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.”^(A)

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

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

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

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

³⁵ But he said, “Your brother came deceitfully^(H) and took your blessing.”^(I)

³⁶ Esau said, “Isn’t he rightly named Jacob^[a]?^(J) This is the second time he has taken advantage of^(K) me: He took my birthright,^(L) and now he’s taken my blessing!”^(M) 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.^(N) 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.^(O)

³⁹ His father Isaac answered him,^(P)

⁴¹ Esau held a grudge^(V) against Jacob^(W) because of the blessing his father had given him. He said to himself, “The days of mourning^(X) for my father are near; then I will kill^(Y) my brother Jacob.”^(Z)

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

Psalm 83^[a]

A song. A psalm of Asaph.

Love in Action

⁹ Love must be sincere.^(A) Hate what is evil; cling to what is good.^{(B) 10} Be devoted to one another in love.^(C) Honor one another above yourselves.^{(D) 11} Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor,^(E) serving the Lord. ¹² Be joyful in hope,^(F) patient in affliction,^(G) faithful in prayer.^{(H) 13} Share with the Lord’s people who are in need.^(I) Practice hospitality.^(J)

¹⁴ Bless those who persecute you;^(K) bless and do not curse. ¹⁵ Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn.^{(L) 16} Live in harmony with one another.^(M) Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position.^[a] Do not be conceited.^(N)

¹⁷ Do not repay anyone evil for evil.^(O) Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everyone.^{(P) 18} If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.^{(Q) 19} Do not take revenge,^(R) my dear friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,”^[b](S) says the Lord. ²⁰ On the contrary:

²¹ Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

Dispute Over Who Jesus Is

²¹ Once more Jesus said to them, “I am going away, and you will look for me, and you will die^(A) in your sin. Where I go, you cannot come.”^(B)

²² This made the Jews ask, “Will he kill himself? Is that why he says, ‘Where I go, you cannot come’?”

²³ But he continued, “You are from below; I am from above. You are of this world; I am not of this world.^{(C) 24} I told you that you would die in your sins; if you do not believe that I am he,^(D) you will indeed die in your sins.”

²⁵ “Who are you?” they asked.

“Just what I have been telling you from the beginning,” Jesus replied. ²⁶ “I have much to say in judgment of you. But he who sent me is trustworthy,^(E) and what I have heard from him I tell the world.”^(F)

²⁷ They did not understand that he was telling them about his Father. ²⁸ So Jesus said, “When you have lifted up^[a] the Son of Man,^(G) then you will know that I am he and that I do nothing on my own but speak just what the Father has taught me.^{(H) 29} The one who sent me is with me; he has not left me alone,^(I) for I always do what pleases him.”^{(J) 30} Even as he spoke, many believed in him.^(K)

Dispute Over Whose Children Jesus’ Opponents Are

³¹ To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said, “If you hold to my teaching,^(L) you are really my disciples. ³² Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”^(M)