Genesis 31

1 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 he has gained all this wealth."

Jacob heard Laban’s sons’ words, saying, “Jacob has taken away all that was our father’s. He has obtained all this wealth from that which was our father’s.”

2 Jacob saw the expression on Laban's face, and look, it was not as it had been.

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

3 Then God said to Jacob, "Return to the land of your fathers, and to your relatives, and I will be with you."

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

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

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

5 and said to them, "I see the expression on your father's face, that it is not what it was 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 towards me as before; but the God of my father has been with me.

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

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

7 Yet your father has cheated 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 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.

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

9 Thus 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 And it came about at the time when the flocks were breeding I looked up and saw in a dream, and look, the male goats which leaped on the flock were streaked, speckled, and spotted.

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

11 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 He said, 'Now lift up your eyes, and look, all the male goats which leap on the flock are streaked, speckled, and spotted, for I have seen all that Laban has done 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 standing-stone, where you made a vow to me. Now arise, go out from 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 Rachel and Leah answered him, "Is there yet 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 Aren't we regarded by him as foreigners? For he has sold us, and he has used up what was paid for us.

Aren’t we considered as foreigners by him? For he has sold us, and has also used up our money.

16 For all the wealth which God has taken away from our father, that is ours and our children's. Now then, whatever God has said to you, do."

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

17 Then Jacob got up and put his sons and his wives on the camels,

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

18 and he took away all his livestock and all his property which he had acquired, including the livestock which he had gained in Paddan Aram, to go to Isaac his father 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 Now Laban had gone to shear his sheep, and Rachel stole the idols that belonged to her father.

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

20 Jacob outwitted Laban the Aramean by not telling him that he intended to flee.

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

21 So he fled with everything that he had, and he arose and crossed the River, and set out toward the hill country of Gilead.

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

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

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

23 He took his relatives with him, and pursued after him for seven days, and caught up with 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 God came to Laban the Aramean in a dream at 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 Laban caught up with Jacob. Now Jacob had pitched his tent in the hill country, and Laban with his relatives 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 Laban said to Jacob, "What have you done? You have deceived me, and carried away my daughters like captives taken in war?

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

27 Why did you flee in secret and deceive me, and not tell me, so that I might have sent you away with joy and singing, with a tambourine and with a 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 And you 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 It is in my power to do you harm, but the God of your father spoke to me last night, saying, 'Be careful that you do not speak to Jacob either good or 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 Now you have indeed gone away, because you longed greatly for your father's house. But why have you stolen 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 Jacob answered 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 Anyone you find your gods with shall not live. In the presence of our relatives, identify what I have that is 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 Laban went into Jacob's tent, into Leah's tent, and into the tent of the two female servants; but he did not find them. He went out of Leah's tent, and entered into 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 Now Rachel had taken the idols, put them in the camel's saddle, and sat on them. Laban searched the whole 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 She said to her father, "Do not let my lord be angry that I can't rise up before you; for the manner of women is on me." He searched, but did not find the teraphim.

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 Jacob was angry, and argued with Laban. Jacob answered Laban, "What is my trespass? What is my sin, that you have hotly pursued after 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 Now that you have searched around in all my stuff, did you find anything from all of your household's belongings? Put it here before my relatives and your relatives, that they may judge between the two of us.

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 These twenty years I have been with you. Your ewes and your female goats have not miscarried their young, and I haven't 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 That which was torn by animals I did not bring to you. I bore its loss. You demanded payment from me 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 I was consumed by the heat during the day and by the frost at night, and sleepless nights.

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

41 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.

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 Unless the God of my father, the God of Abraham, and the one whom Isaac fears, had been with me, surely now you would have sent me away empty-handed. God has seen my harsh treatment and my hard work, and rebuked you last night."

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 labour of my hands, and rebuked you last night.”

43 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 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! What can I do today to these my daughters, or to their children whom they have borne?

44 So now, come, let us make a covenant, you and I, and let it be a witness between the two of us." And he said to him, "Look, there is no one with us; see, God is witness between me and you."

Now come, let’s make a covenant, you and I. Let it be for a witness between me and you.”

45 Jacob took a stone and set it up as a standing-stone.

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

46 Jacob said to his relatives, "Gather stones." So they took stones and made a mound. They ate there by the mound.

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

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

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

48 Laban said, "This mound is a witness between me and you today." Therefore it was named Galeed

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

49 and Mizpah, for he said, "God watch between me and you, when we are absent one from another.

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

50 If you mistreat my daughters, or if you take wives besides my daughters, although no one is with us; see, God is witness between me and you."

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

51 Laban said to Jacob, "See this mound, and see the standing-stone, which I have set between me and you.

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

52 May this mound be a witness, and the standing-stone be a witness, that I will not pass over this mound to you, and that you will not pass over this mound and this standing-stone to me, to do 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 The God of Abraham, and the God of Nahor, judge between us." Then 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 Jacob offered a sacrifice on the mountain, and called his relatives to eat the meal. They ate the meal 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 Early in the morning, Laban rose up, and kissed his sons and his daughters, and blessed them. 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.