اَلتَّكْوِينُ 31

١ 1 فَسَمِعَ كَلَامَ بَنِي لَابَانَ قَائِلِينَ: «أَخَذَ يَعْقُوبُ كُلَّ مَا كَانَ لِأَبِينَا، وَمِمَّا لِأَبِينَا صَنَعَ كُلَّ هَذَا ٱلْمَجْدِ».

Jacob found out that Laban's sons were saying, “Jacob has taken everything that belonged to our father. All the wealth he has actually came from our father.”

٢ 2 وَنَظَرَ يَعْقُوبُ وَجْهَ لَابَانَ وَإِذَا هُوَ لَيْسَ مَعَهُ كَأَمْسِ وَأَوَّلَ مِنْ أَمْسِ.

Jacob also noticed that Laban was treating him differently to the way he had before.

٣ 3 وَقَالَ ٱلرَّبُّ لِيَعْقُوبَ: «ٱرْجِعْ إِلَى أَرْضِ آبَائِكَ وَإِلَى عَشِيرَتِكَ، فَأَكُونَ مَعَكَ».

The Lord told Jacob, “Go back to the country of your forefathers, to your family home. I will be with you.”

٤ 4 فَأَرْسَلَ يَعْقُوبُ وَدَعَا رَاحِيلَ وَلَيْئَةَ إِلَى ٱلْحَقْلِ إِلَى غَنَمِهِ،

Jacob sent for Rachel and Leah, telling them to come and meet him out in the fields where he was with his flock.

٥ 5 وَقَالَ لَهُمَا: «أَنَا أَرَى وَجْهَ أَبِيكُمَا أَنَّهُ لَيْسَ نَحْوِي كَأَمْسِ وَأَوَّلَ مِنْ أَمْسِ. وَلَكِنْ إِلَهُ أَبِي كَانَ مَعِي.

“I've noticed that your father is treating me differently to the way he did before,” he told them. “But the God of my father will be with me.

٦ 6 وَأَنْتُمَا تَعْلَمَانِ أَنِّي بِكُلِّ قُوَّتِي خَدَمْتُ أَبَاكُمَا،

You both know very well how hard I worked for your father.

٧ 7 وَأَمَّا أَبُوكُمَا فَغَدَرَ بِي وَغَيَّرَ أُجْرَتِي عَشَرَ مَرَّاتٍ. لَكِنَّ ٱللهَ لَمْ يَسْمَحْ لَهُ أَنْ يَصْنَعَ بِي شَرًّا.

But he's been cheating me—he's reduced my wages ten times! However, God hasn't let him hurt me.

٨ 8 إِنْ قَالَ هَكَذَا: ٱلرُّقْطُ تَكُونُ أُجْرَتَكَ، وَلَدَتْ كُلُّ ٱلْغَنَمِ رُقْطًا. وَإِنْ قَالَ هَكَذَا: ٱلْمُخَطَّطَةُ تَكُونُ أُجْرَتَكَ، وَلَدَتْ كُلُّ ٱلْغَنَمِ مُخَطَّطَةً.

If he said, ‘You can have the speckled ones as your wages,’ then the whole flock had speckled young. If he said, ‘You can have the streaked ones as your wages,’ then the whole flock had streaked young.

٩ 9 فَقَدْ سَلَبَ ٱللهُ مَوَاشِيَ أَبِيكُمَا وَأَعْطَانِي.

This is how God took your father's livestock and gave them to me.

١٠ 10 وَحَدَثَ فِي وَقْتِ تَوَحُّمِ ٱلْغَنَمِ أَنِّي رَفَعْتُ عَيْنَيَّ وَنَظَرْتُ فِي حُلْمٍ، وَإِذَا ٱلْفُحُولُ ٱلصَّاعِدَةُ عَلَى ٱلْغَنَمِ مُخَطَّطَةٌ وَرَقْطَاءُ وَمُنَمَّرَةٌ.

During the time the flock was breeding I had a dream where I saw that the male goats mating with the flock were all streaked, speckled, or spotted.

١١ 11 وَقَالَ لِي مَلَاكُ ٱللهِ فِي ٱلْحُلْمِ: يَا يَعْقُوبُ. فَقُلْتُ: هَأَنَذَا.

Then in the dream the angel of the Lord spoke to me and said, ‘Jacob!’ I replied, ‘I'm here.’

١٢ 12 فَقَالَ: ٱرْفَعْ عَيْنَيْكَ وَٱنْظُرْ. جَمِيعُ ٱلْفُحُولِ ٱلصَّاعِدَةِ عَلَى ٱلْغَنَمِ مُخَطَّطَةٌ وَرَقْطَاءُ وَمُنَمَّرَةٌ، لِأَنِّي قَدْ رَأَيْتُ كُلَّ مَا يَصْنَعُ بِكَ لَابَانُ.

He told me, ‘Take a look and you'll see that all the male goats mating with the flock are streaked, speckled or spotted, for I've been watching everything that Laban has been doing to you.

١٣ 13 أَنَا إِلَهُ بَيْتِ إِيلَ حَيْثُ مَسَحْتَ عَمُودًا، حَيْثُ نَذَرْتَ لِي نَذْرًا. ٱلْآنَ قُمِ ٱخْرُجْ مِنْ هَذِهِ ٱلْأَرْضِ وَٱرْجِعْ إِلَى أَرْضِ مِيلَادِكَ».

I am the God of Bethel, where you poured olive oil on the stone pillar and made a solemn promise to me. Now get ready to leave this land and go back to your homeland.’”

١٤ 14 فَأَجَابَتْ رَاحِيلُ وَلَيْئَةُ وَقَاَلتَا لَهُ: «أَلَنَا أَيْضًا نَصِيبٌ وَمِيرَاثٌ فِي بَيْتِ أَبِينَا؟

“There's nothing for us to inherit from our father's estate anyway,” Rachel and Leah replied.

١٥ 15 أَلَمْ نُحْسَبْ مِنْهُ أَجْنَبِيَّتَيْنِ، لِأَنَّهُ بَاعَنَا وَقَدْ أَكَلَ أَيْضًا ثَمَنَنَا؟

“He treats us like foreigners because he sold us to you, and now he's spent all that money.

١٦ 16 إِنَّ كُلَّ ٱلْغِنَى ٱلَّذِي سَلَبَهُ ٱللهُ مِنْ أَبِينَا هُوَ لَنَا وَلِأَوْلَادِنَا، فَٱلْآنَ كُلَّ مَا قَالَ لَكَ ٱللهُ ٱفْعَلْ».

All the wealth that God has taken from him belongs to us and our children, so do whatever God has told you to do!”

١٧ 17 فَقَامَ يَعْقُوبُ وَحَمَلَ أَوْلَادَهُ وَنِسَاءَهُ عَلَى ٱلْجِمَالِ،

So Jacob got ready. He helped his children and his wives onto the camels,

١٨ 18 وَسَاقَ كُلَّ مَوَاشِيهِ وَجَمِيعَ مُقْتَنَاهُ ٱلَّذِي كَانَ قَدِ ٱقْتَنَى: مَوَاشِيَ ٱقْتِنَائِهِ ٱلَّتِي ٱقْتَنَى فِي فَدَّانِ أَرَامَ، لِيَجِيءَ إِلَى إِسْحَاقَ أَبِيهِ إِلَى أَرْضِ كَنْعَانَ.

and drove all his livestock in front of him. He took with him all his possessions and livestock he'd gained during his time in Paddan-aram, and left to go back to his father in the country of Canaan.

١٩ 19 وَأَمَّا لَابَانُ فَكَانَ قَدْ مَضَى لِيَجُزَّ غَنَمَهُ، فَسَرَقَتْ رَاحِيلُ أَصْنَامَ أَبِيهَا.

While Laban was away from home shearing his sheep, Rachel stole the household idols that belonged to her father.

٢٠ 20 وَخَدَعَ يَعْقُوبُ قَلْبَ لَابَانَ ٱلْأَرَامِيِّ إِذْ لَمْ يُخْبِرْهُ بِأَنَّهُ هَارِبٌ.

Jacob also deceived Laban the Aramean by not informing him that he was going to run away.

٢١ 21 فَهَرَبَ هُوَ وَكُلُّ مَا كَانَ لَهُ، وَقَامَ وَعَبَرَ ٱلنَّهْرَ وَجَعَلَ وَجْهَهُ نَحْوَ جَبَلِ جِلْعَادَ.

So Jacob left in a hurry with everything he had, crossed the Euphrates River, and headed towards the hill country of Gilead.

٢٢ 22 فَأُخْبِرَ لَابَانُ فِي ٱلْيَوْمِ ٱلثَّالِثِ بِأَنَّ يَعْقُوبَ قَدْ هَرَبَ.

Three days later Laban found out that Jacob had run away.

٢٣ 23 فَأَخَذَ إِخْوَتَهُ مَعَهُ وَسَعَى وَرَاءَهُ مَسِيرَةَ سَبْعَةِ أَيَّامٍ، فَأَدْرَكَهُ فِي جَبَلِ جِلْعَادَ.

Taking some of his relatives with him, he chased after Jacob and caught up with him seven days later in the hill country of Gilead.

٢٤ 24 وَأَتَى ٱللهُ إِلَى لَابَانَ ٱلْأَرَامِيِّ فِي حُلْمِ ٱللَّيْلِ وَقَالَ لَهُ: «ٱحْتَرِزْ مِنْ أَنْ تُكَلِّمَ يَعْقُوبَ بِخَيْرٍ أَوْ شَرٍّ».

But during the night God came to Laban in a dream and told him, “Watch what you say to Jacob. Don't try to persuade him to come back, and don't threaten him either.”

٢٥ 25 فَلَحِقَ لَابَانُ يَعْقُوبَ، وَيَعْقُوبُ قَدْ ضَرَبَ خَيْمَتَهُ فِي ٱلْجَبَلِ. فَضَرَبَ لَابَانُ مَعَ إِخْوَتِهِ فِي جَبَلِ جِلْعَادَ.

Jacob had set up his tents in the hill country of Gilead when Laban caught up with him, so Laban and his relatives did the same.

٢٦ 26 وَقَالَ لَابَانُ لِيَعْقُوبَ: «مَاذَا فَعَلْتَ، وَقَدْ خَدَعْتَ قَلْبِي، وَسُقْتَ بَنَاتِي كَسَبَايَا ٱلسَّيْفِ؟

“Why did you deceive me like this?” Laban asked Jacob. “You carried off my daughters as if they were some prisoners captured by the sword!

٢٧ 27 لِمَاذَا هَرَبْتَ خُفْيَةً وَخَدَعْتَنِي وَلَمْ تُخْبِرْنِي حَتَّى أُشَيِّعَكَ بِٱلْفَرَحِ وَٱلْأَغَانِيِّ، بِٱلدُّفِّ وَٱلْعُودِ،

Why did you run away in secret, trying to trick me? Why didn't you come and tell me? I would have given you a good send-off, a celebration with singing and the music of tambourines and lyres.

٢٨ 28 وَلَمْ تَدَعْنِي أُقَبِّلُ بَنِيَّ وَبَنَاتِي؟ ٱلْآنَ بِغَبَاوَةٍ فَعَلْتَ!

You didn't even let me kiss my grandchildren and daughters goodbye! You've really acted stupidly!

٢٩ 29 فِي قُدْرَةِ يَدِي أَنْ أَصْنَعَ بِكُمْ شَرًّا، وَلَكِنْ إِلَهُ أَبِيكُمْ كَلَّمَنِيَ ٱلْبَارِحَةَ قَائِلًا: ٱحْتَرِزْ مِنْ أَنْ تُكَلِّمَ يَعْقُوبَ بِخَيْرٍ أَوْ شَرٍّ.

I could really punish you badly, but the God of your father spoke to me last night and told me, ‘Watch what you say to Jacob. Don't try to persuade him to come back, and don't threaten him either.’

٣٠ 30 وَٱلْآنَ أَنْتَ ذَهَبْتَ لِأَنَّكَ قَدِ ٱشْتَقْتَ إِلَى بَيْتِ أَبِيكَ، وَلَكِنْ لِمَاذَا سَرَقْتَ آلِهَتِي؟».

Clearly you wanted to leave and go back to your family home, but why did you have to steal my idols?”

٣١ 31 فَأَجَابَ يَعْقُوبُ وَقَالَ لِلَابَانَ: «إِنِّي خِفْتُ لِأَنِّي قُلْتُ لَعَلَّكَ تَغْتَصِبُ ٱبْنَتَيْكَ مِنِّي.

“I ran away because I was afraid,” Jacob explained to Laban. “I was worried that you would take your daughters from me by force.

٣٢ 32 اَلَّذِي تَجِدُ آلِهَتَكَ مَعَهُ لَا يَعِيشُ. قُدَّامَ إِخْوَتِنَا ٱنْظُرْ مَاذَا مَعِي وَخُذْهُ لِنَفْسِكَ». وَلَمْ يَكُنْ يَعْقُوبُ يَعْلَمُ أَنَّ رَاحِيلَ سَرَقَتْهَا.

As for your idols, anyone you find who has them will die. You can search everything in the presence of our relatives, and if you find I have anything that belongs to you, you can take it.” (Jacob didn't know that Rachel had stolen the household idols.)

٣٣ 33 فَدَخَلَ لَابَانُ خِبَاءَ يَعْقُوبَ وَخِبَاءَ لَيْئَةَ وَخِبَاءَ ٱلْجَارِيَتَيْنِ وَلَمْ يَجِدْ. وَخَرَجَ مِنْ خِبَاءِ لَيْئَةَ وَدَخَلَ خِبَاءَ رَاحِيلَ.

Laban searched the tents of Jacob, Leah, and the two personal maids, but didn't find anything. He left Leah's tent and went into Rachel's tent.

٣٤ 34 وَكَانَتْ رَاحِيلُ قَدْ أَخَذَتِ ٱلْأَصْنَامَ وَوَضَعَتْهَا فِي حِدَاجَةِ ٱلْجَمَلِ وَجَلَسَتْ عَلَيْهَا. فَجَسَّ لَابَانُ كُلَّ ٱلْخِبَاءِ وَلَمْ يَجِدْ.

Rachel had put the household idols in a camel's saddlebag and was sitting on it. Laban carefully searched the whole tent but couldn't find them.

٣٥ 35 وَقَالَتْ لِأَبِيهَا: «لَا يَغْتَظْ سَيِّدِي أَنِّي لَا أَسْتَطِيعُ أَنْ أَقُومَ أَمَامَكَ لِأَنَّ عَلَيَّ عَادَةَ ٱلنِّسَاءِ». فَفَتَّشَ وَلَمْ يَجِدِ ٱلْأَصْنَامَ.

She said to her father, “Sir, please don't get upset with me for not standing up in your presence, but I have my period.” He looked everywhere but didn't find the idols.

٣٦ 36 فَٱغْتَاظَ يَعْقُوبُ وَخَاصَمَ لَابَانَ. وَأجَابَ يَعْقُوبُ وَقَالَ لِلَابَانَ: «مَا جُرْمِي؟ مَا خَطِيَّتِي حَتَّى حَمِيتَ وَرَائِي؟

Jacob got angry with Laban and confronted him, saying, “What crime am I guilty of? What wrong have I done to you that you've come hunting me down?

٣٧ 37 إِنَّكَ جَسَسْتَ جَمِيعَ أَثَاثِي. مَاذَا وَجَدْتَ مِنْ جَمِيعِ أَثَاثِ بَيْتِكَ؟ ضَعْهُ هَهُنَا قُدَّامَ إِخْوَتِي وَإِخْوَتِكَ، فَلْيُنْصِفُوا بَيْنَنَا ٱلِٱثْنَيْنِ.

You've searched through all my possessions. Did you find anything belonging to you? If you did, bring it out here before my relatives and yours so they can decide who's right!

٣٨ 38 اَلْآنَ عِشْرِينَ سَنَةً أَنَا مَعَكَ. نِعَاجُكَ وَعِنَازُكَ لَمْ تُسْقِطْ، وَكِبَاشَ غَنَمِكَ لَمْ آكُلْ.

I've worked for you for these past twenty years. During that time none of your sheep and goats miscarried, and I haven't eaten a single ram from your flock.

٣٩ 39 فَرِيسَةً لَمْ أُحْضِرْ إِلَيْكَ. أَنَا كُنْتُ أَخْسَرُهَا. مِنْ يَدِي كُنْتَ تَطْلُبُهَا. مَسْرُوقَةَ ٱلنَّهَارِ أَوْ مَسْرُوقَةَ ٱللَّيْلِ.

If any of them were killed by wild animals, I never even brought you the carcass to prove the loss—I bore the loss myself. But you on the other hand always made me compensate you for any animals that were stolen, whether at night or in broad daylight.

٤٠ 40 كُنْتُ فِي ٱلنَّهَارِ يَأْكُلُنِي ٱلْحَرُّ وَفِي ٱللَّيْلِ ٱلْجَلِيدُ، وَطَارَ نَوْمِي مِنْ عَيْنَيَّ.

Whether it was sweating in the heat of the day, or freezing in the cold of the night when I couldn't sleep, I went on working for you for twenty years in your home.

٤١ 41 اَلْآنَ لِي عِشْرُونَ سَنَةً فِي بَيْتِكَ. خَدَمْتُكَ أَرْبَعَ عَشَرَةَ سَنَةً بَٱبْنَتَيْكَ، وَسِتَّ سِنِينٍ بِغَنَمِكَ. وَقَدْ غَيَّرْتَ أُجْرَتِي عَشَرَ مَرَّاتٍ.

I worked fourteen years for your two daughters, and six more years with your flocks. You reduced my wages ten times!

٤٢ 42 لَوْلَا أَنَّ إِلَهَ أَبِي إِلَهَ إِبْرَاهِيمَ وَهَيْبَةَ إِسْحَاقَ كَانَ مَعِي، لَكُنْتَ ٱلْآنَ قَدْ صَرَفْتَنِي فَارِغًا. مَشَقَّتِي وَتَعَبَ يَدَيَّ قَدْ نَظَرَ ٱللهُ، فَوَبَّخَكَ ٱلْبَارِحَةَ».

If it weren't for the God of my father, the God of Abraham, the awesome God of Isaac, who took care of me, you would have dismissed me with nothing. But God saw my suffering, how hard I worked, and he condemned you last night.”

٤٣ 43 فَأَجَابَ لَابَانُ وَقَالَ لِيَعقُوبَ: «ٱلْبَنَاتُ بَنَاتِي، وَٱلْبَنُونَ بَنِيَّ، وَٱلْغَنَمُ غَنَمِي، وَكُلُّ مَا أَنْتَ تَرَى فَهُوَ لِي. فَبَنَاتِي مَاذَا أَصْنَعُ بِهِنَّ ٱلْيَوْمَ أَوْ بِأَوْلَادِهِنَّ ٱلَّذِينَ وَلَدْنَ؟

Laban replied, “These are my daughters and these are my children and these are my flocks! In fact, everything you see here is mine! However, what can I do now about my daughters and their children?

٤٤ 44 فَٱلْآنَ هَلُمَّ نَقْطَعْ عَهْدًا أَنَا وَأَنْتَ، فَيَكُونُ شَاهِدًا بَيْنِي وَبَيْنَكَ».

So let's make a solemn agreement between you and I, and it will be a witness to our mutual commitment.”

٤٥ 45 فَأَخَذَ يَعْقُوبُ حَجَرًا وَأَوْقَفَهُ عَمُودًا،

Jacob took a stone and set it upright as a pillar.

٤٦ 46 وَقَالَ يَعْقُوبُ لِإِخْوَتِهِ: «ٱلْتَقِطُوا حِجَارَةً». فَأَخَذُوا حِجَارَةً وَعَمِلُوا رُجْمَةً وَأَكَلُوا هُنَاكَ عَلَى ٱلرُّجْمَةِ.

Then he told his relatives, “Go and collect some stones.” They all made a pile of stones and then sat beside it to eat a meal.

٤٧ 47 وَدَعَاهَا لَابَانُ «يَجَرْ سَهْدُوثَا» وَأَمَّا يَعْقُوبُ فَدَعَاهَا «جَلْعِيدَ».

Laban called it Jegar-sahadutha, while Jacob called it Galeed.

٤٨ 48 وَقَالَ لَابَانُ: «هَذِهِ ٱلرُّجْمَةُ هِيَ شَاهِدَةٌ بَيْنِي وَبَيْنَكَ ٱلْيَوْمَ». لِذَلِكَ دُعِيَ ٱسْمُهَا «جَلْعِيدَ».

Laban announced, “This pile of stone serves as a witness between me and you.” This is why it was called Galeed.

٤٩ 49 وَ«ٱلْمِصْفَاةَ»، لِأَنَّهُ قَالَ: «لِيُرَاقِبِ ٱلرَّبُّ بَيْنِي وَبَيْنَكَ حِينَمَا نَتَوَارَى بَعْضُنَا عَنْ بَعْضٍ.

It was also called Mizpah, for as Laban said, “May the Lord keep a close eye on both of us when we're not together.

٥٠ 50 إِنَّكَ لَا تُذِلُّ بَنَاتِي، وَلَا تَأْخُذُ نِسَاءً عَلَى بَنَاتِي. لَيْسَ إِنْسَانٌ مَعَنَا. اُنْظُرْ، ٱللهُ شَاهِدٌ بَيْنِي وَبَيْنَكَ».

If you treat my daughters badly or marry more wives in addition to them, God will see what you do even if no one else finds out!”

٥١ 51 وَقَالَ لَابَانُ لِيَعْقُوبَ: «هُوَذَا هَذِهِ ٱلرُّجْمَةُ، وَهُوَذَا ٱلْعَمُودُ ٱلَّذِي وَضَعْتُ بَيْنِي وَبَيْنَكَ.

Then Laban told Jacob, “Look at this pile of stones and this pillar that I have set up as a memorial of the agreement between you and me.

٥٢ 52 شَاهِدَةٌ هَذِهِ ٱلرُّجْمَةُ وَشَاهِدٌ ٱلْعَمُودُ أَنِّي لَا أَتَجَاوَزُ هَذِهِ ٱلرُّجْمَةَ إِلَيْكَ، وَأَنَّكَ لَا تَتَجَاوَزُ هَذِهِ ٱلرُّجْمَةَ وَهَذَا ٱلْعَمُودَ إِلَيَّ لِلشَّرِّ.

They also act as a witness to our solemn promises to each other: I will not come past them to attack you; and you will not come past them to attack me.

٥٣ 53 إِلَهُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ وَآلِهَةُ نَاحُورَ، آلِهَةُ أَبِيهِمَا، يَقْضُونَ بَيْنَنَا». وَحَلَفَ يَعْقُوبُ بِهَيْبَةِ أَبِيهِ إِسْحَاقَ.

May the God of Abraham and the God of Nahor—the God of our forefathers—be the one to judge between us in any dispute.” Jacob in turn made his solemn promise in the name of the awesome God of his father Isaac.

٥٤ 54 وَذَبَحَ يَعْقُوبُ ذَبِيحَةً فِي ٱلْجَبَلِ وَدَعَا إِخْوَتَهُ لِيَأْكُلُوا طَعَامًا، فَأَكَلُوا طَعَامًا وَبَاتُوا فِي ٱلْجَبَلِ.

Then he offered a sacrifice on the mountain and invited all his relatives to eat a meal there. They spent the night on the mountain.

٥٥ 55 ثُمَّ بَكَّرَ لَابَانُ صَبَاحًا وَقَبَّلَ بَنِيهِ وَبَنَاتِهِ وَبَارَكَهُمْ وَمَضَى. وَرَجَعَ لَابَانُ إِلَى مَكَانِهِ.

Laban got up early in the morning and kissed his grandchildren and his daughters goodbye. He blessed them, and then left to go back home.