Now Sarai, Abram’s wife, had not given birth to any children, but she had an Egyptian servant named Hagar.

that I must go down and see if they are as wicked as the outcry suggests. If not, I want to know.”

Now Abimelech had not gone near her. He said, “Lord, would you really slaughter an innocent nation?

Silently the man watched her with interest to determine if the Lord had made his journey successful or not.

When food was served, he said, “I will not eat until I have said what I want to say.” “Tell us,” Laban said.

but you must go to the family of my father and to my relatives to find a wife for my son.’

Then Jacob woke up and thought, “Surely the Lord is in this place, but I did not realize it!”

“It is not our custom here,” Laban replied, “to give the younger daughter in marriage before the firstborn.

But if the animals were weaker, he did not set the branches there. So the weaker animals ended up belonging to Laban and the stronger animals to Jacob.

Animals torn by wild beasts I never brought to you; I always absorbed the loss myself. You always made me pay for every missing animal, whether it was taken by day or at night.

Then the man said, “Let me go, for the dawn is breaking.” “I will not let you go,” Jacob replied, “unless you bless me.”

But if you do not agree to our terms by being circumcised, then we will take our sister and depart.”

We are all the sons of one man; we are honest men! Your servants are not spies.”

(Now they did not know that Joseph could understand them, for he was speaking through an interpreter.)

We have brought additional money with us to buy food. We do not know who put the money in our sacks!”

Then a new king, who did not know about Joseph, came to power over Egypt.

But I know that the king of Egypt will not let you go, not even under force.

So now, get back to work! You will not be given straw, but you must still produce your quota of bricks!”

Only in the land of Goshen, where the Israelites lived, was there no hail.

Moses said, “As you wish! I will not see your face again.”