Genesis 29
1 Then Jacob went on his journey and came to the land of the people of the east.
Then Jacob went on his journey, and came to the land of the children of the east.
2 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.
And he looked, and behold a well in the field, and, lo, three flocks of sheep lying there by it. — For out of that well they watered the flocks. And the stone upon the well's mouth was great.
3 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.
And thither were all the flocks gathered; and they rolled the stone from the well's mouth, and watered the sheep, and put the stone back upon the well's mouth in its place. —
4 Jacob said to them, “My brothers, where are you from?” They replied, “We are from Haran.”
And Jacob said unto them: 'My brethren, whence are ye?' And they said: 'Of Haran are we.'
5 He said to them, “Do you know Laban son of Nahor?” They said, “We know him.”
And he said unto them: 'Know ye Laban the son of Nahor?' And they said: 'We know him.'
6 He said to them, “Is he well?” They said, “He is well, and, look there, Rachel his daughter is coming with the sheep.”
And he said unto them: 'Is it well with him?' And they said: 'It is well; and, behold, Rachel his daughter cometh with the sheep.'
7 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.”
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 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.”
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 Jacob was still speaking with them, Rachel came with her father's sheep, for she was tending them.
While he was yet speaking with them, Rachel came with her father's sheep; for she tended them.
10 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.
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 Jacob kissed Rachel and wept loudly.
And Jacob kissed Rachel, and lifted up his voice, and wept.
12 Jacob told Rachel that he was her father's relative, and that he was Rebekah's son. Then she ran and told her father.
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 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.
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.
14 Laban said to him, “You are indeed my bone and my flesh.” Then Jacob stayed with him for about one month.
And Laban said to him: 'Surely thou art my bone and my flesh.' And he abode with him the space of a month.
15 Then Laban said to Jacob, “Should you serve me for nothing because you are my relative? Tell me, what will your wages be?”
And Laban said unto Jacob: 'Because thou art my brother, shouldest thou therefore serve me for nought? 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.
Now Laban had two daughters: the name of the elder was Leah, and the name of the younger was Rachel.
17 Leah's eyes were tender, but Rachel was beautiful in form and appearance.
And Leah's eyes were weak; but Rachel was of beautiful form and fair to look upon.
18 Jacob loved Rachel, so he said, “I will serve you 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 Laban said, “It is better that I give her to you, than that I should give her to another man. Stay 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 So Jacob served seven years for Rachel; and they seemed to him only a few days, for the love he had for her.
And Jacob served seven years for Rachel; and they seemed unto him but a few days, for the love he had to her.
21 Then Jacob said to Laban, “Give me my wife, for my days have been completed—so that I may marry her!”
And Jacob said unto Laban: 'Give me my wife, for my days are filled, that I may go in unto her.'
22 So Laban gathered together all the men of the place and made a feast.
And Laban gathered together all the men of the place, and made a feast.
23 In the evening, Laban took Leah his daughter and brought her to Jacob, who slept with her.
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.
24 Laban gave his female servant Zilpah to his daughter Leah, to be her servant.
And Laban gave Zilpah his handmaid unto his daughter Leah for a handmaid.
25 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?”
And it came to pass in the morning that, behold, it was Leah; and he said to Laban: 'What is this thou hast done unto me? did not I serve with thee for Rachel? wherefore then hast thou beguiled me?'
26 Laban said, “It is not our custom to give the younger daughter before the firstborn.
And Laban said: 'It is not so done in our place, to give the younger before the first-born.
27 Complete the bridal week of this daughter, and we will give you the other also in return for serving me another seven years.”
Fulfil the week of this one, and we will give thee the other also for the service which thou shalt serve with me yet seven other years.'
28 Jacob did so, and completed Leah's week. Then Laban gave him Rachel his daughter as his wife also.
And Jacob did so, and fulfilled her week; and he gave him Rachel his daughter to wife.
29 Laban also gave Bilhah to his daughter Rachel, to be her servant.
And Laban gave to Rachel his daughter Bilhah his handmaid to be her handmaid.
30 So Jacob slept with Rachel, too, but he loved Rachel more than Leah. So Jacob served Laban for seven more years.
And he went in also unto Rachel, and he loved Rachel more than Leah, and served with him yet seven other years.
31 Yahweh saw that Leah was not loved, so he opened her womb, but Rachel was childless.
And the LORD saw that Leah was hated, and he opened her womb; but Rachel was barren.
32 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.”
And Leah conceived, and bore a son, and she called his name Reuben; for she said: 'Because the LORD hath looked upon my affliction; for now my husband will love me.'
33 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.
And she conceived again, and bore a son; and said: 'Because the LORD hath heard that I am hated, He hath therefore given me this son also.' And she called his name Simeon.
34 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.
And she conceived again, and bore a son; and said: 'Now this time will my husband be joined unto me, because I have borne him three sons.' Therefore was his name called Levi.
35 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.
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.
