Genesis 30:31   (Read all of Genesis 30)

"What shall I give you?" he asked. "Don't give me anything," Jacob replied. "But if you will do this one thing for me, I will go on tending your flocks and watching over them:

Genesis 30:32   (Read all of Genesis 30)

Let me go through all your flocks today and remove from them every speckled or spotted sheep, every dark-colored lamb and every spotted or speckled goat. They will be my wages.

Genesis 30:33   (Read all of Genesis 30)

And my honesty will testify for me in the future, whenever you check on the wages you have paid me. Any goat in my possession that is not speckled or spotted, or any lamb that is not dark-colored, will be considered stolen."

Genesis 30:34   (Read all of Genesis 30)

"Agreed," said Laban. "Let it be as you have said."

Genesis 30:39   (Read all of Genesis 30)

they mated in front of the branches. And they bore young that were streaked or speckled or spotted.

Genesis 30:40   (Read all of Genesis 30)

Jacob set apart the young of the flock by themselves, but made the rest face the streaked and dark-colored animals that belonged to Laban. Thus he made separate flocks for himself and did not put them with Laban's animals.

Genesis 31:3   (Read all of Genesis 31)

Then the Lord said to Jacob, "Go back to the land of your fathers and to your relatives, and I will be with you."

Genesis 31:5   (Read all of Genesis 31)

He said to them, "I see that your father's attitude toward me is not what it was before, but the God of my father has been with me.

Genesis 31:6   (Read all of Genesis 31)

You know that I've worked for your father with all my strength,

Genesis 31:7   (Read all of Genesis 31)

yet your father has cheated me by changing my wages ten times. However, God has not allowed him to harm me.

Genesis 31:8   (Read all of Genesis 31)

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,' then all the flocks bore streaked young.

Genesis 31:9   (Read all of Genesis 31)

So God has taken away your father's livestock and has given them to me.

Genesis 31:12   (Read all of Genesis 31)

And he said, 'Look up and see that all the male goats mating with the flock are streaked, speckled or spotted, for I have seen all that Laban has been doing to you.

Genesis 31:13   (Read all of Genesis 31)

I am the God of Bethel, where you anointed a pillar and where you made a vow to me. Now leave this land at once and go back to your native land.' "

Genesis 31:16   (Read all of Genesis 31)

Surely all the wealth that God took away from our father belongs to us and our children. So do whatever God has told you."

Genesis 31:26   (Read all of Genesis 31)

Then Laban said to Jacob, "What have you done? You've deceived me, and you've carried off my daughters like captives in war.

Genesis 31:27   (Read all of Genesis 31)

Why did you run off secretly and deceive me? Why didn't you tell me, so I could send you away with joy and singing to the music of timbrels and harps?

Genesis 31:28   (Read all of Genesis 31)

You didn't even let me kiss my grandchildren and my daughters goodbye. You have done a foolish thing.

Genesis 31:29   (Read all of Genesis 31)

I have the power to harm you; but last night the God of your father said to me, 'Be careful not to say anything to Jacob, either good or bad.'

Genesis 31:30   (Read all of Genesis 31)

Now you have gone off because you longed to return to your father's household. But why did you steal my gods?"

Genesis 31:31   (Read all of Genesis 31)

Jacob answered Laban, "I was afraid, because I thought you would take your daughters away from me by force.

Genesis 31:32   (Read all of Genesis 31)

But if you find anyone who has your gods, that person shall not live. 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.

Genesis 31:35   (Read all of Genesis 31)

Rachel said to her father, "Don't be angry, my lord, that I cannot stand up in your presence; I'm having my period." So he searched but could not find the household gods.

Genesis 31:36   (Read all of Genesis 31)

Jacob was angry and took Laban to task. "What is my crime?" he asked Laban. "How have I wronged you that you hunt me down?