Genesis 31

1 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.”

Yakob tee sɛ Laban mmammarima no reka sɛ, “Yakob afa yɛn agya ho nneɛma nyinaa. Nʼahonya nyinaa firi yɛn agya nneɛma a wafa no.”

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

Yakob hunuu sɛ, afei deɛ, Laban nte nʼanim nkyerɛ no sɛ kane no.

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

Afei, Awurade ka kyerɛɛ Yakob sɛ, “Sane kɔ wʼabusuafoɔ ne wo nkurɔfoɔ asase so, na mɛdi wʼakyi.”

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

Enti, Yakob soma ma wɔkɔfrɛɛ ne yerenom Rahel ne Lea sɛ, wɔmmra ne nkyɛn wɔ ɛserɛ no so, faako a ɔne ne nnwankuo no wɔ no.

5 “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.

Wɔbaeɛ no, ɔka kyerɛɛ wɔn sɛ, “Mahunu sɛ, afei deɛ, mo agya Laban anim nyɛ me fɛ sɛ kane no, nanso Onyankopɔn a mʼagya Isak somm no no ka me ho.

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

Monim sɛ, mayi me yam, de mʼahoɔden nyinaa ayɛ adwuma, ama mo agya;

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

nanso mo agya nam nsisie kwan so, asesa mʼakatua mu mprɛdu. Nanso, yei nyinaa akyiri, Onyankopɔn amma no ɛkwan amma wanyɛ me bɔne.

8 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.

Sɛ ɔka sɛ, ‘Mmoa a wɔn ho yɛ ntokontrama no bɛyɛ wʼakatua,’ na sɛ mmoa no wo a, na wɔawo mma a wɔn ho yɛ ntokontrama. Sɛ ɔka sɛ, ‘Mmoa a wɔn ho yɛ nsensaneɛ no bɛyɛ wʼakatua’ a, na wɔawowo mma a wɔn ho yɛ nsensaneɛ.

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

Ɛkwan a Onyankopɔn nam so agye mo agya nsam nyɛmmoa no de wɔn ama me ama mayɛ ɔdefoɔ no ne no.

10 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.

“Ɛduruu ɛberɛ a mmoa no hyiam no, mesoo daeɛ hunuu sɛ, nnwennini a wɔforo nnwammedeɛ no ho yɛ ntokontrama, nsensaneɛ anaa nsisimu.

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

Onyankopɔn ɔbɔfoɔ frɛɛ me wɔ daeɛ no mu ka kyerɛɛ me sɛ, ‘Yakob!’ Ɛnna megyee so sɛ, ‘Me nie!’

12 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.

Ɛnna ɔsoro abɔfoɔ no ka kyerɛɛ me sɛ, ‘Hwɛ na hunu sɛ, nnwennini a wɔforo nnwammedeɛ no nyinaa ho yɛ nsensaneɛ, ntokontrama anaa nsisimu, na mahunu ɛkwan a Laban de wo fa so no nyinaa.

13 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.’”

Mene Onyankopɔn a meyii me ho adi kyerɛɛ wo wɔ Bet-El, beaeɛ a wode ɛboɔ sii hɔ, hwiee ngo guu so, somm me, hyɛɛ me bɔ sɛ, wobɛsom me no. Afei, tu firi saa asase yi so ntɛm ara, na sane kɔ asase a wɔwoo wo wɔ so no so.’”

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

Na Rahel ne Lea bisaa sɛ, “Enti, saa tebea a yɛwɔ mu yi, yɛwɔ kyɛfa bi wɔ yɛn agya agyapadeɛ mu anaa?

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

Yɛn agya mfa yɛn sɛ yɛyɛ ahɔhoɔ? Watɔn yɛn, na yɛn tiri sika a ɔgyeeɛ no nso, wadi.

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

Ɛyɛ nokorɛ turodoo sɛ, yɛn agya ahodeɛ a Onyankopɔn gyeeɛ no nyinaa yɛ yɛn ne yɛn mma dea. Enti, biribiara a Onyankopɔn aka akyerɛ wo sɛ yɛ no, yɛ.”

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

Ɛda bi, Yakob de ne mma ne ne yerenom tenatenaa nyoma so.

18 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.

Ɔkaa ne mmoa nyinaa, agyapadeɛ a wanya nyinaa ne mmoa a ɔnyaa wɔ Paddan-Aram nyinaa dii nʼanim sɛ, ɔrekɔ nʼagya Isak nkyɛn wɔ Kanaan asase so.

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

Ɛberɛ a Laban kɔɔ wiram sɛ ɔrekɔtwitwa ne nnwan ho nwi no, Rahel faa nʼakyi kɔwiaa nʼagya fie abosom.

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

Yakob daadaa Aramni Laban a wamma wanhunu sɛ, ɔredwane.

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

Yakob de nʼahodeɛ nyinaa dwaneeɛ. Ɔtwaa Asubɔnten Eufrate, de nʼani kyerɛɛ bepɔ asase Gilead no so.

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

Yakob ne nʼabusuafoɔ dwaneeɛ no, nnansa akyiri ansa na Laban tee sɛ wɔkɔ.

23 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.

Laban faa ne fiefoɔ, kaa ne ho, de anibereɛ tii Yakob. Nnanson akyiri ansa na ɔkɔtoo Yakob ne ne nkurɔfoɔ no wɔ bepɔ Gilead so.

24 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.”

Saa ɛda no ara anadwo, Onyankopɔn yii ne ho adi wɔ daeɛ mu kyerɛɛ Aramni Laban. Ɔka kyerɛɛ no wɔ daeɛ no mu sɛ, “Hwɛ yie na woankɔka asɛm biara, sɛ ɛyɛ asɛm pa anaa asɛmmɔne ankyerɛ Yakob.”

25 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.

Ɛberɛ a Laban ne ne fiefoɔ kɔtoo Yakob no, na Yakob asisi ne ntomadan wɔ bepɔ Gilead atifi. Laban ne ne fiefoɔ no nso sisii wɔn ntomadan wɔ bepɔ no ayaase.

26 “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!

Afei, Laban kɔɔ Yakob nkyɛn kɔbisaa no sɛ, “Woadaadaa me. Asɛm bɛn na wode adi me yi? Woakyekyere me mmammaa de wɔn redwane te sɛ nnommumfoɔ.

27 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.

Adɛn enti na wodaadaa me, na wodwane firii me nkyɛn a woankra? Sɛ wokraa me a, anka mɛto wo ɛpono, na mama nnipa abɛbɔ sankuo, ato nnwom wɔ apontoɔ no ase, de agya wo kwan.

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

Woamma mankyeakyea me nananom ne me mmammaa yi nsam mpo, amfa annya wɔn kwan. Woadi nkwaseasɛm.

29 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.’

Mewɔ tumi sɛ anka meyɛ wo bɔne, nanso, nnora anadwo, Onyankopɔn a wo agya somm no no ka kyerɛɛ me wɔ daeɛ mu sɛ, ‘Hwɛ yie na woanka asɛm biara, sɛ ɛyɛ asɛm pa anaa asɛmmɔne, ankyerɛ Yakob.’

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

Esiane sɛ wʼani agyina wo agya fie enti, na ɛsɛ sɛ wokɔ ara, na adɛn enti na wowiaa mʼabosom, de kaa wo nneɛma ho?”

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

Yakob buaa Laban sɛ, “Na mesuro. Na ɛyɛ me sɛ wode tumi bɛgye wo mmammaa no afiri me nsam.

32 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.)

Nanso, obiara a wobɛhunu wʼabosom no wɔ ne nkyɛn no, ɔsɛ owuo. Wʼankasa hwehwɛ, sɛ wobɛhunu biribiara a ɛyɛ wo dea wɔ me nneɛma yi mu wɔ yɛn nuanom yi anim. Sɛ wohunu biribiara a ɛyɛ wo dea a, fa wʼadeɛ.” Ɛberɛ a Yakob kaa saa asɛm yi no, na ɔnnim sɛ Rahel na wawia nʼagya Laban abosom no.

33 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.

Ɛno enti, Laban kɔɔ Yakob, Lea, ne nʼasomfoɔ Bilha ne Silpa ntomadan mu kɔhwehwɛɛ hɔ, nanso wanhunu biribiara. Afei, ɔkɔwuraa Rahel ntomadan mu.

34 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.

Ɛfiri sɛ, na Rahel awia abosom no de ahyehyɛ ne yoma no atɛ ase, atena so. Enti, Laban kɔhwehwɛɛ nneɛma a ɛwɔ Rahel ntomadan no nyinaa mu, nanso wanhunu abosom no.

35 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.

Afei, Rahel ka kyerɛɛ nʼagya sɛ, “Agya, mma wo bo mfu me sɛ mete hɔ wɔ wʼanim na mensɔre nnyina hɔ, ɛfiri sɛ, makɔ afikyire.” Enti, Laban toaa so hwehwɛɛ abosom no ara, nanso wanhunu.

36 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?

Ɛyɛɛ saa no, Yakob bo fuu Laban yie, bisaa no sɛ, “Bɔne bɛn na mayɛ? Amumuyɛsɛm bɛn na madi a ɛno enti, woataa me ara yi?”

37 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!

Wohwehwɛɛ me nneɛma nyinaa mu yi, ɛdeɛn adeɛ na wohunuiɛ a ɛyɛ wo ne wo fiefoɔ dea? Deɛ wohunuiɛ biara no, fa bɛto dwa wɔ me nuanom ne wo nuanom a wɔahyia ha yi nyinaa anim, na wɔnkyerɛ deɛ ɛyɛ ne dea.

38 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.

“Mfirinhyia aduonu a wo ne me tenaeɛ, wo nnwan ne wo mmirekyie abereɛ no ampompɔn, na mankum wo nnwennini yi bi amfiri wo nnwankuo yi mu, anwe da.

39 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.

Mamfa wʼaboa biara a akekaboa bi atete ne mu ammrɛ wo; wɔn a mmoa kumm wɔn no, mʼankasa mehyɛɛ anan mu. Afei sɛ ɛba sɛ wɔwia wo mmoa no bi, anadwo anaa awia a, woma metua ka.

40 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.

Saa na asetena a me ne wo teɛ no teɛ. Meyɛɛ wʼadwuma awia maa owia hyee me. Meyɛɛ wʼadwuma anadwo maa awɔ dee me, maa sɛ, mekɔ kɛtɛ so koraa a, mentumi nna.

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

Mfirinhyia aduonu a metenaa wo nkyɛn nyinaa, na saa na mʼasetena teɛ. Mede mfirinhyia dunan na ɛyɛɛ adwuma maa wo, de waree wo mmammaa baanu no. Ɛnna mede mfirinhyia nsia nso hwɛɛ wo nnwan. Deɛ ɛtwa toɔ koraa ne sɛ, wosesaa mʼakatua mpɛn edu.

42 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.”

Sɛ ɛnyɛ Onyankopɔn a mʼagya somm no, Onyankopɔn a Abraham somm no a ɔwɔ mafa ne suro a mesuro mʼagya Isak a, anka nokorɛm nie, wopamoo me, maa mede me nsapan kɔeɛ. Nanso Onyankopɔn hunuu mʼamanehunu ne me nsa ano adwuma enti na nnora anadwo ɔkaa wʼanim no.”

43 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?

Laban buaa Yakob sɛ, “Mmaa no yɛ me mmammaa, mmɔfra no nso yɛ me nananom, ɛnna nnwankuo no nso yɛ me nnwankuo. Nneɛma a wohunu yi nyinaa yɛ me dea. Ɛbɛyɛ dɛn na matumi ayɛ mʼankasa me mmammaa ne me nananom bɔne?

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

Afei, bra na me ne wo nyɛ apam a ɛbɛdi me ne wo ntam adanseɛ. Saa apam no so na yɛbɛdi wɔ yɛn asetena nyinaa mu.”

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

Enti, Yakob faa ɛboɔ de sii hɔ yɛɛ nkaeɛdum.

46 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.

Yakob kyerɛɛ ne nuanom no sɛ, “Montase aboɔ!” Enti, wɔtasee aboɔ boaa ano. Afei, wɔn nyinaa tenaa ho didiiɛ.

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

Laban frɛɛ aboɔ kuo no Yegar-Sahaduta a asekyerɛ ne Adanseɛ Kuo. Yakob nso frɛɛ saa aboɔ kuo no Gal-Ed, a asekyerɛ ne Adanseɛ Kuo saa ara.

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

Afei, Laban kaa sɛ, “Aboɔ Kuo yi na ɛdi me ne wo ntam adanseɛ ɛnnɛ!” Ɛno enti na wɔfrɛ no Gal-Ed no.

49 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.

Na wɔsane frɛ aboɔ nkaeɛdum no nso bio sɛ, “Mispa” ɛfiri sɛ, Laban kaa sɛ, “Awurade mmoa yɛn, na sɛ yɛn ntam tete mpo a, yɛn mu biara bɛdi saa apam yi so.

50 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!”

Sɛ woanhwɛ me mmammaa yi yie anaasɛ woware mmaa foforɔ ka me mmammaa yi ho a, ɛwom sɛ merenhunu, nanso Onyankopɔn deɛ, ɔbɛhunu.”

51 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.

Laban sane ka kyerɛɛ Yakob sɛ, “Aboɔ Kuo yi ni. Nkaeɛdum a mede asi me ne wo ntam no nso nie.

52 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.

Aboɔ Kuo yi ne nkaeɛdum yi nyɛ adanseɛ sɛ, me Laban, merentra saa Aboɔ Kuo yi ne nkaeɛdum yi mma baabi a wowɔ mmɛtoa wo. Na wo Yakob nso, worentra saa Aboɔ kuo yi ne nkaeɛdum yi mma baabi a mewɔ mmɛtoa me.

53 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.

Ma Abraham Onyankopɔn ne Nahor Onyankopɔn, wɔn agyanom Onyankopɔn nyɛ ɔtemmufoɔ wɔ me ne wo ntam.” Enti, Yakob de nʼagya Isak Onyankopɔn ho suro kaa ntam sɛ, ɔrentra ɛhyeɛ no.

54 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.

Afei, Yakob bɔɔ Onyankopɔn afɔdeɛ wɔ bepɔ no atifi, na ɔhyiahyiaa ne nnamfonom bɛdidiiɛ. Ɛno akyiri no, wɔdaa ne nkyɛn wɔ bepɔ no so.

55 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.

Laban sɔree anɔpatutuutu fefee ne nananom ne ne mmammaa no ano, hyiraa wɔn. Ɛno akyiri no, ɔsane nʼakyi kɔɔ ne kurom.