1 Mose 31

1 Yakob tee sɛ Laban mmabarima no reka se, “Yakob afa yɛn agya ho nneɛma nyinaa. Nʼahonya nyinaa fi yɛn agya nneɛma a wafa no.”

Now Jacob heard that Laban’s sons were saying, “Jacob has taken away all that belonged to our father and built all this wealth at our father’s expense.”

2 Yakob huu sɛ afei de, Laban ntew nʼanim nkyerɛ no sɛ kan no.

And Jacob saw from the countenance of Laban that his attitude toward him had changed.

3 Na Awurade ka kyerɛɛ Yakob se, “San kɔ wʼabusuafo ne wo nkurɔfo asase so, na medi wʼakyi.”

Then the LORD said to Jacob, “Go back to the land of your fathers and to your kindred, and I will be with you.”

4 Enti Yakob soma ma wɔkɔfrɛɛ ne yerenom Rahel ne Lea se wɔmmra ne nkyɛn wɔ sare no so, faako a ɔne ne nguankuw no wɔ no.

So Jacob sent word and called Rachel and Leah to the field where his flocks were,

5 Wɔbae no, ɔka kyerɛɛ wɔn se, “Mahu sɛ afei de, mo agya Laban anim nyɛ me fɛ sɛ kan no, nanso Onyankopɔn a mʼagya Isak som no no ka me ho.

and he told them, “I can see from your father’s countenance that his attitude toward me has changed; but the God of my father has been with me.

6 Munim sɛ mayi me yam de mʼahoɔden nyinaa ayɛ adwuma ama mo agya;

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

7 nanso mo agya nam asisi kwan so asesa mʼakatua mu mpɛn du. Nanso eyi nyinaa akyi no, Onyankopɔn amma no kwan amma wanyɛ me bɔne.

And although he has cheated me and changed my wages ten times, God has not allowed him to harm me.

8 Sɛ ɔka se, ‘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 se, ‘Mmoa a wɔn ho yɛ nsensanee no bɛyɛ wʼakatua’ a, na wɔawowo mma a wɔn ho yɛ nsensanee.

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

9 Ɔkwan a Onyankopɔn nam so agye mo agya nsam nyɛmmoa no de wɔn ama me ama mayɛ ɔdefo no ne no.

Thus God has taken away your father’s livestock and given them to me.

10 “Eduu bere a mmoa no hyia mu no, mesoo dae huu sɛ adwennini a wɔforo nguanbere no ho yɛ ntokontrama, nsensanee anaa nsisimu.

When the flocks were breeding, I saw in a dream that the streaked, spotted, and speckled males were mating with the females.

11 Onyankopɔn bɔfo frɛɛ me wɔ dae no mu ka kyerɛɛ me se, ‘Yakob!’ Na migyee so se, ‘Me ni!’

In that dream the angel of God said to me, ‘Jacob!’ And I replied, ‘Here I am.’

12 Na ɔsoro abɔfo no ka kyerɛɛ me se, ‘Hwɛ na hu sɛ adwennini a wɔforo nguanbere no nyinaa ho yɛ nsensanee, ntokontrama anaa nsisimu, na mahu ɔkwan a Laban de wo fa so no nyinaa.

‘Look up,’ he said, ‘and see that all the males that are mating with the flock are streaked, spotted, or speckled; for I have seen all that Laban has done to you.

13 Mene Onyankopɔn a miyii me ho adi kyerɛɛ wo wɔ Bet-El, faako a wode ɔbo sii hɔ, hwiee ngo guu so, som me, hyɛɛ me bɔ sɛ, wobɛsom me no. Afei, tu fi saa asase yi so ntɛm ara, na san kɔ asase a wɔwoo wo wɔ so no so.’”

I am the God of Bethel, where you anointed the pillar and made a solemn vow to Me. Now get up and leave this land at once, and return to your native land.’”

14 Na Rahel ne Lea bisae se, “Enti saa tebea a yɛwɔ mu yi, yɛwɔ kyɛfa bi wɔ yɛn agya agyapade mu ana?

And Rachel and Leah replied, “Do we have any portion or inheritance left in our father’s house?

15 Yɛn agya mfa yɛn sɛ yɛyɛ ahɔho? Watɔn yɛn, na yɛn ti sika a ogyee no nso, wadi.

Are we not regarded by him as outsiders? Not only has he sold us, but he has certainly squandered what was paid for us.

16 Ɛyɛ nokware turodoo sɛ yɛn agya ahode a Onyankopɔn gyei no nyinaa yɛ yɛn ne yɛn mma dea. Enti biribiara a Onyankopɔn aka akyerɛ wo sɛ yɛ no, yɛ.”

Surely all the wealth that God has taken away from our father belongs to us and to our children. So do whatever God has told you.”

17 Na Yakob de ne mma ne ne yerenom tenatenaa yoma so.

Then Jacob got up and put his children and his wives on camels,

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

and he drove all his livestock before him, along with all the possessions he had acquired in Paddan-aram, to go to his father Isaac in the land in Canaan.

19 Bere a Laban kɔɔ wuram sɛ ɔrekotwitwa ne nguan ho nwi no, Rahel faa nʼakyi kowiaa nʼagya fi abosom.

Now while Laban was out shearing his sheep, Rachel stole her father’s household idols.

20 Yakob daadaa Aramni Laban a wamma wanhu sɛ ɔreguan.

Moreover, Jacob deceived Laban the Aramean by not telling him that he was running away.

21 Yakob de nʼahode nyinaa guanee. Otwaa Asubɔnten Eufrate, de nʼani kyerɛɛ bepɔw asase Gilead no so.

So he fled with all his possessions, crossed the Euphrates, and headed for the hill country of Gilead.

22 Yakob ne nʼabusuafo guanee no, nnansa akyi ansa na Laban tee sɛ wɔkɔ.

On the third day Laban was informed that Jacob had fled.

23 Laban faa ne fifo kaa ne ho, de anibere tiw Yakob. Nnanson akyi ansa na ɔkɔtoo Yakob ne ne nkurɔfo no wɔ bepɔw Gilead so.

So he took his relatives with him, pursued Jacob for seven days, and overtook him in the hill country of Gilead.

24 Saa da no ara anadwo, Onyankopɔn yii ne ho adi wɔ dae mu kyerɛɛ Aramni Laban. Ɔka kyerɛɛ no wɔ dae no mu se, “Hwɛ yiye na woankɔka asɛm biara; sɛ ɛyɛ asɛm pa anaa asɛmmɔne ankyerɛ Yakob.”

But that night God came to Laban the Aramean in a dream and warned him, “Be careful not to say anything to Jacob, either good or bad.”

25 Bere a Laban ne ne fifo kɔtoo Yakob no, na Yakob asisi ne ntamadan wɔ bepɔw Gilead atifi. Laban ne ne fifo no nso sisii wɔn ntamadan wɔ hɔ.

Now Jacob had pitched his tent in the hill country of Gilead when Laban overtook him, and Laban and his relatives camped there as well.

26 Na Laban kɔɔ Yakob nkyɛn kobisaa no se, “Asɛm bɛn na wode adi me yi? Woadaadaa me, akyekyere me mmabea de wɔn reguan te sɛ nnommumfo.

Then Laban said to Jacob, “What have you done? You have deceived me and carried off my daughters like captives of war!

27 Adɛn nti na wodaadaa me, na wuguan fii me nkyɛn a woankra? Sɛ wokraa me a, anka mɛto wo pon, na mama nnipa abɛbɔ sanku, ato nnwom wɔ aponto no ase, de agya wo kwan.

Why did you run away secretly and deceive me, without even telling me? I would have sent you away with joy and singing, with tambourines and harps.

28 Woamma mankyiakyia me nenanom ne me mmabea yi nsam annya wɔn kwan mpo. Woadi nkwaseasɛm.

But you did not even let me kiss my grandchildren and my daughters goodbye. Now you have done a foolish thing.

29 Mewɔ tumi sɛ anka meyɛ wo bɔne, nanso nnɛra anadwo, Onyankopɔn a wo agya som no no ka kyerɛɛ me wɔ dae mu se, ‘Hwɛ yiye na woanka asɛm biara, sɛ ɛyɛ asɛm pa anaa asɛmmɔne ankyerɛ Yakob.’

I have power to do you great harm, but last night the God of your father said to me, ‘Be careful not to say anything to Jacob, either good or bad.’

30 Esiane sɛ wʼani agyina wʼagya fi nti, na ɛsɛ sɛ wokɔ ara. Na adɛn nti na wuwiaa mʼabosom de kaa wo nneɛma ho?”

Now you have gone off because you long for your father’s house. But why have you stolen my gods?”

31 Yakob buaa Laban se, “Na misuro. Na ɛyɛ me sɛ wode tumi begye wo mmabea no afi me nsam.

“I was afraid,” Jacob answered, “for I thought you would take your daughters from me by force.

32 Nanso obiara a wubehu wʼabosom no wɔ ne nkyɛn no, ɔsɛ owu. Wʼankasa hwehwɛ sɛ wubehu biribiara a ɛyɛ wo de wɔ me nneɛma yi mu wɔ yɛn nuanom yi anim. Sɛ wuhu biribiara a ɛyɛ wo de a, fa wʼade.” Bere a Yakob kaa saa asɛm yi no, na onnim sɛ Rahel na wawia nʼagya Laban abosom no.

If you find your gods with anyone here, he shall not live! In the presence of our relatives, see for yourself if anything is yours, and take it back.” For Jacob did not know that Rachel had stolen the idols.

33 Ɛno nti, Laban kɔɔ Yakob, Lea, ne nʼasomfo Bilha ne Silpa ntamadan mu kɔhwehwɛɛ hɔ, nanso wanhu biribiara. Afei, okowuraa Rahel ntamadan mu.

So Laban went into Jacob’s tent, then Leah’s tent, and then the tents of the two maidservants, but he found nothing. Then he left Leah’s tent and entered Rachel’s tent.

34 Na Rahel awia abosom no de ahyehyɛ ne yoma no agua ase, atena so. Enti Laban kɔhwehwɛɛ nneɛma a ɛwɔ Rahel ntamadan no nyinaa mu, nanso wanhu abosom no.

Now Rachel had taken Laban’s household idols, put them in the saddlebag of her camel, and was sitting on them. And Laban searched everything in the tent but found nothing.

35 Rahel ka kyerɛɛ nʼagya se, “Agya, mma wo bo mfuw me sɛ mete hɔ wɔ wʼanim na mennsɔre nnyina hɔ, makɔ afikyiri.” Enti Laban toaa so hwehwɛɛ abosom no ara, nanso wanhu.

Rachel said to her father, “Sir, do not be angry that I cannot stand up before you; for I am having my period.” So Laban searched, but could not find the household idols.

36 Ɛyɛɛ saa no, Yakob bo fuw Laban yiye, bisaa no se, “Bɔne bɛn na mayɛ? Amumɔyɛsɛm bɛn na madi a ɛno nti, woataa me ara yi?”

Then Jacob became incensed and challenged Laban. “What is my crime?” he said. “For what sin of mine have you so hotly pursued me?

37 Wohwehwɛɛ me nneɛma nyinaa mu yi, dɛn ade na wuhuu a ɛyɛ wo ne wo fifo de? Nea wuhuu biara no, fa bɛto gua wɔ me nuanom ne wo nuanom a wɔahyia ha yi nyinaa anim, na wɔnkyerɛ nea ɛyɛ ne de.

You have searched all my goods! Have you found anything that belongs to you? Put it here before my brothers and yours, that they may judge between the two of us.

38 “Mfirihyia aduonu a wo ne me tenae, wo nguan ne wo mmirekyi abere no ampɔmpɔn, na mankum wʼadwennini yi bi amfi wo nguankuw yi mu anwe da.

I have been with you for twenty years now. Your sheep and goats have not miscarried, nor have I eaten the rams of your flock.

39 Mamfa wʼaboa biara a akekaboa bi atetew ne mu ammrɛ wo; wɔn a mmoa kum wɔn no, mʼankasa mehyɛɛ anan mu. Afei sɛ ɛba sɛ wowia wo mmoa no bi, anadwo anaa awia a, woma mitua ka.

I did not bring you anything torn by wild beasts; I bore the loss myself. And you demanded payment from me for what was stolen by day or night.

40 Eyi ne tebea a na mewɔ mu: Meyɛɛ wʼadwuma awia maa owia hyee me ne anadwo maa awɔw dee me; nam so maa nna yera fii mʼaniwa mu.

As it was, the heat consumed me by day and the frost by night, and sleep fled from my eyes.

41 Tebea a na mewɔ mu mfirihyia aduonu a metenaa wo nkyɛn no nyinaa ni. Mede mfirihyia dunan na ɛyɛɛ adwuma maa wo, de waree wo mmabea baanu no. Na mede mfirihyia asia nso hwɛɛ wo nguan, na wosesaa mʼakatua mpɛn du.

Thus for twenty years I have served in your household—fourteen years for your two daughters and six years for your flocks—and you have changed my wages ten times!

42 Sɛ ɛnyɛ Onyankopɔn a mʼagya som no, Onyankopɔn a Abraham som no a ɔwɔ mʼafa ne suro a misuro mʼagya Isak a, anka nokware ni, wopam me maa mede me nsa pan kɔe. Nanso Onyankopɔn huu mʼamanehunu ne me nsa ano adwuma nti na nnɛra anadwo ɔkaa wʼanim no.”

If the God of my father, the God of Abraham and the Fear of Isaac, had not been with me, surely by now you would have sent me away empty-handed. But God has seen my affliction and the toil of my hands, and last night He rendered judgment.”

43 Laban buaa Yakob se, “Mmea no yɛ me mmabea, mmofra no nso yɛ me nenanom, na nguankuw no nso yɛ me nguankuw. Nneɛma a wuhu yi nyinaa yɛ me de. Ɛbɛyɛ dɛn na matumi ayɛ mʼankasa me mmabea ne me nenanom bɔne?

But Laban answered Jacob, “These daughters are my daughters, these sons are my sons, and these flocks are my flocks! Everything you see is mine! Yet what can I do today about these daughters of mine or the children they have borne?

44 Afei, bra na me ne wo nyɛ apam a ebedi me ne wo ntam adanse. Saa apam no so na yebedi wɔ yɛn asetena nyinaa mu.”

Come now, let us make a covenant, you and I, and let it serve as a witness between you and me.”

45 Enti Yakob faa ɔbo de sii hɔ yɛɛ nkaedum.

So Jacob picked out a stone and set it up as a pillar,

46 Yakob kyerɛɛ ne nuanom no se, “Montase abo!” Enti wɔtasee abo boaa ano, na wɔn nyinaa tenaa ho didii.

and he said to his relatives, “Gather some stones.” So they took stones and made a mound, and there by the mound they ate.

47 Laban frɛɛ abo kuw no Yegar-Sahaduta a ne nkyerɛase ne Adanse Kuw. Yakob nso frɛɛ saa abo kuw no Gal-Ed, a ne nkyerɛase ne Adanse Kuw saa ara.

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

48 Laban kae se, “Abo Kuw yi na edi me ne wo ntam adanse nnɛ!” Ɛno nti na wɔfrɛ no Gal-Ed no.

Then Laban declared, “This mound is a witness between you and me this day.” Therefore the place was called Galeed.

49 Na wɔsan frɛ abo nkaedum no nso bio sɛ, “Mispa” efisɛ Laban kae se, “Awurade mmoa yɛn, na sɛ yɛn ntam tetew mpo a, yɛn mu biara bedi saa apam yi so.

It was also called Mizpah, because Laban said, “May the LORD keep watch between you and me when we are absent from each other.

50 Sɛ woanhwɛ me mmabea yi yiye anaasɛ woware mmea foforo ka me mmabea yi ho a, ɛwɔ mu sɛ merenhu, nanso Onyankopɔn de, obehu.”

If you mistreat my daughters or take other wives, although no one is with us, remember that God is a witness between you and me.”

51 Laban san ka kyerɛɛ Yakob se, “Abo Kuw yi ni. Nkaedum a mede asi me ne wo ntam no nso ni.

Laban also said to Jacob, “Here is the mound, and here is the pillar I have set up between you and me.

52 Abo Kuw yi, ne nkaedum yi nyɛ adanse sɛ, me Laban, merentra saa Abo Kuw yi ne nkaedum yi mma baabi a wowɔ mmɛtoa wo. Na wo Yakob nso, worentra saa Abo kuw yi ne nkaedum yi mma baabi a mewɔ mmɛtoa me.

This mound is a witness, and this pillar is a witness, that I will not go past this mound to harm you, and you will not go past this mound and pillar to harm me.

53 Ma Abraham Nyankopɔn ne Nahor Nyankopɔn, wɔn agyanom Nyankopɔn nyɛ otemmufo wɔ me ne wo ntam.” Enti Yakob de nʼagya Isak Nyankopɔn ho suro kaa ntam sɛ, ɔrentra ɔhye no.

May the God of Abraham and the God of Nahor, the God of their father, judge between us.” So Jacob swore by the Fear of his father Isaac.

54 Yakob bɔɔ Onyankopɔn afɔre wɔ bepɔw no atifi, na ohyiahyiaa ne nnamfonom ma wobedidii. Ɛno akyi no, wɔdaa ne nkyɛn wɔ bepɔw no so.

Then Jacob offered a sacrifice on the mountain and invited his relatives to eat a meal. And after they had eaten, they spent the night on the mountain.

55 Laban sɔree anɔpatutuutu few ne nenanom ne ne mmabea no ano, hyiraa wɔn. Na ɔsan nʼakyi kɔɔ ne kurom.

Early the next morning, Laban got up and kissed his grandchildren and daughters and blessed them. Then he left to return home.