20. And Jacob was not willing to confess to his father-in-law that he was fleeing.
21. And when he had gone away with all such things that were justly his, and, having crossed the river, was continuing on toward Mount Gilead,
22. it was reported to Laban on the third day that Jacob had fled.
23. And taking his brothers with him, he pursued him for seven days. And he overtook him at Mount Gilead.
24. And he saw in a dream, God saying to him, "Beware that you not speak anything harsh against Jacob."
25. And now Jacob had pitched his tent at the mountain. And when he, with his brothers, had overtaken him, he set his tent at the same place at Mount Gilead.
26. And he said to Jacob: "Why have you acted this way, departing from me in secret, with my daughters like captives of the sword?
27. Why would you want to flee without my knowledge and without telling me, though I might have led you forward with gladness, and songs, and timbrels, and lyres?
28. You have not permitted me to kiss my sons and daughters. You have acted foolishly. And now, indeed,
29. my hand has power to repay you with harm. But the God of your father said to me yesterday, 'Beware that you not speak anything stern against Jacob.'
30. It may be that you desired to go to your own, and that you longed for the house of your father. But why have you stolen my gods?"
31. Jacob answered: "I set out, unknown to you, because I feared that you might take away your daughters by violence.
32. But, since you accuse me of theft, with whomever you will find your gods, let him be slain in the sight of our brothers. Search; anything of yours that you will find with me, take it away." Now when he said this, he did not know that Rachel had stolen the idols.
33. And so Laban, entering the tent of Jacob, and of Leah, and of both the handmaids, did not find them. And when he had entered the tent of Rachel,
34. she quickly hid the idols under the camel's bedding, and she sat upon them. And when he had searched the entire tent and found nothing,
35. she said: "Do not be angry, my lord, that I am unable to rise up in your sight, because it has now happened to me according to the custom of women." So his careful search was thwarted.
36. And Jacob, being inflated, said with contention: "For which fault of mine, or for what sin of mine, have you become so enraged against me
37. and searched all the items of my house? What have you found from all the substance of your house? Place it here before my brothers, and your brothers, and let them judge between me and you.
38. For what reason have I been with you for twenty years? Your ewes and she-goats were not barren; the rams of your flocks I did not consume.
39. Neither did I reveal to you what was seized by the wild beast. I replaced all that was damaged. Whatever was lost by theft, you collected it from me.