thou? And she said, The daughter of Bethuel, Nahor's son, whom Milcah bare unto him and I put the ornament upon her forehead, and the bracelets upon her 48 hands. And I bowed down my head, and worshipped the LORD, and blessed the LORD God of my master Abraham, who had led me in the right way to take my master's brother's daughter unto his son. 49 And now if ye will deal kindly and truly with my master, tell me; and if not, tell me; that I may turn to the right hand, or to the left.

50

Then Laban and Bethuel answered and said, The thing proceedeth from the LORD; we cannot speak unto thee bad 51 or good. Behold, Rebekah is before thee, take her, and go, and let her be thy master's son's wife, as the LORD hath spoken. 52 And it came to pass, that, when Abraham's servant heard their words, he worshipped the LORD, bowing himself to the earth. 53 And the servant brought forth vessels of silver, and vessels of gold, and raiment, and gave them to Rebekah: he gave also to her brother and to her mother precious 54 things. And they did eat and drink, he and the men who were with him, and tarried all night; and they rose up in the morning, and he said, Send me away unto 55 my master. And her brother and her mother said, Let the damsel abide with us a few days, at the least ten; and after that she 56 shall go. And he said unto them, Hinder me not, seeing that the LORD hath prospered my way; send me away that I may go to 57 my master. And they said, We will call the damsel, and inquire at her mouth. 58 And they called Rebekah, and said unto her, Wilt thou go with this man? And 59 she said, I will go. And they sent away Rebekah their sister, and her nurse, and 60 Abraham's servant, and his men. And they blessed Rebekah, and said unto her, Our sister! be thou the mother of myriads, and let thy seed possess the cities of those who hate them.

61

And Rebekah arose, and her damsels, and they rode upon the camels, and followed the man: and the servant took Re62 bekah, and went his way. And Isaac came

from the way of the well Lahai-roi; (for 63 he dwelt in the south country.) And Isaac went out to meditate in the field at the eventide and he lifted up his eyes, and saw, and, behold, the camels were coming. 64 And Rebekah lifted up her eyes, and when she saw Isaac, she lighted off the camel. 65 For she had said unto the servant, What man is this who walketh in the field to meet us? And the servant had said, It is my master therefore she took a vail, and 66 covered herself. And the servant told 67 Isaac all things that he had done. And Isaac brought her into his mother Sarah's tent, and took Rebekah, and she became his wife; and he loved her and Isaac was comforted after his mother's death.

25

Then again Abraham took a wife, and her name was Keturah. And she bare him Zimran, and Jokshan, and Medan, and 3 Midian, and Ishbak, and Shuah. And Jokshan begat Sheba, and Dedan. And the sons of Dedan were Asshurim, and Le4 tushim, and Leummim. And the sons of Midian; Ephah, and Epher, and Hanoch, and Abidal, and Eldaah. All these were 5 the children of Keturah. And Abraham 6 gave all that he had unto Isaac. But unto the sons of the concubines, which Abraham

had, Abraham gave gifts, and sent them away from Isaac his son, while he yet lived, eastward, unto the east country [ARABIA].

And these are the days of the years of 7 Abraham's life which he lived, a hundred threescore and fifteen years. Then Abra- 8 ham gave up his spirit, and died in a good old age, an old man, and full of years; and was gathered to his people. And his sons 9 Isaac and Ishmael buried him in the cave of Machpelah, in the field of Ephron the son of Zohar the Hittite, which is before Mamre; the field which Abraham pur- 10 chased of the sons of Heth: there was Abraham buried, and Sarah his wife. And 11 it came to pass, after the death of Abraham, that God blessed his son Isaac; and Isaac dwelt by the well Lahai-roi.

NOW these are the generations of Ish- 12 mael, Abraham's son, whom Hagar the Egyptian, Sarah's handmaid, bare unto Abraham: and these are the names of the 13 sons of Ishmael, by their names, according to their generations: the firstborn of Ishmael, Nebajoth; and Kedar, and Adbeel, and Mibsam, and Mishma, and Du- 14 mah, and Massa, Hadar, and Tema, Jetur, 15 Naphish, and Kedemah: these are the 16 sons of Ishmael, and these are their names, by their towns, and by their defenced dwellings; twelve princes according to their nations. And these are the years of 17 the life of Ishmael, a hundred and thirty and seven years; and he resigned his spírit and died; and was gathered unto his people. And he dwelt from Havilah un- 18 to Shur, on the borders of Egypt, as thou goest towards Assyria; and he died in the presence of all his brethren.

And these are the generations of Isaac, 19 Abraham's son: Abraham begat Isaac: and Isaac was forty years old when he took 20 Rebekah to wife, the daughter of Bethuel the Syrian of Padan-aram, the sister to Laban the Syrian. And Isaac entreated 21 the LORD for his wife, because she was barren; and the LORD was entreated of him, and Rebekah his wife conceived. And the children struggled together with- 22 in her; and she said, If it be so, why am I thus? And she went to inquire of the LORD. And the LORD said unto her, 23 Two nations are in thy womb, and two manner of people shall be separated from thy bowels; and the one people shall be stronger than the other people; and the elder shall serve the younger. And when 24 her days to be delivered were fulfilled, behold, there were twins in her womb. And 25 the first came out red, all over like a hairy garment; and they called his name Esau. And after that came his brother 28 out, and his hand took hold on Esau's heel; and his name was called Jacob: and Isaac was threescore years old when she bare them.

And the boys grew: and Esau was a 27 skilful hunter, a man of the field; and Jacob was a plain man, dwelling in tents. And Isaac loved Esau, because he did eat 28 of his venison; but Rebekah loved Jacob. And Jacob boiled pottage: and Esau came 29 from the field, and he was faint: and Esau 30 said to Jacob, Feed me, I pray thee, with that same red pottage; for I am faint: therefore was his name called Edom [RED And Jacob said, Sell me this day thy birth- 31 right. And Esau said, Behold, I am going 32 to die: and what profit shall this birthright

33 do to me? And Jacob said, Swear to me this day; and he sware unto him: and he 34 sold his birthright unto Jacob. Then Jacob gave Esau bread and pottage of lentiles; and he ate and drank, and rose up, and went his way: thus Esau despised his birthright.

26 AND there was a famine in the land, beside the first famine that was in the days of Abraham. And Isaac went unto Abimelech king of the Philistines unto Gerar. 2 And the LORD appeared unto him, and said, Go not down into Egypt; dwell in the 3 land which I shall tell thee of: sojourn in this land, and I will be with thee, and will bless thee; for unto thee, and unto thy seed, I will give all these countries, and I will perform the oath which I sware unto 4 Abraham thy father: and I will make thy seed to multiply as the stars of the heavens, and will give unto thy seed all these countries; and in thy seed shall all 5 the nations of the earth be blessed; because that Abraham thy father obeyed my voice, and kept my charge, my commandments, my statutes, and my laws.

67

And Isaac dwelt in Gerar: and the men of the place asked him of his wife; and he said, She is my sister; for he feared to say, She is my wife; lest, said he, the men of the place should kill me for Rebekah; be8 cause she was fair to look upon. And it came to pass, when he had been there a long time, that Abimelech, king of the Philistines, looked out at a window, and saw, and, behold, Isaac was sporting with Rebekah his wife. And Abimelech called Isaac, and said, Behold, of a surety she is thy wife: and how saidst thou, She is my sister? And Isaac said unto him, Because 10 I said, Lest I die for her. And Abimelech said, What is this thou hast done unto us? one of the people might lightly have lain with thy wife, and thou shouldest have 11 brought guiltiness upon us. And Abimelech charged all his people, saying, He that toucheth this man or his wife shall surely be put to death.

12

Then Isaac sowed in that land, and received in the same year a hundredfold: 13 and the LORD blessed him: and the man waxed great, and went forward, and grew 14 until he became very great; for he had possession of flocks, and possession of herds, and great store of servants; and the Philis15 times envied him. For all the wells which the servants of his father Abraham had digged, the Philistines had stopped up, and 16 filled them with earth. And Abimelech said unto Isaac, Go from us; for thou art much mightier than we.

17 And Isaac departed thence, and pitched his tent in the valley of Gerar, and dwelt 18 there. And Isaac digged again the wells of water, which the servants of Abraham his father had digged; for the Philistines had stopped them after the death of Abraham: and he called their names after the names by which his father had called them. 19 And Isaac's servants digged in the valley, and found there a well of springing water. 20 And the herdmen of Gerar did strive with Isaac's herdmen, saying, The water is ours: and he called the name of the well Ezek [STRIFE], because they strove with him. 21 And they digged another well, and strove for that also: and he called the name of it Sitnah [OPPOSITION].

22

And he removed from thence, and digged another well; and for that they strove not:

and he called the name of it Rehoboth [ROOM]; and he said, For now the LORD hath made room for us, and we shall be fruitful in the land.

And he went up from thence to Beer- 23 sheba. And the LORD appeared unto 24 him the same night, and said, I am the God of Abraham thy father; fear not, for I am with thee, and will bless thee, and multiply thy seed for my servant Abraham's sake. And he built an altar there, 25 and called upon the name of the LORD, and pitched his tent there: and there Isaac's servants digged a well.

Then Abimelech went to him from Ge- 26 rar, and Ahuzzath one of his friends, and Phichol the chief captain of his army. And Isaac said unto them, Wherefore 27 come ye to me, seeing ye hate me, and have sent me away from you? And they 28 said, We saw certainly that the LORD was with thee; and we said, Let there be now an oath betwixt us, even betwixt us and thee, and let us make a covenant with thee; that thou wilt do us no hurt, as we 29 have not touched thee, and as we have done unto thee nothing but good, and have sent thee away in peace: thou art now the blessed of the LORD. And he made them 30 a feast, and they did eat and drink. And 31 they rose up betimes in the morning, and sware one to another: and Isaac sent them away, and they departed from him in peace. And it came to pass the same day, 32 that Isaac's servants came, and told him concerning the well which they had digged, and said unto him, We have found water. And he called it Shebah [AN 33 OATH]: therefore the name of the city is Beer-sheba unto this day.

And Esau was forty years old when he 34 took to wife Judith the daughter of Beeri the Hittite, and Bashemath the daughter of Elon the Hittite; who were cause of 35 grief of mind unto Isaac and to Rebekah.

AND it came to pass, that when Isaac 27 was old, and his eyes were dim, so that he could not see, he called Esau his eldest son, and said unto him, My son: and he said unto him, Behold, here am I. And he 2 said, Behold now, I am old, I know not the day of my death: now therefore take, I 3 pray thee, thy weapons, thy quiver and thy bow, and go out to the field, and hunt me some venison; and make me savoury 4 food, such as I love, and bring it to me, that I may eat; that my soul may bless thee before I die. And Rebekah heard 5 when Isaac spake to Esau his son. Esau went to the field to hunt venison for his father.

And

And Rebekah spake unto Jacob her son, 6 saying, Behold, I heard thy father speak unto Esau thy brother, saying, Bring me 7 venison, and make me savoury food, that I may eat, and bless thee before the LORD before my death. Now therefore, my son, 8 obey my voice according to that which I command thee. Go now to the flock, and 9 fetch me from thence two kids tender and good; and I will make them savoury food for thy father, such as he loveth: and thou 10 shalt bring it to thy father, that he may eat, and that he may bless thee before his death.

And Jacob said to Rebekah his mother, 11 Behold, Esau my brother is a hairy man, and I am a smooth man: my father perad 12 venture will feel me, and I shall seem to him as a great deceiver; and I shall bring

8

And he came unto his father, and said, My father: and he said, Here am I; who 19 art thou, my son? And Jacob said unto his father, I am Esau thy firstborn; I have done according as thou badest me: arise, I pray thee, sit and eat of my veni20 sou, that thy soul may bless me. And Isaac said unto his son, How is it that thou hast found it so quickly, my son? And he said, Because the LORD thy God brought 21 it to me. And Isaac said unto Jacob, Come near, I pray thee, that I may feel thee, my son, whether thou be my very son Esau or 22 not. And Jacob went near unto Isaac his father; and he felt him, and said, The voice is Jacob's voice, but the hands are 23 the hands of Esau. And he discerned him not, because his hands were hairy, as his brother Esau's hands: so he blessed him. 24 And he said, Art thou my very son Esau ? 25 And he said, I am. And he said, Bring it near to me, and I will eat of my son's venison, that my soul may bless thee. And he brought it near to him, and he did eat: and he brought him wine, and he drank. 26 And his father Isaac said unto him, Come 27 near now, and kiss me, my son. And he came near, and kissed him: and he smelt the smell of his raiment, and blessed him, and said, See, the smell of my son is as the smell of a field which the LORD hath 28 blessed therefore God give thee of the dew of heaven, and the fatness of the earth, 29 and plenty of corn and wine: let people serve thee, and nations bow down to thee: be lord over thy brethren, and let thy mother's sons bow down to thee: cursed be every one who curseth thee, and blessed be he who blesseth thee.

30

And it came to pass, as soon as Isaac had made an end of blessing Jacob, and Jacob was yet scarce gone out from the presence of Isaac his father, that Esau his brother 31 came in from his hunting. And he also had made savoury food, and brought it unto his father, and said unto his father, Let my father arise, and eat of his son's veni32 son, that thy soul may bless me. And Isaac his father said unto him, Who art thou? And he said, I am thy son, thy 33 Arstborn Esau. And Isaac trembled greatly with a great trembling, and said, Who? where is he who hath hunted venison, and brought it me, and I have eaten of all before thou camest, and have blessed him? 34 yea, and he shall be blessed. And when Esau heard the words of his father, he cried with a great and exceeding bitter cry, and said unto his father, Bless me, even 35 me also, O my father! And he said, Thy brother came with subtilty, and hath taken 36 away thy blessing. And he said, Is not he rightly named Jacob [SUPPLANTER]? for he hath supplanted me these two times:

he took away my birthright; and, behold, now he hath taken away my blessing. And he said, Hast thou not reserved a blessing for me? And Isaac answered and said unto 37 Esau, Behold, I have made him thy lord, and all his brethren have I given to him for servants; and with corn and wine have I sustained him; and what shall I do now unto thee, my son? And Esau said unto 38 his father, Hast thou but one blessing, my father? bless me, even me also, O my father! And Esau lifted up his voice, and wept. And Isaae his father answered and 39 said unto him, Behold, thy dwelling shall be of the fatness of the earth, and of the dew of heaven from above; and by thy sword 40 shalt thou live, and shalt serve thy brother; and it shall come to pass when thou shalt be humbled, that thou shalt break his yoke from off thy neck.

And Esau hated Jacob because of the 41 blessing wherewith his father blessed him: and Esau said in his heart, The days of mourning for my father are at hand; then will I slay my brother Jacob. And these 42 words of Esau her elder son were told to Rebekah and she sent and called Jacob her younger son, and said unto him, Behold, thy brother Esau, as touching thee, doth comfort himself, purposing to kill thee. Now therefore, my son, obey my 43 voice; and arise, flee thou to Laban my brother to Haran; and tarry with him a 44 few days, until thy brother's fury turn away; until thy brother's anger turn away 45 from thee, and he forget that which thou hast done to him: then I will send, and fetch thee from thence: why should I be deprived also of you both in one day?

28

And Rebekah said to Isaac, I am weary 46 of my life because of the daughters of Heth: if Jacob take a wife of the daughters of Heth, such as these who are of the daughters of the land, what good shall my life do me? And Isaac called Jacob, and blessed him, and charged him, and said unto him, Thou shalt not take a wife of the daughters of Canaan. Arise, go to 2 Padan-aram, to the house of Bethuel thy mother's father; and take thee a wife from thence of the daughters of Laban thy mother's brother. And God Almighty bless 3 thee, and make thee fruitful, and multiply thee, that thou mayest be a multitude of people; and give thee the blessing of 4 Abraham, to thee, and to thy seed with thee; that thou mayest inherit the land of thy sojournings, which God gave unto Abraham. And Isaac sent away Jacob; 5 and he went to Padan-aram unto Laban, son of Bethuel the Syrian, the brother of Rebekah, Jacob's and Esau's mother.

When Esau saw that Isaac had blessed 6 Jacob, and sent him away to Padan-aram, to take him a wife from thence; and that as he blessed him he gave him a charge, saying, Thou shalt not take a wife of the daughters of Canaan; and that Jacob obey- 7 ed his father and his mother, and was gone to Padan-aram; and Esau seeing that the 8 daughters of Canaan pleased not Isaac his father; then went Esau unto Ishmael, and 9 took unto the wives which he had Mahalath the daughter of Ishmael Abraham's son, the sister of Nebajoth, to be his wife.

And Jacob went out from Beer-sheba, 10 and went toward Haran. And he lighted 11 upon a certain place, and tarried there all night, because the sun was set; and he took one of the stones of that place, and

16

put it for his pillow, and lay down in that 12 place to sleep. And he dreamed, and behoid, a ladder set up on the earth, and the top of it reached to heaven: and behold, the angels of God ascending and descend13 ing on it. And, behold, the LORD stood above it, and said, I am the LORD God of Abraham thy father, and the God of Isaac: the land whereon thou liest, to thee will I 14 give it, and to thy seed; and thy seed shall be as the dust of the earth, and thou stalt spread abroad to the west, and to the east, and to the north, and to the south: and in thee and through thy seed shall all the families of the earth be blessed. 15 And, behold, I will be with thee, and will keep thee in all places whither thou goest, and will bring thee again into this land; for I will not leave thee, until I have done that which I have spoken to thee of. And Jacob awaked out of his sleep, and he said, Surely, the LORD is in this 17 place ; and I knew it not. And he was afraid, and said, How dreadful is this place! this is none other but the house of God, 18 and this is the gate of heaven! And Jacob rose up early in the morning, and took the stone that he had put for his pillow, and set it up for a pillar, and poured oil upon 19 the top of it. And he called the name of that place Beth-el [THE HOUSE OF GOD]; but the name of that city was called Luz 20 at the first. And Jacob vowed a vow, saying, If God will be with me, and will keep me in this way that I go, and will give me 21 bread to eat, and raiment to put on, so that I come again to my father's house in peace; 22 and the LORD will be my God; then this stone, which I have set for a pillar, shall be God's house: and of all that thou shalt give me I will surely give the tenth unto thee.

29

THEN Jacob went on his journey, and came into the land of the people of the 2 east.

And he looked, and, behold, a well in the field, and, lo, there were three flocks of sheep lying by it; for out of that well they watered the flocks: and a great stone 3 was upon the well's mouth. And thither were all the flocks gathered: and the shepherds rolled the stone from the well's mouth, and watered the sheep, and put the stone again upon the well's mouth in its 4 place. And Jacob said unto them, My brethren, whence be ye? And they said, 5 Of Haran are we. And he said unto them, Know ye Laban the son of Nahor? And 6 they said, We know him. And he said unto them, Is he well? And they said, He is well: and, behold, Rachel his daughter 7 cometh with her father's sheep. And he said, Lo, it is yet high day, neither is it time that the cattle should be gathered together: water ye the sheep, and go and 8 feed them. And they said, We cannot, until all the flocks be gathered together, and the shepherds roll the stone from the well's mouth; then we water the sheep.

9

And Laban said unto Jacob, Because 15 thou art my brother, shouldest thou therefore serve me for nought? tell me, what shall thy wages be? And Laban had two 16 daughters; the name of the elder was Leah, and the name of the younger was Rachel. Leah was tender eyed; but Rachel was 17 beautiful and well favoured. And Jacob 18 loved Rachel; and said, I will serve thee seven years for Rachel thy younger daughter. And Laban said, It is better that I 19 give her to thee, than that I should give her to another man: abide with me. And 20 Jacob served seven years for Rachel; and they seemed unto him but a few days, for the love he had to her.

And Jacob said unto Laban, Give me my 21 wife, for my days are fulfilled, that I may go in unto her. And Laban gathered to- 22 gether all the men of the place, and made a feast. And it came to pass in the evening, 23 that he took Leah his daughter, and brought her to him; and he went in unto her. And 24 Laban gave unto his daughter Leah Zilpah his maid for a handmaid. And it came to 25 pass, that in the morning, behold, it was Leah: and he said to Laban, What is this thou hast done unto me? did not I serve with thee for Rachel? wherefore, then, hast thou deceived me? And Laban said, 26 It must not be so done in our country, to give the younger before the firstborn. Ful- 27 fil her week, and we will give thee the other also for the service which thou shalt serve with me yet seven other years.

And Jacob did so, and fulfilled her week; 28 and he gave him Rachel his daughter to wife also. And Laban gave Bilhah his hand- 29 maid to Rachel his daughter, to be her maid. And he went in also unto Rachel, 30 and he loved also Rachel more than Leah, and served with him yet seven other years.

And when the LORD saw that Leah was 31 slighted, he opened her womb; but Rachel was barren. And Leah conceived, 32 and bare a son, and she called his name Reuben [BEHOLD A SON]: for she said, Surely the LORD hath looked upon my affliction; now, therefore, my husband wifi love me. And she conceived again, and 33 bare a son; and said, Because the LORD hath heard that I was slighted, he hatb, therefore, given me this son also: and she called his name Simeon [HE HEARETH THE AFFLICTED]. And she conceived 34 again, and bare a son; and said, Now at length will my husband be attached unto me, because I have borne him three sons: therefore was his name called Levi [ATTACHMENT]. And she conceived again, 35 and bare a son; and she said, Now will Í praise the LORD: therefore she called his name Judah [PRAISE]; and left off bearing.

And when Rachel saw that she bare Ja 30 cob no children, Rachel envied her sister ; and said unto Jacob, Give me children, or else I die. And Jacob's anger was kindled 2 against Rachel; and he said, Am I in God's stead, who hath withheld from thee the fruit of the womb? And she said, Behold 3 my maid Bilhah, go in unto her; and she

shall bear upon my knees, that I may also 4 have children by her. And she gave him Bilhah her handmaid to wife: and Jacob went in unto her.

5

And Bilhah conceived, and bare Jacob a 6 son. And Rachel said, God hath judged me, and hath also heard my voice, and hath given me a son: therefore called she his name 7 Dan [HE HATH DONE JUSTICE]. And Bilhah, Rachel's maid, conceived again, and 8 bare Jacob a second son. And Rachel said, With great wrestlings have I wrestled with my sister, and I have prevailed: and she called his name Naphtali [MY WRESTLING] 9 When Leah saw that she had left bearing, she took Zilpah her maid, and gave 10 her Jacob to wife. And Zilpah Leah's 11 maid bare Jacob a son. And Leah said,

Good fortune cometh: and she called his 12 name Gad [PROSPERITY]. And Zilpah, Leah's maid, bare Jacob a second son. 13 And Leah said, Happy am I, for the daughters will call me blessed: and she called his name Asher [HAPPY].

14 And Reuben went in the days of wheat harvest, and found mandrakes in the field, and brought them unto his mother Leah. Then Rachel said to Leah, Give me, I pray 5 thee, of thy son's mandrakes. And she said unto her, Is it a small matter that thou hast taken my husband? and wouldest thou take away my son's mandrakes also? And Rachel said, Therefore he shall lie with thee to-night for thy son's mandrakes. 16 And Jacob came out of the field in the evening, and Leah went out to meet him, and said, Thou must come in unto me; for surely I have hired thee with my son's mandrakes: and he lay with her that night. 17 And God hearkened unto Leah, and she conceived, and bare Jacob the fifth son. 18 And Leah said, God hath given me my hire, because I have given my maiden to my husband: and she called his name 19 Issachar [A REWARD IS HE]. And Leah conceived again, and bare Jacob the sixth 20 son. And Leah said, God hath endued me with a good dowry; now will my husband dwell with me, because I have borne him six sons: and she called his name Zebulun 21 [DELIGHT]. And afterwards she bare a daughter, and called her name Dinah [JUDGMENT].

22 And God remembered Rachel, and God hearkened to her, and opened her womb: 23 and she conceived, and bare a son; and said, God hath taken away my reproach: 24 and she called his name Joseph [ADDING]; and said, The LORD shall add to me another son.

25 AND it came to pass, when Rachel had borne Joseph, that Jacob said unto Laban, Send me away, that I may go unto mine 26 own place, and to my country. Give me my wives and my children, for whom I have served thee, and let me go; for thou knowest my service which I have done

27

thee.

And Laban said unto him, I pray thee, if I have found favour in thine eyes, tarry; for I have learned by experience that the 28 LORD hath blessed me for thy sake. And he said, Appoint me thy wages, and I will give them.

29

And he said unto him, Thou knowest how I have served thee, and how thy cattle 30 was with me: for it was little which thou hadst before I came, and it is now increased unto a multitude; and the LORD hath blessed thee since my coming: and now

when shall I provide for mine own house also?

31

And he said, What shall I give thee? And Jacob said, Thou shalt not give me anything: if thou wilt do this thing for me, I will again feed and keep thy flock: I will 32 pass through all thy flock to-day, removing from thence all the speckled and spotted cattle, and all the brown cattle among the sheep, and the spotted and speckled among the goats; and of such shall be my hire. So shall my righteousness answer for me 33 in time to come, when it shall come for my hire before thy face: every one that is not speckled and spotted among the goats, and brown among the sheep, that shall be counted stolen with me.

And Laban said, Behold, I would it might 34 be according to thy word.

And he removed that day the he-goats 35 that were ringstraked and spotted, and all the she-goats that were speckled and spotted, and every one that had some white in it, and all the brown among the sheep, and gave them into the hand of his sons. And 36 he set three days' journey betwixt himself and Jacob: and Jacob fed the rest of Laban's flocks.

And Jacob took him rods of green poplar, 37 and of the hazel and chesnut tree; and peeled white strakes in them, and made the white appear which was in the rods. And he set the rods which he had peeled 38 before the flocks in the gutters in the watering troughs when the flocks came to drink, that they should conceive when they came to drink. And the flocks con- 39 ceived before the rods, and brought forth cattle ringstraked, speckled, and spotted. And Jacob did separate the lambs, and set 40 aside from the flock all the ringstraked, and all the brown in the flock of Laban; and set them apart for a flock to himself, and put them not unto Laban's cattle. And it came to pass, whensoever 41 the stronger cattle did conceive, that Jacob laid the rods before the eyes of the cattle in the gutters, that they might conceive among the rods. But when the cattle were 42 feeble, he put them not in: so the feebler were Laban's, and the stronger Jacob's. And the man increased exceedingly, and 43 had much cattle, and maidservants, and menservants, and camels, and asses.

And he heard the words of Laban's sons, 31 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 2 Jacob beheld the countenance of Laban, and, behold, it was not toward him as before.

And the LORD said unto Jacob, Return 3 unto the land of thy fathers, and to thy kindred; and I will be with thee. And 4 Jacob sent and called Rachel and Leah to the field unto his flock, and said unto them, 5 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 6 know that with all my power I have served your father. And your father hath de- 7 ceived me, and changed my wages ten times; but God suffered him not to hurt me. If he said thus, The speckled shall 8 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 9 taken away the cattie of your father, and given them to me. And it came to pass 10