In a dream that night God came to Laban and said to him, "Be careful not to threaten Jacob in any way."

I have the power to do you harm, but last night the God of your father warned me not to threaten you in any way.

What if the LORD had not been on our side? Answer, O Israel!

then they would have swallowed us alive in their furious anger against us;

The God of Abraham and the God of Nahor will judge between us." Then, in the name of the God whom his father Isaac worshiped, Jacob solemnly vowed to keep this promise.

Isaac began to tremble and shake all over, and he asked, "Who was it, then, who killed an animal and brought it to me? I ate it just before you came. I gave him my final blessing, and so it is his forever."

Give the LORD your God what you promised him; bring gifts to him, all you nearby nations. God makes everyone fear him;

he humbles proud princes and terrifies great kings.

What if the LORD had not been on our side? Answer, O Israel!

Remember that I, the LORD Almighty, am holy; I am the one you must fear.

'Look,' he continued, 'all the male goats that are mating are striped, spotted, and speckled. I am making this happen because I have seen all that Laban is doing to you.

Then the LORD came down to see the city and the tower which they had built,

You are going to have a son, and you will name him Ishmael, because the LORD has heard your cry of distress.

Hagar asked herself, "Have I really seen God and lived to tell about it?" So she called the LORD, who had spoken to her, "A God Who Sees."

Leah became pregnant and gave birth to a son. She said, "The LORD has seen my trouble, and now my husband will love me"; so she named him Reuben.

Then the LORD said, "I have seen how cruelly my people are being treated in Egypt; I have heard them cry out to be rescued from their slave drivers. I know all about their sufferings,

David went to meet them and said, "If you are coming as friends to help me, you are welcome here. Join us! But if you intend to betray me to my enemies, even though I have not tried to hurt you, the God of our ancestors will know it and punish you."

I will be glad and rejoice because of your constant love. You see my suffering; you know my trouble.

Not even the chief angel Michael did this. In his quarrel with the Devil, when they argued about who would have the body of Moses, Michael did not dare condemn the Devil with insulting words, but said, "The Lord rebuke you!"