1 N ow Jacob heard the words of Laban’s sons, saying, “Jacob has taken away all that was our father’s, and from what belonged to our father he has made all this wealth.”

He heard the words of Laban’s sons, saying, “Jacob has taken away all that was our father’s. From that which was our father’s, has he gotten all this wealth.”

2 J acob saw the attitude of Laban, and behold, it was not friendly toward him as formerly.

Jacob saw the expression on Laban’s face, and, behold, it was not toward him as before.

3 T hen the Lord said to Jacob, “ Return to the land of your fathers and to your relatives, and I will be with you.”

Yahweh said to Jacob, “Return to the land of your fathers, and to your relatives, and I will be with you.”

4 S o Jacob sent and called Rachel and Leah to his flock in the field,

Jacob sent and called Rachel and Leah to the field to his flock,

5 a nd said to them, “ I see your father’s attitude, that it is not friendly toward me as formerly, but the God of my father has been with me.

and said to them, “I see the expression on your father’s face, that it is not toward me as before; but the God of my father has been with me.

6 Y ou know that I have served your father with all my strength.

You know that I have served your father with all of my strength.

7 Y et your father has cheated me and changed my wages ten times; however, God did not allow him to hurt me.

Your father has deceived me, and changed my wages ten times, but God didn’t allow him to hurt me.

8 I f he spoke thus, ‘The speckled shall be your wages,’ then all the flock brought forth speckled; and if he spoke thus, ‘The striped shall be your wages,’ then all the flock brought forth striped.

If he said this, ‘The speckled will be your wages,’ then all the flock bore speckled. If he said this, ‘The streaked will be your wages,’ then all the flock bore streaked.

9 T hus God has taken away your father’s livestock and given them to me.

Thus God has taken away your father’s livestock, and given them to me.

10 A nd it came about at the time when the flock were mating that I lifted up my eyes and saw in a dream, and behold, the male goats which were mating were striped, speckled, and mottled.

During mating season, I lifted up my eyes, and saw in a dream, and behold, the male goats which leaped on the flock were streaked, speckled, and grizzled.

11 T hen the angel of God said to me in the dream, ‘Jacob,’ and I said, ‘Here I am.’

The angel of God said to me in the dream, ‘Jacob,’ and I said, ‘Here I am.’

12 H e said, ‘Lift up now your eyes and see that all the male goats which are mating are striped, speckled, and mottled; for I have seen all that Laban has been doing to you.

He said, ‘Now lift up your eyes, and behold, all the male goats which leap on the flock are streaked, speckled, and grizzled, for I have seen all that Laban does to you.

13 I am the God of Bethel, where you anointed a pillar, where you made a vow to Me; now arise, leave this land, and return to the land of your birth.’”

I am the God of Bethel, where you anointed a pillar, where you vowed a vow to me. Now arise, get out from this land, and return to the land of your birth.’”

14 R achel and Leah said to him, “Do we still have any portion or inheritance in our father’s house?

Rachel and Leah answered him, “Is there yet any portion or inheritance for us in our father’s house?

15 A re we not reckoned by him as foreigners? For he has sold us, and has also entirely consumed our purchase price.

Aren’t we accounted by him as foreigners? For he has sold us, and has also quite devoured our money.

16 S urely all the wealth which God has taken away from our father belongs to us and our children; now then, do whatever God has said to you.”

For all the riches which God has taken away from our father, that is ours and our children’s. Now then, whatever God has said to you, do.”

17 T hen Jacob arose and put his children and his wives upon camels;

Then Jacob rose up, and set his sons and his wives on the camels,

18 a nd he drove away all his livestock and all his property which he had gathered, his acquired livestock which he had gathered in Paddan-aram, to go to the land of Canaan to his father Isaac.

and he took away all his livestock, and all his possessions which he had gathered, including the livestock which he had gained in Paddan Aram, to go to Isaac his father, to the land of Canaan.

19 W hen Laban had gone to shear his flock, then Rachel stole the household idols that were her father’s.

Now Laban had gone to shear his sheep: and Rachel stole the teraphim that were her father’s.

20 A nd Jacob deceived Laban the Aramean by not telling him that he was fleeing.

Jacob deceived Laban the Syrian, in that he didn’t tell him that he was running away.

21 S o he fled with all that he had; and he arose and crossed the Euphrates River, and set his face toward the hill country of Gilead. Laban Pursues Jacob

So he fled with all that he had. He rose up, passed over the River, and set his face toward the mountain of Gilead.

22 W hen it was told Laban on the third day that Jacob had fled,

Laban was told on the third day that Jacob had fled.

23 t hen he took his kinsmen with him and pursued him a distance of seven days’ journey, and he overtook him in the hill country of Gilead.

He took his relatives with him, and pursued him seven days’ journey. He overtook him in the mountain of Gilead.

24 G od came to Laban the Aramean in a dream of the night and said to him, “ Be careful that you do not speak to Jacob either good or bad.”

God came to Laban, the Syrian, in a dream of the night, and said to him, “Be careful that you don’t speak to Jacob either good or bad.”

25 L aban caught up with Jacob. Now Jacob had pitched his tent in the hill country, and Laban with his kinsmen camped in the hill country of Gilead.

Laban caught up with Jacob. Now Jacob had pitched his tent in the mountain, and Laban with his relatives encamped in the mountain of Gilead.

26 T hen Laban said to Jacob, “What have you done by deceiving me and carrying away my daughters like captives of the sword?

Laban said to Jacob, “What have you done, that you have deceived me, and carried away my daughters like captives of the sword?

27 W hy did you flee secretly and deceive me, and did not tell me so that I might have sent you away with joy and with songs, with timbrel and with lyre;

Why did you flee secretly, and deceive me, and didn’t tell me, that I might have sent you away with mirth and with songs, with tambourine and with harp;

28 a nd did not allow me to kiss my sons and my daughters? Now you have done foolishly.

and didn’t allow me to kiss my sons and my daughters? Now have you done foolishly.

29 I t is in my power to do you harm, but the God of your father spoke to me last night, saying, ‘ Be careful not to speak either good or bad to Jacob.’

It is in the power of my hand to hurt you, but the God of your father spoke to me last night, saying, ‘Be careful that you don’t speak to Jacob either good or bad.’

30 N ow you have indeed gone away because you longed greatly for your father’s house; but why did you steal my gods?”

Now, you want to be gone, because you greatly longed for your father’s house, but why have you stolen my gods?”

31 T hen Jacob replied to Laban, “Because I was afraid, for I thought that you would take your daughters from me by force.

Jacob answered Laban, “Because I was afraid, for I said, ‘Lest you should take your daughters from me by force.’

32 T he one with whom you find your gods shall not live; in the presence of our kinsmen point out what is yours among my belongings and take it for yourself.” For Jacob did not know that Rachel had stolen them.

Anyone you find your gods with shall not live. Before our relatives, discern what is yours with me, and take it.” For Jacob didn’t know that Rachel had stolen them.

33 S o Laban went into Jacob’s tent and into Leah’s tent and into the tent of the two maids, but he did not find them. Then he went out of Leah’s tent and entered Rachel’s tent.

Laban went into Jacob’s tent, into Leah’s tent, and into the tent of the two female servants; but he didn’t find them. He went out of Leah’s tent, and entered into Rachel’s tent.

34 N ow Rachel had taken the household idols and put them in the camel’s saddle, and she sat on them. And Laban felt through all the tent but did not find them.

Now Rachel had taken the teraphim, put them in the camel’s saddle, and sat on them. Laban felt around all the tent, but didn’t find them.

35 S he said to her father, “Let not my lord be angry that I cannot rise before you, for the manner of women is upon me.” So he searched but did not find the household idols.

She said to her father, “Don’t let my lord be angry that I can’t rise up before you; for I’m having my period.” He searched, but didn’t find the teraphim.

36 T hen Jacob became angry and contended with Laban; and Jacob said to Laban, “What is my transgression? What is my sin that you have hotly pursued me?

Jacob was angry, and argued with Laban. Jacob answered Laban, “What is my trespass? What is my sin, that you have hotly pursued me?

37 T hough you have felt through all my goods, what have you found of all your household goods? Set it here before my kinsmen and your kinsmen, that they may decide between us two.

Now that you have felt around in all my stuff, what have you found of all your household stuff? Set it here before my relatives and your relatives, that they may judge between us two.

38 T hese twenty years I have been with you; your ewes and your female goats have not miscarried, nor have I eaten the rams of your flocks.

“These twenty years I have been with you. Your ewes and your female goats have not cast their young, and I haven’t eaten the rams of your flocks.

39 T hat which was torn of beasts I did not bring to you; I bore the loss of it myself. You required it of my hand whether stolen by day or stolen by night.

That which was torn of animals, I didn’t bring to you. I bore its loss. Of my hand you required it, whether stolen by day or stolen by night.

40 T hus I was: by day the heat consumed me and the frost by night, and my sleep fled from my eyes.

This was my situation: in the day the drought consumed me, and the frost by night; and my sleep fled from my eyes.

41 T hese twenty years I have been in your house; I served you fourteen years for your two daughters and six years for your flock, and you changed my wages ten times.

These twenty years I have been in your house. I served you fourteen years for your two daughters, and six years for your flock, and you have changed my wages ten times.

42 I f the God of my father, the God of Abraham, and the fear of Isaac, had not been for me, surely now you would have sent me away empty-handed. God has seen my affliction and the toil of my hands, so He rendered judgment last night.” The Covenant of Mizpah

Unless the God of my father, the God of Abraham, and the fear of Isaac, had been with me, surely now you would have sent me away empty. God has seen my affliction and the labor of my hands, and rebuked you last night.”

43 T hen Laban replied to Jacob, “The daughters are my daughters, and the children are my children, and the flocks are my flocks, and all that you see is mine. But what can I do this day to these my daughters or to their children whom they have borne?

Laban answered Jacob, “The daughters are my daughters, the children are my children, the flocks are my flocks, and all that you see is mine: and what can I do today to these my daughters, or to their children whom they have borne?

44 S o now come, let us make a covenant, you and I, and let it be a witness between you and me.”

Now come, let us make a covenant, you and I; and let it be for a witness between me and you.”

45 T hen Jacob took a stone and set it up as a pillar.

Jacob took a stone, and set it up for a pillar.

46 J acob said to his kinsmen, “Gather stones.” So they took stones and made a heap, and they ate there by the heap.

Jacob said to his relatives, “Gather stones.” They took stones, and made a heap. They ate there by the heap.

47 N ow Laban called it Jegar-sahadutha, but Jacob called it Galeed.

Laban called it Jegar Sahadutha, but Jacob called it Galeed.

48 L aban said, “ This heap is a witness between you and me this day.” Therefore it was named Galeed,

Laban said, “This heap is witness between me and you today.” Therefore it was named Galeed

49 a nd Mizpah, for he said, “May the Lord watch between you and me when we are absent one from the other.

and Mizpah, for he said, “Yahweh watch between me and you, when we are absent one from another.

50 I f you mistreat my daughters, or if you take wives besides my daughters, although no man is with us, see, God is witness between you and me.”

If you afflict my daughters, or if you take wives besides my daughters, no man is with us; behold, God is witness between me and you.”

51 L aban said to Jacob, “Behold this heap and behold the pillar which I have set between you and me.

Laban said to Jacob, “See this heap, and see the pillar, which I have set between me and you.

52 T his heap is a witness, and the pillar is a witness, that I will not pass by this heap to you for harm, and you will not pass by this heap and this pillar to me, for harm.

May this heap be a witness, and the pillar be a witness, that I will not pass over this heap to you, and that you will not pass over this heap and this pillar to me, for harm.

53 T he God of Abraham and the God of Nahor, the God of their father, judge between us.” So Jacob swore by the fear of his father Isaac.

The God of Abraham, and the God of Nahor, the God of their father, judge between us.” Then Jacob swore by the fear of his father, Isaac.

54 T hen Jacob offered a sacrifice on the mountain, and called his kinsmen to the meal; and they ate the meal and spent the night on the mountain.

Jacob offered a sacrifice in the mountain, and called his relatives to eat bread. They ate bread, and stayed all night in the mountain.

55 E arly in the morning Laban arose, and kissed his sons and his daughters and blessed them. Then Laban departed and returned to his place.

Early in the morning, Laban rose up, and kissed his sons and his daughters, and blessed them. Laban departed and returned to his place.