Genesis 31:24

But God came to Laban the Aramean in a dream at night and warned him, ¹  “Be careful ²  that you neither bless nor curse Jacob.” ³ 

biblegateway Gen 31:24

Then God came to Laban the Aramean in a dream at night and said to him, "Be careful not to say anything to Jacob, either good or bad."

biblegateway Gen 31:24

God came to Laban the Aramean in a dream of the night and said to him, "Be careful that you do not speak to Jacob either good or bad."

biblegateway Gen 31:24

But the previous night God had appeared to Laban in a dream. "Be careful about what you say to Jacob!" he was told.

biblegateway Gen 31:24

That night God came to Laban the Aramean in a dream and said, "Be careful what you do to Jacob, whether good or bad."

SABDAweb Gen 31:24

Then God came to Laban in a dream by night, and said to him, Take care that you say nothing good or bad to Jacob.

bibleoremus Gen 31:24

But God came to Laban the Aramean in a dream by night, and said to him, "Take heed that you say not a word to Jacob, either good or bad."

biblegateway Gen 31:24

But God had come to Laban the Syrian in a dream by night, and said to him, "Be careful that you speak to Jacob neither good nor bad."

biblegateway Gen 31:24

But God came to Laban the Aramean in a dream at night and warned him, ¹  “Be careful ²  that you neither bless nor curse Jacob.” ³ 

¹ tn Heb “said to him.”

² tn Heb “watch yourself,” which is a warning to be on guard against doing something that is inappropriate.

³ tn Heb “lest you speak with Jacob from good to evil.” The precise meaning of the expression, which occurs only here and in v. 29, is uncertain. Since Laban proceeded to speak to Jacob at length, it cannot mean to maintain silence. Nor does it seem to be a prohibition against criticism (see vv. 26-30). Most likely it refers to a formal pronouncement, whether it be a blessing or a curse. Laban was to avoid saying anything to Jacob that would be intended to enhance him or to harm him.