Jacob Runs Away From Laban
1Jacob heard what Laban’s sons were saying. “Jacob has taken everything our father owned,” they said. “He has gained all this wealth from what belonged to our father.” 2Jacob noticed that Laban’s feelings toward him had changed.
3Then the Lord spoke to Jacob. He said, “Go back to your father’s land and to your relatives. I will be with you.”
4So Jacob sent word to Rachel and Leah. He told them to come out to the fields where his flocks were. 5He said to them, “I see that your father’s feelings toward me have changed. But the God of my father has been with me. 6You know that I’ve worked for your father with all my strength. 7But your father has cheated me. He has changed my pay ten times. In spite of everything that’s happened, God hasn’t let him harm me. 8Sometimes Laban would say, ‘The speckled ones will be your pay.’ Then all the flocks had little ones with speckles. At other times he would say, ‘The striped ones will be your pay.’ Then all the flocks had little ones with stripes. 9So God has taken away your father’s livestock and given them to me.
10“Once during the mating season I had a dream. In my dream I looked and saw male goats mating with the flock. The goats had stripes, speckles or spots. 11The angel of God said to me in the dream, ‘Jacob.’ I answered, ‘Here I am.’ 12He said, ‘Look around you. See the male goats mating with the flock. All of them have stripes, speckles or spots. That’s because I have seen everything that Laban has been doing to you. 13I am the God of Bethel. That is where you poured olive oil on a sacred stone. There you made a promise to me. Now leave this land. Go back to your own land.’ ”
14Rachel and Leah replied, “Do we still have any share of our father’s property? 15Doesn’t our father think of us as outsiders? First he sold us. Now he has used up what he was paid for us. 16All the wealth God took away from our father really belongs to us and our children. So do what God has told you to do.”
17Then Jacob put his children and wives on camels. 18He drove all his livestock ahead of him. He also took with him everything he had acquired in Paddan Aram. He left to go to his father Isaac in the land of Canaan.
19Laban had gone to clip the wool from his sheep. While he was gone, Rachel stole the statues of the family gods that belonged to her father. 20And that’s not all. Jacob tricked Laban, the Aramean. He didn’t tell him he was running away. 21So Jacob ran off with everything he had. He crossed the Euphrates River. And he headed for the hill country of Gilead.
Laban Chases Jacob
22On the third day Laban was told that Jacob had run away. 23He took his relatives with him and went after Jacob. Seven days later he caught up with him in the hill country of Gilead. 24Then God came to Laban, the Aramean, in a dream at night. He said to him, “Be careful. Do not say anything to Jacob, whether it is good or bad.”
25Jacob had set up his tent in the hill country of Gilead. That’s where Laban caught up with him. Laban and his relatives camped there too. 26Laban said to Jacob, “What have you done? You have tricked me. You have taken my daughters away like prisoners of war. 27Why did you run away in secret and trick me? Why didn’t you tell me? Then I could have sent you away happily. We could have sung to the music of tambourines 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 spoke to me. He said, ‘Be careful. Do not say anything to Jacob, whether it is good or bad.’ 30Now you have run away. You longed to go back to your father’s home. But why did you have to steal the statues of my gods?”
31Jacob answered Laban, “I was afraid. I thought you would take your daughters away from me by force. 32But if you find anyone who has the statues of your gods, that person will not remain alive. While our relatives are watching, look for yourself. See if there’s anything of yours here with me. If you find anything belonging to you, take it.” But Jacob didn’t know that Rachel had stolen the statues.
33So Laban went into Jacob’s tent and Leah’s tent. He went into the tent of their two female servants. But he didn’t find anything. After he came out of Leah’s tent, he entered Rachel’s tent. 34Rachel was the one who had taken the statues of Laban’s family gods. She had put them inside her camel’s saddle. She was sitting on them. Laban searched the whole tent. But he didn’t find anything.
35Rachel said to her father, “I’m sorry, sir. I can’t get up for you right now. But don’t be angry with me. I’m having my monthly period.” So he searched everywhere but couldn’t find the statues of his gods.
36Jacob was very angry with Laban. “What is my crime?” he asked. “What have I done to you that you hunt me down like this? 37You have searched through all my things. What have you found that belongs to your family? Put it here in front of your relatives and mine. Let them decide between the two of us.
38“I’ve been with you for 20 years now. The little ones of your sheep and goats were not dead when they were born. I haven’t eaten rams from your flocks. 39I didn’t bring you animals torn apart by wild beasts. I made up for the loss myself. Also, you made me pay for anything stolen by day or night. 40And what was my life like? The heat burned me in the daytime. And it was so cold at night that I froze. I couldn’t sleep. 41That’s what it was like for the 20 years I was living with you. I worked for 14 years to marry your two daughters. I worked for six years to get my share of your flocks. You changed my pay ten times. 42But the God of my father was with me. He is the God of Abraham and the God Isaac worshiped. If he hadn’t been with me, you would surely have sent me away without anything to show for all my work. But God has seen my hard times. He has seen all the work my hands have done. So last night he warned you.”
43Laban answered Jacob, “The women are my daughters. The children are my children. The flocks are my flocks. Everything you see is mine. But what can I do today about these daughters of mine? What can I do about the children they’ve had? 44Come now. Let’s make a formal agreement, you and I. Let it be a witness between us.”
45So Jacob set up a stone as a way to remember. 46He said to his relatives, “Get some stones.” So they took stones and put them in a pile. And they ate there by it. 47Laban named the pile of stones Jegar Sahadutha. Jacob named it Galeed.
48Laban said, “This pile of stones is a witness between you and me today.” That’s why it was named Galeed. 49It was also called Mizpah. That’s because Laban said, “May the Lord keep watch between you and me when we are away from each other. 50Don’t treat my daughters badly. Don’t get married to any women besides my daughters. There isn’t anyone here to see what we’re doing. But remember that God is a witness between you and me.”
51Laban also said to Jacob, “Here is this pile of stones. And here is this stone I’ve set up. I’ve set them up between you and me. 52This pile is a witness. And this stone is a witness. They are witnesses that I won’t go past this pile to harm you. And they are witnesses that you won’t go past this pile and this stone to harm me. 53The God of Abraham and Nahor is also the God of their father. May their God decide which of us is right.”
So Jacob made a promise using the name of the God his father Isaac worshiped. 54He offered a sacrifice there in the hill country. And he 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. He gave them his blessing. Then he left and returned home.
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.
