Genesis 29
1 Then Jacob went on in his journey, and came into the east country.
And Jacob started and went to the land of the east to Laban, the son of Bathuel the Syrian, and the brother of Rebecca, mother of Jacob and Esau.
2 And he saw a well in the field, and three flocks of sheep lying by it: for the beasts were watered out of it, and the mouth thereof was closed with a great stone.
And he looks, and behold! a well in the plain; and there were there three flocks of sheep resting at it, for out of that well they watered the flocks, but there was a great stone at the mouth of the well.
3 And the custom was, when all the sheep were gathered together to roll away the stone, and after the sheep were watered, to put it on the mouth of the well again.
And there were all the flocks gathered, and they used to roll away the stone from the mouth of the well, and water the flocks, and set the stone again in its place on the mouth of the well.
4 And he said to the shepherds: Brethren, whence are you? They answered: Of Haran.
And Jacob said to them, Brethren, whence are you? and they said, We are of Charrhan.
5 And he asked them, saying: Know you Laban the son of Nachor? They said: We know him.
And he said to them, Know you Laban, the son of Nachor? and they said, We do know [him].
6 He said: Is he in health? He is in health, say they: and behold Rachel his daughter cometh with his flock.
And he said to them, Is he well? And they said, He is well. And behold Rachel his daughter came with the sheep.
7 And Jacob said: There is yet much day remaining, neither is it time to bring the flocks into the folds again: first give the sheep drink, and so lead them back to feed.
And Jacob said, it is yet high day, it is not yet time that the flocks be gathered together; water you the flocks, and depart and feed them.
8 They answered: We cannot, till all the cattle be gathered together, and we remove the stone from the well’s mouth, that we may water the flocks.
And they said, We shall not be able, until all the shepherds be gathered together, and they shall roll away the stone from the mouth of the well, then we will water the flocks.
9 They were yet speaking, and behold Rachel came with her father’s sheep: for she fed the flock.
While he was yet speaking to them, behold, Rachel the daughter of Laban came with her father's sheep, for she fed the sheep of her father.
10 And when Jacob saw her, and knew her to be his cousin-german, and that they were the sheep of Laban, his uncle: he removed the stone wherewith the well was closed.
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 came and rolled away the stone from the mouth of the well, and watered the sheep of Laban, his mother's brother.
11 And having watered the flock, he kissed her: and lifting up his voice, wept.
And Jacob kissed Rachel, and cried with a loud voice and wept.
12 And he told her that he was her father’s brother, and the son of Rebecca: but she went in haste and told her father.
And he told Rachel that he was the near relative of her father, and the son of Rebecca; and she ran and reported to her father according to these words.
13 Who, when he heard that Jacob his sister’s son was come, ran forth to meet him; and embracing him, and heartily kissing him, brought him into his house. And when he had heard the causes of his journey,
And it came to pass when Laban heard the name of Jacob, his sister's son, he ran to meet him, and embraced and kissed him, and brought him into his house; and he told Laban all these sayings.
14 He answered: Thou art my bone and my flesh. And after the days of one month were expired,
And Laban said to him, You are of my bones and of my flesh; and he was with him a full month.
15 He said to him: Because thou art my brother, shalt thou serve me without wages? Tell me what wages thou wilt have.
And Laban said to Jacob, Surely you shall not serve me for nothing, because you are my brother; tell me what your reward is to be.
16 Now he had two daughters, the name of the elder was Lia: and the younger was called Rachel.
Now Laban had two daughters, the name of the elder was Lea, and the name of the younger, Rachel.
17 But Lia was blear eyed: Rachel was well favoured, and of a beautiful countenance.
And the eyes of Lea were weak. But Rachel was beautiful in appearance, and exceedingly fair in countenance.
18 And Jacob being in love with her, said: I will serve thee seven years for Rachel thy younger daughter.
And Jacob loved Rachel, and said, I will serve you seven years for your younger daughter Rachel.
19 Laban answered: It is better that I give her to thee than to another man; stay with me.
And Laban said to him, [It is] better that I should give her to you, than that I should give her to another man; dwell with me.
20 So Jacob served seven years for Rachel: and they seemed but a few days, because of the greatness of his love.
And Jacob served for Rachel seven years, and they were before him as a few days, by reason of his loving her.
21 And he said to Laban: Give me my wife; for now the time is fulfilled, that I may go in unto her.
And Jacob said to Laban, Give me my wife, for my days are fulfilled, that I may go in to her.
22 And he, having invited a great number of his friends to the feast, made the marriage.
And Laban gathered together all the men of the place, and made a marriage-feast.
23 And at night he brought in Lia his daughter to him,
And it was even, and he took his daughter Lea, and brought her in to Jacob, and Jacob went in to her.
24 Giving his daughter a handmaid, named Zelpha. Now when Jacob had gone in to her according to custom when morning was come he saw it was Lia:
And Laban gave to his daughter Lea, Zelpha his handmaid, as a handmaid for her.
25 And he said to his father in law: What is it that thou didst mean to do? did not I serve thee for Rachel? why hast thou deceived me?
And it was morning, and behold it was Lea; and Jacob said to Laban, What is this that you have done to me? did I not serve you for Rachel? and therefore have you deceived me?
26 Laban answered: It is not the custom in this place, to give the younger in marriage first.
And Laban answered, It is not done thus in our country, to give the younger before the elder.
27 Make up the week of days of this match: and I will give thee her also, for the service that thou shalt render me other seven years.
Fulfil then her sevens, and I will give to you her also in return for your labour, which you labour with me, yet seven other years.
28 He yielded to his pleasure: and after the week was past, he married Rachel:
And Jacob did so, and fulfilled her sevens; and Laban gave him his daughter Rachel to wife.
29 To whom her father gave Bala for her servant.
And Laban gave to his daughter his handmaid Balla, for a handmaid to her.
30 And having at length obtained the marriage he wished for, he preferred the love of the latter before the former, and served with him other seven years.
And he went in to Rachel; and he loved Rachel more than Lea; and he served him seven other years.
31 And the Lord seeing that he despised Lia, opened her womb, but her sister remained barren.
And when the Lord God saw that Lea was hated, he opened her womb; but Rachel was barren.
32 And she conceived and bore a son, and called his name Ruben, saying: The Lord saw my affliction: now my husband will love me.
And Lea conceived and bore a son to Jacob; and she called his name, Ruben; saying, Because the Lord has looked on my humiliation, and has given me a son, now then my husband will love me.
33 And again she conceived and bore a son, and said: Because the Lord heard that I was despised, he hath given this also to me: and she called his name Simeon.
And she conceived again, and bore a second son to Jacob; and she said, Because the Lord has heard that I am hated, he has given to me this one also; and she called his name, Simeon.
34 And she conceived the third time, and bore another son: and said: Now also my husband will be joined to me, because I have borne him three sons: and therefore she called his name Levi.
And she conceived yet again, and bore a son, and said, In the present time my husband will be with me, for I have born him three sons; therefore she called his name, Levi.
35 The fourth time she conceived and bore a son, and said: now will I praise the Lord: and for this she called him Juda. And she left bearing.
And having conceived yet again, she bore a son, and said, Now yet again this time will I give thanks to the Lord; therefore she called his name, Juda; and ceased bearing.
