Genesis 13

1 So Abram left Egypt and went back into the Negev along with Sarai, Lot, and everyone with them, as well as all their possessions.

And Abram went up out of Egypt, he and his wife, and all that he had, and Lot with him, into the wilderness.

2 Abram was very rich, having many herds of livestock and a great deal of silver and gold.

And Abram was very rich in cattle, and silver, and gold.

3 He left the Negev and traveled in stages to Bethel, back to the place where he'd camped before, between Bethel and Ai.

And he went [to the place] whence he came, into the wilderness as far as Baethel, as far as the place where his tent was before, between Baethel and Aggai,

4 This was where he'd first built an altar. He worshiped the Lord there as he had done previously.

to the place of the altar, which he built there at first, and Abram there called on the name of the Lord.

5 Lot, who was traveling with Abram, also had many flocks, herds, and tents,

And Lot who went out with Abram had sheep, and oxen, and tents.

6 so much so that the available land couldn't support both of them—they had so much livestock they couldn't stay together anymore.

And the land was not large enough for them to live together, because their possessions were great; and the land was not large enough for them to live together.

7 Abram's and Lot's herdsmen were arguing, and in addition the Canaanites and Perizzites were also living in the land at that time.

And there was a strife between the herdmen of Abram's cattle, and the herdmen of Lot's cattle, and the Chananites and the Pherezites then inhabited the land.

8 So Abram said to Lot, “Please don't let's have arguments between us, or between our herdsmen, because we're family.

And Abram said to Lot, Let there not be a strife between me and you, and between my herdmen and your herdmen, for we are brethren.

9 You see all this land that's available right in front of you? We have to split up. If you choose to go to the left, I'll go to the right. If you choose to go to the right, I'll go to the left.”

Behold! is not the whole land before you? Separate yourself from me; if you [go] to the left, I will go to the right, and if you go to the right, I will go to the left.

10 Lot looked over the whole Jordan valley towards Zoar, and saw that it was well-watered, looking like the Garden of Eden, like the land of Egypt. (This was before the Lord destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah.)

And Lot having lifted up his eyes, observed all the country round about Jordan, that it was all watered, before God overthrew Sodom and Gomorrha, as the garden of the Lord, and as the land of Egypt, until you come to Zogora.

11 So Lot chose the whole Jordan valley and went east, and the two separated from each other.

And Lot chose for himself all the country round Jordan, and Lot went from the east, and they were separated each from his brother. And Abram lived in the land of Chanaan.

12 Abram went to live in the land of Canaan, while Lot settled down among the towns in the valley, setting up his tents near Sodom.

And Lot lived in a city of the neighbouring people, and pitched his tent in Sodom.

13 (The people of Sodom were very wicked, committing terrible sins that offended the Lord.)

But the men of Sodom were evil, and exceedingly sinful before God.

14 After separating from Lot, the Lord told Abram, “Look around you from where you're standing, to the north, south, east, and west.

And God said to Abram after Lot was separated from him, Look up with your eyes, and behold from the place where you now are northward and southward, and eastward and seaward;

15 I'm giving all this land you see to you and your descendants forever.

for all the land which you see, I will give it to you and to your seed for ever.

16 You will have so many descendants that they'll be like the dust of the earth. If anyone could count dust then they could count the number of your descendants!

And I will make your seed like the dust of the earth; if any one is able to number the dust of the earth, then shall your seed be numbered.

17 Go and walk through the whole land in all directions because I'm giving it to you.”

Arise and traverse the land, both in the length of it and in the breadth; for to you will I give it, and to your seed for ever.

18 So Abram went to live at Hebron, setting up his tents among the oaks at Mamre, where he built an altar to the Lord.

And Abram having removed his tent, came and lived by the oak of Mambre, which was in Chebrom, and he there built an altar to the Lord.