Genesis 31 Parallel Bible Translations

Genesis 31 ▼
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1 Now Jacob used to listen while Laban's sons kept on complaining, |Jacob has taken over everything our father owns! He made himself wealthy from what belongs to our father!| 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.” Jacob heard that Laban’s sons were saying, “Jacob has taken everything our father owned and has gained all this wealth from what belonged to our father.”
2 Jacob also noticed that the way Laban had been looking at him wasn't as nice as it had been just two days earlier. And Jacob saw that Laban did not regard him with favor as before. And Jacob noticed that Laban’s attitude toward him was not what it had been.
3 Then the LORD ordered Jacob, |Go back to your father's territory and to your relatives. I'll be with you.| Then the LORD said to Jacob, “Return to the land of your fathers and to your kindred, and I will be with you.” Then the LORD said to Jacob, “Go back to the land of your fathers and to your relatives, and I will be with you.”
4 Jacob sent for Rachel and Leah to come out to the field where his flock was So Jacob sent and called Rachel and Leah into the field where his flock was So Jacob sent word to Rachel and Leah to come out to the fields where his flocks were.
5 and informed them, |I've noticed that the way your father has been looking at us hasn't been as nice as it was just two days ago. But my father's God has been with me. 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. He said to them, “I see that your father’s attitude toward me is not what it was before, but the God of my father has been with me.
6 You know I've been serving your father with all my heart. You know that I have served your father with all my strength, You know that I’ve worked for your father with all my strength,
7 Even so, your father has cheated me. He broke our wage agreement ten times. However, God didn't allow him to harm me. yet your father has cheated me and changed my wages ten times. But God did not permit him to harm me. yet your father has cheated me by changing my wages ten times. However, God has not allowed him to harm me.
8 |When Laban said, 'The speckled ones will be your wages,' then all the flock gave birth to speckled ones. Then when he said, 'The streaked ones will be your wages,' all the flock gave birth to streaked offspring. 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. If he said, ‘The speckled ones will be your wages,’ then all the flocks gave birth to speckled young; and if he said, ‘The streaked ones will be your wages,’ then all the flocks bore streaked young.
9 |So God has taken away your father's livestock and has given them to me. Thus God has taken away the livestock of your father and given them to me. So God has taken away your father’s livestock and has given them to me.
10 As it was, when it was time for the livestock to breed, I once looked up in a dream, and the male goats that were mating with the flock were producing streaked, speckled, and spotted offspring. 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. “In breeding season I once had a dream in which I looked up and saw that the male goats mating with the flock were streaked, speckled or spotted.
11 |Later, the angel of God spoke to me in a dream, 'Jacob.' |'Here I am,' I replied Then the angel of God said to me in the dream, ‘Jacob,’ and I said, ‘Here I am!’ The angel of God said to me in the dream, ‘Jacob.’ I answered, ‘Here I am.’
12 |'Look around!' he said. 'Go ahead, look! All the male goats have been mating with the flock, producing offspring that are streaked, speckled, and spotted, because I've been watching everything that Laban has done to you. 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. And he said, ‘Look up and see that all the male goats mating with the flock are streaked, speckled or spotted, for I have seen all that Laban has been doing to you.
13 I am the God of Bethel, the place where you consecrated that stone and made a vow to me. Now get up, leave this territory, and return to your native land.'| 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.’” I am the God of Bethel, where you anointed a pillar and where you made a vow to me. Now leave this land at once and go back to your native land.’”
14 Then Rachel and Leah asked him, |Do we have anything left of inheritance remaining in our father's house? Then Rachel and Leah answered and said to him, “Is there any portion or inheritance left to us in our father’s house? Then Rachel and Leah replied, “Do we still have any share in the inheritance of our father’s estate?
15 He's treating us like foreigners. He sold us and spent all of the money that rightfully belonged to us. Are we not regarded by him as foreigners? For he has sold us, and he has indeed devoured our money. Does he not regard us as foreigners? Not only has he sold us, but he has used up what was paid for us.
16 Furthermore, all of the wealth that God has stripped away from our father belongs to us now and to our children. So do everything that God tells you to do.| 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.” Surely all the wealth that God took away from our father belongs to us and our children. So do whatever God has told you.”
17 So Jacob got up, seated his children and wives on camels, So Jacob arose and set his sons and his wives on camels. Then Jacob put his children and his wives on camels,
18 and drove all his livestock ahead of him, with everything that belonged to him, including the livestock that he had bought and accumulated in Paddan-aram, intending to deliver them to his father Isaac in the land of Canaan. 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. and he drove all his livestock ahead of him, along with all the goods he had accumulated in Paddan Aram, to go to his father Isaac in the land of Canaan.
19 Meanwhile, Laban had been out shearing his sheep. While he was away, Rachel stole her father's personal idols. Laban had gone to shear his sheep, and Rachel stole her father’s household gods. When Laban had gone to shear his sheep, Rachel stole her father’s household gods.
20 Moreover, Jacob had deceived Laban the Aramean, because he had never told him that he was intending to leave. And Jacob tricked Laban the Aramean, by not telling him that he intended to flee. Moreover, Jacob deceived Laban the Aramean by not telling him he was running away.
21 Jacob fled, taking everything that he owned. He got up, crossed the river, and headed to the hill country of Gilead. He fled with all that he had and arose and crossed the Euphrates, and set his face toward the hill country of Gilead. So he fled with all he had, crossed the Euphrates River, and headed for the hill country of Gilead.
22 Three days later, somebody reported to Laban that Jacob had left, When it was told Laban on the third day that Jacob had fled, On the third day Laban was told that Jacob had fled.
23 so he took his relatives with him and pursued Jacob. Laban was on the road for seven days when he finally caught up with Jacob in the hill country of Gilead. he took his kinsmen with him and pursued him for seven days and followed close after him into the hill country of Gilead. Taking his relatives with him, he pursued Jacob for seven days and caught up with him in the hill country of Gilead.
24 That night, God appeared to Laban the Aramean in a dream and warned him, |Be careful what you say to Jacob, whether it's one word good or bad.| 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.” Then God came to Laban the Aramean in a dream at night and said to him, “Be careful not to say anything to Jacob, either good or bad.”
25 Meanwhile, Jacob had pitched his tent on the mountain, where Laban had caught up with him. Laban and his relatives encamped on that same mountain in the hill country of Gilead, too. 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. Jacob had pitched his tent in the hill country of Gilead when Laban overtook him, and Laban and his relatives camped there too.
26 Then Laban asked Jacob, |What did you do? You deceived me, carried off my daughters like you would war captives, And Laban said to Jacob, “What have you done, that you have tricked me and driven away my daughters like captives of the sword? Then Laban said to Jacob, “What have you done? You’ve deceived me, and you’ve carried off my daughters like captives in war.
27 ran away from me secretly, and stole from me by not keeping me informed. Otherwise, I could have sent you off with a party and singing, accompanied by a band playing tambourines and harps. 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? Why did you run off secretly and deceive me? Why didn’t you tell me, so I could send you away with joy and singing to the music of timbrels and harps?
28 As it is, you didn't even allow me to kiss my grandchildren and daughters goodbye! You've acted foolishly. And why did you not permit me to kiss my sons and my daughters farewell? Now you have done foolishly. You didn’t even let me kiss my grandchildren and my daughters goodbye. You have done a foolish thing.
29 It's actually in my power to do some serious evil to you, but last night the God of your father told me, 'Be careful what you say to Jacob whether good or evil.' It is in my power to do you harm. But the God of your father spoke to me last night, saying, ‘Be careful not to say anything to Jacob, either good or bad.’ I have the power to harm you; but last night the God of your father said to me, ‘Be careful not to say anything to Jacob, either good or bad.’
30 Now, you can go if you must go, because you certainly are longing to go to your father's house. But why did you steal my gods?| And now you have gone away because you longed greatly for your father’s house, but why did you steal my gods?” Now you have gone off because you longed to return to your father’s household. But why did you steal my gods?”
31 |I was afraid,| Jacob replied. |I thought you might take your daughters from me. Jacob answered and said to Laban, “Because I was afraid, for I thought that you would take your daughters from me by force. Jacob answered Laban, “I was afraid, because I thought you would take your daughters away from me by force.
32 Now as to your gods, if you find someone has them in their possession, he's a dead man. Take our relatives as witnesses, search through our belongings, and take whatever belongs to you that's in my possession.| But Jacob didn't know that Rachel had stolen the idols. 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. But if you find anyone who has your gods, that person shall not live. In the presence of our relatives, see for yourself whether there is anything of yours here with me; and if so, take it.” Now Jacob did not know that Rachel had stolen the gods.
33 So Laban entered Jacob's tent, Leah's tent, and the tents of the two maid servants, but he didn't find them. Then he left Leah's tent and entered Rachel's tent. 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. So Laban went into Jacob’s tent and into Leah’s tent and into the tent of the two female servants, but he found nothing. After he came out of Leah’s tent, he entered Rachel’s tent.
34 Meanwhile, Rachel had taken the idols, placed them inside the saddle of her camel, and sat on them. Laban searched through the whole tent, but found nothing. 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. Now Rachel had taken the household gods and put them inside her camel’s saddle and was sitting on them. Laban searched through everything in the tent but found nothing.
35 Then Rachel told her father, |Sir, please don't be angry that I cannot stand up in your presence. It's that time of the month.| So Laban searched for the idols, but never did find them. 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. Rachel said to her father, “Don’t be angry, my lord, that I cannot stand up in your presence; I’m having my period.” So he searched but could not find the household gods.
36 Then Jacob got angry and started an argument with Laban. |What have I done?| he demanded. |What's my crime that would cause you to come pursue me so violently? 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? Jacob was angry and took Laban to task. “What is my crime?” he asked Laban. “How have I wronged you that you hunt me down?
37 Now that you've searched all my belongings, what did you find that belongs to your house? Set it here in front of our relatives and we'll let them judge between us! 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. Now that you have searched through all my goods, what have you found that belongs to your household? Put it here in front of your relatives and mine, and let them judge between the two of us.
38 Meanwhile, these past 20 years that I've been with you, your sheep and goats never had miscarriages, I never once ate any of the rams from your flock, 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. “I have been with you for twenty years now. Your sheep and goats have not miscarried, nor have I eaten rams from your flocks.
39 and whatever was torn by beasts, I never bothered to bring to you. Instead, I bore the losses myself. Even so, you demanded that I provide restitution for anything that was stolen, whether during the day or the night. 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. I did not bring you animals torn by wild beasts; I bore the loss myself. And you demanded payment from me for whatever was stolen by day or night.
40 As it was, I was attacked by drought during the day and by cold at night. I never got any decent rest. There I was: by day the heat consumed me, and the cold by night, and my sleep fled from my eyes. This was my situation: The heat consumed me in the daytime and the cold at night, and sleep fled from my eyes.
41 I've lived in your house these 20 years—serving fourteen years for your two daughters and another six years for your flocks. During all that time you changed my wages ten times. 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. It was like this for the twenty years I was in your household. I worked for you fourteen years for your two daughters and six years for your flocks, and you changed my wages ten times.
42 If the God of my father—the God of Abraham, the God whom Isaac feared—had not been with me, you would have sent me away empty handed. But God saw my misery and how hard I've worked with my own hands—and he rebuked you last night.| 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.” If the God of my father, the God of Abraham and the Fear of Isaac, had not been with me, you would surely have sent me away empty-handed. But God has seen my hardship and the toil of my hands, and last night he rebuked you.”
43 But Laban answered Jacob, |These women are my daughters. These children are my children. The flocks are mine. In fact, everything that you see belongs to me. But what would I do today to my daughters and the children they have borne? 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? Laban answered Jacob, “The women are my daughters, the children are my children, and the flocks are my flocks. All you see is mine. Yet what can I do today about these daughters of mine, or about the children they have borne?
44 Come, let's make a covenant just between you and me. And let it serve as a witness between you and me.| Come now, let us make a covenant, you and I. And let it be a witness between you and me.” Come now, let’s make a covenant, you and I, and let it serve as a witness between us.”
45 So Jacob took a stone and raised it as a pillar. So Jacob took a stone and set it up as a pillar. So Jacob took a stone and set it up as a pillar.
46 Then Jacob told his relatives, |Go gather some stones.| So they picked up stones and stacked them one on top of the other. Then they had a meal together there by the stack of stones. And Jacob said to his kinsmen, “Gather stones.” And they took stones and made a heap, and they ate there by the heap. He said to his relatives, “Gather some stones.” So they took stones and piled them in a heap, and they ate there by the heap.
47 Laban named the place Jegar-sahadutha, but Jacob named it Galeed. Laban called it Jegar-sahadutha, but Jacob called it Galeed. Laban called it Jegar Sahadutha, and Jacob called it Galeed.
48 Then Laban said, |This stack will serve as a witness between you and me today.| That's how the place came to be named Galeed. Laban said, “This heap is a witness between you and me today.” Therefore he named it Galeed, Laban said, “This heap is a witness between you and me today.” That is why it was called Galeed.
49 It was also called Mizpah, because Laban said, |May the LORD watch between you and me, when we are estranged from each other. and Mizpah, for he said, “The LORD watch between you and me, when we are out of one another’s sight. It was also called Mizpah, because he said, “May the LORD keep watch between you and me when we are away from each other.
50 If you mistreat my daughters or if you take other wives besides them, though no one is watching us, keep in mind that God stands as a witness between you and me.| 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.” If you mistreat my daughters or if you take any wives besides my daughters, even though no one is with us, remember that God is a witness between you and me.”
51 |Look!| Laban added, |Here is the stack of stones and here is the pillar that I've set up between you and me. Then Laban said to Jacob, “See this heap and the pillar, which I have set between you and me. Laban also said to Jacob, “Here is this heap, and here is this pillar I have set up between you and me.
52 This stack is a witness, and so is this pillar, reminding me not to cross beyond this stack of stones, and reminding you not to pass by this stack in my direction, intending to cause harm. 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. This heap is a witness, and this pillar is a witness, that I will not go past this heap to your side to harm you and that you will not go past this heap and pillar to my side to harm me.
53 May Abraham's God and Nahor's god judge between us.| So Jacob made an oath by his father's Fear, 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, May the God of Abraham and the God of Nahor, the God of their father, judge between us.” So Jacob took an oath in the name of the Fear of his father Isaac.
54 offered sacrifices there on the mountain, and called on his relatives to eat some food. So they ate the food and spent the night on the mountain. 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. He offered a sacrifice there in the hill country and invited his relatives to a meal. After they had eaten, they spent the night there.
55 Early the next morning, Laban woke up, kissed his grandchildren and daughters, blessed them, and then left for home. Early in the morning Laban arose and kissed his grandchildren and his daughters and blessed them. Then Laban departed and returned home. Early the next morning Laban kissed his grandchildren and his daughters and blessed them. Then he left and returned home.
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