English Standard Version

Genesis 31:19-28 English Standard Version (ESV)

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

20. And Jacob tricked Laban the Aramean, by not telling him that he intended to flee.

21. He fled with all that he had and arose and crossed the Euphrates, and set his face toward the hill country of Gilead.

22. When it was told Laban on the third day that Jacob had fled,

23. he took his kinsmen with him and pursued him for seven days and followed close after him into the hill country of Gilead.

24. But God came to Laban the Aramean in a dream by night and said to him, “Be careful not to say anything to Jacob, either good or bad.”

25. And Laban overtook Jacob. Now Jacob had pitched his tent in the hill country, and Laban with his kinsmen pitched tents in the hill country of Gilead.

26. And Laban said to Jacob, “What have you done, that you have tricked me and driven away my daughters like captives of the sword?

27. Why did you flee secretly and trick me, and did not tell me, so that I might have sent you away with mirth and songs, with tambourine and lyre?

28. And why did you not permit me to kiss my sons and my daughters farewell? Now you have done foolishly.