| Berean Study Bible | Holman Christian Standard Bible |
| 1Now 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.” | 1Now Jacob heard what Laban's sons were saying: "Jacob has taken all that was our father's and has built this wealth from what belonged to our father." |
| 2And Jacob saw from the countenance of Laban that his attitude toward him had changed. | 2And Jacob saw from Laban's face that his attitude toward him was not the same. |
| 3Then the LORD said to Jacob, “Go back to the land of your fathers and to your kindred, and I will be with you.” | 3Then the LORD said to him, "Go back to the land of your fathers and to your family, and I will be with you." |
| 4So Jacob sent word and called Rachel and Leah to the field where his flocks were, | 4Jacob had Rachel and Leah called to the field where his flocks were. |
| 5and 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. | 5He said to them, "I can see from your father's face that his attitude toward me is not the same, but the God of my father has been with me. |
| 6You know that I have served your father with all my strength. | 6You know that I've worked hard for your father |
| 7And although he has cheated me and changed my wages ten times, God has not allowed him to harm me. | 7and that he has cheated me and changed my wages 10 times. But God has not let him harm me. |
| 8If 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. | 8If he said, 'The spotted sheep will be your wages,' then all the sheep were born spotted. If he said, 'The streaked sheep will be your wages,' then all the sheep were born streaked. |
| 9Thus God has taken away your father’s livestock and given them to me. | 9God has taken away your father's herds and given them to me." |
| 10When the flocks were breeding, I saw in a dream that the streaked, spotted, and speckled males were mating with the females. | 10When the flocks were breeding, I saw in a dream that the streaked, spotted, and speckled males were mating with the females. |
| 11In that dream the angel of God said to me, ‘Jacob!’ And I replied, ‘Here I am.’ | 11In that dream the Angel of God said to me, 'Jacob!' and I said, 'Here I am.' |
| 12‘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. | 12And He said, 'Look up and see: all the males that are mating with the flocks are streaked, spotted, and speckled, for I have seen all that Laban has been doing to you. |
| 13I 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.’ ” | 13I am the God of Bethel, where you poured oil on the stone marker and made a solemn vow to Me. Get up, leave this land, and return to your native land.'" |
| 14And Rachel and Leah replied, “Do we have any portion or inheritance left in our father’s house? | 14Then Rachel and Leah answered him, "Do we have any portion or inheritance in our father's household? |
| 15Are we not regarded by him as outsiders? Not only has he sold us, but he has certainly squandered what was paid for us. | 15Are we not regarded by him as outsiders? For he has sold us and has certainly spent our money. |
| 16Surely 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.” | 16In fact, all the wealth that God has taken away from our father belongs to us and to our children. So do whatever God has said to you." |
| 17Then Jacob got up and put his children and his wives on camels, | 17Then Jacob got up and put his children and wives on the camels. |
| 18and 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. | 18He took all the livestock and possessions he had acquired in Paddan-aram, and he drove his herds to go to the land of his father Isaac in Canaan. |
| 19Now while Laban was out shearing his sheep, Rachel stole her father’s household idols. | 19When Laban had gone to shear his sheep, Rachel stole her father's household idols. |
| 20Moreover, Jacob deceived Laban the Aramean by not telling him that he was running away. | 20And Jacob deceived Laban the Aramean, not telling him that he was fleeing. |
| 21So he fled with all his possessions, crossed the Euphrates, and headed for the hill country of Gilead. | 21He fled with all his possessions, crossed the Euphrates, and headed for the hill country of Gilead. |
| 22On the third day Laban was informed that Jacob had fled. | 22On the third day Laban was told that Jacob had fled. |
| 23So he took his relatives with him, pursued Jacob for seven days, and overtook him in the hill country of Gilead. | 23So he took his relatives with him, pursued Jacob for seven days, and overtook him at Mount Gilead. |
| 24But 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.” | 24But God came to Laban the Aramean in a dream at night. "Watch yourself!" God warned him. "Don't say anything to Jacob, either good or bad." |
| 25Now Jacob had pitched his tent in the hill country of Gilead when Laban overtook him, and Laban and his relatives camped there as well. | 25When Laban overtook Jacob, Jacob had pitched his tent in the hill country, and Laban and his brothers also pitched their tents in the hill country of Gilead. |
| 26Then Laban said to Jacob, “What have you done? You have deceived me and carried off my daughters like captives of war! | 26Then Laban said to Jacob, "What have you done? You have deceived me and taken my daughters away like prisoners of war! |
| 27Why 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. | 27Why did you secretly flee from me, deceive me, and not tell me? I would have sent you away with joy and singing, with tambourines and lyres, |
| 28But you did not even let me kiss my grandchildren and my daughters goodbye. Now you have done a foolish thing. | 28but you didn't even let me kiss my grandchildren and my daughters. You have acted foolishly. |
| 29I 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.’ | 29I could do you great harm, but last night the God of your father said to me: 'Watch yourself. Don't say anything to Jacob, either good or bad.' |
| 30Now you have gone off because you long for your father’s house. But why have you stolen my gods?” | 30Now you have gone off because you long for your father--but why have you stolen my gods?" |
| 31“I was afraid,” Jacob answered, “for I thought you would take your daughters from me by force. | 31Jacob answered, "I was afraid, for I thought you would take your daughters from me by force. |
| 32If 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. | 32If you find your gods with anyone here, he will not live! Before our relatives, point out anything that is yours and take it." Jacob did not know that Rachel had stolen the idols. |
| 33So 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. | 33So Laban went into Jacob's tent, then Leah's tent, and then the tents of the two female slaves, but he found nothing. Then he left Leah's tent and entered Rachel's. |
| 34Now 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. | 34Now Rachel had taken Laban's household idols, put them in the saddlebag of the camel, and sat on them. Laban searched the whole tent but found nothing. |
| 35Rachel 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. | 35She said to her father, "Sir, don't be angry that I cannot stand up in your presence; I am having my period." So Laban searched, but could not find the household idols. |
| 36Then Jacob became incensed and challenged Laban. “What is my crime?” he said. “For what sin of mine have you so hotly pursued me? | 36Then Jacob became incensed and brought charges against Laban. "What is my crime?" he said to Laban. "What is my sin, that you have pursued me? |
| 37You 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. | 37You've searched all my possessions! Have you found anything of yours? Put it here before my relatives and yours, and let them decide between the two of us. |
| 38I have been with you for twenty years now. Your sheep and goats have not miscarried, nor have I eaten the rams of your flock. | 38I've been with you these 20 years. Your ewes and female goats have not miscarried, and I have not eaten the rams from your flock. |
| 39I 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. | 39I did not bring you any of the flock torn by wild beasts; I myself bore the loss. You demanded payment from me for what was stolen by day or by night. |
| 40As it was, the heat consumed me by day and the frost by night, and sleep fled from my eyes. | 40There I was--the heat consumed me by day and the frost by night, and sleep fled from my eyes. |
| 41Thus 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! | 41For 20 years I have worked in your household--14 years for your two daughters and six years for your flocks--and you have changed my wages 10 times! |
| 42If 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.” | 42If the God of my father, the God of Abraham, the Fear of Isaac, had not been with me, certainly now you would have sent me off empty-handed. But God has seen my affliction and my hard work, and He issued His verdict last night." |
| 43But 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? | 43Then Laban answered Jacob, "The daughters are my daughters; the sons, my sons; and the flocks, my flocks! Everything you see is mine! But what can I do today for these daughters of mine or for the children they have borne? |
| 44Come now, let us make a covenant, you and I, and let it serve as a witness between you and me.” | 44Come now, let's make a covenant, you and I. Let it be a witness between the two of us." |
| 45So Jacob picked out a stone and set it up as a pillar, | 45So Jacob picked out a stone and set it up as a marker. |
| 46and he said to his relatives, “Gather some stones.” So they took stones and made a mound, and there by the mound they ate. | 46Then Jacob said to his relatives, "Gather stones." And they took stones and made a mound, then ate there by the mound. |
| 47Laban called it Jegar-sahadutha, and Jacob called it Galeed. | 47Laban named the mound Jegar-sahadutha, but Jacob named it Galeed. |
| 48Then Laban declared, “This mound is a witness between you and me this day.” Therefore the place was called Galeed. | 48Then Laban said, "This mound is a witness between you and me today." Therefore the place was called Galeed |
| 49It was also called Mizpah, because Laban said, “May the LORD keep watch between you and me when we are absent from each other. | 49and also Mizpah, for he said, "May the LORD watch between you and me when we are out of each other's sight. |
| 50If you mistreat my daughters or take other wives, although no one is with us, remember that God is a witness between you and me.” | 50If you mistreat my daughters or take other wives, though no one is with us, understand that God will be a witness between you and me." |
| 51Laban also said to Jacob, “Here is the mound, and here is the pillar I have set up between you and me. | 51Laban also said to Jacob, "Look at this mound and the marker I have set up between you and me. |
| 52This 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. | 52This mound is a witness and the marker is a witness that I will not pass beyond this mound to you, and you will not pass beyond this mound and this marker to do me harm. |
| 53May 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. | 53The God of Abraham, and the gods of Nahor--the gods of their father--will judge between us." And Jacob swore by the Fear of his father Isaac. |
| 54Then 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. | 54Then Jacob offered a sacrifice on the mountain and invited his relatives to eat a meal. So they ate a meal and spent the night on the mountain. |
| 55Early the next morning, Laban got up and kissed his grandchildren and daughters and blessed them. Then he left to return home. | 55Laban got up early in the morning, kissed his grandchildren and daughters, and blessed them. Then Laban left to return home. |
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