Yakobo Athawa Labani
1Yakobo anamva zimene ana aamuna a Labani ankanena kuti, “Yakobo watenga chilichonse cha abambo athu ndipo wapeza chuma chonsechi pogwiritsa ntchito chuma cha abambo athu.” 2Choncho Yakobo anaona kuti Labani sankamuonetsanso nkhope yabwino monga kale.
3Pamenepo Yehova anati kwa Yakobo, “Bwerera ku dziko la makolo ako ndi kwa abale ako, ndipo Ine ndidzakhala nawe.”
4Choncho Yakobo anatumiza mawu kukayitana Rakele ndi Leya kuti abwere ku busa kumene ankaweta ziweto zake. 5Iye anawawuza kuti, “Abambo anu sakundionetsanso nkhope yabwino monga kale, koma Mulungu wa makolo anga wakhala ali nane. 6Inu mukudziwa kuti ndagwirira ntchito abambo anu ndi mphamvu zanga zonse, 7chonsecho abambo anu akhala akundinyenga posintha malipiro anga kakhumi konse. Komabe Mulungu sanalole kuti andichitire choyipa 8Pamene abambo anu anati, ‘Zamawangamawanga zidzakhala malipiro ako,’ ziweto zonse zinaswa ana amawangamawanga; ndipo pamene anati, ‘Zamichocholozi zidzakhala malipiro ako,’ ziweto zonse zinaswa ana a michocholozi. 9Motero Mulungu walanda abambo anu ziweto zawo ndi kundipatsa.
10“Pa nthawi imene ziweto zimatenga mawere ndinalota maloto, ndipo ndinaona kuti atonde onse amene ankakwerawo anali amichocholozi, amawangamawanga kapena amathothomathotho 11Kutulo komweko, mngelo wa Mulungu anati, ‘Yakobo.’ Ine ndinayankha, ‘Ee, Ambuye.’ 12Ndipo iye anati, ‘Tayangʼana ndipo taona kuti atonde onse okwerana ndi ziweto ali amichocholozi, amawangamawanga kapena a mathothomathotho, popeza ndaona zonse zimene Labani wakhala akukuchitira. 13Ine ndine Mulungu amene ndinadza kwa iwe pa Beteli paja. Beteli ndi kumalo kuja kumene unayimika mwala ndi kuwudzoza mafuta, komanso kulumbira kwa Ine. Tsopano choka mʼdziko lino msanga ndi kubwerera ku dziko la kwanu.’ ”
14Pamenepo Rakele ndi Leya anayankha, “Kodi ngati ife tilinso ndi gawo ngati cholowa pa chuma cha abambo athu? 15Kodi abambo athu samationa ife ngati alendo? Iwo anatigulitsa ndi kuwononga ndalama zonse anazipeza pa ifezo. 16Chuma chonse chimene Mulungu walanda abambo athu, ndi chathu ndi ana athu. Tsono inu chitani zimene Mulungu wakuwuzani.”
17Pamenepo Yakobo anakonzeka nakweza ana ake ndi akazi ake pa ngamira, 18anakusa ziweto zake zonse patsogolo natenga katundu wake yense amene anamupeza ku Padanaramu, ndipo ananyamuka kupita ku Kanaani, ku dziko la abambo ake, Isake.
19Labani atachoka pa khomo kupita kukameta nkhosa, mʼmbuyomu Rakele anaba timafano ta milungu ta abambo ake. 20Komanso nthawi iyi nʼkuti Yakobo atamunamiza Labani Mwaramu posamuwuza zoona kuti afuna kuthawa. 21Choncho anathawa ndi zonse anali nazo. Ananyamuka nawoloka mtsinje wa Yufurate kupita cha ku Giliyadi, dziko la mapiri.
Labani Alondola Yakobo
22Patapita masiku atatu, Labani anawuzidwa kuti Yakobo wathawa. 23Pomwepo anatengana ndi abale ake namulondola Yakobo kwa masiku asanu ndi awiri ndipo anakamupezera ku Giliyadi, dziko la mapiri. 24Koma Mulungu anabwera kwa Labani, Mwaramu kutulo usiku nati kwa iye, “Samala kuti usamuopseze Yakobo mwa njira iliyonse.”
25Pamene Labani amamupeza Yakobo, nʼkuti Yakobo atamanga matenti ake ku mapiri a dziko la Giliyadi. Nayenso Labani ndi abale ake anamanga matenti awo komweko. 26Tsono Labani anati kwa Yakobo, “Kodi ndakuchita chiyani kuti iwe undinamize ndi kutenga ana anga ngati anthu ogwidwa ku nkhondo? 27Chifukwa chiyani unandinamiza ndi kuthawa mozemba wosandiwuza? Ukanandiwuza, bwezi titatsanzikana mwa chisangalalo ndi kuyimba nyimbo ndi zisekese ndi azeze. 28Sunandilole kuti ndingopsompsona adzukulu anga ndi ana anga aakazi motsanzikana nawo. Unachita zopusa. 29Ndili nayo mphamvu yakukuchita choyipa; koma usiku wapitawu, Mulungu wa abambo ako wandiwuza ine kuti, ‘Usamuopseze Yakobo mwa njira iliyonse.’ 30Ndikudziwa kuti unachoka chifukwa unapukwa kufuna kubwerera kwanu kwa abambo ako. Koma nʼchifukwa chiyani unaba milungu yanga?”
31Yakobo anayankha Labani kuti, “Ine ndinkaopa chifukwa ndinkaganiza kuti mukhoza kundilanda anawa. 32Koma mukapeza wina aliyense ndi milungu yanu, ameneyo sakhala ndi moyo. Anthu onse akupenya, lozani chilichonse chanu chimene chili ndi ine, ndipo ngati muchipeze tengani. Koma Yakobo sankadziwa kuti Rakele anabadi milunguyo.”
33Choncho Labani analowadi mu tenti ya Yakobo, ya Leya ndi mʼmatenti a adzakazi awiri aja, koma sanapeze kalikonse. Atatuluka mu tenti ya Leya, analowa ya Rakele. 34Koma Rakele anatengadi milungu ija ndi kuyiika mʼkati mwa chokhalira cha pa ngamira, iye nʼkukhalapo. Choncho Labani anafunafuna mu tenti monse koma wosapeza kanthu.
35Rakele anati kwa abambo ake, “Pepanitu musandikwiyire mbuye wanga chifukwa choti sinditha kuyimirira pamaso panu chifukwa ndili kumwezi.” Choncho Labani anafunafuna koma sanayipeze milungu ija.
36Yakobo anapsa mtima nafunsa Labani mwaukali kuti, “Kodi ndalakwa chiyani? Ndi tchimo lanji limene ndachita kuti muchite kundisaka chonchi? 37Chifukwa chiyani mwafunyulula katundu wanga? Ndipo mwapeza chiyani cha inu pamenepa? Chimene mwapezapo chiyikeni poyera pamaso pa abale anu ndi anga kuti atiweruze.
38“Ndakhala nanu kwa zaka makumi awiri tsopano ndipo nkhosa ndi mbuzi zanu sizinapoloze, kapena ine kudyapo nkhosa za mʼkhola mwanu. 39Chiweto chikakhadzulidwa ndi chirombo, sindinkabwera nacho kwa inu. Ineyo ndinkalipira. Inuyo munkandilipiritsa kalikonse kobedwa masana kapena usiku. 40Moyo wanga unali wotere: Dzuwa limanditentha masana ndipo usiku ndimazunzika ndi kuzizira. Tulo sindimalipeza konse. 41Zinthu zinali chonchi kwa zaka makumi awiri zimene ndinali mʼnyumba mwanu. Ndinakugwirirani ntchito kwa zaka khumi ndi zinayi chifukwa cha ana anu aakazi awiri ndipo zaka zina zisanu ndi chimodzi chifukwa cha ziweto zanu, ndipo munandisinthira malipiro kakhumi konse. 42Akanapanda kukhala nane Mulungu wa abambo anga, Mulungu wa Abrahamu ndi Mulungu amene Isake ankamuopa, mosakayika inu mukanandichotsa chimanjamanja. Koma Mulungu waona zovuta zanga ndi kulimbikira ntchito kwanga, ndipo usiku wapitawu anakudzudzulani.”
43Labani anayankha Yakobo nati, “Ana aakaziwa ndi anga, ana awo ndi anganso. Ziwetozi ndi zanga. Chilichonse ukuona apa ndi changa. Koma tsopano ndingachite chiyani ndi ana anga aakaziwa kapena ndi ana awo? 44Tsono, tiye tichite pangano pakati pa iwe ndi ine, ndipo likhale mboni pakati pathu.”
45Choncho Yakobo anayimiritsa mwala ngati chipilala. 46Nati kwa abale ake, “Tutani miyala ina.” Choncho anawunjika miyalayo, ndipo anadya chakudya atakhala pa mbali pa muluwo. 47Labani anawutcha muluwo Yegara-sahaduta, ndipo Yakobo anawutcha Galeeda.
48Labani anati, “Mulu uwu ndi mboni pakati pa inu ndi ine lero.” Ndi chifukwa chake unatchedwa Galeeda. 49Unatchedwanso Mizipa, chifukwa iye anati, “Yehova aonetsetsa kuti palibe mmodzi mwa ife adzaswe panganoli ngakhale titatalikirana. 50Ngati ukazunza ana anga kapena kukwatira akazi enanso, ngakhale kuti palibe wina amene ali nafe pano, koma kumbukira kuti Mulungu ndiye mboni pakati pathu.”
51Labani anatinso kwa Yakobo, “Taona pano pali miyala ndi chipilala chimene ndayimika pakati pa iwe ndi ine. 52Mulu wa miyala uwu ndi chipilalachi ndi mboni. Ine sindidzadutsa mulu wa miyalawu kudzalimbana ndi iwe. Iwenso usadzadutse mulu wa miyalawu kudzalimbana nane. 53Mulungu wa Abrahamu ndi Mulungu wa Nahori ndiye adzatiweruze.”
Choncho Yakobo analumbira mʼdzina la Mulungu amene Isake, abambo ake ankamuopa. 54Yakobo anapereka nsembe pa phiri paja, ndipo anayitana abale ake kuti adzadye chakudya. Atadya chakudya anagona pa phiri pomwepo.
55Mmamawa wake, Labani anapsompsona zidzukulu zake ndi ana ake nawadalitsa. Kenaka ananyamuka kubwerera ku mudzi.
Jacob Flees From Laban
1Jacob 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.” 2And Jacob noticed that Laban’s attitude toward him was not what it had been.
3Then the Lord said to Jacob, “Go back to the land of your fathers and to your relatives, and I will be with you.”
4So Jacob sent word to Rachel and Leah to come out to the fields where his flocks were. 5He 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. 6You know that I’ve worked for your father with all my strength, 7yet your father has cheated me by changing my wages ten times. However, God has not allowed him to harm me. 8If 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. 9So God has taken away your father’s livestock and has given them to me.
10“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. 11The angel of God said to me in the dream, ‘Jacob.’ I answered, ‘Here I am.’ 12And 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. 13I 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.’ ”
14Then Rachel and Leah replied, “Do we still have any share in the inheritance of our father’s estate? 15Does he not regard us as foreigners? Not only has he sold us, but he has used up what was paid for us. 16Surely all the wealth that God took away from our father belongs to us and our children. So do whatever God has told you.”
17Then Jacob put his children and his wives on camels, 18and he drove all his livestock ahead of him, along with all the goods he had accumulated in Paddan Aram,31:18 That is, Northwest Mesopotamia to go to his father Isaac in the land of Canaan.
19When Laban had gone to shear his sheep, Rachel stole her father’s household gods. 20Moreover, Jacob deceived Laban the Aramean by not telling him he was running away. 21So he fled with all he had, crossed the Euphrates River, and headed for the hill country of Gilead.
Laban Pursues Jacob
22On the third day Laban was told that Jacob had fled. 23Taking his relatives with him, he pursued Jacob for seven days and caught up with him in the hill country of Gilead. 24Then 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.”
25Jacob had pitched his tent in the hill country of Gilead when Laban overtook him, and Laban and his relatives camped there too. 26Then Laban said to Jacob, “What have you done? You’ve deceived me, and you’ve carried off my daughters like captives in war. 27Why 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? 28You didn’t even let me kiss my grandchildren and my daughters goodbye. You have done a foolish thing. 29I 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.’ 30Now you have gone off because you longed to return to your father’s household. But why did you steal my gods?”
31Jacob answered Laban, “I was afraid, because I thought you would take your daughters away from me by force. 32But 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.
33So 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. 34Now 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.
35Rachel 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.
36Jacob was angry and took Laban to task. “What is my crime?” he asked Laban. “How have I wronged you that you hunt me down? 37Now 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“I have been with you for twenty years now. Your sheep and goats have not miscarried, nor have I eaten rams from your flocks. 39I 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. 40This was my situation: The heat consumed me in the daytime and the cold at night, and sleep fled from my eyes. 41It 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. 42If 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.”
43Laban 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? 44Come now, let’s make a covenant, you and I, and let it serve as a witness between us.”
45So Jacob took a stone and set it up as a pillar. 46He said to his relatives, “Gather some stones.” So they took stones and piled them in a heap, and they ate there by the heap. 47Laban called it Jegar Sahadutha, and Jacob called it Galeed.31:47 The Aramaic Jegar Sahadutha and the Hebrew Galeed both mean witness heap.
48Laban said, “This heap is a witness between you and me today.” That is why it was called Galeed. 49It was also called Mizpah,31:49 Mizpah means watchtower. because he said, “May the Lord keep watch between you and me when we are away from each other. 50If 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.”
51Laban also said to Jacob, “Here is this heap, and here is this pillar I have set up between you and me. 52This 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. 53May 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. 54He offered a sacrifice there in the hill country and invited his relatives to a meal. After they had eaten, they spent the night there.
55Early the next morning Laban kissed his grandchildren and his daughters and blessed them. Then he left and returned home.31:55 In Hebrew texts this verse (31:55) is numbered 32:1.
