Genesis 29
1 Then Jacob went on his journey till he came to the land of the children of the East.
Then Jacob went on his journey, and came to the land of the sons of the east.
2 And there he saw a water-hole in a field, and by the side of it three flocks of sheep, for there they got water for the sheep: and on the mouth of the water-hole there was a great stone.
And he looked, and, behold, a well in the field. And, lo, three flocks of sheep were lying there by it, for they watered the flocks out of that well. And the stone upon the well's mouth was great.
3 And all the flocks would come together there, and when the stone had been rolled away, they would give the sheep water, and put the stone back again in its place on the mouth of the water-hole.
And all the flocks were gathered there. And they rolled the stone from the well's mouth, and watered the sheep, and put the stone again upon the well's mouth in its place.
4 Then Jacob said to the herdmen, My brothers, where do you come from? And they said, From Haran.
And Jacob said to them, My brothers, where are ye from? And they said, We are of Haran.
5 And he said to them, Have you any knowledge of Laban, the son of Nahor? And they said, We have.
And he said to them, Do ye know Laban the son of Nahor? And they said, We know him.
6 And he said to them, Is he well? And they said, He is well, and here is Rachel his daughter coming with the sheep.
And he said to them, Is it well with him? And they said, It is well. And, behold, Rachel his daughter comes with the sheep.
7 Then Jacob said, The sun is still high and it is not time to get the cattle together: get water for the sheep and go and give them their food.
And he said, Lo, it is yet high day, neither is it time that the cattle should be gathered together. Water ye the sheep, and go and feed them.
8 And they said, We are not able to do so till all the flocks have come together and the stone has been rolled away from the mouth of the water-hole; then we will get water for the sheep.
And they said, We cannot until all the flocks be gathered together, and they roll the stone from the well's mouth. Then we water the sheep.
9 While he was still talking with them, Rachel came with her father's sheep, for she took care of them.
While he was yet speaking with them, Rachel came with her father's sheep, for she kept them.
10 Then when Jacob saw Rachel, the daughter of Laban, his mother's brother, coming with Laban's sheep, he came near, and rolling the stone away from the mouth of the hole, he got water for Laban's flock.
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 well's mouth, and watered the flock of Laban his mother's brother.
11 And weeping for joy, Jacob gave Rachel a kiss.
And Jacob kissed Rachel, and lifted up his voice, and wept.
12 And Rachel, hearing from Jacob that he was her father's relation and that he was the son of Rebekah, went running to give her father news of it.
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.
13 And Laban, hearing news of Jacob, his sister's son, came running, and took Jacob in his arms, and kissing him, made him come into his house. And Jacob gave him news of everything.
And it came to pass, when Laban heard the news 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.
14 And Laban said to him, Truly, you are my bone and my flesh. And he kept Jacob with him for the space of a month.
And Laban said to him, Surely thou are my bone and my flesh. And he abode with him the space of a month.
15 Then Laban said to Jacob, Because you are my brother are you to be my servant for nothing? say now, what is your payment to be?
And Laban said to Jacob, Because thou are my brother, should thou therefore serve me for nothing? Tell me, what shall thy wages be?
16 Now Laban had two daughters: the name of the older was Leah, and the name of the younger was Rachel.
And Laban had two daughters. The name of the elder was Leah, and the name of the younger was Rachel.
17 And Leah's eyes were clouded, but Rachel was fair in face and form.
And Leah's eyes were weak, but Rachel was beautiful and well favored.
18 And Jacob was in love with Rachel; and he said, I will be your servant seven years for Rachel, your younger daughter.
And Jacob loved Rachel, and he said, I will serve thee seven years for Rachel thy younger daughter.
19 And Laban said, It is better for you to have her than another man: go on living here with me.
And Laban said, It is better that I give her to thee, than that I should give her to another man. Abide with me.
20 And Jacob did seven years' work for Rachel; and because of his love for her it seemed to him only a very little time.
And Jacob served seven years for Rachel. And they seemed to him but a few days, for the love he had for her.
21 Then Jacob said to Laban, Give me my wife so that I may have her, for the days are ended.
And Jacob said to Laban, Give me my wife, for my days are fulfilled, that I may go in to her.
22 And Laban got together all the men of the place and gave a feast.
And Laban gathered together all the men of the place, and made a feast.
23 And in the evening he took Leah, his daughter, and gave her to him, and he went in to her.
And it came to pass in the evening, that he took Leah his daughter, and brought her to him. And he went in to her.
24 And Laban gave Zilpah, his servant-girl, to Leah, to be her waiting-woman.
And Laban gave Zilpah his handmaid to his daughter Leah for a handmaid.
25 And in the morning Jacob saw that it was Leah: and he said to Laban, What have you done to me? was I not working for you so that I might have Rachel? why have you been false to me?
And it came to pass in the morning that, behold, it was Leah. And he said to Laban, What is this thou have done to me? Did I not serve with thee for Rachel? Why then have thou beguiled me?
26 And Laban said, In our country we do not let the younger daughter be married before the older.
And Laban said, It is not so done in our place, to give the younger before the firstborn.
27 Let the week of the bride-feast come to its end and then we will give you the other in addition, if you will be my servant for another seven years.
Fulfill the week of this one, and we will give thee the other also for the service which thou shall serve with me yet seven other years.
28 And Jacob did so; and when the week was ended, Laban gave him his daughter Rachel for his wife.
And Jacob did so, and fulfilled her week. And he gave him Rachel his daughter to wife.
29 And Laban gave Rachel his servant-girl Bilhah to be her waiting-woman.
And Laban gave to Rachel, his daughter, Bilhah his handmaid to be her handmaid.
30 Then Jacob took Rachel as his wife, and his love for her was greater than his love for Leah; and he went on working for Laban for another seven years.
And he also went in to Rachel, and also he loved Rachel more than Leah, and served with him yet seven other years.
31 Now the Lord, seeing that Leah was not loved, gave her a child; while Rachel had no children.
And Jehovah saw that Leah was regarded inferior, and he opened her womb, but Rachel was barren.
32 And Leah was with child, and gave birth to a son to whom she gave the name Reuben: for she said, The Lord has seen my sorrow; now my husband will have love for me.
And Leah conceived, and bore a son, and she called his name Reuben. For she said, Because Jehovah has looked upon my affliction, for now my husband will love me.
33 Then she became with child again, and gave birth to a son; and said, Because it has come to the Lord's ears that I am not loved, he has given me this son in addition: and she gave him the name Simeon.
And she conceived again, and bore a son, and said, Because Jehovah has heard that I am regarded inferior, he has therefore given me this son also. And she called his name Simeon.
34 And she was with child again, and gave birth to a son; and said, Now at last my husband will be united to me, because I have given him three sons: so he was named Levi.
And she conceived again, and bore a son, and said, Now this time my husband will be joined to me, because I have borne him three sons. Therefore his name was called Levi.
35 And she was with child again, and gave birth to a son: and she said, This time I will give praise to the Lord: so he was named Judah; after this she had no more children for a time.
And she conceived again, and bore a son. And she said, This time I will praise Jehovah. Therefore she called his name Judah. And she left off bearing.
