Genesis 31:22-43

Genesis 31:22-43

[22] And it was told  Laban  on the third  day  that Jacob  was fled.  [23] And he took  his brethren  with him, and pursued  after him  seven  days'  journey;  and they overtook  him in the mount  Gilead.  [24] And God  came  to Laban  the Syrian  in a dream  by night,  and said  unto him, Take heed  that thou speak  not to  Jacob  either good  or  bad.  [25] Then Laban  overtook  Jacob.  had pitched  his tent  in the mount:  and Laban  with his brethren  pitched  in the mount  of Gilead.  [26] And Laban  said  to Jacob,  What hast thou done,  that thou hast stolen away  unawares  to me, and carried away  my daughters,  as captives  taken with the sword?  [27] Wherefore didst thou flee away  secretly,  and steal away  from me; and didst not tell  me, that I might have sent thee away  with mirth,  and with songs,  with tabret,  and with harp?  [28] And hast not suffered  me to kiss  my sons  and my daughters?  thou hast now done foolishly  in so doing.  [29] It is  in the power  of my hand  to do  you hurt:  but the God  of your father  spake  unto me yesternight,  saying,  Take thou heed  that thou speak not  to Jacob  either good  or bad.  [30] And now, though thou wouldest needs  because thou sore  after thy father's  house,  yet wherefore hast thou stolen  my gods?  [31] And Jacob  answered  and said  to Laban,  Because I was afraid:  for I said,  Peradventure  thou wouldest take by force  thy daughters  [32] With whomsoever  thou findest  thy gods,  let him not live:  before  our brethren  discern  thou what is thine with me, and take  it to thee. For Jacob  knew  not that Rachel  had stolen  them. [33] And Laban  went  into Jacob's  tent,  and into Leah's  tent,  and into the two  maidservants'  tents;  but he found  them not. Then went he out  of Leah's  tent,  and entered  into Rachel's  tent.  [34] Now Rachel  had taken  the images,  and put  them in the camel's  furniture,  and sat  upon them. And Laban  searched  all the tent,  but found  [35] And she said  to her father,  Let it not displease  my lord  that I cannot  rise up  before thee;  for the custom  of women  is upon me. And he searched,  but found  not the images.  [36] And Jacob  was wroth,  and chode  with Laban:  and Jacob  answered  and said  to Laban,  What is my trespass?  what is my sin,  that thou hast so hotly pursued  after me?  [37] Whereas  thou hast searched  all my stuff,  what hast thou found  of all thy household  stuff?  set  it here  before my brethren  that they may judge  betwixt  us both.  [38] This twenty  years  have I been with thee; thy ewes  and thy she goats  have not cast their young,  and the rams  of thy flock  have I not eaten.  [39] That which was torn  of beasts I brought  not unto thee; I bare the loss  of it; of my hand  didst thou require  it, whether stolen  by day,  or stolen  by night.  [40] Thus I was; in the day  the drought  consumed  me, and the frost  by night;  and my sleep  departed  from mine eyes.  [41] Thus have I been twenty  years  in thy house;  I served thee  fourteen  years  for thy two  daughters,  and six  years  for thy cattle:  and thou hast changed  my wages  ten  times.  [42] Except  the God  of my father,  the God  of Abraham,  and the fear  of Isaac,  had been with me, surely thou hadst sent me away  now empty.  God  hath seen  mine affliction  and the labour  of my hands,  and rebuked  thee yesternight.  [43] And Laban  answered  and said  unto Jacob,  These daughters  and these children  and these cattle  and all that thou seest  is mine: and what can I do  this day  unto these my daughters,  or  unto their children  which they have born?