Genesis 29
1 Then Jacob lifted up his feet and went unto the land of the children of the east.
Then Jacob went on his journey and came to the land of the people of the east.
2 And he looked, and behold there was a well in the field, and, lo, there were three flocks of sheep lying by it; for out of that well they watered the flocks: and the stone upon the mouth of the well was great.
As he looked, he saw a well in the field, and, behold, three flocks of sheep were lying there by it. For out of that well they would water the flocks, and the stone over the well's mouth was large.
3 And there all the flocks were wont to assemble; and they rolled then the stone from the mouth of the well, and watered the sheep; and they put the stone again upon the mouth of the well in its place.
When all the flocks had gathered there, the shepherds would roll the stone from the well's mouth and water the sheep, and then put the stone again over the well's mouth, back in its place.
4 And Jacob said unto them, My brethren, whence are ye? And they said, Of Charan are we.
Jacob said to them, “My brothers, where are you from?” They replied, “We are from Haran.”
5 And he said unto them, Know ye Laban the son of Nachor? And they said, We know him.
He said to them, “Do you know Laban son of Nahor?” They said, “We know him.”
6 And he said unto them, Is he well? And they said, He is well; and, behold, Rachel his daughter cometh with the sheep.
He said to them, “Is he well?” They said, “He is well, and, look there, Rachel his daughter is coming with the sheep.”
7 And he said, Lo, the day is yet long, it is not time that the cattle should be driven home; water ye the sheep, and go and feed them.
Jacob said, “See, it is the middle of the day. It is not the time for the flocks to be gathered together. You should water the sheep and then go and let them graze.”
8 And they said, We cannot, until all the flocks be gathered together, then do they roll the stone from the mouth of the well; and we water the sheep.
They said, “We cannot water them until all the flocks are gathered together. The men will then roll the stone from the well's mouth, and we will water the sheep.”
9 And while he was yet speaking with them, Rachel came with her father's sheep; for she was a shepherdess.
While Jacob was still speaking with them, Rachel came with her father's sheep, for she was tending them.
10 And it came to pass when Jacob saw Rachel the daughter of Laban his mother's brother, and the sheep of Laban his mother's brother, that Jacob went near, and rolled the stone from the mouth of the well, and watered the flock of Laban his mother's brother.
When Jacob saw Rachel, the daughter of Laban, his mother's brother, and the sheep of Laban, his mother's brother, Jacob came over, rolled the stone from the well's mouth, and watered the flock of Laban, his mother's brother.
11 And Jacob kissed Rachel, and lifted up his voice, and wept.
Jacob kissed Rachel and wept loudly.
12 And Jacob told Rachel that he was her father's brother, and that he was Rebekah's son: and she ran and told her father.
Jacob told Rachel that he was her father's relative, and that he was Rebekah's son. Then she ran and told her father.
13 And it came to pass, when Laban heard the tidings of Jacob his sister's son, that he ran to meet him, and embraced him, and kissed him, and brought him to his house. And he told Laban all these things.
When Laban heard the news about Jacob his sister's son, he ran to meet him, embraced him, kissed him, and brought him to his house. Jacob told Laban all these things.
14 And Laban said to him, Surely thou art my bone and my flesh. And he abode with him the space of a month.
Laban said to him, “You are indeed my bone and my flesh.” Then Jacob stayed with him for about one month.
15 And Laban then said unto Jacob, Because thou art my brother, shouldst thou therefore serve me for naught? tell me, what shall thy wages be?
Then Laban said to Jacob, “Should you serve me for nothing because you are my relative? Tell me, what will your wages be?”
16 And Laban had two daughters; the name of the elder was Leah, and the name of the younger was Rachel.
Now Laban had two daughters. The name of the older was Leah, and the name of the younger was Rachel.
17 And the eyes of Leah were tender; but Rachel was of handsome form and handsome appearance.
Leah's eyes were tender, but Rachel was beautiful in form and appearance.
18 And Jacob loved Rachel; and he said, I will serve thee seven years for Rachel thy younger daughter.
Jacob loved Rachel, so he said, “I will serve you seven years for Rachel, your younger daughter.”
19 And Laban said, It is better that I give her to thee, than that I should give her to another man; abide with me.
Laban said, “It is better that I give her to you, than that I should give her to another man. Stay with me.”
20 And Jacob served for Rachel seven years; and they seemed unto him but a few days, through the love he had to her.
So Jacob served seven years for Rachel; and they seemed to him only a few days, for the love he had for her.
21 And Jacob said unto Laban, Give me my wife, for my days are fulfilled, that I may go in unto her.
Then Jacob said to Laban, “Give me my wife, for my days have been completed—so that I may marry her!”
22 And Laban gathered together all the men of the place, and made a feast.
So Laban gathered together all the men of the place and made a feast.
23 And it came to pass in the evening, that he took Leah his daughter, and brought her to him; and he went in unto her.
In the evening, Laban took Leah his daughter and brought her to Jacob, who slept with her.
24 And Laban gave unto his daughter Leah, Zilpah his maid for a handmaid.
Laban gave his female servant Zilpah to his daughter Leah, to be her servant.
25 And it came to pass that in the morning, behold, it was Leah: and he said to Laban, What is this thou hast done unto me? did I not serve with thee for Rachel? wherefore then hast thou deceived me?
In the morning, behold, it was Leah! Jacob said to Laban, “What is this you have done to me? Did I not serve you for Rachel? Why then have you tricked me?”
26 And Laban said, It is not done so in our place, to give in marriage the younger before the first-born.
Laban said, “It is not our custom to give the younger daughter before the firstborn.
27 Fulfill the week of this, and we will give thee this one also, for the service which thou shalt serve with me yet seven other years.
Complete the bridal week of this daughter, and we will give you the other also in return for serving me another seven years.”
28 And Jacob did so, and fulfilled the week of the first; and he gave him Rachel his daughter for a wife.
Jacob did so, and completed Leah's week. Then Laban gave him Rachel his daughter as his wife also.
29 And Laban gave to Rachel his daughter Bilhah his hand-maid to be her maid.
Laban also gave Bilhah to his daughter Rachel, to be her servant.
30 And he went in also unto Rachel, and he loved also Rachel more than Leah; and he served with him yet seven other years.
So Jacob slept with Rachel, too, but he loved Rachel more than Leah. So Jacob served Laban for seven more years.
31 And when the Lord saw that Leah was hated, he opened her womb; but Rachel was barren.
Yahweh saw that Leah was not loved, so he opened her womb, but Rachel was childless.
32 And Leah conceived, and bore a son, and she called his name Reuben; for she said, Surely, the Lord hath looked upon my affliction, because now my husband will love me.
Leah conceived and bore a son, and she called his name Reuben. For she said, “Because Yahweh has looked upon my affliction; surely now my husband will love me.”
33 And she conceived again and bore a son; and she said, Because the Lord heard that I was hated, he hath given me this one also; and she called his name Simeon.
Then she conceived again and bore a son. She said, “Because Yahweh has heard that I am unloved, he has therefore given me this son also,” and she called his name Simeon.
34 And she conceived again, and bore a son; and she said, Now this time will my husband be joined unto me, because I have born him three sons; therefore was his name called Levi.
Then she conceived again and bore a son. She said, “Now this time will my husband be attached to me, because I have borne him three sons.” Therefore his name was called Levi.
35 And she conceived again, and bore a son; and she said, This time will I praise the Lord; therefore she called his name Judah: and she left off bearing.
She conceived again and bore a son. She said, “This time I will praise Yahweh.” Therefore she called his name Judah; then she stopped having children.
