我就给你祝福。”雅各把食物递给他,他就吃了;又拿酒给他,他也喝了。 26 他父亲以撒对他说:“我儿啊,你上前来,和我亲吻。” 27 他就上前和父亲亲吻;他父亲一闻到他衣服的香气,就给他祝福,说:

“看哪,我儿子的香气,

好象蒙耶和华赐福的田地所发出的香气一样。

28 愿 神赐给你

天上的甘露,

地上的沃土,

以及大量五谷和美酒。

29 愿万民服事你,

愿万族向你下拜,

愿你作你兄弟的主人,

愿你母亲的子孙向你下拜。

咒诅你的,愿他受咒诅;

给你祝福的,愿他蒙福。”

以扫求父祝福

30 以撒给雅各祝福完了,雅各刚刚从他父亲以撒那里出来的时候,他哥哥以扫就打猎回来了。 31 他也预备了美味的食物,拿来给他父亲,对他说:“请我父起来,吃你儿子的猎物,好给我祝福。” 32 他父亲以撒问他:“你是谁?”他回答:“我就是你的长子以扫。” 33 以撒就大大地战兢起来,说:“那么,刚才去打猎又拿猎物给我的是谁呢?在你未来以先,我已经吃了,又给他祝福了;他将来必定蒙福。” 34 以扫听了他父亲的话,就非常痛心,放声大哭,对他父亲说:“我父啊,求你也给我祝福。” 35 以撒说:“你弟弟已经前来,用诡计把你的祝福夺去了。” 36 以扫说:“他名叫雅各不是很对吗?因为他欺骗了我两次。从前他夺去我的长子名分,现在他又夺去我的祝福。”以扫又说:“你再没有祝福留给我吗?” 37 以撒回答以扫,说:“我已经立他作你的主人,又把他所有的兄弟给了他作仆人,并且把五谷和美酒供给他了。我儿啊,我还可以为你作甚么呢?” 38 以扫问他的父亲:“我父啊,你只有一个祝福吗?我父啊,求你也给我祝福。”以扫就放声大哭。 39 他父亲以撒回答他,说:

“你住的地方必远离地上的沃土,

远离天上的甘露。

40 你必依靠刀剑生活,

你必服事你的弟弟;

到你自由的时候,

你必从你的颈项上挣脱他的轭。”

以扫恨雅各

41 以扫因为他父亲给雅各所祝的福,就怀恨雅各;以扫心里想:“为我父亲守丧的时候近了,到时我必杀我的弟弟雅各。” 42 有人把利百加大儿子以扫所说的话告诉了利百加,她就派人把她小儿子雅各叫了来,对他说:“你哥哥以扫想要杀你,报仇雪恨。 43 我儿啊,现在你要听我的话;起来,逃到哈兰我哥哥拉班那里去吧。 44 与他住些时日,等到你哥哥的怒气消了。 45 你哥哥对你消了怒气,忘记了你对他所作的事,我就派人去把你从那里接回来。我何必在一日之内丧失你们两个呢?”

46 利百加对以撒说:“我因为这些赫人女子,连性命都厌恶了。如果雅各也从这地的女子中,娶了像这样的赫人女子为妻,那我活着还有甚么意思呢?”

27 When Isaac was old and his eyes were so weak that he could no longer see,(A) he called for Esau his older son(B) and said to him, “My son.”

“Here I am,” he answered.

Isaac said, “I am now an old man and don’t know the day of my death.(C) Now then, get your equipment—your quiver and bow—and go out to the open country(D) to hunt some wild game for me. Prepare me the kind of tasty food I like(E) and bring it to me to eat, so that I may give you my blessing(F) before I die.”(G)

Now Rebekah was listening as Isaac spoke to his son Esau. When Esau left for the open country(H) to hunt game and bring it back, Rebekah said to her son Jacob,(I) “Look, I overheard your father say to your brother Esau, ‘Bring me some game and prepare me some tasty food to eat, so that I may give you my blessing in the presence of the Lord before I die.’(J) Now, my son, listen carefully and do what I tell you:(K) Go out to the flock and bring me two choice young goats,(L) so I can prepare some tasty food for your father, just the way he likes it.(M) 10 Then take it to your father to eat, so that he may give you his blessing(N) before he dies.”

11 Jacob said to Rebekah his mother, “But my brother Esau is a hairy man(O) while I have smooth skin. 12 What if my father touches me?(P) I would appear to be tricking him and would bring down a curse(Q) on myself rather than a blessing.”

13 His mother said to him, “My son, let the curse fall on me.(R) Just do what I say;(S) go and get them for me.”

14 So he went and got them and brought them to his mother, and she prepared some tasty food, just the way his father liked it.(T) 15 Then Rebekah took the best clothes(U) of Esau her older son,(V) which she had in the house, and put them on her younger son Jacob. 16 She also covered his hands and the smooth part of his neck with the goatskins.(W) 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,” he answered. “Who is it?”(X)

19 Jacob said to his father, “I am Esau your firstborn.(Y) I have done as you told me. Please sit up and eat some of my game,(Z) so that you may give me your blessing.”(AA)

20 Isaac asked his son, “How did you find it so quickly, my son?”

“The Lord your God gave me success,(AB)” he replied.

21 Then Isaac said to Jacob, “Come near so I can touch you,(AC) my son, to know whether you really are my son Esau or not.”

22 Jacob went close to his father Isaac,(AD) who touched(AE) him and said, “The voice is the voice of Jacob, but the hands are the hands of Esau.” 23 He did not recognize him, for his hands were hairy like those of his brother Esau;(AF) so he proceeded to bless him. 24 “Are you really my son Esau?” he asked.

“I am,” he replied.

25 Then he said, “My son, bring me some of your game to eat, so that I may give you my blessing.”(AG)

Jacob brought it to him and he ate; and he brought some wine and he drank. 26 Then his father Isaac said to him, “Come here, my son, and kiss me.”

27 So he went to him and kissed(AH) him(AI). When Isaac caught the smell of his clothes,(AJ) he blessed him and said,

“Ah, the smell of my son
    is like the smell of a field
    that the Lord has blessed.(AK)
28 May God give you heaven’s dew(AL)
    and earth’s richness(AM)
    an abundance of grain(AN) and new wine.(AO)
29 May nations serve you
    and peoples bow down to you.(AP)
Be lord over your brothers,
    and may the sons of your mother bow down to you.(AQ)
May those who curse you be cursed
    and those who bless you be blessed.(AR)

30 After Isaac finished blessing him, and Jacob had scarcely left his father’s presence, his brother Esau came in from hunting. 31 He too prepared some tasty food and brought it to his father. Then he said to him, “My father, please sit up and eat some of my game, so that you may give me your blessing.”(AS)

32 His father Isaac asked him, “Who are you?”(AT)

“I am your son,” he answered, “your firstborn, Esau.(AU)

33 Isaac trembled violently and said, “Who was it, then, that hunted game and brought it to me?(AV) I ate it just before you came and I blessed him—and indeed he will be blessed!(AW)

34 When Esau heard his father’s words, he burst out with a loud and bitter cry(AX) and said to his father, “Bless(AY) me—me too, my father!”

35 But he said, “Your brother came deceitfully(AZ) and took your blessing.”(BA)

36 Esau said, “Isn’t he rightly named Jacob[a]?(BB) This is the second time he has taken advantage of(BC) me: He took my birthright,(BD) and now he’s taken my blessing!”(BE) Then he asked, “Haven’t you reserved any blessing for me?”

37 Isaac answered Esau, “I have made him lord over you and have made all his relatives his servants, and I have sustained him with grain and new wine.(BF) 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 wept aloud.(BG)

39 His father Isaac answered him,(BH)

“Your dwelling will be
    away from the earth’s richness,
    away from the dew(BI) of heaven above.(BJ)
40 You will live by the sword
    and you will serve(BK) your brother.(BL)
But when you grow restless,
    you will throw his yoke
    from off your neck.(BM)

41 Esau held a grudge(BN) against Jacob(BO) because of the blessing his father had given him. He said to himself, “The days of mourning(BP) for my father are near; then I will kill(BQ) my brother Jacob.”(BR)

42 When Rebekah was told what her older son Esau(BS) had said, she sent for her younger son Jacob and said to him, “Your brother Esau is planning to avenge himself by killing you.(BT) 43 Now then, my son, do what I say:(BU) Flee at once to my brother Laban(BV) in Harran.(BW) 44 Stay with him for a while(BX) until your brother’s fury subsides. 45 When your brother is no longer angry with you and forgets what you did to him,(BY) I’ll send word for you to come back from there.(BZ) Why should I lose both of you in one day?”

46 Then Rebekah said to Isaac, “I’m disgusted with living because of these Hittite(CA) women. If Jacob takes a wife from among the women of this land,(CB) from Hittite women like these, my life will not be worth living.”(CC)

Footnotes

  1. Genesis 27:36 Jacob means he grasps the heel, a Hebrew idiom for he takes advantage of or he deceives.