Jacob Runs from Laban
1 Jacob heard that Laban's sons were complaining, “Jacob is now a rich man, and he got everything he owns from our father.” 2 Jacob also noticed that Laban was not as friendly as he had been before. 3 One day the Lord said, “Jacob, go back to your relatives in the land of your ancestors, and I will be with you.”
4 Jacob sent for Rachel and Leah to meet him in the pasture where he kept his sheep, 5 and he told them:
Your father isn't as friendly with me as he used to be, but the God my ancestors worshiped has been on my side. 6 You know that I have worked hard for your father 7 and that he keeps cheating me by changing my wages time after time. But God has protected me. 8 When your father said the speckled sheep would be my wages, all of them were speckled. And when he said the spotted ones would be mine, all of them were spotted. 9 That's how God has taken sheep and goats from your father and given them to me.
10 Once, when the flocks were mating, I dreamed that all the rams were either spotted or speckled. 11 Then God's angel called me by name. I answered, 12 and he said, “Notice that all the rams are either spotted or speckled. I know everything Laban is doing to you, 13 and I am the God you worshiped at Bethel, when you poured olive oil on a rock and made a promise to me. Leave here at once and return to the land where you were born.”
14 Rachel and Leah said to Jacob:
There's nothing left for us to inherit from our father. 15 He treats us like foreigners and has even cheated us out of the bride price that should have been ours. 16 So do whatever God tells you to do. Even the property God took from our father and gave to you really belongs to us and our children.
17 Then Jacob, his wives, and his children got on camels and left 18 northern Syria for the home of his father Isaac in Canaan. Jacob took along all his flocks, herds, and other property.
19 Before Rachel left, she stole the household idols while Laban was out shearing his sheep.
20 Jacob tricked Laban the Aramean by not saying that he intended to leave. 21 When Jacob crossed the Euphrates River and headed for the hill country of Gilead, he took with him everything he owned.
Laban Catches Up with Jacob
22 Three days later Laban found out that Jacob had gone. 23 So he took some of his relatives along and chased after Jacob for seven days, before catching up with him in the hill country of Gilead. 24 But God appeared to Laban in a dream that night and warned, “Don't say a word to Jacob. Don't make a threat or a promise.”
25 Jacob had set up camp in the hill country of Gilead, when Laban and his relatives came and set up camp in another part of the hill country. Laban went to Jacob 26 and said:
Look what you've done! You've tricked me and run off with my daughters like a kidnapper. 27 Why did you sneak away without telling me? I would have given you a going-away party with singing and with music on tambourines and harps. 28 You didn't even give me a chance to kiss my own grandchildren and daughters goodbye. That was really foolish. 29 I could easily hurt you, but the God your father worshiped has warned me not to make any threats or promises.
30 I can understand why you were eager to return to your father, but why did you have to steal my idols?
31 Jacob answered, “I left secretly because I was afraid you would take your daughters from me by force. 32 If you find that any one of us has taken your idols, I'll have that person killed. Let your relatives be witnesses. Show me what belongs to you, and you can take it back.” Jacob did not realize that Rachel had stolen the household idols.
33 Laban searched the tents of Jacob, Leah, and the two servant women, but did not find the idols. Then he went to Rachel's tent. 34 She had already hidden them in the cushion she used as a saddle and was sitting on it. Laban searched everywhere and did not find them. 35 Rachel said, “Father, please don't be angry with me for not getting up; I'm having my period.” Laban kept on searching, but still did not find the idols.
36 Jacob became very angry and said to Laban:
What have I done wrong? Have I committed some crime? Is that why you hunted me down? 37 After searching through everything I have, did you find anything of yours? If so, put it here, where your relatives and mine can see it. Then we can decide what to do.
38 In all the 20 years that I've worked for you, not one of your sheep or goats has had a miscarriage, and I've never eaten even one of your rams. 39 If a wild animal killed one of your sheep or goats, I paid for it myself. In fact, you demanded the full price, whether the animal was killed during the day or at night. 40 I sweated every day, and I couldn't sleep at night because of the cold.
41 I had to work 14 of these 20 long years to earn your two daughters and another 6 years to buy your sheep and goats. During that time you kept changing my wages. 42 If the fearsome God worshiped by Abraham and my father Isaac had not been on my side, you would have sent me away without a thing. But God saw my hard work, and he knew the trouble I was in, so he helped me. Then last night he told you how wrong you were.
Jacob and Laban Make an Agreement
43 Laban said to Jacob, “Leah and Rachel are my daughters, and their children belong to me. All these sheep you are taking are really mine too. In fact, everything you have belongs to me. But there is nothing I can do to keep my daughters and their children. 44 So I am ready to make an agreement with you, and we will pile up some large rocks here to remind us of the agreement.”
45 After Jacob had set up a large rock, 46 he told his men to get some more rocks and pile them up next to it. Then Jacob and Laban ate a meal together beside the rocks. 47 Laban named the pile of rocks Jegar Sahadutha. But Jacob named it Galeed. 48 Laban said to Jacob, “This pile of rocks will remind us of our agreement.” That's why the place was named Galeed. 49 Laban also said, “This pile of rocks means that the Lord will watch us both while we are apart from each other.” So the place was also named Mizpah.
50 Then Laban said:
If you mistreat my daughters or marry other women, I may not know about it, but remember, God is watching us! 51-52 Both this pile of rocks and this large rock have been set up between us as a reminder. I must never go past them to attack you, and you must never come past them to attack me. 53 My father Nahor, your grandfather Abraham, and their ancestors all worshiped the same God, and he will make sure that we each keep the agreement.
Then Jacob made a promise in the name of the fearsome God his father Isaac had worshiped. 54 Jacob killed an animal and offered it as a sacrifice there on the mountain, and he invited his men to eat with him. After the meal they spent the night on the mountain. 55 Early the next morning, Laban kissed his daughters and his grandchildren goodbye, then he left to go back home.
Jēkabs slepus atstāj Lābanu
1 Reiz viņš dzirdēja Lābana dēlus runājam: “Jēkabs ir sagrābies visu, kas bija mūsu tēvam, un no tā, kas bija mūsu tēvam, viņš ir ieguvis savu bagātību!” 2 Jēkabs uzlūkoja Lābana vaigu, un, redzi, tas vairs nebija tāds kā vakar un aizvakar. 3 Un Kungs teica Jēkabam: “Atgriezies sava tēva zemē, vietā, kur tu esi dzimis, un es būšu ar tevi!” 4 Un Jēkabs lika, lai pasauc Rāhēli un Leu uz lauku, kur bija viņa avis. 5 Un viņš tām teica: “Es redzu, ka jūsu tēva prāts vairs nav pret mani tāds kā vakar un aizvakar! Bet mana tēva Dievs ir bijis ar mani! 6 Un jūs zināt, ka es esmu kalpojis jūsu tēvam ar visu savu spēku. 7 Bet jūsu tēvs pievīla mani un vai desmitām reižu ir mainījis manu algu, bet Dievs viņam nav ļāvis darīt man ļaunu! 8 Kad viņš teica: lāsainie būs tava alga! – tad visas avis dzemdēja lāsainos, bet, kad viņš teica: strīpainie būs tava alga! – tad visas avis dzemdēja strīpainos! 9 Dievs atņēma ganāmpulku jūsu tēvam un atdeva man! 10 Kad avis pārojās, es raudzījos un redzēju sapni, un, redzi, visi teķi, kas apleca avis, – strīpaini, lāsaini un raibi! 11 Un Dieva eņģelis sapnī man teica: “Jēkab!” Un es teicu: “Es te!” 12 Un viņš teica: “Paraugies jel un skaties – visi teķi, kas aplec avis, ir strīpaini, lāsaini un raibi, – jo es redzēju visu, ko Lābans tev dara! 13 Es esmu Bēteles Dievs, kur tu ar eļļu svaidīji zīmi, kur tu devi man zvērestu, – celies tagad, ej projām no šīs zemes un atgriezies zemē, kur tu esi dzimis!”” 14 Rāhēle un Lea atbildēja viņam: “Vai tad mums vēl ir kāda daļa un mantojums mūsu tēva namā?! 15 Vai ne kā svešinieces mēs viņam bijām, ka viņš mūs pārdeva un aprija sudrabu, ko par mums bija dabūjis? 16 Visa bagātība, ko Dievs atņēma mūsu tēvam, nu pieder mums un mūsu dēliem. Tad nu dari visu, ko Dievs tev teica!” 17 Tad Jēkabs cēlās un sēdināja savus dēlus un savas sievas uz kamieļiem. 18 Viņš aizveda visus savus ganāmpulkus un visus savus krājumus, ko bija iekrājis, savus sapirktos lopus, ko bija ieguvis Padān-Arāmā, un gāja pie sava tēva Īzaka uz Kanaāna zemi. 19 Bet Lābans bija aizgājis cirpt savas avis, un Rāhēle nozaga sava tēva dieviņus. 20 Un Jēkabs piemānīja aramieti Lābanu, neteikdams, ka viņš bēg. 21 Viņš bēga ar visu, kas viņam bija, un viņš cēlās un šķērsoja upi un devās uz Gileāda kalniem.
Lābans panāk Jēkabu
22 Trešajā dienā Lābanam pastāstīja, ka Jēkabs aizbēdzis. 23 Tad viņš ņēma savus brāļus un septiņas dienas dzinās viņam pakaļ, līdz panāca viņu Gileāda kalnos. 24 Un Dievs naktī nāca pie aramieša Lābana sapnī un viņam teica: “Sargies, ka tu nerunā ar Jēkabu ļaunu, bet labu!”
25 Un Lābans panāca Jēkabu, bet Jēkabs bija izpletis savu telti kalnos, un arī Lābans ar saviem brāļiem apmetās Gileāda kalnos. 26 Un Lābans teica Jēkabam: “Ko tu esi nodarījis? Kāpēc tu mani piemānīji – aizvedi manas meitas kā kara gūsteknes? 27 Kāpēc tu aizbēgi slepus, apkrāpi mani un neteici man – es tevi būtu atlaidis ar līksmi un dziesmām, ar bungām un stīgām! 28 Tu neļāvi man pat noskūpstīt savus dēlus un meitas! Muļķīgi gan tu esi darījis! 29 Manā varā būtu darīt jums ļaunu! Bet jūsu tēvu Dievs man vakar teica: sargies, ka tu nerunā ar Jēkabu ļaunu, bet labu! 30 Un nu – ej jau, ja tu tā ilgojies pēc sava tēva nama, bet kāpēc tu nozagi manus dievus?!” 31 Un Jēkabs atbildēja Lābanam: “Jo… es… baidījos! Domāju, ka tu neatņem man savas meitas! 32 Bet, pie kā tu atradīsi savus dievus, tas dzīvs nepaliks! Visu mūsu brāļu priekšā parādi, kas pie manis ir tavs, un ņem to!” Bet Jēkabs nezināja, ka tos ir nozagusi Rāhēle. 33 Un Lābans gāja Jēkaba teltī un Leas teltī, un abu kalpoņu teltīs, bet neatrada, un viņš iznāca no Leas telts un gāja Rāhēles teltī. 34 Un Rāhēle paņēma dieviņus, ielika tos kamieļa seglos un apsēdās tiem virsū. Lābans iztaustīja visu telti, bet neatrada. 35 Un viņa teica savam tēvam: “Nedusmo, mans kungs, ka es nevaru piecelties tavā priekšā, jo man ir, kā sievām mēdz būt.” Un viņš meklēja, bet dieviņus neatrada.
36 Tad Jēkabs iekarsa un sāka strīdu ar Lābanu, un Jēkabs atcirta Lābanam: “Kur ir mana vaina? Kas ir mans grēks? Kāpēc tu tik kvēli mani vajā?! 37 Tu esi iztaustījis visas manas mantas! Ko tu no sava nama mantām esi atradis? Liec visu te, manu un tavu brāļu priekšā, lai tie izšķir mūs abus! 38 Šos divdesmit gadus, kamēr es biju pie tevis, tavas avis un kazas neizmetās, un tavu avju teķus es neesmu apēdis! 39 Maitas es tev nenesu atrādīt, to vietā es atliku citus lopus, un man tu atprasīji to, kas nozagts dienā un kas nozagts naktī! 40 Bet kā man! – dienā mani rija versme un aukstums naktī, un miegs bēga no manām acīm! 41 Tādi man bija divdesmit gadi! Tavā namā es kalpoju četrpadsmit gadus par abām tavām meitām un sešus gadus par taviem lopiem, bet pat ar algu tu mani pievīli vai desmitām reižu! 42 Ja mana tēva Dievs – Ābrahāma Dievs un Īzaka Briesmas – nebūtu bijis ar mani, tad tagad tu būtu mani palaidis tukšā! Dievs redzēja manas ciešanas un manus pūliņus, un vakar Dievs izsprieda taisni!”
Lābans un Jēkabs slēdz derību
43 Un Lābans atbildēja Jēkabam: “Tās meitas ir manas meitas, un tie dēli ir mani dēli, un tās avis ir manas avis, un viss, ko tu redzi, – ir mans! Bet ko es šodien varu darīt savām meitām vai viņu dēliem, ko tās dzemdējušas?! 44 Bet nu nāc, noslēgsim derību, es un tu! Tā lai ir par liecību starp mani un tevi!” 45 Un Jēkabs ņēma akmeni un uzslēja to par piemiņas stabu. 46 Jēkabs teica saviem brāļiem: “Salasiet akmeņus!” Un viņi ņēma akmeņus un sabēra kaudzē, un viņi ēda tur uz tās kaudzes. 47 Un Lābans to nosauca: Jegar-Sahadūta , bet Jēkabs to nosauca par Galēdu . 48 Un Lābans teica: “Šī kaudze šodien ir liecība man un tev!” – tādēļ to nosauca vārdā Galēda 49 un Micpa , jo viņš teica: “Kungs uzmanīs mani un tevi, kad būsim tālu viens no otra, – 50 ja tu apspiedīsi manas meitas un ja tu ņemsi vēl kādu sievu bez manām meitām, redzi – ne cilvēks, bet Dievs ir liecinieks starp mani un tevi!” 51 Un Lābans teica Jēkabam: “Redzi, šī kaudze un, redzi, tas piemiņas stabs, ko es noliku starp mani un tevi! 52 Lieciniece ir šī kaudze, un liecinieks ir šis piemiņas stabs, ka es neiešu pie tevis tālāk par šo kaudzi un ka tu neiesi pie manis ar ļaunu tālāk par šo kaudzi un piemiņas stabu! 53 Ābrahāma Dievs un Nāhora Dievs lai tiesā starp mums un viņu tēvu Dievs!” Un Jēkabs zvērēja pie sava tēva Īzaka Briesmām! 54 Jēkabs upurēja kalnā kaujamo upuri un sasauca savus brāļus, lai ēstu maizi, un viņi ēda maizi un pārnakšņoja kalnā.
