22 When it was told Laban on the third day that Jacob had fled, 23 he took his kinsmen with him and pursued him for seven days and followed close after him into the hill country of Gilead. 24 But God came to Laban the Aramean ^rin a dream by night and said to him, “Be careful not to say anything to Jacob, ^seither good or bad.”

25 And Laban overtook Jacob. Now Jacob had pitched his tent in the hill country, and Laban with his kinsmen pitched tents in the hill country of Gilead. 26 And Laban said to Jacob, “What have you done, that you have ^ttricked me and driven away my daughters like captives of the sword? 27 Why did you flee secretly ^tand trick me, and did not tell me, so that I might have sent you away with mirth and songs, with tambourine and lyre? 28 And why did you not permit me ^uto kiss my sons and my daughters farewell? Now you have done foolishly. 29 It is ^vin my power to do you harm. But the ^wGod of your¹ father spoke to me last night, saying, ‘Be careful not to say anything to Jacob, ^xeither good or bad.’ 30 And now you have gone away because you longed greatly for your father’s house, but why did you ^ysteal my gods?” 31 Jacob answered and said to Laban, “Because I was afraid, for I thought that you would take your daughters from me by force. 32 ^zAnyone with whom you find your gods shall not live. In the presence of our kinsmen point out what I have that is yours, and take it.” Now Jacob did not know that Rachel had stolen them.