37. Jacob cut branches from some poplar trees and from some almond and evergreen trees. He peeled off part of the bark and made the branches look spotted and speckled.
38. Then he put the branches where the sheep and goats would see them while they were drinking from the water trough. The goats mated there
39. in front of the branches, and their young were spotted and speckled.
40. Some of the sheep that Jacob was keeping for Laban were already spotted. And when the others were ready to mate, he made sure that they faced in the direction of the spotted and black ones. In this way, Jacob built up a flock of sheep for himself and did not put them with the other sheep.
41. When the stronger sheep were mating near the drinking place, Jacob made sure that the spotted branches were there.
42. But he would not put out the branches when the weaker animals were mating. So Jacob got all the healthy animals, and Laban got what was left.
43. Jacob soon became rich and successful. He owned many sheep, goats, camels, and donkeys, as well as a lot of slaves.