Genesis 31:1-21

1Jacob heard that Laban’s sons were complaining, “Jacob has taken everything that belonged to our father! He has gotten rich at our father’s expense!”

2When Jacob saw the look on Laban’s face, he could tell his attitude toward him had changed.

3The Lord said to Jacob, “Return to the land of your fathers and to your relatives. I will be with you.”

4So Jacob sent a message for Rachel and Leah to come to the field where his flocks were.

5There he said to them, “I can tell that your father’s attitude toward me has changed, but the God of my father has been with me.

6You know that I’ve worked for your father as hard as I could,

7but your father has humiliated me and changed my wages ten times. But God has not permitted him to do me any harm.

8If he said, ‘The speckled animals will be your wage,’ then the entire flock gave birth to speckled offspring. But if he said, ‘The streaked animals will be your wage,’ then the entire flock gave birth to streaked offspring.

9In this way God has snatched away your father’s livestock and given them to me.

10“Once during breeding season I saw in a dream that the male goats mating with the flock were streaked, speckled, and spotted.

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

12Then he said, ‘Observe that all the male goats mating with the flock are streaked, speckled, or spotted, for I have observed all that Laban has done to you.

13I am the God of Bethel, where you anointed the sacred stone and made a vow to me. Now leave this land immediately and return to your native land.’”

14Then Rachel and Leah replied to him, “Do we still have any portion or inheritance in our father’s house?

15Hasn’t he treated us like foreigners? He not only sold us, but completely wasted the money paid for us!

16Surely all the wealth that God snatched away from our father belongs to us and to our children. So now do everything God has told you.”

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

18He took away all the livestock he had acquired in Paddan Aram and all his moveable property that he had accumulated. Then he set out toward the land of Canaan to return to his father Isaac.

19While Laban had gone to shear his sheep, Rachel stole the household idols that belonged to her father.

20Jacob also deceived Laban the Aramean by not telling him that he was leaving.

21He left with all he owned. He quickly crossed the Euphrates River and headed for the hill country of Gilead.