Genesis 27:29–40

^29*May nations be your servants, and may peoples bow down before you. May you rule over all your relatives, and may your mother’s descendants bow down before you. May those who curse you be cursed, and may those who bless you be blessed.”

Esau Begs for Isaac’s Blessing

³⁰Isaac finished giving his blessing, and as soon as Jacob left, his brother Esau came in from hunting. ³¹He also cooked some tasty food and took it to his father. He said, “Please, father, sit up and eat some of the meat that I have brought you, so that you can give me your blessing.”

³²“Who are you?” Isaac asked.

“Your elder son Esau,” he answered.

³³Isaac began to tremble and shake all over, and he asked, “Who was it, then, who killed an animal and brought it to me? I ate it just before you came. I gave him my final blessing, and so it is his for ever.”

³⁴When Esau heard this, he cried out loudly and bitterly and said, “Give me your blessing also, father!”

³⁵Isaac answered, “Your brother came and deceived me. He has taken away your blessing.”

^36*Esau said, “This is the second time that he has cheated me. No wonder his name is Jacob.^j He took my rights as the firstborn son, and now he has taken away my blessing. Haven’t you saved a blessing for me?”

³⁷Isaac answered, “I have already made him master over you, and I have made all his relatives his slaves. I have given him corn and wine. Now there is nothing that I can do for you, my son!”

^38*Esau continued to plead with his father: “Have you only one blessing, father? Bless me too, father!” He began to cry.

^39*Then Isaac said to him,

“No dew from heaven for you,

No fertile fields for you.

^40*You will live by your sword,

But be your brother’s slave.

Yet when you rebel,^k

You will break away from his control.”