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 was our father’s he has acquired 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 A nd Jacob saw the countenance of Laban, and indeed it was not favorable toward him as before.

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 family, 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 the field, to his flock,

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

5 a nd said to them, “I see your father’s countenance, that it is not favorable toward me as before; 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 A nd you know that with all my might I have served your father.

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

7 Y et your father has deceived me and changed my wages ten times, but 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 said thus: ‘The speckled shall be your wages,’ then all the flocks bore speckled. And if he said thus: ‘The streaked shall be your wages,’ then all the flocks bore streaked.

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 S o God has taken away the livestock of your father and given them to me.

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

10 “ And it happened, at the time when the flocks conceived, that I lifted my eyes and saw in a dream, and behold, the rams which leaped upon the flocks were streaked, speckled, and gray-spotted.

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 spoke to me in a dream, saying, ‘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 A nd He said, ‘Lift your eyes now and see, all the rams which leap on the flocks are streaked, speckled, and gray-spotted; for I have seen all that Laban is 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 the pillar and where you made a vow to Me. Now arise, get out of this land, and return to the land of your family.’”

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 T hen Rachel and Leah answered and said to him, “Is there still any portion or inheritance for us 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 considered strangers by him? For he has sold us, and also completely consumed our money.

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

16 F or all these riches which God has taken from our father are really ours and our children’s; now then, whatever God has said to you, do it.”

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 rose and set his sons and his wives on camels.

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

18 A nd he carried away all his livestock and all his possessions which he had gained, his acquired livestock which he had gained in Padan Aram, to go to his father Isaac in the land of Canaan.

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 N ow Laban had gone to shear his sheep, and Rachel had stolen 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 stole away, unknown to Laban the Syrian, in that he did not tell him that he intended to flee.

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. He arose and crossed the river, and headed toward the mountains 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 A nd Laban was told 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 brethren with him and pursued him for seven days’ journey, and he overtook him in the mountains of Gilead.

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

24 B ut God had come to Laban the Syrian in a dream by night, and said to him, “Be careful that you speak to Jacob neither good nor 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 S o Laban overtook Jacob. Now Jacob had pitched his tent in the mountains, and Laban with his brethren pitched in the mountains 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 A nd Laban said to Jacob: “What have you done, that you have stolen away unknown to me, and carried away my daughters like captives taken with 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 away secretly, and steal away from me, and not tell me; for I might have sent you away with joy and songs, with timbrel and harp?

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 you did not allow me to kiss my sons and my daughters. Now you have done foolishly in so doing.

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 that you speak to Jacob neither good nor bad.’

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 A nd now you have surely gone because you greatly long 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 answered and said to Laban, “Because I was afraid, for I said, ‘Perhaps 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 W ith whomever you find your gods, do not let him live. In the presence of our brethren, identify what I have of yours and take it with you.” 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 A nd Laban went into Jacob’s tent, into Leah’s tent, and into the two maids’ tents, 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, put them in the camel’s saddle, and sat on them. And Laban searched all about 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 A nd she said to her father, “Let it not displease my lord that I cannot rise before you, for the manner of women is with me.” And 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 was angry and rebuked Laban, and Jacob answered and said to Laban: “What is my trespass? What is my sin, that you have so 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 A lthough you have searched all my things, what part of your household things have you found? Set it here before my brethren and your brethren, that they may judge between us both!

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 their young, and I have not eaten the rams of your flock.

“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 by beasts I did not bring to you; I bore the loss of it. You required it from 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 here I was! In the day the drought consumed me, and the frost by night, and my sleep departed 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 hus I have been in your house twenty years; I served you fourteen years for your two daughters, and six years for your flock, and you have 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 U nless 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-handed. God has seen my affliction and the labor of my hands, and rebuked you last night.” Laban’s Covenant with Jacob

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 A nd Laban answered and said to Jacob, “ These daughters are my daughters, and these children are my children, and this flock is my flock; 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 N ow therefore, 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 S o Jacob took a stone and set it up as a pillar.

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

46 T hen Jacob said to his brethren, “Gather stones.” And they took stones and made a heap, and they ate there on the heap.

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

47 L aban called it Jegar Sahadutha, but Jacob called it Galeed.

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

48 A nd Laban said, “This heap is a witness between you and me this day.” Therefore its name was called Galeed,

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

49 a lso Mizpah, because he said, “May the Lord watch between you and me when we are absent one from another.

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

50 I f you afflict my daughters, or if you take other 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 T hen Laban said to Jacob, “Here is this heap and here is this pillar, which I have placed 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 this pillar is a witness, that I will not pass beyond this heap to you, and you will not pass beyond 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, the God of Nahor, and the God of their father judge between us.” And 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 brethren to eat bread. And they ate bread and stayed all 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 A nd early in the morning Laban arose, and kissed his sons and 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.