20. Isaac said, “So soon? How did you get it so quickly?”“Because your God cleared the way for me.”
21. Isaac said, “Come close, son; let me touch you—are you really my son Esau?”
22-23. So Jacob moved close to his father Isaac. Isaac felt him and said, “The voice is Jacob’s voice but the hands are the hands of Esau.” He didn’t recognize him because his hands were hairy, like his brother Esau’s.
23-24. But as he was about to bless him he pressed him, “You’re sure? You are my son Esau?”“Yes. I am.”
25. Isaac said, “Bring the food so I can eat of my son’s game and give you my personal blessing.” Jacob brought it to him and he ate. He also brought him wine and he drank.
26. Then Isaac said, “Come close, son, and kiss me.”
27-29. He came close and kissed him and Isaac smelled the smell of his clothes. Finally, he blessed him,Ahhh. The smell of my sonis like the smell of the open countryblessed by God.May God give youof Heaven’s dewand Earth’s bounty of grain and wine.May peoples serve youand nations honor you.You will master your brothers,and your mother’s sons will honor you.Those who curse you will be cursed,those who bless you will be blessed.
30-31. And then right after Isaac had blessed Jacob and Jacob had left, Esau showed up from the hunt. He also had prepared a hearty meal. He came to his father and said, “Let my father get up and eat of his son’s game, that he may give me his personal blessing.”
32. His father Isaac said, “And who are you?”“I am your son, your firstborn, Esau.”
33. Isaac started to tremble, shaking violently. He said, “Then who hunted game and brought it to me? I finished the meal just now, before you walked in. And I blessed him—he’s blessed for good!”
34. Esau, hearing his father’s words, sobbed violently and most bitterly, and cried to his father, “My father! Can’t you also bless me?”
35. “Your brother,” he said, “came here falsely and took your blessing.”
36. Esau said, “Not for nothing was he named Jacob, the Heel. Twice now he’s tricked me: first he took my birthright and now he’s taken my blessing.”He begged, “Haven’t you kept back any blessing for me?”
37. Isaac answered Esau, “I’ve made him your master, and all his brothers his servants, and lavished grain and wine on him. I’ve given it all away. What’s left for you, my son?”
38. “But don’t you have just one blessing for me, Father? Oh, bless me my father! Bless me!” Esau sobbed inconsolably.
39-40. Isaac said to him,You’ll live far from Earth’s bounty,remote from Heaven’s dew.You’ll live by your sword, hand-to-mouth,and you’ll serve your brother.But when you can’t take it any moreyou’ll break loose and run free.
41. Esau seethed in anger against Jacob because of the blessing his father had given him; he brooded, “The time for mourning my father’s death is close. And then I’ll kill my brother Jacob.”