Genesis 31

1 And he heard the words of Laban's sons, saying, Jacob hath taken away all that [was] our father's; and of [that] which [was] our father's hath he obtained all this glory.

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."

2 And Jacob beheld the countenance of Laban, and behold, it [was] not towards him as before.

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

3 And the LORD said to Jacob, Return to the land of thy fathers, and to thy kindred; and I will be with thee.

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

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

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

5 And said to them, I see your father's countenance, that it [is] not towards me as before: but the God of my father hath been with me.

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.

6 And ye know that with all my power I have served your father.

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

7 And your father hath deceived me, and changed my wages ten times: but God suffered him not to hurt me.

Yet your father has cheated me and changed my wages ten times, but God did not allow him to hurt me.

8 If he said thus, The speckled shall be thy wages; then all the cattle bore speckled: and if he said thus, The ring-streaked shall be thy hire; then all the cattle bore ring-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 Thus God hath taken away the cattle 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 came to pass at the time that the cattle conceived, that I lifted up my eyes, and saw in a dream, and behold, the rams which leaped upon the cattle [were] ring-streaked, speckled, and grizzled.

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.

11 And the angel of God spoke to me in a dream, [saying], Jacob: And I said, Here [am] I.

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

12 And he said, Lift up now thy eyes and see, all the rams which leap upon the cattle [are] ring-streaked, speckled, and grizzled: for I have seen all that Laban doeth to thee.

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.

13 I [am] the God of Beth-el, where thou anointedst the pillar, [and] where thou vowedst to me a vow: now arise, depart from this land, and return to the land of thy kindred.

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.'"

14 And Rachel and Leah answered, and said to 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 Are we not counted by him strangers; for he hath sold us, and hath quite consumed also our money.

Aren't we regarded by him as foreigners? For he has sold us, and he has used up what was paid for us.

16 For all the riches which God hath taken from our father, that [is] ours, and our children's: now then whatever God hath said to thee, do.

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."

17 Then Jacob arose, and set his sons and his wives upon camels;

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

18 And he carried away all his cattle, and all his goods which he had gained, the cattle of his getting, which he had gained in Padan-aram; to go to Isaac, his father, in the land of Canaan.

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.

19 And Laban went to shear his sheep; and Rachel had stolen the images that [were] her father's.

Now Laban had gone to shear his sheep, and Rachel stole the idols that belonged to her father.

20 And Jacob stole away unawares to Laban the Syrian, in that he told him not that he was about to depart.

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

21 So he fled with all that he had; and he arose, and passed over the river, and set his face [towards] the mount Gilead.

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

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

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

23 And he took his brethren with him, and pursued after him seven days' journey: and they overtook him in the mount Gilead.

He took his relatives with him, and pursued after him for seven days, and caught up with him in the hill country of Gilead.

24 And God came to Laban, the Syrian, in a dream by night, and said to him, Take heed that thou speak not to Jacob either good or bad.

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."

25 Then Laban overtook Jacob. Now Jacob had pitched his tent in the mount: and Laban, with his brethren, pitched in the mount of Gilead.

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.

26 And Laban said to Jacob, What hast thou done, that thou hast stolen away unawares to me, and carried away my daughters, as captives [taken] with the sword?

Laban said to Jacob, "What have you done? You have deceived me, and carried away my daughters like captives taken in war?

27 Why didst thou flee away secretly, and steal away from me, and didst not tell me, that I might have sent thee away with mirth, and with songs, with tabret, and with harp?

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.

28 And hast not suffered me to kiss my sons, and my daughters? thou hast now done foolishly in [so] doing.

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

29 It is in the power of my hand to do you hurt: but the God of your father spoke to me yesternight, saying, Take thou heed that thou speak not to Jacob either good or bad.

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.'

30 And now, [though] thou wouldest needs be gone, because thou didst earnestly long after thy father's house; [yet] why hast thou stolen my gods?

Now you have indeed gone away, because you longed greatly for your father's house. But why have you stolen my gods?"

31 And Jacob answered and said to Laban, Because I was afraid: for I said, It may be thou wouldest take thy daughters from me by force.

Jacob answered Laban, "Because I was afraid, for I thought that you would take your daughters from me by force.'

32 With whomsoever thou findest thy gods, let him not live: before our brethren discern thou what [is] thine with me, and take [it] to thee: for Jacob knew not that Rachel had stolen them.

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.

33 And Laban went into Jacob's tent, and into Leah's tent, and into the two maid-servants' tents; but he found [them] not. Then 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 did not find them. He went out of Leah's tent, and entered into Rachel's tent.

34 Now Rachel had taken the images, and put them in the camel's furniture, and sat upon them. And Laban searched all the tent, but found [them] not.

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.

35 And she said to her father, Let it not displease my lord that I cannot rise up before thee; for the custom of women [is] upon me. And he searched, but found not the images.

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.

36 And Jacob was wroth, and chid with Laban: and Jacob answered, and said to Laban, What [is] my trespass? what [is] my sin, that thou hast so eagerly 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 after me?

37 Whereas thou hast searched all my stuff, what hast thou found of all thy household-stuff? set [it] here before my brethren, and thy brethren, that they may judge betwixt us both.

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.

38 These twenty years [have] I [been] with thee: thy ewes and thy she-goats have not cast their young, and the rams of thy flock have I not eaten.

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.

39 That which was torn by beasts, I brought not to thee; I bore the loss of it; of my hand didst thou require it, [whether] stolen by day, or stolen by night.

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.

40 [Thus] I was; in the day the drouth consumed me, and the frost by night; and my sleep departed from my eyes.

I was consumed by the heat during the day and by the frost at night, and sleepless nights.

41 Thus have I been twenty years in thy house: I served thee fourteen years for thy two daughters, and six years for thy cattle: and thou hast 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 Except the God of my father, the God of Abraham, and the fear of Isaac had been with me, surely thou hadst now sent me away empty. God hath seen my affliction, and the labor of my hands, and rebuked [thee] yesternight.

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."

43 And Laban answered, and said to Jacob, [These] daughters [are] my daughters, and [these] children [are] my children, and [these] cattle [are] my cattle, and all that thou seest [is] mine; and what can I do this day to these my daughters, or to their children which 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 this day to these my daughters, or to their children whom they have borne?

44 Now therefore come thou, let us make a covenant, I and thou; and let it be for a witness between me and thee.

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."

45 And Jacob took a stone, and set it up [for] a pillar.

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

46 And Jacob said to his brethren, Gather stones; and they took stones, and made a heap: and they ate there upon the heap.

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

47 And Laban called it Jegar-sahadutha: but Jacob called it Galeed:

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

48 And Laban said, This heap [is] a witness between me and thee this day. Therefore was the name of it called Galeed:

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

49 And Mizpah; for he said, The LORD watch between me and thee, when we are absent one from another.

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

50 If thou shalt afflict my daughters, or if thou shalt take [other] wives besides my daughters; no man [is] with us; See, God [is] witness betwixt me and thee.

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."

51 And Laban said to Jacob, Behold this heap, and behold [this] pillar, which I have cast betwixt me and thee;

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

52 This heap [be] witness, and [this] pillar [be] witness, that I will not pass over this heap to thee, and that thou shalt not pass over this heap and this pillar to me, for harm.

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.

53 The God of Abraham, and the God of Nahor, the God of their father, judge betwixt 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 Then Jacob offered sacrifice upon the mount, and called his brethren to eat bread: and they ate bread, and tarried all night in the mount.

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.

55 And early in the morning Laban arose, and kissed his sons and his daughters, and blessed them: and 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.