²⁶ Give me my wives and children, for whom I have served you,^(A) and I will be on my way. You know how much work I’ve done for you.”

³⁰ Jacob made love to Rachel also, and his love for Rachel was greater than his love for Leah.^(A) And he worked for Laban another seven years.^(B)

³⁸ “I have been with you for twenty years now.^(A) Your sheep and goats have not miscarried,^(B) nor have I eaten rams from your flocks. ³⁹ I did not bring you animals torn by wild beasts; I bore the loss myself. And you demanded payment from me for whatever was stolen^(C) by day or night.^{(D) 40} This was my situation: The heat consumed me in the daytime and the cold at night, and sleep fled from my eyes.^{(E) 41} It was like this for the twenty years^(F) I was in your household. I worked for you fourteen years for your two daughters^(G) and six years for your flocks,^(H) and you changed my wages^(I) ten times.^(J)

³¹ Jacob answered Laban, “I was afraid, because I thought you would take your daughters away from me by force.^(A)

²⁶ Then Laban said to Jacob, “What have you done?^(A) You’ve deceived me,^(B) and you’ve carried off my daughters like captives in war.^(C)

⁶ You know that I’ve worked for your father with all my strength,^(A)

¹⁹ Laban said, “It’s better that I give her to you than to some other man. Stay here with me.” ²⁰ So Jacob served seven years to get Rachel,^(A) but they seemed like only a few days to him because of his love for her.^(B)

²⁹ Jacob said to him, “You know how I have worked for you^(A) and how your livestock has fared under my care.^{(B) 30} The little you had before I came has increased greatly, and the Lord has blessed you wherever I have been.^(C) But now, when may I do something for my own household?^(D)”