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Genesis - ch 31 v 21 - 40
- So he went away with all he had, and went across the River in the direction of the hill-country of Gilead.
- And on the third day Laban had news of Jacob's flight.
- And taking the men of his family with him, he went after him for seven days and overtook him in the hill-country of Gilead.
- Then God came to Laban in a dream by night, and said to him, Take care that you say nothing good or bad to Jacob.
- Now when Laban overtook him, Jacob had put up his tent in the hill-country; and Laban and his brothers put up their tents in the hill-country of Gilead.
- And Laban said to Jacob, Why did you go away secretly, taking my daughters away like prisoners of war?
- Why did you make a secret of your flight, not giving me word of it, so that I might have sent you away with joy and songs, with melody and music?
- You did not even let me give a kiss to my sons and my daughters. This was a foolish thing to do.
- It is in my power to do you damage: but the God of your father came to me this night, saying, Take care that you say nothing good or bad to Jacob.
- And now, it seems, you are going because your heart's desire is for your father's house; but why have you taken my gods?
- And Jacob, in answer, said to Laban, My fear was that you might take your daughters from me by force.
- As for your gods, if anyone of us has them, let him be put to death: make search before us all for what is yours, and take it. For Jacob had no knowledge that Rachel had taken them.
- So Laban went into Jacob's tent and into Leah's tent, and into the tents of the two servant-women, but they were not there; and he came out of Leah's tent and went into Rachel's.
- Now Rachel had taken the images, and had put them in the camels' basket, and was seated on them. And Laban, searching through all the tent, did not come across them.
- And she said to her father, Let not my lord be angry because I do not get up before you, for I am in the common condition of women. And with all his searching, he did not come across the images.
- Then Jacob was angry with Laban, and said, What crime or sin have I done that you have come after me with such passion?
- Now that you have made search through all my goods, what have you seen which is yours? Make it clear now before my people and your people, so that they may be judges between us.
- These twenty years I have been with you; your sheep and your goats have had young without loss, not one of your he-goats have I taken for food.
- Anything which was wounded by beasts I did not take to you, but myself made up for the loss of it; you made me responsible for whatever was taken by thieves, by day or by night.
- This was my condition, wasted by heat in the day and by the bitter cold at night; and sleep went from my eyes.
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