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Genesis 31

New International Reader’s Version



1 Jacob heard what Laban’s sons were saying. ‘Jacob has taken everything our father owned,’ they said. ‘He has gained all this wealth from what belonged to our father.’ 2 Jacob noticed that Laban’s feelings towards him had changed. 3 Then the LORD spoke to Jacob. He said, ‘Go back to your father’s land and to your relatives. I will be with you.’ 4 So Jacob sent word to Rachel and Leah. He told them to come out to the fields where his flocks were. 5 He said to them, ‘I see that your father’s feelings towards me have changed. But the God of my father has been with me. 6 You know that I’ve worked for your father with all my strength. 7 But your father has cheated me. He has changed my pay ten times. In spite of everything that’s happened, God hasn’t let him harm me. 8 Sometimes Laban would say, “The speckled ones will be your pay.” Then all the flocks had little ones with speckles. At other times he would say, “The striped ones will be your pay.” Then all the flocks had little ones with stripes. 9 So God has taken away your father’s livestock and given them to me. 10 ‘Once during the mating season I had a dream. In my dream I looked and saw male goats mating with the flock. The goats had stripes, speckles or spots. 11 The angel of God said to me in the dream, “Jacob”. I answered, “Here I am.” 12 He said, “Look around you. See the male goats mating with the flock. All of them have stripes, speckles or spots. That’s because I have seen everything that Laban has been doing to you. 13 I am the God of Bethel. That is where you poured olive oil on a sacred stone. There you made a promise to me. Now leave this land. Go back to your own land.” ’ 14 Rachel and Leah replied, ‘Do we still have any share of our father’s property? 15 Doesn’t our father think of us as outsiders? First he sold us. Now he has used up what he was paid for us. 16 All the wealth God took away from our father really belongs to us and our children. So do what God has told you to do.’ 17 Then Jacob put his children and wives on camels. 18 He drove all his livestock ahead of him. He also took with him everything he had acquired in Paddan Aram. He left to go to his father Isaac in the land of Canaan. 19 Laban had gone to clip the wool from his sheep. While he was gone, Rachel stole the statues of the family gods that belonged to her father. 20 And that’s not all. Jacob tricked Laban, the Aramean. He didn’t tell him he was running away. 21 So Jacob ran off with everything he had. He crossed the River Euphrates. And he headed for the hill country of Gilead. 



22 On the third day Laban was told that Jacob had run away. 23 He took his relatives with him and went after Jacob. Seven days later he caught up with him in the hill country of Gilead. 24 Then God came to Laban, the Aramean, in a dream at night. He said to him, ‘Be careful. Do not say anything to Jacob, whether it is good or bad.’ 25 Jacob had set up his tent in the hill country of Gilead. That’s where Laban caught up with him. Laban and his relatives camped there too. 26 Laban said to Jacob, ‘What have you done? You have tricked me. You have taken my daughters away like prisoners of war. 27 Why did you run away in secret and trick me? Why didn’t you tell me? Then I could have sent you away happily. We could have sung to the music of tambourines and harps. 28 You didn’t even let me kiss my grandchildren and my daughters goodbye. You have done a foolish thing. 29 I have the power to harm you. But last night the God of your father spoke to me. He said, “Be careful. Do not say anything to Jacob, whether it is good or bad.” 30 Now you have run away. You longed to go back to your father’s home. But why did you have to steal the statues of my gods?’ 31 Jacob answered Laban, ‘I was afraid. I thought you would take your daughters away from me by force. 32 But if you find anyone who has the statues of your gods, that person will not remain alive. While our relatives are watching, look for yourself. See if there’s anything of yours here with me. If you find anything belonging to you, take it.’ But Jacob didn’t know that Rachel had stolen the statues. 33 So Laban went into Jacob’s tent and Leah’s tent. He went into the tent of their two female servants. But he didn’t find anything. After he came out of Leah’s tent, he entered Rachel’s tent. 34 Rachel was the one who had taken the statues of Laban’s family gods. She had put them inside her camel’s saddle. She was sitting on them. Laban searched the whole tent. But he didn’t find anything. 35 Rachel said to her father, ‘I’m sorry, sir. I can’t get up for you right now. But don’t be angry with me. I’m having my monthly period.’ So he searched everywhere but couldn’t find the statues of his gods. 36 Jacob was very angry with Laban. ‘What is my crime?’ he asked. ‘What have I done to you that you hunt me down like this? 37 You have searched through all my things. What have you found that belongs to your family? Put it here in front of your relatives and mine. Let them decide between the two of us. 38 ‘I’ve been with you for 20 years now. The little ones of your sheep and goats were not dead when they were born. I haven’t eaten rams from your flocks. 39 I didn’t bring you animals torn apart by wild beasts. I made up for the loss myself. Also, you made me pay for anything stolen by day or night. 40 And what was my life like? The heat burned me in the daytime. And it was so cold at night that I froze. I couldn’t sleep. 41 That’s what it was like for the 20 years I was living with you. I worked for 14 years to marry your two daughters. I worked for six years to get my share of your flocks. You changed my pay ten times. 42 But the God of my father was with me. He is the God of Abraham and the God Isaac worshipped. If he hadn’t been with me, you would surely have sent me away without anything to show for all my work. But God has seen my hard times. He has seen all the work my hands have done. So last night he warned you.’ 43 Laban answered Jacob, ‘The women are my daughters. The children are my children. The flocks are my flocks. Everything you see is mine. But what can I do today about these daughters of mine? What can I do about the children they’ve had? 44 Come now. Let’s make a formal agreement, you and I. Let it be a witness between us.’ 45 So Jacob set up a stone as a way to remember. 46 He said to his relatives, ‘Get some stones.’ So they took stones and put them in a pile. And they ate there by it. 47 Laban named the pile of stones Jegar Sahadutha. Jacob named it Galeed. 48 Laban said, ‘This pile of stones is a witness between you and me today.’ That’s why it was named Galeed. 49 It was also called Mizpah. That’s because Laban said, ‘May the LORD keep watch between you and me when we are away from each other. 50 Don’t treat my daughters badly. Don’t get married to any women besides my daughters. There isn’t anyone here to see what we’re doing. But remember that God is a witness between you and me.’ 51 Laban also said to Jacob, ‘Here is this pile of stones. And here is this stone I’ve set up. I’ve set them up between you and me. 52 This pile is a witness. And this stone is a witness. They are witnesses that I won’t go past this pile to harm you. And they are witnesses that you won’t go past this pile and this stone to harm me. 53 The God of Abraham and Nahor is also the God of their father. May their God decide which of us is right.’ So Jacob made a promise using the name of the God his father Isaac worshipped. 54 He offered a sacrifice there in the hill country. And he invited his relatives to a meal. After they had eaten, they spent the night there. 55 Early the next morning Laban kissed his grandchildren and his daughters. He gave them his blessing. Then he left and returned home. 

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Genesis 31

English Standard Version



1 Now Jacob heard that the sons of Laban were saying, “Jacob has taken all that was our father’s, and from what was our father’s he has gained all this wealth.” 2 And Jacob saw that Laban did not regard him with favor as before. (Ge 4:5) 3 Then the Lord said to Jacob, “Return to the land of your fathers and to your kindred, and I will be with you.” (Ge 28:15; Ge 31:13; Ge 32:9) 4 So Jacob sent and called Rachel and Leah into the field where his flock was 5 and said to them, “I see that your father does not regard me with favor as he did before. But the God of my father has been with me. (Ge 31:2; Ge 31:3) 6 You know that I have served your father with all my strength, (Ge 30:29; Ge 31:38) 7 yet your father has cheated me and changed my wages ten times. But God did not permit him to harm me. (Ge 31:41; Nu 14:22; Ne 4:12; Job 19:3; Zec 8:23) 8 If he said, ‘The spotted shall be your wages,’ then all the flock bore spotted; and if he said, ‘The striped shall be your wages,’ then all the flock bore striped. (Ge 30:32) 9 Thus God has taken away the livestock of your father and given them to me. (Ge 31:1) 10 In the breeding season of the flock I lifted up my eyes and saw in a dream that the goats that mated with the flock were striped, spotted, and mottled. 11 Then the angel of God said to me in the dream, ‘Jacob,’ and I said, ‘Here I am!’ 12 And he said, ‘Lift up your eyes and see, all the goats that mate with the flock are striped, spotted, and mottled, for I have seen all that Laban is doing to you. (Ex 3:7) 13 I am the God of Bethel, where you anointed a pillar and made a vow to me. Now arise, go out from this land and return to the land of your kindred.’” (Ge 28:18; Ge 31:3; Ge 32:9) 14 Then Rachel and Leah answered and said to him, “Is there any portion or inheritance left to us in our father’s house? (2Sa 20:1; 1Ki 12:16) 15 Are we not regarded by him as foreigners? For he has sold us, and he has indeed devoured our money. (Ge 29:15; Ge 29:27; Ge 30:26) 16 All the wealth that God has taken away from our father belongs to us and to our children. Now then, whatever God has said to you, do.” 17 So Jacob arose and set his sons and his wives on camels. 18 He drove away all his livestock, all his property that he had gained, the livestock in his possession that he had acquired in Paddan-aram, to go to the land of Canaan to his father Isaac. (Ge 25:20; Ge 28:2; Ge 28:6) 19 Laban had gone to shear his sheep, and Rachel stole her father’s household gods. (Ge 31:30; Ge 31:34; Jud 17:5; 1Sa 15:23; 1Sa 19:13; Eze 21:21; Ho 3:4; Zec 10:2) 20 And Jacob tricked[1] Laban the Aramean, by not telling him that he intended to flee. 21 He fled with all that he had and arose and crossed the Euphrates,[2] and set his face toward the hill country of Gilead. (Ex 23:31; 2Ki 12:17; Ps 72:8; Lu 9:51) 22 When it was told Laban on the third day that Jacob had fled, 23 he took his kinsmen with him and pursued him for seven days and followed close after him into the hill country of Gilead. 24 But God came to Laban the Aramean in a dream by night and said to him, “Be careful not to say anything to Jacob, either good or bad.” (Ge 20:3; Ge 24:50; Nu 24:13; 2Sa 13:22) 25 And Laban overtook Jacob. Now Jacob had pitched his tent in the hill country, and Laban with his kinsmen pitched tents in the hill country of Gilead. 26 And Laban said to Jacob, “What have you done, that you have tricked me and driven away my daughters like captives of the sword? (Ge 31:20) 27 Why did you flee secretly and trick me, and did not tell me, so that I might have sent you away with mirth and songs, with tambourine and lyre? (Ge 31:26) 28 And why did you not permit me to kiss my sons and my daughters farewell? Now you have done foolishly. (Ge 31:55; Ru 1:9; Ru 1:14; 1Ki 19:20; Ac 20:37) 29 It is in my power to do you harm. But the God of your[3] father spoke to me last night, saying, ‘Be careful not to say anything to Jacob, either good or bad.’ (Ge 28:13; Ge 31:24; Ge 31:42; Ge 31:53; De 28:32; Ne 5:5; Pr 3:27; Mic 2:1) 30 And now you have gone away because you longed greatly for your father’s house, but why did you steal my gods?” (Ge 31:19; Jud 18:24) 31 Jacob answered and said to Laban, “Because I was afraid, for I thought that you would take your daughters from me by force. 32 Anyone with whom you find your gods shall not live. In the presence of our kinsmen point out what I have that is yours, and take it.” Now Jacob did not know that Rachel had stolen them. (Ge 44:9) 33 So Laban went into Jacob’s tent and into Leah’s tent and into the tent of the two female servants, but he did not find them. And he went out of Leah’s tent and entered Rachel’s. 34 Now Rachel had taken the household gods and put them in the camel’s saddle and sat on them. Laban felt all about the tent, but did not find them. 35 And she said to her father, “Let not my lord be angry that I cannot rise before you, for the way of women is upon me.” So he searched but did not find the household gods. (Le 19:32) 36 Then Jacob became angry and berated Laban. Jacob said to Laban, “What is my offense? What is my sin, that you have hotly pursued me? 37 For you have felt through all my goods; what have you found of all your household goods? Set it here before my kinsmen and your kinsmen, that they may decide between us two. (Ge 31:54) 38 These twenty years I have been with you. Your ewes and your female goats have not miscarried, and I have not eaten the rams of your flocks. 39 What was torn by wild beasts I did not bring to you. I bore the loss of it myself. From my hand you required it, whether stolen by day or stolen by night. (Ex 22:12) 40 There I was: by day the heat consumed me, and the cold by night, and my sleep fled from my eyes. 41 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. (Ge 29:27; Ge 31:7) 42 If the God of my father, the God of Abraham and the Fear of Isaac, had not been on my side, surely now you would have sent me away empty-handed. God saw my affliction and the labor of my hands and rebuked you last night.” (Ge 29:32; Ge 31:29; Ge 31:53; Ps 124:1) 43 Then Laban answered and said to Jacob, “The daughters are my daughters, the children are my children, the flocks are my flocks, and all that you see is mine. But what can I do this day for these my daughters or for their children whom they have borne? 44 Come now, let us make a covenant, you and I. And let it be a witness between you and me.” (Ge 26:28; Jos 24:27) 45 So Jacob took a stone and set it up as a pillar. (Ge 28:18) 46 And Jacob said to his kinsmen, “Gather stones.” And they took stones and made a heap, and they ate there by the heap. 47 Laban called it Jegar-sahadutha,[4] but Jacob called it Galeed.[5] 48 Laban said, “This heap is a witness between you and me today.” Therefore he named it Galeed, (Ge 31:44) 49 and Mizpah,[6] for he said, “The Lord watch between you and me, when we are out of one another’s sight. (Jud 11:29; Jud 11:34) 50 If you oppress my daughters, or if you take wives besides my daughters, although no one is with us, see, God is witness between you and me.” (Jud 11:10; 1Sa 12:5; Job 16:19; Jer 42:5; Mic 1:2) 51 Then Laban said to Jacob, “See this heap and the pillar, which I have set between you and me. 52 This heap is a witness, and the pillar is a witness, that I will not pass over this heap to you, and you will not pass over this heap and this pillar to me, to do harm. (Ge 31:43) 53 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, (Ge 31:42) 54 and Jacob offered a sacrifice in the hill country and called his kinsmen to eat bread. They ate bread and spent the night in the hill country. (Ge 31:37) 55 [7] Early in the morning Laban arose and kissed his grandchildren and his daughters and blessed them. Then Laban departed and returned home. (Ge 31:28; Ge 31:43) 

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