Genesis 31:1-9 ▼

1 Now Jacob heard that the sons of Laban were saying, “Jacob has taken all that was our father’s; he has gained all this wealth from what belonged to our father.”

2 And Jacob saw that Laban did not regard him as favorably as he did before.

3 Then the LORD said to Jacob, “Return to the land of your ancestors and to your kindred, and I will be with you.”

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 as favorably as he did before. But the God of my father has been with me.

6 You know that I have served your father with all my strength;

7 yet your father has cheated me and changed my wages ten times, but God did not permit him to harm me.

8 If he said, ‘The speckled shall be your wages,’ then all the flock bore speckled; and if he said, ‘The striped shall be your wages,’ then all the flock bore striped.

9 Thus God has taken away the livestock of your father, and given them to me.