Jakubo unotizha Labani
1 Jakubo kahwa kuti bakololo ba Labani bakabe beti, “Jakubo wakatola tjimwe ne tjimwe tjakabe tjili tja tate bedu. Fumwa yose yaanayo wakaiwana muna zwakabe zwili zwa tate bedu.” 2 Ngono Jakubo kabonabo kuti Labani wakabe asingatjanshathile se kutanga. 3 Ipapo Yahwe bakati kuna Jakubo, “Bgwilila ku shango ya botate babo ne ku makamu awo, ngono imi ndowobe nawe.”
4 Ndizo Jakubo katuma nthu kanodana Rahele na Liya kuti bazhe ku shango kwaakabe efudza zwithuwo zwizwe. 5 Kabadwa kati, “Ndobona kuti tate benyu abatjina hwanano yabagala banayo nami, koga Ndzimu wa tate bangu unami. 6 Moziba kuti ndakashingila tate benyu nge masimba angu wose, 7 koga tate benyu bakanditjebela. Bakashandula mbhayilo wangu kanjinji. Koga Ndzimu auzobaletja bakandithamila tjakabipa. 8 Bakabe beti ha beti, ‘Zwithuwo zwazwagwa zwina mibala ndizo mbhayilo uwo,’ zwithuwo zose zowobe zwizwala bana bana mibala, kene beti, ‘Zwina mizila ndizo mbhayilo uwo,’ zwithuwo zose zowobe zwizwala bana bana mizila. 9 Ndizo wali Ndzimu wakatola zwithuwo zwa tate benyu ukandipa izo.
10 “Mu nsi we zwithuwo zwikwiigwa ndakawolota ndibona phoko dzina mizila ne dzina manjanja ne zwibadzi dzikwiila hadzi. 11 Ntumwa we kudzimu we Ndzimu ukandidana mu hwope ukati, ‘Jakubo’ Adabila nditi, ‘Ndipano.’ 12 Ngono ukabe uti, ‘Linga ubone kuti phoko dzinokwiila hadzi dzina mizila ne manjanja ne zwibadzi ngoti ndabona kose Labani kwaakakuthamila. 13 Ndimi Ndzimu we Bhetele kwawakazhodza bgwe mafuta ukabuya ukatuna kundili. Ndizo ngwenu wali tjibhuda mu shango iyeyi uyende ku shango ya kanyi kwenyu.’ ”
14 Ipapo Rahele na Liya bakashandula beti, “Apa titjina gobe kene thaka mu thundu ya tate bedu kene? 15 Apa abatotitola se bataya kene? Bakatitengesa bakabuya bakashingisa mari wose akatilobola. 16 Fumwa yose iyeyi Ndzimu yawakatolela tate bedu ndiyo yedu ne bana bedu. Ndizo iwe shinga tjawabudziwa nge Ndzimu.”
17 Ipapo Jakubo katathisa bana babe ne bakadzi babe kamela 18 katakula zwithuwo zwizwe zose kasenga thundu yose yaakashaba mu Padani Aramu kuyenda kuna tate babe Isaki ku shango ye Kanana. 19 Labani wakati ayenda kunokera pkhwizi dzidze Rahele kasala ekwiba midzimu ya tate babe. 20 Jakubo wakatjebela Labani we N'aramu nge kusambudza kuti iye woyenda. 21 Katizha kayenda na kose kwaakabe anako katjuluka gwizi gwe Yufuratesi akalinga ku shango ye matuthu ye Giliyadi.
Labani unolonda Jakubo
22 Kwakati kwapinda mazhuba matatu Labani kabudziwa kuti Jakubo wakatizha. 23 Labani katola makamu awe kalonda Jakubo ngono kambhata mu shango ye matuthu ye Giliyadi shule kwe mazhuba ali kutendeka. 24 Kukati busiku Ndzimu ukazha kuna Labani we N'aramu mu hwope ukandwa ukati, “Usitongoleba tjimwe tjakabipa kene tjakanaka kuna Jakubo.” 25 Labani wakabhata Jakubo mu shango ye matuthu ye Giliyadi kwaakabe akotokela ngono na iye kakotokelabo ko.
26 Labani kadwa Jakubo kati, “Ini ikoku kwawathama unditjebela usenga bakololokadzi bangu ubathama se bakadzi batapiwa nge thumo? 27 Ini wakanyeluka utizha unditjebela. Ini usakandibudza kuitila kuti ndikupeleke nge kushatha timba njimbo nge zwilidzo? 28 Ini usandipa tjibaka kuputa bana be bana bangu ne bakololokadzi bangu ndiwonekana nabo? Tjawathama bulengwe koga. 29 Ndina simba le kukuhwisazogwadza koga busiku gwapinda Ndzimu wa tate babo wati kundili, ‘Yela njele kuti usitongoti tjimwe tjakabipa kuna Jakubo.’ 30 Watizha ngoti wakashuba kubgwilila kanyi kwa tate babo, koga wakwibilani midzimu yangu?”
31 Jakubo kashandula Labani eti, “Ndakabe nditja kuti mowodwa mutola bakololokadzi benyu nge simba. 32 Koga ha mungawana mmwe ipapa una midzimu yenyu ngaabulawe. Shakani mu mesho e makamu edu pano mubone kene mowana tjimwe tjingabe tjili tjenyu, amatjiwana mutjitole.” Jakubo wakabe asingazibe kuti Rahele wakabe akwiba midzimu.
33 Ndizo Labani kangina mu nshasha wa Jakubo ne muna wa Liya ne mu mishasha ye balandakadzi babili koga kasiwane tjimwe. Kati ebhuda mu nshasha wa Liya kangina muna wa Rahele. 34 Rahele wakabe atola midzimu iyeyo kailonga mu hwomo ye sale dze kamela kabe egala pezhugwi kwayo. Labani kashaka nshasha wose ngono kasiwane tjimwe. 35 Rahele kadwa tate babe kati, “Musitongo ndigwadzila moyo tate, ngoti musati muswika pandili amilika, ndimu mwedzi.” Labani kashaka ngono kasiwane midzimu iye.
36 Ndizo Jakubo kagwadza moyo ngono kakayikanya Labani. Kabhuzwa Labani eti, “Nlandu wangu ini? Tjibiibi tjandakashinga ndi tjipi tjayita kuti munditobele? 37 Ngono se mashaka mukashakisisa mu thundu yangu yose, mawanani tjenyu? Mu tjibige ipapa mbeli kwe makamu enyu ne angu kuti batisumikilise. 38 Ndakagala namwi makole wose iyawa ali makumi mabili. Pkhwizi hadzi ne mbudzi dzenyu hadzi adzizotongo sodza kakale akuna tjandakatongo bhaya ndija mu zwithuwo zwenyu. 39 Zwithuwo zwenyu zwakabulawa nge zwibandana andizotongo zwizhisa kumuli, ndakazwimisa nge zwangu. Zwakakwibiwa masikati kene busiku, makazwishaka mu ndili. 40 Tjimo tjangu tjakabe tjili etji, masikati ndakabe nditshwa ne zhuba, busiku ndipota, ndisingabone hwope. 41 Kwakabe kwakajalo koga makole wose ali makumi mabili ndigala namwi. Ndakamushingila makole ali gumi lina makole ali manna ndishingila bakololokadzi benyu babili ashinga makole ali tathatu ndakatjengeta zwithuwo zwenyu ngono mukashandula mbhayilo wangu kanjinji. 42 Ha Ndzimu wa tate bangu, Ndzimu wa Abhurahama iwo unothigamigwa ndi Isaki usakabe nami, nge malebeswa mungabe makanditata ndisina tjandakabhata. Koga Ndzimu wakabona kudziyila kwangu ne kushinga kwangu kunolema ngono busiku gwapinda wakamutjemela.”
Tjidumano pakati kwa Jakubo na Labani
43 Labani kashandula Jakubo eti, “Bakololokadzi ibaba nge bangu ne bana ibaba nge bangu ne zwithuwo nge zwangu. Kose kwaunobona nge kwangu. Koga ini tjandingathama ngwenu ngekwe bakololokadzi bangu kene ngekwe bana babakazwala? 44 Ngatithame tjidumano pakati kwangu nawe tjibe tjitendeki pakati kwedu.”
45 Ndizo Jakubo katola bgwe kalimisa kube ikumbuludzo. 46 Jakubo kadwa makamu awe kati, “Kubunganyani mabgwe.” Bakakubunganya mmbumba we mabgwe bakagala kubapa nawo bakaja. 47 Labani kaudana eti Jega Sahaduta, Jakubo iye kaudana Galeedi. 48 Labani kabe eti, “Mmbumba iwoyu tjitendeki pakati kuko nami nasi.” Ndizo wali wakadang'wa kuyi Galeedi. 49 Limwe zina le bgwe ilelo lakabe liyi Mizipha ngoti Labani wakati, “Yahwe ngabatibige zhisho ha tapalalana mmwe ali kwaaliko ne mmwe kwaaliko. 50 Ha ungadziyidza bakololokadzi bangu kene ukalobola bakadzi bamwe nenguba kusina unaswi, kumbula kuti Ndzimu ntendeki pakati kuko nami.” 51 Labani kati kakale kuna Jakubo, “Mmbumba we mabgwe hwoyu ne bgwe yeli landamisa pakati kuko nami. 52 Mmbumba iwoyu we mabgwe tjilakidzo ne bgwe ileli tjilakidzo tjekuti andingapinde mmbumba iwoyu ndipindila ku lubizho gugo kukuthama tjakabipa, nawe aungapinde mmbumba iwoyu upindila ku lubizho gwangu kundithama tjakabipa. 53 Ndzimu wa Abhurahama ne Ndzimu wa Nahori, Ndzimu wa tate babo ngaube ntendeki pakati kwedu.” Ndizo Jakubo katuna ne Ndzimu unothigamigwa ndi Isaki tate babe. 54 Jakubo kabhaya tjibhayilo mu shango ye matuthu ngono kakoka makamu awe ku zojiwa. Bakati basinoja bakapitsha busiku ipapo. 55 Tjimuka mangwanana Labani kaputa bana be bana babe ne bakololokadzi babe kabakombolela. Ngono kamilika kabgwilila kanyi.
Jacob Runs from Laban
1 Jacob heard that Laban's sons were complaining, “Jacob is now a rich man, and he got everything he owns from our father.” 2 Jacob also noticed that Laban was not as friendly as he had been before. 3 One day the Lord said, “Jacob, go back to your relatives in the land of your ancestors, and I will be with you.”
4 Jacob sent for Rachel and Leah to meet him in the pasture where he kept his sheep, 5 and he told them:
Your father isn't as friendly with me as he used to be, but the God my ancestors worshiped has been on my side. 6 You know that I have worked hard for your father 7 and that he keeps cheating me by changing my wages time after time. But God has protected me. 8 When your father said the speckled sheep would be my wages, all of them were speckled. And when he said the spotted ones would be mine, all of them were spotted. 9 That's how God has taken sheep and goats from your father and given them to me.
10 Once, when the flocks were mating, I dreamed that all the rams were either spotted or speckled. 11 Then God's angel called me by name. I answered, 12 and he said, “Notice that all the rams are either spotted or speckled. I know everything Laban is doing to you, 13 and I am the God you worshiped at Bethel, when you poured olive oil on a rock and made a promise to me. Leave here at once and return to the land where you were born.”
14 Rachel and Leah said to Jacob:
There's nothing left for us to inherit from our father. 15 He treats us like foreigners and has even cheated us out of the bride price that should have been ours. 16 So do whatever God tells you to do. Even the property God took from our father and gave to you really belongs to us and our children.
17 Then Jacob, his wives, and his children got on camels and left 18 northern Syria for the home of his father Isaac in Canaan. Jacob took along all his flocks, herds, and other property.
19 Before Rachel left, she stole the household idols while Laban was out shearing his sheep.
20 Jacob tricked Laban the Aramean by not saying that he intended to leave. 21 When Jacob crossed the Euphrates River and headed for the hill country of Gilead, he took with him everything he owned.
Laban Catches Up with Jacob
22 Three days later Laban found out that Jacob had gone. 23 So he took some of his relatives along and chased after Jacob for seven days, before catching up with him in the hill country of Gilead. 24 But God appeared to Laban in a dream that night and warned, “Don't say a word to Jacob. Don't make a threat or a promise.”
25 Jacob had set up camp in the hill country of Gilead, when Laban and his relatives came and set up camp in another part of the hill country. Laban went to Jacob 26 and said:
Look what you've done! You've tricked me and run off with my daughters like a kidnapper. 27 Why did you sneak away without telling me? I would have given you a going-away party with singing and with music on tambourines and harps. 28 You didn't even give me a chance to kiss my own grandchildren and daughters goodbye. That was really foolish. 29 I could easily hurt you, but the God your father worshiped has warned me not to make any threats or promises.
30 I can understand why you were eager to return to your father, but why did you have to steal my idols?
31 Jacob answered, “I left secretly because I was afraid you would take your daughters from me by force. 32 If you find that any one of us has taken your idols, I'll have that person killed. Let your relatives be witnesses. Show me what belongs to you, and you can take it back.” Jacob did not realize that Rachel had stolen the household idols.
33 Laban searched the tents of Jacob, Leah, and the two servant women, but did not find the idols. Then he went to Rachel's tent. 34 She had already hidden them in the cushion she used as a saddle and was sitting on it. Laban searched everywhere and did not find them. 35 Rachel said, “Father, please don't be angry with me for not getting up; I'm having my period.” Laban kept on searching, but still did not find the idols.
36 Jacob became very angry and said to Laban:
What have I done wrong? Have I committed some crime? Is that why you hunted me down? 37 After searching through everything I have, did you find anything of yours? If so, put it here, where your relatives and mine can see it. Then we can decide what to do.
38 In all the 20 years that I've worked for you, not one of your sheep or goats has had a miscarriage, and I've never eaten even one of your rams. 39 If a wild animal killed one of your sheep or goats, I paid for it myself. In fact, you demanded the full price, whether the animal was killed during the day or at night. 40 I sweated every day, and I couldn't sleep at night because of the cold.
41 I had to work 14 of these 20 long years to earn your two daughters and another 6 years to buy your sheep and goats. During that time you kept changing my wages. 42 If the fearsome God worshiped by Abraham and my father Isaac had not been on my side, you would have sent me away without a thing. But God saw my hard work, and he knew the trouble I was in, so he helped me. Then last night he told you how wrong you were.
Jacob and Laban Make an Agreement
43 Laban said to Jacob, “Leah and Rachel are my daughters, and their children belong to me. All these sheep you are taking are really mine too. In fact, everything you have belongs to me. But there is nothing I can do to keep my daughters and their children. 44 So I am ready to make an agreement with you, and we will pile up some large rocks here to remind us of the agreement.”
45 After Jacob had set up a large rock, 46 he told his men to get some more rocks and pile them up next to it. Then Jacob and Laban ate a meal together beside the rocks. 47 Laban named the pile of rocks Jegar Sahadutha. But Jacob named it Galeed. 48 Laban said to Jacob, “This pile of rocks will remind us of our agreement.” That's why the place was named Galeed. 49 Laban also said, “This pile of rocks means that the Lord will watch us both while we are apart from each other.” So the place was also named Mizpah.
50 Then Laban said:
If you mistreat my daughters or marry other women, I may not know about it, but remember, God is watching us! 51-52 Both this pile of rocks and this large rock have been set up between us as a reminder. I must never go past them to attack you, and you must never come past them to attack me. 53 My father Nahor, your grandfather Abraham, and their ancestors all worshiped the same God, and he will make sure that we each keep the agreement.
Then Jacob made a promise in the name of the fearsome God his father Isaac had worshiped. 54 Jacob killed an animal and offered it as a sacrifice there on the mountain, and he invited his men to eat with him. After the meal they spent the night on the mountain. 55 Early the next morning, Laban kissed his daughters and his grandchildren goodbye, then he left to go back home.