Genesis 31:31

“I left secretly because I was afraid!” ¹  Jacob replied to Laban. “I thought ²  you might take your daughters away from me by force. ³ 

Jacob answered Laban, "I was afraid, because I thought you would take your daughters away from me by force.

Then Jacob replied to Laban, "Because I was afraid, for I thought that you would take your daughters from me by force.

"I rushed away because I was afraid," Jacob answered. "I said to myself, ‘He’ll take his daughters from me by force.’

Jacob answered Laban, "I was afraid. I thought you would take your daughters away from me by brute force.

And Jacob, in answer, said to Laban, My fear was that you might take your daughters from me by force.

Jacob answered Laban, "Because I was afraid, for I thought that you would take your daughters from me by force.

Then Jacob answered and said to Laban, "Because I was afraid, for I said, ‘Perhaps you would take your daughters from me by force.’

“I left secretly because I was afraid!” ¹  Jacob replied to Laban. “I thought ²  you might take your daughters away from me by force. ³ 

¹ tn Heb “and Jacob answered and said to Laban, ‘Because I was afraid.’” This statement is a not a response to the question about Laban’s household gods that immediately precedes, but to the earlier question about Jacob’s motivation for leaving so quickly and secretly (see v. 27). For this reason the words “I left secretly” are supplied in the translation to indicate the connection to Laban’s earlier question in v. 27. Additionally the order of the introductory clause and the direct discourse have been rearranged in the translation for stylistic reasons.

² tn Heb “for I said.”

³ tn Heb “lest you steal your daughters from with me.”