17. Then Jacob put his children and wives on camels.
18. He drove all of his livestock ahead of him. He also took with him everything he had gotten in Paddan Aram. He left to go to his father Isaac in the land of Canaan.
19. Laban had gone to clip the wool from his sheep. While he was gone, Rachel stole the statues of family gods that belonged to her father.
20. And that's not all. Jacob tricked Laban the Aramean. He didn't tell him he was running away.
21. So Jacob ran off with everything he had. He crossed the Euphrates River. And he headed for the hill country of Gilead.
22. On the third day Laban was told that Jacob had run away.
23. He took his relatives with him and went after Jacob. Seven days later he caught up with him in the hill country of Gilead.
24. Then 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."
25. Jacob 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.
26. Laban said to Jacob, "What have you done? You have tricked me. You have taken my daughters away like prisoners of war.
27. Why 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.
28. You didn't even let me kiss my grandchildren and my daughters good-by. You have done a foolish thing.
29. "I 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.'