Tanach · Rishonim on Tanach · Sforno · Torah

Sforno on Genesis 31:38/ספורנו על בראשית ל״א:ל״ח

ארְחֵלֶיךָ וְעִזֶּיךָ לֹא שִׁכֵּלוּ. הִנֵּה הֵפֶךְ זֶה מָצָאתָ בִּי, שֶׁלֹּא בִּלְבַד שֶׁעֲבַדְתִּיךָ בֶּאֱמוּנָה כְּמִשְׁפַּט הַצַּדִּיקִים, אֲבָל הֵיטַבְתִּי לְךָ יוֹתֵר שֶׁהִשְׁתַּדַּלְתִּי בְּאֹפֶן שֶׁלֹּא שִׁכֵּלוּ.
1רחליך ועזיך לא שכלו, you have found me as possessing the very reverse of the characteristics of a thief. Not only did I serve you faithfully, but I have treated you even better than fairness dictates. I have endeavoured with all my skill to prevent your sheep from giving birth to premature, and stillborn young.
בוְאֵילֵי צֹאנְךָ לֹא אָכָלְתִּי. אֲפִלּוּ כְּמִנְהַג שְׁאָר הָרוֹעִים.
2ואילי צאנך לא אכלתי, even things which according to accepted practice I could have treated as mine, I did not eat, seeing that they were nominally yours.