Jenesis 31
1 Jekọb nụrụ na ụmụ ndị ikom Leban na-asị, “Jekọb ewerechaala ihe niile nna anyị nwere. O sitere nʼihe nna anyị nwere kpata akụnụba ya niile.”
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.”
2 Jekọb hụkwara na omume Leban nʼebe ọ nọ adịghịkwa otu ọ dị na mbụ.
Jacob also noticed that Laban was treating him differently to the way he had before.
3 Mgbe ahụ, Onyenwe anyị sịrị Jekọb, “Laghachi nʼala nna gị ha, lakwuru ụmụnna gị, aga m anọnyere gị.”
The Lord told Jacob, “Go back to the country of your forefathers, to your family home. I will be with you.”
4 Ya mere, Jekọb ziri Rechel na Lịa ozi ka ha bịakwute ya nʼọhịa ebe ọ nọ na-elekọta igwe anụ ụlọ ya.
Jacob sent for Rachel and Leah, telling them to come and meet him out in the fields where he was with his flock.
5 Ọ sịrị ha, “Ahụla m na omume nna unu nʼebe m nọ adịghịkwa otu ọ dị na mbụ. Ma Chineke nna m ha nọnyeere m.
“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.
6 Unu maara na eji m ike m niile rụọra nna unu ọrụ.
You both know very well how hard I worked for your father.
7 Ma nna unu ghọgburu m, gbanwee ụgwọ ọrụ m ugboro iri. Otu ọ dị, Chineke ekweghị ka nna unu merụọ m ahụ.
But he's been cheating me—he's reduced my wages ten times! However, God hasn't let him hurt me.
8 Ọ bụrụ na ọ sị, ‘Ndị tụrụ agwa agwa ga-abụ ụgwọ ọrụ gị,’ mgbe ahụ, igwe anụ ụlọ niile na-amụ ụmụ na-abụ ndị tụrụ agwa. Ma ọ bụrụ na ọ sị, ‘Ndị niile nwere ntụpọ ga-abụ ụgwọ ọrụ gị,’ mgbe ahụ, igwe anụ ụlọ niile na-amụ ụmụ na-enwe ntụpọ ọcha nʼahụ ha.
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.
9 Chineke napụrụ nna unu anụ ụlọ ya ma nye m ha.
This is how God took your father's livestock and gave them to me.
10 “Nʼoge ụmụ anụ ụlọ ji atụ ime, eweliri m anya hụ na nrọ na ụmụ mkpi niile na-agba igwe nne ewu bụ ụmụ mkpi ndị tụrụ agwa agwa, ndị nwere akara maọbụ ndị nwere ntụpọ ọcha nʼahụ ha.
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.
11 Mgbe ahụ, mmụọ ozi Chineke sịrị m na nrọ, ‘Jekọb.’ Azara m sị, ‘Lee m nʼebe a.’
Then in the dream the angel of the Lord spoke to me and said, ‘Jacob!’ I replied, ‘I'm here.’
12 Ọ sịrị m, ‘Lelie anya gị elu, lee ka ị hụ na mkpi niile na-agba igwe nne ewu ndị a bụ mkpi ndị ahụ tụrụ agwa agwa, ndị nwere akara maọbụ ndị nwere ntụpọ ọcha. Nʼihi na ahụla m ihe niile Leban na-eme gị.
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.
13 Mụ onwe m bụ Chineke nke Betel, ebe ị wụkwasịrị mmanụ nʼogidi nkume ahụ, ebe ị kwekwara m nkwa. Ugbu a, kulie, hapụ obodo a, laghachi nʼala a nọ mụọ gị.’”
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.’”
14 Rechel na Lịa zara sị ya, “Anyị ka nwere oke nʼihe nketa nʼụlọ nna anyị?
“There's nothing for us to inherit from our father's estate anyway,” Rachel and Leah replied.
15 Ọ bụghị dịka ndị ọbịa ka ọ gụnyeziri anyị? Nʼihi na o reela anyị, ripịakwa ụgwọ isi anyị.
“He treats us like foreigners because he sold us to you, and now he's spent all that money.
16 Nʼezie, akụ ndị ahụ Chineke napụrụ nna anyị bụ nke anyị na nke ụmụ anyị. Ya mere, mee ihe ọbụla Chineke sị gị mee.”
All the wealth that God has taken from him belongs to us and our children, so do whatever God has told you to do!”
17 Jekọb biliri, kukwasị ụmụ ya na ndị nwunye ya nʼelu ịnyịnya kamel,
So Jacob got ready. He helped his children and his wives onto the camels,
18 duru igwe anụ ụlọ ya niile, na ihe ọ kpatara na Padan Aram, lakwuru nna ya Aịzik nʼala Kenan.
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.
19 Ka Leban gara ịkpachapụ ajị ụmụ atụrụ ya, Rechel zuuru arụsị ezinaụlọ nna ya.
While Laban was away from home shearing his sheep, Rachel stole the household idols that belonged to her father.
20 Jekọb ghọkwara Leban onye Aram aghụghọ nʼihi na ọ gwaghị ya na ọ na-agbapụ ọsọ.
Jacob also deceived Laban the Aramean by not informing him that he was going to run away.
21 Ya mere, o buru ihe niile o nwere gbapụ ọsọ, gbafee iyi ukwu Yufretis, chee ihu nʼala ugwu ugwu Gilead.
So Jacob left in a hurry with everything he had, crossed the Euphrates River, and headed towards the hill country of Gilead.
22 Abalị atọ agafeelarị tupu a gwa Leban na Jekọb agbalaala.
Three days later Laban found out that Jacob had run away.
23 O duuru ndị ikwu ya chụọ Jekọb ọsọ abalị asaa tupu ọ chụkwute ya nʼala ugwu ugwu Gilead.
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.
24 Ma Chineke bịakwutere Leban onye Aram na nrọ nʼabalị sị ya, “Kpachapụ anya gị, hụ na o nweghị ihe ị gwara Jekọb, maọbụ okwu dị mma, maọbụ nke dị njọ.”
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.”
25 Jekọb amaala ụlọ ikwu ya nʼala ugwu Gilead mgbe Leban chụkwutere ya. Leban na ndị ikwu ya makwara ụlọ ikwu nke ha nʼebe ahụ.
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.
26 Leban sịrị Jekọb, “Gịnị bụ ihe a i mere? Ị ghọgbuola m. I burula ụmụ m ndị inyom dịka ndị a dọtara nʼagha?
“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!
27 Gịnị mere i ji ghọgbuo m, zoro ezo gbapụ? Gịnị mere ị gwaghị m ka m jiri ọṅụ na ịbụ abụ nke ya na ịkpọ ụbọ akwara na iti ịgba so, zilaga gị?
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.
28 Gịnị mere i nyeghị m ohere ka m sutu ụmụ ụmụ m na ụmụ m ndị inyom ọnụ sị ha laa nke ọma? Omume a i mere bụ omume nzuzu.
You didn't even let me kiss my grandchildren and daughters goodbye! You've really acted stupidly!
29 Enwere m ike merụọ gị ahụ ugbu a, ma Chineke nke nna gị mere ka m hụ ya anya na nrọ nʼabalị gara aga. Ọ dọrọ m aka na ntị sị m, ‘Kpachapụ anya gị hụ na o nweghị ihe ị gwara Jekọb, maọbụ okwu dị mma, maọbụ nke dị njọ.’
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.’
30 Ugbu a, ị na-ala nʼihi na ọ gụrụ gị agụụ ịlaghachi nʼụlọ nna gị, ma gịnị mere i ji zuru chi m?”
Clearly you wanted to leave and go back to your family home, but why did you have to steal my idols?”
31 Jekọb zara sị Leban, “Nʼihi na m tụrụ egwu, nʼihi na m chere sị na ị ga-eji ike napụ m ụmụ gị ndị inyom a.
“I ran away because I was afraid,” Jacob explained to Laban. “I was worried that you would take your daughters from me by force.
32 Ma ọ bụrụ na ị chọta onye ọbụla ji chi gị ndị a, onye ahụ ga-anwụ. Nʼihu ndị ikwu gị ndị a, chọgharịa nʼonwe gị, lee ma ị ga-achọta ihe ọbụla bụ nke gị dị m nʼaka. Ọ bụrụ na ị chọta ya, were ya.” Ma Jekọb amaghị na Rechel zuuru chi ndị ahụ.
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.)
33 Ya mere, Leban bara nʼụlọ ikwu Jekọb, na nʼime ụlọ ikwu Lịa, na nʼime ụlọ ikwu ndị odibo nwanyị abụọ ya, ma o nweghị ihe ọ chọtara. O sitere nʼụlọ ikwu Lịa pụta baa nʼụlọ ikwu Rechel.
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.
34 Nʼoge a, Rechel ewerela arụsị ezinaụlọ ndị ahụ tinye ha nʼime akwa e ji anọkwasị nʼelu ịnyịnya kamel nọdụ ọdụ nʼelu ya. Leban chọgharịrị ebe niile nʼime ụlọ ikwu ahụ ma ọ chọtaghị arụsị ezinaụlọ ndị ahụ.
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.
35 Mgbe ahụ, Rechel gwara nna ya Leban sị, “Biko, ewela iwe nna m ukwu, nʼihi na enweghị m ike ibili ọtọ nʼihu gị. Anọ m nʼọnọdụ ndị inyom na-anọ kwa ọnwa.” Leban chọgharịrị ebe niile, ma ọ hụghị arụsị ezinaụlọ ndị ahụ.
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.
36 Iwe were Jekọb megide Leban. O ji iwe jụọ Leban sị, “Gịnị bụ njehie m? Gịnị bụ mmehie m mere i ji si otu a na-achụsi m ike?
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?
37 Ugbu a, ị chọgharịala nʼibu m niile, gịnị ka ị chọtara bụ nke gị? Wepụta ya nʼihu ndị ikwu gị na nʼihu ndị nke m, ka ha kpeere mụ na gị ikpe.
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!
38 “Iri afọ abụọ ka mụ na gị nọrọ. O nweghị mgbe ime pụrụ ụmụ ewu na atụrụ gị; o nwekwaghị mgbe m riri ebule si nʼigwe anụ ụlọ gị.
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.
39 O nweghị mgbe m welataara gị anụ ụlọ nke anụ ọhịa dọgburu, kama akwụrụ m ụgwọ ha. I mekwara ka m kwụghachi gị anụ ụlọ ọbụla e zuru nʼohi, maọbụ nʼehihie, maọbụ nʼabalị.
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.
40 Nʼime oke anwụ nke ehihie ka m rụụrụ gị ọrụ. Rụọkwara gị ọrụ nʼoge oyi na-atụ, nʼabalị ụra sikwa nʼanya m pụọ.
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.
41 Otu a ka ọ dịrị m iri afọ abụọ m jeere gị ozi. Arụrụ m gị ọrụ afọ iri na anọ maka ụmụ gị ndị inyom abụọ ndị a, afọ isii ka m lekọtara igwe ewu na atụrụ gị. Ị nọkwa nʼime ihe ndị a gbanwee ụgwọ ọrụ m ugboro iri.
I worked fourteen years for your two daughters, and six more years with your flocks. You reduced my wages ten times!
42 A sị na Chineke m, Chineke Ebraham, onye ahụ a na-atụ egwu nke Aịzik, anọnyereghị m, ị gaara ezilaga m nʼaka efu, agaara m agbara aka laa. Ma Chineke ahụla ịrụsị ọrụ ike m, na nhụju anya m niile, ọ bụ ya mere o ji baara gị mba nʼabalị gara aga.”
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.”
43 Mgbe ahụ Leban zaghachiri sị Jekọb, “Ndị inyom ndị a bụ ụmụ m. Ụmụaka ndị a bụ ụmụ m. Igwe anụ ụlọ ndị a bụ nke m. Ihe ndị a niile ị na-ahụ anya bụ nke m. Olee otu m ga-esi merụọ ụmụ m, na ụmụ ụmụ m ahụ?
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?
44 Ugbu a, bịa ka anyị gbaa ndụ mụ na gị, ka ọ bụrụ ihe ama nʼetiti anyị.”
So let's make a solemn agreement between you and I, and it will be a witness to our mutual commitment.”
45 Ya mere, Jekọb weere otu nkume guzo ya ọtọ dịka ogidi.
Jacob took a stone and set it upright as a pillar.
46 Jekọb gwakwara ndị so ya sị ha, “Tụtụkọta nkume.” Ha tụtụkọtara nkume wụsa ha nʼotu ebe mee ka ọ laa elu. Emesịa, ha nọdụrụ nʼakụkụ nkume ndị ahụ rie nri.
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.
47 Leban kpọrọ nkume ndị ahụ Jega-Sahaduta, nʼasụsụ nke ya. Jekọb kpọrọ ya Galeed, nʼasụsụ nke ya.
Laban called it Jegar-sahadutha, while Jacob called it Galeed.
48 Emesịa, Leban sịrị, “Ka nkume ndị a bụrụ ihe ama nʼetiti mụ na gị taa.” Nke a mere e ji kpọọ ya Galeed.
Laban announced, “This pile of stone serves as a witness between me and you.” This is why it was called Galeed.
49 A kpọkwara ya Mizpa, nʼihi na Leban sịrị, “Ka Onyenwe anyị bụrụ onye ga-eche mụ na gị nche ịhụ na onye ọbụla nʼime anyị debere ọgbụgba ndụ a, mgbe anyị na-anọghị ibe anyị nso.
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.
50 Ọ bụrụ na i mee ụmụ m ndị inyom ihe ọjọọ, maọbụ lụọ ndị inyom ndị ọzọ tinyere ha, o nweghị onye nʼime anyị ga-amata, ma cheta na Chineke ga-abụ onyeama nʼetiti mụ na gị.”
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!”
51 Leban gwakwara Jekọb sị, “Lee nkume ndị a a wụsara nʼebe a na ogidi m mere ka o guzo nʼetiti mụ na gị.
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.
52 Nkume ndị a a wụsara bụ akaebe, ogidi a bụkwa ihe ama. Agaghị m agabiga nkume ndị a a wụsara gafeeta nʼakụkụ nke gị ime gị ihe ọjọọ. Gị onwe gị agaghị agabiga nkume ndị a a wụsara na ogidi a gafeeta nʼakụkụ nke m ime m ihe ọjọọ.
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.
53 Ka Chineke Ebraham na Chineke Nahọ, Chineke nna ha, bụrụ onye ikpe nʼetiti mụ na gị.” Ya mere Jekọb ji onye ahụ a na-atụ egwu nke nna ya Aịzik ṅụọ iyi.
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.
54 Ọ chụrụ aja nʼala ugwu ugwu ahụ, kpọọ ndị ikwu ya niile oriri. Mgbe ha richara nri, ha rahụrụ ụra nʼebe ahụ.
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.
55 Nʼisi ụtụtụ echi ya, Leban biliri sutu ụmụ ya ndị inyom na ụmụ ụmụ ya ọnụ. Ọ gọziri ha, hapụ ha laghachi ụlọ ha.
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.
