Jacob Flees from Laban
1 Jacob heard that Laban's sons were saying, “Jacob has taken everything that belonged to our father. He got all his wealth from what our father owned.” 2 He also saw that Laban was no longer as friendly as he had been earlier. 3 Then the Lord said to him, “Go back to the land of your fathers and to your relatives. I will be with you.”
4 So Jacob sent word to Rachel and Leah to meet him in the field where his flocks were. 5 He said to them, “I have noticed that your father is not as friendly toward me as he used to be; but my father's God has been with me. 6 You both know that I have worked for your father with all my strength. 7 Yet he has cheated me and changed my wages ten times. But God did not let him harm me. 8 Whenever Laban said, ‘The speckled goats shall be your wages,’ all the flocks produced speckled young. When he said, ‘The striped goats shall be your wages,’ all the flocks produced striped young. 9 God has taken flocks away from your father and given them to me.
10 “During the breeding season I had a dream, and I saw that the male goats that were mating were striped, spotted, and speckled. 11 The angel of God spoke to me in the dream and said, ‘Jacob!’ ‘Yes,’ I answered. 12 ‘Look,’ he continued, ‘all the male goats that are mating are striped, spotted, and speckled. I am making this happen because I have seen all that Laban is doing to you. 13 I am the God who appeared to you at Bethel, where you dedicated a stone as a memorial by pouring olive oil on it and where you made a vow to me. Now get ready and go back to the land where you were born.’”
14 Rachel and Leah answered Jacob, “There is nothing left for us to inherit from our father. 15 He treats us like foreigners. He sold us, and now he has spent all the money he was paid for us. 16 All this wealth which God has taken from our father belongs to us and to our children. Do whatever God has told you.”
17-18 So Jacob got ready to go back to his father in the land of Canaan. He put his children and his wives on the camels, and drove all his flocks ahead of him, with everything that he had gotten in Mesopotamia. 19 Laban had gone to shear his sheep, and during his absence Rachel stole the household gods that belonged to her father. 20 Jacob deceived Laban by not letting him know that he was leaving. 21 He took everything he owned and left in a hurry. He crossed the Euphrates River and started for the hill country of Gilead.
Laban Pursues Jacob
22 Three days later Laban was told that Jacob had fled. 23 He took his men with him and pursued Jacob for seven days until he caught up with him in the hill country of Gilead. 24 In a dream that night God came to Laban and said to him, “Be careful not to threaten Jacob in any way.” 25 Jacob had set up his camp on a mountain, and Laban set up his camp with his relatives in the hill country of Gilead.
26 Laban said to Jacob, “Why did you deceive me and carry off my daughters like women captured in war? 27 Why did you deceive me and slip away without telling me? If you had told me, I would have sent you on your way with rejoicing and singing to the music of tambourines and harps. 28 You did not even let me kiss my grandchildren and my daughters good-bye. That was a foolish thing to do! 29 I have the power to do you harm, but last night the God of your father warned me not to threaten you in any way. 30 I know that you left because you were so anxious to get back home, but why did you steal my household gods?”
31 Jacob answered, “I was afraid, because I thought that you might take your daughters away from me. 32 But if you find that anyone here has your gods, he will be put to death. Here, with our men as witnesses, look for anything that belongs to you and take what is yours.” Jacob did not know that Rachel had stolen Laban's gods.
33 Laban went and searched Jacob's tent; then he went into Leah's tent, and the tent of the two slave women, but he did not find his gods. Then he went into Rachel's tent. 34 Rachel had taken the household gods and put them in a camel's saddlebag and was sitting on them. Laban searched through the whole tent, but did not find them. 35 Rachel said to her father, “Do not be angry with me, sir, but I am not able to stand up in your presence; I am having my monthly period.” Laban searched but did not find his household gods.
36 Then Jacob lost his temper. “What crime have I committed?” he asked angrily. “What law have I broken that gives you the right to hunt me down? 37 Now that you have searched through all my belongings, what household article have you found that belongs to you? Put it out here where your men and mine can see it, and let them decide which one of us is right. 38 I have been with you now for twenty years; your sheep and your goats have not failed to reproduce, and I have not eaten any rams from your flocks. 39 Whenever a sheep was killed by wild animals, I always bore the loss myself. I didn't take it to you to show that it was not my fault. You demanded that I make good anything that was stolen during the day or during the night. 40 Many times I suffered from the heat during the day and from the cold at night. I was not able to sleep. 41 It was like that for the whole twenty years I was with you. For fourteen years I worked to win your two daughters—and six years for your flocks. And even then, you changed my wages ten times. 42 If the God of my fathers, the God of Abraham and Isaac, had not been with me, you would have already sent me away empty-handed. But God has seen my trouble and the work I have done, and last night he gave his judgment.”
The Agreement between Jacob and Laban
43 Laban answered Jacob, “These young women are my daughters; their children belong to me, and these flocks are mine. In fact, everything you see here belongs to me. But since I can do nothing to keep my daughters and their children, 44 I am ready to make an agreement with you. Let us make a pile of stones to remind us of our agreement.”
45 So Jacob got a stone and set it up as a memorial. 46 He told his men to gather some rocks and pile them up. Then they ate a meal beside the pile of rocks. 47 Laban named it Jegar Sahadutha, while Jacob named it Galeed. 48 Laban said to Jacob, “This pile of rocks will be a reminder for both of us.” That is why that place was named Galeed. 49 Laban also said, “May the Lord keep an eye on us while we are separated from each other.” So the place was also named Mizpah. 50 Laban went on, “If you mistreat my daughters or if you marry other women, even though I don't know about it, remember that God is watching us. 51 Here are the rocks that I have piled up between us, and here is the memorial stone. 52 Both this pile and this memorial stone are reminders. I will never go beyond this pile to attack you, and you must never go beyond it or beyond this memorial stone to attack me. 53 The God of Abraham and the God of Nahor will judge between us.” Then, in the name of the God whom his father Isaac worshiped, Jacob solemnly vowed to keep this promise. 54 He killed an animal, which he offered as a sacrifice on the mountain, and he invited his men to the meal. After they had eaten, they spent the night on the mountain. 55 Early the next morning Laban kissed his grandchildren and his daughters good-bye, and left to go back home.
1 Bet viņš dzirdēja Lābana dēlus sakām: "Jēkabs ir piesavinājies it visu, kas mūsu tēvam bija. No tā, kas mūsu tēvam pieder, viņš sagādājis sev visu šo bagātību." 2 Un Jēkabs vēroja Lābana seju, un, lūk, tā nebija pret viņu tāda kā vakar un aizvakar. 3 Un Tas Kungs sacīja uz Jēkabu: "Atgriezies sava tēva zemē pie savas cilts, un Es būšu ar tevi." 4 Un Jēkabs sūtīja ziņu un lika Rahēlei un Leai nākt uz lauka pie viņa sīklopiem. 5 Un viņš sacīja tām: "Es vēroju jūsu tēva seju, ka tā vairs nav pret mani tāda kā vakar un aizvakar; bet mana tēva Dievs ir ar mani, 6 un jūs zināt, ka es ar visiem saviem spēkiem esmu kalpojis jūsu tēvam. 7 Bet jūsu tēvs mani ir pievīlis, un viņš ir pārgrozījis manu algu desmitām reižu, bet Dievs nav ļāvis viņam ļaunu man darīt. 8 Ja viņš sacīja: lāsainie lai ir tava alga,- tad visiem sīklopiem atnesās lāsaini jēri un kazlēni. Bet, ja viņš sacīja: raibie lai ir tava alga,- visiem atnesās raibi jēri un kazlēni. 9 Tā Dievs ir atņēmis jūsu tēvam ganāmpulku un devis man. 10 Un notika, ap avju apiešanās laiku, es, savas acis pacēlis, sapnī redzēju: un, lūk, visi teķi, kas aplēca avis, bija svītraini, lāsaini un raibi. 11 Un Dieva eņģelis sacīja man sapnī: Jēkab! - Un es sacīju: te es esmu. 12 Un Viņš sacīja: atver savas acis un skaties: visi teķi, kas aplec avis, ir svītraini, lāsaini un raibi; jo Es esmu redzējis, ko Lābans tev ir darījis. 13 Es esmu tas Bēteles Dievs, kur tu piemiņas akmeni esi svaidījis, kur tu esi Man solījumu devis. Bet tagad celies, ej no šīs zemes projām un atgriezies savā dzimtajā zemē." 14 Un Rahēle un Lea atbildēja viņam: "Vai mums vēl ir kāda daļa jeb mantojums mūsu tēva namā? 15 Vai viņš mūs netur kā svešinieces? Jo viņš mūs ir pārdevis un pats apēdis mūsu atlīdzības naudu. 16 Un visa bagātība, ko Dievs atņēmis mūsu tēvam, pieder mums un mūsu bērniem. Tad nu dari visu, ko Dievs tev ir sacījis." 17 Un Jēkabs cēlās un uzsēdināja savus bērnus un savas sievas uz kamieļiem. 18 Un viņš savāca visus savus ganāmpulkus un visu savu mantību, ko bija ieguvis, ganāmpulkus, ko tas Mezopotāmijā bija ieguvis, lai ietu pie sava tēva Īzāka uz Kānaāna zemi. 19 Bet, kad Lābans gāja savas avis cirpt, Rahēle nozaga terafīmu, kas bija viņas tēvam. 20 Un Jēkabs pievīla aramieti Lābanu, jo neko neteica tam par savu bēgšanu. 21 Un viņš bēga līdz ar visu, kas tam bija, un cēlās un pārgāja pāri upei, un virzījās uz Gileāda kalna pusi. 22 Bet Lābanam trešajā dienā tika paziņots, ka Jēkabs aizbēdzis. 23 Tad viņš ņēma savus brāļus un dzinās tam pakaļ septiņu dienu gājumā un panāca viņu pie Gileāda kalna. 24 Un Dievs nāca pie aramieša Lābana sapnī, nakts laikā, un sacīja: "Sargies, ka tu ar Jēkabu nerunā ne labu, ne ļaunu." 25 Un Lābans panāca Jēkabu; un Jēkabs savu telti bija uzcēlis kalnā; arī Lābans ar saviem brāļiem uzcēla savu telti Gileāda kalnā. 26 Un Lābans teica Jēkabam: "Ko tu man esi darījis! Kāpēc tu esi mani pievīlis, manas meitas aizvezdams kā kara gūsteknes? 27 Kāpēc tu esi slepeni aizbēdzis, mani pievildams, un neesi man to sacījis? Es tevi būtu pavadījis ar prieku un dziesmām, ar bungām un cītarām. 28 Un tu neesi ļāvis man noskūpstīt manus bērnubērnus un manas meitas. Tiešām, tu esi aplam darījis. 29 Mana roka gan ir pietiekami stipra, lai tev darītu ļaunu, bet tavu tēvu Dievs vakar runāja uz mani, sacīdams: sargies, ka tu ar Jēkabu nerunā ne labu, ne ļaunu. 30 Nu labi, tu esi ietin aizgājis tāpēc, ka tu ilgodamies ilgojies pēc sava tēva nama; bet kāpēc tu esi nozadzis manus dievus?" 31 Un Jēkabs atbildēja un sacīja Lābanam: "Es baidījos, jo es domāju, ka tu man tik ar varu neatņem savas meitas. 32 Pie kā tiek atrasti tavi dievi, tas lai mitas dzīvot! Mūsu brāļu klātbūtnē pārmeklē to, kas man ir, un ņem to sev." Bet Jēkabs nezināja, ka Rahēle bija tos nozagusi. 33 Un Lābans iegāja Jēkaba teltī un Leas teltī, un abu kalpoņu teltīs, un viņš tur nekā neatrada; un viņš iznāca no Leas telts un iegāja Rahēles teltī. 34 Un Rahēle bija paņēmusi terafīmu un ielikusi to kamieļa seglos un pati uzsēdusies tiem virsū. Un Lābans iztaustīja visu telti un nevarēja to atrast. 35 Bet viņa sacīja savam tēvam: "Lai mans kungs nedusmojas, ka es viņa priekšā nevaru piecelties, jo man klājas, kā sievām mēdz būt." Un viņš meklēja, bet neatrada terafīmu. 36 Un Jēkabs sadusmojās un uzbruka Lābanam. Un Jēkabs atbildēja un sacīja Lābanam: "Ko es esmu pārkāpis, ko es esmu nogrēkojies, ka tu man dzenies pakaļ? 37 Tu esi aptaustījis visas manas lietas. Ko tu esi atradis no sava nama lietām? Liec to tagad manu un savu brāļu priekšā, lai tie izšķir, kam taisnība. 38 Divdesmit gadus es esmu bijis pie tevis; tavas avis un tavas kazas nav izmetušās, un tavu sīklopu aunus un āžus es neesmu ēdis. 39 Saplosīto es neesmu tev atnesis atpakaļ, es esmu samaksājis; no manas rokas tu to atprasīji, vai nu tas bija zudis dienā, vai naktī. 40 Es esmu tā dzīvojis, ka karstums mani ēda dienā, bet aukstums naktī. Un miegs bēga no manām acīm. 41 Es tev divdesmit gadus esmu kalpojis, četrpadsmit gadus es esmu kalpojis par tavām abām meitām un sešus gadus par taviem sīklopiem; desmitām reižu tu manu algu esi pārgrozījis. 42 Ja nebūtu bijis mana tēva Dievs, Ābrahāma Dievs, un tas, ko Īzāks bīstas, ar mani, tad tagad tukšām rokām tu būtu mani atlaidis. Bet Dievs ir redzējis manas bēdas un manu roku darbu un šonakt lietu izšķīris." 43 Un Lābans atbildēja un sacīja Jēkabam: "Šīs meitas ir manas meitas, šie bērni - mani bērni un šie sīklopi - mani lopi, un viss, ko tu pārredzi, tas ir mans. Bet ko gan es šodien darīšu savām meitām vai viņu bērniem, kurus tās ir dzemdējušas? 44 Tāpēc nāc, lai noslēdzam derību, es un tu, un lai tā ir liecība starp mani un tevi." 45 Un Jēkabs paņēma akmeni un cēla to par piemiņas akmeni. 46 Un Jēkabs sacīja saviem brāļiem: "Salasiet akmeņus!" Un tie paņēma akmeņus un izveidoja akmens kaudzi un ēda tur pie tās akmens kaudzes. 47 Un Lābans to nosauca: Jegar-Sahaduta , bet Jēkabs to nosauca: Galeda . 48 Un Lābans sacīja: "Šī kaudze lai ir par liecību šodien starp mani un tevi." Tāpēc tas nosauca tās vārdu: Galeda 49 un arī Micpa , tāpēc ka tas sacīja: "Tas Kungs lai ir sargs pār mani un pār tevi, kad mēs neredzamies. 50 Ja tu ļauni apiesies ar manām meitām vai kad tu ņemsi citas sievas klāt pie manām meitām, kur neviena nav klāt, tad redzi: Dievs ir liecinieks mūsu vidū." 51 Un Lābans sacīja Jēkabam: "Redzi, šī kaudze un šis piemiņas akmens, ko esmu uzcēlis starp mani un tevi: 52 liecinieces ir šī kaudze un šis akmens, ka es neiešu pāri pie tevis un tu nenāksi pāri pie manis, lai darītu ļaunu. 53 Ābrahāma Dievs un Nahora Dievs lai ir soģis starp mums, viņu tēvu Dievs!" Un to Jēkabs apzvērēja pie Tā, ko Īzāks, viņa tēvs, bijās. 54 Un Jēkabs sagatavoja upuri uz kalna un aicināja savus radus ēst maizi. Un viņi ēda maizi un pārnakšņoja kalnā.
