> after rachel gave birth to joseph, jacob said to laban, send me on my way so i can go back to my own homeland. give me my wives and children, for whom i have served you, and i will be on my way. you know how much work ive done for you. > but laban said to him, if i have found favor in your eyes, please stay. i have learned by divination that the lord has blessed me because of you. he added, name your wages, and i will pay them. > jacob said to him, you know how i have worked for you and how your livestock has fared under my care. the little you had before i came has increased greatly, and the lord has blessed you wherever i have been. but now, when may i do something for my own household? > what shall i give you? he asked. > dont give me anything, jacob replied. but if you will do this one thing for me, i will go on tending your flocks and watching over them: let me go through all your flocks today and remove from them every speckled or spotted sheep, every dark-colored lamb and every spotted or speckled goat. they will be my wages. and my honesty will testify for me in the future, whenever you check on the wages you have paid me. any goat in my possession that is not speckled or spotted, or any lamb that is not dark-colored, will be considered stolen. > agreed, said laban. let it be as you have said. that same day he removed all the male goats that were streaked or spotted, and all the speckled or spotted female goats (all that had white on them) and all the dark-colored lambs, and he placed them in the care of his sons. then he put a three-day journey between himself and jacob, while jacob continued to tend the rest of labans flocks.
Pirate