Genesis 31:1-21

1Now Jacob heard what Laban’s sons were saying: “Jacob has taken all that was our father’s and has built this wealth from what belonged to our father.”

2And Jacob saw from Laban’s face that his attitude toward him was not the same as before.

3The Lord said to him, “Go back to the land of your ancestors and to your family, and I will be with you.”

4Jacob had Rachel and Leah called to the field where his flocks were.

5He said to them, “I can see from your father’s face that his attitude toward me is not the same as before, but the God of my father has been with me.

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

7and that he has cheated me and changed my wages ten times. But God has not let him harm me.

8If he said, ‘The spotted sheep will be your wages,’ then all the sheep were born spotted. If he said, ‘The streaked sheep will be your wages,’ then all the sheep were born streaked.

9God has taken away your father’s herds and given them to me.

10“When the flocks were breeding, I saw in a dream that the streaked, spotted, and speckled males were mating with the females.

11In that dream the angel of God said to me, ‘Jacob!’ and I said, ‘Here I am.’

12And he said, ‘Look up and see: all the males that are mating with the flocks are streaked, spotted, and speckled, for I have seen all that Laban has been doing to you.

13I am the God of Bethel, where you poured oil on the stone marker and made a solemn vow to me. Get up, leave this land, and return to your native land.’”

14Then Rachel and Leah answered him, “Do we have any portion or inheritance in our father’s family?

15Are we not regarded by him as outsiders? For he has sold us and has certainly spent our purchase price.

16In fact, all the wealth that God has taken away from our father belongs to us and to our children. So do whatever God has said to you.”

17So Jacob got up and put his children and wives on the camels.

18He took all the livestock and possessions he had acquired in Paddan-aram, and he drove his herds to go to the land of Canaan, to his father Isaac.

19When Laban had gone to shear his sheep, Rachel stole her father’s household idols.

20And Jacob deceived Laban the Aramean, not telling him that he was fleeing.

21He fled with all his possessions, crossed the Euphrates, and headed for the hill country of Gilead.