Genesis 29
1 Jacob resumed his journey and came to the land of the people of the east.
Then Jacob went on in his journey, and came into the east country.
2 He looked and saw a well in the field, and near it lay three flocks of sheep, because the sheep were watered from this well. And a large stone covered the mouth of the well.
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.
3 When all the flocks had been gathered there, the shepherds would roll away the stone from the mouth of the well and water the sheep. Then they would return the stone to its place over the mouth of the well.
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.
4 “My brothers,” Jacob asked the shepherds, “where are you from?” “We are from Haran,” they answered.
And he said to the shepherds: Brethren, whence are you? They answered: Of Haran.
5 “Do you know Laban the grandson of Nahor?” Jacob asked. “We know him,” they replied.
And he asked them, saying: Know you Laban the son of Nachor? They said: We know him.
6 “Is he well?” Jacob inquired. “Yes,” they answered, “and here comes his daughter Rachel with his sheep.”
He said: Is he in health? He is in health, say they: and behold Rachel his daughter cometh with his flock.
7 “Look,” said Jacob, “it is still broad daylight; it is not yet time to gather the livestock. Water the sheep and take them back to pasture.”
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.
8 But they replied, “We cannot, until all the flocks have been gathered and the stone has been rolled away from the mouth of the well. Then we will water the sheep.”
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.
9 While he was still speaking with them, Rachel arrived with her father’s sheep, for she was a shepherdess.
They were yet speaking, and behold Rachel came with her father’s sheep: for she fed the flock.
10 As soon as Jacob saw Rachel, the daughter of his mother’s brother Laban, with Laban’s sheep, he went up and rolled the stone away from the mouth of the well and watered his uncle’s sheep.
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.
11 Then Jacob kissed Rachel and wept aloud.
And having watered the flock, he kissed her: and lifting up his voice, wept.
12 He told Rachel that he was Rebekah’s son, a relative of her father, and she ran and told her father.
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.
13 When Laban heard the news about his sister’s son Jacob, he ran out to meet him. He embraced him and kissed him and brought him to his home, where Jacob told him all that had happened.
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,
14 Then Laban declared, “You are indeed my own flesh and blood.” After Jacob had stayed with him a month,
He answered: Thou art my bone and my flesh. And after the days of one month were expired,
15 Laban said to him, “Just because you are my relative, should you work for nothing? Tell me what your wages should be.”
He said to him: Because thou art my brother, shalt thou serve me without wages? Tell me what wages thou wilt have.
16 Now Laban had two daughters; the older was named Leah, and the younger was named Rachel.
Now he had two daughters, the name of the elder was Lia: and the younger was called Rachel.
17 Leah had weak eyes, but Rachel was shapely and beautiful.
But Lia was blear eyed: Rachel was well favoured, and of a beautiful countenance.
18 Since Jacob loved Rachel, he answered, “I will serve you seven years for your younger daughter Rachel.”
And Jacob being in love with her, said: I will serve thee seven years for Rachel thy younger daughter.
19 Laban replied, “Better that I give her to you than to another. Stay here with me.”
Laban answered: It is better that I give her to thee than to another man; stay with me.
20 So Jacob served seven years for Rachel, yet it seemed but a few days because of his love for her.
So Jacob served seven years for Rachel: and they seemed but a few days, because of the greatness of his love.
21 Finally Jacob said to Laban, “Grant me my wife, for my time is complete, and I want to sleep with her.”
And he said to Laban: Give me my wife; for now the time is fulfilled, that I may go in unto her.
22 So Laban invited all the men of that place and prepared a feast.
And he, having invited a great number of his friends to the feast, made the marriage.
23 But when evening came, Laban took his daughter Leah and gave her to Jacob, and he slept with her.
And at night he brought in Lia his daughter to him,
24 And Laban gave his servant girl Zilpah to his daughter Leah as her maidservant.
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:
25 When morning came, there was Leah! “What have you done to me?” Jacob said to Laban. “Wasn’t it for Rachel that I served you? Why have you deceived me?”
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?
26 Laban replied, “It is not our custom here to give the younger daughter in marriage before the older.
Laban answered: It is not the custom in this place, to give the younger in marriage first.
27 Finish this week’s celebration, and we will give you the younger one in return for another seven years of work.”
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.
28 And Jacob did just that. He finished the week’s celebration, and Laban gave him his daughter Rachel as his wife.
He yielded to his pleasure: and after the week was past, he married Rachel:
29 Laban also gave his servant girl Bilhah to his daughter Rachel as her maidservant.
To whom her father gave Bala for her servant.
30 Jacob slept with Rachel as well, and indeed, he loved Rachel more than Leah. So he worked for Laban another seven years.
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.
31 When the LORD saw that Leah was unloved, He opened her womb; but Rachel was barren.
And the Lord seeing that he despised Lia, opened her womb, but her sister remained barren.
32 And Leah conceived and gave birth to a son, and she named him Reuben, for she said, “The LORD has seen my affliction. Surely my husband will love me now.”
And she conceived and bore a son, and called his name Ruben, saying: The Lord saw my affliction: now my husband will love me.
33 Again she conceived and gave birth to a son, and she said, “Because the LORD has heard that I am unloved, He has given me this son as well.” So she named him Simeon.
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.
34 Once again Leah conceived and gave birth to a son, and she said, “Now at last my husband will become attached to me, because I have borne him three sons.” So he was named Levi.
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.
35 And once more she conceived and gave birth to a son and said, “This time I will praise the LORD.” So she named him Judah. Then Leah stopped having children.
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.
