²⁵ Jacob had pitched his tent in the hill country of Gilead^(A) when Laban overtook him, and Laban and his relatives camped there too. ²⁶ Then Laban said to Jacob, “What have you done?^(B) You’ve deceived me,^(C) and you’ve carried off my daughters like captives in war.^{(D) 27} Why did you run off secretly and deceive me? Why didn’t you tell me,^(E) so I could send you away with joy and singing to the music of timbrels^(F) and harps?^{(G) 28} You didn’t even let me kiss my grandchildren and my daughters goodbye.^(H) You have done a foolish thing. ²⁹ I have the power to harm you;^(I) but last night the God of your father^(J) said to me, ‘Be careful not to say anything to Jacob, either good or bad.’^{(K) 30} Now you have gone off because you longed to return to your father’s household.^(L) But why did you steal^(M) my gods?^(N)”

³¹ Jacob answered Laban, “I was afraid, because I thought you would take your daughters away from me by force.^{(O) 32} But if you find anyone who has your gods, that person shall not live.^(P) In the presence of our relatives, see for yourself whether there is anything of yours here with me; and if so, take it.” Now Jacob did not know that Rachel had stolen the gods.^(Q)

³³ So Laban went into Jacob’s tent and into Leah’s tent^(R) and into the tent of the two female servants,^(S) but he found nothing.^(T) After he came out of Leah’s tent, he entered Rachel’s tent. ³⁴ Now Rachel had taken the household gods^(U) and put them inside her camel’s saddle^(V) and was sitting on them. Laban searched^(W) through everything in the tent but found nothing.

³⁵ Rachel said to her father, “Don’t be angry, my lord, that I cannot stand up in your presence;^(X) I’m having my period.^(Y)” So he searched but could not find the household gods.^(Z)