Genesis 31:1–16

Jacob Separates from Laban

31Now 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.

³Then the Lord said to him, “Go back to the land of your fathers and to your family, and I will be with you.” ^d

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, but the God of my father has been with me. ⁶You know that I’ve worked hard ^efor your father ^f7and that he has cheated me and changed my wages 10 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. ^g9God 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. ^h13I am the God of Bethel, where you poured oil on the stone marker and made a solemn vow to Me. ⁱGet 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 household? ¹⁵Are we not regarded by him as outsiders? For he has sold us ^jand has certainly spent our money. 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.”