Genesis 29
1 Then Jacob went on his journey, and came to the land of the sons of the east.
And so Jacob, setting out, arrived in the eastern land.
2 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.
And he saw a well in a field, and also three flocks of sheep reclining near it. For the animals were watered from it, and its mouth was closed with a great stone.
3 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.
And the custom was, when all the sheep were gathered together, to roll away the stone. And when the flocks had been refreshed, they placed it over the mouth of the well again.
4 And Jacob said to them, My brothers, where are ye from? And they said, We are of Haran.
And he said to the shepherds, “Brothers, where are you from?” And they answered. “From Haran.”
5 And he said to them, Do ye know Laban the son of Nahor? And they said, We know him.
And questioning them, he said, “Do you know Laban, the son of Nahor?” They said, “We know him.”
6 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.
He said, “Is he well?” “He is very well,” they said. “And behold, his daughter Rachel approaches with his flock.”
7 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.
And Jacob said, “There is still much daylight remaining, and it is not time to return the flocks to the sheepfold. Give the sheep to drink first, and then lead them back to pasture.”
8 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.
They responded, “We cannot, until all the animals are gathered together and we remove the stone from the mouth of the well, so that we may water the flocks.”
9 While he was yet speaking with them, Rachel came with her father's sheep, for she kept them.
They were still speaking, and behold, Rachel arrived with her father’s sheep; for she pastured the flock.
10 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.
When Jacob had seen her, and he realized that she was his maternal first cousin, and that these were the sheep of his uncle Laban, he removed the stone which closed the well.
11 And Jacob kissed Rachel, and lifted up his voice, and wept.
And having watered the flock, he kissed her. And lifting up his voice, he wept.
12 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.
And he revealed to her that he was a brother of her father, and the son of Rebekah. And so, hurrying, she announced it to her father.
13 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.
And when he had heard that Jacob, his sister’s son, had arrived, he ran to meet him. And embracing him, and kissing him heartily, he brought him into his house. But when he had heard the reasons for his journey,
14 And Laban said to him, Surely thou are my bone and my flesh. And he abode with him the space of a month.
he responded, “You are my bone and my flesh.” And after the days of one month were completed,
15 And Laban said to Jacob, Because thou are my brother, should thou therefore serve me for nothing? Tell me, what shall thy wages be?
he said to him: “Though you are my brother, will you serve me for nothing? Tell me what wages you would accept.”
16 And Laban had two daughters. The name of the elder was Leah, and the name of the younger was Rachel.
In truth, he had two daughters: the name of the elder was Leah; and truly the younger was called Rachel.
17 And Leah's eyes were weak, but Rachel was beautiful and well favored.
But while Leah was bleary-eyed, Rachel had an elegant appearance and was attractive to behold.
18 And Jacob loved Rachel, and he said, I will serve thee seven years for Rachel thy younger daughter.
And Jacob, loving her, said, “I will serve you for seven years, for your younger daughter Rachel.”
19 And Laban said, It is better that I give her to thee, than that I should give her to another man. Abide with me.
Laban responded, “It is better that I give her to you than to another man; remain with me.”
20 And Jacob served seven years for Rachel. And they seemed to him but a few days, for the love he had for her.
Therefore, Jacob served for seven years for Rachel. And these seemed like only a few days, because of the greatness of love.
21 And Jacob said to Laban, Give me my wife, for my days are fulfilled, that I may go in to her.
And he said to Laban, “Give my wife to me. For now the time has been fulfilled, so that I may go in to her.”
22 And Laban gathered together all the men of the place, and made a feast.
And he, having called a great crowd of his friends to the feast, agreed to the marriage.
23 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.
And at night, he brought in his daughter Leah to him,
24 And Laban gave Zilpah his handmaid to his daughter Leah for a handmaid.
giving his daughter a handmaid named Zilpah. After Jacob had gone in to her, according to custom, when morning had arrived, he saw Leah.
25 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?
And he said to his father-in-law, “What is it that you intended to do? Did I not serve you for Rachel? Why have you deceived me?”
26 And Laban said, It is not so done in our place, to give the younger before the firstborn.
Laban responded, “It is not the practice in this place to give the younger in marriage first.
27 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.
Complete a week of days with this mating. And then I will give this one to you also, for the service that you will provide to me for another seven years.”
28 And Jacob did so, and fulfilled her week. And he gave him Rachel his daughter to wife.
He agreed to his pleading. And after the week had passed, he took Rachel as a wife.
29 And Laban gave to Rachel, his daughter, Bilhah his handmaid to be her handmaid.
To her, the father had given Bilhah as her servant.
30 And he also went in to Rachel, and also he loved Rachel more than Leah, and served with him yet seven other years.
And, having at last obtained the marriage he desired, he preferred the love of the latter before the former, and he served with him another seven years.
31 And Jehovah saw that Leah was regarded inferior, and he opened her womb, but Rachel was barren.
But the Lord, seeing that he despised Leah, opened her womb, but her sister remained barren.
32 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.
Having conceived, she gave birth to a son, and she called his name Reuben, saying: “The Lord saw my humiliation; now my husband will love me.”
33 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.
And again she conceived and bore a son, and she said, “Because the Lord heard that I was treated with contempt, he has also given this one to me.” And she called his name Simeon.
34 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.
And she conceived a third time, and she gave birth to another son, and she said: “Now likewise my husband will unite with me, because I have borne him three sons.” And because of this, she called his name Levi.
35 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.
A fourth time she conceived and bore a son, and she said, “Only now will I confess to the Lord.” And for this reason, she called him Judah. And she ceased from child-bearing.
