< Genesis 29 >

1 Then Jacob went on his journey, and came to the land of the children of the east.
Then Iaakob lift vp his feete and came into the East countrey.
2 He looked, and saw a well in the field, and saw three flocks of sheep lying there by it. For out of that well they watered the flocks. The stone on the well’s mouth was large.
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.
3 There all the flocks were gathered. They rolled the stone from the well’s mouth, and watered the sheep, and put the stone back on the well’s mouth in its place.
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.
4 Jacob said to them, “My relatives, where are you from?” They said, “We are from Haran.”
And Iaakob sayde vnto them, My brethren, whence be ye? And they answered, We are of Haran.
5 He said to them, “Do you know Laban, the son of Nahor?” They said, “We know him.”
Then he sayd vnto them, Know ye Laban the sonne of Nahor? Who said, We know him.
6 He said to them, “Is it well with him?” They said, “It is well. See, Rachel, his daughter, is coming with the sheep.”
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.
7 He said, “Behold, it is still the middle of the day, not time to gather the livestock together. Water the sheep, and go and feed them.”
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.
8 They said, “We can’t, until all the flocks are gathered together, and they roll the stone from the well’s mouth. Then we will water the sheep.”
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.
9 While he was yet speaking with them, Rachel came with her father’s sheep, for she kept them.
While he talked with them, Rahel also came with her fathers sheepe, for she kept them.
10 When Jacob saw Rachel the daughter of Laban, his mother’s brother, and the sheep of Laban, his mother’s brother, Jacob went near, and rolled the stone from the well’s mouth, and watered the flock of Laban his mother’s brother.
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.
11 Jacob kissed Rachel, and lifted up his voice, and wept.
And Iaakob kissed Rahel, and lift vp his voyce and wept.
12 Jacob told Rachel that he was her father’s relative, and that he was Rebekah’s son. She ran and told her father.
(For Iaakob tolde Rahel, that he was her fathers brother, and that he was Rebekahs sonne) then she ranne and tolde her father.
13 When Laban heard the news of Jacob, his sister’s son, he ran to meet Jacob, and embraced him, and kissed him, and brought him to his house. Jacob told Laban all these things.
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.
14 Laban said to him, “Surely you are my bone and my flesh.” Jacob stayed with him for a month.
To whome Laban sayd, Well, thou art my bone and my flesh. and he abode with him the space of a moneth.
15 Laban said to Jacob, “Because you are my relative, should you therefore serve me for nothing? Tell me, what will your wages be?”
For Laban sayde vnto Iaakob, Though thou be my brother, shouldest thou therfore serue me for nought? tell me, what shalbe thy wages?
16 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 elder called Leah, and the yonger called Rahel.
17 Leah’s eyes were weak, but Rachel was beautiful in form and attractive.
And Leah was tender eyed, but Rahel was beautifull and faire.
18 Jacob loved Rachel. He said, “I will serve you seven years for Rachel, your younger daughter.”
And Iaakob loued Rahel, and sayde, I will serue thee seuen yeeres for Rahel thy yonger 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.”
Then Laban answered, It is better that I giue her thee, then that I should giue her to another man: abide with me.
20 Jacob served seven years for Rachel. They seemed to him but a few days, for the love he had for her.
And Iaakob serued seuen yeres for Rahel, and they seemed vnto him but a few dayes, because he loued her.
21 Jacob said to Laban, “Give me my wife, for my days are fulfilled, that I may go in to her.”
Then Iaakob sayde to Laban, Giue me my wife, that I may goe in to her: for my terme is ended.
22 Laban gathered together all the men of the place, and made a feast.
Wherefore Laban gathered together all the men of the place, and made a feast.
23 In the evening, he took Leah his daughter, and brought her to Jacob. He went in to her.
But whe the euening was come, he tooke Leah his daughter and brought her to him, and he went in vnto her.
24 Laban gave Zilpah his servant to his daughter Leah for a servant.
And Laban gaue his mayde Zilpah to his daughter Leah, to be her seruant.
25 In the morning, behold, it was Leah! He said to Laban, “What is this you have done to me? Didn’t I serve with you for Rachel? Why then have you deceived me?”
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?
26 Laban said, “It is not done so in our place, to give the younger before the firstborn.
And Laban answered, It is not the maner of this place, to giue the yonger before the elder.
27 Fulfill the week of this one, and we will give you the other also for the service which you will serve with me for seven more years.”
Fulfill seuen yeeres for her, and we wil also giue thee this for the seruice, which thou shalt serue me yet seuen yeeres more.
28 Jacob did so, and fulfilled her week. He gave him Rachel his daughter as wife.
Then Iaakob did so, and fulfilled her seuen yeeres, so he gaue him Rahel his daughter to be his wife.
29 Laban gave Bilhah, his servant, to his daughter Rachel to be her servant.
Laban also gaue to Rahel his daughter Bilhah his mayde to be her seruant.
30 He went in also to Rachel, and he loved also Rachel more than Leah, and served with him seven more years.
So entred he in to Rahel also, and loued also Rahel more then Leah, and serued him yet seuen yeeres more.
31 Yahweh saw that Leah was hated, and he opened her womb, but Rachel was barren.
When the Lord saw that Leah was despised, he made her fruitful: but Rahel was barren.
32 Leah conceived, and bore a son, and she named him Reuben. For she said, “Because Yahweh has looked at my affliction; for now my husband will love me.”
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.
33 She conceived again, and bore a son, and said, “Because Yahweh has heard that I am hated, he has therefore given me this son also.” She named him Simeon.
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.
34 She conceived again, and bore a son. She said, “Now this time my husband will be joined to me, because I have borne him three sons.” Therefore his name was called Levi.
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.
35 She conceived again, and bore a son. She said, “This time I will praise Yahweh.” Therefore she named him Judah. Then she stopped bearing.
Moreouer shee conceiued againe and bare a sonne, saying, Nowe will I prayse the Lord: therefore shee called his name Iudah, and left bearing.

< Genesis 29 >