Genesis 31

1 And he heard the words of Lavan’s sons, saying, Jacob (Yaaqov) hath taken away all that was our father’s; and of that which was our father’s hath he gotten all this glory.

2 And Jacob (Yaaqov) beheld the countenance of Lavan, and, behold, it was not toward him as before.

3 And יהוה said unto Jacob (Yaaqov), “Return unto the land of your fathers, and to your kindred; and I will be with you.”

4 And Jacob (Yaaqov) sent and called Rachel and Leah to the field unto his flock,

5 And said unto them, “I see your father’s countenance, that it is not toward me as before; but the God (Elohim) of my father hath been with me.

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

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

8 If he said thus: ‘The speckled shall be your wages;’ then all the cattle bare speckled; and if he said thus: ‘The ringstraked shall be your hire;’ then bare all the cattle ringstraked.

9 Thus God (Elohim) hath taken away the cattle of your father, and given them to me.

10 And it came to pass at the time that the cattle conceived, that I lifted up mine eyes, and saw in a dream, and, behold, the rams which leaped upon the cattle were ringstraked, speckled, and grisled.

11 And the angel of God (Elohim) spake unto me in a dream, saying, ‘Jacob (Yaaqov).’ And I said, ‘Here am I.’

12 And he said, ‘Lift up now your eyes, and see, all the rams which leap upon the cattle are ringstraked, speckled, and grisled; for I have seen all that Lavan doeth unto you.

13 I am the God (Elohim) of Bethel (Beit-El), where you anointedst the pillar, and where you vowedst a vow unto me. Now arise, get you out from this land, and return unto the land of your kindred.’”

14 And Rachel and Leah answered and said unto him, “Is there yet any portion or inheritance for us in our father’s house?

15 Are we not counted of him strangers? for he hath sold us, and hath quite devoured also our money.

16 For all the riches which God (Elohim) hath taken from our father, that is ours, and our children’s; now then, whatsoever God (Elohim) hath said unto you, do.”

17 Then Jacob (Yaaqov) rose up, and set his sons and his wives upon camels;

18 And he carried away all his cattle, and all his goods which he had gotten, the cattle of his getting, which he had gotten in Padanaram, for to go to Isaac (Yitschaq) his father in the land of Canaan.

19 And Lavan went to shear his sheep; and Rachel had stolen the images that were her father’s.

20 And Jacob (Yaaqov) stole away unawares to Lavan the Arammi (Syrian), in that he told him not that he fled.

21 So he fled with all that he had; and he rose up, and passed over the river, and set his face toward the mount Gilad.

22 And it was told Lavan on the third day that Jacob (Yaaqov) was fled.

23 And he took his brethren with him, and pursued after him seven days’ journey; and they overtook him in the mount Gilad.

24 And God (Elohim) came to Lavan the Arammi (Syrian) in a dream by night, and said unto him, “Take heed that you speak not to Jacob (Yaaqov) either good or bad.”

25 Then Lavan overtook Jacob (Yaaqov). Now Jacob (Yaaqov) had pitched his tent in the mountain; and Lavan with his brethren pitched in the mount of Gilad.

26 And Lavan said to Jacob (Yaaqov), “What have you done, that you have stolen away unawares to me, and carried away my daughters, as captives taken with the sword?

27 Wherefore didst you flee away secretly, and steal away from me; and didst not tell me, that I might have sent you away with mirth, and with songs, with tabret, and with harp?

28 And hast not suffered me to kiss my sons and my daughters? You have now done foolishly in so doing.

29 It is in the power of my hand to do you hurt; but the God (Elohim) of your father spake unto me yesternight, saying, ‘Take you heed that you speak not to Jacob (Yaaqov) either good or bad.’

30 And now, though you wouldest needs be gone, because you sore longedst after your father’s house, yet wherefore have you stolen my gods (elohim)?”

31 And Jacob (Yaaqov) answered and said to Lavan, “Because I was afraid: for I said, ‘Perhaps you wouldest take by force your daughters from me.’

32 With whomsoever you findest your gods (elohim), let him not live; before our brethren discern you what is your with me, and take it to you.” For Jacob (Yaaqov) knew not that Rachel had stolen them.

33 And Lavan went into Jacob (Yaaqov)’s tent, and into Leah’s tent, and into the two maidservants’ tents; but he found them not. Then went he 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 Lavan searched all the tent, but found them not.

35 And she said to her father, “Let it not displease my lord (adoni) that I cannot rise up before you; for the custom of women is upon me.” And he searched, but found not the images.

36 And Jacob (Yaaqov) was wroth, and chode with Lavan; and Jacob (Yaaqov) answered and said to Lavan: “What is my trespass? What is my sin, that you have so hotly pursued after me?

37 Whereas you have searched all my stuff, what have you found of all your household stuff? set it here before my brethren and your brethren, that they may judge betwixt us both!

38 These twenty years have I been with you; your ewes and your she goats have not cast their young, and the rams of your flock have I not eaten.

39 That which was torn of beasts I brought not unto you; I bare the loss of it; of my hand didst you require it, whether stolen by day, or stolen by night.

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

41 Thus have I been twenty years in your house; I served you fourteen years for your two daughters, and six years for your cattle; and you have changed my wages ten times.

42 Except the God (Elohim) of my father, the God (Elohim) of Avraham, and the fear of Isaac (Yitschaq), had been with me, surely you hadst sent me away now empty. God (Elohim) hath seen mine affliction and the labour of my hands, and rebuked you yesternight.”

43 And Lavan answered and said unto Jacob (Yaaqov), “These daughters are my daughters, and these children are my children, and these cattle are my cattle, and all that you seest is mine; and what can I do this day unto these my daughters, or unto their children which they have born?

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

45 And Jacob (Yaaqov) took a stone, and set it up for a pillar.

46 And Jacob (Yaaqov) said unto his brethren, “Gather stones;” and they took stones, and made a heap; and they did eat there upon the heap.

47 And Lavan called it Yegarsahaduta, but Jacob (Yaaqov) called it Galeed.

48 And Lavan said, “This heap is a witness between me and you this day. Therefore was the name of it called Galeed,

49 And Mizpah; for he said, ‘יהוה watch between me and you, when we are absent one from another.

50 If you shalt afflict my daughters, or if you shalt take other wives besides my daughters, no man is with us; see, God (Elohim) is witness betwixt me and you.”

51 And Lavan said to Jacob (Yaaqov), “Behold this heap, and behold this pillar, which I have cast betwixt me and you;

52 This heap be witness, and this pillar be witness, that I will not pass over this heap to you, and that you shalt not pass over this heap and this pillar unto me, for harm.

53 The God (Elohim) of Avraham, and the God (Elohim) of Nahor, the God (Elohim) of their father, judge betwixt us.” And Jacob (Yaaqov) sware by the fear of his father Isaac (Yitschaq).

54 Then Jacob (Yaaqov) offered sacrifice upon the mount, and called his brethren to eat bread; and they did eat bread, and tarried all night in the mountain.

55 And early in the morning Lavan rose up, and kissed his sons and his daughters, and blessed them; and Lavan departed, and returned unto his place.