Genesis 27:30-40

Contemporary English Version

³⁰Right after Isaac had given Jacob his blessing and Jacob had gone, Esau came back from hunting. ³¹He cooked the tasty food, brought it to his father, and said, “Father, please sit up and eat the meat I have brought you, so you can give me your blessing.”

³²“Who are you?” Isaac asked.

“I am Esau, your first-born son.”

³³Isaac started trembling and said, “Then who brought me some wild meat right before you came in? I ate it and gave him a blessing that cannot be taken back.”

³⁴Esau cried out in great distress, “Father, give me a blessing too!”

³⁵Isaac answered, “Your brother tricked me and stole your blessing.”

³⁶^(A) Esau replied, “My brother deserves the name Jacob,^[a] because he has already cheated me twice. The first time he cheated me out of my rights as the first-born son, and now he has cheated me out of my blessing.” Then Esau asked his father, “Don't you have any blessing left for me?”

³⁷“My son,” Isaac answered, “I have made Jacob the ruler over you and your brothers, and all of you will be his servants. I have also promised him all the grain and grapes that he needs. There's nothing left that I can do for you.”

³⁸^(B) “Father,” Esau asked, “don't you have more than one blessing? You can surely give me a blessing too!” Then Esau started crying again.

³⁹^(C) So his father said:

“Your home will be far
    from that fertile land,
where dew comes down
    from the heavens.
⁴⁰^(D) You will live by the power
of your sword
    and be your brother's slave.
But when you decide to be free,
    you will break loose.”