Add parallel Print Page Options

31 Por Jakobi dëgjoi fjalët e bijve të Labanos që thoshin: "Jakobi mori gjithçka kishte ati ynë; dhe me atë që i përkiste atit tonë, ai krijoi gjithë këtë pasuri".

Jakobi vuri re edhe fytyrën e Labanos; dhe ja, ndaj tij nuk ishte si më parë.

Pastaj Zoti i tha Jakobit: "Kthehu në vendin e etërve të tu dhe te fisi yt, dhe unë do të jem me ty".

Atëherë Jakobi dërgoi e thirri Rakelën dhe Lean, që të vinin në fushat pranë kopesë së tij,

dhe u tha atyre: "Unë e shoh që fytyra e atit tuaj ndaj meje nuk është si më parë; por Perëndia i atit tim ka qenë me mua.

Dhe ju e dini se unë i kam shërbyer atit tuaj me tërë forcën time,

ndërsa ati juaj më ka mashtruar dhe ka ndryshuar pagesën time dhjetë herë, por Perëndia nuk e lejoi të më bëjë të keq.

Në qoftë se ai thoshte: "Krerët laramane do të jenë pagesa jote," e tërë kopeja pillte qengja laramane; dhe po të thoshte: "Krerët vija-vija do të jenë pagesa jote," tërë kopeja pillte qengja vija-vija.

Kështu Perëndia ia hoqi bagëtinë atit tuaj dhe ma dha mua.

10 Një herë, në kohën kur kopetë hynin në afsh, unë ngrita sytë dhe pashë në ëndërr që cjeptë që ndërzenin femrat ishin vija-vija, me pulla dhe lara-lara.

11 Dhe engjëlli i Perëndisë më tha në ëndërr: "Jakob!". Unë iu përgjigja: Ja ku jam!!".

12 Atëherë ai tha: "Ço tani sytë dhe shiko: tërë deshtë që ndërzejnë femrat janë vija-vija, me pulla dhe lara-lara, sepse pashë të gjitha ato që të punon Labano.

13 Unë jam Perëndia i Bethelit, ku ti ke vajosur një përmendore dhe më lidhe një kusht. Tani çohu, lëre këtë vend dhe kthehu në vendlindjen tënde"".

14 Rakela dhe Lea iu përgjigjën dhe i thanë: "Mos kemi ndoshta ne akoma pjesë dhe trashëgimi në shtëpinë e atit tonë?

15 A nuk na ke trajtuar si të huaja për arësye se na ka shitur dhe veç kësaj ka ngrënë edhe paratë tona?

16 Të gjitha pasuritë që Perëndia i hoqi atit tonë janë tonat dhe të bijve tanë; prandaj bëj të gjitha ato që Perëndia të ka thënë".

17 Atëherë Jakobi u ngrit dhe i vuri bijtë e tij dhe gratë e tij mbi devetë,

18 dhe mori me vete tërë bagëtinë e tij duke marrë me vete gjithë pasurinë që kishte vënë, bagëtinë që i përkiste dhe atë që e kishte blerë në Padam-Aram, për të vajtur tek Isaku, në vendin e Kanaanëve.

19 Ndërsa Labano kishte vajtur të qethte dhentë e tij, Rakela vodhi idhujt e të atit.

20 Dhe Jakobi u largua fshehurazi nga Labano, Arameu, pa i thënë se kishte ndërmend të ikte.

21 Kështu ai iku me gjithçka kishte; u ngrit, kaloi lumin dhe u drejtua për në malin e Galaadit.

22 Ditën e tretë i treguan Labanos se Jakobi kishte ikur.

23 Atëherë ai mori me vete vëllezërit e tij, e ndoqi shtatë ditë rrugë dhe e arriti në malin e Galaadit.

24 Por Perëndia iu shfaq në ëndërr natën Labanos, Arameut, dhe i tha: Ruhu e mos i fol Jakobit, as për të mirë e as për të keqq".

25 Labano e arriti, pra, Jakobin. Tani Jakobi e kishte ngritur çadrën e tij në mal; dhe gjithashtu Labano dhe vëllezërit e tij kishin ngritur çadrat e tyre mbi malin e Galaadit.

26 Atëherë Labano i tha Jakobit: "Ç’bëre duke më mashtruar në këtë mënyrë dhe duke i marrë bijat e mia si robëresha lufte?

27 Pse ike dhe u largove nga unë fshehurazi, pa më lajmëruar aspak? Unë do të kisha përcjellë me gëzim dhe me këngë, me lodërz dhe qeste.

28 Dhe nuk më lejove të puth bijtë dhe bijat e mia! Ti ke vepruar pa mënd.

29 Tani unë kam në dorë t’ju bëj keq, por Perëndia i atit tënd më foli natën e kaluar, duke thënë: "Ruhu, mos t’i flasësh Jakobit as për mirë apo për keq".

30 Sigurisht ike, sepse kishe një dëshirë të madhe të ktheheshe përsëri në shtëpinë e atit tënd; po pse vodhe perënditë e mia?".

31 Atëherë Jakobi iu përgjegj Labanos: "Unë kisha frikë, sepse mendoja që ti mund të më merrje me forcë bijat e tua.

32 Por kushdo qoftë ai të cilit do t’i gjesh perënditë e tu, ai duhet të vdesë në prani të vëllezërve tanë; kërko ti vetë atë që të përket tek unë dhe merre!". Jakobi nuk e dinte që ato i kishte vjedhur Rakela.

33 Kështu Labano hyri në çadrën e Jakobit, në çadrën e Leas dhe në çadrën e dy shërbyeseve, por nuk gjeti asgjë. Doli pastaj nga çadra e Leas dhe hyri në çadrën e Rakelës.

34 Por Rakela kishte marrë idhujt dhe i kishte vënë në samarin e devesë, pastaj qe ulur mbi to. Labano kërkoi në tërë çadrën, por nuk gjeti asgjë.

35 Dhe ajo i tha të atit: "Mos u zemëro, zotëria im, në rast se unë nuk mund të çohem përpara teje, sepse jam me të përmuajshmet e grave". Kështu ai kërkoi, por nuk i gjeti idhujt.

36 Atëherë Jakobi u zemërua dhe u grind me Labanon; dhe Jakobi iu përgjegj dhe i tha Labanos: "Cili është faji im, cili është mëkati im, që ti të më ndjekësh me aq tërbim?

37 Ti rrëmove në tërë gjërat e mia. Çfarë gjete nga të gjitha ato që i përkasin shtëpisë sate? Vëri këtu para vëllezërve të mi dhe vëllezërve të tu dhe le të vendosin ata midis nesh të dy!

38 Kam qenë njëzet vjet me ty; delet dhe dhitë e tua nuk kanë dështuar dhe unë nuk kam ngrënë deshtë e kopesë sate.

39 Unë nuk t’i kam sjellë kurrë kafshët të shqyera nga bishat; dëmin e kam pësuar vetë; ti kërkoje me ngulm nga unë atë që ishte vjedhur ditën apo natën.

40 Ky ishte fati im; ditën më ligte vapa dhe natën të ftohtit e madh, dhe gjumi më ikte nga sytë.

41 Kam qënë njëzet vjet në shtëpinë tënde; të kam shërbyer katërmbëdhjetë vjet për dy bijat e tua dhe gjashtë vjet për kopenë tënde. Ti e ke ndryshuar dhjetë herë pagesën time.

42 Në qoftë se Perëndia i atit tim, Perëndia i Abrahamit dhe Tmerri i Isakut, nuk do të kishte qënë në favorin tim, ti me siguri do të më kishe kthyer duar bosh. Perëndia e pa trishtimin tim dhe mundin e duarve të mia, dhe mbrëmë dha vendimin e tij".

43 Atëherë Labano u përgjegj dhe tha: "Këto bija janë bijat e mia, këta bij janë bijtë e mi, këto kope janë kopetë e mia, dhe gjithçka të zë syri është imja. Por çfarë mund t’u bëj sot këtyre bijave të mia apo bijve që ato kanë lindur?

44 Prandaj eja të bëjmë një besëlidhie midis teje dhe meje, dhe që ajo shërbeftë si dëshmi midis teje dhe meje".

45 Atëherë Jakobi mori një gur dhe e ngriti si një përmendore.

46 Pastaj Jakobi u tha vëllezërve të tij: "Mblidhni gurë". Dhe ata morën gurë dhe bënë një tog me ta, dhe hëngrën bukë pranë këtij togu.

47 Labano e quajti atë tog Jegar-Sahadutha, ndërsa Jakobi e quajti Galed.

48 Dhe Labano tha: "Sot ky tog është një dëshmi midis teje dhe meje". Prandaj u quajt Galed,

49 edhe Mitspah, sepse Labano tha: "Zoti të mos e ndajë syrin mua dhe ty kur do të jetë e pamundur të shohim shoqi-shoqin.

50 Në rast se ti keqtrajton bijat e mia ose martohesh me gra të tjera veç bijave të mia, edhe sikur të mos ketë asnjeri me ne, kujtohu që Perëndia është dëshmitar midis meje dhe teje".

51 Labano i tha gjithashtu Jakobit: "Ja ky tog gurësh, dhe ja përmendorja që kam ngritur midis teje dhe meje.

52 Le të jetë ky tog një dëshmi dhe le të jetë kjo përmendore një dëshmi që unë nuk do ta kapërcej këtë tog për të të bërë keq ty, dhe që ti nuk do ta kapërcesh këtë tog dhe këtë përmendore për të më bërë keq mua.

53 Perëndia i Abrahamit dhe Perëndia i Nahorit, Perëndia i atit të tyre, u bëftë gjykatës midis nesh!". Dhe Jakobi u betua për Tmerrin e Isakut, atit të tij.

54 Pastaj Jakobi bëri një fli në mal dhe i ftoi vëllezërit e tij të hanin bukë. Dhe ata hëngrën bukë dhe e kaluan natën në mal.

55 Labano u ngrit herët në mëngjes, i puthi bijtë dhe bijat e tij dhe i bekoi. Pastaj Labano u nis dhe u kthye në shtëpinë e tij.

Jacob Flees From Laban

31 Jacob heard that Laban’s sons(A) were saying, “Jacob has taken everything our father owned and has gained all this wealth from what belonged to our father.”(B) And Jacob noticed that Laban’s attitude toward him was not what it had been.(C)

Then the Lord said to Jacob, “Go back(D) to the land of your fathers and to your relatives, and I will be with you.”(E)

So Jacob sent word to Rachel and Leah to come out to the fields where his flocks were. He said to them, “I see that your father’s(F) attitude toward me is not what it was before,(G) but the God of my father has been with me.(H) You know that I’ve worked for your father with all my strength,(I) yet your father has cheated(J) me by changing my wages(K) ten times.(L) However, God has not allowed him to harm me.(M) If he said, ‘The speckled ones will be your wages,’ then all the flocks gave birth to speckled young; and if he said, ‘The streaked ones will be your wages,’(N) then all the flocks bore streaked young. So God has taken away your father’s livestock(O) and has given them to me.(P)

10 “In breeding season I once had a dream(Q) in which I looked up and saw that the male goats mating with the flock were streaked, speckled or spotted. 11 The angel of God(R) said to me in the dream,(S) ‘Jacob.’ I answered, ‘Here I am.’(T) 12 And he said, ‘Look up and see that all the male goats mating with the flock are streaked, speckled or spotted,(U) for I have seen all that Laban has been doing to you.(V) 13 I am the God of Bethel,(W) where you anointed a pillar(X) and where you made a vow(Y) to me. Now leave this land at once and go back to your native land.(Z)’”

14 Then Rachel and Leah replied, “Do we still have any share(AA) in the inheritance of our father’s estate? 15 Does he not regard us as foreigners?(AB) Not only has he sold us, but he has used up what was paid for us.(AC) 16 Surely all the wealth that God took away from our father belongs to us and our children.(AD) So do whatever God has told you.”

17 Then Jacob put his children and his wives(AE) on camels,(AF) 18 and he drove all his livestock ahead of him, along with all the goods he had accumulated(AG) in Paddan Aram,[a](AH) to go to his father Isaac(AI) in the land of Canaan.(AJ)

19 When Laban had gone to shear his sheep,(AK) Rachel stole her father’s household gods.(AL) 20 Moreover, Jacob deceived(AM) Laban the Aramean(AN) by not telling him he was running away.(AO) 21 So he fled(AP) with all he had, crossed the Euphrates River,(AQ) and headed for the hill country of Gilead.(AR)

Laban Pursues Jacob

22 On the third day(AS) Laban was told that Jacob had fled.(AT) 23 Taking his relatives(AU) with him(AV), he pursued Jacob for seven days and caught up with him in the hill country of Gilead.(AW) 24 Then God came to Laban the Aramean(AX) in a dream at night and said to him,(AY) “Be careful not to say anything to Jacob, either good or bad.”(AZ)

25 Jacob had pitched his tent in the hill country of Gilead(BA) when Laban overtook him, and Laban and his relatives camped there too. 26 Then Laban said to Jacob, “What have you done?(BB) You’ve deceived me,(BC) and you’ve carried off my daughters like captives in war.(BD) 27 Why did you run off secretly and deceive me? Why didn’t you tell me,(BE) so I could send you away with joy and singing to the music of timbrels(BF) and harps?(BG) 28 You didn’t even let me kiss my grandchildren and my daughters goodbye.(BH) You have done a foolish thing. 29 I have the power to harm you;(BI) but last night the God of your father(BJ) said to me, ‘Be careful not to say anything to Jacob, either good or bad.’(BK) 30 Now you have gone off because you longed to return to your father’s household.(BL) But why did you steal(BM) my gods?(BN)

31 Jacob answered Laban, “I was afraid, because I thought you would take your daughters away from me by force.(BO) 32 But if you find anyone who has your gods, that person shall not live.(BP) In the presence of our relatives, see for yourself whether there is anything of yours here with me; and if so, take it.” Now Jacob did not know that Rachel had stolen the gods.(BQ)

33 So Laban went into Jacob’s tent and into Leah’s tent(BR) and into the tent of the two female servants,(BS) but he found nothing.(BT) After he came out of Leah’s tent, he entered Rachel’s tent. 34 Now Rachel had taken the household gods(BU) and put them inside her camel’s saddle(BV) and was sitting on them. Laban searched(BW) through everything in the tent but found nothing.

35 Rachel said to her father, “Don’t be angry, my lord, that I cannot stand up in your presence;(BX) I’m having my period.(BY)” So he searched but could not find the household gods.(BZ)

36 Jacob was angry and took Laban to task. “What is my crime?” he asked Laban. “How have I wronged(CA) you that you hunt me down?(CB) 37 Now that you have searched through all my goods, what have you found that belongs to your household?(CC) Put it here in front of your relatives(CD) and mine, and let them judge between the two of us.(CE)

38 “I have been with you for twenty years now.(CF) Your sheep and goats have not miscarried,(CG) nor have I eaten rams from your flocks. 39 I did not bring you animals torn by wild beasts; I bore the loss myself. And you demanded payment from me for whatever was stolen(CH) by day or night.(CI) 40 This was my situation: The heat consumed me in the daytime and the cold at night, and sleep fled from my eyes.(CJ) 41 It was like this for the twenty years(CK) I was in your household. I worked for you fourteen years for your two daughters(CL) and six years for your flocks,(CM) and you changed my wages(CN) ten times.(CO) 42 If the God of my father,(CP) the God of Abraham(CQ) and the Fear of Isaac,(CR) had not been with me,(CS) you would surely have sent me away empty-handed. But God has seen my hardship and the toil of my hands,(CT) and last night he rebuked you.(CU)

43 Laban answered Jacob, “The women are my daughters, the children are my children, and the flocks are my flocks.(CV) All you see is mine. Yet what can I do today about these daughters of mine, or about the children they have borne? 44 Come now, let’s make a covenant,(CW) you and I, and let it serve as a witness between us.”(CX)

45 So Jacob took a stone and set it up as a pillar.(CY) 46 He said to his relatives, “Gather some stones.” So they took stones and piled them in a heap,(CZ) and they ate there by the heap. 47 Laban called it Jegar Sahadutha, and Jacob called it Galeed.[b](DA)

48 Laban said, “This heap(DB) is a witness between you and me today.”(DC) That is why it was called Galeed. 49 It was also called Mizpah,[c](DD) because he said, “May the Lord keep watch between you and me when we are away from each other. 50 If you mistreat(DE) my daughters or if you take any wives besides my daughters, even though no one is with us, remember that God is a witness(DF) between you and me.”(DG)

51 Laban also said to Jacob, “Here is this heap,(DH) and here is this pillar(DI) I have set up between you and me. 52 This heap is a witness, and this pillar is a witness,(DJ) that I will not go past this heap to your side to harm you and that you will not go past this heap(DK) and pillar to my side to harm me.(DL) 53 May the God of Abraham(DM) and the God of Nahor,(DN) the God of their father, judge between us.”(DO)

So Jacob took an oath(DP) in the name of the Fear of his father Isaac.(DQ) 54 He offered a sacrifice(DR) there in the hill country and invited his relatives to a meal.(DS) After they had eaten, they spent the night there.

55 Early the next morning Laban kissed his grandchildren and his daughters(DT) and blessed(DU) them. Then he left and returned home.[d](DV)

Footnotes

  1. Genesis 31:18 That is, Northwest Mesopotamia
  2. Genesis 31:47 The Aramaic Jegar Sahadutha and the Hebrew Galeed both mean witness heap.
  3. Genesis 31:49 Mizpah means watchtower.
  4. Genesis 31:55 In Hebrew texts this verse (31:55) is numbered 32:1.

31 And he heard the words of Laban's sons, saying, Jacob hath taken away all that was our father's; and of that which was our father's hath he gotten all this glory.

And Jacob beheld the countenance of Laban, and, behold, it was not toward him as before.

And the Lord said unto Jacob, Return unto the land of thy fathers, and to thy kindred; and I will be with thee.

And Jacob sent and called Rachel and Leah to the field unto his flock,

And said unto them, I see your father's countenance, that it is not toward me as before; but the God of my father hath been with me.

And ye know that with all my power I have served your father.

And your father hath deceived me, and changed my wages ten times; but God suffered him not to hurt me.

If he said thus, The speckled shall be thy wages; then all the cattle bare speckled: and if he said thus, The ringstraked shall be thy hire; then bare all the cattle ringstraked.

Thus God hath taken away the cattle of your father, and given them to me.

10 And it came to pass at the time that the cattle conceived, that I lifted up mine eyes, and saw in a dream, and, behold, the rams which leaped upon the cattle were ringstraked, speckled, and grisled.

11 And the angel of God spake unto me in a dream, saying, Jacob: And I said, Here am I.

12 And he said, Lift up now thine eyes, and see, all the rams which leap upon the cattle are ringstraked, speckled, and grisled: for I have seen all that Laban doeth unto thee.

13 I am the God of Bethel, where thou anointedst the pillar, and where thou vowedst a vow unto me: now arise, get thee out from this land, and return unto the land of thy kindred.

14 And Rachel and Leah answered and said unto him, Is there yet any portion or inheritance for us in our father's house?

15 Are we not counted of him strangers? for he hath sold us, and hath quite devoured also our money.

16 For all the riches which God hath taken from our father, that is ours, and our children's: now then, whatsoever God hath said unto thee, do.

17 Then Jacob rose up, and set his sons and his wives upon camels;

18 And he carried away all his cattle, and all his goods which he had gotten, the cattle of his getting, which he had gotten in Padanaram, for to go to Isaac his father in the land of Canaan.

19 And Laban went to shear his sheep: and Rachel had stolen the images that were her father's.

20 And Jacob stole away unawares to Laban the Syrian, in that he told him not that he fled.

21 So he fled with all that he had; and he rose up, and passed over the river, and set his face toward the mount Gilead.

22 And it was told Laban on the third day that Jacob was fled.

23 And he took his brethren with him, and pursued after him seven days' journey; and they overtook him in the mount Gilead.

24 And God came to Laban the Syrian in a dream by night, and said unto him, Take heed that thou speak not to Jacob either good or bad.

25 Then Laban overtook Jacob. Now Jacob had pitched his tent in the mount: and Laban with his brethren pitched in the mount of Gilead.

26 And Laban said to Jacob, What hast thou done, that thou hast stolen away unawares to me, and carried away my daughters, as captives taken with the sword?

27 Wherefore didst thou flee away secretly, and steal away from me; and didst not tell me, that I might have sent thee away with mirth, and with songs, with tabret, and with harp?

28 And hast not suffered me to kiss my sons and my daughters? thou hast now done foolishly in so doing.

29 It is in the power of my hand to do you hurt: but the God of your father spake unto me yesternight, saying, Take thou heed that thou speak not to Jacob either good or bad.

30 And now, though thou wouldest needs be gone, because thou sore longedst after thy father's house, yet wherefore hast thou stolen my gods?

31 And Jacob answered and said to Laban, Because I was afraid: for I said, Peradventure thou wouldest take by force thy daughters from me.

32 With whomsoever thou findest thy gods, let him not live: before our brethren discern thou what is thine with me, and take it to thee. For Jacob knew not that Rachel had stolen them.

33 And Laban went into Jacob's tent, and into Leah's tent, and into the two maidservants' tents; but he found them not. Then went he out of Leah's tent, and entered into Rachel's tent.

34 Now Rachel had taken the images, and put them in the camel's furniture, and sat upon them. And Laban searched all the tent, but found them not.

35 And she said to her father, Let it not displease my lord that I cannot rise up before thee; for the custom of women is upon me. And he searched but found not the images.

36 And Jacob was wroth, and chode with Laban: and Jacob answered and said to Laban, What is my trespass? what is my sin, that thou hast so hotly pursued after me?

37 Whereas thou hast searched all my stuff, what hast thou found of all thy household stuff? set it here before my brethren and thy brethren, that they may judge betwixt us both.

38 This twenty years have I been with thee; thy ewes and thy she goats have not cast their young, and the rams of thy flock have I not eaten.

39 That which was torn of beasts I brought not unto thee; I bare the loss of it; of my hand didst thou require it, whether stolen by day, or stolen by night.

40 Thus I was; in the day the drought consumed me, and the frost by night; and my sleep departed from mine eyes.

41 Thus have I been twenty years in thy house; I served thee fourteen years for thy two daughters, and six years for thy cattle: and thou hast changed my wages ten times.

42 Except the God of my father, the God of Abraham, and the fear of Isaac, had been with me, surely thou hadst sent me away now empty. God hath seen mine affliction and the labour of my hands, and rebuked thee yesternight.

43 And Laban answered and said unto Jacob, These daughters are my daughters, and these children are my children, and these cattle are my cattle, and all that thou seest is mine: and what can I do this day unto these my daughters, or unto their children which they have born?

44 Now therefore come thou, let us make a covenant, I and thou; and let it be for a witness between me and thee.

45 And Jacob took a stone, and set it up for a pillar.

46 And Jacob said unto his brethren, Gather stones; and they took stones, and made an heap: and they did eat there upon the heap.

47 And Laban called it Jegarsahadutha: but Jacob called it Galeed.

48 And Laban said, This heap is a witness between me and thee this day. Therefore was the name of it called Galeed;

49 And Mizpah; for he said, The Lord watch between me and thee, when we are absent one from another.

50 If thou shalt afflict my daughters, or if thou shalt take other wives beside my daughters, no man is with us; see, God is witness betwixt me and thee.

51 And Laban said to Jacob, Behold this heap, and behold this pillar, which I have cast betwixt me and thee:

52 This heap be witness, and this pillar be witness, that I will not pass over this heap to thee, and that thou shalt not pass over this heap and this pillar unto me, for harm.

53 The God of Abraham, and the God of Nahor, the God of their father, judge betwixt us. And Jacob sware by the fear of his father Isaac.

54 Then Jacob offered sacrifice upon the mount, and called his brethren to eat bread: and they did eat bread, and tarried all night in the mount.

55 And early in the morning Laban rose up, and kissed his sons and his daughters, and blessed them: and Laban departed, and returned unto his place.