1 Mose 31
1 Yakob tee sɛ Laban mmammarima no reka sɛ, “Yakob afa yɛn agya ho nneɛma nyinaa. Nʼahonya nyinaa firi yɛn agya nneɛma a wafa no.”
But afterwards, he heard the words of the sons of Laban, saying, “Jacob has taken all that was our father’s, and being enlarged by his ability, he has become famous.”
2 Yakob hunuu sɛ, afei deɛ, Laban nte nʼanim nkyerɛ no sɛ kane no.
Likewise, he observed that Laban’s face was not the same toward him as it was yesterday and the day before.
3 Afei, Awurade ka kyerɛɛ Yakob sɛ, “Sane kɔ wʼabusuafoɔ ne wo nkurɔfoɔ asase so, na mɛdi wʼakyi.”
Most importantly, the Lord was saying to him, “Return to the land of your fathers and to your generation, and I will be with you.”
4 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.
He sent and called for Rachel and Leah, in the field where he pastured the flocks,
5 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.
and he said to them: “I see that your father’s face is not the same toward me as it was yesterday and the day before. But the God of my father has been with me.
6 Monim sɛ, mayi me yam, de mʼahoɔden nyinaa ayɛ adwuma, ama mo agya;
And you know that I have served your father with all my strength.
7 nanso mo agya nam nsisie kwan so, asesa mʼakatua mu mprɛdu. Nanso, yei nyinaa akyiri, Onyankopɔn amma no ɛkwan amma wanyɛ me bɔne.
Even so, your father has circumvented me, and he has changed my wages ten times. And yet God has not permitted him to harm me.
8 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.
Whenever he said, ‘The speckled will be your wages,’ all the sheep gave birth to speckled newborns. Yet truly, when he said the contrary, ‘You will take whatever is white for your wages,’ all the flocks gave birth to white ones.
9 Ɛkwan a Onyankopɔn nam so agye mo agya nsam nyɛmmoa no de wɔn ama me ama mayɛ ɔdefoɔ no ne no.
And it is God who has taken your father’s substance and given it to me.
10 “Ɛduruu ɛberɛ a mmoa no hyiam no, mesoo daeɛ hunuu sɛ, nnwennini a wɔforo nnwammedeɛ no ho yɛ ntokontrama, nsensaneɛ anaa nsisimu.
For after the time had arrived for the ewes to conceive, I lifted up my eyes, and I saw in my sleep that the males climbing on the females were of variegated, and spotted, and diverse colors.
11 Onyankopɔn ɔbɔfoɔ frɛɛ me wɔ daeɛ no mu ka kyerɛɛ me sɛ, ‘Yakob!’ Ɛnna megyee so sɛ, ‘Me nie!’
And the Angel of God said to me in my sleep, ‘Jacob.’ And I responded, ‘Here I am.’
12 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.
And he said: ‘Lift up your eyes, and see that all the males climbing on the females are variegated, spotted, and also speckled. For I have seen all that Laban has done to you.
13 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.’”
I am the God of Bethel, where you anointed the stone and made a vow to me. Now therefore arise, and depart from this land, returning to the land of your nativity.’”
14 Na Rahel ne Lea bisaa sɛ, “Enti, saa tebea a yɛwɔ mu yi, yɛwɔ kyɛfa bi wɔ yɛn agya agyapadeɛ mu anaa?
And Rachel and Leah responded: “Have we anything left behind among the resources and inheritance of our father’s house?
15 Yɛn agya mfa yɛn sɛ yɛyɛ ahɔhoɔ? Watɔn yɛn, na yɛn tiri sika a ɔgyeeɛ no nso, wadi.
Has he not considered us as foreigners, and sold us, and consumed our price?
16 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.”
But God has taken our father’s riches and handed these to us and to our sons. Therefore, do all that God has instructed you.”
17 Ɛda bi, Yakob de ne mma ne ne yerenom tenatenaa nyoma so.
And so Jacob rose up, and having placed the children and his wives upon camels, he went forth.
18 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.
And he took all his substance and flocks, and whatever he had acquired in Mesopotamia, and he journeyed to his father Isaac, in the land of Canaan.
19 Ɛberɛ a Laban kɔɔ wiram sɛ ɔrekɔtwitwa ne nnwan ho nwi no, Rahel faa nʼakyi kɔwiaa nʼagya fie abosom.
At that time, Laban had gone to shear the sheep, and so Rachel stole her father’s idols.
20 Yakob daadaa Aramni Laban a wamma wanhunu sɛ, ɔredwane.
And Jacob was not willing to confess to his father-in-law that he was fleeing.
21 Yakob de nʼahodeɛ nyinaa dwaneeɛ. Ɔtwaa Asubɔnten Eufrate, de nʼani kyerɛɛ bepɔ asase Gilead no so.
And when he had gone away with all such things that were justly his, and, having crossed the river, was continuing on toward Mount Gilead,
22 Yakob ne nʼabusuafoɔ dwaneeɛ no, nnansa akyiri ansa na Laban tee sɛ wɔkɔ.
it was reported to Laban on the third day that Jacob had fled.
23 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.
And taking his brothers with him, he pursued him for seven days. And he overtook him at Mount Gilead.
24 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.”
And he saw in a dream, God saying to him, “Beware that you not speak anything harsh against Jacob.”
25 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.
And now Jacob had pitched his tent at the mountain. And when he, with his brothers, had overtaken him, he set his tent at the same place at Mount Gilead.
26 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.
And he said to Jacob: “Why have you acted this way, departing from me in secret, with my daughters like captives of the sword?
27 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.
Why would you want to flee without my knowledge and without telling me, though I might have led you forward with gladness, and songs, and timbrels, and lyres?
28 Woamma mankyeakyea me nananom ne me mmammaa yi nsam mpo, amfa annya wɔn kwan. Woadi nkwaseasɛm.
You have not permitted me to kiss my sons and daughters. You have acted foolishly. And now, indeed,
29 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.’
my hand has power to repay you with harm. But the God of your father said to me yesterday, ‘Beware that you not speak anything stern against Jacob.’
30 Esiane sɛ wʼani agyina wo agya fie enti, na ɛsɛ sɛ wokɔ ara, na adɛn enti na wowiaa mʼabosom, de kaa wo nneɛma ho?”
It may be that you desired to go to your own, and that you longed for the house of your father. But why have you stolen my gods?”
31 Yakob buaa Laban sɛ, “Na mesuro. Na ɛyɛ me sɛ wode tumi bɛgye wo mmammaa no afiri me nsam.
Jacob answered: “I set out, unknown to you, because I feared that you might take away your daughters by violence.
32 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.
But, since you accuse me of theft, with whomever you will find your gods, let him be slain in the sight of our brothers. Search; anything of yours that you will find with me, take it away.” Now when he said this, he did not know that Rachel had stolen the idols.
33 Ɛno enti, Laban kɔɔ Yakob, Lea, ne nʼasomfoɔ Bilha ne Silpa ntomadan mu kɔhwehwɛɛ hɔ, nanso wanhunu biribiara. Afei, ɔkɔwuraa Rahel ntomadan mu.
And so Laban, entering the tent of Jacob, and of Leah, and of both the handmaids, did not find them. And when he had entered the tent of Rachel,
34 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.
she quickly hid the idols under the camel’s bedding, and she sat upon them. And when he had searched the entire tent and found nothing,
35 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.
she said: “Do not be angry, my lord, that I am unable to rise up in your sight, because it has now happened to me according to the custom of women.” So his careful search was thwarted.
36 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?”
And Jacob, being inflated, said with contention: “For which fault of mine, or for what sin of mine, have you become so enraged against me
37 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.
and searched all the items of my house? What have you found from all the substance of your house? Place it here before my brothers, and your brothers, and let them judge between me and you.
38 “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.
For what reason have I been with you for twenty years? Your ewes and she-goats were not barren; the rams of your flocks I did not consume.
39 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.
Neither did I reveal to you what was seized by the wild beast. I replaced all that was damaged. Whatever was lost by theft, you collected it from me.
40 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.
Day and night, I was burned by heat and by frost, and sleep fled from my eyes.
41 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.
And in this way, for twenty years, I have served you in your house: fourteen for your daughters, and six for your flocks. You have also changed my wages ten times.
42 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.”
If the God of my father Abraham and the fear of Isaac had not been close to me, perhaps by now you would have sent me away naked. But God looked kindly on my affliction and the labor of my hands, and he rebuked you yesterday.”
43 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?
Laban answered him: “My daughters and sons, and your flocks, and all that you discern are mine. What can I do to my sons and grandchildren?
44 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.”
Come, therefore, let us enter into a pact, so that it may be a testimony between me and you.”
45 Enti, Yakob faa ɛboɔ de sii hɔ yɛɛ nkaeɛdum.
And so Jacob took a stone, and he set it up as a memorial.
46 Yakob kyerɛɛ ne nuanom no sɛ, “Montase aboɔ!” Enti, wɔtasee aboɔ boaa ano. Afei, wɔn nyinaa tenaa ho didiiɛ.
And he said to his brothers, “Bring stones.” And they, gathering together stones, made a tomb, and they ate upon it.
47 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.
And Laban called it, ‘Tomb of Witness,’ and Jacob, ‘Pile of Testimony;’ each of them according to the fitness of his own language.
48 Afei, Laban kaa sɛ, “Aboɔ Kuo yi na ɛdi me ne wo ntam adanseɛ ɛnnɛ!” Ɛno enti na wɔfrɛ no Gal-Ed no.
And Laban said: “This tomb will be a witness between me and you this day.” (And for this reason, its name has been called Gilead, that is, ‘Tomb of Witness.’)
49 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.
“May the Lord consider and judge between us, when we will have withdrawn from one another.
50 Sɛ woanhwɛ me mmammaa yi yie anaasɛ woware mmaa foforɔ ka me mmammaa yi ho a, ɛwom sɛ merenhunu, nanso Onyankopɔn deɛ, ɔbɛhunu.”
If you afflict my daughters, and if you bring in other wives over them, no one is a witness of our words except God, who understands beforehand.”
51 Laban sane ka kyerɛɛ Yakob sɛ, “Aboɔ Kuo yi ni. Nkaeɛdum a mede asi me ne wo ntam no nso nie.
And again he said to Jacob. “Lo, this tomb and the stone that I have set up between me and you,
52 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.
will be a witness. This tomb,” I say, “and the stone, they are for testimony, in case either I cross beyond it going toward you, or you cross beyond it thinking to harm me.
53 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.
May the God of Abraham, and the God of Nahor, the God of their father, judge between us.” Therefore, Jacob swore by the fear of his father Isaac.
54 Afei, Yakob bɔɔ Onyankopɔn afɔdeɛ wɔ bepɔ no atifi, na ɔhyiahyiaa ne nnamfonom bɛdidiiɛ. Ɛno akyiri no, wɔdaa ne nkyɛn wɔ bepɔ no so.
And after he had immolated sacrifices on the mountain, he called his brothers to eat bread. And when they had eaten, they lodged there.
55 Laban sɔree anɔpatutuutu fefee ne nananom ne ne mmammaa no ano, hyiraa wɔn. Ɛno akyiri no, ɔsane nʼakyi kɔɔ ne kurom.
In truth, Laban rose up in the night, and he kissed his sons and daughters, and he blessed them. And he returned to his place.
