< Genesis 29 >

1 Then Iaakob lift vp his feete and came into the East countrey.
Then Jacob lifted up his feet, —and went his way towards the land of the sons of the East.
2 And as he looked about, behold there was a well in the field, and lo, three flocks of sheepe lay thereby (for at that well were the flockes watered) and there was a great stone vpon the welles mouth.
And he looked, and lo! a well, in the field and lo! there, three flocks of sheep, lying down near it, for out of that well, do they water the flocks, but, the stone, is great, on the mouth of the well:
3 And thither were all the flockes gathered, and they rolled the stone from the welles mouth, and watered the sheepe, and put the stone againe vpon the welles mouth in his place.
so they gather together thither all the flocks, and roll away the stone from off the mouth of the well, and water the sheep, —and put back the stone upon the mouth of the well, to its place.
4 And Iaakob sayde vnto them, My brethren, whence be ye? And they answered, We are of Haran.
And Jacob said to them, My brethren, whence are ye? And they said: From haran, are we.
5 Then he sayd vnto them, Know ye Laban the sonne of Nahor? Who said, We know him.
And he said to them, Know ye Laban, son of Nahor? And they said, We know him.
6 Againe he sayd vnto them, Is he in good health? And they answered, He is in good health, and beholde, his daughter Rahel commeth with the sheepe.
And he said to them, Is it well with him? And they said, Well, but lo! Rachel his daughter, coming in with the sheep.
7 Then he sayd, Lo, it is yet hie day, neither is it time that the cattell shoulde be gathered together: water ye the sheepe and go feede them.
And he said Lo! the day is yet high, it is not time for gathering together the cattle, —water the sheep, and go feed.
8 But they sayde, We may not vntill all the flocks be brought together, and till men rolle the stone from the welles mouth, that we may water the sheepe.
And they said, We cannot, until that all the flocks are gathered together, and they roll away the stone, from off the mouth of the well, —and then can we water the sheep.
9 While he talked with them, Rahel also came with her fathers sheepe, for she kept them.
While yet he was speaking with them, Rachel, had come in with the sheep which belonged to her father, for a shepherdess, was she.
10 And assoone as Iaakob saw Rahel ye daughter of Laban his mothers brother, and the sheepe of Laban his mothers brother, then came Iaakob neere, and rolled the stone from the welles mouth, and watered ye flocke of Laban his mothers brother.
And it came to pass when Jacob saw Rachel daughter of Laban, his mother’s brother, and the sheep of Laban, his mother’s brother, that Jacob went near, and rolled away the stone from off the mouth of the well, and watered the sheep of Laban his mother’s brother,
11 And Iaakob kissed Rahel, and lift vp his voyce and wept.
And Jacob kissed Rachel, —and lifted up his voice, and wept.
12 (For Iaakob tolde Rahel, that he was her fathers brother, and that he was Rebekahs sonne) then she ranne and tolde her father.
And when Jacob told Rachel that he was her father’s brother, and that he was Rebekah’s son, then ran she, and told her father.
13 And when Laban heard tell of Iaakob his sisters sonne, he ranne to meete him, and embraced him and kissed him, and brought him to his house: and he tolde Laban all these things.
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 fondly kissed him, and brought him into his house, —when he recounted to Laban all these things.
14 To whome Laban sayd, Well, thou art my bone and my flesh. and he abode with him the space of a moneth.
And Laban said to him, Surely, my bone and my flesh, art thou. So he abode with him a month of days.
15 For Laban sayde vnto Iaakob, Though thou be my brother, shouldest thou therfore serue me for nought? tell me, what shalbe thy wages?
Then said Laban to Jacob, Is it because my brother, thou art, that thou shouldst serve me for naught? Come tell me! What shall be thy wages?
16 Now Laban had two daughters, the elder called Leah, and the yonger called Rahel.
Now, Laban, had two daughters, —the name of the elder, Leah, and the name of the younger, Rachel,
17 And Leah was tender eyed, but Rahel was beautifull and faire.
But, the eyes of Leah were weak, —whereas, Rachel, was comely in form and comely in countenance.
18 And Iaakob loued Rahel, and sayde, I will serue thee seuen yeeres for Rahel thy yonger daughter.
So Jacob loved Rachel, —and he said, I will serve thee seven years, for Rachel thy younger daughter.
19 Then Laban answered, It is better that I giue her thee, then that I should giue her to another man: abide with me.
And Laban said, Better that I give her to thee, than that I should give her to another man, —Abide with me!
20 And Iaakob serued seuen yeres for Rahel, and they seemed vnto him but a few dayes, because he loued her.
So Jacob served for Rachel—seven years, —and they became, in his eyes, as single days, for his love to her.
21 Then Iaakob sayde to Laban, Giue me my wife, that I may goe in to her: for my terme is ended.
Then said Jacob unto Laban: Come give me my wife, for fulfilled are my days, —that I may go in unto her.
22 Wherefore 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 banquet,
23 But whe the euening was come, he tooke Leah his daughter and brought her to him, and he went in vnto her.
And it came to pass in the evening, that he took Leah his daughter and brought her in unto him, —and he went in unto her.
24 And Laban gaue his mayde Zilpah to his daughter Leah, to be her seruant.
And Laban gave her Zilpah, his handmaid, unto Leah his daughter. as handmaid.
25 But when the morning was come, behold, it was Leah. Then sayde he to Laban, Wherefore hast thou done thus to mee? did not I serue thee for Rahel? wherfore then hast thou beguiled me?
And it came to pass in the morning, that lo! it was Leah, —and he said unto Laban, What is this thou hast done to me? Was it not, for Rachel, I served with thee? Wherefore then hast thou deceived me?
26 And Laban answered, It is not the maner of this place, to giue the yonger before the elder.
And Laban said, It must not be done so in our place, —to give the later-born before the firstborn.
27 Fulfill seuen yeeres for her, and we wil also giue thee this for the seruice, which thou shalt serue me yet seuen yeeres more.
Fulfil the week of this one, —then must we give thee, the other one also, for the service wherewith thou shalt serve with me, yet seven years more.
28 Then Iaakob did so, and fulfilled her seuen yeeres, so he gaue him Rahel his daughter to be his wife.
And Jacob did so, and fulfilled the week of this one, —and he gave him Rachel his daughter—to him to wife.
29 Laban also gaue to Rahel his daughter Bilhah his mayde to be her seruant.
And Laban gave to Rachel his daughter Bilhah his handmaid, —to be hers as a handmaid.
30 So entred he in to Rahel also, and loued also Rahel more then Leah, and serued him yet seuen yeeres more.
So he went in, unto Rachel also, and loved, Rachel also, more than Leah, —and he served with him, yet seven years more.
31 When the Lord saw that Leah was despised, he made her fruitful: but Rahel was barren.
And, when Yahweh saw that Leah was hated, he granted her to bear children, —whereas, Rachel, was barren.
32 And Leah conceiued and bare a sonne, and she called his name Reuben: for she said, Because the Lord hath looked vpon my tribulation, now therefore mine husband will loue me.
So Leah conceived, and bare a son, and called his name Reuben, —for she said, Because, Yahweh hath looked upon my humiliation, For, now, will my husband love me.
33 And she conceiued againe and bare a sonne, and sayde, Because the Lord heard that I was hated, he hath therefore giuen me this sonne also, and she called his name Simeon.
And she conceived again, and bare a son, and said. Because Yahweh heard that, I, was hated, he gave me, this one also. So she called his name Simeon.
34 And she conceiued againe and bare a sonne, and said, Now at this time wil my husband keepe mee company, because I haue borne him three sonnes: therefore was his name called Leui.
And she conceived again and bare a son, and said, Now—this time, will my husband be bound unto me, For I have borne him three sons, —For this cause, called she his name Levi.
35 Moreouer shee conceiued againe and bare a sonne, saying, Nowe will I prayse the Lord: therefore shee called his name Iudah, and left bearing.
And she conceived again and bare a son, and said This time, will I praise Yahweh, For which cause, she called his name Judah. And she left off bearing.

< Genesis 29 >